Living well program, appreciation certificates top WGRSPA agenda

Joyce White, County Extension Agent at Texas AgriLife Extension Service, presented the program “Living Well, Aging Well” to the West Grayson Retired School Personnel Association (WGRSPA) on Sept. 1 at First State Bank.

In the program, White focused on her top 10 ways to live and age well: cleansing breathing, healthy eating, staying hydrated, remaining active, sleeping seven to nine hours nightly, socializing, energizing and exercising our brains, learning something new, volunteering and a re-emphasis on breathing. 

White’s role in the county’s family and community health is well connected to the Walk Across Texas she leads and reminded meeting attendees that the fall event begins Sept. 12 and ends Nov. 6. WGRSPA always has at least two teams participate.  

Also at the meeting, WGRSPA President T.R. Fletcher presided through the agenda of prayer, pledges and officer reports. She also welcomed the organization’s three new members, praised the new District 10 President Karol Kuykendall and encouraged members to purchase the district name badges she has designed. 

She then presented certificates of appreciation to Mary Nell Rodgers and Linda Hundley, who had not been able to attend the May meeting presentations. Fletcher still serves as chair of the legislative committee and urged members to contact both Representative Shelley Luther and Senator Brent Hagenbuch to voice concerns over restoring Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) actuarial soundness, delivering meaningful benefit enhancement and funding TRS health coverage.

In addition to Treasurer Glenda Coulson’s report, and the minutes by Carla Hawkins, Membership Chair Sue Barker asked members to contact those who had not yet renewed for the year. Fletcher noted that TRTA’s track record of helping re-instate Social Security benefits to retired teachers and being instrumental in passing cost-of-living adjustments need to be part of our recruiting tools.  

Mary Nan Story discussed the upcoming Pumpkin Project which begins with members meeting at Brookshire Brothers on Sept. 23 and 30 to help load, unload and wash pumpkins. Doris Haynie led the group in energizing exercises. Golden encouraged members to sign up for the Oct. 22 fall field trip to Triple R Ranch in Dexter. Another sign-up sheet was available to the March 31, 2027, Day at the Capitol.

Frankie Tamplen won a gift card in the volunteer hours drawing. Jan Golden won this month’s door prize, a Lovejoy’s gift certificate, provided by Haynie. 

The next WGRSPA meeting is Oct. 6 at First State Bank at 11:30 a.m. and will adjourn to Pumpkin Central, 20349 Hwy. 377.