OC Retired Teachers welcome new members

Orleans County Retired Teachers’ Association is actively seeking new members to join their organization.

Organization president Georgia Thomas said it is crucial to keep this organization going and explained its benefits.

“We work to protect retired school employees’ benefits, especially their retirement,” Thomas said.

OCRTA’ annual meeting is scheduled Sept. 25 at Abundant Harvest (formerly Milleville United Methodist Church) on Maple Ridge Road in Millville. The meeting will begin at 11 a.m., followed by lunch, and all new retirees who attend will receive a free lunch.

OCRTA is open to anyone who ever worked in a school system, including teachers,  teachers’ aides, bus drivers or office workers.

“This is a perfect chance to learn about us and how we work to protect their retirements, by reaching out to lawmakers,” Thomas said. “We need new members and all old members to step up. When we add our numbers to the state numbers, we have more influence.”

The Retired Teachers’ Association also gives a number of awards to help an educator with his education. A top award is the Barry Fleigel Award.

Thomas explained each county’s retired teachers’ group has a service project which they support within their county. ORCRTA’s project is Camp Rainbow.

There are currently about 100 members in the ORCRTA.

Reservations for lunch can be made by contacting (585) 590-0046. More information is available on their website at www.retirededucatorsny.org.