April 10, 2024--The April meeting of WCRTA was held at Duck Pond Manor, an all-inclusive wedding and event venue in Sparta. Terra Ballinger, owner of the manor, shared its interesting history and her journey to develop the property into the venue. Construction of the mansion, once known as the England mansion, began in 1861 but was not completed until 1865. The talented White County Middle School Choir led by Director Beth Delk provided the musical entertainment. Topics discussed in the business meeting included inviting recently retired teachers to our June meeting and funding the Love a Rookie Teacher Project.
February 13, 2024-- WCRTA members met at the White County Public Library for the regular meeting. Boxed lunches were prepared by Miss Marenda's Tea Room and homemade Valentine treats were for dessert.
The guest speaker was Anna Rich, a retired White County Middle School teacher, who is just as busy in retirement as while teaching.
Anna brought in several of the baskets she weaves, including one that has been in her family for over 100 years. She explained the process of taking a white oak log and the steps involved in turning that into a basket. She explained the different types of baskets and how she creates patterns in the designs of the baskets. She also talked about the ladies who taught her the art.
Anna also went on to discuss the Prison Ministry that she is involved in with her husband, and several of the ways the prisoners were being rehabilitated. The WCRTA plans on donating yarn at our April meeting for one of the women's projects.
A short business meeting also occurred at the meeting.
December 13, 2023-- Members of the WCRTA met at the First Methodist Church in Sparta for their annual Christmas luncheon and silent auction. The luncheon was sponsored by Ben Lomand Connect, and District Manager Ben Clark attended, speaking to the association of the cutting-edge advances that are putting Ben Lomand at the forefront of the communication industry.
During the catered luncheon, members placed bids on donated items, with the auction proceeds used to fund the association's mailing and yearbooks during the year.
Following lunch, tables were challenged to sing a Christmas song and then lead a Christmas song. A certain trio's performance of "Santa Baby" was the highlight of the songfest!
Over 30 members attended the December meeting--
--and waved a Christmas greeting!
President Sharon Kidd and Ben Lomand Connect White County Manager Ben Clark
Silent auction items on display
Captivating singing performance of "Santa Baby"
October 4, 2023-- The WCRTA met on October 4th at the shelter at Burgess Falls State Park. Members enjoyed a loaded-potato bar luncheon provided by the nearby Chestnut Oaks Farm Store and Kitchen. The meal was sponsored by State Farm Agent Jared Howard, who attended the meeting with his lovely wife. Ranger Blaine was the guest speaker and shared all the upgrades and opportunities for leisure activities at the park. Always a special occurrence, Mrs. Mabel Moore, our 96-year-old chapter icon, was in attendance. A short business meeting concluded the gathering.
April 4, 2024--Wilson County Retired Teachers' Association met April 4, 2024. We had the largest attendance since COVID.
Our pledge was led by Nancy James. The devotional by Sherrie Green centered around the saying April Showers Bring May Flowers and the word patience.
Our monthly Community Service project for April is donating to the Wilson County Books from Birth program. Our membership donated $655 at this meeting. This project is a yearly endeavor with a book giving and buying each month, so there was more money from the monthly "transactions". Peggy Simpson, Director of Wilson County Books from Birth, was present to receive a check for $1000 from Laura Honeyman, representing our WCRTA membership.. Peggy said there 6154 children enrolls in the program at the present. Since it started in 2005, 25,389 children have graduated out of the program.
Jeff Garrett gave a legislative report and answered members' questions.
A slate of officers for 2024-2026 was presented and voted on. The new officers for next year are Jeff Garrett President, Sarah White Vice President, Betty Anderson Secretary and Barbara Thompson Treasurer.
Wilson Bank and Trust sponsored our April meeting with a catered luncheon enjoyed by all. We are very blessed to have community support.
The Scholarship Committee met after lunch and finalized the new application for our scholarship. All the details will be shared with our membership in May.
WCRTA has had a great year. Our last meeting will be May 2, at the First Church of the Nazarene in Lebanon. New officers will be installed at that meeting.
Dianne with Gabby and DeJay
Jeff Garrett with legislative report
Peggy Simpson and Laura Honeyman donation
Sherrie Green Devo
WBT and Painturo's
March 7, 2024--The Wilson County Retired Teachers' Association met for the first time in 2024. We had a good number present. After the pledge and devotional centered around the Hymn of Promise, our guest speaker Beth Petty was introduced.
Beth is the director of the Lebanon Special School District's Family Resource Center. WCRTA has sponsored the FRC for several years. A new program has been developed for the FRC which involves camps for cooking, forensic science, sports, coffee shop business, sculpting compassion fundraiser, and attendance reward closet.
Beth explained the different camps and how they function. She highlighted The Young Authors and Illustrators Camp, which receives our support. She brought materials that support this camp for us to see. All camps are created and carried out by students with supervision. Beth said all the camps have been very successful and are changing lives. WCRTA is proud to support the LSSD Family Resource Center and its director, Beth Petty.
After committee reports, members were reminded that a slate of officers will be presented and voted on at the April meeting. Also, they were reminded that dues for next year are now being collected. It was announced that $495 and several bags of donated items had been collected for the Wilson County Help Center, our March project.
We shared our cares and concerns, and the meeting was adjourned.
The Scholarship Committee met after our regular meeting to finalize our new approach to awarding our WCRTA scholarship.
Many thanks to Jim Goodall, County Court Clerk, and Stephen Goodall, Assessor of Property, for sponsoring our March meeting refreshments and making a donation to our chapter.
December 2, 2023--The Wilson Country Retired Teachers’ Association met Saturday, December 2, at the First Church of the Nazarene in Lebanon. We had the largest attendance of the year.
Pam McDonald led the pledge, and Dianne Cozart presented a devotional entitled Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas from Carol Devotionals based on the account of Mary and Martha from Luke 10.
Jeff Garrett gave a legislative update. Main topics are vouchers and the state's decision about taking federal funds or not.
Laura Honeyman brought Books from Birth to display for sale. Several members brought in books to add to our inventory. There was $80 in the little black can at the end of the meeting!!!
Our community participation project for December was donating to our WCRTA Scholarship Fund. No scholarship will be awarded this year because of necessary changes being made. Many thanks to Ellen James and her committee for the time they are putting into making the transition smooth. What a generous group we have!!! We collected $900 for our scholarship at the meeting.
A thank you note was read from the Wilson County Family Resource Center for donations made last month.
After our business meeting, we played Name that Christmas Tune, answered Christmas trivia and sang a few Christmas carols. We had some members who shared their favorite Christmas gift as child. Betty Anderson played the piano for us.
Our Christmas luncheon was again sponsored by Liberty State Bank. The bank has been doing this for us about eighteen years. We are very blessed with community support.
We are on winter break and will not meet again until March 7.
November 2--President Diane Cozart called the Wilson County RTA meeting to order. The Rutland Place Singers began the morning with a beautiful rendition of "God Bless America." The prayer and morning devotion was given by Nancy James.
TRTA Executive Director Dr. Duran Williams provided an update from the state office, a legislative outlook, and information about the October regional meetings. Betty Anderson - secretary for WCRTA - gave a meeting minutes report for the October 5th meeting.
WCRTA has a " Books from Birth" (connected to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library campaign) each year. The members bring in books and make donations to the program. They raised over $1,000 last year through donations for this important program!
WCRTA also takes donations for the Wilson County Family Resource Center (last month donations were raised for the Lebanon Family Resource Center). The committee chairpersons provided reports on their recent activities.
WCRTA currently has 104 members. The members enjoyed a delicious lunch of chicken salad, fruit medley, and chocolate chip cookies.
The December 2nd meeting and Christmas luncheon will be at the First Church of the Nazarene in Lebanon.
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Updated July 6, 2021
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