Posted: 1:33 PM - Jan 19, 2011
From The Wilmington News Journal dated Tuesday 18 Jan 2011.
About 70 members of the Clinton County Retired Teachers Association (CCRTA) kicked off the holiday season at the Dec. 1 meeting held at the Wilmington Presbyterian Church.
A delicious lunch was catered by Shoelaces.
The bell choir from the Orion Center, directed by Vicki Temple, provided entertainment.
They performed holiday songs with enthusiasm and spirit. Jean Crites, a retired Wilmington music teacher, and a member of the Clinton County Retired Teachers Association, started the bell choir 28 years ago - in 1982 - first as a rhythm band
which then merged into a bell choir.
The Chimetone bells were purchased in 1989 and the Nike Center Bell Choir with 12 members was organized.
Vicki Temple took over the reins five years ago when Crites began spending the winters in Florida. Anyone interested in being part of the bell choir begin by attending the weekly practice as an alternate. When an opening becomes available, an alternate is chosen as a replacement. They now have 16 members. Cathy Tuggle is the only one that was part of the original group.
The bell choir performs at various civic clubs, nursing homes and for special occasions.
The past three years they have participated in the Ohio Music Educators Organization contest at the Calumet Center in Dayton. This contest is a non-competitive experience where individuals are judged upon their own abilities and goals. Most of all, they have fun.
Cindy Petrich, president, informed the group that 2010 was not only the countys bicentennial year, but it also marked the 40th anniversary of CCRTA. A group was formed in 1949, but only lasted until 1954. Dues were 25 cents a year and meetings were held twice a year.
The present club was organized on April 15,1970 under the guidance of Walter Nichols, a former Clinton County Schools Superintendent. Dues were $1 a year and the first issue the group undertook was raising the pay of substitute teachers. Petrich read a history of the CCRTA which included the volunteer service that retired teachers perform in the community, the causes they have supported, and the establishment of a scholarship fund under Rodger Borror to support students interested in pursuing careers in education.
Mary Ann Raizk read the names of all the CCRTA presidents starting with 1970 to the present. They were listed on a wooden plaque. The names of the presidents are inscribed on the plaque following their term of office.
In order to help members think back to their teaching days in the 1970s era, an oral "fill in the blank" quiz was given about curriculum, dress code, student punishment, report cards, teaching supplies and school lunches. Answers ran the gamut of serious to humorous.
A short business meeting was held. Judy Sargent said members logged in more than 2,000 volunteer hours this year.
Hesperia Bevan said 12 new members joined in 2010.
Beverly Jones reported that ORTA is planning lobbying efforts in 2011 and that the state legislature will have many new faces this year.
Herman Fisher, a recently deceased member, was fondly remembered, especially at this Christmas meeting, as he usually dressed as Santa and handed out apples. CCRTA will send a $100 donation in his memory to Honor Flight.
Nancy Bernard lit a candle and read the names of the 10 members who passed away this past year. The ceremony closed with a beautiful prayer for their influential lives.
Members who died during the year were Lucille Ledford, Barbara Plummer, Florence Ellis, Bob Thorp, Mary Elizabeth Lockman Hanners, Margaret Briggs, Elizabeth Mary Magee, Ruth Rudduck, Herman Fisher and Guinevere Lanning Smith.
Ron Lea presented an amendment to the CCRTA constitution which concerns the treasurers responsibilities which reads as follows: "The treasurer shall electronically file the tax-exempt form for small organizations with annual receipts of $25,000 or less by May of each year."
The amendment was voted on and passed by the group.
Cindy Petrich thanked her current officers for their hard work this past year. She then inducted the new slate of officers for 2011 as follows: Lois Hackney, president; Donna Gibson, vice president; Mary Ann Raizk, secretary; Diana Knight, assistant secretary; Virgene Peterson, treasurer; and Jane Allemang, assistant treasurer.
Cindy Petrich is the immediate past president. She was presented the presidents plaque with her name newly engraved upon it and was congratulated for her successful year as president.
 Members of the Nike Bell Choir are, front row (left to right), Amy Grooms, Michael Dawson, Kim McNeeley, Shae Powell, Debra Grooms, Cathy Tuggle and Sandy Hess; second row, Jan Cordy, Dwayne Rice, Billy Stewart, Jim Oberlin, Frank Powell, Billy Thompson and Crystal Reynolds; and standing, Vicki Temple, director and John Henry. Contributed photo |
A delicious lunch was catered by Shoelaces.
The bell choir from the Orion Center, directed by Vicki Temple, provided entertainment.
They performed holiday songs with enthusiasm and spirit. Jean Crites, a retired Wilmington music teacher, and a member of the Clinton County Retired Teachers Association, started the bell choir 28 years ago - in 1982 - first as a rhythm band
which then merged into a bell choir.
The Chimetone bells were purchased in 1989 and the Nike Center Bell Choir with 12 members was organized.
 New officers for the Clinton County Retired Teachers Association are (left to right), Jane Allemang, assistant treasurer; Virgene Peterson, treasurer; Mary Ann Raizk, secretary; Donna Gibson, vice president; Lois Hackney, president; and Cindy Petrich, immediate past president. Diana Knight, assistant secretary, is not pictured. Contributed photo |
The bell choir performs at various civic clubs, nursing homes and for special occasions.
The past three years they have participated in the Ohio Music Educators Organization contest at the Calumet Center in Dayton. This contest is a non-competitive experience where individuals are judged upon their own abilities and goals. Most of all, they have fun.
Cindy Petrich, president, informed the group that 2010 was not only the countys bicentennial year, but it also marked the 40th anniversary of CCRTA. A group was formed in 1949, but only lasted until 1954. Dues were 25 cents a year and meetings were held twice a year.
The present club was organized on April 15,1970 under the guidance of Walter Nichols, a former Clinton County Schools Superintendent. Dues were $1 a year and the first issue the group undertook was raising the pay of substitute teachers. Petrich read a history of the CCRTA which included the volunteer service that retired teachers perform in the community, the causes they have supported, and the establishment of a scholarship fund under Rodger Borror to support students interested in pursuing careers in education.
Mary Ann Raizk read the names of all the CCRTA presidents starting with 1970 to the present. They were listed on a wooden plaque. The names of the presidents are inscribed on the plaque following their term of office.
In order to help members think back to their teaching days in the 1970s era, an oral "fill in the blank" quiz was given about curriculum, dress code, student punishment, report cards, teaching supplies and school lunches. Answers ran the gamut of serious to humorous.
A short business meeting was held. Judy Sargent said members logged in more than 2,000 volunteer hours this year.
Hesperia Bevan said 12 new members joined in 2010.
Beverly Jones reported that ORTA is planning lobbying efforts in 2011 and that the state legislature will have many new faces this year.
Herman Fisher, a recently deceased member, was fondly remembered, especially at this Christmas meeting, as he usually dressed as Santa and handed out apples. CCRTA will send a $100 donation in his memory to Honor Flight.
Nancy Bernard lit a candle and read the names of the 10 members who passed away this past year. The ceremony closed with a beautiful prayer for their influential lives.
Members who died during the year were Lucille Ledford, Barbara Plummer, Florence Ellis, Bob Thorp, Mary Elizabeth Lockman Hanners, Margaret Briggs, Elizabeth Mary Magee, Ruth Rudduck, Herman Fisher and Guinevere Lanning Smith.
Ron Lea presented an amendment to the CCRTA constitution which concerns the treasurers responsibilities which reads as follows: "The treasurer shall electronically file the tax-exempt form for small organizations with annual receipts of $25,000 or less by May of each year."
The amendment was voted on and passed by the group.
Cindy Petrich thanked her current officers for their hard work this past year. She then inducted the new slate of officers for 2011 as follows: Lois Hackney, president; Donna Gibson, vice president; Mary Ann Raizk, secretary; Diana Knight, assistant secretary; Virgene Peterson, treasurer; and Jane Allemang, assistant treasurer.
Cindy Petrich is the immediate past president. She was presented the presidents plaque with her name newly engraved upon it and was congratulated for her successful year as president.