Texas Retired Teachers Association District Xi

DRAFTApproved 08/10/2016

TEXAS RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION DISTRICT XI

Minutes of the Spring Leadership Training Conference

May 3, 2016

The TRTA District XI Spring Leadership Training Conference (SLTC) was held on Tuesday, May 3, 2016, at theEducation Service Center (ESC) Region XI in White Settlement. The Local Unit (LU) hosts for this conference(the first of the five recently-assigned host groups) included: Lewisville Area RSPA (chair), Castleberry SRA, Cooke County RSP, Denton Area RSPA and Northwest RSEA. The theme for the conference was “Spring Has Sprung!” The conference began at 9:00 a.m. with a light breakfast provided by Association Member Benefits Advisors (AMBA).

At the 9:30 a.m.general session (agenda attached)District XI President Jack Knowles welcomed the participants, thanked the ESC for its hospitality, and congratulated the host units forplanning and organizing the SLTC. Ken Bridges, President Lewisville Area RSPA,described how thiscommittee of hostunits divided its tasks (listed in the agenda),andintroduced the U. S. Navy Color Guard of the Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base. The pledges to the Flag of the United States and the Lone Star Flag of Texas were led by Castleberry SRA First Vice-President Cynthia Sperry. Ken Bridges introduced Jacob Dunham, AMBA District Manager,and thanked him for providing the breakfast. Jacob Dunhamdescribed the member benefits available from Medical Air Services Association (MASA.)

President Jack Knowles introduced the keynote speaker, TRTA Second Vice-President Patricia Macias and her husband, Johnny. Asincoming TRTA First Vice-President,Macias reported on the 2015-16 membershipaccomplishments of TRTAandDistrict XI and theTRTA President’s goal of a 5% increase in membership for 2016-17 (report attached.) She emphasized the importance of informed voter participation and collaboration with active school employees to preserve our public schools and the retirement benefits afforded to us through the Texas Constitution. Patricia commendedDistrict XI LUs for theircontributions of scholarships, children’s books, and volunteer hours to their local communities. President Knowles thanked Second Vice-President Macias and informed herthat District XI made a donation to the Texas Retired Teacher Foundation (TRTF) in her honor. Jack gave the participants directions for the“Tomorrow and Beyond” Leadership Training Sessions I & II, told them aboutthe location of the scrapbook display, and reminded the members that the District business meeting would conveneimmediately after the luncheon.

The ESC requirement that the food serving station for the luncheon,catered by Alponti Catering Kitchen,be locatedin the snack bar requiredthe participants to returnto the meeting room carryingtheir food and drink without trays. When all were seated,Lewisville Area RSPA President Ken Bridges announcedthat one person at eachtable hada star on his/heragendaand was the winner of the potted plant table decoration. District XI Treasurer Pat Lioce gave directions for completing travel vouchers. Ken Bridges gave the invocation.

President Jack Knowles opened the business session at 1:30 p.m.

Secretary Dr. Barbara Hryekewicz reported 161 members and twenty of the twenty-two units were in attendance. Printed copies of the minutes of the October 15, 2015 Fall Convention, approved by committee, were providedand wereposted on the District XI website.
President Jack Knowles appointed the 2016-17 Audit Committee: Irwin Matthews (Hurst-Euless-Bedford RSE) and Richard Kelley (Birdville ARSP); the president’s annual report was filed (attached.)
First Vice-President Janie Bramlett reported District XI had 126 entries for the TRTA $100 Each One Bring Onedrawing. The drawing, held in the District XI Caucus at TRTA State Convention, was won by LaVonne Nowlin, First Vice-President Northwest RSEA. Janie announced that Grapevine-Colleyville ARSE won the District Membership Award with a 12% increase in membership.
Second Vice-President Pat Reinecker gave her reporton TRTA awards that District XI received (attached.) She displayed the Hurst-Euless-Bedford RSE banner, and distributed copies of the District XI Newsletter to LU presidents and second vice-presidents (attached.)
President Knowles recognized the recipients of TRTA District XI Awards: Grand Prix Award – Grapevine-Colleyville ARSE and Cooke County RSP; Appreciation Award – Bob Spurlin (Burleson Area RSEA), Kay Brown (Palo Pinto County RTA), Nancy Patterson (White Settlement RSEA), Lynn Pemberton (Mansfield RSEA),and Hazel Wilson (Fort Worth RSEA.)
Technology Chairman Pamela Elza gave her report (attached.)
Treasurer Pat Lioce reported a balance on hand of $21,240.09 in the operating account and $9,324.76 in the money market account; the total amount of available funds was $30,564.85. The financial report was filed for audit. Pat reported eighteen of the LUs had a delegate at the TRTA Convention and would receive the $300 2015-16 incentive, and theTRTA District Scholarship/Grant Reporting form required this year showed thatLUs who reportedhad awarded thirty-eight scholarships and ten teacher grants.
Health Care Chairman Susan Hester gave her report (attached) and announced that Castleberry REA, Cooke County RSP, Lewisville Area RSPA, Northwest RSEA, Palo Pinto County RTA, and Parker County RTA received certificates of achievement for their excellent health care programs.
Community Volunteer Service Chairman Shara Fox gave her report (attached.) For the tenth consecutive year District XI had the highest number of TRTA-reported service hours.
Historian Anita Copeland gave her report in poetry (attached.)
Reports were filed by Informative and Protective Services Chairman Freddie Bates, Legislative Chairman Jack Teddlie, Member Benefits Representative Myrtis Parker, Retirement Education Chairman Sam Kiker, and TRTF Liaison Mary Birden.

District XI Past-President Charlene McCreight installed the 2016-18 District XI Officersand presented each of them with a flower whose characteristics were correlated with their office and that, by working together, made a bouquet:

PresidentJanie Bramlett (Hood County RSPA)

First Vice-PresidentFrana Patterson (Palo Pinto County RTA)

Second Vice-PresidentPatricia “Pat” Reinecker (Hurst-Euless-Bedford RSE)

SecretaryDr. Barbara Hryekewicz (Fort Worth RSEA)

TreasurerPatricia “Pat” Lioce (Burleson Area RSEA)

President Jack Knowles reflected on the theme for his administration, “Tomorrow and Beyond,” and reminded the participants that all work done for this Association at either the local, district or state levelhonors past efforts and assuresour own as well as future members’ safe and financially secure tomorrows. He thanked his officers and chairmen, reminded the participants that the Fall Convention, “The Romance of the Railroad,” will be hosted by Johnson-Somervell RSEA on October 6, 2016 at the Old Civic Center in Cleburne, and set agoal of having 171 in attendance at the Convention.

The 2016 Spring Leadership Training Conference was adjourned at 2:15 p.m.

Barbara Hryekewicz, Ph.D.08/10/2016

Dr. Barbara Hryekewicz, SecretaryDate Approved/Approved as Corrected

District Approval Committee

Jack Knowles Janie Bramlett

Jack Knowles, PresidentJanie Bramlett, First Vice-President

Pat Reinecker (by email) Pat Lioce

Pat Reinecker, Second Vice-PresidentPat Lioce, Treasurer