Members of the Bradley County Retired Teachers and Employees Association met Monday, August 1, in the First United Methodist Church in Warren with 36 present from Warren and Hermitage. ENJOY YOUR “RETIRE-MINT” was the theme of the meeting and was carried out throughout the meeting. Jonalyn Reep serves we president of the group.
Retirees in the last few years from hermitage and Warren were recognized. Each retiree received a crystal candy dish filled with assorted mints. Tables were centered with mini-pots of mint plants in MENTOS boxes with Mentos and mints at each place setting. Every person received a mint plant to take home; the potted mint plants were given by Pastor Castillo and Dinora, his wife. Retirement honorees included Tommy Howsen, Marilyn Johnson, Deborah Jones, Linda McDiarmid, LaDonna Marsh, Judy Moring, Susan Scott, Joyce Smith, Linda Thompson, and Colleen Watkins.
Joy Stewart, treasurer, reported that the Silent Auction held in the May meeting netted over $1700, which is designated for a scholarship to a Bradley County student, who is a sophomore or above majoring in education.
Lorin McLoud shared his experience from writing a former teacher. Bobye Anne Bryant shared her experience in teaching a “chubby ninth grader in Hot Springs who would now be called a nerd” (by the name of Bill Clinton) and emphasized that a teacher must respect every student and that one never knows the future of a student.
BCRTEA meets the first Monday in August, September, and October and March, April, and May.
