West Grayson Retired School Personnel Association (WGRSPA) held their final meeting of the 2023-24 season Tuesday, May 7 at La Hacienda Restaurant. President Glenda Coulson welcomed 29 members and 17 guests.
A memorial time for three members who passed this last year was celebrated by friends and family of Beverly Brown, Rebecca Hagood and John Dennis. Betty Capehart and Debbie Patterson shared remembrances of Beverly Brown with whom they taught for a number of years at Whitesboro Elementary School. Family who attended in Beverly’s honor were her daughter, Kelly Brown McCorkle and her husband Jimmy; son, Kevin Brown; and her caregiver, Brenda Hargesheimer.
John Dennis, along with his wife Jo, who was also a teacher and passed in 2021, was remembered with words from Rick Carney. Johnna Beth Dennis, their daughter who taught in Wimberly for 30 years, was also remembered with words from Carol Golden. John and Jo’s son Whit Dennis and his wife Debra attended in their honor.
Rebecca Hagood was remembered by Wanna Kniss.
Judy Rue introduced Joe Bertino, $500 WGRSPA scholarship recipient, and Valarie Benke, $750 WGRSPA scholarship recipient, and Benke’s mother Tiffanie Benke.
Two other scholarships were announced for recipients Rachael Garcia. Casteroreno, who will receive a $750 WGRSPA scholarship, and Melanie Baldwin, who was presented the $500 Curtis Anne Kinsfather Scholarship.
Coulson presented WGRSPA awards to the following members: 21st Century Award for outstanding service to Community or Local Chapter to Mary Nan Story, Carol Golden and Sharon Lively; Appreciation Award to T. R. Fletcher, Sharon Golden and Carol Golden for outstanding service to Local Chapter; Volunteer Service Award to Donna Penn (3,000+ hours), Sharon Lively (2,000 hours) and Wynette Hargett (2,000 hours); Above and Beyond Award to Ruth Richie for phone calls to legislators; General Recognition to Cladene Belcher (who conducts a Retirement Seminar for future retirees); and Carol Pike for stepping into the position of Secretary during the year.
Doris Haney reported on the recent Book Project in which WGRSPA gives a book to each third grader in the four district schools that comprise West Grayson RSPA: Collinsville, S&S, Whitesboro and Tioga.
Pike reported on Healthy Living and the activity Walk Across Texas sponsored by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. WGRSPA had two teams that participated in this activity and accrued walked miles that equaled walking across Texas.
State Board of Education District 12 candidate George King also visited and shared his motives for running for the position. Thomas Poore, District 10 Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) Legislative Chairperson, installed the following officers for 2024-2026 term: Past President Glenda Coulson; President Sue Barker;1st VP Carol Pike; Co-2nd VPs Sharon Lively and T. R. Fletcher; Secretary Sharon Golden; Treasurer Wanda Dutton; Parliamentarian Harold Tamplen.
Excitement built for the door prize which was the famous coconut pie made by Frankie Tamplen. The coveted pie was won by Phyllis Alexander.
WGRSPA is a local chapter of TRTA, which advocates for benefits for all retired public school employees. They encourage any retired public school employee or those interested in the benefits for retired school personnel to join in their efforts to protect the defined benefit retirement plan, as well as advocating for protecting the TRS Fund’s actuarially soundness and maintaining affordable health care benefits for its members.
Regular meetings will resume in September, the first Tuesday of each month at La Hacienda restaurant in Whitesboro.