HARTS Chapter attends TRTA conference and holds member meeting in October

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By Irene Rodriguez-Dubberly

HARTS Secretary

The Huajilla Area Retired Teachers and Staff (HARTS) Chapter had a busy October as members attended the Texas Retired Teachers Association District 20 Fall Conference on October 24 in Boerne then held its regular member meeting on October 28 at the First Baptist Church in Hondo.

Fifteen HARTS members, the most members from any chapter in District 20, attended the TRTA Fall Conference and they enjoyed shopping at the kiosks during morning refreshments and breaks, listening to music by Raymond D. Seymour.

The conference meeting was opened by District 20 President Melissa Ramos from Floresville. The guest speaker was Caasi Lamb from the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, who reviewed the financial and long-range status projections for the retirement system.

Keynote Speaker, TRTA State Secretary/Treasurer Gary L. Schepf, assessed TRTA’s historical drive for a cost of living adjustment for TRS retirees; retirees which include public school administrators, classroom teachers, teacher aides, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, custodians—the whole gamut of people in the public school system.

State senators, all 31 of them, unanimously voted for, and funded the one-time stipend for retirees over 70, and another one for those under 70, in addition to approving the long-awaited cost-of-living adjustment for TRS retirees who had been living and surviving on income which had remained unchanged since 2003. Scheph also focused on the priorities of TRTA in the coming legislative year, and on the continuing battle to repeal the WEP and GPO at the federal level, each of which denies earned social security payments and/or spousal benefits to public school retirees.

A notable action took place during the business meeting: that was the motion to nominate long-time Huajilla member and TRTA District 20 Officer and long-serving chair of the Legislative Committee, Ken Hanson, for TRTA’s E.L. Gaylean Award.

The HARTS’ October meeting was also well-attended with fifty-two members and four guests. Guests included two Texas Rangers and AMBA representative for the region, D’Anna Baucom, accompanied by her daughter. October birthday celebrants Wendy Maxwell, Gail Cooley, Kathleen Outlaw, Marianne Garrett, Debra Zerr, Ellen Schueling, Jim Rigby, and President Earline Schlortt were serenated with the birthday song.

Secretary Irene Dubberly had provided the minutes from the previous meeting in advance, and Treasurer Maria Elizondo provided a financial report. Legislative Chair Ken Hanson focused on the upcoming 89th state Legislative session and keeping up with TRTA’s priorities for the session. Additionally, he encouraged members to vote early. Communications Chair Betsy Polgue listed those members and their family members who have passed and those who have had health issues, plus those who have had notable milestone celebrations.

Lola Hill and her committee volunteers will be preparing children’s books to be presented to various groups at the December meeting, and Brenda Prestage will be collecting volunteer hour through the end of the calendar year.

Cindy Howard reviewed information that members should be aware of to keep themselves healthy and situations to avoid, especially those related to fraud, cyber security, and identity theft.

Elaine Neuman provided the membership lists and other inserts to members present to include in their 2024-2025 Chapter Yearbook. Additional handouts will be available at future meetings.

Maria Elizondo donated various “fall décor” items for a raffle to benefit the Texas Retired Teachers Foundation Fund. The drawing for door prizes was conducted before the program presentation.

An extremely interesting program was presented by Texas Rangers Sharee Irwin and Thomas Elizondo. Ranger Irwin is assigned primarily to Bexar County where she is part of 37 law enforcement agencies in the San Antonio area, and part of 3,000 DPS officers in the state. Irwin explained that she is the eighth female selected to be a Texas Ranger in the history of the Rangers. She was a DPS trooper, then a DPS Sergeant in Georgetown, before being assigned to the Rangers. In their early history, the Rangers were a para-military organization and provided protection for early settlers, but current duties have evolved to include investigations of major crimes as well as assisting other law enforcement agencies in various criminal investigations, since Rangers have statewide jurisdictional authority.

Ranger Elizondo added that the Rangers often assist each other in the pursuit of solving various cases and investigations. Elizondo’s current assignment is primarily within Wilson County. His previous assignments included the San Antonio area, and he previously served with a Criminal Investigation Division in Houston. The Rangers’ Criminal Investigation includes CSI resources for other smaller law enforcement agencies as well as assisting with crisis situations and offering numerous support resources usually unavailable to smaller agencies. The actual “office time” of a Texas Ranger is limited because they are usually out in the communities.

Rangers Irwin and Elizondo were both presented with appreciation gifts of Huajilla Honey.

The meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m. and members enjoyed socializing during a meal catered by Azteca Restaurant.

The next meeting will be the chapter Christmas Social on December 9 at the Triple C Restaurant in Devine at 10 a.m. A menu will be provided closer to the meeting date. Members may choose to participate in a Christmas Ornament Gift Exchange. Lola Hill and volunteers will present the children’s books to various groups that will give books to children who might not otherwise have access to free books.