HARTS holds February meeting in Pearsall

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By Irene Rodriguez-Dubberly

The Huajilla Area Retired Teachers and Staff (HARTS) held their February meeting at Cowpokes BBQ Restaurant in Pearsall with 24 members and five guests in attendance.

President Earline Schlortt and Lewis Stroud led the opening prayer and pledges while past presidents Lewis Stroud, Jim Rigby and Marianne Garrett were recognized, as were current officers.

Birthday celebrants Tommy Fillinger, Irene Cox, Nola Hanson, Lola Hill, Mike Holly, Evelyn McAnnelly, John McAnnelly, Linda Wells, and Karen Muennink were serenaded with the birthday song.

Maria Elizondo presented the treasurer’s report and President Schlortt then announced that the Bluebonnet Children’s Advocacy Center (BCAC) had sent a thank-you note for the book donation made to the group in December.

Communications Chairperson Betsy Polgue reported sending sympathy or “thinking-of-you” cards to several members.

Membership/scholarship chairperson Elaine Neuman reported that currently the HARTS unit has 178 state members which will determine the delegates to the TRTA State Convention. Neuman also reported that scholarship applications have been mailed to area high schools and will be due March 23, 2026.  Later this spring, the dues renewals for the next membership year will begin.

D’Anne Balcom, from AMBA services, informed the group of upgrades and a slight increase in cost for MASA services.

Book Project Chairperson Cindy Howard has six to eight boxes of books that could not be donated last December; she said she will sell them and use those funds to buy more children’s books for the 2026 book drive.

In new business, discussion centered on the new format for the 2026 TRTA State Convention which will be conducted as a virtual meeting; it will be held at the Region 20 Service Center in San Antonio on March 25. Earline Schlortt, Marianne Garrett, Irene Dubberly, and Dottie Wolff were selected as delegates. Members have been provided information on three amendments to the state bylaws to be considered, and a recommendation for a “for/against” vote on a membership dues increase.

Other announcements called attention to a helpful article on “scams” in the Medina Electric Co-op magazine; encouraged a “Lunch and Learn” promotion for paid TRTA membership with AMBA representative D’Anna Baucom, and the date of the March meeting in Concan.

Betsy Polgue and Earline Schlortt then presented the annual memorial service for deceased members.  Those honored included Deloy Dawson, Joan Langfeld, Anthony Constanza, Diane Horner, and Patsy McFarland. Other non-members who worked in area schools were also remembered.

The program for the meeting was presented by special TXN Bank officers Kaci Klaeger and Callie Riff. They encouraged members to be wary of and avoid the numerous scams that have ensnared victims into losing their life savings to predators who use fear tactics to convince individuals into providing information resulting in the theft of thousands of dollars, usually unrecoverable. Klaeger and Riff also described ways that bank personnel can help avoid these scams and aid customers in maintaining safe bank accounts and bank activity. Not only was the presentation well-received, but several HARTS members claim a special connection to TXN Bank President Breanne Granberg, who is the daughter of Brenda Prestage. Callie Riff is the daughter of Charleen Schuele, David Maxwell is the son of member Ginger Maxwell, and John Chapman is HARTS President Earline Schlortt’s son-in-law.

The meeting adjourned with a barbecue meal and visiting among members and visitors.