HARTS members hold March meeting in Concan

By Editor | April 15, 2026

More than forty members gathered on March 23 at Neal’s Restaurant in Concan for the March Huajilla Area Retired Teachers meeting.

The event opened with a prayer by Karen Munnnink while Elaine Neuman led the US and Texas pledges of allegiance.

President Schlortt welcomed members and guests, introduced officers, former presidents and gave a special welcome to long-time Hondo ISD teacher Diane Causey.

March birthday celebrants included Claire Coffey, Ken Hanson, Esther Johnson, Ramona Rodriguez and Dottie Wolff, who were honored with the birthday song.

After the October and February minutes were read and the treasurer’s report was accepted for filing, the Committee reports were presented. President Schlortt thanked those members for their work and encouraged others to join in and volunteer for officer positions and additional support for committee members.

Betsy Polgue reported sending cards to various members recovering from health issues, including Ann Reagan, Shirley Glick, Ginger Maxwell and Jean Sexton; sympathy cards were sent to the Margie Grotheus, Mary Marlene Sutherland and the Irene Dubberly families, and a special thanks was sent to Gerry Bridges Stamps for her generous financial support of the scholarship fund.

Membership renewals have begun and Elaine Neuman reported that 66 members are in good standing and four additional members have renewed. Membership renewals continue through the summer months. Additionally, as Scholarship Committee Chair, Elaine will be setting up a meeting for the committee in early April to review the applications.

Brenda Prestage reported that HARTS members turned in 14,179 hours of volunteer time with Linda Wells submitting the highest number of hours for the chapter.

President Schlortt added that she, Marianne Garrett and Irene Dubberly will attend the Virtual State TRTA Convention at the Region 20 Education Service Center in San Antonio on March 25.

Charles Carlson, a former principal at Hondo High School and Meyer Elementary was the meeting’s feature presenter and offered an extensive lesson in “How Dominoes Fall,” focusing on his growing photography career.

Carlson, and his wife, Kathy Carlson started the venture during their education career, beginning with capturing local high school prom photos, wedding photography and Hondo athletic events, down to the more recent nature, local weather events and specific requests.

He has composed his own portfolio and books of hundreds of photographs and pointed out the “luck” that sometimes occurs in his photographs that cannot be duplicated once the moment of the camera click has occurred. In addition to his photographs, published in many Texas magazines and newspapers, members are encouraged to visit the Sabinal Dairy Queen, the Uvalde Memorial Hospital and annex, the Hondo Hospital Board Room and the TXN Bank in Hondo to see some of his awe-striking photography.

Carlson donated several packages of notecards featuring his photography as a fundraiser for the scholarship fund.

The next HARTS meeting will be at Sammy’s Restaurant in Castroville on April 27.

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On March 25, Earline Schlortt, Marianne Garrett and Irene Dubberly were delegates to the “historic” first Virtual TRTA State Convention as members gathered at various locations across the state to virtually participate. District 20 gathered at Region 20 ESC for this event. New state officers were elected and installed and two amendments were approved for the State Bylaws which will be adopted by the local chapters. The state also received approval from the membership to accept a change to its policies and procedures in raising the state dues beginning July 1, 2027.

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