Retired educators still remember the brevity of summer break and the anticipation of meeting students in a new school year. Bryan County Retired Educators resumed meetings in September with a luncheon at Integration Station on Main Street. Special guests were President Jerrie Goforth’s sisters, Sherrie Stout from Oklahoma Retired Educators of Marshall County and Terrie Keck, South Central District Director of OREA. Brenda Calahan, OREA Southeast District Director presented Membership Minute with information to aid members.
New delegates to the State Oklahoma Retired Educators Convention were selected: Peggy Sinor and Jerry Combrink. Already serving as delegates are President Jerrie Goforth, Treasurer Tanya Lindley, Media Secretary Phyllis Rustin, Leslie Webster, and Betty Anderson.
Entertainment was provided by Ms. Claire Safe, daughter of Karl and Jessica Safe. Claire has sung and performed in Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival since she was four years old. As a member of Durant High School’s choir, she is in the cast of DHS musical Camp Rock in November. A song from her repertoire was “All I Ask of You” by Adele.
The program was presented by Erica Shelton from the People First Industries. PFI provides vocational opportunities for adults ranging from eighteen to fifty plus such as shredding paper or doing laundry. Participants may earn cash and thus learn money management.
Integration Station Café is the most recent addition for workers. Duties include cashier, busing tables, hostess, wait staff, wiping menus, rolling silverware in napkins, dishwashing, and cooking on the grill. Café staff earns minimum wage plus tips. The café is open Monday through Friday, 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The venue is available for special celebrations and meetings. Catering is also offered. PFI has forty-eight employees with thirty rotating assignments in the café.
Benefits for the workers include improvement in verbal skills, coordination, and social integration. Staff art work and crafts are on display in the café with some being for sale.
All education retirees in and out of state are welcome to attend the Bryan County Retired Educators meetings. The next opportunity will be November 15, Integration Station, 11:00 for lunch and fellowship.
