Bryan County Retired Teachers Association began their scheduled fall meetings on the third Friday of each school year month-September through May. September’s meeting was held at the Semple Family Museum of Native American Art. The museum is under the direction of Janie Semple Umsted. Association members toured the museum’s collection of art from eighty native artists and over thirty tribes from Oklahoma and other states. Plans were approved for a variety of future meeting sites throughout Durant to acquaint members with the community.
In October retired teachers met at Opera House for coffee and snacks. Opera House owners, Shaun and Ami Rawlings, retold the colorful history of this Durant landmark. Since 1899-1901, the Opera House has had only four owners. The space has functioned as a secretarial school, National Guard space, a feed store, the Double Dip Dairy, the Wilson Building, furniture store, and a Merle Norman cosmetics store. There are rumors of past secret illegal gambling activities on the second floor. The Rawlings began remodeling for their coffee shop and café from 2016-2018. Today it is a favorite spot for friends to gather and for students to study.
Guest speaker was Luke Martin, Oklahoma Retired Educators legislative lobbyist. Mr. Martin reminded the group that the last time Oklahoma retired teachers received a cost of living adjustment (COLA) was in 2017. OREA asks every legislative session for an increase in retirement funds or a “thirteenth” check. Each year, legislators do not act. Martin encouraged all teachers, current or retired, to contact their elected officials and encourage them to increase retirement paychecks.
November’s BCRE meeting was held on the Southeastern Oklahoma State University campus in the Visual and Performing Arts Center. Special gusts were Deborah Clements and SOSU’s Chorvettes. Ms. Clements will be inducted into the Oklahoma Music Educators Hall of Fame in January. Under her direction, the Chorvettes sang many Christmas favorites. These singers were preparing for their Holiday Follies show December 5-6.
Brenda Callahan, Southeast District OREA Director, gave a legislative report concerning the possibility of a COLA this year for retirees. Chance seem to be slim. A bright note may be legislation to transfer such decisions to the Teacher Retirement Association Board in the next legislation session. Another finding is that TRA is now 80% self funded.
BCRE will celebrate Christmas together at the December meeting, December 19, 10:00 AM in a Donald W. Reynolds Library. Members are asked to bring brunch snacks and inexpensive gifts for a bingo gift exchange.
