President's Message
Elizabeth (Betty) Weller, President
It’s happened again…another Labor Day holiday has come and gone, a new academic year has begun, the weather is beginning to change, football season is upon us, leaves will soon be turning and falling from trees, and there is a new group of newly retired school personnel. I’m notsure why this seems surprising because it happens every year. Maybe it’s because it seems to come more quickly every year! Summer break is over.
While summer is over, the work of the Maryland Retired School Personnel Association never took a break. The staff and members worked planning events and meetings for the upcoming year, the Community Service and Legislative committees had meetings, and the staff is processing new members and updating membership lists. To that end, I’d like to personally thank our Executive Director and the wonderful staff for working so hard on behalf of MSRPA members!
I’d also like to thank all of you for being members. Without you, we have no organization. Next year will mark 80 years since the inception of MRSPA. Teachers originally banded together to protect our pensions. Over the years, the organization has morphed to become more inclusive and to include more opportunities for those who join. As with any organization, we will be as strong and productive as our membership is. How can members be productive? Join a committee: the Membership Committee to help us grow, the Legislative Committee to help protect our pensions and pass laws that impact you, other members, and other older citizens, the Scholarship Committee to give a boost to those still in the classroom educating our students, and the list goes on. Take advantage of the travel programs and other member benefits. Perform community service with colleagues to keep connected to the community, take advantage of the opportunities and the chances to make stronger bonds with colleagues, friends and matters of importance to retirees. Stay in the know and have fun doing it.
There are two more things I’d like to ask you to do. First, be intentional about growing our membership. Talk to friends and others who have retired, or who are about to retire.
Let them know who MRSPA is and what we do. Share that for less than $5.00 a month, they can be part of the group that looks out for our financial and social well-being. They can have fun staying involved, connected and in touch with other school personnel who have retired. Statistics show that many people who don’t join an organization like ours don’t join because they were never
personally asked. It only takes a minute to ask a friend/colleague! Second, in case you haven’t heard, there is an election in just a few weeks. It is our right as citizens in a democracy to cast our votes for the candidates of our choice. Please accept that responsibility: become informed, make sure you are registered and go to the polls on election day to cast your vote for the candidate of your choice.
I look forward to meeting many of you, working with you in the year to come andbuilding a bigger, stronger MRSPA!
Betty Weller,
MRSPA President