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BNCRTSS delivers dictionaries to schools

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Boone and Newton Counties Retired Teachers and Support Staff (BNCRTSS) is our local unit of Arkansas Retired Teachers Association (ARTA) which advocates for the personal, professional, social, and economic benefits of all Arkansas's public education retirees. Any Arkansas educator or support staff retiree is welcome and encouraged to join BNCRTSS and ARTA. It is imperative we grow our organizations to protect our retirement system for all, present and future retirees.

BNCRTSS, an active organization of local retirees encourages, traditional educational values in the activities they promote to provide resources and volunteer opportunities in schools, scholarships, and positive encouragement for teachers, students, and families in the community.

Tuesday, Aug. 10, Beverly Bear and Jane and Charles Adair traveled the majestic drive through the Ozarks to Western Grove, Mt. Judea, and Deer Schools delivering Student dictionaries for their third grade students from the national Dictionary Project. This was a continuation of a tradition of the past. Purchased with a personal memorial donation, this year the dictionaries were dedicated to the memory of, Carl Bear, Beverly’s late husband. Carl and Claude Whited had graciously delivered the dictionaries to these schools for many years. BNCRTSS also contributes to the 20th Century Club for dictionaries given to third graders in Harrison and Boone County schools.

Tuesday night, Aug. 17, Charles joined James Morris, Area VII ARTA president and our local BNCRTSS past president, at the Harrison School Board meeting. Morris now lives in Rogers. Together they presented Harrison Schools Special Education teacher, Stephanie Barr, with a Parsons-Burnett Scholarship Grant. These grants are funded by contributions from ARTA members and Associations who give memorials in memory of the passing of Arkansas local units members. Only presented to about eight teachers state wide, these scholarships usually amount to several thousand dollars to help teachers with the costs to further their education. Congratulations to Mrs. Barr!

Annually, BNCRTSS presents a $500 Irma Adair Memorial Scholarship to one or two North Arkansas College students pursuing a teaching degree. The number of scholarships depends on the number of local members.

Adair encourages keeping our present teachers, support staff, students, and administrators in our thoughts and prayers as school starts this week. Members stood at the corner of Goblin Drive and Capps Road at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 18, holding our Association’s “Welcome Back to School” banner, waving at buses and cars of students, wearing masks following CDC guidelines and setting examples as good citizens. At a past meeting, previous North Ark president Randy Esters said, “Retired teachers have a lot to give, inspire changes. Kids need direction”. He encourages teachers to “never stop teaching or let anyone get in your way” as his grandmother once told him.

Why Join ARTA and BNCRTSS? There is strength in numbers - the greater our membership base, the more effectively we are able to advocate for policies and legislation that benefit all public education retirees. In return for your support, we'll provide you with information and opportunities to help you make the most of your retirement. If you wish to support scholarships or dictionaries for local and area students, please pay your local dues of $15, send payment to Linda Mathis, treasurer, 1382 Old Bellefonte Road, Harrison, AR 72601. Monthly luncheons are again postponed till further date. Mathis or any member can also give you information to join ARTA.

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