2020 Meetings
Click here for 2020 photos.
JANUARY 14 MEETING Meeting Summary Newsletter
Mid-Jefferson County Retired School Personnel met January 14, 2020, at the Ritter Senior Center in Nederland. Lynne James presided at the meeting with Kara Timberlake of the Art Museum of Southeast Texas presenting the program. Gail Krohn sent the report of the nominations committee and officers for 2020-2021 were elected. They are Charlie Jehlen, president, Gail Krohn, first vice president, Linda Briggs, second vice president, Donna Lumpkin, secretary, and Wanda Borne, treasurer. Delegates to the state convention were selected and include Becky Dungan, Clara Graham, Lynne James, Jolene Lemaire, and Donna Lumpkin. Hostesses included Becky Dungan (chair), Linda Briggs, Linda Fong, Cathy Purgahn, Dana Wasser, and Rose Reese. The next meeting will be held on February 11, 2020, at the Ritter Center. The program speaker is TBD.
FEBRUARY 11 MEETING Meeting Summary Newsletter
Mid-Jefferson County RSP met at the Ritter Senior Center on February 11 to hear Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick address the members about several topics, mainly the restoration projects underway to restore areas in the county destroyed or damaged by recent natural disasters and the status of the TPC settlements with residents of the county who received damage to their homes. During the business meeting Linda Harrison reported that membership renewals are underway and are progressing well. Scholarship ad sales were concluded with overwhelming support from the community and MJCRSP members. In 2020, the scholarships awarded to seniors at Nederland High School and PNG High School will be increased to $1500. Volunteer hours totaling $576,625.25 of community support were sent to the district chair. The next meeting will be at the Ritter Center on March 10.
MARCH 10 MEETING Meeting Summary Newsletter
Mid-Jefferson County RSP met at the Ritter Senior Center on March 10 with Lynne James, president, presiding. The program was presented by Carol Hall, Loyalty Development Manager of Shell Oil-Houston Area, During the business meeting Linda Harrison reported that membership renewals are progressing well and that there will be a drawing for a year of paid dues from those who joined or renewed memberships in February or March . Scholarship ad sales were concluded with overwhelming support from the community and MJCRSP members. Forty seniors from Port Neches-Groves and Nederland ISDs have applied for scholarships. The next meeting will be at the Ritter Center on April 14 with the program by Frances Thomas, MJCRSP member and author, who will review her book Eight Miles from Nowhere.
MAY 12 MEETING Meeting Summary Newsletter
Held virtually through email.
Held virtually through email.
Mid-Jefferson County Retired School Personnel met via Zoom on September 8, 2020, with President Charlie Jehlen presiding. TRTA First Vice President Marcy Cann addressed members at the beginning of the meeting and emphasized the importance of reaching the100,000 membership goal for the state organization. She encouraged members to "Keep Calm and Carry On." Committee chairs reported on activities of their committees. Lynne James discussed with members various options for delivering yearbooks and asked that members consider selling more scholarship ads in case some of the current ads might not renew due to the economic situation in the community. Legislative Chair Richard Briggs encouraged members to become familiar with candidates on the November 3 ballot, emphasizing that they seek candidates that are pro-teacher. Charlie Jehlen announced the 2020 goals for the local unit. They include maintaining and increasing membership, increasing contacts with active teachers, establishing personal contact with government representatives at every level, and keeping retirees informed of legislative issues of importance. The meeting adjourned at 2:45 with sixteen members and one guest present. TRTA Executive Director Tim Lee will be the guest speaker at the October13 meeting, also held via Zoom.
Charlie Jehlen presided at the October meeting of Mid-Jefferson County Retired School Personnel. The meeting was held via Zoom with TRTA Executive Director Tim Lee as the guest speaker. Reports from several committees were part of the agenda. Children's Book Project Linda Briggs stated that books would soon be ordered and help with funding would be requested from Philpott Ford. Lynne James reported that the 2020-2021 yearbooks are ready to distribute and would also be posted online on the unit website. Mary Sue Carter, I&PS chair, presented information from the FBI regarding COVID scams. Information from the member benefits chair and the TRTF representative was also available to those in attendance. Gail Krohn reported that the membership renewals are still coming in but we still have a long way to go to meet our goal of 300 members. The next meeting will be via Zoom on November 10.
NOVEMBER 10 MEETING Meeting Summary Newsletter
TRTA Legislative Coordinator Nancy Byler addressed members at the November 10 meeting held via Zoom. She emphasized the importance of membership strength in view of the upcoming Legislative session in 2021. She explained in detail how the State Legislative Committee works to improve and protect retiree benefits. She predicted that we will most likely continue meeting via Zoom for the foreseeable future. Also, she spoke of a Rally Zoom Week being an alternative to Rally Day at the Capitol in April 2021. Agenda topics included scholarship ad sales, volunteer hours, and membership. Former United States Representative Nick Lampson will be the guest speaker in December.
DECEMBER 8 MEETING Meeting Summary Newsletter
MJCRSP ended 2020 with an enlightening program by former United States Representative Nick Lampson, currently Co-Chief Operating Officer for Riceland Healthcare. Lampson explained how Medicare Advantage programs came into existence, giving both the pros and cons of the program. Legislative Chair Richard Briggs announced that he and Tim Lee would be meeting with Texas State Representative Dade Phelan in the coming week. Richard also reported on the TRTA 2021 Legislative Agenda for both our state and the nation. Lynne James reported that Retirement Education sessions via Zoom would soon begin and that response from active teachers in both PNGISD and NISD was great. Beulah Thompson again reminded members to report their volunteer hours for 2020. All celebrated the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic had not prevented MJCRSP from holding all our monthly meetings during the year, either virtually or by Zoom.