Join the GCRTA

Dear editor:

According to records at the Arkansas Retired Teachers state office in Little Rock, over 1,000 retired teachers now reside within the Garland County area. Over 230 of them are active members of Garland County Retired Teachers, the official local affiliate of Arkansas Retired Teachers Association.

This letter serves as an invitation from the officers and current members to all retired school personnel — teachers, administrators, secretaries and support personnel — “to join with our local unit at meetings six times a year at Garland County Library. Social hour and refreshments begin at

10 a.m. and an informative program follows at 10:30. The first meeting will be Friday, Sept. 15, at the Garland County Library.

Our 2017-18 yearbooks will be printed in August and we want to include the names of all new members. We encourage you to mail your annual dues of $5 by Aug. 1 to: Billie Ann Dishongh, 115 Bolivar St., Hot Springs, AR 71913. Please include your phone number, mailing address and email address. Payment of dues by this date will insure that a yearbook will be mailed to you on or around Sept. 1.

Legislators and other state officials tend to listen more closely when organizations with a large membership speak out on matters regarding benefits and other issues concerning our retirement. You are encouraged to join GCRTA, where you will meet new friends, renew old acquaintances, enjoy interesting programs and offer support to your local affiliation.

For more information, call Mary Loye, 321-9566, or Billie Ann Dishongh,

525-4208. President Mary Loye First Vice President Kathleen Dockery Second Vice President Joyce Brown Secretary Laura Young Treasurer Billie Ann Dishongh