PREA hears from Coach Kines on joys of teaching
President Andrea Sorrells welcomed well over 60 members and their guests to the second meeting of the 20172018 year of PREA (the Polk Retired Educators Association).
Fall table decorations graced the tables, while people sampled butter braids, which were on sale to aid the Fearst Foundation, as it continues its aid in providing free books to be available to preschool children.
Since many of the Retired Educators drive to their destinations, which may involve volunteering and the like, new updated Driver Safety Brochures were distributed, as well as the names of recent PREA merchant supporters included Braids and Nails Salon, McNabb Tire and Wheel, Alvis Miller and Son Funeral Home Rockmart Police Dept., Smith & Miller Funeral Home, SmithLockwood Drug Store, Statham Tires and Mufflers.
Other organizations mentioned that are seeking volunteers are: Murphy Heart Fund, seeking surrogate parents, One Door in Polk County, and readers in the Elementary Schools in Polk and Cedartown.
Before reading of the Invocation, Patty Rogers expressed the grief felt by the entire Polk County community for the death of Officer Kristen Hearne in September. She shared Rev. 21:4: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. …”
Coach Joe Kines, gave a fantastic inspirational talk on what it takes to be an outstanding coach. Kines told ed- ucators that he felt it takes an outstanding sense of humor and faith in an individual.
He shared stories about students and himself, as he rose in the ranks of coach assistant to ‘Coach of the Year’ several times, and received many other awards. But, he cherished the times, and told the stories of when he had his one-on-one relationships with his players.
Kines also shared that others didn’t understand why he spent so much time with those that others felt would never make it. He used the saying mentioned earlier in the meeting, concerning retired teachers, which said: “I used to teach, now I have no class!”
The next meeting and luncheon of PREA will be this Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at Cherokee Country Club, Cedartown. Members are asked to bring a friend and a canned good.
PREA members Andrea Sorrells and Jaye Sawyer contributed to this report.