April

The Gallia County chapter of the Ohio Retired Teachers Association met April 8, 2010 at the Nazarene Family Life Center. The main course, catered by Becky Naskey consisted of lasagne and chicken pasta alfredo. Wanda Willis made homemade green beans and the officers provided salad and scrumptious homemade desserts.

President Barb Shelton called the meeting to order and welcomed 36 members and guests. We recited the Pledge of Allegiance and Henry Dillon said the blessing.

Marlene Hoffman introduced the speaker for the day, Herman Stewart from Oakhill. He is retired from the Wesleyan Church where he pastored for 20 years. He is an artist who has been painting for 37 years. He prefers to paint portraits and had three beautiful portraits on display. His wife Katie who is a retired teacher makes music CD's one of which he played while he painted a picture. He reminded us that what God has placed in our hands we should use; it does not have to be big, small things are just as important. The point is to use the talents we have. Every season has its beauty: Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring. His painting represented the Winter, he donated it as one of the raffle prizes. Jeannine Cunningham was the lucky winner of this painting. Katie gave away several of her CD's.

Karen Cornell volunteer chairperson presented Marlene Hoffman with the plaque for the most volunteer hours, 932 hours. Marlene thanked Karen for the plaque and stated that she was shocked when she added up the hours and checked her math to make sure it was correct. She said that while she was teaching she looked forward to volunteering as a retiree and feels blessed that she is able to be doing exactly as she envisioned; she stated she receives much more from her volunteer work than she gives.

Under committee reports Marlene Hoffman, webmaster, reported that she has been asked to serve on a newly formed committee of the state organization, the Website Guidelines Committee. She attended a meeting at the ORTA offices in Columbus on March 11, 2010. At this meeting the committee formulated website guidelines, which are now being presented to area meetings around the state. After the area meetings the committee will put together a final draft to be approved at the Spring board meeting of ORTA.

The raffle netted $113. Jeannie Cunningham had the first number drawn and selected the painting by Herman Stewart. Janet Wetherholt donated framed photographs of the city park and the Delta Queen, which were won by Karen Cornell, Marlene Hoffman and Nancy Hood. A beautiful afghan handcrafted by Nancy Hood was won by Wil Church and a wooden hanging-rack made by Norm Snyder was won by Kristy Woodall. The meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Marlene Hoffman, Secretary

NEXT MEETING: June 10 at the Presbyterian Church;