We are an affiliate of MRSPA, MD Retired School Personnel.
History of SMCPSRA
As of 2011
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On September 21, 1971 a small group of fourteen retired St. Mary’s County teachers met under the leadership of Ms. Violette Young, a retired elementary school supervisor, to form an organization. At that meeting the St. Mary’s County Retired Teachers’ Association was started and Elmer Olsen was elected the first president. The first vice president was Violette Young and the first Secretary/Treasurer was Mildred Reeves.
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The name of the association was constitutionally changed to the St. Mary’s County Public Schools Retirees Association in March of 2006 and thus encompasses all retired public school employees. There have been 23 presidents and 12 vice presidents.
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The mission of The St. Mary’s County Public Schools Retirees Association is comprised of retired school system personnel. It serves as an advocacy for its members and provides expanding services, empowering them to enrich the quality of their lives. The association is dedicated to excellence in education and life-long learning. It promotes community service by its members through a great number of volunteer activities.
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Although there have been many changes in the association since its beginning, many things have remained in place. We are still supporting the “Lettie Marshall Dent Scholarship Fund” as it was originally named. We also continue to have social events in the 3 luncheons and 2 brunches a year and have continued our participation in and support of the St. Mary’s County Nursing Home with not one but two birthday parties for residents. Many of our retired members volunteer in our public and private schools as tutors or teacher’s assistants and as docents at historical sites in St. Mary’s County.
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Some community projects have been added and St. Mary’s County Retired School Personnel Association participates in donations to local food pantries, books for children at Christmas, and school supplies for kids in the fall.
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Besides our lunches and brunches SMCPSRA provides members with the opportunities to travel, attend concerts and/or dinner theaters etc. What a wonderful way to keep in touch with our friends.
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SMCPSRA works with your local Board of Education, advocates on your behalf on legislative issues, and maintains a communication network. As was stated in material from the 25th anniversary “Vigilance is needed to monitor our health care status and constant scrutiny is required to guard our pension fund.”
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SMCPSRA has 281 members and is growing all the time. Forty years and going strong! That’s quite an accomplishment from our humble beginnings with an idea of Violette Young and the fourteen original members.
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2021 is the 50th anniversary of SMCPSRA. We now have 348 state and local members as of 5/2022.
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Members of the First St. Mary's County Retired Teachers Association - 1971
Lola Berger
Mabel Brotemarkle-Ohm
Virginia Bussler
LaVerne Fenwick
Eleanor Mattingly
Beatrice Meredith
Elmer Olson—President
Mona Olson
Mary E. Palmer
Mildred C. Reeves—Secretary/Treasurer
Carrie Statesman
Louella Waters
Ralph Waters
Violette Young—Vice President