Moore County NCRSP met at the

 Moore County Schools board room

on November 28.

President Sandi Keyser brought

a little friend along to bring us

fall greetings.

As members assembled, Ken Loyd

provided a few Christmas tunes.  Sandi

had several "little helpers" bustling around

in preparation for the meeting.  There are

always refreshments to set out, documents 

and handouts to arrange, sign up sheets, 

door prizes, and the list goes on.

After President Keyser called the meeting

to order, she introduced our guest speaker

for the day.  Shannon Bullard, Financial

Services Officer for the State Employees

Credit Union, presented helpful information

from the Estate Planning Essentials Program.

Even members who have already established

estate plans got valuable advice and reminders.

Thank you, Shannon!

(Note: her number at the Credit Union is

910-692-4013)

Sandi led us briskly through a varied list

of agenda items.  Just a few topics were

* Express Scripts Medicare

* Defined benefits pensions

*Our first Gold Star for our unit's notebook

* Info on Wendy Ross, our new state director

* Volunteer Hour Forms were turned in

* Committee reports

Dates for 2013:

Wednesday, February 27 in the MCS Board Room

March 19 & 20 State Convention in Durham

April 24 Tentative date for Spring Social 

(Table on the Green or Squire's Pub suggested)

Retired Educators, please continue to be

advocates for our children, our schools, and

our profession.  Be a mentor to a young teacher

or volunteer in your community school.

And have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

A Full Agenda for First Fall Meeting

Moore County's chapter of NCRSP held

it's first meeting of the 2012-2013 school year.

There was a great deal of business to conduct

and much information to share.

The first item on the agenda was to hear from

Moore County Schools' Superintendent

Dr. Aaron Spence.  Dr. Spence has been at the

helm of our schools since early 2012 and retired

educators were eager to absorb his thoughts on

a variety of topics.

Dr. Spence convincingly dismantled many

contemporary myths about "Failing Public School."

He explained how statistics, when properly viewed,

show just how far education has come in America

in recent decades.

He emphasized that there is much to celebrate

in Moore County Schools and urged us to 

familiarize ourselves with the MCS website:

www.ncmcs.org.

In a round robin introduction, Dr. Spence was

impressed with the experience of the retired

educators in the room.  Our organization has

always seen a clear role as community advocates

for public education, and there is a great need

for that today.  He invited any of us to join his

"Key Communicators" group, with whom he

will periodically share developments in our

local education picture.  He will find no more

dedicated spokespeople anywhere.

Following Dr. Spence's presentation, our

2012-2014 Officers and Committee Chairs

were installed.

New Treasurer Valeen Maness shared a

favorable budget and a scholarship account

balance of $384.79, a good starting point.

President Sandi Keyser reviewed a number

of pertinent handouts, solicited volunteer

school liaisons, and reviewed a list of new

Moore County School retirees.  Members

were encouraged to add this website to their

internet favorites.

Our next meeting will be 

Wednesday, November 28 at 10:00

in the MCS Board Room.

Current and prospective members are welcome.

President Sandi Keyser of Moore County Retired School Personnel recently mailed out dates and plans for the upcoming year to all members.

Our NCRSP unit's first meeting is scheduled for September 19, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. in the Moore County Schools' Board Room.

Our new superintendent, Dr. Aaron Spence, will be the guest speaker.  He will bring us news about our school programs for this year, present his vision for Moore County Schools, and share his background.  Following his presentation, we will have an opportunity to ask him particulars about how we, as retirees, could help our schools.  Collectively, our experience and wisdom make us important and effective advocates for our public schools.  Please make every effort to attend and welcome Dr. Spence.

Please note that this meeting is a Wednesday.  Our meeting dates for 2012-2013 will be on the following Wednesdays:
November 28, 2012
February 27, 2013
April 24, 2013

Keep yourself informed and active during this fall election season.  You have much to share.

Education Quotes for the Day

Retired educators have as much at stake in

the success of America's great public education

system as we did when we served in the classroom.

We've never wanted any child left behind.  And

it's important that the wisdom of our experience

and our advocacy for those with no voice should

be shared across our land.

In our mechanized society where thoughts as

well as automobiles may be assembled in an

automated factory, it is also, by some narrow

logic, expedient to reduce children to those

yes-no codes most easily processed by such a

system . . . .  When life becomes one giant data-

processing system, the winners are those with

the greatest aptitude for being data.

Judith Groch

Education is the biggest business in America.

It has the largest number of owners, the most

extensive and costly plant, and utilizes the most

valuable raw material.  It has the greatest number

of operators.  It employs our greatest investment

in money and time, with the exception of national

defense.  Its product has the greatest influence on

both America and the world.

R.S. Sligh, Jr.

NCRSP Winter and Spring Meetings

Here are the dates for our remaining meetings for this school year:

• February 2, 2012:  Local Meeting at MCS Board Room in Carthage at 10:00 a.m.
• March 21-22, 2012:  State Convention in Winston-Salem
• April 16, 2012:  District 8 Members' Annual Meeting  (9:30- Registration, 10-11:30 meeting)
• April 19, 2012  Our Spring Social/Short Meeting

Retired school personnel can play an important role as advocates for education.  We've been on the front lines for decades and the wisdom of our experience can offer guidance to today's leaders.  In this election year there will be many critical issues on the local, state, and national levels.  Don't be bashful about telling your friends, neighbors, and relatives "How it is."

Teachers Respond Quickly to Legislative Assault

Disclaimer:  The following viewpoint is that of the author, Ken Loyd, and is not intended to represent the varying views among the membership of either NCAE (North Carolina Association of Educators) or NCRSP (North Carolina Retired School Personnel).

If this headline seems inflammatory, it seems mild in comparison to the heavy-handed tactics North Carolina's legislative leaders pushed through earlier this week.  Leader Thom Tillis as much as admitted that the action to prohibit payroll deduction for professional educator dues was "to teach them a lesson," and that "it's just a taste of what's to come."

That's hardly the morale booster an embattled and highly stressed cadre of teachers and other educators need to spur them on to greater heights.  If this sort of intimidation and bullying is not meant to force teachers to keep their ideas to themselves, it may be even more sinister.  Those seeking to punish NCAE, PENC, and NCRSP include those who have pushed strongly for private school vouchers, unlimited charter schools, and across-the-board cuts for public schools.  The gains of three decades, during which North Carolina students have climbed from near the bottom of the nation to average or above, are in danger of being lost.  These gains have been in every area, from reduced dropout rate to nationally recognized gains on NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) and the greatest gains on SAT scores in the nation.

Click HERE to read an excellent summary of today's action by NCAE to challenge the legislative measure.  WRAL details many of the constitutional questions that must be considered.  One thing is certain: committed association members have other options for paying their dues.  But this should be a wakeup call to the vast numbers of non-members who have been asked for years, "Who is YOUR advocate in Raleigh?"  Never has that question been more pertinent nor the answer more frightening.  If your very employer-- the state legislature-- casts you as a villain; if the body that controls your salary, your retirement, and your health care sees you as an adversary, it is past time to take a stand.  For yourself, for your profession, and for the future of our great state.