Launching into a busy spring, several members of Moore County's unit of NCRSP recently attended State Convention in Durham.  They'll have much news to share in our remaining meetings for 2013, both to be held in April.

First, on Monday, April 15, is our District 8 Member's Annual Meeting.  It will be held at West End United Methodist Church, near the intersection of Highways 211 West and 73 East.  Registration begins at 9:30 and the meeting starts at 10:00.

Pam Deardoff

Lacy Presnell

Our lobbyists, Pam Deardoff and Lacy Presnell, will bring us up to date on legislative issues in the current session.  All legislators of each county unit have also been invited.  Members are encouraged to attend to ask questions and to share our legislative concerns.

Dr. Lorna Clack

Then, on Wednesday, April 24 at 10:00, we will hold our final local meeting of the school year at Table on the Green on Midland Road near Pinehurst.  Our guest speaker will be long-time Moore County Schools leader and Board of Education member Dr. Lorna Clack.  Please join us for an informative session followed by a delicious luncheon.  Our scrapbook will be on display and an active and productive year will be reviewed.

February Meeting Filled with Saving Tips and More

The February meeting of our Moore County Retired School Personnel was both eventful and perhaps profitable!  President Sandi Keyser got things rolling with a welcome as members were still signing in.

Sandi allowed Ken Loyd (your faithful blog host) the privilege of introducing his daughter Amanda Talbert, our guest speaker for the morning.  Ken spoke of his pride in Amanda's use of her God-given gifts to help others in need.  In the next half hour she would offer us a crash course in a multitude of ways to improve our budgets, through couponing, make-it-yourself projects, and other creative means.  She would also fill us in on the ministry these skills led her into.

Ken and Amanda

Amanda shared practical, doable strategies that would work for anyone willing to make a plan.  Her advice can be tailored for a single working mother, a family of four, or a retiree on a limited budget.

Amanda guided her listeners through a series of self-evaluative questions so they could decide what budget changes they might consider.

She shared a list of resources including Facebook (under both Amanda Talbert and Fed by Faith) and her blog The Frugal Report.

Amanda closed by telling about the inception of her food and clothing ministry, Fed by Faith, that she operates through her church, Faith Baptist Church.  She told the heart-warming story of helping individuals and families in great need, and her favorite project, Angel Tree, which helps countless families and staff in a nearby Headstart in Candor.

Thank You, Amanda!

Here are a couple of items of interest from our latest issue of Panorama, our statewide newsletter.

This legislative report summarizes this year's goals which could impact every retiree, as well as other educators in the years ahead.

(Click document to enlarge)

Yes, here is our own president, Sandi Keyser, making us proud once again.  Sandi encourages members across the state to be diligent in their valuable community service, and vigilant in recording those hours.  Under her guidance, our Moore County local earned Gold Star status this year.  Congratulations Sandi and Moore County retirees.

(Click document to enlarge)

Prior to the close of the meeting, Sandi reviewed the busy spring schedule:

• March 19-20, 2013   State Convention
• April 15, 2013          District 8 Members' Annual Meeting: West End UMC. Our lobbyists, Pam Deardorf and Lacy Presnell, will bring us up to date on legislative issues.  All legislators for each county unit in District 8 are also invited.
• April 24, 2013           Moore County's Local Unit Meeting: location to be announced

 The meeting would close with Sandi's legendary door prizes, a collection for Backpack Pals, and our raffle which raises funds for our scholarship program.  These attractive birdhouses were fitting with the spring-like day that had brought a good number of retired educators out.

 As the meeting adjourned, we dispersed for various luncheon plans, suitable for such a nice day.

Late Winter into Early Spring is a Busy Time for MCRSP

With two local unit meetings, District 8 Members' Annual Meeting, and State Convention all coming up in the next nine weeks, you can see why Moore County Retired School Personnel are excited.  The flyer below details the meetings and other opportunities.  If you know a Moore County retiree who worked in any capacity in the school system, feel free to pass the word to them.  New members are always welcome.

If you would like a sneak preview of Amanda Loyd Talbert's presentation on "Couponing to Cut Food Costs," you are invited to visit two blogs she created and maintains herself:

• The Frugal Report: All kinds of money-saving tips
• The Recipe Report: A wealth of economical, tasty, and simple (mostly) recipes.

Join us for the February 27 meeting for fun, fellowship, and much more!

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.