February 10 meeting for Moore's Retired Educators

The next meeting of Moore County's NCRSP will be in the MCS Board Room at 10:00 Tuesday, February 10.

Attendees will hear updates on a variety of issues impacting our retired educators.  Since the legislature is now in session and the governor has just delivered his State of the State message, the next few months will be crucial in seeing how high a priority the education of our young people is, and how much the state values both public schools and educators.

A few items that will be on the agenda:

• Information on a Membership Development Survey
• Voting on NEA-R delegates
• Information for those attending state convention

Much more will be discussed and these meetings are a great avenue for both sharing and learning pertinent facts on a wide range of issues.  Plan now to attend.

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT!

Retired Educators Celebrate Christmas with Paul Murphy

Our Moore County Retired Educational

Personnel held a festive and informative

meeting on Wednesday, December 3.

The Central Office was decked out for the season.

Sandi Keyser provided tasty holiday snacks.

Sandi called us to order with a wonderful

new bell that caught her eye.  Jingle, jingle.

Ken and Chipper played Christmas music

as members gathered and filled their plates.

Sandi led us through an abbreviated agenda,

settled several administrative matters, shared

information, and reminded all to turn in their

volunteer hours.  Raffle items and door prizes

were handed out to some delighted winners.

Here's a sample of her classy prizes!

With business behind us, it was time for

the big treat of the day: a wonderful time of

Christmas keyboard music by Moore County

maestro Paul Murphy.

Paul's music ranged over the entire spectrum

of holiday favorites, from light-hearted to

dream-like to inspirational.

His music drew in several school employees

from their offices for a much-needed break.

A special moment was when Anita Alpenfels

and Paul blended for an impromptu duet.

A brief video of their performance may be

available on Facebook.  Search Ken Loyd.

The meeting adjourned for the holidays with

everyone's spirits lifted and ready for what

would surely be a happy and busy Christmas.

Retired Teachers Will Gather for Christmas Celebration

Moore County's Retired School Personnel

will be gathering for the last meeting of 2014 and

a Christmas celebration at the Central Office

Board Room on Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 10:00 a.m.

There will be a few business items of

importance presented by President

Sandi Keyser. Volunteer hour sheets

may be turned in at this meeting or 

mailed in by early January.  

And YES, there will be music.  Ken Loyd

will play holiday tunes as we gather and

Dr. Paul Murphy will provide entertainment

during the social time following the brief meeting.

At Thanksgiving, I know all of us retired

teachers are glad we'll have more than a

two week break at Christmas.  But this

poem by one teacher may make you smile

as it conjures up holiday memories.

Hope to see many of you at the

December 3 meeting!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

A Grand Kickoff

The first 2014-2015 meeting of Moore County Retired School Personnel was held Wednesday, October 8 at the Moore County Schools Board Room.

President Sandi Keyser introduced Superintendent Dr. Robert "Bob" Grimesey, who has been at the helm of Moore County Schools since July 1.  Dr. Grimesey spent the first portion of our meeting seeking to capsulize his vision.  He said that we need to strike a balance between the federal and state "fetish" of testing and the creativity and autonomy that are needed in every classroom.

He had this group of retirees hooked when, by chance, he referenced Dr. Madeline Hunter, who had a powerful influence over most Moore County teachers in the late 1970's to early 1980's.  No doubt, her influence lives on.

He spoke of the celebration in three area staff convocations in a manner akin to revival.  He found a sympathetic audience as he spoke passionately of a desire to recapture or recreate a sense of family in our school system.  Having served 31 years in Virginia, Dr. Grimesey assured us he still "some ammunition in his chamber" and intends to finish his career here.  After hearing a taste of his wisdom and enthusiasm, we are hoping his stay will be a long one.

In the business portion of our meeting that followed, Sandi had to keep up a quick pace to cover our agenda.  We had the usual reports, a memorial service for Brownie Parish, and set up school liaisons for information sharing. We accepted delegates for our March State Convention, went over community participation survey and report sheets, and passed out an array of helpful NCRSP documents.  These included, in part, our mission and purpose statement, new regional maps, lists of our local officers and committee chairs, and our Moore County calendar.

Our next meeting will be Wednesday, December 3, at 10:00 in the Moore County Schools Board Room.  The program will include Christmas safety and a Christmas party with entertainment.  Members are reminded to pass the word to other retirees who may wish to join our "merry band."

Moore County RSP: October Meeting Kicks Off Realignment as Region 6A

On Wednesday, October 8, 2014, Moore County Retired School Personnel will conduct our first meeting of this school year.  We will meet at 10:00 a.m. in the Moore County Schools board room.

Due to realignment , we are no longer District 8.  We are now Region 6A, along with Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Richmond, Robeson, and Scotland Counties.  Our President and former District 8 President Sandi Keyser will serve as a Co-Director for Region 6, along with Rosalyn Sampson, former District 10 President.

Sandi Keyser reports that the changes have been very successful on the Regional and State Levels, and that she and other leaders are looking forward to meeting new challenges in our local unit.

Other meetings this year will be as follows:
December 3, 2014
February 11, 2015
April 8, 2015

Make plans now to attend all of these meetings.

Big Changes Underway for NCRSP: Called June Meeting announced

Moore County NCRSP President Sandi Keyser has announced a special called meeting of our local unit for 10:00 a.m. on June 23.  The location will be the MCS Board Room at the Administration Building.

The purpose of the meeting will be to elect officers for the coming year, rather than waiting for the first meeting of the 2014-2015 year.  This will aid in the transition that NCRSP locals are  undergoing statewide which will reformulate current districts into new regions.  Many large regions, including Moore County's, will be split into two sub-regions.  Both Cumberland and Robeson Counties will be aligned with us in the new structure.

Please make every effort to attend this special meeting, both for the election and to hear important updates from President Keyser.

Spring Meetings Yield an Abundance of Information

Here is a brief report on both our final

local meeting of the 2013-2014 year and the

 District 8 meeting which followed soon after.

President Sandi Keyser welcomes us to the meeting
at Table on the Green.

State NCRSP President John Hoffman is our honored
guest today.

President Hoffman reviews our over-arching goals
of increasing membership and ensuring benefits.
He discussed our legislative agenda, including supporting
active teachers in the "Decline to Sign" effort and
other moves to protect and strengthen the teaching
profession in North Carolina.

Vivian Kelly led a moving memorial for several
long-time educators in Moore County, notably
Philip McMillan and Robert E. Lee.

Other highlights were the announcement that we
had once again achieved Gold Star status for our
district portfolio and that Celine Bullock of Union Pines
High School will receive this year's scholarship.
Even better, by the end of the district meeting, we had
surpassed our goal for the $750 scholarship.

District 8 Meeting

Leaders from throughout District 8 gather at West
End Methodist Church for annual meeting and
legislative update.

Gene Griffith, our legislative chair welcomes us
and introduces our guests from the legislature.

Rep. Pat Hurley states that she hopes to make amends
for some damage done to educators during the last
budget session.  She said that many things were part
of the budget that were never submitted as a bill, and
thus no input from most legislators was sought.

Members listen intently, as we are concerned not only
for retiree benefits, but for the health and survival of
the teaching profession that we hold so dear.

Rep. Ken Goodman of Richmond County is married
to a school superintendent, and is aware of some unwise
legislation that passed last year.  While acknowledging
budget constraints, he is hopeful some changes will be
made during the short session, which begins May 15.
One of our members, in an incisive observation, suggested
that the best thing the legislature could do would be to
repeal everything they did last year!

In other news, both Randolph and Moore County
units earned the coveted Gold Star award at state
convention.  If Moore County wins it for a third
year we will achieve Platinum status.

District President Sandi Keyser guided us through
a full agenda, next introducing state vice-president
Terry Mitchell. 

Terry explained in detail the reasons NCRSP must
convert from districts to regions beginning July 1, 2014.
For Moore County, this means a realignment including
counties all the way to New Hanover.  There is a
possibility that our new Region 6 will be split into A and B.

Joan Bass, our state Legislative Report Chair
reviewed  several pertinent items and reminded us
of the varied ways we can participate in electing
friends of education.

Pam Deardorf, our legislative lobbyist, spoke
passionately about the critical state of things in
the legislature and the need for grassroots input.

We all left our meeting feeling a sense of

urgency in our role as advocates for the 

profession we love, and better equipped to

play and active role in the important days ahead.