BARTA Members present for the
March 7, 2023 General Meeting
January 16, 2023
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Paulette Roberts gives a speech after receiving the Beloved Community Award during the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day breakfast at The Commons in downtown Columbus, Ind., Monday, Jan. 16, 2023.COLUMBUS, Ind. —
Retired Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. teacher Paulette Roberts, who has continued her educator role with tutoring local students, dramatic history presentations and more, was named the local African American Pastors Alliance’s Beloved Community Award winner Monday.
The honor was presented in front of an estimated 350 people attending the 26th Annual Rev. Martin Luther King Day Breakfast at The Commons in downtown Columbus. Fred King, who chaired the event, told the crowd that the pastors previously thought Roberts already had won the award a number of years ago.
“That is why she was not recognized much sooner,” King said.
Roberts, who came to Columbus in 1970 and served as the King breakfast keynote speaker just a few years ago, has long been lauded for her passion for teaching both inside and outside the classroom. She has presented single-act vignettes about Black history at places such as the Bartholomew County Public Library during Black History Month and at other times such as Juneteeth when she portrayed characters such as abolitionist Harriet Tubman.
She has coordinated exhibits about Black history dating back years ago at the original Commons.
Award presenter Whitney Gaines, a local middle school teacher, said she has always admired Roberts.
“She’s a whole vibe,” Gaines said. “She deserves all the accolades. She is an example of what it actually looks like to do this (community) work.”
For the complete story and more photos, see Tuesday’s Republic.
Brian Blair
The Republic
BARTA Members Meet for their
late fall November 15, 2022 meeting
BARTA members met at Sandy Hook Methodist Church on Tuesday, November 22. Everyone was excited to meet and visit friends and enjoy a great meal. Dr Laura Hack presented timely information about BCSC. Janice Montgomery presided over our business meeting that followed. A good time was had by all.
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Mary Kendrick shared her life time memories of Bill Mihay and his legacy he left to BCSC and the community.
BARTA Members meet again at the Fall
2022 General Meeting
BARTA members met at Sandy Hook United Methodist Church to enjoy a delicious meal. We had the opportunity to renew some long-time friendships, and listen to an engaging speaker, Larry Perkinson.
barta members receive community service awrds
BARTA members meet for the first time in two years at Four Seasons for our Spring meeting on May 10, 2022. Members who served more than 400 hours of community service were announced at the meeting. Fourteen members were announced during the meeting. Three members were present to receive awards for their service.
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Marilyn Brackney and Georgianna Waldrop receive Service certificates for their volunteer work.
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Dan Fleming received a certificate for his community service and BARTA volunteer of the Year Award. Dan was also recognized for receiving the IRTA CASA Volunteer of the Year Award.
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BARTA Recipients receive Several State awards
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The Indiana Retired Teachers Association met in June 2022 for their annual meeting. Retired teachers representing their local retired teacher organizations met in Indianapolis for the IRTA Representative Assembly. BARTA was well represented at the meeting. We received several state awards. The photos above show BARTA President Janice Montgomery and Vice President LuAnne Davis receiving State awards for Outstanding Website, Outstanding Group Project Award and Facebook production.
Dan Fleming won the IRTA State Award for Volunteer of the Year and Outstanding CASA Volunteer.
Congratulations to all for a job. Well done!
Dan Fleming won the IRTA State Award for Volunteer of the Year and Outstanding CASA Volunteer.
Congratulations to all for a job. Well done!
Pack the State House for Education Days
This was an email sent to Janice Montgomery, BARTA President about going to the State Legislature to lobby our legislators in regard to critical issues that would affect education and teachers in Indiana if passed. The note was sent by Mandy Keele from ISTA. If any BARTA members are interested, please contact Janice at lmont72@comcast.net and ISTA at: https://www.mobilize.us/ista-in/event/439407/
The note reads:
I hope this finds you safe and warm under this blanket of snow! I wanted to reach out and share information about a series of events that ISTA is organizing, and if you're willing, I'd love it if you could share this with other BARTA members.
As you have likely seen, there are a series of anti-education, anti-academic freedom, and anti-teacher bills in the statehouse right now. It has been horrifying to watch one of them advance (HB 1134), but the concepts in that bill are contained in many other bills and could come up in a variety of other ways.
ISTA is organizing Pack the House days February 7th through the 10th and the 14th through the 17th. The goal is to fill the Statehouse with as many people as possible to stand ready to push back as lawmakers discuss, debate, amend, and more the many bills about which we are concerned. People that attend will be able to participate in the legislative process to the degree they're comfortable or can simply attend to lend more bodies and presence to the cause. These days are not just for current teachers or members of ISTA--we already know of many parents and community members that are going.
If anybody from BARTA is willing to attend, we would deeply appreciate it.
Once you have registered to attend a Pack the House day, you will receive an email at the latest the day prior to your day explaining what the agenda will be for the day you attend. People will be able to participate to their comfort level, but activities could include testifying in favor of/against a bill, submitting written testimony, meeting with a lawmaker, sitting in the galleys, and/or just being in the statehouse with Red for Ed imagery, lending visible support to the cause.
Each Pack the House day will start with a briefing at the ISTA building one block from the statehouse. Staff will be able to assist participants with whatever it is they're comfortable doing, whether it be testifying or simply being present.
In particular, we are looking for folks that can attend this Monday, February 7th, and/or Tuesday, February 8th, though we would love for folks to register for any and all days that they're able to participate. They can register at this link: https://www.mobilize.us/ista-in/event/439407/
Of course, please let me know if you have any questions and hope you're doing well!
The note reads:
I hope this finds you safe and warm under this blanket of snow! I wanted to reach out and share information about a series of events that ISTA is organizing, and if you're willing, I'd love it if you could share this with other BARTA members.
As you have likely seen, there are a series of anti-education, anti-academic freedom, and anti-teacher bills in the statehouse right now. It has been horrifying to watch one of them advance (HB 1134), but the concepts in that bill are contained in many other bills and could come up in a variety of other ways.
ISTA is organizing Pack the House days February 7th through the 10th and the 14th through the 17th. The goal is to fill the Statehouse with as many people as possible to stand ready to push back as lawmakers discuss, debate, amend, and more the many bills about which we are concerned. People that attend will be able to participate in the legislative process to the degree they're comfortable or can simply attend to lend more bodies and presence to the cause. These days are not just for current teachers or members of ISTA--we already know of many parents and community members that are going.
If anybody from BARTA is willing to attend, we would deeply appreciate it.
Once you have registered to attend a Pack the House day, you will receive an email at the latest the day prior to your day explaining what the agenda will be for the day you attend. People will be able to participate to their comfort level, but activities could include testifying in favor of/against a bill, submitting written testimony, meeting with a lawmaker, sitting in the galleys, and/or just being in the statehouse with Red for Ed imagery, lending visible support to the cause.
Each Pack the House day will start with a briefing at the ISTA building one block from the statehouse. Staff will be able to assist participants with whatever it is they're comfortable doing, whether it be testifying or simply being present.
In particular, we are looking for folks that can attend this Monday, February 7th, and/or Tuesday, February 8th, though we would love for folks to register for any and all days that they're able to participate. They can register at this link: https://www.mobilize.us/ista-in/event/439407/
Of course, please let me know if you have any questions and hope you're doing well!
RETIRED TEACHERS’ COLA RESTORED BY 2021 LEGISLATURE
FOR FIRST TIME IN 12 YEARS!
RETIRED TEACHERS’ COLA RESTORED BY 2021 LEGISLATURE, FOR FIRST TIME IN 12 YEARS!
In response to this change, IRTA commissioned an actuarial study to review the effects of the change from a "13th " check and the new COLA. The results found were that the "13th" check was more beneficial to retirees than the COLA increase.
- 45,800 of the total 60,500 retired educators have an average monthly pension of $2,000 or less each month. So if we do the math, 1% of $2,000 is $20 increase each month or $240 for the year. This is less than the "13" check amount we have received over the last several years.
- 31,000 of the total 60,5000 retired educators have an average monthly pension of $1,500 or less. The 1% COLA then calculates to just a $15.00 increase per month or $180 for the year. This again is less that the "13th" check we received the past several years.
BARTA Legislative Chair John Quick and the 2021 Legislature
“The big takeaway from the legislative session for us is that COLA (Cost Of Living Allowance) has been reestablished. We haven’t seen COLA in our pensions for more than a decade. The COLA is only 1%, but this is better than a 13th check as we get the compounding effect year after year. We have long lobbied for COLA and it initially appeared it was unlikely to happen this year. However, a sudden influx of $2 billion of unpredicted revenue materialized.
Senator Everett Dirkson once said, “A billion here, a billion there and pretty soon you are talking real money.” A few billion dollars of federal stimulus money came our way and it had the effect of helping the state revenue to a tune of a few billion more than the December projections. All session the majority party kept telling the minority party that they had good ideas, but “we just don’t have the money.” And then, when we suddenly had the money, it created probably the best budget in memory. That is evidenced by the fact that only five of the 150 legislators voted against this amazing budget. Most generally the minority party votes no.
In a macro sense the legislature puts about a billion dollars a year into the pension fund. Remember, the Teacher Retirement Fund (TRF) and the Public Employee Retirement Fund (PERF) are now under the same umbrella. About a half a million Hoosiers fall under this umbrella, including legislators should they be vested with 10 years of tenure. We saw an additional $400 million from the unexpected revenue directed toward reestablishing the COLA. The pension fund is solvent and we should see it nearing the $40 billion range in a few years. This is important to note because our pre-1996 retirement colleagues had no real money in the bank to support their pension. They were dependent upon the legislators to guess how much money would be needed each biennium.
About a billion new dollars were directed toward K-12 public education. Locally BCSC will get 4.4% the first year and 3.2% the second year. That is a little less than the 4.5% each year that you may be reading about for districts across the state. This increase comes with a caveat that at least 45% of the dollars are to be directed toward teachers’ salaries and that the beginning teacher salary be at least $40,000. BCSC will meet this expectation.
Come Join Us! We are looking for you
BARTA members Larry Klebenow, Jon Moore and Linda DeClue enjoy the lunch at Four Seasons.
Is there anything better than getting together with old friends and colleagues? Well, maybe, but seeing those folks with whom we can share our stories or who remember those extraordinary students and school events is very special. BARTA offers friendship and fellowship that grows from our past but connections and programs that keep us up-to-date with education and community matters.
Membership in BARTA is open to any current or former teacher or school administrator and their spouse.
The membership fee is only $10 per year. In August of each year BARTA sends a newsletter to current and prospective members, and included is a membership card that can be completed and returned so we can add new members to our roll. If you are not now a member but are interested in attending a meeting or receiving the August newsletter, just complete the Contact Form on the Resources & Contact page of this website. You may also call 812-372-7458.
Membership in BARTA is open to any current or former teacher or school administrator and their spouse.
The membership fee is only $10 per year. In August of each year BARTA sends a newsletter to current and prospective members, and included is a membership card that can be completed and returned so we can add new members to our roll. If you are not now a member but are interested in attending a meeting or receiving the August newsletter, just complete the Contact Form on the Resources & Contact page of this website. You may also call 812-372-7458.
Please consider joining BARTA. It's easy, fun, and inexpensive, four times a year.
BARTA MEMBERSHIP MAY BE OPEN TO YOU
BARTA is an organization with a broad outreach among retired teachers, school administrators, and their spouses and companions. Our 290-member roll includes people from Bartholomew County and the surrounding counties of Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings, and Johnson counties. Loyalty to and support for our public school systems and BARTA have also prompted memberships from folks now living in Arizona, California, Florida, Pennsylvania, and others.
The general membership of BARTA meets four times per year, September, November, March and May, for lunch and a program, followed by a business meeting. Generally the meetings last about 1 1/2 hours so that folks can be on their way by 1:00 pm.
The general membership of BARTA meets four times per year, September, November, March and May, for lunch and a program, followed by a business meeting. Generally the meetings last about 1 1/2 hours so that folks can be on their way by 1:00 pm.
For only $35 per year, your membership adds strength in numbers to the Association when we lobby on behalf of Indiana's retired teachers to the state legislature for a cost of living (COLA) to pensions and a one-time payment (13th check) to retirees. By joining, you help to:
Join your fellow retirees today! The membership form is available on the IRTA website: http://portal.retiredteachers.org/cgi-bin/register.pl For more details, go to https://www.retiredteachers.org/membership/ OR for more info about benefits, go to http://www.retiredteachers.org/benefits |
Benefits can more than pay for your $35 IRTA membership: AMBA Benefits for IRTA Members Personal security: Life Alert services Insurance: Dental; Vision; 1st Diagnosis Cancer; Medicare Supplement; Medical Air Services; Long Term Care; Short Term Home Health Care; Whole Life; ID Protection; Auto; Home Dining: Discounts for area restaurants Travel: Inscribe Africa, Orlando Employee Tickets, TravelPerx, Road Scholar, Government Employee Travel Electronics: Apple products; Dell products Lifestyle: 1-800-Flowers Investments: Tax-Deferred Annunity Other Discount Providers Hotels: LaQuinta Inn Rental Cars: Hertz, Budget and Avis Phone Service: AT&T; Verizon Insurance: MetLife; VPI Pet Insurance Security Service: Life Alert, Identity Theft Protection Home and Health Aids: Hear in America, Premier Care in Bathing Airport Parking: Fast Park & Relax Realty Services: Homes for Heroes For more information, go to https://www.retiredteachers.org/member-benefits . |
In Meroroium
mEMBERS WHO PASSED
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THE ANGELS
THE ANGELS LOOKED DOWN FROM HEAVEN ONE NIGHT. THEY SEARCHED FOR MILES AFAR, AND DEEP WITHIN THE DISTANCE THEY COULD SEE A SHINING STAR. THEY KNEW THAT VERY INSTANT THAT THE STAR WAS THEIRS TO GAIN, SO THEY TOOK YOU UP TO HEAVEN, FOREVER TO REMAIN. LOOK DOWN ON US FROM HEAVEN. KEEP US FREE FROM HURT AND PAIN. YOU'LL ALWAYS BE WITHIN MY HEART UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN. 2020 - 2021 Norris Moore
Don Reed Mary A. Clark Phyllis Baker Paul Riddle Raymond Jones Ellen Hughes Ruth Hamilton Willis Hagan Wallace Cantrell Jo Ann Cline Donald Delaney Kenneth Tull Dennis Sylvester Reta Mae Slaughter Norman Lewis Bill Mihay Shirley Thickstun Jewel Fleetwood Raymond Betz Bob Welsch Tim Voorhies |
Lydia Bohn Donna Ostrick Nancy Whitaker Robert Sprague Jewel Fleetwood Dale Stelting Robin Whited Gary McBride Nancy Battleson Barbara Johnson Doris Hoffman Margaret Stephens Harold Whishon Thomas Byers Joann Scrifres Betty Welch Carole Goshorn Hal Driver, Jr. Anne Hoffman Marie Clouse Linda Boyte White Marian Callon Mickey Land James Kevin Butler September 2021 - April 2022 Joseph Giovanini George McKinney Mikel Lewman Jay Heath Jane Starr Bill McCaa Natalie Lavengood Dick Howe |
EDucators who have passed since april 2022
Beverly Mead Thompson Marcia Dickherber
Shirley Richards Audy Waldrop
Bob Harden Margaret Kelly Dismore
Alyssa Dempsey Barbara Piper
Shirley Richards Audy Waldrop
Bob Harden Margaret Kelly Dismore
Alyssa Dempsey Barbara Piper
in memory of our friends and colleagues who passed in 2019-2020
Norris Moore Don Reed Hal Driver, Jr. Anne Hoffman Marie Clouse Linda Boyte White Lydia Bohn Donna Ostick Nancy Whitaker Robert Sprague Dale Stelting Robin Whited Gary McBride |
Nancy Battleson Barbara Johnson Doris Hoffman Margaret Stephens Harold Wishon Thomas Byers Mary A. Clark Phyllis Ann Baker Paul Riddle Raymond Jones Ellen Hughes Ruth E. Hamilton Willis Hagan |
