West Virginia Association of Retired School Employees Affiliated with AARP/NRTA VOLUME 28 • NUMBER 1 Summer • 2018 Mirta M. Martin, Ph.D. Fairmont State University, will be the featured From Your speaker at the 2018 Annual Council The Board of Governors Commonwealth University. adviser to former Mexican appointed Mirta M. Martin, Dr. Martin’s career involves President Vicente Fox; President Ph.D. the fifteenth president work in both the public president of Fort Hays I thank each of Fairmont State University and private sectors. As a State University; dean and WVARSE effective January 1, 2018. senior banking executive, professor of management member who Dr. Martin holds a bac- Dr. Martin was recognized at the Reginald F. Lewis responded to calaureate in psychology as a highly effective and College of Business at our request for and political science from innovative practitioner, Virginia State University; attendance at the Duke University; a Master positioning companies for special assistant to the PEIA Task Force of Business Administra- growth and profitability. chancellor of the Virgin- hearings to tion from the University of Her higher education expe- ia Community College speak on behalf Richmond; and a doctor- rience is equally diverse and System; and Execu- of retirees. My ate with an emphasis in successful. She has served tive Vice President and husband and I strategic management and in various academic roles, both addressed leadership from Virginia including senior education See Martin, Page 2 Mirta M. Martin our concerns, and I read the letter from our organization JO ANN HARMAN 2018 W.Va. Teacher of he year will which I also WVARSE President mailed to the complete Task Force. I viewed most of the hear- speak at the Annual Council Banquet ings via my computer. Our retirees were obviously Katlin Thorsell is an agri- their leadership potential her school’s Local School present and for the most part their messages were culture teacher at Washing- and grow as individuals. Improvement Council and consistent with the concerns which we had ad- ton High School in Charles She received her Master Guidance Advisory Council dressed. We need to be cognizant of the outcome Town, West Virginia and the of Science from West Vir- and was elected as president and be ready to respond appropriately. 2018 West Virginia Teacher ginia University in Agri- of the Faculty Senate. She Our insurance benefits continue to be of prime of the Year. While her main culture with an emphasis on was the 2015 Teacher Turn importance. Nevertheless, we need to increase interest is in animal science, Agriculture and Extension the Key representative awareness of our pension concerns. As in the she teaches courses in Intro- Education. Through her for West Virginia at the award-winning television show, THIS IS US, my duction to Agriculture, Food classroom experiences, National Association of thoughts gravitate from my circumstances now and Natural Resources, she has developed an in- Agriculture Educators back to the beginning of my retirement. I retired in Companion Animal Care, terest in special education Convention and she June of 2002. President George W. Bush signed the Greenhouse Production and autism and has re- currently holds the office bill which created the cabinet-level department of and Horticulture. She also ceived additional teaching of reporter for the West See President, Page 2 serves as a FFA advisor and endorsements in those areas. helps her students develop Thorsell has served on See Thorsell, Page 2 Katlin Thorsell and Binding and Printing Morgantown Charleston, WV 25311 WV Charleston, PAID 200 Elizabeth Street Elizabeth 200 U.S. POSTAGE U.S. WVARSE Newsletter WVARSE NONPROFIT ORG NONPROFIT Page 2 — Summer 2018 ExEcutivE DirEctor’s column From the Executive Director During the past year, appreciates all the WVARSE Legislative their jobs well as of the year will speak many changes have retirees who attended Chair for the last eight regional directors. I at the banquet followed occurred. Educators PEIA Task Force meet- years and has done an attended each regional by a Sing-a-long led by and Service Personnel ings and spoke. We impressive job leading meeting this year and Pat Schillings, Carol walked out taking a will have some new the committee in creat- all were well-planned Williams and Denis stand for more money faces on the 2018- ing legislative goals and executed. We will Chapman. Annual and better PEIA ben- 19 WVARSE Board. for each of those years. miss the leadership and Council Registration efits. In my opinion, Legislative Chair Bill Bill will be missed. We companionship of the forms will be posted on PEIA was the main fo- Hammonds is stepping will be electing new three directors who will the website. cus of the strike. PEIA down and incoming regional directors for not be serving those po- Please complete issues have still not president Mary Ann Regions II, IV and VI sitions after the Annual the form and click the been resolved and may Ferris plans to appoint this year. John Taylor, Council. The cost of submit button to return William G. ‘Bill’ Milam result in another walk- John Taylor to that Rick White and Patty the Banquet is $20.00. it to me. Executive Director out this fall. WVARSE position. Bill served Adkins have performed The 2018 WV Teacher EXECUTIVE BOARD a Master’s Degree plus old, so I have achieved the to attract members with President 30 graduate hours and life expectancy projected the help of AMBA. President Jo Ann Harman From Page 1 the amount of experience in 2002, but how can I This is my final article (304) 749-7322 [email protected] Homeland Security which which I had acquired. survive in 2018? Retirees, as president. I could not President-elect Mary Ann Ferris has become significantly Now, just as in the televi- THIS IS US! And THIS is have asked for a finer (304) 592-2061 [email protected] important in our current sion show THIS IS US, why I am concerned about group of members to Secretary Norma Taylor society. The Euro began I flash forward to the the future of retirees in serve. I appreciate the (304) 842-4213 [email protected] official circulation in the present. Hourly minimum WV. Let us unite to adopt hospitality extended to Treasurer Judy Staubly European Countries. wage has now escalated legislative goals to address both me and my hus- (304) 269-5494 [email protected] Minimum wage was $5.15 to $8.75. I made compa- both our insurance and band as we have traveled Immediate Past President Danny Gray an hour. Life expectancy rable purchases, but now pension concerns. throughout our beautiful (304) 645-2529 [email protected] was 77.2 years. When the first-class stamp costs My crusade during my state. The three Regional Executive Director William G. Milam I walked away from 50¢, the loaf of bread is term as president has been Meetings which I attended (304) 610-0192 [email protected] Room 22 at Petersburg $2.50, the cheapest pound to increase and invigo- were well-organized by High School and from Parliamentarian Danny Gray of margarine is $1.00, rate membership. I have the Regional Directors my forty-year career, I definitely not the qual- not seen the increase in and well-attended by the (304) 645-2529 [email protected] made a few purchases. I ity that I purchased in numbers that I anticipated, membership. I have been Scholarship Sharon Vance bought a first-class stamp 2002, the half gallon of but I appreciate every blessed with an Executive (304) 456-4907 [email protected] for 34¢. At the grocery milk is $1.37, and gas is effort made to recruit Board par excellence. Our Historian Mary Pat Glover store I purchased a loaf of $2.85! My 2002 purchases retired school employees president-elect, Mary Ann (304) 273-2804 [email protected] bread for $1.00, a pound totaled $4.80; my 2018 as members and spouses, Ferris, and I have worked Membership Clerk Rita Hammond of margarine for 86¢, and purchases totaled $8.22. retired state workers, together on many aspects (304) 623-0929 [email protected] a half gallon of milk for That is nearly doubled and others as associate of WVARSE, and I am Newsletter Editor Darlene Milam $1.16. I bought gasoline in price! My pension is members. I urge everyone unconditionally assured (304) 610-2935 [email protected] for $1.38 a gallon. I could based on my 2002 salary, to continue this campaign. that she will lead our Region I Charmel Radcliff afford those purchases and insurance has gnawed I am excited that we will organization with skill, (304) 684-2133 [email protected] with my salary, based on away at it! I am 77 years implement a new brochure dignity and enthusiasm. Region II John Taylor (304) 265-5514 [email protected] Region III Carol Williams tion and Investment. She ceived numerous awards, United States, Dr. Martin Martin was appointed by former among which are: uses her interpersonal and (304) 927-2910 [email protected] From Page 1 Region IV Rick White Governor Tim Kaine to • The Humanitar- cultural expertise to work (304) 675-3875 [email protected] Executive Director of the serve on the Virginia Coun- ian Award for Academic diligently to promote access Region V Steve Bailey John Tyler Community Col- cil on the Status of Women. Excellence; to affordable educational (304) 887-3723 [email protected] lege Foundation. West Vir- She is active in many educa- • The Presidential opportunities. She and her ginia Governor Jim Justice Region VI Patty Adkins tional, civic and charitable Volunteer Service Award husband, John, who is an appointed Dr.