By Rhonda Chambers
Carmen Jenkins served 31 years with the St. Tammany School Board and retired in 1988. She did general accounting for all funds. The position was later named Accountability Coordinator for School Lunch. Her work entailed working with all Lunchroom Managers on procedures for local, state, and federal reviews. She conducted annual reviews and reviewed all free and reduced lunch applications.
Carmen Jenkins
After retiring she joined the St. Tammany Retired Teachers Association. She worked to have the name changed to the St. Tammany Parish Retired School Employees Association (STPRSEA) so all school board retirees could become involved members.
She soon became the Membership Chair. Carmen used her skills to accurately account for an up to date membership list. She diligently researched the membership list for delinquent members, contacted and deleted names of those not responding, thus putting together a list of actual current members. She then generated a computer master list from which new members could be added or delinquent ones deleted.
Labels could also be generated for mailing purposes. She prepared the first association directory and printed labels for mailing. She then became the Association’s Treasurer where she collected and deposited monies and also handled its investments. She was also involved in prep work for our annual state conference, inviting vendors and deposited monies generated from the conference.
Carmen also worked for the Louisiana School Food Service Association which consisted of all state parishes, city systems and Archdioceses. She did almost the same things as she did for our local association but kept membership by individual chapters and hosted the National Conference.
If that wasn’t enough to keep her busy she began working at her church teaching Bible Fellowship, was soon elected Treasurer, was on the budget committee and served as its chair. Carmen became President of the “Young at Heart’ a senior group at the church also. She volunteered with Hospice, ran an antique shop, and traveled to most states, Europe, and Canada.
Her typical day starts with breakfast eaten out…Marina Bella’s is her favorite spot for breakfast. She enjoys reading at the end of each day and loves mystery books and FBI type thrillers. One of her favorite authors is James Patterson.
Carmen loves to listen to Gospel music.
When asked what is the quality she most likes in a man, Carmen responded, “Has to be easy to get along with and very supportive!”
