The meeting featured a variety of guest speakers, presentation of annual awards, and the popular "split the pot" and Credit Union door prizes.
Outgoing President Roxanne Lagarde, left, presents the gavel to Incoming President Donna Harvin.
Dr. John Foster Service Award
Roxanne Lagarde was honored with the Dr. John Foster Service Award, the first time it was presented. She was given the award by Board Member Bill Brady.
Rosemary Foster, widow of the late Dr. Foster, was on hand to witness the presentation of the award, as were two of his sons.
Lifetime Achievement Award
This year's Lifetime Achievement Award was presented by Bill Brugmann, at left below, to Rhonda Chambers.
Rhonda Chambers with the Lifetime Service Award
In Memoriam
The association also remembered its members who had passed away in the previous year. A rose was placed in a memorial vase by members, each one recognizing the contributions made by those who had departed.
Those recognized in the Memorial Service were Dr. John Foster, Cliff Brown, Patricia Arsenault, Dennis Sharp, Janet Zeldon, Belinda Levy, Bill Ferrer, Mary Ferrer, Hank Ferrer and Jack Salter.
"We believe that our joys will be greater, our love will be deeper, and our lives will be fuller because we have shared the world with these wonderful members of our St. Tammany Retired School Employees Association," Lagarde stated. A moment of silence paid tribute to those colleagues and dedicated educators.
In other meeting activities, Ron Caruso gave the treasurer's report and Renee Arsenault gave the secretary's report. Both were adopted by the membership. Ms. Arsenault was thanked for her years of service as the group's secretary.
Roxanne Lagarde congratulated Jack Loup for winning recognition at the spring LRTA conference by receiving the District III Foundation Leadership Award.
Lagarde also reported that at the LRTA Spring Conference the local association had won a certificate signifying the honor of having the top number of Associate Members in LRTA in the state.
The meeting featured tables full of good things to eat and time for members to visit with each other and the special guest speakers.
The final meeting of the school year was highlighted by the drawings held for Split the Pot, and door prizes by the St. Tammany Federal Credit Union.
