Attending the 2012 Kentucky Retired Teachers Association convention were (front row) Sue Wood, secretary, Eloise Hadden, delegate, (back row) Jackie Powell, delegate and Clarence Gamble, president.

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Clarence Gamble, president of the Russellville/Logan County Retired Teachers Association, accepted the bronze certificate at the 2012 state convention.

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On April 24, 400 leaders of the Kentucky Retired Teachers Association attended the 44th annual state convention in Louisville. This year’s theme was “Living the Dream.”

As Kentucky Retired Teachers Association President Edwin Cook III called the meeting to order, informative speakers waited in the wings of the ballroom of the Holiday Inn. Gary L. Harbin, executive secretary of the Kentucky Teacher’s Retirement System in Frankfort brought his experience of working with KTRS governance, operations and investments, as well as his 30 years of experience with public pension plans. He was preceded by senior legislative representative for the NRTA: AARP’s education director, Dara Lenhof Dann’s presentation: State Pensions: Nationwide Trends. The state winner of the AARP/KRTA grandparent essay contest, Autumn Campbell, a fifth grader from Wayne County, read her award-winning essay. Her grandmother, her family and her teacher were introduced.

The keynote speaker at the afternoon session was Gary Montgomery, a motivational speaker and storyteller.

During the afternoon, the delegate assembly was updated on membership, health & insurance and legislative issues.

Among those listening and learning were Clarence Gamble, president of the Russellville/Logan County Retired Teachers Association, Sue Wood, secretary and delegates Eloise Hadden and Jackie Powell.

Recognition was given to the districts and local associations for their achievement in reaching membership goals and for excellence in community service and participation in KRTA. Clarence Gamble accepted the bronze certificate of achievement for the local chapter.

This conference was all about one thing - giving the leaders of Kentucky’s retired teacher the chance to learn about issues affecting retired teachers so they may take this information back to the 118 local organizations throughout the state.

Established in 1957, KRTA is the largest association (28,000-plus members) of retired educators in the state, whose sole purpose is to look out for the welfare of retired educators.