The Aroostook County Retired Educators Association (AREA) has readied plans for its 2013 summer sessions.
The organization, founded in 1956, is affiliated with the state-wide Maine Educators Association-Retired (MEA-R) which is now in its 61st year. AREA and MEA-R are also associated with the National Education Association-Retired (NEA-R).
The Aroostook group, reaching an enrollment of 500 members last year, continues to be the largest of the county associations in Maine. Active AREA membership is open to any retired educator or educational support person who has worked in a public or private school system and is receiving a pension through the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MEPERS). Joining offers an opportunity to stay connected with former colleagues and to “keep up with” developments of interest and relevance to both current and future retirees. Members continue to volunteer hundreds of hours in activities benefiting individuals and a variety of groups locally, statewide and nationally.
The first meeting was held June 25 at the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum in Littleton. Following meetings will be held July 30 at UMFK’s Nowland Hall in Fort Kent, Aug. 20 at the Northern Maine Community College in Presque Isle and Sept. 24 at the Caribou Inn and Convention Center. Attendees donate non-perishable food items for local food pantries.
Current officers are: President Patricia Pelletier of Allagash; First Vice President Robert Souther, Caribou; Second VicePresident/Assistant Treasurer Rena Kearney, Mars Hill; Recording Secretary Diane Parent, Caribou; Corresponding Secretary Patricia Dow, Fort Kent; and Treasurer Paul Bouchard, Fort Kent. Carol McElwee, Caribou, the immediate past president, is currently serving in the Maine State Legislature.
If any retired educator would like more information about AREA, call Pres. Pelletier at 398-3378 or Membership Chair Leola Bouchard at 834-5619.
