Each year, the state organization presents a similar check to the governor of Texas and this year the amount was in excess of $20 million.
Upshur County Retired School Employees reported nearly 11,000 volunteer hours, but they probably contributed much more of their time volunteering.
“If our members would report all the hours they actually do, the amount would be much greater,” said Emma Allred, the Community Volunteer Service Chairperson for the Upshur County unit. “Most people are very humble about the amount of volunteer service they do, and are reluctant to turn in all they hours they really perform. Also, some people do not give me their yearly totals. This happens every year.”
Bill Taylor is president of the group this year.
“The volunteer work our group does is one of the most important activities we have,” he said. “Also, we do a Children’s Book Project each year when we give books to children for them to take home and add to their personal library.
“Last year, our Upshur County group gave more books to children than any other local unit in our district, which stretches over a 15-county area,” he said. “For many years, our group has awarded a $500 scholarship to an Upshur County student and we have given two of these scholarships in some years. In January of 2009, we will participate in the Upshur County Community Fund Chili Cook-Off for the third year.”
This is the third year this group has presented a symbolic check representing their volunteer service time.
There are nearly 600 retirees living in Upshur County who receive a monthly annuity from the Teacher Retirement Service. Some of these people were teachers, secretaries, cafeteria personnel, administrators, bus drivers and other public school employees.
At their September meeting, this group was told by Carolyn Lance, a Queen City retiree who is active at the local, district and state level, that 582 Upshur County retirees received $10.9 million in TRS pensions in 2006.
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