The 2013 ARTA State Convention will be held on September 26, 2013 at the Clear Channel Metroplex building in Little Rock, Arkansas. The ARTA Board extends an invitation to every association member to attend. The convention will open for registration Thursday at 8:30 a.m. at the Clear Channel Metroplex building. (Please see the map on page 8 for directions.) The General business session will convene at 9:30 a.m. with Vice-President Toni Bradford presiding. The 2013-14 ARTA budget and nominees for vice-president and secretary will be presented. Mr. George Hopkins, Executive Director of the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System, will update retirees on the current status of our retirement system. We will also have a presentation from Mr. Lloyd Black, chair of the EBD Benefits Committee, on possible Health Insurance changes coming from EBD for 2014. In addition, local RTA units will be recognized for outstanding accomplishments and service projects, and individual awards will be presented for exemplary achievement. We will end the morning session with greetings from the Arkansas Teacher of the Year, Ali Weimer from the Marion School District. The annual convention luncheon will begin at noon with ARTA President Pat Talley presiding. The guest speaker will be noted Little Rock television personality, Craig O’Neill. The Parsons-Burnett Grant winners will also be recognized at the luncheon. Prior to the convention, the Board will meet in the second floor conference room in the ATRS Building at 1400 West Third Street in Little Rock at noon on Wednesday, September 25, 2013. All association officers, elected board members, area directors, board members-at-large, state committee chairmen, past state presidents and staff members are invited to attend. Luncheon Speaker Randy Hankins, whose radio and television name is Craig O’Neill, graduated from Little Rock Central High School in 1968. After graduating Randy enrolled at ASU in Jonesboro. In 1972 he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Radio/TV Journalism.

Craig O’Neill to Speak at Annual Convention September 26, 2013

INTERLINKVolume 55, Number 3 | Parkview Towers • 1200 Commerce, Ste.103 • Little Rock, AR 72202 • (501) 375-2958 | Fall 2013

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ARKANSAS RET IRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

Contents Fall 2013

Craig became famous in Arkansas for making outrageous prank telephone calls. He is probably most noted for his call to the Texas athletic department asking for their understanding of the misspelling of Texass in the end zone for the last game Texas played in War Memorial Stadium. He offered to misspell Arkansass to even the mistake. While at KURB, B98.5 Randy

helped charities raise money and estimates he has worked at more than 2,000 fundraisers for charity. He is well known for freely giving of himself, his talent and his time to charitable causes. We appreciate “Craig’s” support of our retired school personnel. His mother, Judy Merritt Hankins, was a teacher, so we know “Craig” will have some good stories for us. In honor of his appearance at the state convention, we are asking everyone to wear their tennis shoes for the luncheon.

Mail your reservation before September 16 to: ARTA, 1200 Commerce, Ste. 103, Little Rock, AR 72202

ARTA Annual ConventionSeptember 26, 2013

Clear Channel Metroplex, 10800 Colonel Glenn Road, Exit 4 off I-430 in Little Rock

Please send me _____ ticket(s) for the noon luncheon at $20.00 each. Enclosed is my check with a stamped, self-addressed

envelope for a quick response.

THERE WILL BE NO TICKETS SOLDON THE DAY OF THE CONVENTION!

You may also call 1-888-929-0555 • (501) 375-2958 or fax (501) 376-0955

Name(s) _____________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________

County ______________________________________________

City_______________________ State _______ Zip __________

Annuol Convention ..................... 1

President’s Message .................... 2

Van Buren County RTA ................ 2

Director’s Message ...................... 3

ACT 331 .................................... 3

2014 Retirees Health Insurance .... 4

EBD Board Sets Rates ................... 4

Directory ............................ D1-D4

Talley and Bradford ..................... 5

ARTA Recommendation ............... 5

Welcome New Life Members ...... 5

In Memoriam ............................. 6

Travel Opportunities .................... 7

Travel Stories .............................. 7

Membership Form ...................... 8

I’m honored to be your ARTA president this year. I’m trusting God that He has me here for a reason. The Bible says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” So I’m counting on His strength and your prayers. It’s such a joy to be a part of ARTA! Arkansas Retired Teachers Association is the only organization in the state that devotes its interest and efforts exclusively toward improving the welfare of retired school employees. It’s good to know that ARTA is constantly working for my benefit protecting my retirement system. I also appreciate ARTA’s encouraging us to volunteer our time and to participate in community projects. At the state convention ARTA even gives awards for that. I want to encourage you to get involved in your local unit and make a difference in the lives of others. It’s such a joy to be with other retired school personnel. May I encourage you to get to know those in your county unit. Create an atmosphere of love and care. Support each other! Let them know you need them to be part of your unit’s activities and don’t hesitate to get them involved by assigning them to strengthen your local. Let’s grow people as we grow ARTA! I am proud to be an ARTA member! Let’s show our pride! Tell others what a wonderful organization we have! I pray the Lord will give us strength and wisdom to serve Him in ARTA this year, and that this year will be one of peace, harmony, and love for each other as we take ARTA to new heights!!

Van Buren County Retired Teachers AssociationThe Van Buren County Retired Teachers Association awarded a $100 scholarships to three 2013 graduating seniors. After receiving their college degrees, each of the recipients are planning to become educators in Arkansas Public Schools. This is the first year the association has awarded scholarships, and plans are to continue the scholarships for each of the county’s high schools; and to increase the scholarship amounts.

Message from the President

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- Pat Talley, President

Betty Oliger, Informative & Protective Services; Scholarship recipients: Holly Treece, Clinton; Lacie Holland, South Side; and George Condray, President.Not Pictured: Nickolas Mattson, Shirley.

Arkansas Retired Teachers AssociationInside Pulaski County: (501)375-2958

Toll Free (Nationwide): 1-888-929-0955Fax: (501)376-0955

E-mail: office_arta@att.net

Arkansas Teacher Retirement SystemRetirement Benefits and Checks

Inside Pulaski County: (501)682-1517Toll Free (Nationwide): 1-800-666-2877

E-mail: Info@ATRS.state.ar.us

Employee Benefits Office(Health and Life Insurance)

Inside Pulaski County: (501)682-9656Toll Free (Nationwide): 1-877-815-1017

Long Term Care InsuranceAnnuities

Dental InsuranceMedicare Products

Mary Alice HughesArkansas Insurance Producer

License Number 298881-800-577-8613

maoffice@sbcglobal.netP.O. Box 646

Jacksonville, AR 72078Matt Hughes

Arkansas Insurance ProducerLicense Number 29891

1-800-798-7442matt@matthughesinsurance.com

2000 West Main StreetRussellville, AR 72801

Delta Dental Insurance1-501-988-2726

Website: deltadentalar.com

ARTA WEBSITEhttp://artanow.com

Arkansas Retired Teachers AssociationParkview Towers, 1200 Commerce Street

Suite 103, Little Rock, AR 72202Telephone: (501)375-2958

Pat Talley ……….......….…….. PresidentLinda Scott ……..…........ President-ElectDr. Ella Walker-Rolfe …... Vice PresidentPaulette Parker ………….…. SecretarySteve Singleton ….. Executive DirectorMary Huie ……….…. Office ManagerTammy Gray................Comm. Coordinator

ImportantTelephone Numbers

INTERLINKARKANSAS RET IRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

MOVED OR MOVING?Please let us know if you have moved OR you

know an ARTA member who has moved.You can give us a call on our Toll free

number:1-888-929-0955 or locally at: 375-2958 Thanks for helping us stay connected.

when it is quiet. I bought a used Official Audubon Society bird clock at a yard sale for $6. But when I got home and put some batteries in it, it didn’t work. It looks great but no sound and the second hand just bounces in the same place. Why all the nostalgia for my “bird” clock? I was telling my wife how tired I am of fighting the battle trying to get folks to listen to us on our retiree health insurance plight. I feel my voice is very faint. My second hand seems to bounce in the same spot. I would like to say to all of our retirees it is time to refocus on funding health insurance and not depend on the other person to do it for us. It is time to have about 11,700 ARTA members contact their senators and representatives and their governor and tell them enough is enough. School personnel and school retirees need the same kind of funding source they give to state employees. We need to ask the question to our elected representatives how much their health insurance is going to be next year. It is time they provided the same subsidy for our insurance they do for themselves. Today I went out looking for a new “bird” clock. Lowe’s, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, no one had what I needed. They must not be as popular as they once were. I went online and found the perfect clock. It has a plain green boarder, nothing fancy, it just keeps time and I can hear the birds sing. It is just like my old one. Thanks Dr. Lee for helping me refocus!

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This is the story of my first “bird” clock. Please understand we all have our eccentricities. I also know this is going out on a limb, no pun intended. My first “bird” clock was a gift from Dr. Dan Lee, one of my school board members in Mountain Home. Dr. Lee was a retired school administrator from Dade County, Florida who moved to Mountain Home because it was centrally located in the U.S. At age 78, he ran for school board and was elected by 40 or so votes out of over 4,000 cast. I affectionately started calling him “Landslide Lee”. Luckily for me he had a great sense of humor. One day out of the blue he came into my office with a gift…the “bird” clock. Yes, think about that for a minute. What would you do if someone walked into your office or home and handed you a bird clock for no apparent reason. I looked at it and was not sure what to do with it. He said it was to remind me to stop and listen to the clock. It was time to refocus. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, so it went on the wall. At first it was a nuisance. The clock sounded one of 12 different birds each hour. However, soon it became a welcomed reminder. We had great fun with this clock. During calm and heated administrative and school board conversations in my office, the bird clock would go off and you just had to laugh. Dr. Dan was what I call a unique individual. When they made him they broke the mold and beat the heck out of the mold maker. But unique people are always needed. My clock is on its last leg. I have taken it apart and re-glued the dial face twice. It no longer keeps accurate time and the bird sounds are very faint. But the time is still correct twice a day and I enjoy the faint song of the tufted titmouse usually in the early morning

Message from the Executive DirectorTime To Refocus

Act 331 sponsored by Representative David Kizzia and Senator Bill Sample could offer some financial relief for many retirees who dropped their coverage with the school group when they retired. If you have continued to keep your Medi-Pak Plus or non-group policy you may be eligible to return to the school group policy. This law will also give those who retired while on their spouse’s health insurance an option to return to the Public School Employee PSE group. Since they did not have school district insurance on the last day of employment, they were not eligible for the PSE group even though as an active teacher they helped subsidize the PSE retiree group. Act 331 changed this. How this bill would be implemented by EBD is not fully known at this time. Open enrollment for the 2014 plan year will begin in October of 2013. There will not be any subsidy from EBD for the new group members on the first year of implementation. Without knowing how many will select to come back to the AR Health (PSE)

ACT 331 to Amend Eligibility for Retiree Health Insurance-October EnrollmentPlan, that is the safest way to approach this change. We also don’t know how much the Medicare eligible plan will increase, but it looks like it could be significant. (See page 4 for details.) Another benefit of selecting the PSE Plan, is qualifying for the hearing aid coverage that was added during the 2011 legislative session for our group. Our current plan pays $1,400 toward a hearing aid per ear, per three year period. (That is $1,400 for one ear and $1,400 for the other ear!)

IMPORTANT NOTE: We are going to press with this Interlink before we know how this law change will play out. Please contact Matt or Mary Alice Hughes, ARTA insurance consultants to see if you might benefit from this law change. Their contact information is on the inside page of this issue of the Interlink. The open enrollment will be during the month of October!

- Steve Singleton, Executive Director

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Non-Medicare Eligible 2014 Monthly 2013 Monthly Premium $ Premium % Premium Premium Increase IncreaseGold Retiree Only $ 566.72 $ 469.68 $ 97.04 21%Retiree & NME SP 1,360.06 1,186.36 173.70 15%Retiree & Child(ren) 1,048.24 821.66 226.58 28%Retiree & NME SP&CH 1,841.60 1,538.32 303.28 20%Retiree & ME SP 694.56 609.06 85.50 14%Retiree & ME SP & CH 1,176.08 961.04 215.04 22%

Silver Employee Only $ 426.54 $ 401.62 $ 24.92 6% Employee & Spouse 1,107.40 983.10 124.30 13% Employee & Child(ren) 779.76 638.10 141.66 22% Family 1,363.04 1,200.54 162.50 14%

Bronze Employee Only $ 267.66 $ 182.78 $ 84.88 46% Employee & Spouse 600.98 421.00 179.98 43%Employee & Child(ren) 468.20 299.78 168.42 56% Family 801.52 538.02 263.50 49%

2014 Non-Medicare Retirees Health Insurance Rates

2014 Medicare Retirees Health Insurance Rates (Medicare Supplement)

Medicare Eligible 2014 Monthly 2013 Monthly Premium $ Premium % Premium Premium Increase Increase

Retiree Only $ 81.68 $ 50.14 $ 31.54 63%Retiree & NME SP 708.98 597.87 111.11 19% Retiree & Child(ren) 665.66 509.62 156.04 31% Retiree & NME SP&CH 1,310.62 1,061.68 248.94 23%Retiree & ME SP 271.04 206.42 64.62 31% Retiree & ME SP & CH 788.44 630.74 157.70 25%

The State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Board set the health insurance rates for 2014 at their August 20, 2013 board meeting. Almost all options passed on a 5 – 2 vote. Kelly Cheney, teacher representative, and Shawn Cook, school administrative representative, voted against most options because of the rates. They know the impact these rate increases will have on school personnel and retirees. The next hit to the rates took place when the Board voted to add $5 per month to the rates to help build back the catastrophic funding, which might be needed to prevent or lessen a mid-year rate increase if the PSE (Public School Employees) group suffered more high cost claims. This increase added $5 per adult on each plan category, so a retiree and spouse plan would increase $10 per month. These are included in the rates above. It should be noted the state employee members of the EBD committees and board have been understanding, sympathetic and pained in trying to help solve a problem for the PSE group without proper funding. This is not a problem with the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Board. They don’t make the decision on how much money they receive. It should also be noted, the ASE (Arkansas State Employee) plan members will receive higher co-pays, co-insurance, and out of pocket maximums along with the PSE group plan. The ASE plan has a source of funding that allows the governor and legislature to simply increase funding when they need it. They have raised the funding subsidy per employee position the past two

EBD Board Sets Rates for 2014…It is Time to Ask the Question sessions by $40 per position per month in 2011 and $20 per position per month in 2013. This is done for all positions in state government whether the positions are filled or not. This is also done for every position whether the person in the position is taking the state health insurance. This means every person in state government taking the ASE plan gets $410 x 12 months or $4,920 for their insurance plus their share of the $35,000,000 generated by the “phantom” positions. We do not covet the ASE funding source. We do not want them to lose anything. We want our own source of funding or an acknowledgement that you cannot expect anyone to budget $100 to $300 per month increases in their health insurance rates. No one can do that. Your legislators need to hear from you now. These rate increases may very well cause our system to be unsustainable. I am sure we have many fine and ethical legislators who give of their time and energy for the good of the state. They are away from their families working long hours in Little Rock. What is the question no one wants to ask? How much do you (legislators) pay for health insurance? Are you a member of the (ASE) state health insurance plan? I do not know the answer to this question. If more than 50% belong to the state plan, then we need to see who is voting to increase their subsidy while leaving school personnel to fend for themselves. It is time to focus on fixing the Public School Employees health insurance plan before it is too late. To see a comparison of ASE and PSE rates, go to our website (artanow.com) and select the highlighted “Comparison of State & School Health Insurance Plans.”

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2013-2014

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OFFICERS ARTA BOARD President Pat Talley 1321 E Main St Gurdon, 71743 (870) 406-0505 President-Elect Toni Bradford 8410 Wildcat Dr Pine Bluff, 71603 (870) 879-5270 Vice President

Dr. Ella Walker-Rolfe 38 Chatel Dr Little Rock, AR 72223 (501) 868-9586 Immediate Past President Linda Scott 1001 Rossland Dr Jonesboro, 72404 (870) 932-1639 Secretary Paulette Parker 1512 S 35th St Paragould, 72450 (870) 239-9136 AARP-NRTA Liaison Dr. Diana Glaze 4112 Mellene Dr N. Little Rock, 72118 (501) 771-1046

STAFF Executive Director Steve Singleton Activities Director TBA Office Manager Mary Huie ARTA Office 1200 Commerce St Little Rock, 72202 (501) 375-2958 1-888-929-0955 Fax (501) 376-0955 office_arta@att.net (underscore between office and arta) ARTA Website ARTANOW.COM

AREA I Gary Cunningham 1405 Longview Dr Booneville, 72927 (479) 675-4495 AREA II Les Upton 1422 N. Main St Harrison, 72601 (870) 743-6125 AREA III Betty Payne 626 Main St Trumann, 72472 (870) 483-7190 AREA IV Clayton Castleman 110 Little River 68 Ashdown, 71822 (870) 898-2642 AREA I Wallace Aspinwall PO Box 476 Waldron, 72958 (479) 637-3440 Linda Riley 2823 Jackson St Fort Smith, 72901 (479) 651-3621 Carlotta Aist 2663 N Barcelona Ave. Fayetteville, 72703 (479) 651-0932 Marilyn Springer 975 E. 6th St Booneville, 72927 (479) 675-3613 AREA II Jesse Davis 501 Hazel St Newport, 72112 (870) 523-2418 Jana Smith 5008 Hwy 201 South Mtn. Home, 72653 (870) 424-6802

AREA V Sandra Boone 4408 West 17th Ave Pine Bluff, 71603 (870) 536-6354 AREA VI Dr. Ella Walker-Rolfe 38 Chatel Dr Little Rock, AR 72223 (501) 868-9586 ATRS Trustee Lloyd Black 7 Timber Valley Cove Little Rock, 72204 (501) 568-5307 ATRS Trustee Hazel Coleman 517 Jean St Helena, 72342 (870) 338-8753 Betty Allred 401 Lancaster Mountain View, 72560 (870) 269-8345 Linda Bittle 149 Section Line Greers Ferry, 72067 (501) 825-6276 AREA III Paul House 626 Shadow Lane Jonesboro, 72401 (870) 935-0229 Jessica Foster 609 Centre Grove Cir Jonesboro, 72404 (870) 275-6885 Dick Hefner 909 Carter Dr Paragould, 72450 (870) 236-3452 Leroy Williams 1022 McDonough Helena, 72342 (870) 338-8526

ATRS Trustee Danny Knight 2801 Harmony Cv Sherwood, 72120 (870) 556-0251 ATRS Trustee Bobby Lester 824 Christy Cove Jacksonville, 72076 (501) 982-0465 Member-at-Large Nellene Roberts 2604 Lynwood Dr Arkadelphia, 71923 (870) 246-0040 Member-at-Large Leon Wigginton 205 Clement West Memphis, 72301 (870) 735-5474 ATRS Executive Director AREA IV Judith Wright 7418 Griffith Lane Texarkana, 71854 (870) 772-0959 Katherine Daniel 4000 Garland Texarkana, 71854 (870) 774-6815 Phil Roberts 2604 Lynwood Dr Arkadelphia, 71923 (870) 246-0040 Leta Boswell 1400 Hwy 27 South Mineral Springs, 71851 (870) 287-4862 AREA V Lura Campbell 1106 Goodman Ave White Hall, 71602 (870) 247-4734 Barbara Webb 112 Wolfe Project Rd McGehee, 71654 (870) 510-8344

Member-at-Large Reba Sherman 3923 Brandywine Jonesboro, 72401 (870) 972-0723 ATRS Executive Director George Hopkins 1400 West Third St Little Rock, 72201 (501) 682-1827 1-800-666-2877 Madeline Lucke 1406 Red Bud Stuttgart, 72160 (870) 673-3297 Pauline Waller 85 Pinecrest Cir Sheridan, 72150 (870) 942-4859 AREA VI Ed Bradberry 2 Roberts Farm Rd Greenbrier, 72058 (501) 679-7408 Sharon Rapp 1817 South Blvd Conway, 72034 (501) 327-4216 Dr. Ella Walker-Rolfe 38 Chatel Dr Little Rock, 72223 (501) 868-9586 Christine Weems 2328 Hwy 240 Hazen, AR 72064 (870) 255-3284

AREA DIRECTORS

ARTA Directory 2013 - 2014

D3

Community Services Merilyn Jones 2510 Coffee Pot Ln Magnolia, 71753 (870) 234-5570 Constitution Leon Wigginton 205 Clement West Memphis, 72301 (870) 735-5374 ARKANSAS COUNTY Michael C. Brady 1110 S Buerkle Stuttgart, 72160 (870) 673-8678 ASHLEY COUNTY John Hollimon 602 Maple Crossett, 71635 (870) 364-8299 BAXTER COUNTY D.A. Dahlke PO Box 483 Mtn. Home, 72653 (870) 481-5603 BENTON COUNTY Brenda Helm 911 W Monroe Lowell, 72745 (479) 756-0468 BOONE COUNTY Toni Hoegerl 304 Station Dr Harrison, 72601 (870) 7419426 BRADLEY COUNTY Pat Rauls 1222 Forrest Rd Warren, 71671 (870) 226-5205

Health Services Diana Glaze 4112 Mellene Dr N. Little Rock, 72118 (501) 771-1046 Informative-Protective Services James Morris 923 W Central Ave Harrison, 72601 (870) 741-4744 CALHOUN COUNTY Inactive CARROLL COUNTY Joe Mills 304 Clarke Rd Berryville, 72616 (870) 423-3582 CHICOT COUNTY Raymond Staples PO Box 37 Eudora, 71640 (870) 355-2066 CLARK COUNTY Bob Thompson PO Box 279 Arkadelphia, 71923 (870) 246-5116 CLAY COUNTY Anita Allman 684 E Jackson Piggott, 72454 (870) 598-2665 CLEBURNE COUNTY Dr. Lavern Penn 830 Dogwood Lane Heber Springs, 72543 (501) 206-0357

Legislation Paul House 626 Shadow Lane Jonesboro, 72404 (870) 935-0229 Grants Linda Riley 2823 Jackson St Fort Smith, 72901 (479) 651-3621 CLEVELAND-DALLAS COUNTY Evelyn Cash 9410 Hwy 35 N Rison, 71665 (870) 325-7242 COLUMBIA-LAFAYETTE COUNTY Pat Ward Box 192 McNeil, 71752 (870) 234-7645 CONWAY COUNTY Charles Bane 800 E. Higgins St Morrilton, 72110 (501) 354-0183 CRAIGHEAD COUNTY Mary Ann Hodges 3921 Renee Dr Jonesboro, 72401 (870) 932-1536 CRAWFORD COUNTY Sandra Thicksten PO Box 2019 Alma, 72921 (479) 632-4288 CRITTENDEN COUNTY Leon Wigginton 205 Clement West Memphis, 72301 (870) 735-5474

Program Shirley Matheny 1100 Green Mtn Dr Little Rock, 72211 (501) 227-5474 Public Relations Mary Purselley 1422 N. Main St Harrison, 72601 (870) 741-5742 CROSS COUNTY Libby Washington 404 E Williams Wynne, 72396 (870) 238-8592 DESHA COUNTY Diane Ridgell 312 Friedman McGehee, 71654 (870) 723-4902 DREW COUNTY Charlcie Hill 327 Hwy 172 Monticello, 71655 (870) 367-7808 FAULKNER COUNTY Bill Stevens 28 Forrest Lane Conway, 72034 (501) 329-2381 FRANKLIN COUNTY Eleanor Williams 2612 Whitney Dr Ozark, 72949 (479) 667-2853 FULTON COUNTY Brenda Casey 3432 Hwy 395 N Salem, 72576 (870) 895-4414

Membership Etoyle Mouser (870) 535-6871 Betty Coles (870) 535-3729 Marilyn Springer (479) 675-3613 Dick Hefner (870) 236-3452 GARLAND COUNTY Tomi Jo Price #1 Millwood Ct Hot Springs, 71901 (501) 318-8835 GRANT COUNTY Jane Gillis 220 Hazelwood Dr Sheridan, 72150 (870) 942-3573 GREENE COUNTY Charles Collier 2600 Mockingbird Ln Paragould, 72450 (870) 236-6280 HEMPSTEAD COUNTY Kim Sweat 161 Hempstead 284 McCaskill, 71847 (870) 845-4345 HOT SPRING COUNTY Glenn Coston 374 Magnet Cove Rd Malvern, 72104 (501) 332-5389 HOWARD COUNTY Candace Blackwell 119 Ridgeway Dr Nashville, 71852 (870) 845-2466

STATE COMMITTEE CHAIRS

LOCAL UNIT PRESIDENTS

ARTA Directory 2013 - 2014

STATE COMMITTEE CHAIRS

D4

INDEPENDENCE COUNTY Alice Witterman 47 Sharon St Batesville, 72501 (870) 793-5928 IZARD COUNTY Anna Floyd PO Box 1237 Melbourne, 72556 (870) 368-5012 JACKSON COUNTY Jesse L Davis 501 Hazel St Newport, 72112 (870) 523-2418 JEFFERSON COUNTY Piccola Washington 1205 Utah St Pine Bluff, 71601 (870) 534-3318 JOHNSON COUNTY Carol Grimmer 155 Cumberland Lamar, 72846 (479) 885-2570 LEE COUNTY Barbara Hightower 109 Marne Blvd Marianna, 72360 (870) 295-2668 LITTLE RIVER COUNTY Susan Simmons 161 South 5th St Ashdown, 71822 (870) 898-3851 LOGAN COUNTY Wilma June Claunch PO Box 77 Subiaco, 72865 (479) 518-0538 LONOKE COUNTY Helen Teffer PO Box 114 Cabot, 72023 (501) 843-2790 MADISON COUNTY Margaret Elam PO Box 113 Hindsville, 72738 (479) 789-2994

MARION COUNTY Louis Pannell 9116 MC 4018 Yellville, 72687 (870) 427-5241 MILLER COUNTY Sue Ward 11087 Hwy 82 Texarkana, 71854 (903) 748-8996 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY Rogers Ford 803 Ford St Joiner, 72350 (870) 537-4884 MONROE COUNTY In-Active NEVADA COUNTY Myra Peachey 820 HWY 332 W Prescott, 71857 (870) 887-3853 NEWTON COUNTY Inactive OUACHITA COUNTY Frank Adcock 490 Cash Rd NW Camden, 71701 (870) 836-9428 PHILLIPS COUNTY Leroy Williams 1022 McDonough Helena, 72342 (970) 995-1989 POINSETT COUNTY Glenda Drace 232 W Riverside Marked Tree, 72365 (870) 358-4544 POLK COUNTY Margaret Fassler 110 Turner St Mena, 71953 (479) 394-5102 POPE COUNTY Alta Cheek 705 Ave 2 NE Atkins, 72823 (479) 641-2352

PRAIRIE COUNTY Chris Weems 2328 Hwy 249 Hazen, 72064 (870) 255-2166 PULASKI COUNTY (Little Rock Retired Educators) Grace Blagdon PO Box 567 Little Rock, 72203 (501) 372-3554 (Little Rock Retired Teachers) Dr. Ella Walker-Rolfe 38 Chatel Dr Little Rock, 72223 (501) 868-9586 (North Little Rock Unit) Mable Bynum 220 E 47th St N. Little Rock, 72117 (501) 945-7530 (North Pulaski Unit) Linda Remele 1406 Hawkwood Rd Sherwood, 72120 (501) 392-6184 (South Pulaski Unit) Carolyn Eagle # 3 Dreher Ct Little Rock, 72209 (501) 562-6166 ST. FRANCIS COUNTY Johnnie Toney 52 Merrill Cir Apt B1 Forrest City, 72335 (870) 633-8809 SALINE COUNTY Emilie Monk 1301 Boone Rd Bryant, 72022 (501) 847-3089 SCOTT COUNTY Wallace Aspinwall PO Box 476 Waldron, 72958 (479) 637-3440

SEARCY COUNTY Jackye Adams 912 Elm St Leslie, 72645 (870) 447-2495 SEBASTIAN COUNTY (Fort Smith Unit) Rick Foti 7810 Dover Cir Fort Smith, 72903 (479) 452-3028 (South Sebastian Unit) Ginger McCutchen 8516 S 18th St Fort Smith, 72904 (479) 646-0732 SEVIER COUNTY Quinton Taggart 130 Taggart Trail DeQueen, 71832 (870) 642-2232 SHARP COUNTY Carol Bates PO Box 56 Ash Flat, 72513 (870) 847-0365 STONE COUNTY Betty Allred 401 Lancaster St Mtn. View, 72560 (870) 269-8345 UNION COUNTY Dr. James Fouse 814 W Cedar St El Dorado, 71730 (870) 862-7191 VAN BUREN COUNTY Betty Oliger 6101 Hwy 9 W Clinton, 72031 (501) 745-2502 WASHINGTON COUNTY Berta Seitz 2127 Loren Cir Fayetteville, 72701 (479) 442-6256

WEST CENTRAL COUNTIES John Small 664 Mt Olive Rd Arkadelphia, 71923 (870) 246-7223 WHITE COUNTY Harold Valentine 2910 E. Moore # 122 Searcy, 72143 (501) 305-3984 WOODRUFF COUNTY Carol Burkett PO Box 272 McCrory, 72101 (870) 731-5650 YELL COUNTY Phyllis Rankin 10089 Cloverleaf Dr Dardanelle, 72834 (479) 229-4172

ARTA Directory 2013 - 2014

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ASHLEY COUNTY: Barbara Harris and Delores M. Skender; BAXTER COUNTY: Glenda C. Bodenhamer, Bill Maxwell, Donna Maxwell, Nancy Parish, Mary M. Pearson and Mary Jessica Shelby; BENTON COUNTY: Velma M. Buttram, Sandra N. Hutchens, Sheila K. Ross, Roger Stricker, Brenda Wanger and Deborah Wann; BOONE COUNTY: Tamara Allen, Lavina Grandon, Lester Grandon, Pollyanna Hodges, Alvin Blaine Richardson, Martha L. Rorrer and Ida Jane Widner; BRADLEY COUNTY: Carol J. Mann, Mary Virginia Rauls and Patricia A. Rauls; CHICOT COUNTY: Bobbie B. Farris and Susie B. Johnson; CLARK COUNTY: Jerry D. Childers, Mary Nell Clay, Ernestine Elaine Durand, Wanda L. O’Quinn, Nellene R. Roberts and Phillip J. Roberts; CLAY COUNTY Regina K. Crittenden, Alvin J. Vangilder and James “Ed” Winberry; CLEVELAND COUNTY: Donald E. Almond and Havis Harrison; COLUMBIA COUNTY: Alice M. Parker, Pamela D. Powell and Barbara G. Waller; CONWAY COUNTY: Jane Conley, Charlotte Heidenreich, Betty S. Patterson and Sherrye A. Rogers; CRAIGHEAD COUNTY: Augusta (Gussi) Causey, Teresa L. Colbert, Michelle Green, Sherry L. McAnally, Stephanie Neely, Sarah C. Orr, Margaret A. Purnell, Gail F. Ramsey, Judy C. Robinett, Dana Spencer, Twilla M. Threm and Flora N. Williams; CRAWFORD COUNTY: Linda L. Joyce; CRITTENDEN COUNTY: Mary A. Garey, Char Griffee, Elizabeth Kitsinger, William C. Long, Brenda H. Ollie, Barbara Ann Reginelli and Sharon B. Richardson; CROSS COUNTY: Delinda Cothran and Glenda Roach; DALLAS COUNTY: Mary E. Givens; DREW COUNTY: Mary Jo Wisener and Sherry M. Woods; FAULKNER COUNTY: Joann Billings, Linda S. Francis, Linda C. Fullerton, Marsha L. Hamm, Nancy C. Moix and Kim Wickliffe; FRANKLIN COUNTY: Edna Frances Vernon; GARLAND COUNTY: Nancy C. Billedeau, Barbara R. Blagg and Melanie J. Nichols; GRANT COUNTY: Billie Ashcraft, Jan Caldwell, Dee Ann Daniel and Frances Lynn Siler; GREENE COUNTY: Julia E. Allen, Linda S. Arnold, Daniel L. Davis, Linda P. Davis, June E. Gallop, Mary K. Hester, Janis R. Holder, Mary Ann Holifield, Betty Liddell and Carolyn S. Pugh; HOT SPRING COUNTY: Judy L. Blackwood, Linda D. Harper, Marilyn K. Phelan, Judith Shinn and Margaret E. Stinson; HOWARD COUNTY: Edward Boswell, Leta Boswell and Jimmie Lou Kirkpatrick; INDEPENDENCE COUNTY: Nancy C. Rutledge; IZARD COUNTY: Joannie King and Martha A. Robertson; JACKSON COUNTY: Irene Cheshier and Morgan W. Gilbert; JEFFERSON COUNTY: Laura Bearden, Natalie Darcell Brown, Elmer Carlton, Loriece Carlton, Flora Marie Collins, Earline Duckworth, Bobbie Elmore, Mary H. Ford, Catherine Glymph, Sue Jones, Donna S. Kerr, Nancy B. Lee, Jennie M. McDuffie, Willodean M. Williams, Karen A. Witt and Danny Young; JOHNSON COUNTY: Ronald Dale Caldwell, Judy Hargrave, Mary F. Pruitt and Wilma Juanita Wilson; LAWRENCE COUNTY: Carolyn J. Bridges, Martha J. Johnson, Diane J. Midkiff and Phillip S. Midkiff; LITTLE RIVER COUNTY: Beatrice M. Reed and Nancy Yvonne Stuart; LOGAN COUNTY: Fredia A. Edmonson, Kenneth N. Edmonson and Melba A. Gray; LONOKE COUNTY: Marolyn L. Lee and Brenda S. Patton; MADISON COUNTY: Martin Glenn Frick; MILLER COUNTY: Jane E. Duke, Bennie Fitzhugh, Ruth Gayle Flanagan, Ginger B. Monts, Paula S. Oliver and Carolyn J. Walker; MISSISSIPPI COUNTY: Patsy L. Flock and Rogers H. Ford; NEVADA COUNTY: Donita K. Almand and Alice Naomi Butler; OUACHITA COUNTY: Iva Lou Stoker; PHILLIPS COUNTY: Lula Orsby; POINSETT COUNTY: Catherine A. Martin and Regina Stacy; POLK COUNTY: Joyce J. Reed; POPE COUNTY: Janice C. Mitchell; PULASKI COUNTY: Erma L. Armstrong, Alice Darlene Barr, James Birtcher, Rita L. Bledsoe, Kaye T. Bounds, Susan B. Bryant, Mable W. Bynum, Sara J. Cooke, Wyleen G. Crider, Linda I. Davis, Wanda L. Duke, Deana Eggleston, Karen Fikes, Linda B. “Linda” Franks, Eric Gore Sr., Melanie M. Greenwald, Marie H. Gunti, Sunny L. Hawk, Morris L. Holmes Jr., Linda Kay Hunter, Francical J. Jackson, Patricia B. Jackson, Charlotte A. Jacobs, Emogene B. James, Lucia H. Jones, Anna Leigh Maddox, Arlene Margolis, Linda W. Moore, Cathie Mueller, Rosalyn J. Newton, Helen G. Plummer, Gloria Rogers, Betty Sammis, Jerri A. Shertzer, Betty R. Simpson, Ann K. Snow, Henrietta V. Sproles, Katherine K. Swift, Linda Thurston, Mike Trantham, Amelia A. Walters, Peggy Dean Williams, Shirley A. Williams, Nancy L. Wilson, M. Barbara Gilbert Wise, Denise J. Wood and Carol Woolly; RANDOLPH COUNTY: Charlotte A. Ennis; SALINE COUNTY: Myra W. Smith, Peggy Layne Young and Jo Anne Zachary; SEARCY COUNTY: Jane Williams, SEBASTIAN COUNTY: Deborah W. Bentley, Amanda Bulger, Ella Mae Byers, Dana L. Davenport, Janet F. Dickinson, Rebecca A. Evans, Sandra Ann Kutait, Susan N. Pillar and Stanley K. Turnipseed; SEVIER COUNTY: Teresa G. Mallette, Velma L. Owens and Catherine P. Smith; STONE COUNTY: Betty H. Cooper; UNION COUNTY: Belinda S. Brown; VAN BUREN COUNTY: Earlene D. Brecheen, William Brecheen and Jennifer D. Holland; WASHINGTON COUNTY: Mary Susanne Aldridge, Lloyd Fink, Hartzell Jones, Jacqueline Kinney, Betty Logsdon, Jeanette Pearson, Roy Pearson, Ann V. Phillips, James M. Price, Martha A. Robinson, Christine D. Scott and Timothy J. Weiss; WHITE COUNTY: Dennis Mannon, Kathy Mannon, Katherine L. McClure, Pamela A. Reid and Cynthia Sutherlin; WOODRUFF COUNTY: Elaine Maynard; OUT-OF-STATE: Rita Birkenbach, Connie E. Daily, Essie M. Graham, Helen F. Hicks, Sallie L. Kirkland, Joyce Liphford, Evelyn M. Smith and Roberta Youngblood.

Welcome New Life Members

Pat Talley

Toni Bradford

Talley and Bradford Advance as ARTA Leaders

Dr. Ella Walker-Rolfe

In July, Pat Talley succeeded Linda Scott as ARTA President for the 2013-1014 year and Toni Bradford assumed the position of President-Elect. As required by the ARTA Constitution and By-Laws, the office of the president and president-elect are filled by succession. Pat Talley, a Gurdon native, was educated at Southern Arkansas University with a BSE in elementary education and MSE from Louisiana Tech in elementary education. She was an elementary school teacher in Gurdon. Pat became a member of ARTA in 1996. She has served as president of Clark County RTA and Area IV Co-Director. Her community involvement is in the Beech Street Baptist Church. Toni Bradford, a resident of Watson Chapel, graduated from Rison High School, University of Arkansas at Monticello and University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. In 2007, Toni was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives from District 18 where she served three terms. Toni has served her local as president and vice-president as well as involvement in the International Society of Delta Kappa Gamma. Dr. Ella Walker-Rolfe was selected to represent Area VI as the next Vice-President of ARTA. She joined ARTA when she retired in 2005 from the Little Rock School District. Dr. Walker-Rolfe earned a BS degree from AM&N College, now UAPB, in 1965, a Master’s from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1969, and a PhD from Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas in 1987. Ella has served ARTA in Area VI as Director and Co-Director.

Due to the significant increases being considered for health insurance rates for the 2014 plan year, ARTA called a special meeting of its Executive Committee. After reviewing the data available at that time, the committee voted 10-0 to recommend

raising the premiums and keeping the Plan F for Medicare eligible (ME). With Medicare, Plan F pays the remaining 20% that Medicare doesn’t pay. There are no co-pays, deductibles, or out of pocket amounts set.

ARTA Recommendation

6

The thoughtfulness and generosity of individuals and local units have resulted in the following amounts being mailed directly to the ARTA office during the months of May, June and July: $1,080.00 in memorials. Add $30.00 for the months of May, June and July contributed by the Continuing Members (above and beyond their regular monthly dues) and that bring the total of $1,119.00 in memorials and donations for the three month period. Your gifts to ARTA, for whatever reasons, are a meaningful and substantive part of the association’s budget.

ARKANSAS: Sherry D. Lovett, Viola W. Meekins and Billie J. West; ASHLEY: Auston F. Williams; BAXTER: Donald L. Buswell; BENTON: Ricco K. Burman, Bonnie A. Childers, Martina E. Peacock, Charles O. Ray, Cynthia H. Schmidt, Sharon K. Smith, Howard W. Sutton, Vickie L. Tuttle, Ruby F. Wishon and Mildred L. Young; BOONE: Edgar W. Morgan, Carolyn Raney and Lavon B. Smith; CALHOUN: Alonzo Stephens; CARROLL: Rose E. Doty and Betty S. Hinson; CLAY: Rosemary H. Ahrent and Elsie L. Holifield; CLEVELAND: Lillian A. Russell; COLUMBIA: Katherlene Beasley, Veora A. Ephriam, Troy J. Foreman and Robert L. Smith; CRAIGHEAD: Alice L. Bryant, Patsy E. Puckett and James E. Vaughn; CRAWFORD: Robert J. Frye Sr.; CRITTENDEN: Judy M. Griffin; CROSS: Joyce S. Brand, Lillian Henderson, James N. Pitchford and Mattie Jane Pitchford; DALLAS: Thomas M. Frazier, Madge C. Lasiter and Martha J. Pierce; DESHA: Alice J. Banks; DREW: Willie M. Harris

Memorials and Donations May, June & July 2013

In Memoriam “These immortal dead who live again in minds made better by their presence”

and Timothy T. Ku; FAULKNER: Pauline A. Cox, Gilbert M. Depner, Johnnie M. Frets, Anne G. Meazle, Grace E. Reed, Nancy W. Shirley and Hattie West; GARLAND: Kathryn J. Bata, Gloria A. Cain, Elmer H. Greenlee, Linda C. Jorgensen, Mary D. Lyons, Mildred L. Mullins and Willie E. Roundtree; GRANT: Roberta B. Miller; GREENE: Imogene Carmon and Edith L. Evans; HEMPSTEAD: King S. Williamson; HOT SPRING: Yvonne W. Goodman; HOWARD: Marshall D. Jones; INDEPENDENCE: Charles E. Fraser and Lorene Gatlin; IZARD: Melva C. James and Ottie T. Russell; JEFFERSON: Martha A. Carr, Harry L. Cross, Ethel L. Davis, Juanita Dolls, Rufus S. Maxwell, Sylvester Parker, Virgil L. Riley and Edith T. Tate; JOHNSON: Norma J. Housley; LAWRENCE: Geraldine M. Hager and Vida A. Wright; LEE: Ethel McGruder and David Robinson; LINCOLN: Dalda F. Womack; LITTLE RIVER: Juanita V. Hess; LOGAN: Bette K. Cowie and

Arkansas County RTA: Viola Meekins; Columbia/Lafayette County RTA: Alverne Savage Franks, Marcelle Martin, Desserine McNeill, Mildred Sanders, Giselle Souter and Patsy Joyce Edgemon Willliams; Cross County RTA: Lillian Henderson, Jim and Jane Pitchford; Drew County RTA: Willie Mae Harris; Faulkner County RTA: Mary Hammett, Fletcher Lowry and Sherman

Peterson; Franklin County RTA: Wanda Faye Whittington; Greene County RTA: Imogene Carmon; Jefferson County RTA: Nola Anderson, Mary Nell Atkinson, Vera Bussell, Andrew Butler, Melvin Caldwell, Franke L. Carr, Ethel Davis, Geneva Davis, Allen Grissom, Frances Hall, Susan (Sue) Henderson, Agatha Holmes, Mildred Johnson, Tillie Kyle, Eva McMurray, Gloria Neal, Inez Price,

Virgil Riley and Roy Scoggins; Little Rock Retired Teachers: Mary Pearl Mosley; Logan County RTA: Betty Kay Cowie; Ouachita County RTA: Zin O. McRae and Sherry L. Martin Wilson; Prairie County RTA: Rowena W. Devore; South Sebastian County RTA: Marilyn Clements; Union County RTA: Doris Millican; Arkansas County RTA: Parson/Burnett Grant Fund; Bonnie Carwile: Jim

and Jane Pitchford; Dr. Paul Fair: Ralph Riley; Maxine Fortenberry: Gordon Shields; Charles and Linda King: Viola Meekins and Dalda F. Womack; Mary Purselley: Carolyn Ruth Raney; Mary Purselley: In honor of Sharon Johnson; Shirley G. Rosencrantz: Parsons/Burnett Grant Fund; Larry and Margaret Schiffner: Ralph Riley; Kay Shaddock: Doris Millican

Cora J. Eddleman; LONOKE: Carolyn L. Barnes, Linda A. Booher and Madie E. Rhoads; MISSISSIPPI: Mary F. Martin, Barbara A. McKinney and Fannie B. Mitchell; MONTGOMERY: John W. Watkins; NEVADA: Richard D. Hays; OUACHITA: Judith S. Adcock, Elva C. Carroll, Henry M. Gossett and Mattie C. Nayles; PERRY: Judy F. Faulkner and George W. Mitchell; PHILLIPS: James D. Alexander, Carroll L. Early, Annie L. Mitchell and Ruth Tschabold; POLK: Mary J. Pate; POPE: Arneata G. Cooper, Cheryl D. Fields, Ellen M. Hubbard, Kenneth Kendrick, O.D. Lewis Jr. and Michael D. Mackey; PULASKI: Reba L. Boozer, Barbara M. Boyd, William L. Brock, Feuther M. Dotson, Lois M. Etheridge, Eunice L. Jones, Freddie L. Jones, Jimmy L. Kimbrell, Elizabeth A. Latch, Linda J. Lowery, Dorothy M. Matthews, Mary P. Mosley, Sherry A. Nichols, Reita A. Parker, Ramona J. Patton, Betty N. Riley, Tressie B. Robinson, Opal C. Stewart, Peggy R. Suitt, Donald L.

Turney, Linda R. Walker and Alice H. Williamson; SALINE: Launa R. Hearn, Patricia A. Larsen, Sebert B. Magby, Betty J. Martindale and Diana L. Schalk; SCOTT: Sharon E. Owens; SEARCY: Mary F. Loggins; SEBASTIAN: Shirley V. Quick; SHARP: Eunice C. Brewer and Betty Francis; ST. FRANCIS: Bill Baxter and Luvader McAdoo; STONE: Elsie M. Compton; UNION: Ann W. Burns and Doris O. Millican; VAN BUREN: Roger V. Smith; WASHINGTON: Jean B. Blankenship, Penelope M. Fox, Henrietta K. Holcomb, Martha E. Leming, Mary H. Shrader and June L. Wilkinson; WHITE: Nancy M. Ellis, Gary L. Franzen, Ernest Grayson Jr., Chrystal D. Hardin and Patsy A. Shannon; WOODRUFF: Patricia A. Stewmon; OUT-OF-STATE: Bernice T. Bone, Dorothy J. Cleaves, Faye M. Coe, Janice C. Dixon, Donald R. Gray, Blanche J. Laren, Susan P. Miller, Doris W. Moseley, Lola M. Pate, Neville S. Saylor, Kathryn A. Swan, Jeane F. Tresler, Juanita H. Warrior and Sue C. Watson.

Travel Stories 2013

Travel Opportunities 2013 and 2014

L-R Front Row: James Conaway, Patricia Conaway, Sharon Allured, Linda Joyce, Carolyn Hanson, Sharon House, Rita Love, Nell Dowell, Glenda Kimbrell, Myra Hyde and Mary Huie. 2nd Row: Barbara Wagner, Nell Clark, Guyla Jackson, Lloyd Linn, Anita Sampley, Delene Stover and Carol Bates. 3rd Row: Wanda Eddy, Margie Herrin, Mary Pledger, Jean Linn, Rose Dirst, Judith Stone and Sandra Case. 4th Row: Patricia Harley, Nelda Penn, Lila Fulmer, Marion Burris, Jeanette Nail, Ethel Mohler, Vernelle Crews, Diana Howard and Fran Harris. 5th Row: Polly Overton, Janet Segrest, Sara Teale, 6th Row: Paul House, George Sevall, Mike Burris, Larry Mohler, Rita Sevall, Shirley Brown and Cathy Glover.

Sunday, May 19, 2013, ARTA members and guests left for an eight day tour of Savannah, Georgia, Charleston and Beaufort, South Carolina with a stop in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee on the return home. Monday’s arrival in Savannah was just in time for lunch at the “Lady and Sons” restaurant and since no visit to Savannah is complete without a sightseeing tour we boarded horse-drawn carriages for an entertaining and informative tour with the carriage driver narrating history and pointing out famous landmarks. Later in the evening we experienced “the darker side” of America’s Most Haunted City with a ghost tour aboard Old Town Trolleys; focusing on some of Savannah’s most haunted sites, eerie legends and frightening residents. Tuesday morning was spent on a coastal tour seeing the Historic Isle of Hope and Paula Deen’s waterfront home, which can only be seen from the water. The afternoon was spent at the Telfair Museum and the Owens-Thomas House built from 1816-1819. Revolutionary War hero Marquis de Lafayette was reported to have stayed there as a guest in 1825. After a visit to the Savannah Botanical Gardens the next morning we traveled to St. Simons and Jekyll Island for a guided tour with Capt. Fendig; with the Christ Church Frederica being the highlight. Jekyll Island gave us a view of summer homes built in the 1900’s by famous

We welcome ARTA members and guests to join us for trips of a lifetime. Guests must travel with ARTA members. Our trips are escorted by an ARTA staff member when possible. If you see a trip you are interested in taking, please call 501-375-2958 or 1-888-929-0955 to place your name on that list. We need our bookings early as we have no travel budget to hold trips. If the trips are not booked early with a minimum number of travelers, then those trips are pulled from us. We do place trips in the Interlink two times and if there is no activity the trips are replaced.

Detailed itineraries and pricing are available on each of the trips at the ARTA Office or our website: artanow.com. Deposits are required and are refundable until final payment deadline with trip cancellation waiver plan. If you have questions, please call the ARTA office number listed above.

2013 TravelNovember 15-23, 2013 – Bus Trip to New York City includes nine days, daily breakfast, three lunches, three dinners, visit to Montpelier en-route, 911 Memorial Wall Street, South Street Seaport, United Nations, Times Square, Central Park, various Cathedrals, Good Morning America set, David Letterman Theater, Today Show, City Heritage Tour, Chinatown, little Italy, Tribeca, Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Chelsea, one full day of free time/shopping, etc. with a stop at Monticello on the way home. Deposit $300.

2014 TravelWe have some exciting news for the 2014 travel year. We will be adding Collette Vacations as an ARTA vendor to assist us in three trips for the 2014 season. These trips are listed below. Detailed itineraries, pricing and booking forms are also available on each of the trips by clicking on the highlighted trip headings on our website at: artanow.com.

February 13-22, 2014 – Hawaiian Cruise - includes airfare to and from Little Rock, all transfers, daily breakfasts, two nights lodging in Oahu on Waikiki Beach, seven day cruise aboard the NCL Pride of America to the islands of Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai, and a city tour of Honolulu with Pearl Harbor included on the day of departure. Deposit is $600. To register, call the ARTA office.

March 1-16 – Australia & New Zealand – This is our customized tour which includes the real outback of Alice Springs & Ayers Rock. The tour begins in Auckland (1), New Zealand and covers Rotorua (1), Queenstown (2), Milford Sound, Mt. Cook Region, Christchurch (2) in New Zealand & then moves to Sydney (2), The Blue Mountains, Alice Springs (1) & Uluru (1) (Ayers Rock) for a real outback experience and on to Cairns (2), The Great Barrier Reef & the tour ends in Cairns for our trip home. This trip will be limited to 30 travelers. If we get this number we will have a special surprise for each traveler on this trip. For complete itinerary, current pricing & booking form, please click on the highlighted trip title on our website at: artanow.com or call the ARTA office for a printed brochure. (Deposit $250 & Insurance & Cancellation Waiver $270). HURRY, ONLY 7 SPOTS LEFT ON THIS TRIP!

May 17-28, 2014 – Alaskan Cruise and Land Tour – includes airfare to Vancouver and from Fairbanks or Anchorage, all transfers, inside passage cruise (on the Coral Princess) with ports in Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway, departure in Whittier or Seward, land package through Denali to Fairbanks. Deposit is $600. To register, call the ARTA office.

September 7 – 20, 2014 - Magnificent Cities of Central & Eastern Europe -This tour will begin in Berlin (2) with a tour of the city & a side trip to Potsdam. Next

you travel to the Golden City of Prague (2) with a tour & time to explore the city. Leaving Prague behind you enter the musical city of Vienna (2) where you will have time to see the sights & relax in the Capital of Austria on your own. Historic Budapest (2) is the next destination, also known as the Queen of the Danube. Then travel to the lively Krakow (2) with old world charm. On the way to Warsaw you will stop at Auschwitz for a guided tour and end the day in Warsaw (2). Day two in Warsaw will include a guided tour of the city & a farewell dinner with our group. For complete itinerary, current pricing & booking form, please click on the highlighted trip title on our website at: artanow.com or call the ARTA office. (Deposit $250 & Insurance & Cancellation Waiver $270)

October 3-10, 2014 – Canada New England Cruise - includes flight to Quebec City, Quebec, Canada and from Boston, Mass. Aboard the NCL Dawn your ports will include two nights in Quebec City, one night in Sydney, Halifax, Saint John, Bar Harbor and ending in Boston. Deposit is $600. To register, call the ARTA office.

November 29th – December 7, 2014 - Christmas on the Danube – After an overnight flight from Little Rock, your tour begins in the ancient town of Wurzburg with a dinner to meet your fellow travelers. You will tour Wurzburg and travel to Rothenburg, the oldest medival walled city in Germany. From there you board the ship at Nuremberg for a six night Danube cruise with stops in Regensburg, Passau, Emmersdorf and Vienna where you will tour the city and its famous landmarks. Each stop will meet you with the Christmas Spirit and Markets to shop in addition to touring the highlights of each city. For complete itinerary, current pricing & booking form, please click on the highlighted trip title above. (Deposit $250 & Insurance & Cancellation Waiver $270) YOU MUST BOOK THIS ONE EARLY IF YOU WANT TO MAKE THIS TRIP!

names such as Vanderbilt, Morgan, Pulitzer, Gould, Astor and Rockefeller. On Hilton Head Island the next day we enjoyed the Gullah Heritage Trail Tour, learning the historical data of the customs and traditions of Gullah life. A visit to historic Beaufort in the afternoon gave another chance for a horse-drawn carriage tour. Charleston on Friday included visits to Four Corners of Law, St. Michaels Church, Battery Park, White Point Gardens and the Nathanial Russell House completed in 1808. (Catch a glimpse of this historic house in the August issue of Southern Living.) Afternoon and a visit to Charleston Harbor and Patriot’s Point which is home to the USS Yorktown (CV-10) the “Fighting Lady.” Thinking of River Street Pralines, graceful Spanish moss hanging from trees, graceful fountains, tolling church bells and beautiful garden squares we departed the next morning for the final stop at Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. At the “Country Music Tonight” show we shared a lot of laughter and good fun when one of our own ARTA members was chosen to participate in the show. With some travelers wanting to put their homes up for sale and move to Savannah we, none the less, arrived safely back home with stories to tell and experiences to store in our memory banks.

INTERLINKARKANSAS RET IRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

Arkansas Retired Teachers AssociationParkview Towers • 1200 Commerce Street Ste. 103

Little Rock, AR 72202

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPermit No. 225Little Rock, AR

ARTA CONTINUING OR LIFE MembershipAct 105 of 1985 authorizes the Teacher Retirement System to deduct your ARTA dues from your monthly benefit checks, if you desire. This authorization may be canceled only by a written notice from you to ARTA. You may select one of the four ARTA membership options listed below.

Complete this form and return it to:ARTA Membership, 1200 Commerce Street, Suite 103, Little Rock, AR 72202

Name _______________________________________________________ Signature ______________________________________________________

Address _______________________________________________________________________________ Telephone _____________________________

City/State/Zip _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

County ________________________________________ Social Security Number _____________________________________ Date ______________

Email _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(Return this form only if you are not currently an ARTA member of if you wish to make a change.)

ARTA CONTINUING MEMBERSHIP DUES(1)_____ I elect to have standard dues of $2 per month deducted from my retirement checks.

DIRECT PAYMENT(2) _____ Annual membership ($28 check enclosed)

ARTA LIFE MEMBERSHIP DUES(3)_____ I elect to have dues of $20 deducted from my retirement checks each month for 12 months. (Total $240)

(4) _____ Life membership (One-time $240 check enclosed)

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