CROCKER— Pulaski County Area Retired School Personnel, the local unit of Missouri Retired Teachers Association/Public School Personnel, met for its regular monthly meeting at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 9 in Kentucky House Restaurant, Crocker.
The USO at Ft. Leonard Wood was the service project for the month. Retha Towe was to take the items to them.   
The call to order was given by President Bill Harrison who introduced Clara Ichord, the speaker for the day, in place of Bill Ransdall, who had resigned his position of Pulaski County Presiding Commissioner. 
Peggy Grosvenor led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by Martin White who gave the invocation. 
Harrison welcomed each member present, prospective members and all honored guests. Jim Brown, Bev Richard, Marie Brown and Jim Morgan were recognized as guests.
The minutes were approved as e-mailed and the treasurer’s report was given and the report will be filed for audit.
Harrison called for committee reports. 
Membership Committee Chair, Gloria Baun, welcomed all new and prospective members to the unit. Jim Brown, of Dixon, and Marie Brown, of Stoutland, were present. 
The Legislative Chair, Myra Dingman, noted Region 7’s legislative day will is at 10 a.m. Feb. 10 in Jefferson City. Several from the local unit will be attending.
Public Relations Committee co-chair Georgia White indicated she had sent 13 pieces of correspondence or cards since the last meeting in October. 
The Program Committee chair, Carolyn Denton, informed the group of the next meeting, which will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8 in Chopstix Restaurant, St. Robert. 
The service project for the month will be the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program. 
 The Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program will be the service project.  Everyone is asked to bring an unwrapped gift for a toddler through teenagers to give to the Toys for Tots Program.
The annual gift exchange will be held with $10 gifts.  Men will bring for men and women for women. 
The Community Service Chair, Retha Towe, asked all unit members to keep a record of volunteer hours spent in any way throughout the year. 
Retha asked Georgia to find out where to send the community service hours collected, since there was a new committee chair. 
Informative and Protective Services Committee, no report. 
Retirement Planning/Health Care Chair, Linda Hix, indicated the health care plan had passed the House and now the Senate was working on a plan of its own. Remember that beginning July 2010 retirees who still work in the school systems will pay Social Security with the school district matching the payment.   
Sandy Crawford then read a Tribute to Veterans written in September 2005 involving a teacher and her classroom. 
Under unfinished business, the nominating committee reported back to the group on a new slate of officers.
The officers for 2010 were chosen as follows:  Myra Dingman, president, Linda Hix, vice-president, Georgia White, secretary, and Peggy Grosvenor, treasurer. 
Secretary and treasurer are sustained positions and do not have to be elected each year. The unit accepted the slate of officers, and they will be installed in January.
Following the meeting the president called upon Clara Ichord, who filled in for Bill Ransdall, who resigned as Presiding Commissioner to accept a position with the Missouri Tax Commission. 
Clara, who is also a retired teacher, read a letter from Bill Ransdall who explained his sorrow at not being able to fulfill his commitment, as well as explaining his new position on the commission.    
Door prizes were awarded for the day and they were won by Betty Layman, Linda Hix and Paul Corbett.   
Attending the meeting were Retha Towe, Sandy Crawford, Dorothy Curry, and Betty Layman from Crocker,  Myra Dingman, Ken Dingman, Wayne Denton, Carolyn Denton, Paul Corbett, Lelar Corbett, Debbie McCall, Janice Dye and Helen Ruckman from Waynesville; Ildean Grosvenor and Gloria Baun from St. Robert;  Linda Hix of St. James; William “Bill” Harrison and Debbie Anderson Burton from Dixon; Marian Jones from Iberia, Peggy Grosvenor, Mary Ann Crismon and Linda Crismon from Laquey; and Wanda Pruitt, Martin White and Georgia White from Richland. 
In addition, guests Clara Ichord, Susan Grosvenor, Ray Burton, Jim Morgan, Bev Richard, Marie Brown, and Jim Brown were in attendance. 
The following PCARSP grandchildren were present:  Addison Purdome and Tucker Jones.