XENIA — Greene County Retired Teachers Association recently held its summer quarter meeting.

Guest speakers were Jean Ali and Linda McLaughlin from the Greene County Food Pantry, which is having a capital fundraising campaign to raise money to help eliminate food insecurity in the county. The food pantry currently needs the ability to hold and store more donated food and supplies. When the needed funds are raised, they will build a 3,200-square-foot building with freezer and cooler space. Donors may include their names on buildings, truck, van, and other spaces to help secure the future of the pantry. The more food they rescue and can store, means less purchased food, which will keep costs down.

President Jim Beaver made a new book presentation to Elizabeth Cusick, deputy director of the Greene County Library. The book “Our Stories, Our Words” was compiled by two former pupils at the Ohio Soldiers and Sailors Home in Xenia and includes stories about teachers who taught at OVCH and later became members of GCRTA. Cusick also reported that the Greene County public Library tutoring program, started during COVID, and serving more than 2,000 students last year, was again awarded another grant which will sustain the program for children through June 2024. Tutors include retired and current teachers as well as college students completing an education degree.

Cusick wrapped up her presentation by presenting Beaver a cookbook from 1977 that his mother, Lois Beaver, had put together, and gave him a pineapple cream pie that Cusick had made following a recipe that Lois had published in the book.

Janet Adkins reported that two $1,500 scholarships were awarded for 2023 graduates. Robert Banks, who received the Bill Wright Scholarship, graduated from Xenia High School and will attend Ohio University and major in music education, while Holly Campbell, who graduated from Cedarville High School, will attend Cedarville University and also major in music education. Three scholarships will be awarded in 2024.

Virginia Pinkerton presented the retired teacher spotlight honoring Joyce Redder.

Redder grew up on a 131-acre farm and skipped two grade levels because of her academic abilities. She loved the farm and the farm animals. Her mother was a teacher and role model. Redder began singing solos in church at age four, and also played the piano for her family’s singing group. She graduated from high school at 15 years of age and enrolled in the Wilmington College Teacher Education Program. After two years, Redder secured a cadet teaching certificate and began teaching.

In 1958 she married Sam Redder and together they had three children. Sons David and Daniel attended the Greene County Retired Teachers meeting and luncheon with Redder. Daughter Carma recently retired after a five-year teaching career in the London (Ohio) schools. Along the way, Redder earned her bachelor of arts degree from Central State University in 1966 and taught fifth grade with Pinkerton’s mom. Redder also went on to obtain her master’s degree from Wright State University in 1977. She taught seventh grade social studies, kindergarten and music from 1986-1999. Redder served Greene County Retired Teachers as chairperson of the scholarship committee for 25 years, retiring from that commitment earlier this year.

Thanks to technology coordinator Jana Bass, GCRTA can now meet in person or simultaneously over Zoom.

The next meeting of the Greene County Retired Teachers will be at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 15 at Memorial United Presbyterian Church in Xenia. Contact Linda Sesslar, membership chair, at [email protected] 937-371-3116 and leave a message if you have any questions.