What an exciting time to be part of the San Antonio Area Retired Teachers Association (SAARTA)! Our officers, board, and members started this year fully engaged and ready to energize our retirees with an array of great programs, activities, and field trips. Members are committed to ensuring that the legacy of SAARTA continues.
We began the year excited about the passage of the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), as so many of our members participated in our local campaign by making phone calls, purchasing and distributing signs citywide, and showing up at the polls during election time! Their advocacy continued this year with the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) repeal letter-writing and call campaigns. Our membership has carried that same spirit of advocacy to Austin during this Legislative Session!
To kick off the year, our officers and board personally reached out to every member to check in, encourage dues renewals, and invite them to attend our meetings. It worked! We increased our membership, and 85–90 members attended each meeting. Through AMBA, we have hosted successful new member luncheons and are ready to begin again in June. The board also sent out personalized holiday cards to each member.
Currently, we are preparing to connect with school districts to reach their upcoming retirees. Our Book Committee has worked diligently to secure and distribute thousands of books—7,227 so far—to deserving students. They will continue this important work through the end of the school year and into the summer. In addition, SAARTA members have volunteered an impressive 47,146 documented hours in service to our community.
Our Social Committee continues to do its absolute best to coordinate our collective food contributions for monthly meetings. Every month, members are reminded of important commemorations in our community through special display boards recognizing Veterans, Hispanic Heritage, Black History, and Native American Heritage Months.
The Scholarship Committee also works tirelessly to secure funding for the ten $1,000 scholarships we award at our April meeting to students pursuing a career in teaching. Local students, their families, and school personnel from various districts attend the ceremony and luncheon where these scholarships are presented. SAARTA is deeply committed to opening doors of opportunity for future teachers.
In March, we celebrated SAARTA’s 73rd birthday with a luncheon featuring 2015 State Poet Laureate Dr. Carmen Tafolla. Renowned harpist Juan Cabrera provided music prior to the presentation. The sold-out event brought together one hundred members for a wonderful celebration!
Every member of our SAARTA team has done an incredible job. They connect, greet, serve, and ensure that each member feels welcome at our meetings.
What an amazing 2024–2025 year!
– Minnie Abrego-Sanchez, President
