Oklahoma SCS/NRCS Retired Employees

Oklahoma SCS/NRCS Retired Employees

Minutes of Meeting

April 25, 2014

Oklahoma SCS/NRCS Retired Employees met at the Golden Corral Buffet at 520 South MacArthur Blvd. in Oklahoma City.  Thirty-nine people were in attendance.

President Dan Runnels called the meeting to order.  He reported that Becka Redding (retired State Conservationist’s Secretary) had been diagnosed with breast cancer.  She also had back surgery and is currently taking radiation and chemo.  Bob & Betty Day were not able to attend today’s meeting due to health issues.  Vivian Ankle, wife of David Ankle, retired Area Range Specialist at Perry, passed recently and services are Saturday in Perry.   Stan Rice provided the blessing for the meal.   Everyone enjoyed the buffet meal. 

Following the meal, President Runnels again called the meeting to order.  Ken Awtrey introduced himself and his wife Kay as first time attendees.  They currently reside in Nacogdoches, TX.  Ken had worked in various locations in Oklahoma before leaving the state for Hawaii as well as other locations.  David Wells also introduced himself and his wife Susie.  They currently reside in McAlester, OK.  David retired from the McAlester TSO where he was an agronomist.  Otho Lamar introduced his guest, Dickey Welch, son of Archie Welch, deceased Area Conservationist.   Those in attendance introduced themselves and their spouse if in attendance.

Secretary/Treasurer Sandra Hough read the minutes of the October 25, 2013, meeting.  They were approved as read.  The treasurers’ report showed a balance at the last meeting of $796.22, with $170.00 dues deposited for a beginning balance of $966.22.   Expenses for this meeting were $202.99 leaving an ending balance of $763.23.   There were 324 notices mailed, 5 returned, 5 re-mailed and one of those returned.   Current addresses are needed for David Edmonds and Ken Taylor, both of McAlester.

The retiree website (www.cyber-shack.net/nrcs/ ) has been helpful in our effort to keep retirees informed.  This website also has a posting of the attendees, minutes and pictures from each of the meetings.

Fred Fortney read a list of recent retiree deaths:  Mary Lou Crider, mother of Duane Crider, retired DC at El Reno, 11/6/13; Cliff Corbin, husband of  Wanelda Corbin, retired IT Specialist at Clinton TO, 12/2/13; Billy Wayne Fenton, father of Audra Fenton, Sallisaw FO, 12/9/13; James Betchan, father of Jay Betchan, SCT at Enid FO, 12/13/13; William Carl Nelson, retired engineer, Geary, OK, 1/30/14; Dr. Roy Mack Gray, Retired Deputy Under Secretary in USDA and Acting Chief SCS, 2/2/14; Carl Mackey, 90, retired DC at Purcell FO, 2/15/14; Jackie Sandy, wife of state office retiree Gayland Sandy, 2/24/14; Larry Poindexter, retired Water Quality Specialist at the State Office; 3/18/14; Jackie Henslee, retired construction inspector and father of Stacey Mathis, DC at Atoka, 3/25/14; Vivian Ankle, wife of David Ankle,  retired Area Range Specialist at the Perry TO; 4/10/14; and Margie E. Adams-Anderson, 93, mother-in-law of Julie Adams, Cartographer/GIS Specialist at the State Office, 4/21/14.  A moment of silence was observed and Fred offered a prayer.

Retirees since our October 2013 meeting include:  Susan Baggett, former ASTC FO in Zone 3, State Resource Conservationist, Texas, 38 years, 11/2013; Andy Tucker, State Office and RC&D Coordinator, 35 years, 1/2014; Tracy Potter, CET in Design Section in State Office, Stillwater, 35 years, 1/13/14; Rich Olson, Program Assistant, State Office, Stillwater, 3/28/14.

Otho Lamar presented a report of the nominating committee.  Jim Frie and Duane Crider were also a part of that committee.  Dan Runnels has agreed to serve as president for another year with Gordon Moebius agreeing to serve as vice-president for a year and then assuming the office of president.  Sandra Hough agreed to continue serving as secretary/treasurer for another year.  Special thanks to the members of this committee for serving.

Randy Freeland is the Oklahoma representative to ARCSE and uses information gathered at the meeting to provide news articles for the newsletters sent to members of the organization every other month.  Dues are $18 per year and he has membership applications for anyone interested in joining.  He also attaches his information to the retiree website.  Information sheets were passed out and he asked those in attendance to ‘jot down’ something about them and if they would like to receive an email notice of the upcoming meetings to include their email address.

Randy Freeland presented a slide show “Do You Remember” to the delight of those in attendance.  The slides he presented were furnished to him by Lowell McMasters who unfortunately was not in attendance. 

Everyone was challenged to personally contact retirees who have not been attending the meetings and invite them to attend our next meeting or even better yet, bring one or more with them to the next meeting.

The next meeting is scheduled for Friday, October 24, 2014, at the Golden Corral on MacArthur Boulevard in Oklahoma City.

There was no other business to bring before the group and the meeting was adjourned.

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