|
Oklahoma SCS/NRCS Retirees Newsletter October 2009
The Oklahoma SCS/NRCS Retirees met October 30, 2009 at the Hometown Buffet Restaurant in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Sixty three people were in attendance. They were: David Ankle, Dale Bell, Kenneth & Rebecca Blan and Kenneth’s daughter Linda Cook, Bob Bumgarner, Steve Chessmore, Ron Clark, Everett & Helen Cole, Les & Barbara Conner, Eddie & Lola Day, Bob & Betty Day, Wayne Fjeseth, Fred & Gayle Fortney, Randy Freeland, Lloyd Garrison, Gayle & Mary Goforth, David Haggard, Jim & Mollye Henley, Sandra Hough, Don & Pat Jackson, Mavis & Wilene Jones, Otho LaMar, Nick Lambeth, Jim McCampbell, Forrest & Louise McClung, Lowell & Minnie McMasters, George Moreland and his guest Evelyn Miller, Glen & Eunice Mullen, Wes Oneth, Bill & Ladonna Petermann, John & Joy Pewthers, Stan Rice, Dan & Sharon Runnels, John & Shirley Spitzer, Billy & Phyllis Teels, Wes & Shirley Thomas, Betty Todd, Billy & Marcella Wagner, and Roland & June Willis and their daughter Wanda.
After a prayer led by Billy Wagner, the group enjoyed a delicious buffet meal and then conducted a brief business session led by President Randy Freeland. Members were updated on the name change for our national organization to Association of Retired Conservation Service Employees (ARCSE). Sandra Hough, Secretary/Treasurer, read the minutes from the last meeting and gave a treasurer’s report. Sandra indicated she has 350 members on her mailing list and mailed a notice of the meeting to each. The group was reminded that the Oklahoma Retirees Website is up and running and also pretty current. It can be accessed at: http://www.cyber-shack.net/nrcs/
A list of retirees who had passed since the last meeting (October 2008) was read by Fred Fortney. They were: Ruth G. Van Arsdell, 4/09, former secretary at the Perry Field Office; Mack Keathley, 5/3/09, former DC at Checotah; Jennie Beecham, widow of Glen Beecham; Linda Kane, 6/09, wife of Harold Kane; Sarah Jo Gregory, 9/09, widow of Skeet Gregory who worked in watershed construction & technician at Chickasha, Lindsay and Ada; Ginny Gibson, formerly in the Stillwater State Office; Elsie Hill, Antlers, wife of Cletis Hill former technician & mother of Jimmie Hill, State Office; Glen Stillman; and June Calvert, wife of Tom Calvert, former technician at Purcell. A moment of silence was observed and Fred offered a prayer.
Those in attendance who had not been to the meeting in several years were asked to stand and introduce themselves and their spouse, if present. Don Jackson lives in Stillwater and still does occasional consulting work for real estate sales for bank and trust companies. He still finds time to take in a few OSU men and women’s basketball games. Dale Bell lives in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma and noted that he still rides a horse almost every day. Ron Clark lives in Stillwater and spends several days on the golf course when not assisting retirees with income tax returns. Wes Oneth lives in McAlester, Oklahoma. Wes Thomas and wife Shirley live in Okemah. Roland and June Willis live on their farm west of Stillwater. He still enjoys hunting and just “piddling” with whatever comes along. Billy Teels and his wife Phyllis live in Granbury, Texas. He spends his time assisting the Tarrant County Food Bank and volunteering at the Acton Nature Center. His biology training comes in handy as he still does his fair share of hunting and fishing as well as entertaining 13 grandchildren. Steve Chessmore is working around the family farms near Perry and providing leadership in church groups. He recently traveled to Jamaica and Alaska. He too still enjoys hunting and fishing.
Vice-President Stan Rice asked retirees to share funny stories from their careers with SCS/NRCS. Once word got out that we did this at the last meeting, I think some came just to “protect their interests”!
Officers were elected at the end of the meeting and Stan Rice was elected President of the Oklahoma Retirees Group with John Pewthers as Vice President. Sandra Hough agreed to stay on the Secretary/Treasurer.
The next meeting will be in April 2010, at the Hometown Buffet on NW Expressway in Oklahoma City. A notice will be sent out prior to the meeting with the specific date.
| Back | |