I hope you are all looking forward to an exciting new year. Did you know that this is the year of the Dragon in the Chinese calendar? Dragons tend to be doers – ones who achieve and get things done. ORTA has chosen “volunteerism” as the theme for 2012 in keeping with those who achieve and get things done. We in Highland county can be proud of our volunteer efforts, as those who are the recipients can attest. We received a thank you letter from Samaritan Outreach Services for our November 8 donation. In the entire state of Ohio there were one half million hours of volunteer work reported last year by ORTA.

HCRTA depends upon volunteers who  enjoy “getting things done.” We will certainly need volunteers this year to help with the membership drive. Membership has declined, making this a serious element of our existence. We need a few volunteers to contact recent retirees and past members who for some reason or other have dropped off the radar.

Did you know that 2012 is the 65^th anniversary of ORTA as well as the National Retired Teachers Association? I was born that year (1947), so I guess it is fortuitous that I am your president in my 65^th year.