Community

Teachers and school administrators have long been known for doing more than they were required to do to assist children and families in the school setting. They went the second mile in helping children, youth, teenagers and their families when the need arosee.

Elkhart County Retired Teachers continue to give their time and professional expertise to many
organizations in Indiana. Keep tabs of your 2023 hours, whether they be working with children, the
elderly, or with a service organization. Please turn in your hours by the end of 2023 to Lenette Burckhart at klburckhart@gmail.com. A new volunteer form is at the bottom of this web page for your use.

A community service project for ECRTA is collecting eye glasses and hearing aids which in turn are donated to the Lion’s Club. These glasses and hearing aids are used by the Lion’s Club for their mission project in Mexico. Several of our members are involved in this project each September. If you want more information about this worthwhile endeavor contact John Preheim, 875-6735.

.Volunteers are honored by increments of 100 hours starting with 200 hours. The Lifetime Certificate is given each year to a person that continues to give back to the community in many different areas.

Questions arise as to what can be considered for volunteer hours. The following are just some suggestions. You may have other ones that you do.

Church –boards, pastoral care visiting, Sunday School/Bible School teachers, ushering, transportation, secretarial duties, newsletters

Nursing Homes – visiting, reading to residents, transportation, helping in the dining room

Schools – tutoring, reading to children, children reading to you, helping in the classroom, recess duty, going on field trips, administering exams, ISTEP support, limited language learners

Community Organizations – providing any kind of assistance – manual or organizational, any type of support groups

Youth Organizations – providing any kind of assistance
Individual Assistance to Senior Citizens – any activity that helps promote their health and welfare

Service Clubs – leadership role, helping with projects

You may also count the time to and from your volunteer activity. The only area that does not count is helping with your grandchildren and other family members.

Congratulations to Cathy VanHuystee received the Outstanding Volunteer/Lifetime Award in 2017 for her volunteering in 2016. She volunteered 1478 hours in 2016: she was trained in Stephen Ministry, volunteered in Ryan's Place as a facilitator for 4th and 5th graders, treasurer for Homemakers Extension Club and then served as President, served on several county extension committees, Volunteer Hostess in the Home and Family Arts Building at the 4-H Fair, Community Service Chair for ECRTA, helped at ECRTA Retirement workshop, advocate for a 26 year old autistic young man, and helped serve the all-day Matterhorn's/Salvation Army free Thanksgiving dinner serving 2300 people in 2016.

Congratulations to Gary Stoltz, the 2015 winner of the Lifetime Award for Elkhart County. Gary volunteers with IRTA as well as our local ECRTA serving on legislative committees and keeping all of us informed regarding legislative decisions and representatives views; the legislative decisions obviously have an enormous impact on all of the retired teachers throughout our state. Gary is also on the IRTA Foundation Board that sets policies for Scholarships, Hands-up and Helping Hands. Gary volunteers for Church Community Service in various capacities.

We were honored to present the
20 th annual Education
Scholarship to a special lady
from our county. Whitney
Gessinger, a Northwood Grad,
is in her senior year at IUSB.
Her major and special interest is
Special Education at the
elementary level. Her
philosophy is that “Students
with disabilities have special
rights, not special needs.” Her
plan is to help these children
see their fullest potential, and
help prepare them for the real
world. We wish you the best in
your future endeavors, Whitney.

Check with your friends, neighbors, church friends! We are looking for an Education Major. We did not have an application last year. All you need to know is available on the ECRTA website at
www.ecrta.com/scholarship. This scholarship is for $1,000 and the requirements for eligibility are
listed under the scholarship tab. Do you know someone we can help? We want to give away $1,000!
If more information is needed, please contact the Scholarship Chairman, Carol Larson 574-536-5154.