By Telford H.R. No. 614 75R11130 WMS-F R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives takes pleasure in 1-2 recognizing the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA), whose 1-3 members have made substantial contributions to the welfare of the 1-4 State of Texas; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Last year, association members contributed almost 1-6 5,000,000 hours of volunteer work to their communities; and 1-7 WHEREAS, The Texas Retired Teachers Association was founded 1-8 in 1953, and it has a current membership of more than 32,500 1-9 members; and 1-10 WHEREAS, An able advocate in behalf of its members, the 1-11 association was instrumental in passing legislation in 1995 that 1-12 provided $1.6 billion in increased annuities for retired personnel; 1-13 TRTA's president is Robert Richards and the executive director is 1-14 Mike Lehr; and 1-15 WHEREAS, Membership in the TRTA provides the members access 1-16 to health services programs, retirement planning programs, 1-17 protective services, and informative publications; and 1-18 WHEREAS, Among the goals of the TRTA are promoting the 1-19 well-being of its members in the areas of intellectual, 1-20 professional, and economic development; providing a united and 1-21 functional organization; encouraging members to cooperate with 1-22 other organizations in solving problems of mutual concern; and 1-23 encouraging members to donate their time and expertise to civic and 1-24 educational projects; and 2-1 WHEREAS, The TRTA is an effective and helpful organization, 2-2 and its members have greatly assisted the citizens of Texas; now, 2-3 therefore, be it 2-4 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas 2-5 Legislature hereby commend the members of the Texas Retired 2-6 Teachers Association and recognize April 16, 1997, as Texas Retired 2-7 Public School Personnel Day; and, be it further 2-8 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-9 prepared for the organization as an expression of high regard by 2-10 the Texas House of Representatives.