PCREA Polk I 

A HISTORY OF THE FLORIDA RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE POLK COUNTY RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

The Florida Retired Teachers Association had its beginning with, and grew out of, the wise foresight and untiring efforts of a few leaders of Education in Florida, who realized the need for such an organization, and were willing to put forth the effort necessary to accomplish such a far-reaching objective.  At first, a few teachers who had retired, continued to attend the annual meetings of the Florida Education Association, and began to meet as a separate group, when the other sections were meeting.  After a time, this group was recognized as a Section of the Florida Education Association, and meetings and activities were planned for the group, and they were allowed to select voting delegates, just as other Sections did.

At the same time, there are records to show that groups of retired teachers were forming organizations in Miami, Lakeland, St. Petersburg, Pensacola and other places in the state.  The National Retired Teachers Association, under the wise guidance of Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, began some retired teacher activities in Florida.  Dr. George H. Hilliard, of St. Petersburg, was appointed Associate Vice-President of Area IV, for the National Retired Teacher Association, and he was able to initiate considerable NRTA activity in St. Petersburg.  A Hospitality House was established with Miss Margaret Stine as chairman, and the NRTA Pharmacy was opened in St. Petersburg in 1965.  In all its activities, the NRTA encouraged the organization of a strong State organization, and helped in a number of ways to get local groups organized.

Finally, an organizational meeting of the Florida Retired Teachers Section of the Florida Education Association was held in connection with the annual meeting of the Florida Education Association, in Miami, on April 9, 1954.  Mr. Paul D. Phillips of Jacksonville was elected “temporary president”, for approximately one year.

During that year, Mr. and Mrs. Phillips traveled over a great part of the state, meeting with individuals and groups of retired teachers, and where possible, organizing local units. 

The records of the Secretary of the Lakeland Retired Teachers Unit show that in Lakeland, on November 26, 1954, at the request of Mr. Paul Phillips, State President of the Retired teachers Section of FEA, met at the Lakeland High School, at 10:00 a.m., and a Unit was organized.  Mrs. Kate Hodges was selected by the group to preside over the meeting.

Mr. Phillips explained that the general aims of the organization were to safeguard and improve retirement benefits, promote professional interest, and provide for social, charitable and educational activities.  These aims made it necessary to have adequate newspaper publicity, so that retiring teachers, and the public as a whole might be enlightened and made conscious of the needs of retiring teachers, and to promote continued interest on the part of retiring persons, in the profession of their choice.

Present at this organizational meeting in Lakeland were the following retired teachers who were elected to the offices listed:

• Mrs. Kate Hodges – President
• Mr. A. L. Hodges – Vice-President
• Miss Ruth Blackman – Treasurer
• Mrs. Carolyn Padgett – Secretary

The following committee chairmen were appointed by the President:

• Mrs. Maude Cunningham – Publicity
• Mrs. Virginia Bentley – Constitution
• Miss Allie Petten – Historian

The first regular meeting of this group was called for February 5, 1955, at 10:00 a.m., at the Lakeland Senior High School.  This grew into a very strong Unit and has been influential in all the activities of the Florida Retired Teachers Association. Mrs. Kate Hodges became Director of District 10 and was the moving force in organizing other Units in her area.

This detailed record of the organization of the Lakeland Unit was included in this history because it was the most complete and authentic record available, of an organization started in Mr. Phillips first year as President.  Other Units were, no doubt, organized prior to this time, but no permanent record has so far been made available.

Before PCREA Polk I, before FREA, before AARP, the National Retired Teachers Association began in a chicken coop....

Read the story here.