DUBUQUE AREA RETIRED SCHOOL PERSONNEL ASSOCIATION

DUBUQUE AREA RETIRED SCHOOL PERSONNEL ASSOCIATION. In 1959 ten retired teachers started the Dubuque County Retired Teachers' Association. The first meetings were held in members' homes in October of that year. The organization grew to include more than four hundred members. Original dues totaled $3.50. That included local dues of $.25, state dues of $.50, and national dues of $2.75. Today's state dues are $12.00 and the local dues are $3.00.

The first meetings of the organization were social. The organization provided an opportunity to meet with former colleagues to reminisce about past experiences and discuss their current lives. By the 1970s the number of meetings each year had increased from four to six. Meetings began to include programs that provided information for members. Presentations about travel, gardening, consumer fraud, social security benefits, IPERS benefits, and health care provided members with ways to improve their lives in retirement.

The Association changed in nature over the years. It has become a resource of expertise and service for our community. Members were politically active and interested in the political decisions that affected retirement. The organization was always concerned about the high cost of prescription drugs, high cost of health insurance, and maintaining the IPERS system benefits. As a result of these concerns they lobbied to improve IPERS benefits and were active in getting programs for dental health insurance, prescription drug coverage and health insurance programs for retired teachers.

The Dubuque Area Retired School Personnel Association reached out to the community. Monetary gifts were made to the DUBUQUE ARBORETUM AND BOTANICAL GARDENS, PIN, Luther Manor's Alzheimer's unit, NICC Student scholarships, ST. MARK COMMUNITY CENTER, COLTS DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS, DUBUQUE MUSEUM OF ART, DUBUQUE FOOD PANTRY, Dubuque Lifetime Center, DUBUQUE GIRLS' CLUB, Hillcrest Family Services Library, and the music programs of the DUBUQUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. Through the years American flags were presented to the Arboretum and Dubuque Life-Time Center and both the American and Iowa flags to the CARNEGIE-STOUT PUBLIC LIBRARY. Members of the organization also provided countless hours of volunteer service to community organizations. In 2011-2012 the organization gave over twenty-five thousand hours of volunteer service to Dubuque and the surrounding area.

Programs that have provided service for the residents of Dubuque have been initiated by the organization. William J. WATTERS helped initiate Life after Fifty Physical Fitness Program with the help of LORAS COLLEGE. Many of the members were active in the Tax Aide program for senior citizens.

Our organization twice hosted the State Convention for Retired School Personnel.

The Dubuque Area Retired School Personnel Association honored the death of former colleagues with an Honor Guard. Members of the organization that no longer can maintain an active role are given the status of Honored Retirees. Cards were sent to members who were ill or had lost a member of their family.

At the April 2005 meeting the membership voted to change the name of the association to the Dubuque Area Retired School Personnel Association. This change reflected the state association’s constitution that allowed any retired school personnel to belong to this organization. The name change became effective at our May 2005 meeting.

The state organization has recognized DARSPA for having the largest increase in membership. The Dubuque organization became the largest local organization in the state and was recognized for having the largest number of attendees at meetings.

The Organization’s Founders:

 Miss Augusta Frey (President)
 Miss Marguerite Kenna (Vice-President)
 Miss Hilda Dieterich(Secretary/Treasurer)
 Miss Eleanor Geisler (Membership)
 Miss Evelyn Ryder (Social)
 Miss Grace Ryan (Welfare)
 Miss Ilda Bavendick (Telephone)
 Ms. Harold Milversted
 Miss Eva Keane
 Miss Lyda Wright

---

Source:

DARSPA website