TITLE: Recognizing March 20, 2013, as Texas Retired Teachers Association Day at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Recognizing March 20, 2013, as Texas Retired Teachers Association Day at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Members of the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) are gathering at the State Capitol on March 20, 2013, and their visit presents a welcome opportunity to recognize this noteworthy organization, which is celebrating 60 years of service; and WHEREAS, The largest organization of its kind in the nation, TRTA is composed of over 73,000 members, who serve as advocates in behalf of the state's more than 300,000 public school and higher education retirees; and WHEREAS, The dedicated men and women of TRTA have a long-standing record of involvement in public education and community service endeavors; in 2011, members logged nearly 5.8 million hours of volunteer work, which translates into a monetary value of more than $125 million; among the group's many worthwhile programs is the Children's Book Project, through which members have delivered more than a half-million books to underprivileged children since 1998, including over 132,000 in 2011 alone; and WHEREAS, TRTA additionally encourages its membership to enjoy the physical and mental benefits of exercise with its Walks-A-Million Program; during 2011, the health-minded participants in this initiative collectively took almost 16 billion steps; and WHEREAS, For six decades, the Texas Retired Teachers Association has served as a leading voice for public education retirees as well as a force for positive change in countless communities, and it is indeed fitting to pay tribute to this outstanding organization and the tireless volunteers who uphold its mission; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby honor the Texas Retired Teachers Association on the occasion of its 60th anniversary and recognize March 20, 2013, as Texas Retired Teachers Association Day at the State Capitol. Carter Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 914 was adopted by the House on March 27, 2013, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House