The first annual Kentucky Retired Teachers Week (third full week in October) will be Oct. 15-21. The Russellville/Logan County Retired Teachers Association will join with the Kentucky Retired Teachers Association in saluting all retired teachers.

When retired teachers retire, they do not actually retire, they just keep on working for our youth and everyone throughout the state. Retired teachers give back to the community in many ways through volunteer work. Each retired teacher is urged to keep record of volunteer hours and to report to the local association which in turn reports to the state association. Volunteer hours is a way to put a dollar amount to these efforts given by retirees. The dollar value is computed using values from the Independent Sector website (www.independentsector.org). For example, an hour donated in 2010 is worth $17.65.

Each year Kentucky Retired Teachers Association gathers volunteer hour data from local units so we can use that data in outreach efforts. Statewide last year KRTA members donated more than 609,000 hours, valued at $1.44 million. Mrs. Eloise Hadden was the Logan County retiree with the greatest number of volunteer hours in 2011.

Kentucky Retired Teachers Week is a time when the communities can show their appreciation to retired teachers for their immeasurable contribution and true value to society. Please thank teachers you come in contact with.

The Russellville/Logan County Association has a community project each quarter of the year. In July a bountiful amount of food was collected for the Auburn Baptist Church’s summer backpack program. In September many school supplies were collected and distributed tot he Russellville and Logan County Family Resource Centers. The December project will be top bring items for Toys for Tots.