The New Year is an excellent time to reflect, reassess priorities, and look to the future. I hope that 2019 was a wonderful year for all of you and look forward to a great year in 2020. A BIG THANK YOU goes to MRTA members who have attended our luncheon meetings and supported our fundraising activities. Your support came from the collection of contributions to specific organizations, our 50/50 raffle, and member annual dues. Remember the luncheons are always on the second Wednesday of the following months: March, May, June, September, November, and December at Drake's Landing on Western Reserve road. The social hour begins at 11:30AM. Our typical luncheon has an average of 85 attendees and we would love to see an increase in numbers. Please plan on attending (bring a friend) and meet past and new acquaintances. You will find our registration forms for the luncheon on our web site at www.mahoningcountyretiredteachers.com. The MRTA board will continue familiar fundraisers as well as looking for new and worthwhile projects to raise funds. We are also keeping track of all the volunteer work done by our members. Please update us on your volunteer service organizations. This will enable us to document your work in our community service reports. On behalf of the MRTA membership, I wish to thank all of the volunteers on our various committees who support our projects. The MRTA Board would like to extend a "THANK YOU" to the members for your past generosity and support. Please consider contributing to the MRTA Scholarship Fund. The money is used to provide scholarships to Youngstown State University students in the field of education who are preparing to student teach. To the outgoing MRTA Board members, I would like to express our deep appreciation and thanks for their time and dedication to our organization and activities. The MRTA Board of Directors would like to extend to everyone the very best wishes for a HAPPY AND HEARLTHY 2020. If you have any questions, you may email me at philbutto@zoominternet net or call my cell at 330-727-3471.