Group helps retired teachers keep on giving

Think back. I’ll bet you can recall a favorite teacher who was especially inspiring, maybe even one who shaped your life.

Jessie Boivin had just such a teacher.

“When I was born I had a club foot and I went to a school for handicapped children. All grades were taught in one room at the Mary Snow School,” said Boivin, 70.

“Lillian F. Wall was the teacher and was handicapped herself,” she said. “She was loving and caring, like a second mom to me. She inspired me to want to help others.” Boivin’s decision to become a teacher is credited to Wall. “I thought if she could teach, then so could I.”

Boivin’s enthusiasm for teaching didn’t stop when she retired. She joined the Penobscot County Chapter of the Maine Educators Association – Retired, formerly known as the Penobscot County Retired Teachers Association, which was organized in May 1954.

“The association invites you to join when you retire,” said Boivin, a 10-year member. “I made new friendships. I like to have social contact with my peers and I like keeping abreast of legislative issues that involve teachers’ retirement. And the programs [at meetings] are very interesting and cover a wide range of subjects. We even take trips.”

While this all sounds like fun, there is much more to this group than socializing.

“Even though we’re retired, we’re not inactive,” said Boivin. “We’re on fast-forward.”

And so they are. With a motto of “Sociability, Stimulation, Service” and a philosophy of “Happiness in retirement depends on service,” these retired teachers have covered all their bases.

During the past year alone, 30 members chalked up 8,996 hours of volunteer service. Six members spent 454 hours reading to school children and nursing home residents through the “Reading in Maine” program.

Dedicated members have also volunteered at Meals for Me, a program of Eastern Agency on Aging, as hostesses at community dining rooms and as drivers for the home-delivery side of the program.

At each meeting members bring canned and packaged goods for donation to a Penobscot County food cupboard. Money was also donated to the laid-off mill workers in Brewer and Lincoln.

A welfare committee is in place to keep tabs on members who have fallen ill. The sending of cards and making of visits are then organized.

As if all this were not enough, members do other good works as well, such as tutoring, providing transportation and tax aid to those in need, telephoning and visiting shut-ins, working on political campaigns, serving on legislation committees and volunteering with historical societies, museums and churches.

One of the biggest projects is their auction held every November.

“It’s a typical country auction, with a Christmas theme,” said Boivin. “The main purpose is to raise $1,000 for a scholarship for a high school student who is going to college to be a teacher.” Other fund-raisers include bake sales, wrapping paper and ribbon sales, and member donations.

Just as the members gave in their careers, so they continue to give in their retirement. After teaching English in several schools, Boivin settled in the Brewer school system, spending almost 30 years as their librarian. She shows no signs of slowing down.

“I like reconnecting with teachers and feeling part of the community again through the types of work we do, and encouraging others to come to the profession,” she said. “It gives me a sense of belonging and helping.”

I saw a bumper sticker once that read, “Teachers do it with class.” They sure do.

If you are a retired educator and would like more information about this organization, call Clara Swan at 947-0678.

Carol Higgins is director of communications at Eastern Agency on Aging. For information on EAA, call 941-2865, log on www.eaaa.org, or email info@eaaa.org.