HISTORY

Over the years various attempts had been made to form a retirees group in the Seaford School District. The realization of this dream came about in 1998, Betty Carey and Dolores Mele attended many local meetings to investigate retiree groups on Long Island.

As a result of their work a meeting of retirees was called in October 1998. Our first meeting was held at Seaford High School. Thirty retirees attended the meeting and were welcomed by UTS President Tom Flanagan, Union Retirees Representative Wayne Clavin and Principal Pat Gallagher. Beside the attendees, forty-five other retirees sent word that they were interested in forming a group. The group that met that day was most enthusiastic. Volunteers quickly organized and the association was on its way.

Dolores Mele and Neil O'Connell became Co-Presidents and Betty Carey our Secretary. The title A.R.T.S. was Neil O'Connell's idea. It is an acronym for Association of Retired Teachers of Seaford. Terry Fitzmaurice and Lorraine Rosenberg collaborated on a newsletter, Bobbi Sokol and Cathy Finelli took care of mailings, Dottie Bremer (r.i.p.) volunteered for Sunshine, Skip and Carol Lawrence took care of membership. We were kept up to date on offerings at the TRACT Center by Betty Baylis. Many trips were planned by Tony D'Onofrio, Linda Frank, Terry Fitzmaurice and Genevieve Lee.

Now, seven years later, A.R.T.S. has over one hundred members from all over the country. Those who live out of state enjoy receiving the newsletter now produced by Gen Lee and Lynne Keenan.

A.R.T.S. meets twice a year at the Irish Coffee Pub for a luncheon meeting. It provides an opportunity to catch up with old friends and meet new ones. We have enjoyed each other's company at several New York theatre outings, cruises to wonderful destinations, evenings at the L.I. Ducks games, dinner cruises and trips up the Hudson.

A.R.T.S has provided a means to stay in touch with those who were part of our lives for so many, many years.

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The teacher
who is indeed wise
does not bid you
to enter the house
of his wisdom
but rather leads you
to the threshold
of your mind.

~Kahlil Gibran