OKARTA has the honour of being the first branch of Alberta retired teachers to exist outside of Alberta’s borders. The inspiration to form a satellite branch came from ARTA board member Irl Miller who knew that Ron Rhine was the right person for the job. Ron, a former Treasurer, President and Executive Secretary of ARTA, was retired and living in Westbank, British Columbia. Armed with a handful of names and the encouragement of his colleagues, Ron began sending letters to retired Alberta teachers who resided in the Okanagan valley.