{"id":33,"date":"2019-07-12T15:16:49","date_gmt":"2019-07-12T19:16:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/artabranches.net\/demo-okarta\/?page_id=33"},"modified":"2019-12-13T18:29:45","modified_gmt":"2019-12-13T23:29:45","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/artabranches.net\/okarta\/history\/","title":{"rendered":"History"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_new_content h=”2″]OKARTA has the honour of being the first branch of Alberta retired teachers outside of the province of Alberta. The inspiration to form a 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 in Westbank, British Columbia. Armed with a handful of names and the encouragement of his colleagues, Ron began by sending letters to retired Alberta teachers who resided in the Okanagan valley. This preliminary invitation resulted in six interested people with a commitment to carry on. With great optimism, the first organizational meeting was called on Dec 1, 2005 in Kelowna, BC. There were 32 retired Alberta teachers present and from there history was made. Ron Rhine, the acting chairman, was elected as the first President of OKARTA, Marilyn Resler became Secretary and Ernie Leeck the Treasurer. We were off the ground and on our way.<\/p>\n

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Ron Rhine<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The constitution, structure and membership of this newly formed collective was under discussion. It was hoped that because the area was so large we might be able to support sub-branches in the communities north and south of Kelowna. However, in the end it became clear that one solid branch in the center of the valley had to be established first. Shortly thereafter Ron\u2019s family and other obligations caused him to step down from the position of president. At the Annual General Meeting on June 6, 2006 he resigned and Fred Resler was elected the second president of OKARTA. At this point, the final stages of OKARTA\u2019s inauguration were nearing completion and on Oct 3, 2007, OKARTA officially became the first branch of ARTA. A celebratory lunch was held on November 1 to formally welcome the members of OKARTA into the Alberta Retired Teachers\u2019 Association.<\/p>\n

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First OKARTA Executive as an official branch, November 1, 2007
\nFred Resler (L) President, Marilyn Resler; Secretary, Ernie Leeck; Treasurer
\nThe Harvest Golf Club, Kelowna<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

OKARTA now is a healthy branch of happily displaced Alberta retired teachers who have come to the Okanagan valley for it beauty, climate and endless retirement activities. Our meetings are a mixture of business, pleasure and meals together. We\u2019ve been to art shows, on wine tours, had golf games, luncheons, raspberry feasts, Christmas parties, and chili fests with bocce ball tournaments. At our meetings, we provide information about ARTA relayed from the Board and Annual General Meetings. It has been important to keep the members apprised of the many new and exciting changes that ARTA is experiencing as it expands and moves forward. With a solid core of members and 100 names on an ever growing email list, OKARTA is happy to have a strong connection with ARTA.<\/p>\n

In 2012 OKARTA celebrated its 5th Anniversary along with ARTA\u2019s 50th Anniversary. Thank you to Ron Rhine for blazing a trail to the west. Congratulations to ARTA for your many achievements over these 50 years. Thank you for your support and for being a progressive association. You serve your members well but we know the best is yet to come![\/vc_new_content][vc_campaign_ad1][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_new_content h=”2″ txt_transform=”uppercase” title=”About OKARTA”][\/vc_new_content]\t

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