BARB BARRETT/The Luminary To celebrate 80 years, the Lycoming County Chapter of Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees (PASR) hosted an event for young children at the River Valley YMCA on June 28. With professional storyteller Kay Poeth of Paxtonville is Nan Rusczyk of Muncy (far right), regional director for the Northcentral PA division. They offered a fun filled afternoon with books, games and refreshments with the ‘Cat in the Hat.’

WILLIAMSPORT – On Thursday, June 28 a proclamation was made by Lycoming County commissioners to the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees (PASR), recognizing the outstanding achievements of public school educators and employees for their voluntary support and contributions over the past 80 years.

Anyone who is on a Pennsylvania School Employee Retirement system is eligible to belong to PASR according to Carla Auten from Muncy and a member of the Lycoming County Chapter of PASR which has close to 400 members.

To honor the organization’s anniversary, a special event for young children was held at the River Valley YMCA in Williamsport from 1-3 p.m. With a theme “Come Mingle with the Cat in the Hat”, storyteller Kay Poeth from Selinsgrove led the children into fun play with added music and dance.

“Our chapter wanted to do something for children and open it up to the community,” said Auten. “We feel they are our future.” Over 80 children attended the afternoon program.

Established in 1937 PASR is an association comprised of members who are are former teachers, administrators, counselors, nurses, secretaries, aides, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, maintenance staff.The regional chapter meets four times a year. The new state director will be speaking in September at the First United Methodist Church in Muncy. A $750 scholarship also is awarded annually to a Lycoming County high school student. This year it was awarded to a Muncy student at a luncheon on June 12th.

PASR helped establish both the National Retired Teachers’ Association in 1947 and the nation’s largest senior organization, AARP, in 1958. Currently, there are approximately 70 local PASR chapters. Most are found throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; however, chapters are located throughout the country.