The Shadow
The Alleghany Retired Teachers Association (ARTA) held its September 3, 2024, meeting at Clifton Forge Public Library in Clifton Forge, Virginia. After calling the meeting to order and welcoming the members and guests, President Joan Green led the Pledge of Allegiance. Joan read an inspirational reading entitled, “The Four Seasons.”
Anita Rice, Vice President, introduced the guest speaker Mike Warren. Mike worked in healthcare for 34 years, mainly cardio and rehab services. He has been the minister at Calvary Christian Church for 20 years, is President of the Chaplains at Lewis Gale Alleghany Hospital, and is also Executive Director of COPE food pantry. Mike likes to keep current on medical research and enjoys sharing factual, up-to-date information
with those having medical needs.
Mike Warren gave a very informative presentation on “Breast Cancer.” Women with dense breasts are at a higher risk of breast cancer and are also underdiagnosed, but there are also other factors that play into this statement. For more than a decade, advocates have pushed for women to be notified if they have “dense” breasts. This is a factor that not only increases cancer risk but also makes tumors harder to detect on a
mammogram. Recently the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ruling determined that after a patient has a mammogram, breast centers must inform them about their breast density and its associated risks. Women need to be advised that additional imaging tests may help find cancers that the mammogram could have missed.
Breasts are considered dense if they are composed of more glandular and connective tissue than fat. Breast density is classified in four categories: A, B, C, and D. Women in categories C and D are considered to have dense breasts. Research shows 50 percent of cancers in women are missed by mammograms. Ultrasound and MRI scans have been shown to detect cancer more effectively, but the high cost and limited availability of MRI have kept the tests from becoming standard. Women should speak with their doctors about the density of their breasts and the type of tests they need.
President Green then went into the business part of the meeting.
Minutes from the May meeting was distributed to the members and filed as presented.
Renee Warren, treasurer, presented the treasurer’s report. The report was filed as presented. Renee then offered the proposed budget for 2024-2025 for approval. The budget was approved.
Dewey Lawson, Co-Chairman of the Scholarship Committee, had the drawing for the 50/50 which benefits the scholarship fund. Joan Green won and donated it back into the scholarship fund. Dewey stated $57 had been collected.
In association business, Joan Green thanked everyone for their generous donations of school supplies, food items for the food pantries and the monetary donations. Joan thanked the members for turning in their community service hours and Helen Jean Fitzgerald for sending in the report for a total of 9,710 hours. Joan read a thank you note from several of the scholarship recipients who included Adam Tremblay, Sadie Moye, and Lexi Dressler.
Joan passed around two newspaper articles from the Roanoke Times concerning VRS funding. She also mentioned the cost of the VRTA state newsletter and the expense of printing and mailing it. She suggested members get the newsletter by email if possible. Joan asked the members if they knew of anyone who was sick or had lost a family member and a card would be sent to them.
Joan made the members aware of several dates coming up in the near future. The Fall VRTA Delegate Assembly meeting in Midlothian on September 30-Oct. 1 and the District P in Roanoke on October 14 at Montano’s. Joan passed around sign-up sheets for the Fall VRTA Delegate Assembly meeting and the Fall District P meeting. On September 10, AARP is hosting a Presidential Watch Party at Bubba’s 33 at Valley View
Mall. Joan also reminded members of the Wall that Heals will be in Covington October 3-6 and they could use a few more volunteers. The ARTA December meeting will be at Temple Baptist Church in Covington on Dec. 3.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Anita Rice read an article entitled “Poetry” before blessing the delicious luncheon prepared by Becky Smith and Friends.
The next meeting for Alleghany Retired Teachers Association will be December 3 at Temple Baptist Church.
