Dear RCEA-R Members,
Welcome to a new year of service, learning, and fellowship! As we begin this journey together, it is important to reflect on the purpose and commitment that unites us; ensuring our success as retirees and supporting the educational profession.
I am extremely proud to be a part of this organization and the work that is being done to support our schools, colleagues, and community. Our collective efforts are making a meaningful difference, and it is through our dedication that we continue to move forward. Each of you are what makes RCEA-R a successful organization. Your involvement, passion, and hard work are the foundation of our achievements. Together, we will continue to build on our legacy of service, learning, and fellowship throughout the year.
The 2025-2026 Handbook provides information to help you stay updated, connect with each other, and use as a resource regarding educational issues and concerns. It is a good practice to refer to it often, allowing you to reference important information , ensuring that you have access to relevant details as needed.
A new school year brings fresh opportunities and challenges. By working together, RCEA-R can make a real impact for students and educators. Please join me in boosting our presence, building partnerships, and expanding advocacy. We have what it takes, and I appreciate your support for a successful year.
Sincerely,
Ida W. Thompson
President
RCEA-R works to keep its members informed of current rights benefits, and privileges, to further the general welfare of retired school personnel, and to maintain continued interest in professional growth.
The Richland County Retired Educators association was organized on November 9, 1961, with a membership of thirty-five. The purposes of the organization were and still are as follows:
The officers and board members constitute the RCEA-R Executive Board. They function to manage the overall operations of the organization in concert with the stated mission and goals. Please feel free to reach out to these officers with any ideas, questions or concerns.
President
Vice-President
Secretary
Treasurer
Financial Secretary
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Parliamentarian
The Executive Board meets at least five (5) times annually and during the summer for a planning/work session. The board may elect to meet more often to ensure effective operations of the organization. Meetings may be held virtually or in-person.
Per the RCEA-R Bylaws, (Article IV, Section 3) elections shall be held at the final meeting of each two-year term.
More information regarding the nomination process and elections will be forthcoming from the Nominations Committee.
The name of the organization shall be Richland County Education Association—Retired.
The purpose of the organization shall be to keep members informed of current rights, benefits, and privileges; to further the general welfare of retired school personnel; and to maintain continued interest in professional growth.
Section 1. There shall be three categories of membership: life membership, yearly membership, and associate membership.
Section 2. Active members shall be retired educators and school district personnel who pay life membership dues or yearly dues and are entitled to vote and hold office.
Section 3. Associate members are defined as family members or friends of a RCEA-R member. Associate members are not eligible to serve as officers or vote in elections.
Section 1. Officers shall be the president, vice-president, secretary, financial secretary, and treasurer.
Section 2. Officers shall be elected for a two-year term and may be reelected.
Section 3. Elections shall be held at the final meeting of each two-year term.
Section 4. The vice-president shall be the program chairperson.
Section 5. Should any vacancy occur, the office shall be filled by the executive board.
Section 6. No officer can serve more than four consecutive terms.
Duties of the President
1. Conducts all meetings (business and programs) of the organization, including meetings of the Executive Board, and other functions of the organization.
2. Appoints and reviews the work of committees and chairpersons with the assistance of the Executive Board as soon as possible after taking office and throughout the term of office as the need arises.
3. Appoints a Parliamentarian as soon as possible after taking office.
4. Serves as an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Commit-tee.
5. Arranges for an annual audit of the Treasurer’s books.
6. Prepares and submits a written annual report at the final meeting of the year for the general membership.
7. Passes on all President’s records in good order to the incoming President within one month after leaving office.
8. Represents the organization whenever and wherever appropriate.
Duties of the Vice President
1. Performs the duties of the President in case of the President’s absence, resignation, disability, death, or inability to perform his or her duties.
2. The Vice President chairs the Program Committee and, in that capacity, arranges programs and assumes charge of the arrangements. Reports program activities to the Executive Board for review and approval.
3. Passes on all Vice President’s records in good order to the incoming Vice President within one month after leaving office.
Duties of the Secretary
1. Records minutes of all board meetings and business meetings. Distributes minutes via e-mail, in print or other official means to the membership at organization meetings.
2. Assists the president with official organization correspondence as needed.
3. May assist with correspondence such as distribution of newsletters, including committee reports, ballots and other information pertinent to the membership.
4. Maintains a complete record/database of committee members and their assignments including correct names and addresses of active members of the organization after receiving membership applications from the Treasurer.
5. Assists the Archives and History Committee with preparation of organization documents for deposit in a permanent file.
6. Passes on all records in good order to the incoming Secretary within one month after leaving the office.
7. Maintains a copy of the financial report from the Treasurer.
8. Possesses proficiency in writing, composition of the English language, editing and record keeping skills as well as experience in word processing or other technology (electronic media) available for recording, storing, and retrieving information.
Duties of the Treasurer
1. Receives membership applications and dues and sends membership applications to the Secretary and Membership chairperson.
2. Prepares an annual budget with the assistance of the Executive Board with copies submitted to the membership at the next meeting after the installation of new officers.
3. Pays all bills for the organization that are within the budget approved by the Executive Board, submits for the approval to the President, or in his or her absence, to the Vice President any bills more than fifty (50) dollars that are not authorized by the existing budget.
4. Keeps financial records up to date; submits a financial report at each meeting of the Executive Board, and business meetings.
5. Submits an annual financial report to the members of the Executive Board at the first meeting of the year.
6. The Treasurer must be one of the signatories on all checks.
7. Passes on all Treasurer’s records in good order and a suggested budget for the coming year within one month after leaving office.
Duties of the Financial Secretary
1. Works closely with the treasurer and executive board in handling organization funds.
2. Serves on the Budget and Finance Committee.
3. Makes regular visits to the organization’s post office box to retrieve payments and other financial correspondence. Immediately records and prepares all monies received for deposit.
4. Keeps a record of all funds collected, deposited, and disbursed.
5. Prepares monthly and annual financial reports.
6. Maintains current files and submits all records for financial review whenever a financial review is deemed necessary.
Section 1. The executive board shall be composed of the officers, the immediate past president, parliamentarian and three elected board members.
Section 2. Members shall serve two-year terms and may be reelected.
Section 3. Should one of three board positions become vacant, the executive board shall fill the position.
Section 4. The executive board shall meet prior to each regularly scheduled meeting, set policies, approve the organization’s budget, and provide general organization oversight.
The name of the organization shall be Richland County Education Association—Retired.
The purpose of the organization shall be to keep members informed of current rights, benefits, and privileges; to further the general welfare of retired school personnel; and to maintain continued interest in professional growth.
Section 1. There shall be three categories of membership: life membership, yearly membership, and associate membership.
Section 2. Active members shall be retired educators and school district personnel who pay life membership dues or yearly dues and are entitled to vote and hold office.
Section 3. Associate members are defined as family members or friends of a RCEA-R member. Associate members are not eligible to serve as officers or vote in elections.
Section 1. Officers shall be the president, vice-president, secretary, financial secretary, and treasurer.
Section 2. Officers shall be elected for a two-year term and may be reelected.
Section 3. Elections shall be held at the final meeting of each two-year term.
Section 4. The vice-president shall be the program chairperson.
Section 5. Should any vacancy occur, the office shall be filled by the executive board.
Section 6. No officer can serve more than four consecutive terms.
Duties of the President
1. Conducts all meetings (business and programs) of the organization, including meetings of the Executive Board, and other functions of the organization.
2. Appoints and reviews the work of committees and chairpersons with the assistance of the Executive Board as soon as possible after taking office and throughout the term of office as the need arises.
3. Appoints a Parliamentarian as soon as possible after taking office.
4. Serves as an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Commit-tee.
5. Arranges for an annual audit of the Treasurer’s books.
6. Prepares and submits a written annual report at the final meeting of the year for the general membership.
7. Passes on all President’s records in good order to the incoming President within one month after leaving office.
8. Represents the organization whenever and wherever appropriate.
Duties of the Vice President
1. Performs the duties of the President in case of the President’s absence, resignation, disability, death, or inability to perform his or her duties.
2. The Vice President chairs the Program Committee and, in that capacity, arranges programs and assumes charge of the arrangements. Reports program activities to the Executive Board for review and approval.
3. Passes on all Vice President’s records in good order to the incoming Vice President within one month after leaving office.
Duties of the Secretary
1. Records minutes of all board meetings and business meetings. Distributes minutes via e-mail, in print or other official means to the membership at organization meetings.
2. Assists the president with official organization correspondence as needed.
3. May assist with correspondence such as distribution of newsletters, including committee reports, ballots and other information pertinent to the membership.
4. Maintains a complete record/database of committee members and their assignments including correct names and addresses of active members of the organization after receiving membership applications from the Treasurer.
5. Assists the Archives and History Committee with preparation of organization documents for deposit in a permanent file.
6. Passes on all records in good order to the incoming Secretary within one month after leaving the office.
7. Maintains a copy of the financial report from the Treasurer.
8. Possesses proficiency in writing, composition of the English language, editing and record keeping skills as well as experience in word processing or other technology (electronic media) available for recording, storing, and retrieving information.
Duties of the Treasurer
1. Receives membership applications and dues and sends membership applications to the Secretary and Membership chairperson.
2. Prepares an annual budget with the assistance of the Executive Board with copies submitted to the membership at the next meeting after the installation of new officers.
3. Pays all bills for the organization that are within the budget approved by the Executive Board, submits for the approval to the President, or in his or her absence, to the Vice President any bills more than fifty (50) dollars that are not authorized by the existing budget.
4. Keeps financial records up to date; submits a financial report at each meeting of the Executive Board, and business meetings.
5. Submits an annual financial report to the members of the Executive Board at the first meeting of the year.
6. The Treasurer must be one of the signatories on all checks.
7. Passes on all Treasurer’s records in good order and a suggested budget for the coming year within one month after leaving office.
Duties of the Financial Secretary
1. Works closely with the treasurer and executive board in handling organization funds.
2. Serves on the Budget and Finance Committee.
3. Makes regular visits to the organization’s post office box to retrieve payments and other financial correspondence. Immediately records and prepares all monies received for deposit.
4. Keeps a record of all funds collected, deposited, and disbursed.
5. Prepares monthly and annual financial reports.
6. Maintains current files and submits all records for financial review whenever a financial review is deemed necessary.
Section 1. The executive board shall be composed of the officers, the immediate past president, parliamentarian and three elected board members.
Section 2. Members shall serve two-year terms and may be reelected.
Section 3. Should one of three board positions become vacant, the executive board shall fill the position.
Section 4. The executive board shall meet prior to each regularly scheduled meeting, set policies, approve the organization’s budget, and provide general organization oversight.
Section 1. The president shall appoint the following standing committees: Archives, Bylaws, Budget and Finance, Community Service and Social Engagement, Courtesy, Membership, Program, Nominations, Publicity and Communication, and Scholarship.
Section 2. Each standing committee should strive to have at least one member with previous experience on the committee.
Section 3. The president may appoint additional committees as the need arises.
Section 1. Yearly dues shall be set by the executive board and approved by the membership at a regularly scheduled meeting, provided any proposed change has been presented at the preceding meeting.
Section 2. There shall be three categories of dues: (a) life membership dues; (b) yearly membership dues; and (c) associate dues.
Section 1. There shall be five meetings annually.
Section 2. The president may call additional meetings as the need arises.
Section 3. The executive board shall set the date, time, and place for each meeting.
The RCEA-R shall be affiliated with the SCEA-R and the NEA-R. Delegates to the SCEA-R Delegate Assembly shall be elected in accord with the SCEA-R Bylaws, with the RCEA-R president serving as a delegate.
These Bylaws may be amended at any regularly scheduled meeting by a majority vote of the active members present and voting, provided any amendment has been presented at the preceding meeting.
Section 1. The president shall appoint the following standing committees: Archives, Bylaws, Budget and Finance, Community Service and Social Engagement, Courtesy, Membership, Program, Nominations, Publicity and Communication, and Scholarship.
Section 2. Each standing committee should strive to have at least one member with previous experience on the committee.
Section 3. The president may appoint additional committees as the need arises.
Section 1. Yearly dues shall be set by the executive board and approved by the membership at a regularly scheduled meeting, provided any proposed change has been presented at the preceding meeting.
Section 2. There shall be three categories of dues: (a) life membership dues; (b) yearly membership dues; and (c) associate dues.
Section 1. There shall be five meetings annually.
Section 2. The president may call additional meetings as the need arises.
Section 3. The executive board shall set the date, time, and place for each meeting.
The RCEA-R shall be affiliated with the SCEA-R and the NEA-R. Delegates to the SCEA-R Delegate Assembly shall be elected in accord with the SCEA-R Bylaws, with the RCEA-R president serving as a delegate.
These Bylaws may be amended at any regularly scheduled meeting by a majority vote of the active members present and voting, provided any amendment has been presented at the preceding meeting.
For the complete handbook, including state and school board meeting information, calendars, along with the committee report form you may download a copy below:
