Despite a declining membership, the Spokane Area Retired Educators Association continues to work toward its mission of supporting both its members and education efforts throughout the area.  

The association’s president, Karen Mahan, says that although the education field continues to grow and change, the organization itself has changed little since its founding in 1945. 

 “The level of outreach and a continuing commitment to education are part of why I first joined this organization, and why I’m still involved,” Mahan says. 

She says the association, which used to have close to 1,200 members, has seen a decline in membership the past few years, dwindling to only about 1,000 members now. 

“Our older members pass away, and it’s difficult to recruit new ones in their place,” she says. “So a big part of my job is to continue to inspire and inform, so we can keep doing the work we do.” 

The Spokane association is a unit of the Washington State School Retirees’ Association, (formerly the Washington State Retired Teachers’ Association), a retirement organization that helps address the needs of retired employees who’ve served in public, school, or teaching positions.

Within the state association, there are eight district coordinating councils, and the Spokane area is part of region E7. There are 34 units within the E7 region, which covers 59 school districts and 264 schools. 

Mahan says the Spokane association is known as unit 25. Each local unit is governed by a board, with at least four elected positions: president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer.

Mahan, who formerly taught family and consumer science at Lewis and Clark High School, retired in 2010 and has been the Spokane association’s president since 2013. 

“I loved everything about teaching at Lewis and Clark,” she says. “The kids, the staff, the district … it was just a wonderful experience.” 

Although she is a former teacher, Mahan stresses that the Spokane organization’s membership isn’t limited to teachers. Its ranks also include others who’ve worked in education, such as bus drivers, secretarial staff, classroom assistants, maintenance workers, and cafeteria personnel. 

“You can join as either as an active school employee who hasn’t yet retired, or as a retired employee,” she says. “The association is both a way to stay in touch with co-workers and an opportunity to make new friends.” 

Mahan says retirement plans that WSSRA offers its members are designed specifically to accommodate the varying needs of teachers, public employees, and school employees. 

“You’re able to choose the plan that fits you the best,” she says. 

 Member benefits include, long-term care, home care, medical supplements, final expense whole life insurance, dental insurance, vision plans, tax-deferred annuities, and hearing benefits. 

She says those who join also are provided certain additional benefits through the Association Member Benefits Advisors. Those include special insurance rates, travel discounts, and product savings.

Mahan says membership dues are $7 per month, both for active members and retirees. Members also have the option of paying dues annually. Each local unit is provided additional funding based on how many members it has. 

Mahan says the Spokane association holds monthly meetings at the South Hill Public Library, three of which are luncheons that feature speakers from the community, as well as entertainment from talented students. 

Members have access to the unit’s monthly newsletter, WSSRA’s Journal magazine, and a directory that lists important contacts and resources.  

Mahan says members are encouraged to become involved in various committees that help to plan and manage the association’s activities. 

One such committee is the legislation committee, which keeps in touch with elected officials about issues that impact retirement and pensions. 

“We have a full-time legislative coordinator and two professional lobbyists who work year-round to support improving benefits and pensions,” says Mahan. “Some of the events we host also raise money toward continuing support of legislative endeavors.” 

The association’s outreach committee helps to organize events or volunteer activities, including things such as collecting coats for needy kids in the winter months, and donating books to the Success by Six Children’s Book Bank.  

Mahan says the association also reaches out to active educators directly, encouraging them to apply for mini-grants.  

“When a teacher has an idea for something that’s not covered in their regular budget, they can apply for a mini-grant of up to $200 through our association,” she says. “Last year, we awarded $2,862 in mini-grants to 20 different area teachers.”

She says teachers have used mini-grants for things like field trips, guest speakers, books, supplies, special programs, or drama and musical productions. 

In addition to reaching out to teachers, the association offers scholarships to high school students who are planning to pursue careers in education.

Mahan says the association awards four $900 scholarships annually. One is funded by the Spokane unit directly, while the other three are funded by the state association.  

“These are renewable each year, as long as the applicant continues to meet the criteria,” she says. 

Last year, the Spokane unit decided to create an additional scholarship, called the Perseverance Academic Worthiness award, in the amount of $1,000 to accommodate a deserving student. 

“We came across an application from a young man whom we felt was worthy of a scholarship, although his application wasn’t quite as polished,” says Mahan. “It was clear he’d worked hard despite his circumstances, so we pulled together some extra funding to be able to give him an award.” 

She says the Spokane unit will likely continue to offer the PAW award again in the coming years. 

The association also offers retirement counseling services to both active employees and those who have already retired and may have questions. 

Mahan says the association sponsors a retirement and benefits conference each spring, as well as participating in an annual benefits fair put on by Spokane Public Schools.  

She says many of the association’s members also attend an annual WSSRA convention, which next will be held in Pasco in the first week of June. 

“We like to say, ‘You support what you create,’” says Mahan. “We’re all still here supporting both each other and education in our communities.”

Originally from the Seattle area, Mahan earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington. After her marriage, she settled in Spokane, teaching at Lewis and Clark High School for 26 years before her retirement in 2010.