For the Lampasas County Retired Teachers Association's first meeting of the year at the Lampasas ISD Board Room, Lampasas County Republican Chairman Skipper Wallace spoke on elections.

Wallace has been the county Republican chairman for 17 years and has researched elections thoroughly. He explained that there are three parts to elections beginning with the officials. The different political parties recruit candidates for the different offices and they appoint election judges.

He displayed an impressive volume which contains all the election laws and rules. The political parties name election administrators who are the custodians of the records and the voting machines. They also run the primary and general elections.

Next are the candidates who have a regimen to follow for deciding to run for an office. They first must decide which party best fits their own ideas and then they must follow a process for filing, then campaigning. If elected, they then must serve the term in the office they won.

The third part would be the voters, Wallace said. They must first register to vote if they are 18 and a citizen of the county. Then they have to decide which party to support, making them eligible to attend that party's primary convention where delegates are elected for the state convention, and onto the general convention and to vote in the elections.

President Linda Kay Gray-Fox conducted the club's business, and called for officer and chairmen reports after Gene Landrum and David Hausmann led the members in singing several songs.

She thanked Julie Landrum and Karon Brown for their work on the yearbook, which was distributed to those present.

Mrs. Landrum, second vice president, passed a basket around for donations for purchasing books to be presented to each kindergartner in the county. The basket will be passed at each meeting. Nearly $300 worth of books were given to students in May.

Superintendent Dr. Brant Myers welcomed retired teachers back, and gave each one a pass to the district's athletic functions.

Mrs. Gray-Fox reported on the spring workshop she and Ruthie Martin attended in Waco in May.

The local RTA will participate in the 2009 State Convention in Waco April 14-16, and she explained the club's duties.

The president also brought members up to date on communiques from Tim Lee, the RTA executive director.

Under new business, Mrs. Gray-Fox announced the fall workshop in Waco will be Oct. 9, and she encouraged officers and chairmen to attend.

Next meeting is Oct. 7 in the LISD Board Room. Speaker will be District XII President Carolyn Vardeman.

All retired school personnel are invited. Following the meeting, several members met at the Green Frog in the Hostess House for a Dutch treat lunch.