STARTA History

The Beginning

  • May 1996

    Mary Forest and Susan Supruniuk placed advertisements in local papers, ATA news and ARTA newsmagazine. Anna Nord and Dave Thomas helped them phone all the names on the list obtained from ARTA.

  • June 4, 1996

    Twenty-three retired teachers met at the St. Albert Seniors’ Centre.

  • September 8, 1996

    First Breakfast Meeting held at the St. Albert Legion.

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  • September 22, 1996

    Twenty-seven retired teachers met at the St. Albert Legion for a Muffin Morning. The first slate of officers was elected. They were:

    OfficeOfficer
    PresidentMary Forest
    Vice-presidentJoe Berlando
    SecretarySusan Supruniuk
    TreasurerTerry Parsons

  • Elected officers, June 1998 Appointed officers, 1998 Supriniuk, Nord, Kieran

    Click thumbnails to enlarge.

  • Crane, Gouchey, Gouchey Pasay, Letts, Grieve

    Click thumbnails to enlarge.

  • At a later date, the executive appointed the following additional conveners who would serve as part of the executive.

    CommitteeConvener
    Telephoning Helen Kieran
    Communications ConvenerEryl Jones
    Social ConvenerJean Thornton
    History ConvenerJoan Mestinsek

  • Cooking with Susan Perrin, Paustin, Nord, Harder Members make table centerpieces

    Click thumbnails to enlarge.

  • Roy Gouchey agreed to act as past president. This executive was to serve for three years.

    Monthly Breakfast Meetings have been held since that first one, usually on the last Friday of the month, from September through May, omitting December. There also has been many social gatherings and outings, plus some community projects, all of which have helped to build STARTA into the large and vibrant organization that it is today. Currently there are over two hundred and fifty paid members, as well as many spouses and associates.

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  • October 29, 1997

    A Charter for SPARTA was presented by Dora Corbett (President of ARTA) to Mary Forest (President of SPARTA).

  • STARTA Thirteenth Chapter of ARTA

    From left to right: Susan Supruniuk, Mary Forest, Dora Corbett, Jean Thornton, Joe Berlando and Helen Keiran.

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  • May 2000

    The second executive of STARTA was elected in May 2000 to hold office for a two-year term. They were:

    PostOfficer
    PresidentJoe Berlando
    Vice-presidentJoan Trettler
    SecretaryLou Duigou
    TreasurerBernie Lemay

    Susan Supruniuk was appointed Social Convener, and Joe Berlando agreed to serve as Benefits Representative. The remaining officers, Helen Kieran, Eryl Jones, and Joan Mestinsek held their positions for a further two years.

  • May 2002

    In recognition of their outstanding work in establishing STARTA, at the annual business meeting, Mary Forest ad Susan Supruniuk received honorary life memberships in the chapter.

    The current executive is dedicated to the same original goals of the chapter and STARTA appears to be headed for many more years of continuing successes.

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