Submitted photo The Randolph County Association of Retired School Personnel held its last-ever meeting at the Steer Steakhouse on Friday. The organization donated money to six different agencies during the meeting. Those accepting donations were, from left front row, Mandy Weirich (Meals on Wheels), Beverly Bennett (Meals on Wheels) and Jennifer Morgan (Randolph-Elkins Public Library); back row, from left, Hannah Fincham (WVU Extension 4-H), Lisa Martin (Interact Childrens’ Museum), Becky Severino (Randolph-Elkins Public Library) and Sid Gillespie (Elkins-Randolph YMCA). Not Pictured, Tyrand Cooperative Ministries' Makala Mayle.

ELKINS — The Randolph County Association of Retired School Personnel recently made the difficult decision to disband after 57 years and held its last-ever meeting at the Steer Steakhouse last week.   

The organization, which got its start with 12 members in 1969, has not only provided scholarships to local graduating high school seniors over the years, but also supported agencies that provided for children’s groups and senior citizens.     

“As with other trends in various civic groups, our membership has declined over the years,” President of the Randolph County Association of Retired School Personnel Lorrayne Corley said. “It has been difficult to find individuals who will step into leadership roles for officers and committees. So we made the difficult decision to disband the organization. It is our hope that future retirees will step up in the future and reorganize a county group.”     

Corley, who has been a member of the organization since 2013 and president for the last seven years, said the trend of organizations calling it quits is happening across the state.     

“Unfortunately there are other county’s statewide that are having to disband, because they just don’t have the people,” Corely said. “As we get older, we have people who are not well and are having to take care of others, such as their spouses and grandchildren. It’s hard to find people to fill these roles.”   

During its final meeting the organization donated $8,000 to six local agencies, including the Interact Childrens; Museum ($1,000), Meals on Wheels ($1,000), Tyrand Cooperative Ministries ($1,000), Randolph-Elkins Public Library ($900), Elkins-Randolph YMCA ($900) and Randolph County 4-H ($900).   

“These groups and agencies support a variety of programs that enrich the educational opportunities of our youth and also senior citizens,” Corley said. “Our county is blessed that our community has resources that continue to serve and enrich our citizens.”     

The Randolph County Association of Retired School Personnel also handed out four $500 scholarships to graduating high school seniors including Mason Phillips (Tygarts Valley), Austin Gear (Tygarts Valley), Madyson Shreve (Elkins High) and Madelyn Lambert (Elkins).     

The organization has also recently provided support to the ProStart class at the Randolph County Technical Center, Elkins High Tiger Express, Elkins High School Band, Old Brick Playhouse and Rhododendron Girls State.