Allen County Area Retired School Personnel met May 2 at Dudleys Done Right BBQ in Iola. There were 31 members in attendance with four guests, Janie Works, Pam Powers, Dianna Cuppy and Jane Martin, the District Representative.
Don Walburn introduced Works who provided the program on Brazil and the Amazon River. She traveled to Rio De Janeiro in 2015 for a three-week trip on a ship up the river.
The city, which was getting prepared for the Summer Olympics, was very colorful, she said. They toured the Museum of Tomorrow, saw colorful murals on buildings, and visited the Cathedral, which was built so it didnt need air conditioning.
From there they traveled the muddy Amazon River for about 900 of the 4,000 miles. The river is three miles across except in the rainy season and then it stretches about 25 miles across. While on the trip, they stopped at a village with a school and church, and walked in the jungle to see rubber trees and other vegetation.
The Amazon is inhabited with more than 34 million people comprised of more than 385 indigenous groups. Most of the transportation is on the river.
President Paul Upshaw encouraged everyone to start keeping track of Community Participation again. Officers will be installed at the next meeting, Sept. 5, at Calvary United Methodist Church; new retirees are invited.
Jane Martin encouraged everyone to attend the convention June 6-8.
Diana Asher conducted a memorial service for those who have died during the past year.
