On Thursday, March 14, 1957, twenty-one retired teachers from La Crosse County met to organize the La Crosse County Retired Teachers Association. The first officers were chairman, Charlotte Kohn; vice-president, Mabel Berg; secretary, Mary Nelson; and treasurer, C.H. Stahl.
The purpose of the group has been to promote a professional spirit of fellowship among members and to promote legislation that benefits retired educators and other members of the Wisconsin Retirement System.
In 1959, the group became part of the Wisconsin Retired Teachers Association. The organization is also affiliated with the National Retired Teachers Association (NRTA), a division of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).
The organization has changed its name twice. On April 4, 1966, the group changed its name to the La Crosse Area Retired Teachers Association in an effort to increase membership. The second name change occurred in 1993 when the organization became the La Crosse Area Retired Educators Association.
Programs sponsored by the organization have included a driving training course, teas, luncheons, trips to plays and musicals, and considerable volunteer work.
The La Crosse Area Retired Educators Association is still active as of 2005.
