Mazie Henry retired in 2016 at the age of 55. But as the RTC coordinator of the Ocala section in central Florida, she’s aware her members are at different stages of retirement and have different needs.

Of the 562 members in the Ocala section, only 25% are under the age of 70. Of those who are 70 and older, nearly a third are 80 and older.

It’s easy to see why retirees in the section were grateful for the wellness check at the beginning of the pandemic. Henry said she heard many members express gratitude. “They would say ‘My union called to check on me!’” she said.

So the RTC volunteers did follow-up phone calls. “We did quite a bit of calling,” Henry said. “That was special.”

Henry estimates that before the pandemic about 50 members would attend a typical section meeting about their pension and benefits. The meetings were held at the local library or a nearby hotel.

“We have no central location to meet, and that could be a problem if people need assistance to get somewhere,” she said.

Many Ocala section members live about 20 miles south of Ocala in The Villages — the largest retirement community in the state.

During the pandemic, online Si Beagle courses have been a great boon for homebound retirees, but many members miss gathering together with fellow retirees. “I get calls asking, ‘When do we meet up again?’” said Henry, “but we can’t decide on that yet.”

Henry says she’s looking forward to once again organizing field trips with members, especially with the opening in Ocala of the World Equestrian Center, touted as the largest equestrian center in the country, with places to shop, eat and watch dressage and other equestrian events.

Launa Facey-Higgins, 67, is a recent arrival, having moved to the area in July 2021, immediately after retiring.

“I would love to do some volunteer work for the Ocala section,” she said, “and explore all the options of what to see and where to go. I’m still thinking about what I want to do.”