New Sons In Retirement officers are, from left, Ken Edwards, Bill Garrett, Russ Baker, Lee Suess, Bill Admire, Ron Gibbs, Henry Cardana, Jim Tscharner, George Demcak, Keith Creighton and Tom Turner. Photo by: Courtesy to the Ledger Dispatch

Amador Branch 96 of Sons In Retirement will begin its 25th year in Amador County at the start of the new year.

The group was founded by Dan Rothenbush of Pine Grove on Aug. 6, 1981. With the help of 25 friends, the group received its charter with the state organization known as Sons In Retirement. Branch 96 is one of 170 in California from Bakersfield to the Oregon border - a region that is comprised of more than 25,000 members. Several charter members are still active in the local branch.

The original SIR organization started in 1958 when four retirees, who were meeting in San Mateo, decided to get together on a regular basis for lunch. By the third luncheon, 18 men were meeting with a common thread of being retired and interested in remaining social and active. They were eventually incorporated by the State of California as Sons In Retirement and adopted the rooster's image as its logo because "Of all the creatures on earth, none express more independence, dignity with assurance and aplomb than the rooster."  Their slogan became "Promoting the Independence and Dignity of Retirement."

Simplification is the by-word of the organization. There are no dues or assessments required to join. It espouses no political party, religion or sect of any kind and meets on the first Thursday of each month at the St. Sava Mission in Jackson for lunch and a program. The only requirement is that the club be composed of men who are retired.

In order to provide administrative leadership, the state SIR President and governing board heads the organization along with 10 regions, divided by sub-areas, each with a director responsible for regions, areas and branches. Ken Edwards of Pine Grove was installed as State Director of Region 3, which includes 25 Branches in Amador and areas of Tuolumne, Placer, Sacramento and San Joaquin counties with almost 4,000 members. This is the first time a directorship as been elected from this area and Amador Branch 96.

In 1999, with a bulging membership of 300 and many men waiting to join, Branch 96 sponsored Branch 15 in Pioneer and transferred more than 100 members and funding to get the new branch under way. Branch 15 meets the third Thursday of each month at the Mace Meadow Golf and Country Club. Many activities, including golf, are shared between the two Amador County branches. 

Edwards has installed the elected officers who will provide the leadership in governing Branch 96 for 2006. If you are a retired man and interested in activities such as golf, bowling, fishing, RVing, travel or just socializing with old or new friends, visit the Branch 96 Web site at www.sir96.org or call Paul Murphy at 223-5615 or Bill Andrews at 223-8805.