JoAnn Khachaturian introduced Marty with these words:

My first recollection of Marty was a conversation we had about being Armenian. Marty being half Armenian asked me if I was also. Since I am, we began talking about our favorite Armenian dishes, and this became the first of the many things, we’ve found over the years, that we have in common. 

Soon after that, it became necessary for other teachers to take over some of the Model Government Classes, and Marty was recruited. She fit right in, and did a super job, because of her love of politics, and we found another shared interest, one that may provide an avenue to be developed as we both begin new chapters in our lives.

A little over twenty-one years ago, we both became parents. We began getting our sons together for social activities. By the time they were five Marty suggested we start them in a bowling league. Oh, my goodness, what an experience. I don’t think I’ll ever forget our wonderful Friday afternoons at Hartfield Lanes. At least one of our wonders, Mark, Chris or Kendra (Leslie Whalin’s daughter) had a temper tantrum or crying fit each week. I assure you, Marty, that without your emotional support and the fun we had while the kids were bowling, I would have quit that activity three weeks after we started.  

Well now, I’ve got this out of order, but I have to thank you Marty for getting me involved in the ROEA. I remember our strikes, when we had to pass out flyers, door-to-door, and when we walked the picket lines. Oh those were the days. Or when we were all getting pink slipped and worrying about whether the millage would pass, and working to pass the millage so that we would know we had a job in September. I think you wanted me to get all the election experience so that I could help Bill when he ran for office.

This is what Marty had to say after receiving a gift from the ROEA for her years of service on the Executive Board:

Being an active member in the ROEA as a RA and a member of the Executive Bd. has given me great professional satisfaction over many years. When I first became active during about my 3rd or 4th year of teaching it opened my eyes to a much broader view of the education scene than just R.O. I was immediately interested in the political role that public education needed to play. I attended two political conferences in Washington D.C. with then Rep. Blanchard. This made me understand how very broad this role was and it has continued to be even more so. Being a rep. to the MEA also made me keenly aware of how different teaching can be in different areas of the state of Mi. I once met a teacher from the thumb area who told me that he didn’t even think he and I were in the same profession. Our salaries and benefits were so vastly different. I think our Union has a huge job in the future to continue to attract younger members to become active, but I know that my career would have been very different if it hadn’t been for all the gains we made in 70’ and 8O’s. I will always remember all of the friends I made outside of Dondero H.S. and outside of R.O. schools because of my active membership in this Union.  I hope that some of my efforts have made a difference to others now and in the future.