Beverly J. Dryden, Ed.D
23rd GCREA President
2004-2005
Theme-Opening Windows
The
2004-2005 officers for the Gwinnett County Retired Educators Association, installed on May 20th, 2004 were President-Beverly
Dryden; President Elect- Marlene Melvin; Secretary- Linda McQuaig; Treasurer-Mary Ellen Smith and Immediate Past President- Lois Allen. Committee chairs included Auction-
Brenda Kukla; By-Laws-Deloris Mullins; E-mail-Lori
Ziecker; History-Pat Major; Liaison
GREA-Brenda Bigham; Membership-Ethel
Carpenter and Peggy Reedy; Music-Lori Ziecker; Newsletter-Beverly
Dryden; Nominating- Jackie Perry; Parliamentarian-Mary
Long; Publicity-Pat Greene; Scholarship
Investments-Carson Melvin; Student Scholarship-Sarah Finger; Teacher Scholarship-Nancy O'Neill; Scrapbook-Ralph Greene;
Senior Citizens-Virginia Krawiec; Sunshine-
Sybil Deacon; Table Decorations-Carole Martin and Carmen Martin; Telephone-Katherine Carlyle; Welcome-Jean Biggers; With our Youth-Rosa Fite.
Seven
regular meetings were held at Hamilton Mill Golf and Country Club. Luncheon programs
emphasized inspiration, entertainment, and brevity. That year we gained 43 new members, raising total membership to 377.
One of the goals was to increase communication/fellowship in and among school cluster groups. Members were divided into their school clusters and are now on a list with name, telephone, and e-mail. We
increased the scholarship investments by having a scholarship fund drive. Clarissa
Rice, who chaired this drive, raised over $6,000 to add to the scholarship fund. GCREA
became a 501 c 3 non-profit in February, 2004 and in June, 2004 became eligible for nonprofit standard mail. During 2004-2005, we increased communication with the
Gwinnett Retirement System and established a dues deduction procedure, which allows Gwinnett retirees to deduct $1.67 each
month to pay for their annual dues. This procedure has helped the operating
budget. During that year, several members attended quarterly meetings at TRS
and at GRS. Members also spoke to local legislators regarding GREA and
GCREA's priorities. During the year
GCREA honored the Emeritus members, emphasized reading by having humorist
Dr. Neil Shulman aka ''Doc Hollywood'', entertain, and in May, honored the memory of Ponnie Moore, Dr. Richard Johnson, and Barbara Taylor. Allyson Roth provided
the inspiration for this ''Morning of Remembrance'' Morning coffees were held for new members and a ''Thank You'' coffee was
held for the 2004-05 officers and committee chairs.
One
of the most important goals was to increase GCREA involvement in Gwinnett Schools and in the Gwinnett Community. GCREA, in coordination with the Gwinnett Solicitor's Office, provided the volunteers for Hands Are
Not for Hitting program. We
negotiated a plan whereby the solicitor's office pays one of our volunteers to coordinate the program. During that year, the
program presented a puppet show in 37 Gwinnett schools, giving 59 puppet shows on bullying and violence to over 14,900 children.
In Read Across Gwinnett, volunteers
read in 36 of the 63 elementary schools and five of the middle schools. Volunteers
also donated school supplies, clothing to the Gwinnett Children's Shelter, totaling 509 items. Other volunteers provided a
total of 9,450 hours of community service-4,964 hours of service with youth and 4,576 hours of service in the community. Ralph Greene was nominated by GCREA for an AARP national award and was recognized
by AARP for his leadership in the Hands Are Not for Hitting program.
2004-05
GREA State awards included the following:
.
Unit of Excellence
.
History Participation
.
Handbook development and distribution
.
Public Relations
.
Newsletter
.
Scholarship for two recipients
.
Scrapbook of Excellence
.
With Our Youth Honorary certificate which was sent on to AARP National awards
.
GREA Foundation for contributing to GREA Foundation F und
.
Membership - for having the highest
number increase in total membership for Class
AAA.
Retirement
opens a window that lets in fresh possibilities and the goals we selected reflected those possibilities. Through teamwork and setting goals of fellowship, support, and service officers and committees were able to Open Windows for retirees
