We are an excellent organization.

Brenda Bigham, GREA Area XIV director, as GCREA president, asked for suggestions of improvements members would like our organization to make. She compiled those suggestions into a list of about 25.

A year ago when Lois Allen and Beverly Dryden and I sat down to plan for the 2002 - 2003 GCREA year at the GREA Convention in Macon, we looked at those suggestions and I believe we accomplished most of them. Our plan was developed around the theme "Educators Plant Seeds That Will Last Forever." Each meeting would have a mini-theme encompassing a flower and seed. Along with Janet Myers, we refined that theme through out the year.

1. Shorter meetings - We have managed to end our meetings at 1:30 cutting the time at least 30 minutes. We did this by having Focus Groups, concentrating on specific interests of our members, at the GCREA room at the Gwinnett County Suwanee facility.

2. Publicity - Thanks to Mary and Dean Long and Jane Alexander members of the Fair Committee, we marched in the Gwinnett County Fair Parade.

We had articles on our members such as Lois Allen, Anne McKibbins, Sybil Deacon, Duane Huff, Reid Mullins and family, Marlene Melvin and Ralph Greene published in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Gwinnett Daily Post, Gwinnett Citizen and on their Web Sites. Other Web Sites included the Gwinnett Gazette, Gwinnett Forum, Georgia Clips, and our own GCREA Web Site.

3. Involvement in the Community - Thanks to Rosa Fite, our chair for the With Our Youth Committee, who compiled information from our members, we received our first With Our Youth award from the NTRA/AARP Associations.

We were involved in the Gwinnett Naming of the Schools. Several articles and responses to articles were published in those papers and on the web sites already mentioned.

A GCREA School Naming Committee was established at the April 10^th Board Meeting, at present the members are Sybil Deacon, Beverly Dryden, Bob Hamrick and Ralph Greene.

Lois Allen gave an inspiration at a Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Meeting and GCREA received a proclamation for a day honoring Georgia Retired Educators from chairman Wayne Hill.

Snellville Mayor Brett Harrell presented GCREA with a proclamation honoring retired educators.

Local Churches honored retired educators as well.

We established a TRS\Health Care Committee chaired by Carole Martin with the help of Carmen Martin to keep abreast of TRS and the State Health Care Benefits Programs.

3. Legislative issues - Anita Cole, Beverly Dryden and I were invited to the capitol to speak regarding HR1372 which fortunately was not passed.

Years ago when I joined GCAE, Anita Cole, Legislative Committee chair, was a driving force in that organization. She was extremely involved in the actions of the Gwinnett County Board of Education and the Georgia Legislature. Many of the benefits educators enjoy now are a direct result of her actions. Beverly Dryden has brought an enthusiasm to our local and state organizations guiding us in the direction which we must travel. All of us need to join her and work for changes in benefits to employed educators and retired educators.

4. Saving Money - Three of our largest expenses are: publishing the handbook, newsletter and postage. The cost of printing the handbook rose from about $500 to $825 and mailing it to members that cant come to meeting costs $250. Printing the five newsletters costs between $300 - $350 each.

Thanks to Donnie McQuaig, Beau Davis of A.G. Edwards provided our 2002-2003 Directory and Handbook. Marshall Boutwell and Laura H. Ryll of Gwinnett Federal Credit Union donated $250 toward postage.

Beverly Dryden formed a committee to print, fold and mail the newsletter saving over $1000.

One highlight of the year was the state GREA convention. Our organization was well represented May 6, 7 and 8, in Augusta. Those attending were: Mary and Dean Long, Brenda and Ron Bigham, Lois and Woody Allen, Deloris and Reid Mullins, Beverly Dryden, Jane Alexander, Jackie Perry and my wife Pat and I. GREA President-Elect Mary Long did a fantastic job in coordinating our members in the programs. Our incoming President Lois Allen, and GREA Area Director, Brenda Bigham gave very interesting Leadership Seminars. Beverly Dryden demonstrated to the other organizations what an award winning newsletter should look like. Deloris Mullins compiled and presented a video tape highlighting John Hulsey, the past GREA executive director. Our organization definitely lit up the convention.

GCREA received Awards for:

Handbook

With Our Youth, (the first time our organization has received this award)

We can be proud of the contributions GCREA has made this past year. We have so many members willing to contribute their talents not only to GCREA and GREA, but to our communities and the state of Georgia.

It is impossible to put into words the gratitude I have for so many individuals that have helped me this past year. I cant possibly thank everyone.

When I started doing the GCREA scrapbook, Marie (past GCREA president) and Bob Beiser, gave me lots of advise and pointers. Scrapbooks produced by Marie and Bob received the scrapbook of excellence for six years,

Deloris Mullins, (past GCREA president), gave me a copy of The History of GCRTA written by Deloris Mullins and Gailya Raines, (past GCREA president), which I have used as a reference for the scrapbook book and GCREA Web Site.

Thanks to Mary Long, Brenda Bigham, Jackie Perry, Deloris Mullins, Grace Puckett and Marie Beiser who saved newspaper clippings and photographs for me.

Don, (past GCREA president), and Katie Herndon, Jane Alexander and Mary and Dean Long, (Auction Committee), have worked extremely hard to make available the items for our scholarship auction. A Special thanks to all that contribute. Just to name a couple, Linda McQuaig with her vests, Lori Ziecker's husband's paintings.

Don, is a retired educator with 30 years, WWII veteran, and retired Methodist minister with 44 years experience. Katie, a Fulton County native, worked as a private industry secretary and is well known for her culinary skills. Jane Alexander, past GCREA president, volunteers at the East Side Hospital in Snellville. Dean Long is to be commended for many trips to businesses to solicit items for the auction. Mary Long, (past GCREA president), is so busy I think she only stops by her house occasionally for a shower and a quick nap. Just name an organization or committee and she is probably active on it. She is the 2003 - 2004 GREA president, and Archives and History chair.

Deloris Mullins, By-laws Committee Chair, GREA Archives and History Committee and the GREA Foundation secretary, co- authored the History of Gwinnett County Retired Teachers Association, Presidents from 1972-1998 .

Bob & Harriette Hamrick, past GCREA presidents, the Historical committee chairs, are responsible for GCREA having the Suwanee room and nice furniture from the Gwinnett County School System.

Reid Mullins, (past GCREA and past GREA president and Investment Committee Chair), has watched over our investments. With his careful attention to details, he has kept our investments sound during the past unpredictable months.

Reid is responsible for establishing the retired employee reunion and luncheon held annually, which recently has been held at Chateau Elan and financed by the Gwinnett County School System's Retirement Staff.

Linda and Donnie McQuaig, Membership chairs, have done an excellent job bringing in new members for the past two years. We have received the highest percentage increase in total membership in Class AAA in Area XIV.

Duane Huff, Music Committee Chair, is a pioneer of the music program in Gwinnett County, (so musically talented), and is president of the local chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association.

Marlene Melvin, Necrology Committee Chair, gave wonderful ceremonies. A fabulous article in the GWINNETT DAILY POST - SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 2002 written by Marie Goff, president of the Gwinnett Council for Seniors. She received the Gwinnett County Senior Citizens Service Award for 2003.

Mary Guiney was nominated for the Gwinnett County Senior Citizens Senior of the Year. She is ninety -one years young and volunteers approximately 120 hours per month in the Gwinnett County Schools.

Jackie Perry, Nominating Committee Chair, has served 10 years as Treasurer of our organization and Secretary of GREA. Jackie has been nominated for the Gwinnett Senior Citizens Service Award of the year because of the many hours she volunteers for her church..

Virginia Krawiec, Senior Citizens Council chair, is a busy volunteer for her church and Gwinnett County AARP president.

George and Esterlee Post, Student Scholarship chair, have been extremely helpful on the student scholarship committee. George was instrumental in getting $5000 for the scholarship fund from the Duluth Lions Club that dismantled.

Sybil Deacon, Sunshine Committee chair is very thoughtful and always smiling. Sybil is the President of the Snellville Historical Society.

Nancy O'Neill, Teacher Scholarship chair, has worked extremely hard as the chair of the teacher scholarship committee. She had to make tough decisions because we have so many eligible teachers that want to further their education.

Sarah Finger, Telephone Committee chair, with probably one of the most difficult jobs, has worked hard to keep in touch with our members.

Carole Martin, chair of our newly formed TRS/Health Care Committee , has done a great job. She got the TRS executive director, Jeff Ezell to come to one of our focus meetings despite the fact that their traveling budget was drastically cut.

Rosa Fite took charge of the newly formed With Our Youth Committee and we received, for the first time, the With Our Youth Award. Our mantra next year should be "Lets send Rosa and Lois to Washington."

I cant say enough about the hard work done by Janet Myers, Treasurer, Beverly Dryden, Secretary, GREA Legislative Committee member, and editor of the Newsline, and Lois Allen, 2003 - 2004 GCREA President and Devotional Committee Chair.

I also want to thank my wife Pat. We've been married for 33 years. She is my love, confidant, biggest supporter and best friend.

I would like to say a special thanks to all the GCREA members for your support and encouragement. I can truthfully say that at each board and regular meeting this year, members came up to me to offer support and to praise.

A final thanks to GCREA for allowing me to serve this past year.