S ixteen retired Georgia College faculty and staff members gathered virtually in June for the annual spring business meeting of the Georgia College Retiree Association (GCRA). 

The association thanked Dr. Paul K. Jahr, outgoing chair as of July 1, 2021, and retired associate vice president for Student Affairs, for his leadership of the GCRA for the past three years. 

GCRA was joined by Georgia College President, Dr. Steve Dorman, who provided an update on the past semester and some exciting future initiatives. He spoke on the planned Founders Park, and how it will link the history of Milledgeville with campus. Dorman was also awarded “honorary” status as a retiree after he steps away from his role as president of Georgia College later this year. 

Dr. Harold Mock, director of Leadership Programs, provided an overview of the Leadership Programs and their initiatives. He also detailed specific ways retirees can participate in upcoming programs.  

New GCRA leadership was elected for the upcoming fiscal year. Dr. Howard C. Woodard, professor emeritus of management information systems, became the new chair. David Muschell, professor emeritus of the Department of English, serves as vice chair. Dr. Craig Turner, professor emeritus of mathematics, continued his role as secretary/treasurer. 

Since being featured in the March 2018 issue of Georgia College’s Alumni newsletter, eConnection, GCRA has established and developed its bylaws. It has also confirmed an emeriti faculty members list and conducted a membership interest inventory to identify potential programs and activities to offer. These include encouraging retirees to attend Georgia College events.

“Over the past two-plus years, we have gathered information for over 200 retirees,” said Jahr. “We have a process in place where Human Resources mentions our organization and shares information about us with individuals during their pre-retirement and final meetings. The retiree completes a brief questionnaire, then we seek to​ engage them to be a participant.” 

Woodard recommends all Georgia College retirees respond to the association’s request to receive announcements and communications.

There are many fun activities planned for GCRA retirees in the upcoming school year.

“The association provides opportunities to attend sporting events, plays, theater events, musical events and tours of the campus,” Woodard said. “We plan to begin holding in-person events and activities starting in the fall, as possible.”

“As a former professor who loved the classroom experience, I can say belonging to the group gives us an opportunity to find out what GC students are doing,” said Muschell. “It also offers us a chance to engage with those students through attendance at events that display their intellect and talents.”  

As he looks to the future, Muschell would also like to have a section of GCRA’s newsletter and Facebook presence devoted to “What have they been up to?” for retirees to share post-retirement accomplishments and experiences. He also envisions having a place to memorialize faculty and staff.

Jahr hopes the programs and services the association provides will expand to meet the needs and desires of the membership. Like Muschell, Jahr He sees good things happening with the association in coming years.

“I foresee the organization continuing to grow in numbers and ways that members engage with the university and students,” he said. “Also, an increasing number of opportunities the organization provides for retirees to engage with one another, attendance at university-related events and developing comradery.”

All Georgia College retirees are eligible to join the association. GCRA represents Georgia College retirees through the University System of Georgia Retiree Council (USGRC), the Georgia Association of Higher Education Retiree Organizations (GA-HERO) from public and private institutions and the Association of Retiree Organizations in Higher Education (AROHE), which is an international network of retiree organizations at colleges and universities.

If you would like more information about the Georgia College Retiree Association, contact Dan Lavery at dan.lavery@gcsu.edu.