The May meeting of the Emanuel Retired Educators Association (EREA) was held last week at the Sudie A. Fulford Community Learning Center on the campus of Georgia Southern University-East Georgia Campus. President Toney Golden called the meeting to order and welcomed members and special guest, Georgia Retired Educators Association (GREA) District 6 Director, Dr. Gwen Yarbrough. Dr. Yarbrough expressed her sincere appreciation for the invitation to the meeting.
Teresa Bright provided an inspiring devotion, and members enjoyed a delicious picnic meal prepared by The Hookstop. Following the meal, a short business session was conducted. President Golden shared a review of the recent GREA Convention she attended in Augusta. Emanuel REA was recognized with several awards for the 2025-26 year. She added that the 2026-27 GREA theme is Sound the Trumpet, and diabetes will be the focus project of next year’s GREA President.
As part of this year’s EREA community projects, members brought non-perishable food items for the East Georgia campus student food pantry. Fulford Center Coordinator, Ron Jones, and Debbie VanOtteren, Magnolia Midlands GYSTC part-time STEM teacher, proudly accepted the items on behalf of the college.
District Director Yarbrough then installed the 2026-27 EREA officers. New officers include President, Teresa Bright; President-elect, Renae McNeely; Treasurer, Bobbie Daughtry; Secretary, Huddie Culbreth; and Parliamentarian, Toney Golden.
After the installation, President Bright encouraged members to participate in the EREA membership recruitment of local newly retired educators at the end-of-the year countywide meeting of the Emanuel County School District on May 26 at Emanuel County Institute. Members were asked to arrive at 8 a.m. for the event. A table will be set up with information and EREA/GREA promotional items.
The next EREA meeting will be held in September.
