The area meeting

brought together local unit presidents and other officers of local units

from this part of the state. Jane Thomason of Jonesboro is the GREA Area

X director, while Brown is the 2002-03 president of the Fayette County

local unit.

The theme for

the one-day meeting was "Now is the Time." Participants discussed

a wide range of important policy issues, from health care and state pension

benefits to the role of Georgia's retired educators in society. Also discussed

were impending state legislative issues which would impact senior citizens.

Among the guest speakers were GREA President John F. Pearce of Gainesville

and GREA Executive Director William D. Gardner.

GREA is the

only organization that concentrates exclusively on the welfare of Georgia's

retired educators, while at the same time offering opportunities for service

and volunteerism. GREA serves retired educators through legislative advocacy,

informative programs, and community services provided by a network of

local units throughout the state. The association offers its members a

wide range of special membership benefits, including the GREA Bulletin.

The Association

has more than 13,000 members statewide, with 146 local units. The Fayette

County Retired Educators Association meets the third Thursday of September,

October, November, January, March and April. For information about the

local unit, please call Carol Lunsford at 770-461-8553.