Georgia Magazine - July 2018 - 15

JAN MCCORD

he Georgia Retired Educators Association (GREA) recently presented its Education Contributor
Award to Georgia's 41 electric membership cooperatives (EMCs).
The award, the GREA's highest
recognition for noneducators, is reserved for individuals and organizations that make significant, sustained
and specific contributions at the
highest levels. It previously had been
presented only three times since
the GREA's founding 60 years ago:
to Truett Cathy, founder and former
CEO of Chick-fil-A; to former Georgia
Gov. Zell Miller; and to Robin Ferst of
the Ferst Foundation for Childhood
Literacy.
"This award is a big deal," said
John Upchurch, GREA treasurer. "The
EMCs have earned our respect and
appreciation."
During the GREA's annual convention at the Macon Marriott City
Center May 8-10, Upchurch applauded the state's electric cooperatives
for their support of education for

Bill Verner, senior vice president of Tuckerbased Georgia EMC, left, accepts the
prestigious Education Contributor Award
on behalf of Georgia's 41 EMCs from John
Upchurch, treasurer of the Georgia Retired
Educators Association.

decades and their significant donations, volunteer assistance, expertise
and advice on issues important to
schools, teachers and students.
In addition to presenting a statewide plaque, the GREA is providing
each of the 41 EMCs with a certificate
of appreciation.
-Gale Cutler

Thomaston-Upson launches Community Heart & Soul

esidents of the ThomastonUpson County community have
launched the Orton Family Foundation's Community Heart & Soul,
a community-development program
designed to build stronger, healthier
and economically vibrant communities.
The Community Heart & Soul
program is a collaboration of local
government, the Thomaston-Upson
Chamber of Commerce and the Unite
Upson Committee, chaired by Neal
Trice, president and CEO of Thomaston-based Upson Electric Membership Corp. (EMC).
"Upson EMC is delighted to be a
part of Thomaston-Upson Community Heart & Soul," Trice said. "We view
our organization as a key partner
in the community, and this unique
program offers a way for us to work
together with residents to engage evJuly 2018

eryone, recognize our strengths and
achieve positive change."
"Not only is Thomaston-Upson
Community Heart & Soul the first in
the state [but also] the partnership between residents and the local electric
cooperative, Upson EMC, represents
an innovative alignment with potential to be a model for future projects,"
said David Leckey, executive director of the Orton Family Foundation.
"Electric co-ops have long anchored
their communities and have a vested
interest in seeing their service areas
thrive for the betterment of all their
members. Partnering on residentdriven Community Heart & Soul is a
natural fit."
Upson EMC is supported in the
project by the community-development team at Tucker-based Georgia
EMC.
-Jenny Robbins
More online at www.georgiamagazine.org

Short takes CONTINUED
nonprofit organizations in the community
in April. Among the recipients were
Action Ministries, to help families with
rent or mortgage payments; Gilmer County
Library, to buy and install audio and
video equipment in the storytelling area;
the Muscular Dystrophy Association, to
send five children to summer camp; and
Sunshine on a Ranney Day, to modify the
bathroom and bedroom of a 4-year-old
child with disabilities. The grants were
funded through Operation Round Up.
* Picking up STEAM: Douglasville-based
GreyStone Power Corp. donated $10,000
to Chattahoochee Hills Charter School in
Chattahoochee Hills. The money will be
used to support the school's STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and
mathematics) lab for students.
* Habitat helpers: The Dalton-based
North Georgia EMC Foundation donated
$500 to Habitat for Humanity of Catoosa
County to launch its Re-Habitat Critical
Repair Program, which helps homeowners in need make repairs to their houses.
The foundation also donated $1,000 to
Habitat for Humanity of Dalton-Whitfield &
Murray for supplies to build new homes.
The donations came from North Georgia
EMC's Operation Round Up.
* Emergency funds: The Hartwell-based
Hart EMC Foundation awarded a $3,000
grant to the Society of St. Vincent de
Paul Georgia/Sacred Heart Conference.
The grant will be used for emergency
assistance with housing, medical and
transportation needs.
* Support for stories: Young Harris-based
Blue Ridge Mountain EMC donates $200
every year to the Georgia Mountain Storytelling Festival, and
this year the co-op
also lent the festival
its big tent to be used
for an outdoor food
area at the April 1314 event at the Union
County Fine Arts
Center in Blairsville.
The event featured
performances by 11
storytellers.

NATHAN BAERREIS

Retired educators honor Georgia's EMCs

http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - July 2018