Ramay elected to Community Council

Left to right: Lou Ann Bleakley, Community Council Chairman; Bob Ramay; Cathy Jarrett, Chairman of the Council's Nominating Committee.

At its meeting on March 8 the Community Council elected Bob Ramay as a member of the Council, Class of 2009. The announcement was made by Lou Ann Bleakley, Council Chairman. "Bob is one of our most effective advocates and enthusiastic supporters. He is serving with distinction as a member of the Preservation Committee and as Chairman of its Presentation Committee for the Plant Rescue Project. Bob has spoken to numerous civic clubs, churches and other groups about the project. He is a great addition to the Council," said Bleakley.

Cathy Jarrett, Chairman of the Council's Nominating Committee, added, "With the election of Bob, the Community Council became even stronger. It will be most helpful to have his input on the Council as we work to improve and expand our services to Union County and the region."

Ramay is a retired IBM Marketing Executive. He and his wife Cinda met and married while they were attending college. Ramay has a degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Virginia. He served four years in the U.S. Navy as a member of the Construction Battalion (SeaBees) where he held the rank of Lieutenant. The Ramays moved to Blairsville in 2002 from

Tallahassee, Florida. They have

three daughters and six grandchildren.

Ramay is President of the Union County Rotary Club. He was very active in planning the initial Rotary supported Water Quality Day Camp at the GMRE Center last summer. Ramay is a member of the Campaign Steering Committee of the "Partners in Service" Campaign. He has taught computer classes at North Georgia Tech and continues to consult on a limited basis. Cinda, a Master Gardener, shares his interest in the work of the Council and is Secretary of the Preservation Committee.

"I am honored to be invited to serve on the Council," said Ramay. "The Council's record of service to students and adults in the region and its efforts to preserve our beautiful mountain heritage are impressive. Having grown up in Mississippi with most of my family active in farming, I learned very early to cherish the land and to provide good stewardship of our natural resources. I look forward to serving," he said.