Community Council elects officers

At its recent meeting, the Community Council of the Georgia Mountain Research and Education Center elected the following officers for its 2007-08 academic year: Chairman - Sandy Nicolette of Hayesville; Vice Chairman - Peg Schneider and Treasurer - Alan Kumler both of Blairsville; and Secretary - David Richterkessing of Morganton.

The announcement was made by Cathy Jarrett, Chairman of the Nominating Committee. "The Council looks forward to its fourth year of operation under the leadership of Sandy, Peg, Alan and David. They are very dedicated to the work of the Council. The fact that the new officers are from three counties is indicative of our regional scope in service to the mountain region"' said Jarrett.

Nicolette is the first Chairman elected from outside Union County. She serves on the Education Committee. Schneider continues her service as Vice Chairman and as Chairman of the Education Committee. Kumler is beginning his second term as Treasurer and serves on the Fund-Raising Committee. Richterkessing serves on the Education and Nominating Committees and is the director of the Council's website.

Reelected for another term on the Council were: Lou Ann Bleakley and Gene Harrison of Blairsville, David and Suzanne Richterkessing; and Schneider.

Nicolette said, "On behalf of the Council, our thanks to Lou Ann Bleakley for her two years of outstanding leadership as Chairman of the Council and to Suzanne Richterkessing for her excellent service as Secretary.

We are pleased that Lou Ann will continue to serve as Chairman of the Outreach Committee, Suzanne on the Education Committee and Gene as Chairman of the Public Relations Committee."

" In addition the Council is grateful to retiring members Becky Ward-Rogers and Vickie Shirey. Becky played an important role as a charter member of the group of volunteers who helped to establish the Council and Vickie was an effective advocate for the Council and served in two of our campaigns", said Nicolette.

The Community Council emphasizes educational enrichment experiences for students, outreach seminars for adults and preservation projects important to our mountain region.

In the recently concluded 2006-07 year, it served 2,700 students and 900 adults from Union, Fannin, Towns and Clay Counties while conducting six preservation projects including an exciting Plant Rescue Project. In its three years of providing programs to the region, the Council has served over 9,600 students and adults.