Ramay named director of Community Council Campaign

L to R: Bob Ramay, Campaign Director; Sandy Nicolette, Chairman of the Community Council; Joe Garner, Superintendent of the GMRE Center.

Bob Ramay has been named Campaign Director for the upcoming "Preserve Our Heritage" Campaign of the Community Council of the Georgia Mountain Research and Education Center (GMRE). As such he has the responsibility to recruit the campaign chairmen and coordinate the efforts of the campaign volunteers. He succeeds John Mays, who served in that role in the previous campaigns of the Council. Ramay is also serving as Chairman of the Council's Fund- Raising Committee.

The announcement was made by Sandy Nicolette, Chairman of the Community Council. "The Council is fortunate that Bob will serve in this key position for the 2007- 2008 campaign. He is an effective advocate for the Council's programs and projects. Bob has the organizational

ability, skills and enthusiasm needed for this role. The funds raised by the campaign organization enable us to fulfill our mission of service to the region," said Nicolette.

Ramay serves on the Preservation Committee of the Council and is Chairman of its Community Presentation Sub-committee for the Plant Rescue Project. Active in civic affairs, Ramay is the immediate Past President of the Rotary Club of Union County. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia with a degree in engineering. After serving in the Construction Battalions of the U.S. Navy as a Lieutenant, Ramay had a very successful career as a Marketing Executive of IBM. His wife, Cinda, shares his interest in the work of the Council and serves as Secretary of the Preservation Committee.

Ramay said, "Having served on the Steering Committee in last year's campaign, I am well aware how critical the success of the campaign is to the ongoing work of the Council. I look forward to working with the "Preserve Our Heritage" campaign organization this fall. We have a great story of service to the region to share with our friends. The Council is very grateful to all of its donors and appreciate their partnership with us."

Joe Garner, Superintendent of the GMRE Center said, "W e also recognize the good work of the Council's Fund-Raising Committee members - Jim Dobson, Alan Kumler, John Mays, Francis McDowall, Bob Ramay and Robbie Weaver. They worked hard throughout the year to complement the campaign organization's efforts and helped to insure the success of the campaign."

The Community Council has three emphases: educational enrichment experiences for students, outreach programs and workshops for adults and preservation projects important to our mountain region. In its three years of operation, the Council has served 9,600 students and adults from Union, Fannin, Towns and Clay Counties. Its Preservation Committee has six ongoing projects including the exciting Plant Rescue Project.