Orange County Retired Educators Association, OCREA offers two types of membership. One is Active Membership for retired teachers and professors. The other is associate membership for people who are not in the education field but are interested in the well being of retired and aspiring educators. Learn more and become a member. OCREA Membership Application Membership Information for 2024 - 2025 OCREA has unified dues with FREA. The annual amount is $65 (FREA $45 & OCREA $20) $2 fee for processing PayPal/ Credit Card payments. OCREA offers two types of membership. One is Active Membership for retired teachers and professors. The other is associate membership for people who are not in the education field but are interested in the wellbeing of retired and aspiring educators. Details of the membership types are shown below. Annual membership fee is $65. Active Membership The following people are eligible to join OCREA as active members: Any person who has retired from the education field under the Florida Retirement System or the Teacher Retirement System with five (5) or more years of service. Any person who has retired from a professional education system including privately funded or parochial school with five (5) or more years of service. Anyone who is interested in becoming a member can download the application form and submit it together with the membership fee of $65 per annum. Associate Membership Any person interested in the work of the Association and is approved for membership by the Board of Directors of the Association may become a member upon payment of dues and shall have all rights and privileges of Active Members, except the right to vo te, to hold office, or to serve as a delegate to the State Assembly. Retired people and other people who are not involved in education are therefore welcome to join us as associate members. The annual membership fee is $65. There are two payment options below for becoming a new member, a renewing member, or an associate member. For Check Payment Members hip Submission Click here to complete the form online, print it out, a n d then mail it in with a check . Make check s payable to: OCREA (Orange C ounty Retir ed Educato rs As sociation) Mail to: OCREA, P.O. Box 464 Lake Helen, FL 32744 For PayPal or Credit Card Payment Membership Submission Complete the f orm below and click the Submit button Online membership Form Thank you! Jennifer Cunningham treasurer.ocrea@gmail.com 407-712-4529

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The Florida Retired Educators Foundation (FREF) is a not-for-profit autonomous arm of the FREA. They manage scholarship monies, screen applications and grant one-year renewable scholarships as monies are available to graduating high school students who plan to become future teachers - educators Orange County, FL. Academic Scholarship Application The Retired Educators Foundation of Orange County, Florida (REFOC) will award $2,000.00 scholarships to qualifying students from the Orange County, Florida, public high schools. The scholarship check is paid to the recipient, not the institution, following proof of college enrollment — college ID and schedule. The following requirements must be met. Eligibility Minimum requirements: Weighted GPA of 4.0 and SAT score of 1200 or ACT of 25. Comple ted application form. Minimum SAT score of 1200 (reading and math) or minimum ACT score of 25 (no Super scoring). Minimum WEIGHTED GPA of 4.0 — to be circled but NOT HIGHLIGHTED on transcript. Updated and stamp ed official high school transcript. One letter of recommendation from a high school teacher. A typed one page essay of no more than three hundred words. An acceptance letter from a college that is accredited by the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges or similar regionally accredited association. Attach a typed sheet titled Extracurricular Activities listing your activities using four columns: Activity Position Held School Year Approximate Hours Attach a typed sheet titled Community Leadership listing your positions and participation in church, community activities, and volunteer services using four columns: Activity Position Held School Year Approximate Hours Attach a typed sheet titled Work Experience listing the following: Position Place of Employment Responsibilities School Year Approximate Hours Use the online Academic Scholarship Application form below to apply:

Stay up to date with the activities and programs of Orange County Retired Educators Association. News Corner OCREA 2024-2025 Newsletters Stay up to date with the activities and programs of Orange County Retired Educators Association. Fall 2024 Sept., Oct., Nov., Issue 1 Winter 2024 Dec., Jan., Feb., Issue 2 Winter 2023-24: Dec., Jan., Feb Issue 2 Fall 2023: Sept., Oct., Nov. Issue 1 Spring 2023: Mar., Apr., May Issue 3 Winter 2022-23: Dec., Jan., Feb. Issue 2 Fall 2022 - Sept., Oct., Nov. Issue 1 February, March 2021 November, December 2020; and January 2021 September, October 2020 April, May 2020 February, March 2020 November, December 2019, and January 2020 September, October 2019 April, May 2019 February, March 2019 November, December, 2018 and January 2019 OCREA Newsletter Archive

FREA purpose is to promote the economic, social, and professional status of retired teachers, exchange of information of value to them; safeguard and improve retirement benefits through legislation; and to promote the involvement of retired teachers in community service. Florida Retired Educators Foundation (FREF) was established to provide for future teachers; Grants to current teachers for special projects; Grants to Educators in Financial Crisis. Florida State Retired Educators Association Board Officers info@frea.org www.frea.org Florida State Retired Educators Association (FREA) Purpose is to promote the economic, social, and professional status of retired teachers, exchange of information of value to them; safeguard and improve retirement benefits through legislation; and to promote the involvement of retired teachers in community service. Florida Retired Educators Foundation (FREF) The foundation was established to provide for future teachers; Grants to current teachers for special projects; Grants to Educators in Financial Crisis. 2024-2026 FREA State Board Officers Harriet Jenkins President Carrie Frye Preside nt-Elect Melanie Waite Secr etary Dr. Gayle Hodges Trea surer Linda Stephens West State D irector Sheila King District VIII Director Anne Fagan Executive Director 8950 9th St. N. Suite 105 St. Petersburg, FL 33702-3047 Division Of Retirement 1-866-446-9377 (TRS 711) https://www.dms.myflorida.com/workforce_operations/retirement/contact_us FREA Annual Convention May 20-22, 2025 Renaissance World Golf Village Resort 500 South Legacy Tr. St. Augustine, FL 32902 FREA Meetings

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Orange Couty Retired Educators Association - OCREA has several committees, each of which consists of one (1) or more persons. Each committee has its own chairperson. Committees include: By-law Cultural Affairs, The Editorial Team, Hospitality, Information Services, Legislative, Membership Committee...Join Us Orange County Retired Educators Association Committees and Chairpersons OCREA has several committees, each of which consists of one (1) or more persons. Each committee has its own chairperson. By-Laws Prince Kelley Review the OCREA bylaws and submit recommendations for changes. Credit Union Representative Mary Ly nn Williams Represent retired educators’ interests at the Addition Financia l Credit U nion. Communicate information to the membership. Cultural Affairs Joanne McNamara Provide members with information concerning local cultural activities. Encourage mem bers to participate in local cultural events. Serve on the Program Committee. Editorial Team Yearbook: Jennifer Cunningham Kim Stutsman, Ed. D. Janice Quint Prepare, edit, and publish the OCREA Yearbook Newsletter: Janice Quint Publish the Newsletter: "The Retired Educator." Historian: TBD Take pictures of meetings and events and post on social media . Fifth Grade Essay Competitions Debbie Smith Coordinate and set up the 5th Essay at local elementary schools. Hospitality Suzanne Lincoln Coordinate refreshments at all meetings. Plan for the decorations for the February potluck luncheon and May Luncheon. Schedule member volunteers for "Thought of the Day", door greeters,, and food table centerpiece at the general Meetings. Legislative Claire Stephens M onitor and report on the health of the Florida Retirement System (FRS) Identify and report issues critical to FREA which are being discussed in proposed legislative bills and activities. Membership Cathy Tapley Recruit retired educators and other related personnel to join the local and state association. Collaborate with the Treasurer to keep accurate membership records such as new members, renewals, address changes, deaths, etc. and report updates/changes to the F REA office. Update, print and bring member name tags to general meetings. Serve of the yearbook editorial team. Information Services Pat Franklin Acquire and disseminate current information to members on Personal Safety Health Issues Insurance, Medicare and Social Security Retirement coordination with OCPS and FREA. Necrology Tom Ard Maintain a list of names of deceased members during the year. Conduct necrology service at the Spring Luncheon. Nominating Committee Chair - Christine Woods Submit names of members to be considered for election as officers and directors of OCREA. Parliamentary Committee Christine Woods Advise, when needed, on all matters of the parliamentary procedure according to Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised. Serves as By-Law Chair. Programs Monica Johnson Sue Brown The Vice President shall serve as Program Chairperson. Responsible for planning and presenting meeting programs. Publicity Nancy Pelser-Borowicz Submit information concerning local and state activities to the news media. Volunteer Services Monica Johnson Communicate opportunities for volunteer services in the community, including literacy training. Collect, record and submit to FREA the total number of volunteer hours served by OCREA members. Select a volunteer of the year and submit appropriate information to FREA. Webmas ter Dick Quint Serve as the primary contact fo r all aspects of the OCREA website. Maintain a functional and easy-to-use website. Update website content in a timely manner.

Learn More About Our Higher Learning Education for High School students who wish to pursue a career in teaching, technical students, and teachers who wish to pursue a post-graduate degree in education can apply for the scholarships using the applicstion forms available on this website. Scholarship Programs Learn More About Our Higher Learning Education for High School students who wish to pursue a career in teaching, technical students, and teachers who wish to pursue a post-graduate degree in education can apply for the scholarships using the forms available on this website. Retired Educators Foundation of Orange County Florida The leadership of Orange County Retired Educators Association (OCREA) formed a nonprofit foundation to manage funds received from the sale of property that was purchased to house retired teachers. The interest, after expenses have been paid, is used for scholarships. The Foundation has identified three non-renewable types of scholarships: Academic Scholarships for Orange County Public School (OCPS) graduating seniors Technical Scholarships for students from Orange Technical College Educators Scholarship for an OCPS teacher working on a graduate degree. The number of scholarships given, and the dollar amount is dependent on the interest generated from the funds in the Foundation account. Florida Retired Educators Foundation The Foundation (FREF) is a not for profit autonomous are the FREA. It provides scholarships to high school seniors planning to become teachers, assistance for retired educators facing financial crisis, and publishes scientific works of significance that relate to education. FREF is made up of ten trustees, one from each district. They manage scholarship monies, screen applications from the local units, and grant one-year renewable scholarships as monies are available to graduating high school students who plan to become teachers. This scholarship program is managed by an OCREA Committee. It was named for Ernest and Ruth Hawk, long-time local promoters of teaching scholarships. The goal is to support young people who wish to become teachers. The recipient of the local FREF nomination will also receive this one-time-only scholarship of $2000. Monies to fund the scholarship are raised from the Little Red School House donations and the sale of used books. Ernest & Ruth Hawk Scholarship The FREF Foundation Board is made up of nine directors elected from OCREA membership and the current OCREA President (Ex Officio). In turn, they elect their own officers. REFOC Board of Directors: David Magee, Chair Christine Woods, Vice Chair Janice Quint, Treasurer Nancy Besley, Secretary Christie Woods, Ex Officio Cynthia Hubbard Claudia Vogt Gwen Mercer Gary Moser Kim Stutsman District VIII Trustee Debra Dykes Kornhaus unionlady4ever@gmail.com FREF Local Committee Chair Kim Stutsman stutsmankim85@gmail.com

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Orange County Retired Educators Association (OCREA) is a non-profit organization. We are an association of retired teachers and university professors affiliated to the Florida Retired Educators Association (FREA) and the National Retired Teachers Association. The Association was formed in 1958 and has grown from strength to strength in over 60 years.  Who We Are We are a non-profit organization of retired teachers and university professors who are affiliated with the Florida Retired Educators Association (FREA) and the National Retired Teachers Association. Learn More What We Do Our objectives are to: Operate for educational and charitable purposes Promote the health and safety of retired educators V olunteer in our community Provide scholarships to high school seniors, technical college students, and practicing teachers Learn More

We are an association of retired teachers and university professors. Our aim is to help retired members who are in financial crisis, give scholarships to high school students in our county who want to study teaching at the university, influence legislation, and to volunteer our time in helping others while keeping ourselves meaningfully occupied. Please donate support OCREA activities.  About OCREA Orange County Retired Educators Association is a non-profit organization, affiliated with the Florida Retired Educators Association (FREA) and the National Retired Teachers Association. The Association was formed in 1954 and has grown significantly in over 60 years. We are a non-profit association of retired school employees and individuals who may not be affiliated with the school system but want to support the mission of the Association. Our mission is to promote professional, economic, intellectual, and social well-being of our members, encourage community involvement through volunteerism, and provide educational scholarships to local Orange County students. Please donate today to support OCREA activities. Our Objectives To operate for educational and charitable purposes. To promote the health and safety of retired educators in Florida, as well as their social, professional, educational, and economic well-being. To help retired educators to maintain their identity with the educational profession, retain their professional concern for the education of young people, and promote lifelong learning for mature adults. To encourage positive involvement in the community and respond to community needs through existing OCREA programs. By volunteering their time and energy, retired educators have something to look forward to. To provide social opportunities for fellowship among retirees. To assist in preparing active educators and prospective retirees for retirement by promoting and assisting in pre-retirement seminars and workshops. To provide leadership in promoting and monitoring legislation that will affect current and future members’ retirement and health benefits and educational issues. To provide scholarships to high school seniors planning to become teachers. To provide scholarships for educators who wish to continue their education in a master’s degree. To raise funds and donate them to several activities and scholarships. To promote the local programs of the Florida Retired Educators Association and the National Retired Teachers Association. To disburse OCREA funds in the furtherance of the objectives of the Association, as set forth above and in accordance with Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue code of 1976. Our Activities Members of our local association, OCREA and our parent FREA, participate in many activities and projects to promote our mutual goals. The following are just a few of them. We support the state legislative committee in various ways. Some of our legislative activities include visiting, calling, writing, and emailing legislators concerning our positions on issues pertaining to retirement legislation and other educational issues that are important to us. We donate regularly to several activities to support both state and local scholarships. Monetary collections at all meetings, paperback book sales, and fund-raising activities at district and state meetings are just a few of our activities. Volunteering our time to assist others such as working in schools, hospitals, or churches, tutoring non-English speaking individuals, and serving as docents at local museums and meals-on-wheels, keep our spare time occupied. Providing desserts, other goodies, and household and personal items to Russell Home for Children for families of hospital patients is a popular project. We also collect pop-top tabs for their collection.