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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 Cathy Thompson, Vice Chair Janice Quint, Treasurer Brenda Alston, Secretary Christie Woods, Ex Officio Cynthia Hubbard Prince Kelley Gwen Mercer Gary Moser Nancy Pelser-Borowicz District VIII Trustee Debra Dykes Kornhaus unionlady4ever@gmail.com ​ FREF Local Committee Chair Kim Stutsman stutsmankim85@gmail.com

Educators Scholarship Application The Retired Educators Foundation of Orange County, Florida , will award a $2,000.00 scholarship to a teacher working with students in the Orange County (Florida) Public Schools system who is pursuing a Master’s Degree and will continue to work in the classroom for a period of two years. Eligibility ​ Limited to active OCPS teachers Currently enrolled in a graduate program at an accredited college/university and has completed a minimum of one course Requires a letter of recommendation from an administrator, supervisor, or individual who knows about the quality of the applicant’s teaching Requires an essay of fewer than 300 words discussing the following: The attributes or circumstances that qualify you to be a recipient of this scholarship Your educational and career goals Any clubs, chairmanships, professional associations, community, and or religious organizations may be included Scholarship Award ​ The amount of this scholarship will be $2,000, one time only, and will be given to the recipient. Upon selection, the money will be awarded upon proof of enrollment in the program. Use the online Educators Scholarship Application form below to apply: Educators Apply

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. 2022-2024 FREA State Board Officers Edwinna Williams President ​ ​ Harriet Jenkins Preside nt-Elect ​ ​ Melanie Waite Secr etary ​ ​ Dr. Gayle Hodges Trea surer ​ ​ Anita Schmitt State D irector ​ ​ Linda Stephens West 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 14-16, 2024 Saddlewood Resort 5700 Saddlebrook Way Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 FREA Meetings

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Be Informed! This page will be updated once a month with information that's important for seniors Frauds and Scams Copied from April 2023 AARP.Org/Bulletin ​ "Oops, Wrong Number! Texts Seemingly misdirected messages are increasingly the start of a scammer's ploy. ​ The Con: A text message addressed to someone else pops up on your phone. It seems urgent - a rescheduled business meeting, an illness, sometimes even a romantic get-together. (A version circulating in Florida concerned meeting up for a 'spicy night,' the state's attorney general warned.) Since you're a helpful person, you text back, "'Sorry, wrong number!' The scammer - or often an automated chatbot that sends out computer-generated messages - keeps up the friendly texts. They may eventually invite you to join an adult website to see revealing pictures, so you hand over credit card info and money. 'Scammers are primarily aiming to find phone numbers where people are willing to engage,' says a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) spokesperson. 'They might then use that to try to get personal information or sell or reuse the number as a target for another scam.' ​ PROTECT YOURSELF : Don't respond to texts from numbers you don't recognize. Simply delete them. Don't click on links in them or respond with "STOP" if the messages say you can do this to avoid future messages. Instead, block the phone numbers they come from." ​

Orange County Retired Educators Association Board Officers and Directors OCREA Officers of the Association The highest office of the Association is held by the Executive Board which is composed of the Officers of the Association. The officers of the Association include President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, and the Treasurer. They are elected by the Board of Directors into these roles. Board Officers 2023 - 2024 Christine Woods President ​ Janice Quint Vice President ​ Fran Burns Recording Secretary Cathy Thompson Corresponding Secretary ​ Jennifer Cunningham Treasurer ​ Board of Directors The Board of Directors consists elected directors, five (5) of whom are elected to be the Officers of the Association. The Board of Directors is responsible for the administration of the affairs of the Association, formulating of policies and programs, and recommending the policies and programs to the Association members. Each Board member, including ex-officio members, serving on the Board have one vote. 2022 -2024 ​ ​ Suzanne Lincoln (1st term) ​ Judith Hays ( 2nd term) ​ Frank Mattucci ​ (completing 1st term of a resignation) ​ ​ 2023 -2025 ​ Richard Gomer ( completing 2nd term of a resignation) ​ Prince Kelley ( 1st term) ​ Dr. Gayle Hodges -2024 *Ex Officio - Past President ​ ​​ Board of Directors Dr. Gay le Hodges 2020 - 2022 ​ Dr. Sharon Kochlany 2018 - 2020 Dr. Kim Stutsman 2016 - 2018 ​ Dr. Ann Winn 2014 - 2016 ​ Richard Gomer 2012 - 2014 ​ Margie Wells 2010 - 2012 ​ Sue Orth 2008 - 2010 ​ *Carol Egolf 2006 - 2008 ​ *Julia M. Greene 2004 - 2006 ​ Tom Ard 2002 - 2004 ​ *Phyllis Tacey 2000 - 2002 ​ *Deceased Past Presidents

About OCREA Orange County Retired Educators Association is a non-profit organization, an affiliate of the Florida Retired Educators Association (FREA) and the National Retired Teachers Association. The Association was formed in 1958 and has grown significantly in over 60 years. 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 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, 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 The Russell Home for atypical Children and The Ronald McDonald House for families of hospital patients is a popular project. We also collect pop-top tabs for their collection.

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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 Raise funds and v olunteer in our community Provide scholarships to high school seniors and practicing teachers Learn More

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