PREA holds first 2018 meeting

The first meeting of the Polk Retired Educators Association (PREA) for the new year was held at the Polk Country College & Career Academy (PCCCA) in Cedartown, giving former educators a chance to see the new facility.

The group was welcomed by guest speakers from the PCCCA graduate Julie Moilanen, Laurie Atkins, Polk School District Superintendent; and PCCCA CEO Dr. Katie Thomas.

PREA’s hostesses from the College and Career Academy followed the meal, where they each gave an presentation of the opportunities and needs for students of all ages, talents and skills, who in many cases, were able to attend, regardless of their report card grades.

The College and Career Academy has witnessed the progress of those attending from many areas in the county according to the group’s monthly release. Additionally, Thomas, Atkins and Moilanen encouraged the PREA to become involved to add their names to this list.

PREA President Angela Sorrells thanked all those who helped in the successful Christmas for Kids program in December which was held at the First Baptist Church in Rockmart.

She also welcomed and reminded the gathering of the need for a President-Elect and a Secretary.

The tables acknowledged the coming of Valentine’s day, as well as the Country Store, which featured several homemade or new items for sale to benefit the New Teacher Grant to be awarded in the March meeting of both the Polk Board of Education and PREA. Additionally, member Brenda Elkins read a Valentine’s Day poem before lunch was served.

The PREA members were also reminded of the need to volunteer for many needy projects in the area.

The following programs can be contacted by calling the agencies or PREA members: Northside School in Cedartown from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on weekdays, the Tallatoona Reading Program with an event coming up on April 20, and the Ferst Foundation, sponsoring an “Afternoon with the Authors” on Feb. 25 from 2 to 4:30 p.m., which is including a silent auction.

Sorrells also suggested a proposed PREA program entitled: What’s for Supper, to benefit those who work full time and don’t have enough time to prepare homecooked meals as a community project, where meals would be prepared ahead of time and handed out.

The chartered bus field trip to the GREA Educators Museum on March 15 will also take place, according to PREA’s release last week. For more details, members can call Sorrells.

The next meeting of the PREA will be held at the Cedartown Country Club on March 1, 2018 at 11:30 a.m. Those attending are asked bring a canned good.