News
2023 Distinguished Retiree Award – Drs. Anne and Sigmund Hudson
The recipients of the Distinguished Retiree Award in 2023 are Dr. Anne Hudson, Professor Emerita of Mathematics, and Dr. Sigmund Hudson, Professor Emeritus of Computer Science, both retirees from the former Armstrong State University (now Georgia Southern). Drs. Hudson were very active in service when faculty members at Armstrong, both in service to Armstrong and in service to their community, and they extended their service into their retirement years.
An example of how the Hudsons helped bring their community and the university together was their service as mentors to junior faculty as they became acquainted with Savannah and the university. In addition, they were faithful at welcoming visiting musicians and scholars to their home for overnight stays.
Their civic contributions ranged from tending the garden at the Flannery O’Connor Childhood Home to making repairs at the Union Mission to serving as math tutors for children in their neighborhood to donating blankets and sleeping bags to the Community of St. Joseph for homeless people.
The Hudsons founded the Baldwin Park Neighborhood Association in Savannah in 1976 and fulfilled their commitment to serve that area for more than 40 years, at which time they moved out of state. They made sure new neighbors were welcomed to that community, including receiving a hand-made gift from Anne. They organized neighborhood activities and celebrations, visited those who were ill, and made sure the elderly and those in need received food when needed.
As a recognition of their contributions to the university, the Armstrong Alumni selected the Hudsons to be among the top faculty members across the 80-plus years of Armstrong’s history. Their names are included on the wall of notable accomplishments, inspiration, and support in the Burnett Hall of the Alumni Center on the Armstrong Campus.
The Georgia Southern University Retirees Association is proud to honor Drs. Anne and Sigmund Hudson for their life of continued service activities that reflect so positively on Georgia Southern University.
USG Retiree Council Spring 2023 Meeting Highlights
The University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue kicked off the meeting with a few remarks on the current state of the system and the recent legislative session. Unfortunately, the state’s demographics have led to declining enrollments throughout the USG, as anticipated. Twenty of the twenty-six institutions saw enrollments decline this year, painting a bleak picture for funding next year under the current funding formula that so heavily emphasizes enrollment. Chancellor Perdue also acknowledged his disappointment that the legislature voted to reduce USG funding, on top of not restoring the millions of dollars cut during the pandemic years. Governor Kemp has yet to approve the legislature’s proposed reductions, so Chancellor Perdue hopes… [Click here to view the full PDF of the meeting highlights]
Gretsch Exhibit Tour
On Tuesday, March 21, 2023, the Georgia Southern University Retirees Association hosted a free reception and tour of the exhibit Manufacturing Music: 140 Years of Gretsch Legacy. The exhibit, curated by the Georgia Southern Museum, was on display at the Statesboro Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The exhibit highlighted many of the instruments and the artists that made Gretsch a respected name in the world of music. The presenters also shared details about how this exciting gift by Fred and Dinah Gretsch will enhance Georgia Southern University.
Coming in 2023
Dear Georgia Southern retirees: Happy 2023 from the members of the GSU Retirees Association Council!
We invite you to join us at one or both of these upcoming free events exclusively for GS retirees:
- Tuesday, March 21, 2pm-4pm, Statesboro Convention and Visitors Bureau. Reception and tour of the exhibit Manufacturing Music: 140 Years of Gretsch Legacy. Learn about the development of the guitars and drums created by the Gretsch Manufacturing Company from its founding in 1883 to modern day. Examine the instruments and the artists that made Gretsch a respected name in the world of music. This exhibit was curated by the Georgia Southern University Museum.
- APRIL, EXACT DATE AND TIME TO BE DETERMINED, Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music Performance Stage at the Atlantic Building of the new downtown Plant Riverside District, J.W. Marriott Savannah. Reception and tour of the Gretsch Collection of historic drums, guitars, and company archives.
And mark your calendars for our annual Association luncheon and business meeting, featuring GS President Kyle Marrero: Tuesday, May 2, on the Armstrong Campus. Watch for more details about these events in the coming weeks.
Nominations for the Georgia Southern University Retirees Association Council positions are open! Council members form the governing body of the GSURA and assist the GSURA President in planning and promoting activities or events of the Association. Generally, the Council meets four times during the calendar year. Currently, the Nominating Committee is accepting nominations, including self-nominations, for the candidates to be elected by the Association membership for the term of office beginning July 1, 2023. The election of new Council members takes place at the GSURA Annual Meeting and lunch, which is scheduled for this spring. In addition, the current Council has an opening for Association Vice President to complete the 2022-2023 term and requests volunteer candidates for this position. This position would end June 30, 2023, when the individual in that position would move into the President role for one year, followed by a year as Past President. Please send names, email addresses, and phone numbers of nominees for Council or Vice President candidates to Sandy Gallemore, GSURA Past President, at sgallemore@georgiasouthern.edu.
Nominations for the Georgia Southern University Retirees Association’s Distinguished Retiree Award are being accepted for the 2023 award, which will be given at the Association’s Annual Meeting this spring. The Distinguished Retirees Award goes to retirees who have maintained a high level of service to GSURA, Georgia Southern University, civic organizations, charitable organizations, professional organizations, and/or to the community at large, thus bringing positive recognition to Georgia Southern during their retirement years. The Awards Committee will contact nominators (or nominees) to obtain information about the nominee that will be used in the selection process. Please send names, email addresses, and phone numbers of both nominators and their nominees for the Distinguished Retiree Award to Sandy Gallemore, GSURA Past President, at sgallemore@georgiasouthern.edu.
Please let us know if you have questions or suggestions.
Dr. Bede Mitchell, President, wbmitch@georgiasouthern.edu
Dr. Sandy Gallemore, Past President, sgallemore@georgiasouthern.edu
Zandra Brasington, Secretary/Treasurer
Tom Case, Council Member
Earl Cashon, Council Member
Susan Cason, Council Member
Dr. Lester Hardegree, Council Member
Dr. Clara Krug, Council Member
Bobbie Williams, Council Member
Retirees and the University Libraries
Retirees are welcome to use the university libraries on both campuses. If a retiree has not obtained a Georgia Southern ID card, a Community Borrower’s library card may be obtained from either the Zach S. Henderson Library or the Lane Library circulation desk. This card, along with a valid photo ID, may be used to check out library materials.
Retirees are welcome to check out books, DVDs, and headphones and may borrow up to five items at a time from the general collections (with some exclusions). General library policies will apply to retirees, as they are to campus users of the library (fines for overdue items, etc.).
Retirees are welcome to use designated computers located in Henderson and Lane Libraries on a first-come, first-serve basis. The computers provide access to electronic databases to which the Libraries subscribes. You may need to use retiree ID number when logging onto the computers. Check out the Library link for hours open and other information: https://library.georgiasouthern.edu/ and note the tab Services for Retirees, Alumni, and Community that includes more information specific to retirees.
Useful Links
- USG Retiree Benefits (Information in Health and Other Benefits for USG Retirees)
- USG Retirees Council (Association of Retirees for all USG Retirees – meets Fall & Spring)
- Georgia Southern Retirement Benefits Page
- GA-HERO (Retirees of both Public and Private Georgia Colleges and Universities)
- AROHE (Association of Retiree Organization in Higher Education)
- Alight (Website to assist in Purchase of Health Insurance for USG Retirees)
The GSU-Retirees Association welcomes contributions through the Georgia Southern University Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit tax-exempt organization,
https://advancement.georgiasouthern.edu/giving. The GSURA account number is #GS0008.
Last updated: 5/8/2023