GMREC: Community Council

About Us

The purpose of the Community Council is to assist the Georgia Mountain Research & Education Center (GMRE Center) of the University of Georgia (UGA) and its College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) in expanding its service to the North Georgia Mountain region.  This community-based organization is in partnership with the faculty of UGA to provide funding for new programs and activities which are consistent with the mission of the CAES.

The Community Council offers seminars, lectures, field trips, projects and special events for adults and for youth (K-12) as well as sustains preservation/restoration projects. To make the GMRE Center of greater service to the people of Union, Towns and Fannin counties, the Community Council utilizes the expertise of UGA faculty and other resource persons in the region to offer a wide range of programs and activities.

Funds for the Council’s programs and activities are provided by friends who give through The UGA Foundation.  In late 2003, the initial campaign for two-year support was led by Honorary Co-chairmen Bob Head, Jr. and W. C. Nelson, Jr. and Chairman Jeff Patterson raising over $111,000.  In 2005, Joe Satterfield chaired the “Serving the Mountain Region” campaign for third-year support.  This campaign has surpassed its $75,000 goal.