Association of Retired Personnel
A Message to the OCCARP Membership
OCCARP is an organization devoted to advancing the interest of all OCC retires, both long-standing and of more recent vintage.
This year Oakland Community College celebrates a particularly memorable milestone – the 60th anniversary of OCC’s opening semester.
Happily, some of the retired faculty and staff who were part of the College in their first years are still with us. But no matter when you joined the College, all of us have dedicated a significant portion of our lives to the college. Even though our period of service is completed, the OCC retiree’s organization is an excellent way to maintain ties with old friends and the college.
Many of our members who now live far away are kept “in the loop” through our monthly newsletter which inform them not only of OCCARP activities and obituaries; but also developments throughout our college community.
For those who remain in the area, OCCARP continues to maintain a schedule of enjoyable group activities. This year we visited the Blake’s Cider Mill and the newly remodeled Michigan Central Station in Detroit. In April we will be attending the Rat Pack Lounge at the Meadow Brook Theatre, in June the annual picnic, and the Holiday Luncheon which is scheduled for December 4, 2025.
As an Association, we continue to support students, and in December, $2,000 was donated to the scholarship fund. Since 1994 OCCARP has donated over $26,000, sponsoring 52 students, including Andrea Pokorny (nursing) and Jaylene Escobar (business), each receiving $500 this past fall.
I would like to draw your attention to the directory in the middle of the Handbook, which contains members’ home addresses, enabling you to contact old colleagues and friends outside of the scheduled get togethers.
As a member, you and your spouse have a tuition waiver for one class each semester from the college and/or professional enrichment money from OCCARP, for yourself to attend an activity outside the college. All this for a mere $20 per year or $30 for a two-year membership fee.
I am passing on this advice I received nineteen years ago when I retired. It came from Jim Hansen, a retired counselor from the Highland Lakes Campus. His advice was, “every night is Friday night, every morning is Saturday morning, and the 25th of the month is Christmas (pension arrives)”. Enjoy retirement, you have earned it.
On behalf of my fellow Board members, I want to extend our best wishes to you and yours for health and happiness in the coming year.
Bob Zemke
OCCARP Board Chair