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 $18 per 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