On May 1st, we had our first in-person branch meeting since the pandemic began. It was very heartwarming to see all those who attended, both in-person and via Zoom!

We started our meeting with guest speaker Jeff Graham. Graham, Executive Director of Georgia Equality, graciously shared a presentation with us entitled 2021 AAUW LGBT Issues. Click to download his PowerPoint presentation if you are interested in the statistics and plans that were shared with us.

After the presentation, the AAUW Atlanta Branch Funds Committee recognized six members for their continued dedication to our Branch with Certificates of our Appreciation. These members are: Pat Bevis, Sharon Bevis-Hoover, Betty Slater, Betty Arden, Rose Cannon, and Velma Tilley. Our many thanks to these women for their support!

The election results were also shared.

President 2022-2024: Velma Tilley

Board Secretary 2021-2023: Marcy Nader

General Meeting Secretary 2021-2023: Kay Collins

Congratulations to these members!

“I’m honored and humbled to have been re-elected to serve as your board chair for three more years. I’m also pleased to report that Malinda Gaul was re-elected as board vice chair, and Elizabeth Haynes and Joseph Bertolino will retain their board seats.

AAUW’s public policy priorities were approved by 92% of voters. The board-recommended ballot initiative to remove the college-degree membership requirement did not receive the two-thirds, or 66.6%, vote required to enact a bylaws change.

However, the board is heartened that a remarkable 63% of you voted in favor of making this change, indicating a momentum shift toward a more inclusive membership. This was a significantly higher number than we saw in previous votes, which hovered just below 50%, to make the change.

While we have many voices, I know we all share the same commitment to AAUW’s mission of advancing gender equity for women and girls through research, education and advocacy, and our vision of achieving equity for all.

More than ever, we must embrace our values and continue to strive towards diversity, equity and inclusion; it’s a journey that will never end.

No matter how you voted in this election, you are a valued part of our community. In fact, you—our members—are our core community, and the final decisions about board leaders and bylaws will always be yours to make. Now it’s time to move forward together. Thanks again for making your voice heard. ”

With appreciation,

Julia T. Brown, Esq., AAUW Board Chair

This is the first in a new initiative designed to keep membership better informed

On the weekend of May 6-9, 2021, the Atlanta branch was selling books to the public in person once again! Together with our North Fulton and Cobb colleagues, we were vendors at the monthly Scott’s Antique Market. Spearheaded by the indefatigable Sharon Bevis-Hoover, some 26 volunteers put in many hours to prepare books, set up and break down the booth, and to SELL Books. That is what we do! 

Here are the results of the sale:

Revenue $1,989

Expenses $482

Net proceeds $1,507

Net proceeds percentage was better than what we have traditionally seen at the Mall event.

We learned a lot and have much to consider, but we are back in the business of public book sales!

Stay tuned for future sales endeavors!

Cele Covatta and Wendy Venet

Co-presidents: AAUW Atlanta

Please join us in person at the Cross County Cafe (1221 Cross Creek Parkway NW, Atlanta 30327)  at 11 am.  This will be our first in-person gathering since the pandemic and the last Branch activity of the 2020-2021 Branch year.  Our guest speaker will be Jeff Graham, Executive Director of Georgia Equality.  We will announce the election results at the business meeting.

Members attending in person will be ordering from the menu. We hope many of you will join us in person, but you will also be welcome via Zoom.    Here is the Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/94382146574

We look forward to your participation!

Dr. Gina Lundberg, Clinical Director of Emory’s Heart Center and a preventive cardiologist will be our speaker on January 30 at 10:00 a.m. for the branch meeting via Zoom. Dr. Lundberg is the Associate Professor of Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine. Her program will talk about Women and Heart Disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women.

All current and new members are encouraged to attend. For further information, contact Velma Tilley. A Zoom link will be emailed in advance.

The Atlanta Branch elected and installed new officers this spring. Our co-presidents are Cele Covatta and Wendy Venet. Betty Arden and Velma Tilley are our program vice presidents; Marge Anderson and Phyllis Miller are our vice presidents for membership; and Sharon Bevis-Hover is our financial officer.

Our first meeting for this year will be via Zoom on Saturday, October 17, at 10 am. The focus of the program will be the U.S. census and its importance; Bea Piddock, long time AAUW member, will be the speaker. All current and new members are encouraged to attend. For further information, contact Velma Tilley. A Zoom link will be mailed this week.