Many members turned out to enjoy the delicious brunch  at our annual business meeting on May 19 at Atlanta’s  Ansley Golf Club.   New AAUW Atlanta Branch officers were elected for 2012-2013 and the installation was conducted by Mary Hanson, 2005-2007 Branch Co-President. Congratulation are extended to our new Branch leadership:  Sharon Bevis-Hoover, President; Myra Carmon, Program Vice-President (one year term); Membership Vice-presidents:  Kay Collins (one year term) and Billie Collier (two year term); Treasurer, Huiping Du; and Nominating Committee:  Betty  Arden, Pat Bevis, Phyllis Miller, Frances Smith, Ruth Yurchuck.   Officers continuing to serve until June 30, 2013 include Board Secretary, Diana Witt and Branch co-secretaries, Betty Slater and Blondie Chitunya Wilson. Several very important items of business took place before the officer installation.   Barbara Buchanan updated the membership about our local scholarship program. Applications will be limited to students who are enrolled with our national partner colleges and universities.  Representatives of these schools were present at this meeting, thanks to the work of Betty Slater, College and University Relationships chair. The Branch bylaws and Standing Rules, revised by a committee chaired by Alta Birdsong, were unanimously approved.   Alta worked tirelessly on making the necessary bylaws changes, which incorporated those mandated by AAUW and those pertaining only to the Atlanta Branch.   The membership extended thanks to Alta and her committee:  Tami Anderson, Sharon Bevis-Hoover, Bea Meyer, and Ruth Yurchuck. And after discussion among members,  Cool Girls, Inc, was selected as our Branch signature project.  Membership voted to continue working with CARE on the Join My Village project.  This framework provides the Branch with a local project that will promote our local visibility while continuing to support international women through our work with CARE.

Plan to join Branch members at 9 am on Saturday, May 19, for the wonderful breakfast buffet at the Ansley Golf Club (196 Montgomery Ferry Drive NE, Atlanta) as we celebrate the contributions of all members to the 2011-2012 Branch activities and look forward to 2012-2013 with our newly elected officers.

The menu of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, grits, hash browns, fresh fruit, biscuits, muffins, orange juice, coffee and tea has been a traditional end of year treat for many years.  The cost of this splendid buffet is $25.

This meeting will mark the election of these officers who will serve the Branch for the next two years.  They are:  Sharon Bevis-Hoover, President; Billie Collier, Membership Vice President; Program Vice President, Myra Carmon; and Treasurer, Huiping Du; and Nominating Committee members Betty Arden, Pat Bevis,  Phyllis Miller, and Frances Smith.  Another member of the Nominating Committee is needed.  These outstanding women will be installed by former Branch co-president Mary Hanson.

So join us for fellowship and make plans to be involved as your incoming officers begin planning for 2012-2013.   Contact Frances Smith (hospitality@aauwatlanta.org) to make reservations.  See you there!

 DIRECTIONS from Piedmont and Peachtree:  go south on Piedmont and pass under the expressway.  Go past Cheshire Bridge Road. Look for Rock Springs Church on your right. Make an immediate right onto Montgomery Ferry Drive. Continue through the light (Monroe Drive) and cross the bridge. The clubhouse will be on the right.

It’s that time again–our Branch dues are due!  Dues this year are $87:  $49 goes to AAUW national, $20 to AAUW of Georgia, and $18 to the Atlanta Branch.  Last year AAUW of Georgia increased their dues to $20 but since many of our Branch members had already paid their dues at the previous year’s rate of $77, the Branch picked up the additional $10 for all members.  So this year’s dues are actually the same as last year’s.

Our membership vice president, Dot Ransom, will be most appreciative of your bringing your dues check to our May 19th Branch meeting.   By so doing, you will help your Branch close out its fiscal year on time.

Mark your calendars now for Saturday, April 21, when our Branch meeting will convene at 11 am at The 57th Fighter Group Restaurant (3829 Clairmont Road, Atlanta).  The program will feature reports from the CARE potential signature project and important news from the Nominating and Bylaws Committees.

Lunch will be a deli buffet with beer cheese soup, assorted salads (penne pasta, garden, seasonal fruit and chicken), honey glazed ham, slow roasted prime rib, sliced American and Swiss cheese, and a variety of breads and rolls.  Dessert will be assorted cookies and brownies and assorted beverages (coffee, tea, and soft drinks).  A cash bar will also be available.  Cost of the luncheon will be $25, which includes tax and gratuity.

Please send your reservation to Frances Smith (hospitality@aauwatlanta) by  April 16.

DIRECTIONS:  The restaurant is located on Clairmont Road between I 85 and Peachtree Industrial Boulevard (PBI).

From  PBI go south on Clairmont and pass the airport entrance road; the driveway is on the left, approximately one mile from PBI.

From I 85 take exit 91 west on Clairmont; the driveway is on the right approximately 2 miles from the exit.

We look forward to seeing all of you there!

The annually awaited Atlanta Symphony Decorators’ Show House and Gardens is scheduled to be held from April 21^st to May 13^th (closed Mondays).  Camille Yoh, chair of volunteers, asked Atlanta Branch for help.  Betty Arden, our Branch contact, set Friday, April 27^th, as Atlanta Branch day.  Morning, afternoon, or both are available.

For those who would like to participate but are unavailable on April 27^th, your help on any of the other dates will be appreciated.

If you are able to volunteer for the Show House, contact Betty Arden Travel@AAUWAtlanta.org

Our upcoming Branch meeting on March 24 promises to be a very special experience.  We will gather at Spelman College, one of Atlanta’s premier women’s colleges, and hear from Dr. Geneva Baxter, Associate Dean of Spelman (and an Atlanta Branch member) about the history of Spelman College.  The meeting will be held in the Suites Dining Room beginning at 11 AM.

Lunch will follow the program, and features a “Salad Sensation” buffet featuring chicken, tuna, garden pasta, potato and tossed salads, assorted breads, beverage and dessert.  The cost is $13.00.

Directions to Spelman:
From I-75/85 North and South:  Take I-20 West and exit (#55B) at Lee Street.  Turn right onto Lee Street and continue through the next traffic light (Westview Drive). You will see a large parking lot on the right-hand side. Turn right into the first driveway and you will approach the gates of Spelman College.
From I-20 West Exit (#55A) at Lowery Blvd. Cross Lowery Blvd. and continue on Oak Street to the next traffic light. Turn left onto Lee Street and cross the bridge over I-20 and continue through the next two traffic lights. You will see a large parking
lot on the right-hand side. Turn right into the first driveway and you will approach the gates of Spelman College.
From I-20 East Exit (#55B) at Lee Street. Turn right onto Lee Street and continue through the next traffic light (Westview Drive). You will see a large parking lot on the right-hand side. Turn right into the first driveway and you will approach the gates of Spelman College.
From Downtown Atlanta:  Take Peachtree Street south to Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive and turn right. Continue on M.L. King Jr. Drive to Northside and turn left. Continue on Northside through next four traffic lights (passing Burger King on the right). Turn right at the fifth traffic light (Westview). Continue on traffic at the corner
of Westview and Lee Street. Turn right unto Lee Street; then turn right into the gate of Spelman College
Parking:
There are public safety booths located at both gates of the College. Upon your arrival, the public safety officers will inform you of where to park and give other directions and instructions as needed. Members can park in the Fine Arts lot, which is the first parking lot on the left after you pass the security checkpoint.
If members want to park in the parking deck, the entrance is on the right after you pass the security check point. If you use the parking deck, park on the second level and exit from the rear. The exit will lead them directly to the Suites, which will be on their right. Student volunteers will direct participants to the Suites Dining Room.

Please notify Frances Smith hospitality@aauwatlanta.org no later than Monday, March 19.  We look forward to seeing you at this most informative meeting!