It’s been our pleasure to attend the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences’ agriculture forecast breakfasts this week.  The annual traveling report began Monday in Dalton, before moving to Gainesville Tuesday.  From there it was southward to Statesboro, Tifton and, finally, today in Macon.

CAES Dean Scott Angle described 2009 as a challenging year with great uncertainty.  I thoroughly enjoyed networking with all UGA alums across the state while catching-up with many dear Alumni Association friends.

We are pleased to be co-sponsoring this weekend’s Georgia Daze event for newly admitted students.  Both parents and students from underrepresented groups will get a taste of what it’s like to be on UGA’s vibrant campus.  They will tour the campus, stay with UGA students in residence halls, eat in the dining halls and listen to presentations from different schools and colleges.  Welcome to campus!

Author Jill Tietjen discusses her extraordinary new book about the achievement of American women throughout our country’s history at a Feb. 3 Women of UGA event in Atlanta.  Her Story: A Timeline of Women who Changed America documents the huge contribution American women have made to the U.S.  Next Tuesday’s get-together will be held from 6 – 8 p.m. at One Live Oak Center where we are proud to co-sponsor it with the Terry College of Business.  Click here for more information and directions.

The Alumni Association is partnering with Eight at Eight Dinner Club in sponsoring Bulldog Singles, an event for unmarried UGA alums next Wednesday, February 4 from 7 – 9:15 p.m. at Loca Luna in Atlanta.  Sarah Kathryn Smith ‘98 is founder of the nationwide dinner dating concept.  Preregistration is required so click here to sign up.  Association members receive a discount…click here to join the Alumni Association.  

The Alumni Association is teaming up with the Terry College of Business to offer a seminar about the world of franchising.  The event, UGA Startups: Franchising, takes place Thursday, Jan. 29 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. inside Terry’s Executive Education Center at One Live Oak in Buckhead.  There is no cost for Association members, but a nominal charge to nonmembers.  Click here for more information about this important seminar or here to find out more about joining the UGA Alumni Association. 

UGA’s Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies presents a media exhibition from the Highlander Center, chronicling “the many ways in which it has fought for- and continues to fight for- social justice throughout the South and the nation,” according to the Center’s material.  The Alumni Association is proud to be a major sponsor of Weaving the Threads of Justice which runs from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. through Jan. 30.

I hope to see you this afternoon at 3:00 in the UGA Chapel as we observe the 224th anniversary of the University of Georgia.  Dr. Tom Dyer will present this year’s lecture entitled “Finding the Founders and What They Founded: Reflections on the Origins of the University of Georgia.”  The event is free and the public is invited to attend.

This past weekend many of our Chapter and Club leaders were in Athens for our annual Leadership Assembly.  This annual event provides us the opportunity to supply them with information and materials about the Alumni Association that they can use to grow their respective organizations.   

While here, they were inspired by a presentation from 1993 grad Scott Rigsby, the first ever double-amputee to compete and finish an Iron Man competition.  They learned about UGA’s newest unit, the Eugene Odum School of Ecology from Dean John Gittleman; experienced a great Gym Dogs victory over rival Alabama, and heard from UGA’s International Education Associate Provost Dr. Judy Shaw and Study Abroad Director Dr. Kasee Laster.

Director of the Lamar Dodd School of Art, Georgia Strange, introduced the group to her school’s new state-of-the-art building on east campus at a Saturday evening dinner where we were entertained by the UGA student singing ensemble “With Someone Else’s Money,” and southern humorist and former Reynolds, Ga. funeral home director Bruce Goddard ‘76, author of View from a Hearse.

On Sunday morning the group went on a shopping spree at the UGA Bookstore where they enjoyed their Alumni Association discount and afterward heard from Dr. Stephen Corey, editor of The Georgia Review. 

We are so appreciative of these volunteers who give their time and lend their talents unselfishly for the Alumni Association.  If you want to get involved in an alumni group in your area, please contact our Regional Programs Director Tami Gardner at 706-542-2251.

UGA President Michael Adams delivered his 12^th State of the University address yesterday.  In the wake of the state and country’s current economic down-turn, Dr. Adams told a crowded UGA Chapel that the university “must help itself as the economy staggers and tax revenue drops.”  “We can sit around and whine or produce our way out of this,” Dr. Adams said.  He said UGA will ride-out the current economic storm, just as it has weathered many past crises.  “This great university has come out of those challenges stronger, more focused and more committed to serving the state of Georgia,” Dr. Adams said.  Click here to read the entire text of his address.

In a surprise statement near the end of his address, Dr. Adams announced that Provost Arnett Mace would retire at year’s end.  Dr. Mace has been the University’s chief academic officer since 2003 and will continue to serve in a part time capacity to shepherd the UGA-Medical College of Georgia partnership.  On a personal note, Dr. Mace is a great friend of the Alumni Association and we will certainly miss him.

1974 graduate Bill Vanderkloot’s film production of a secret air mission during World War II will air Sunday, Jan. 25 on Ga. Public Broadcasting at 7 p.m.  Flying the Secret Sky is the story of brave civilians who risked their lives to fly unarmed airplanes from North America to Great Britain who was desperate for aircraft in the wake of Nazi air strikes in 1940.  A repeat of the production will air Thursday, Jan. 29 at 10 p.m.

We hope you will be able to join us Tuesday, Jan. 27 for a Women of UGA/Alumni Association event about the benefits of being a mentor.  Special guest speaker for Mentoring in the Community will be Suzanne Yoculan, head coach of the very successful UGA Gymnastics Team.  It will be held in the Fireside Lounge of Rooker Hall in the East Campus Village from 6-7:30 p.m.

Suzanne has been leading young women for more than 25 years, and under her guidance she has led the Gym Dogs to 16 SEC and nine national championships.   Off the floor of competition, Suzanne’s team is very visible and active in the Athens community.  Lisa Kendall, of Volunteer UGA, will be on hand to share ideas about how you can become involved in local mentoring programs.  Click here to register for the event.  For more information about all UGA Alumni Association events, please visit our web site.