Forms and Documents

ANNUAL REPORTS

Annual reports are published in accordance with applicable state and federal laws. 2019-2020 Treasurer Reports and Annual Reports are available to Financial members in good standing by request in writing to treasurer@shawuatl.org. Provided within 30 days from request.

AGENDA AND MINUTES

Monthly chapter meetings are recorded, transcribed, and archived permanently. Transcribed minutes are available upon written request. Financial members in good standing of the Greater Atlanta Chapter may request a copy of the minutes or agenda by letter or email to webmaster@shawsuatl.org. Requests will be fulfilled within 30 days.

CONSTITUTION

The constitution establishes the guiding principles and precedents by which the local chapter shall be governed. The Greater Atlanta Chapter maintains a local constitution in accordance with the national constitution.

POLICY AND PROCEDURES

The policy and procedures manual serves as the procedural guide for implementing all tasks and functions of the chapter as authorized by the chapter constitution and bylaws.

Constitution & Bylaws
Payment Expense Form
Expenditure Request Form (TBA)
Debit Voucher Request Form (TBA)

2026 Chapter Meeting Minutes

Minutes from September 12, 2026

Quick recap

This was the Atlanta Alumni Chapter's first business meeting of the calendar year, where they welcomed National Alumni Association President Eric Howard to discuss key issues facing Shaw University and the NAA. Eric provided updates on the NAA's financial assessment structure, explaining that chapters would be assessed approximately $1,500 annually, and emphasized the importance of routing all alumni donations through the NAA rather than directly to the university to maintain accurate alumni giving statistics for potential donors. He addressed concerns about transparency regarding university property sales, explaining that while he has voting rights on the Board of Trustees, he is working to obtain permission to share more detailed information with alumni about board decisions and financial matters. The discussion covered the challenges posed by the "Friends of Shaw U" social media campaign, with Eric suggesting that chapters create positive content including TikTok videos and social media posts highlighting alumni engagement with the university. He also discussed plans for late enrollment efforts to address the university's current $4 million funding gap due to approximately 100 fewer enrolled students than anticipated, and proposed various fundraising and engagement initiatives including potential concerts and events to support the university while maintaining transparency in how funds are used.

Next steps

Claude

Draft a written suggestion to the university regarding modifying the alumni giving process on the Shaw University website to better align with NAA's preferred method.
- Explore and propose a more central and convenient location for in-person chapter meetings.

Dr. M. Williams-Johnson (Mildred)

Follow up with the university to inquire why she is not receiving regular communications (e.g., town hall notification, newsletter).
- Ensure the communications report and website update demonstration are top priority for the next meeting.
- Invite alumni to the October 3rd in-person meeting and encourage engagement.

Eric

Share detailed information from Board of Trustees meetings with chapter presidents after each meeting.
- Assemble a grant writing team to apply for foundation funding.
- Work with the executive team to educate chapters on the importance of funneling alumni donations through the NAA.
- Develop and roll out a positive social media campaign, including TikTok videos, to counter negative publicity.
- Coordinate with chapters to participate under the NAA tent at homecoming, using QR codes for alumni engagement.
- Explore hosting a concert or comedy show on campus as a fundraising event.

Gale

Lead the effort to aggressively fundraise to fulfill the $4,800 shortfall for the $50,000 scholarship endowment by June 30, 2027.
- Work with Ms. Bynum to obtain more information on the Georgia-based Shaw students for scholarship consideration.

Mitchell

Adjust the budget to reflect the increased NAA assessment from $1,000 to $1,500.
- Research and propose a cost-effective solution for a formal mailing address (PO Box or virtual mailbox) for the chapter.
- Send dues payment information to David.

Paul

Spell out "GAAC" in email subject lines and communications to clarify the acronym for all members.
- Update the budget to reflect the new Zoom renewal cost of $170.
- Finalize the cost of Constant Contact subscription and communicate the final amount to the chapter.
- Forward the university town hall meeting email to Dr. and others who request it.
- Send the login credentials for the membership portal on the updated website to all members individually.

Eintou

Forward the flyer and encourage alumni to participate in the fan raffle fundraiser by sending payments via Zelle.
- Forward the university town hall meeting email to Dr. M. Williams-Johnson and Paul.

Summary

GAAC Acronym Clarification Discussion

The meeting began with participants exchanging greetings and casual conversation about the weather. Gale raised a concern about the acronym GAAC not being clearly understood by everyone and requested that it be spelled out in email communications. The group welcomed new participants including Eric and Gloria, and noted that Claude had confirmed attendance with Eric for an upcoming event.

Shaw University Alumni Meeting Discussion

Mildred opened the first business meeting of the calendar year with an invocation by Reverend Boyd. National Alumni Association President Eric Howard addressed the chapter, discussing his plans for re-election and highlighting the NAA's focus on unifying alumni engagement despite challenges facing Shaw University. Howard addressed concerns about negative information shared by "Friends of Shaw U," clarifying details about room blocks for homecoming and emphasizing the need for accurate communication. The meeting included a discussion of action plans to increase alumni involvement, with the NAA planning to address this in their upcoming meeting.

Shaw University Funding Gap Discussion

Eric discussed a $4 million funding gap due to a 100-student enrollment shortfall at Shaw University and proposed encouraging late enrollment for September and spring semester to reduce the impact. He explained the importance of routing all alumni donations through the NAA rather than directly to the university to accurately reflect alumni giving in tax reports and potential future donations. Eric acknowledged the need to better educate chapters about this practice and mentioned plans to discuss this with his executive team at next week's meeting.

Chapter Contributions and Transparency

Eric discussed the need to unify chapter contributions to the national organization rather than having individual chapters make separate donations, emphasizing that all chapters should be recognized collectively regardless of size. He addressed his role as a voting member on the University Board of Trustees, explaining that he is working to obtain permission to share specific information from board meetings with the alumni membership. When asked about the sale of non-proper properties, Eric indicated that while he cannot provide specific details about past sales, he will be pressing the university for transparency at an upcoming town hall meeting and has been more assertive in demanding accountability and information sharing.

University Transparency and Information Accuracy

The meeting focused on concerns about information accuracy and transparency regarding the university's affairs, particularly regarding the Friends of Shaw U group. Eric explained his cautious approach to addressing these issues due to the sensitive political environment and the need to build relationships with key stakeholders. Claude raised concerns about the university's lack of response to inquiries and suggested that transparency would help counter the Friends of Shaw's claims. Eric emphasized the importance of building allies and developing a collective plan to address the university's challenges, including through the 1865 Legacy Fund.

Scholarship Funding and University Challenges

Eric and David discussed the challenges with scholarship funding and how earmarked donations limit the university's ability to address infrastructure issues. They emphasized the importance of strengthening the NAA membership to create more collective power in advocating for needed changes. Eric also highlighted the financial challenges of the university, including issues with student payment and the need to focus on attracting and supporting quality students rather than maintaining high enrollment numbers.

Membership Engagement Strategy Discussion

Eric discussed strategies to address low membership numbers and disengagement, emphasizing the need for creative ways to re-engage both current and potential members. He proposed organizing events like concerts and comedy shows on campus to increase engagement and suggested using social media, particularly TikTok, to combat negative narratives about the university by sharing positive content from alumni chapters. Eric also outlined plans for a unified NAA tent at homecoming with QR codes for student engagement and discussed examples of recent alumni support, including helping students affected by the campus fire.

Executive Committee and Updates Meeting

The meeting covered several key updates and discussions. The president introduced the new executive committee officers and reported on a productive meeting with President Dillard regarding board accountability, communication transparency, financial concerns, housing conditions, and facilities. The HBCU Alliance reported that over $125,000 was raised from the HBCU 5K Run Walk with nearly 4,000 participants, and chapters are being asked to report scholarship data by the end of the month for a combined presentation during the Cricket Bowl celebration in December. The meeting also noted that Dr. John Hill has taken over Melody Carter's role in Alumni Relations, and the chapter's $500,000 scholarship endowment was discussed with the Office of Institutional Advancement.

2026-27 Budget Presentation

Mitchell presented the 2026-27 budget with a total operating fund of approximately $7,000, including allocations for holiday events, recruiting expenses, and a proposed $1,500 NAA assessment. The group discussed upcoming cost increases for Zoom ($170) and potential changes to Constant Contact fees, with Paul working to resolve the discrepancy. The executive committee questioned the necessity of a $300 post office box expense, given the minimal mail received, and decided to further evaluate whether a formal mailing address is needed.

Fundraising and Membership Strategies Meeting

The meeting covered several key topics including budget discussions, fundraising efforts, and membership strategies. The group discussed a fan raffle as an ongoing fundraiser with tickets priced at $5 each or $10 for three tickets, with a drawing scheduled for the in-person meeting on the 3rd. Claude highlighted plans to increase event participation and convert casual attendees into members through strategic location selection for meetings and events in the Atlanta area. The discussion also addressed concerns about managing donations and addressing perceptions about financial management at Shaw University.

Shaw NAA Fundraising Challenges

The meeting focused on fundraising challenges and scholarship obligations for the Shaw University National Alumni Association (NAA) chapter. The group discussed issues with donation receipts and alumni giving, learning that while the university website allows general donations, alumni-specific giving requires direct donation to receive proper receipts. The chapter voted unanimously to accept an extension until June 30th to raise the remaining $4,800 needed to meet their $50,000 endowment obligation. Gale reported that they need to identify a student recipient for HBCU walk funds, noting the challenging situation with only 15 Georgia students enrolled at Shaw (11 freshmen, 4 transfers), none being returning students. The conversation ended with plans to address communications updates in the next meeting since time ran out for that discussion.

Chapter Website and Endowment Updates

The meeting focused on updates to the chapter's website and endowment. Paul demonstrated the new website features, including a membership portal with login access for board members to view meeting minutes and other private content. The group discussed requirements for a public acknowledgment from the university, needing $5,000 in new scholarship funds to trigger matching funds. Eintou recommended creating a communications team through existing bylaws before making formal changes, and the group was reminded about an upcoming town hall meeting. The next in-person meeting is scheduled for October 3rd at the Cleveland Avenue Library, where they will kickoff homecoming activities.

Attendees: Paul and May Benitez (Organizer), Dr. M. Williams-Johnson (External), Eric Howard (External), Tonya Mackey Harris (External), David C. Linton (External), Linda Jenkins (External), Gloria Hodgson (External), Tonya Mackey Harris (External), Gloria Hodgson (External), Eintou Karima (External), Mitchell Gibbs (External), Gale D. Thomas (External), Claude Jones (External), Linda Boyd (External)

The minutes of this meeting will be prepared and distributed to all participants promptly once they are ready.

Minutes from May 2, 2026

Summary

The meeting reviewed chapter administration, fundraising, event planning, and outreach activity. After roll call and a brief opening, the group reviewed minutes, agreed that the executive committee will review draft minutes before distribution, and designated Linda Jenkins to coordinate distribution with Paul Benitez; Chaplain Boyd was asked to give an opening when available.

Discussion of external engagement and events included the HBCU Alliance and an upcoming HBCU walk/run where volunteers are needed to staff a Shaw University tent and recruit local students, Shaw’s Day of Giving (extended through May 4), and notices about two May 3 external meetings (an NAA town hall on the 1865 legacy project and a broadly distributed Shaw Alumni Emergency Assembly). The vice president reviewed registration and a reported $100,000 matching gift question.

Treasurer Mitchell Gibbs presented April 30 account figures and Shaw Day receipts (Zelle, checks, merchandise, a designated $1,100 band donation, and raffle results). The board voted unanimously to allocate $1,000 from chapter funds to pay student #7 $576 and students #10 and #12 $175 each for outstanding balances. The meeting also confirmed uncontested nominees for the 2026–2028 slate elected by acclamation, noted vacancies for treasurer and parliamentarian, previewed a chapter website demo and beta testing request from the technology lead, reviewed recruiting outreach plans, and finalized logistics for the June 13 cookout at Claude's home with Dr. M. Williams-Johnson as point of contact.

Action Items

Meeting participants will confirm their registration for the HBCU walk/run and notify Claude if registration issues arise
Mildred will forward the NAA town hall invite to Paul Benitez
Paul will distribute the NAA town hall invite to chapter members
Mitchell will verify whether Dr. M. Williams-Johnson’s Zelle donation was received when provided the donor’s name
Mitchell will include any late donations and finalize the check to Shaw before mailing
Mitchell will send the designated scholarship/assistance payments to the specified Shaw students ($576 to student #7 and $175 each to students #10 and #12) consistent with the board vote
Linda J will coordinate with Paul about finalizing and distributing the minutes as secretary
Paul will move the completed website from his personal server to the chapter’s main site.
Paul will send a preview link of the new website to volunteers for beta testing.
Paul will update the leadership pages on the website to reflect current and incoming executive board members.
Mildred will contact the DeKalb County high-school counselor in late August or early September to collect event schedules and points of contact for recruitment planning.
Mildred will serve as the point of contact for the cookout portion of next month’s agenda.
Claude will host the chapter cookout at his home on June 13th.

Chapter Topics

Participants joined and exchanged greetings while resolving audio and connection issues; several attendees noted they could not hear and adjusted volume or unmuted. The group confirmed attendance including Mitchell and held light personal check-ins before officially waiting briefly to start.

The meeting began with roll call, technical checks, and a decision to proceed while waiting for the Chaplain to return

Opening logistics and agenda adjustments

The chair confirmed the meeting start, proposed moving down the agenda while awaiting Chaplain Boyd, and members agreed to revisit the opening inspiration when she returned. The group prepared to backfill absent members and to perform a quick review of minutes later in the meeting.

Invocation and minutes discussion

Claude offered a brief word of inspiration and the meeting recorded an opening prayer. Paul reported he had circulated minutes to some but not all attendees and suggested the nominated minute-taker would assume distribution responsibility.

The group will review and nominate a responsible person to distribute meeting minutes after a brief review before closing the meeting

HBCU Alliance and walk/run planning

The chapter reviewed Gail’s notes about the HBCU Alliance and emphasized the need for more volunteers for the walk/run and for staffing a Shaw tent, including bringing food and inviting Atlanta-area Shaw students to be eligible for scholarships distributed at the event.

The HBCU Alliance needs more volunteers for the walk/run and plans to staff a Shaw tent to engage students and offer scholarship opportunities

Vice president’s updates and Day of Giving

The vice president’s report covered registration reminders for events and noted personal registration status for the walk/run, highlighted Shaw’s Day of Giving extended through May 4, and raised a question about the origin of a $100,000 matching gift listed on the donation page.

Shaw’s Day of Giving has been extended to May 4 and members were encouraged to participate
- The origin of a $100,000 matching gift noted on the Day of Giving page was unclear and appears to be listed as anonymous

NAA town hall distribution and forwarding plan

Members discussed an NAA town hall scheduled for May 3 about the NAA 1865 legacy project and the NAA’s relationship with the president’s office; some attendees had not received the invite by email and agreed to forward it to ensure chapter-wide distribution.

An NAA town hall on May 3 will cover the NAA 1865 legacy project and the organization’s relationship with the president’s office; members were asked to join if available
- Members agreed that Dr. M. Williams-Johnson will forward the town hall invite to Paul, and Paul will distribute it to chapter members

Shaw alumni emergency assembly and external developments

Claude reported invites to a Shaw Alumni Emergency Assembly on May 3 and noted uncertainty about the conveners; attendees connected this outreach to recent news that St. Augustine filed for bankruptcy and discussed potential alumni coordination and merger conversations, and members were encouraged to attend the May 3 sessions.

A widely distributed Shaw Alumni Emergency Assembly on May 3 was noted and appears linked to broader alumni coordination following St. Augustine’s reported bankruptcy

Vice President follow-up and agenda transition

Claude Jones raised an item from Gail about supporting Georgia-area students with outstanding balances and asked Mitchell Gibbs if he was familiar with the related email. Mitchell confirmed and said it would be part of his report, then the meeting moved to the treasurer's report.

Treasurer's report, Shaw Day receipts, and raffle recap

Mitchell Gibbs presented the treasurer's report for April 30, summarized Shaw Day proceeds including $2,830 received via Zelle, various checks, and an $1,100 band-designated donation, and noted operating and designated balances. He also reported raffle costs of $330.83, identified the winner as Monica H, and confirmed the certificate has been delivered.

The Treasurer reported April 30th finances and Shaw Day receipts, including $2,830 via Zelle and designated and undesignated funds for Shaw Day.
- Shaw Day included a $1,100 donation specifically designated for the band.
- The raffle netted proceeds after a $330.83 cost and the winner, Monica Hayward, has been notified and received the certificate.

Scholarship allocation discussion and vote

The board discussed Gale’s request to apply funds toward students' outstanding balances after reviewing a university list of seniors, debated whether to spread funds across several students, and clarified the intended recipients as the three students named in Gail's email. The motion to allocate $1,000 toward those students passed unanimously, with specific payments of $576 to student #7 and $175 each to students #10 and #12.

The chapter can still accept late donations and Mitchell Gibbs offered to include them before mailing the Shaw check.
- The board unanimously approved donating $576 to student #7 and $175 each to students #10 and #12 to cover outstanding balances.

Correspondence, minutes procedure, and congratulations

Claude and Paul discussed the status and distribution path for draft minutes and confirmed that the executive committee must review minutes before chapter-wide distribution. Linda J confirmed she will coordinate with Paul in her role as secretary, and the group offered congratulations to Jasmine on her marriage and birthday.

Linda J will coordinate with Paul about finalizing and distributing the minutes since she will serve as secretary.
- The EC must review and approve draft minutes before they are distributed to the full chapter.

Chaplain’s report, Shaw Weekend reflections, and transition

The Chaplain thanked participants for Shaw Weekend, described prayer hour structure and positive outcomes, noted continued fundraising and planned partnership meetings on campus, and offered pastoral updates and community prayer requests. The segment closed with personal check-ins and an acknowledgement that Anne T would speak next.

Nominations and Election Results

The nominating chair reviewed submitted nominations and reported four unopposed candidates for president, vice president, recording secretary, and chaplain, declared them elected by acclamation, and noted that correspondent secretary, treasurer, and parliamentarian positions received no nominations and remain vacant for the incoming executive committee to fill after installation at the cookout meeting.

Treasurer and parliamentarian positions remain vacant and will be filled by the incoming executive committee after installation at the cookout meeting.
- The unopposed nominees for president, vice president, recording secretary, and chaplain were declared elected by acclamation.

Transition to Website Agenda Item

The chair transitioned the meeting to technology and website updates and introduced Paul to present the new site, with participants preparing to view a live demonstration.

Website Demonstration and Features

Paul demonstrated the site hosted on his server, showing slideshow photos, history pages, payment portals (including Zelle and PayPal with processing notes), committee descriptions, videos, downloadable constitution and bylaws, and leadership pages that will be updated and migrated to the main site after beta testing.

A new chapter website is complete on a personal server and will be migrated to the main site after beta testing and final edits.
- The website includes history, media, payment portals (Zelle/PayPal), committee pages, and downloadable constitution and bylaws.

Feedback and Beta Testing Request

Participants praised the site’s content and historical material, asked about beta testing, and Paul requested volunteers and emails so he can distribute a preview link and incorporate feedback before going live.

Recruiting Report and Learnings

The recruiting lead reported a single confirmed outreach contact with a DeKalb County high-school counselor and a commitment to follow up in late August/early September to map local events, referenced the DC chapter’s recruiting kit and successful table setup, and recommended procuring low-cost consumables for outreach.

Recruiting efforts will focus on late-August/early-September follow-up with DeKalb County schools to build a local recruiting event schedule.
- The DC chapter’s recruiting kit and table setup provided useful examples; low-cost consumables from third-party vendors are a suggested alternative.

Alumni Giving Reminder and Cookout Logistics

Members encouraged small alumni donations to improve alumni-giving metrics, and the group finalized basic cookout logistics: the cookout is scheduled for June 13th, Mildred is the point of contact, Claude and his wife offered their home as host, and attendees discussed a proposed setup and meeting window aiming for 11:30–14:00 following a 10:00 meeting start.

The June 13th cookout is confirmed at Claude’s home with Mildred as point of contact and a proposed timeframe for setup and event activities.

The minutes of this meeting will be prepared and distributed to all participants promptly once they are ready.

Minutes from January 10, 2026

Quick recap

The chapter meeting began with informal discussions and updates on attendance tracking before transitioning to a review of recent events and financial matters. The group discussed various chapter activities including support for athletes, membership concerns, and plans for upcoming events such as CIAA activities and HBCU Alliance initiatives. The conversation ended with updates on financial status, election planning, and discussions about chapter organization, including potential changes to chapter structure and bylaws.

Summary

New Year's Impact on Attendance

The meeting began with informal greetings and small talk, including discussion of New Year's celebration and a personal story from Almo about her teaching career. Gale noted that Linda J would be absent and provided an update on attendance tracking. The meeting was scheduled to start at 10 AM but due to the holiday weekend, Gale expected lower attendance than usual.

Year-End Meeting and NAA Updates

The meeting began with informal discussions about a holiday celebration hosted by Claude and Linda, which was appreciated by attendees. Gale mentioned the need to update the membership list, and Mitchell agreed to send the updated list. Paul and Gale discussed technical issues with Constant Contact, which attributed to IP address changes. Gale called the meeting to order and expressed hopes for a prosperous New Year. Claude shared insights from the NAA meeting, highlighting concerns about the support provided to athletes, particularly regarding their limited resources for food and travel.

University Sports and Alumni Updates

The meeting covered several topics related to university sports and alumni activities. Claude discussed the importance of supporting athletes and sports teams, emphasizing the need for proper logistics and training. Gale raised concerns about the lack of advance notice for visiting Shaw groups, which Eric was supposed to address but hasn't yet. The group mourned the loss of Dr. Barbara McSweeney, a long-time member of the Washington chapter. Claude reported that the NAA treasury currently holds $37,000, with a discussion planned on whether to use more of this money throughout the year. Gale questioned the number of chapters that paid the $1,000 assessment, but Claude did not have this information. The meeting also touched on plans for CIAA events and the review of revised bylaws by the president.

Chapter Bylaws and HBCU Alliance

Claude reported that new bylaws are expected this month with current chapter bylaws being aligned with the national version. He noted that local chapters may form state or virtual chapters, which needs national bylaw revision. Gale discussed the need for a viable chapter in Georgia and mentioned waiting for Ed and Thaddeus to provide dates for potential meetings about renewing or integrating the Savannah chapter. Gale also shared that the HBCU Alliance funds for early registration of next year's walk were received, with a focus on increasing participation to improve donation percentages.

HBCU Volunteer Recruitment and Scholarships

Gale explained the importance of increasing volunteer and walker numbers to ensure adequate funding for their initiatives, emphasizing that donations should be made directly to the university rather than through the HBCU Alliance. Gale also highlighted the opportunity for local students to register for a June event, where they could potentially win scholarships, and mentioned an upcoming HBCU night at the Symphony on January 24th. Gale encouraged interested participants to text "66866-HBCU" for more information about the HBCU Alliance's activities.

Chapter Updates: Membership and Events

The meeting covered updates on membership, events, and financial matters. Gale mentioned receiving information about various events and the ability to use HBCU events for advertising. Claude announced the Fayette County Chapter of the NAACP's Martin Luther King Day parade on January 19th, inviting participation. Mitchell Gibbs provided a financial update, including proceeds from the HBCU Alliance, new paid members, and the net cost of the Christmas event, which was offset by donations and picture sales.

Financial Updates and Scholarship Planning

The meeting focused on financial updates, with Mitchell reporting a bank balance of $2,479.30 as of November 30th, noting that $358 was designated for Shaw University but would be sent with the scholarship funds on show day. Gale inquired about the unrestricted nature of the $2,2130 balance, which Mitchell confirmed. The conversation ended with Linda providing an inspirational message about faith and abundance.

Chapter Updates and Event Planning

The chapter meeting covered several key updates and announcements. The Shaw Day event was confirmed for April 12th at the Lord's House, and Linda Boyd expressed interest in participating on the Shaw Day Committee. The chapter discussed upcoming elections, with Gale requesting nominations for elected officers and emphasizing the need for members to serve. Plans were made for a potential trip to support the basketball teams in Orangeburg, SC on February 7th, with Gale asking interested members to email her. The conversation ended with a performance of the alma mater and a prayer.

Action Items:

Gale will request an updated membership list from Mitchell Gibbs to ensure accurate records.
Claude will follow up with Eric regarding his initiative to notify local chapters about teams coming to their area.
Gale will follow up with Ed and Thaddeus to discuss potential dates for meeting with the Savannah Chapter.
Gale will work with Paul to create an announcement for constant contact regarding HBCU Alliance information.
Claude will provide the Fayette County NAACP website link in the chat for members interested in the Martin Luther King Day parade.
Mitchell will submit the pending report for approval by the executive board by the end of next week.
Gale will gather names of members interested in serving on the nominations committee for upcoming elections.
Gale will collect names of members interested in carpooling to the basketball game in Orangeburg on February 7th.

Next steps

Mitchell: Send updated membership list (including David Linton, El Nora, and Bill Dickens) to Gale
Gale: Follow up with Ed and Thaddeus regarding possible dates for meeting with Savannah chapter members
Pat: Submit report for review and approval by the Executive Board by end of next week
Interested members: Email or text Gale (404-790-7101) if planning to attend Orangeburg game on February 7th
Gale: Determine if February 7th meeting needs to be rescheduled based on responses
Interested members: Contact Gale if willing to serve on Shaw Day committee (April 12th event)
Linda B: Talk to Joe about serving as chairperson for Shaw Day committee
Claude: Help plan Shaw Day committee (though may not be present at event)
Gale: Start advertising for April 12th Shaw Day event at Lord's House
Members: Contact nominating committee in February if interested in running for elected office
Almo: Work on getting van/transportation for February 7th Orangeburg trip (if enough interest)
Paul and Gale: Work on wording for HBCU Alliance text announcement (66866-HBCU) for Constant Contact
Ann: Get with Mitchell regarding fundraising ideas
Mitchell: Send $358 designated silent offer funds to endowment when show day funds are sent
Gale: Update attendance records to track perfect/near-perfect attendance for end-of-year recognition
Gale: Review with Claude whether elected officers must be financial members according to constitution
Pat Lewis: Review meeting notes with Paul to ensure alignment before website submission
Gale: Follow up with remaining 2 members from last year who haven't renewed dues
Members: Encourage Shaw graduates in area to check out website and join chapter
Gale: Present nominating committee to membership in February
- Nominating committee: Accept nominations February and March for elected officers
- Nominating committee: Present nominees in April
Members: Vote on new officers in May
New officers: Be installed in June
New officers: Begin meetings in September (after July/August break)