Past Speakers

No meeting - Happy New Year!

Federal Reserve – The Economy from Global, National, Regional and State Aspects.

Burt Manning, Chief Appraiser, Fulton County Board of Appraisers – Fulton County and Metropolitan-Atlanta Real Estate Tax Appraisals and Values.   Our speaker – our very own Burt Manning – will provide us insight on the real estate values in Atlanta, Fulton County, in the general metropolitan area.  This will be an important part of the overall economic equation as we view the economy here in the Metropolitan-Atlanta area.  As we begin the new year, January 8th will present us a global and regional picture and January 15th will give us the word for the local metro area as it primarily relates to real estate which, of course, blends into the overall economic health of the metropolitan area.

Nancy Chandler, Georgia Center for Child Advocacy - Our speaker is the new Executive Director of the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy.  Children’s Advocacy Centers offer a new way to serve abused children through a comprehensive approach to services for victims and their families.  This is a problem that we all must learn more about and learn what solutions there are for children’s sexual abuse in our community.  These programs are designed by professionals and volunteers responding to the needs of their communities and the Georgia Center responds to the needs of our metropolitan area.

Children’s Advocacy Centers stress coordination of investigation and intervention services by bringing together professionals and agencies as a multi-disciplinary team to create a child focused approach to child abuse cases.  The goal is to insure that children are not re-victimized by the very system designed to protect them.  This is a program that will certainly be of interest.

Alex Branch, Collector of History.  Map of mystery -- Where are we?  Atalanta – Marthasville – Terminus – or maybe we’re in Atlanta.  Our speaker, Alex Branch, beams like a new father as he gently lays his baby on the table – his baby is a book.  Its blue cover is embossed with a golden eagle and a title spelled out in Spanish.  Alex folds out the delicate paper and it fans out to a 3½ by 2½ foot map revealing a colored map of Mexico, dated 1847.  He points to a spot just to the north of the border to a country which is the southeastern United States; many people would need a magnifying glass to read it.  There is a city in North Georgia called not Atlanta, but Atalanta.  When he first saw it, he raised an eyebrow and said, “I don’t think that was a mistake.”

Alex, who was involved in the metro-Atlanta real estate making bundles developing shopping centers in the red clay of his native Atlanta, is now semi-retired and is operating a rare map, print and bookshop in Buckhead.  He is spending some of his time and effort to explore one of the oldest questions in his hometown – Where exactly did the name come from. Some say the name came from Greek mythology, Atlas or Atalanta.  The standard version is that it was feminized the Atlantic as in the Western and Atlantic Railroad.  Alex doesn’t buy either explanation.  There have been several names – Atalanta, Terminus, Marthasville and ultimately, Atlanta; but those names didn’t just happen and there is an explanation of how each came about and moved from one to the next, and finally we are now in Atlanta.

Whether or not Alex will be able to bring his map with him and some of his rare books from his shop, I don’t know; however, without question he will be with us and present and fascinating and interesting program.

Sharon Williams, Regional Sales Coordinator for ION Media Networks, Inc. –  Digital television, it’s here to stay!  Throw out the old, bring in the new — “Old TVs for new...old TVs for new.”  If you hear someone walking by your window chanting, “old TVs for new”, rather than “Old lamps for new” (do you remember the Aladdin story) you will be taken on a magic carpet ride to the future (two years from now) when it’s going to be a new television world.  In other words, we will be in the new digital age! “Old TVs for new..." you might want to take the deal.

John Roesler, Director of Sales and Marketing, Theragenics Corporation.  The concrete-block walls are more than 6 feet thick.  Geiger counters go clickety-click as scientists and technicians in rubber gloves and paper gowns stare through microscopes and thick protective glass at what looks like tiny bits of pencil lead, packing them in long needles or round containers.  There are no windows.  The place has the feel of a fallout shelter and the banter of a nuclear lab.  It evokes memories of the 1950s, when nuclear fallout was on every politician’s lips and children ducked under desks to hide from its invisible rays.  Even the lab’s lingo sounds eerie, with talk of cyclotrons, titanium and particle accelerators.

But it’s a Theragenics Corp. factory in the far-out suburbs north of Lake Lanier, and it manufactures radioactive “seeds” used to zap and kill deadly cells of prostate cancer, the second-leading cause of male cancer death in the United States.

Just because you aren’t a man doesn’t mean you should stay away from this program — Ladies, you are wives, girlfriends, mothers and significant others — and the men in your life and all men in the room face a potential medical problem — some as soon as early middle age — prostate cancer.

Our speaker is the Director of Sales of Theragenics.  He will tell us of his company which is in the forefront of research and manufacture of this tiny radioactive seed — a seed that may “grow” (save) a life.

Informative program, yes.  Important program — yes, for all of us!

Past President’s Day.  Come, celebrate and welcome back all of the past presidents of our club.  Our first president back in 1967 was Judge William C. O’Kelley.  Since that time we’ve had thirty-five presidents and our club is still going strong.  We’ll enjoy meeting, greeting and having these honored members of our club sharing antidotes about something unusual during their presidency.

Rebecca Roberts, Atlanta Preservation Center.  You say you know all the neighborhoods in Atlanta – there are many that you probably don’t know.  Many neighborhoods are being preserved to retain their historic value and many are being revived.  This will be a interesting program about Atlanta and its neighborhoods.  You may even spot one that you didn’t know existed or maybe you did.  See you Tuesday morning.

Holt Webb, Vanishing America.  Things that made America wonderful, fun, beautiful and exciting – these very things are being forgotten, abused and destroyed right before our very eyes.  They are endangered of vanishing forever.

Vanishing America is a project by photographer and writer, Holt Webb, who in May will be setting forth to travel throughout America to document precious aspects of our country and its culture that are in danger of vanishing in the next two to three generations.  Over the next two years Holt will drive an ecologically-friendly motor home, powered by vegetable oil and solar energy, around the United states to artistically document America’s wild horses, disappearing wetlands, historic architecture, crumbling industry, small town life, and other American treasures that could be lost to us during our lifetimes.

Not only will Holt’s adventure provide a fascinating program, but what is this about an ecologically friendly motor home that runs on vegetable oil?  This also will be something to see – be sure and bring any extra vegetable oil that you might have around your home – it doesn’t have to be extra-virgin olive oil, for his bus runs on large amounts of plain old cooking oil.

Who knows, we might even have our meeting in his bus in the parking lot of the Capital City Club – cooking oil and all.

Carrie Heller, Circus Arts Institute.  Did you want to runaway and join the circus?  Would you like to walk across the high wire?  Maybe climb a rope, be a clown, juggle, or just be a member of the circus – you might even get to water and feed the elephants.

On the 18th you may have your opportunity to join the circus.  Our speaker, Carrie Heller, is the Founder and Executive Director of the Circus Arts Institute.  She is a professional Trapeze Artist as well as a Licenced Clinical Social Worker.  Carrie has over 20 years experience in the world of circus arts as a teacher, choreographer and performer.

So you say – you do want to join the circus – you absolutely can!  Carrie has a circus school; she uses circus training as a means of “getting in shape” – a wonderful new concept in physical and mental training.  Not only is this available for us “ol’ folk” who want to trim down, but Circus Arts Institute also works with young people.  There is a therapeutic program using circus training with certain troubled youths.

Alright now – if you are tired of the same old workout, hop off the treadmill, jump through the burning ring of fire and join one of the latest and quirkiest routes to fitness.  Join the crowd of spandex clad men and women who are working on their abs on the flying trapeze.

We may even have a group class on the 18th – we’ll end our meeting that morning with a chant, “We are a circus family!”  Now is your chance to join the circus.

Bill Moon, International Community School – What is the International Community School – an International Community School making a World of Difference, a local school taking a global approach to education which prides itself with students without  borders.  Our speaker, Bill Moon, is the principal of the International Community School (ICS) which is in Decatur where nearly 400 students in kindergarten through the sixth grade hail from more than 40 countries, collectively speak as many languages, and represent the great spectrum of world faiths, from Christianity, Judaism, and Islam to Buddhism and Hinduism.  Approximately half the students are refugees, many having escaped civil wars and government oppression.  American students who live in the area make up the other half of the student body.

ICS, a charter school, opened in the fall of 2002.  Many believed that the multi-ethnic, multi-faith school that blended a respect for cultural diversity with a disciplined approach to integration was nothing but a pipe dream.  As public schools are getting stripped down to reading, writing and math, in contrast, ICS has instituted the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program which is designed to nourish the social, cultural, physical, emotional and intellectual needs of young students and still providing a well-rounded education in the arts, languages, science, mathematics and physical education.  The program addresses global themes that match the collective identity of the students.  The school’s intention that its global prospective not flatten all cultures, but rather preserve the cultural, religious, ethnic, social and economic differences of their students.  ICS is an experiment that has succeeded; it has been honored as a distinguished Title I charter school and by all accounts it is ready to expand and add new grade levels.

Our speaker, a former principal at Atlanta International School, recently stated that ICS is the first and only school of its kind anywhere, and the challenge this presents is equal to the great opportunity that exists.  He went on to say that the success of the school is at once dependent and ensured by a simple creed, “We love what we do”.

April 1st -- Why it’s an interesting date!

On April 1, 1491, Mr. and Mrs. C. Columbus went out for pizza – it was one with Italian topping.
On April 1, 1541, Henry went shopping for his wife, Ann, for a new lace collar for her neck.
On April 1, 1775, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Revere had tea together at a neat restaurant near the Boston Harbor.
On April 1, 1776, Martha went with George to get his new wooden teeth adjusted.
On April 1, 1901, Mr. and Mrs. Roosevelt (Teddy, that is) visited the local horse dealer to find one just right for rough riding.
On April 1, 1932, Eleanor and Franklin went to the local market to get a chicken – there needs to be a chicken for every pot.
On April 1, 1976, Mr. and Mrs. C. decided they would fool some of the people all of the time and all of the people most of the time.
On the 1st of April, 2008, the big event is at the Peachtree-Atlanta Kiwanis Club.

William “Bill” Potter, Circa History Guild – A time capsule has just opened in Alpharetta, Georgia – the Circa History Guild it’s more than a museum, more than parchment papers and minted coins, it’s a passion for its founders – it’s a mission to help return Americans to their moral  foundation and to strengthen their families.

Our speaker, Bill Potter, a historian who has recently came to Atlanta after a number of years in Williamsburg, Virginia, is the chief historian of the Circa History Guild.  He walks visitors through an oral time machine.  Whether details from the childhood struggles of Andrew Jackson or discussing the Gettysburg Battlefield, Bill is a walking repository of United States History.  His experience coupled with the acquisitions give Circa a convincing platform from which to encourage visitors to consider their legacy – their heritage.

Bill will provide us an insight and virtual preview of the Circa History Guild.  The Circa History Guild connects us to our past: George Washington’s signature in a diary, Confederate money carried from the Appomattox Courthouse by one of Robert E. Lee’s staff officers, the U.S. Patent Book featuring Abraham Lincoln’s invention.  These relics are rich with significance, but it’s the lives and stories behind them that pave the path to moral ground.

Come and let’s learn about the Circa History Guild together.  It has its grand opening in mid-March, but this will be our virtual visit.

Douglas Cobb, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Identity Theft.  You may know who you are – who else knows who you are … and “becomes” you!

Who raided my bank account – they said it was “me”.
Who charged over $5,000 on my credit card – they said is was “me”.
Who withdrew my 401(k) account – they said it was “me”.
I had a great credit rating – now I am thousands of dollars in debt!

Someone has stolen “me”!

Our speaker, Doug Cobb, is with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and will provide us information on identity theft – what it is and what damage it can cause; what a thief might do to one’s identity and how to avoid it and he will tell us what is the most difficult part of identity theft, what one has to do to get his or her identity and credit back.

This will be a program that is not only interesting, but will be useful.

Dr. Len Indianer, ‘A Bridge to Elne’.  Our speaker is Dr. Len Indianer, the author of “A Bridge to Elne”.  It’s a novel about a French family’s struggle against the Nazi occupation.  The novel is based on a true story of two families in southern France during WWII whose lives are turned upside down by Germany’s occupation, and are further complicated by a German officer whom they’ve been ordered to house.  You may have the advanced word on what may turn out to be an exciting summer flick possibly starring Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, or maybe the most recent 007 - Daniel Craig.

Our speaker’s book was featured in the New Title Showcase at Book Expo America in New York, the largest book show in North America.  Dr. Indianer was also a featured author and speaker at the Miami Book Fair International on November, 2007.  This past September our speaker went back to France and was made an honorary citizen of Elne, France.  This should be an interesting program.

Bill Hendrick, Atlanta Journal Staff Reporter.  Extra, Extra – Read all about it – We no longer see the newsboy on the corner hawking the news hot off the press.  Times are changing.  The news and events are often read “on-line”, but is it truly a newspaper?  Are communications as we “knew” them going the way of the horse and buggy.  Is the newspaper giving way to TV news – and is TV news giving way to the lap top or – are becoming an uniformed people?

We’ll get the inside take from a professional journalist who has been in the business for over 40 years.

May 6th – The Chinese are coming – the Chinese are coming – warriors, weapons and all – Philip Verre, the Chief Operating Officer of the High Museum, will tell us about the upcoming exhibit at the High Museum of the Chinese Terra Cotta Warriors.  In 1974 farmers digging in a field in Xi’an, China, struck something hard – that led to what was considered one of the century’s greatest archeological discoveries.  What the farmers stumbled upon were thousands of life-size terra cotta warriors who had been standing guard by the tomb Emperor Quin Shi Huanzdi (3rd Century B.C.) for over two thousand years.  Two vaults containing an estimated eight thousand figures have been identified thus far.  The major excavation is located in an enormous hanger-like structure which has been built to enclose the complete dig.  There was a second dig several years after the first and more and more of the warriors are being found and it is being expanded.

What is exciting is that there will be a major exhibit of the Terra Cotta Warriors coming to the High Museum.  Mr. Varre’s program will give us a preview – the Chinese are coming – the Chinese are coming – warriors, weapons and all.

Some of us have been fortunate enough to have traveled in China and have seen the Terra Cotta Warriors.  They are amazing!