Rebekah Enoch just joined the Wren's Nest team last June. However, she has over 20 years of experience working for various nonprofits in the U.S. and Australia, bringing her outreach, engagement and strong storytelling skills to the table towards positive change. Her other current role is a remote job, so one of the best parts about her role at the Nest is that it allows for in-person connections and relationship building, one of her favorite things! 

Paige Sullivan, Wren's Nest Board Chair

Neil Shorthouse is president and co-founder of Partners in Change (PIC). PIC was inspired by Communities In Schools (CIS) of which Neil is also the co-founder. As a premier organization supporting children, families, schools, and communities, CIS places caring adults into healthy relationships with children whose academic success and social well-being are threatened. Today, CIS operates in thousands of schools in 25 states, engaging with 1.6 million children.

Partners in Change shifts the focus to adults — pairing trained volunteer coaches with other adults seeking to self-empower and improve their lives and circumstances. 

For more than 50 years, Neil has worked to improve educational opportunities for disadvantaged youth and their families through his efforts at CIS and other nonprofit organizations. He serves on the boards of several organizations, including Leadership Foundations, Georgia Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, Rotary Club of Atlanta West End, and Georgia Piedmont Technical College. Neil continues to work on programs focused on strengthened communities, the betterment of their residents, and improved learning experiences for their children.

Neil is married to Patty Pflum and has lived in the Grant Park section of Atlanta since 1971. They have four children, nine grandchildren, one great granddaughter, and are members of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in downtown Atlanta.

A first generation American born in Puerto Rico, Patricia is an accomplished Software Product Management Leader with over 15 years of experience. She has lived in Atlanta her whole adult life and has made it home. It all started with a 7 year/3 degree stay at Georgia Tech, where she learned the importance of service. It has all turned into a love story full of pride for her city, the people in it, its joys, and its sorrows. 

When not at work or at home with her family, Patricia does service as a musician and leader in the Seed & Feed Marching Abominable, a volunteer organization spreading music and joy.  She comes to the Rotary by way of an invitation from one of her real-life superheroes who was then conducting the band (Hi, Paige). She is very excited for this adventure in service with the Rotary and eager to do a good job. Come say hi if you want to talk about music, food, or have any advice for a new Rotarian or a Public Image Chair.

Location: Politan Row at Ashford Lane (near Perimeter Mall)

To register: Click here

For more information: https://www.facebook.com/RMBDistrict6900

President Jared Evans presided over an AWER Club Assembly. The follow matters were presented and discussed:

1. Jared spoke about two clothing drives that were underway. Many members brought professional attire for Booker T. Washington High School students. A delivery of these clothes to the school will be scheduled. The collection of winter wear for flood victims in North Carolina can continue until November 8th when Mark Newman will attend the regularly scheduled club meeting and collect those items.
2. The best date, according to a member survey created by Anna-Belle La Force, for the Annual AWER Holiday Party is Saturday, December 14, 2024 at Wild Heaven in Lee & White District in the West End. AWER has budgeted $2000.00 for this event. More details to follow.
3. End Polio Now T-shirts at $25.00 are being sold as a way to help meet the $1500 goal set by District 6900 for clubs to donate to PolioPlus. AWER donates approximately $600 annually through the $25 donations made on behalf of people who speak at our club lunches. T-shirts make fine gifts, so some members have purchased more than one shirt. As of this writing, one person who is not a club member has purchased a shirt through the website (by father of Jared, Don Evans, so it pays to share the campaign on your social media!) Also, the threshold to print the shirts has been reached! Shirts will be printed following the completion of the fundraising campaign on October 31st. Delivery of shirts directly to the purchases can be expected approximately 12 working days after the campaign closes. And the funds raised will be sent to the club after the campaign closes as well.
4. Much anticipated official AWER club T-shirts can be produced by the same manufacturer used for the End Polio Now T-shirts, or CJ Stewart suggested that if the opportunity presents itself, we could consider buying our T-shirts from Tony Cruver, founder of Cruvie Clothing, a former AWER speaker and local purveyor of all-things-T-shirts.
5. CJ provided an update on the club’s collaboration with the L.E.A.D. Center for Youth. Bre McClendon, an employee of CJs, will contact each Rotarian, that has already indicated an interest in one or more of the seven service opportunities CJ proposed at the start of the Rotary Year, with scheduling and coordination specifics in the coming weeks and months. CJ noted that new M. Agnes Jones principal is Dr. Teruko Dobashi. 
6. President Jared added that the District 6900 $2,000 grant has been again awarded to AWER for M. Agnes Jones Elementary. These funds will be used to support expanding the greenhouse AWER donated last year to enhance STEAM learning. Grants from the District have been officially awarded so the Club can begin spending on the project. Funds from the District will be disbursed in a matter of weeks. However, the Club must keep careful receipts and document all efforts related to the project to fulfill its grant obligations.
7. Jared reviewed some upcoming events and noted that there will be no AWER meeting on the Friday after Thanksgiving, November 29th. On November 8th Anna-Belle La Force is featured for a Member Showcase. The next Club Assembly will occur November 15th or the 22nd, depending on availability of program speakers that November Program Chair Debra Stokes secure. Also of note, there will be no AWER meeting on Friday December 27th. 
8. There will be a commemorative plaque installation recognizing the 100th year opening of Booker T. Washington High School in 1924 as the first African American High School in Atlanta. This plaque will be installed at the at 10 a.m. on October 29th.
9. Membership developments were announced by Membership Chair Sonia Hantman: Ms. Kier Prince, Esq. attended one meeting on October 18th and is considering joining AWER. We are most pleased to have Ashley Rose-Toomer, PhD as an AWER member. Sonia also noted that RI will be furnishing names of others showing interest in Rotary membership and that it is up to each Club to follow up to attract members.

_______ Neil Shorthouse , Keyway editor