During the annual meeting last June I spoke about focusing on two important goals in the upcoming year.  The first goal related to membership.  I asked you to identify women in the community who would add to the richness and diversity of Athena.  The Membership Committee under the leadership of  Lorna Taylor recommended eight nominees.   At our final meeting on June 5th we will introduce our new members.   Please remember to introduce yourself to these remarkable women and welcome them into Athena.

Renee Vaughn graciously hosted the new member orientation meeting at her lovely home in early May.   Renee set a high standard for this event with fabulous food and tropical floral arrangements!   Thanks so much to Renee for providing a warm welcome to our new members.   And thank you to those who participated in the presentation that evening, including Lorna Taylor, Carolyn Reed, Mary Scriven, Susan Leisner, Renee Vaughn and Karen Arnold.   Each of them spoke about different aspects of Athena and emphasized the importance of supporting women’s issues and each other.   They also emphasized how Athena has enriched their lives.

The second goal for the year was to increase our fund at the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay to $100,000.   This is the fund that provides Phyllis Marshall Career Assistance Grants to deserving recipients each year.   I’m thrilled to announce that we’ve reached our $100,000 goal as a result of contributions made during the year and investment returns!   Thanks so much to the generous donors who made contributions this year!

Reaching this financial milestone gives substance to our fund and allows us to increase the number of grants we provide to women who are attending school and striving to reach their educational goals. At our May lunch meeting we recognized five students who received grants totaling $6300.

Providing these grants on an annual basis is a signature program of Athena. This program shines a light on supporting women in need in our community. Please consider making a tax deductible contribution to the Athena fund at the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay in honor of an Athena member, a mentor or a friend who has assisted you in a time of need. As a reminder, your check should be made payable to: The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay and mailed to Eleanor Hubbard.   Eleanor then sends all contributions to the Community Foundation along with instructions concerning gifts made in honor of or in memory of an individual.

Athena runs smoothly because of the dedicated members who serve as Officers, Directors and Committee Chairs. I’d like to especially thank Karen Arnold, Lorna Taylor, Lorraine Lutton, Edna Broyles, Bonnie Carr, Elaine Terenzi, Kim DeBosier, Cynthia Gandee-Zinober, Laura Kolkman, Amanda Sansone, Jeanne Tate and Becca Tieder for sharing their time and talent this year.

Athena also runs smoothly because of our administrator, Eleanor Hubbard.    Every Past President understands the depth of experience and knowledge of the organization that Eleanor brings to the table. I’m grateful for Eleanor’s assistance throughout the year.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to serve as President of Athena. It has truly been a rewarding experience.