Skidaway Abigails l May 2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hello and Happy May, The image of the Munchkins in the movie of The Wizard of Oz keeps flashing into my mind as I think of all of us starting to venture carefully out into the world. Those of us who are vaccinated are dipping our toes into the larger world, perhaps venturing to a club or restaurant and dining indoors, or gathering with a small group of also vaccinated friends, or hugging children and grandchildren who we haven’t seen in person in such a very long time. And, we are still cautious – yes we are making progress at a return to normalcy, yet COVID-19 numbers still rise and the end of the pandemic has not yet arrived. There is an optimistic sense that perhaps we can have our monthly meetings in person as soon as this fall or next spring. So we are exploring to see what options are available to us and how we can make our meetings welcoming and safe for all of you. I do look forward to that time whenever it may be. Finally, I want to share my appreciation for the women who served on the Board of The Skidaway Abigails this year. They have worked tirelessly, volunteering their time and talents to bring us the programs we have all enjoyed, to find creative ways for us to engage, and to keep us informed and connected. Truly my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of them.
Betsy Beekman |
|
|
Voter Suppression: How the Savannah Chapter of NAACP is fighting voter suppressionMay 133:30 PM Zoom Meeting
Coordinated by Betsey Andersen and Pat Wallace |
|
|
The Abigails are excited to welcome Mr. Chadrick Mance, the President of the Savannah chapter of the NAACP to speak with us about voter suppression. Voting rights are being attacked in many states. Locally, the NAACP was instrumental in helping citizens to get out to vote.
Chadrick Mance, is the founder of the Mance Law Group which represents clients all across the state of Georgia. He is a trial lawyer who represents clients that have been seriously injured in accidents, by police misconduct and by dangerous products.
Mr. Mance is a cum laude graduate of Morehouse College. During his senior year he toured around the country conducting panel discussions about civil rights and social justice. A 2012 graduate of UGA Law School, Mance believes that the law is a tool meant to influence people to help others while creating a safer society that expands the rights of citizens. He has devoted his practice and work to fighting for the seriously injured and down-trodden. |
|
|
|
|
Reforming Juvenile Justice
Judge Lisa Colbert Judge Thomas Cole Judge Roxanne Formey Judge Lindrette Kramer
Sponsored by |
|
|
|
|
|
The Honorable Lisa Colbert |
|
|
The Honorable Roxanne Formey |
|
|
|
The Honorable Thomas Cole |
|
|
The Honorable Lindrette Kramer |
|
|
The April 8 WAG program provided an in-depth look at a major reform of the Georgia juvenile court system that was implemented in 2014 with the support of Republican Governor Nathan Deal. Four distinguished judges who have served or currently serve on the Chatham County Juvenile Court - Lisa Colbert, Thomas Cole, Roxanne Formey and Lindretta Kramer - described the turn away from the costly and ineffective punitive approaches that had prevailed in the past. Before 2014, the Chatham County juvenile court had one of the highest rates of confinement and recidivism in the state. With the training and support from the Anne E. Casey Foundation, the juvenile court completely changed the approach to offending and at risk youth. Currently, when youth land in court, juvenile judges work with police, probation officers, therapists and social workers to treat the whole child with a variety of rehabilitative measures and services.
|
|
|
Sue Kantor was born and raised in Brooklyn until the age of 11, and remembers freedoms and opportunities for roaming — unaccompanied by an adult. Her family moved to Queens when she entered Junior High, and she remained there until she graduated from college. In her junior year at Queens College, CUNY, she met her future husband, Joel, and they were married a few days after graduation. Sue received her Masters in Early Childhood Education, and taught in Head Start in its infancy when it was a summer program.
Sue and Joel spent 32 years in Stamford, CT where local politics became a year round event. Sue was an active worker in campaigns and running a friend’s bid for City Council. For the past few years she has branched out in her level of participation in support of political candidates.
After retiring and moving to the Landings, Sue says, “Joel thought he had gone back to camp, and I felt like a fish out of water. Becoming an Abigails member has enabled me to be who I am without a filter for my beliefs and ideals. Once I got to that place, I began to feel like Savannah could be a second home.”
Sue has served on the Board as Communications Chair; Activities Chair, helping create the Abigails Canasta group; and currently as Social Co-Chair. Over the past year, Sue and Co-Chair Nikki Berdy have been limited in their planning for in person social events due to the pandemic. The Abigails look forward to their stellar talents shining as restrictions begin to ease.
Thank you, Sue, for your commitment and service to Skidaway Abigails. |
|
|
The holidays have passed and now you have time to really enjoy what’s being offered by the Abigails!! WHAT – you haven’t renewed!! You’re not a member yet!! Don’t wait. We have 37 NEW members. I have heard that many of you have already received the vaccine. That’s terrific. That means that when Abigails returns to in-person activities, you’ll be ready; but, be sure you’re a member. Until then, we still have our ZOOM programs. Take a look at our website, www.skidawayabigails.org, and see what might interest you. If you have an idea for an activity and/or program and it’s not listed, let us know. We’re always open to ideas. Keep those memberships coming. Till next month – take care!
Adele Packert Membershop Chair
702-445-5790
apackert@aol.com |
|
|
|
|
Abigails Video ChatMay 4, 11, 18, 25 3 PM Zoom Meetings
Coordinated by Sheila Grossman |
|
|
Are you missing being able to connect with other like-minded women? Please consider joining us for our next Abigails Video Chat. With everything that is going on locally and in the world, from the pandemonium in DC and the Georgia legislatures, to the pandemic that is slowly resolving as many of us have been vaccinated, our lives have been vastly altered. It's great to be able to talk freely about what we are learning and how we are feeling. The group continues to explore how we are dealing with the unique and stressful time in which we are living.
|
|
|
|
|
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, 2016 by Matthew Desmond
|
|
The America We Need Discussion Group
Friday, May 21
9:30 am
Led by Susan Terrio |
|
|
Matthew Desmond is the Maurice P. During Professor of Sociology at Princeton University. His book Evicted won many prizes including a Pulitzer, a National Book Critics Circle Award, a Carnegie Medal for Nonfiction and a PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award for Nonfiction. It was named a Best Book of 2016 by the New York Times, the New Yorker, the Washington Post and the Boston Globe. Matthew Desmond is the author of the award winning book, On the Fireline and the co-author of two books on race. In 2015 he was awarded a MacArthur “Genius” grant.
Our next discussion meeting will be Friday, May 21 at 9:30 a.m. at the home of Sandi Parshall, 11 Bluff Oak Retreat in Palmetto. Please read and be prepared to discuss Part I (8 chapters) of the book. If you are unable or not yet prepared to meet in person we can connect you to the discussion by phone or Zoom. If you have any questions, contact Susan Terrio at terrio.susan@gmail.com. |
On April 16, members of the America We Need Discussion Group went to downtown Savannah to take a "Slaves in the City" tour from Underground Tours of Savannah. Our excellent tour guide was master storyteller Patt Gunn. It was a moving and enlightening experience for all involved. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amend: The Fight for America |
|
Reel Time Wednesday, May 26 4 PM Zoom Meeting
Coordinated by Annette Carnow |
|
|
While the Civil War was won by the Union, much of our knowledge and understanding of the Reconstruction reflects attitudes that the Jim Crow South wished to promote. The new Netflix documentary series Amend, seeks to re-examine our knowledge of that period through the lens of the all important 14th amendment which codified who was to be considered a Citizen, and afforded the hope of a more just society all. Watch the 3rd episode at your convenience and join our Zoom conversation. We welcome your suggestions for relevant films. Please contact: annettecarnow@gmail.com if you have any recommendations.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Canasta Coordinated by Sue Kantor |
|
|
-
We are going to begin in-person Abigails Canasta in May.
We will be taking the following precautions.
- Everyone who wants to play must have had both of their COVID-19 vaccines.
- If there are more than 4, the second table must be spaced away from the other table---let’s stick to a max of 2 tables for now.
- There will be no snacks unless they are pre wrapped. BYO drink. Hand sanitizer will be provided by the host.
- We can decide about wearing or not wearing masks
If you have any questions, please contact Sue Kantor at suegkantor@gmail.com. |
|
|
|
|
While the AM Book Group is still meeting via Zoom, the PM Book Group is meeting in person now. Their May meeting is on May 19 at 3:30 with a 30 minute social hour and then discussion of the book "The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek” by Kim Richardson.
The Abigails book clubs are currently full but we would be happy to start a new one if there is member interest. If you would like to participate in a book club, please email us at chair@skidawayabigails.org.
|
|
|
Message From Your Board of Directors |
|
|
Your 2020-2021 Board of Directors, like you, are proud Abigails members. We are committed to serving the mission, and the members, of Skidaway Abigails. We look forward to a great year with our Abigail friends and sisters in action! |
|
|
The Skidaway Abigails is a nonpartisan organization of progressive, liberal women whose purpose is to provide engagement opportunities for social, educational and advocacy activities to its members. We welcome women who support our values to join us, regardless of residence, race, ethnicity, age, religion or gender identification. What We Value
A strong commitment to women's health and safety including family planning; health education, screening and research; and protection from domestic abuse and the full range of offenses against women, from harassment in the workplace to sex trafficking.
A society that provides services for its poor and its children including basic shelter, food, physical and mental healthcare, quality fact-based education, childcare, pre-K development and college opportunity.
Fair and equitable treatment for the working class including a livable minimum wage; pay equity for women; reducing the gap between the average employee's compensation and corporate executives'; affordable health care; a future in our country for working immigrants; and equitable treatment under the criminal justice system.
Fair and equitable treatment for our Lesbian/Gay/Bi-sexual/ Transgender population in all aspects of our society. We support their right to marry and create a family,
Regulation that respects individual freedom while protecting the community including the licensing and control of firearms; and eliminating unwarranted surveillance, personal data collection and criminal profiling.
Protecting our planet from mankind's impact on earth's climate and precious natural resources ranging from fresh water to the honey bee. We want to better understand opportunities to enhance sustainability.
Being informed and represented on political issues related to our values including voter registration and the right of citizens to vote; the stated positions of local, state and federal candidates; and access to articles and subject-matter-experts on value-related issues. |
|
|
Current Elected Officials Contact Information |
|
|
Governor Brian Kemp
206 Washington St, 111 State Capitol. Atlanta, GA 30334
(404) 656-1776
https://georgia.gov/contact-georgiagov
US Rep. (Dist. 1) Earl "Buddy" Carter
6602 Abercorn St, Ste 105B, Savannah, GA 31405
(202) 225-5831
http://buddycarter.house.gov/contact/
US Senator Jon Ossoff
Hart Senate Office Building, Suite 825 B&C
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3521 (DC)
https://www.ossoff.senate.gov
US Senator Raphael Warnock
Dirksen Senate Office Building, Suite B40D
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-3643 (DC)
https://www.senate.gov/senators/117thCongress/warnock-raphael.htm
State Senator Ben Watson
320-B Coverdell Legislative Office Bldg, Atlanta, GA 30334
(404) 656-7880
ben.watson@senate.ga.gov
State Senator Lester Jackson
110-B State Capitol, Atlanta, GA 30334
(404) 463-5261
lester.jackson@senate.ga.gov
State Representative Jesse Petrea
408-B Coverdell Legislative Office Bldg, Atlanta, GA 30334
(404) 657-1803
jesse.petrea@house.ga.gov |
|
|
If you no longer wish to receive Skidaway Abigails emails please click here. |
|
|
|
