Skidaway Abigails l October 2022 |
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To help celebrate the tenth anniversary of Skidaway Abigails, we’re offering monthly quotes and fun facts from the original Abigail. ~ Patty Koch |
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“You cannot be … an inactive spectator. We have too many high-sounding words, and too few actions.” Abigail Adams |
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Abigail Adams’ correspondence with her husband on issues of politics and governance is the most documented of all the First Ladies. She and John Adams penned more than 1,000 letters, many brimming with “high-sounding words,” to each other. |
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Fall is officially here and we are excited about the line up of programs, field trips, and social activities in the works for the year. Plan to attend our October meeting with Dr. Maxine Bryant (see below). We began the year with a crowd of over one hundred for the Midterm Madness program on September 13 featuring Rebecca Rolfes and Margaret Coker. If you missed this superb meeting be sure to listen to the recording now available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/PnGO4_L2o7M We had another capacity crowd for our Kick-Off Social at the Sunset Pavilion on September 22. This was the first of more social events for our members including coffee gatherings for new members, pot luck dinners, and holiday celebrations. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the founding of the Abigails. Stay tuned for updates on this important milestone celebration. For those of you who are looking for ways to be involved in our community: Kate Blair, the Executive Director of CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates), has put out a call for volunteers to provide Holiday gifts for the children in foster care in Chatham County. If you haven't participated and want to contribute, please complete this form by October 7th. I look forward to seeing you all. Best Wishes, Susan Terrio President |
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Successful Prison Reintegration: Why is it so difficult, particularly for Black Americans ?
October 13
3:30 PM
Messiah Lutheran Church Co-ordinated by Carolyn DeFrancesco and Shanti Stone |
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From African Kingdoms to Crime Free Housing in Savannah, this presentation will briefly cover the historic journey of Africans in the Americas and the culture they created. Often their culture clashed with systems in the New World – particularly the new order of police or slave patrol. In spite of extreme obstacles, the Africans in America formed a unique culture – Gullah Geechee as they’ve come to be known in Coastal Georgia. This culture of Blacks in America continues to clash with the European power structure in the US. Evidence of this clash is particularly demonstrated in the criminal justice system: arrests, convictions, incarceration, reintegration, and recidivism. The goal of this presentation is to help audience members to better understand the ‘why’ behind the present state of our criminal justice system, specifically reintegration of formerly incarcerated persons.
Dr. Maxine Bryant holds a BS from Ball State University, a MA from Saginaw Valley State University, and a Ph.D. in Human Services from Walden University. All of her degrees have a concentration in Criminal Justice & Corrections.
Dr. Bryant’s research interest specifically focuses on factors contributing to the successful community reintegration of released prisoners. She has written and/or presented on transitional jobs for newly released prisoners, the role of the Black Church in successful offender reintegration, the impact of unaddressed childhood trauma, and barriers to successful offender reintegration.
Dr. Bryant is currently an Assistant Professor in Georgia Southern’s Criminal Justice and Criminology Department. Additionally, she is the Director of the Gullah Geechee Center and the Center for Africana Studies. She is a published author and has received numerous recognitions and honors over the years. In 1994 she was recognized as one of America’s 2000 Notable Women, in 1998 she was listed in the Marquis Who’s Who in the Midwest and in the International Who’s Who of Professionals, and in 2022 the Georgia Associated Press awarded her for her journalism work that shed light on the local Gullah Geechee community. |
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Midterm Madness
Rebecca Rolfes
Margaret Coker
September 13
Co-ordinated by Cindy Gilbert and Betsy McCuller |
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The Skidaway Abigails were excited to present "Midterm Madness" featuring Savannah’s own Rebecca Rolfes and Margaret Coker! Our first program of the new year was very well attended and provocative. The two perceptive experts took different perspectives on the upcoming elections in Georgia and shared their insights about messaging, turnout efforts, and how voters seem to be responding. Changes made to voters’ ability to cast ballots and how voting is monitored were also discussed. The speakers were exceedingly engaging and addressed several questions from the audience at the end of the program.
If you were to able to attend the meeting here is the link to the recording that was made: https://youtu.be/PnGO4_L2o7M |
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ABIGAILS KICK-OFF SOCIAL
Thursday, September 22
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Organized by Social Co-Chairs:
Sue Kantor and Nikki Berdy |
On Thursday, September 22, we welcomed 80 Abigails members to a Kick Off Social at the Sunset Pavilion at Delegal Marina. Approximately a quarter of those attending had joined the Abigails in the last year and many want to get more involved in the organization. Over delicious food and drinks, old friendships were renewed and new ones started. The mood was buoyant as we look forward to the programs and activities that we have planned.
Many thanks to Sue Kantor and Nikki Berdy, co-chairs for social, to Elizabeth Cowell and Sue Stephenson, co-chairs for membership, to Sheila Grossman and Susan Kurtain, co-chairs for IT and all the members of the Board who pitched in to make the evening a smashing success. |
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Sandi Parshall and her husband, Louis Marrero, moved to The Landings from Naples, Florida in 2019. She grew up in the Chicago area and graduated from the University of Missouri. She majored in art and interior design. Much of her working career was in interior design and sales of contract office furniture in the SF Bay Area, managing corporate accounts. As part of her career, Sandi set up and managed the Herman Miller office in Auckland, New Zealand, where she lived for three years. She continued to work for Herman Miller in Seattle, managing the Boeing account.
In 1992 Sandi returned to the Bay Area, married Louis and continued in the office furniture business.
After retiring early in 2001, Sandi and Louis moved to Victoria, BC, Canada and lived there for 10 years before moving to Naples, Florida. While in Victoria, she was a residential interior designer and learned to weave.
Her lifelong passion has been sailing. She started sailing at the age of six. She raced in Chicago and San Francisco Bay over 30 years in everything from dinghies to 45’ sailboats. Sandi and her first husband cruised on their boat from San Francisco to New Zealand and back in 1987. Now here at The Landings, she retired from golf and started racing with The Landings Sailing Club.
Sandi has been the leader of the WAG/Abigails Advocacy team for the past two years. Along with her activities in Abigails, she volunteers with Inspiritus - a charity that is responsible for the resettling of immigrants from Afghanistan and other countries. She, along with Mary Miller Smith, ran a drive to get donations of house goods and furniture for these new residents. Three containers of goods were donated due to the generosity of those at The Landings. Sandi is a member of Kiwanis and recently helped Inspiritus obtain a grant from Kiwanis for its children’s camp program.
Thank you, Sandi, for your dedication to Skidaway Abigails and to our community. |
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Please join us in giving a very warm welcome to Suzan Afifi, Carol Black, Annalisa Engelbach, Sara Hacala, Susan Lilley, Marcy L'Hommedieu, Jacqueline Mahler, Mary Beth McInerney, Susan Mills, Judy Monaco, Elaine O’Toole, Joan Salvati, Alicia Salyer, Libby Waldman-Strugatch, Melinda Tucker and Peg Weihsmann as new members of Abigails. They are looking forward to getting engaged in our programs and meeting our members during upcoming events. On September 20, we took the opportunity to introduce the Abigails organization to those who are new to the Landings by hosting an information table at the New Neighbors Kick-Off event. We had many inquiries about the Education, Social and Advocacy aspects of Abigails’ membership and hope to be welcoming additional members soon. We were delighted to see many of our new members at the event and hear about how important joining our community has been to them. If you know other progressive, liberal women who might be interested in joining Abigails, please refer them to our website for information or have them contact us directly to learn more. We welcome anyone from the Savannah area with like-minded interests. You can also introduce your friends to Abigails by bringing them as a guest to an event for only $10. Whether you are interested in joining or just renewing your membership, this can all be done easily online at skidawayabigails.com. If you encounter any difficulties, please don't hesitate to contact us. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming Abigails events. Elizabeth Cowell and Sue Stephenson, Membership Co-Chairs elizcowe@gmail.com sueostephenson@gmail.com
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Sue Stephenson, Membership Co-Chair and Sheila Grossman, Abigails IT Co-Chair at the New Neighbors Kick-Off event
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Abigails Video ChatSept 27, Oct 11, 15 3 PM Zoom Meetings
Coordinated by Sheila Grossman |
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It's almost election time and our collective anxiety is building! Please consider joining our Video Chat members as we discuss everything that is going on in our crazy world. This fun and interesting group of women connects via Zoom on an almost weekly basis. |
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Abigails Pot Luck Dinners
Sunday October 16 At Members' Homes
Coordinated by Pat Wallace |
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Potluck dinners are back! Come gather ‘round the table at the home of a fellow Abigail with about 8 compatible folks, and enjoy friendly conversation and a delicious dinner in a small group. Our Fall Potluck Dinner will be on Sunday, October 16. Following the pattern most of us learned in New Neighbors, we will have a host and 6 or 7 diners in each home. The host will prepare the entree, and the other Abigails will bring an appetizer, salad, or dessert, as requested by the host. At these events, “Plus Ones” are encouraged - but not required! (In the past, slightly over half the Abigails brought their husbands, and over a third came by themselves.) If this sounds like fun to you (it is!), please register by Monday, October 10 (below). We need 3 vaccinated hosts to accommodate 24 Abigails and their guests. When we get the names of willing hosts, the chair will match the Abigails and their “Plus Ones” to each home. The host will then contact them with inquiries about food allergies, as well as information about the start time, menu contribution requests, and the host’s address. |
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The America We Need Discussion Group
Information on our next meeting will be given in the next newsletter.
Co-ordinated by Annette Carnow |
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Reel Time
Information on our next meeting will be given in the next newsletter.
Coordinated by Annette Carnow |
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Canasta Coordinated by Sue Kantor |
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It is great to see so many canasta players. Our Friday Canasta group is closed for now but we can form a new group with ease. You can decide on your own day of the week and how you would like to organize—who plays and who is hosting. You can also decide if you would like to teach other women who will then become part of your group. I would be happy to help get you started. Six players for a new group are ideal, four to play and two on a waitlist or to be a sub. Please let me know. Sue Kantor suegkantor@gmail.com
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If you would like to be part of forming an Abigails Mah-Jongg group, please let me know. Everything is up for grabs—time to play, how to organize and where to host. Those of us who play Abigails Canasta have formed many new relationships and look forward to Fridays when we gather to play, laugh and talk about the state of the world. I am looking forward to playing with you!
Sue Kantor
suekantor@gmail.com |
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The AM Book Group meets at 10 AM on the third Wednesday of each month. It currently is full but I would be happy to hear from anyone who would like to join the wait list. Please contact Sheila Jannino at sjannino11@gmail.com. |
The PM Book Group will be meeting on the third Wednesdayat 3:30 PM. If you would like to join this group, please email paaron@comcast.net. |
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Message From Your Board of Directors |
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Your 2022-2023 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! |
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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. |
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Current Elected Officials Contact Information |
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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 |
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