Your Communications Team hopes you enjoy your new logo, dancers, and designs in Abigails communications. We also hope you will enjoy, and nominate, fellow members for our new Member Spotlight feature. Our email address is abigailscommunication@gmail.com

To consolidate our communications, in addition to the monthly newsletter you will receive a Weekly Activities Guide every Friday. This will allow you to learn about and sign-up for our programs and activities and will replace the individual event announcements we have been sending.

Comm Chairs: Anne Boynton & Sheila Stallings

IT Chair: Sheila Grossman

President's Message

Welcome to the start of the Skidaway Abigails 2020-2021 year. We are in unprecedented times that call for creativity and flexibility, as well as patience, compassion, and understanding. As an organization our members and our board have been stepping up to the challenges facing us with grace and determination. We have opportunities to stay active and engaged through the use of new and emerging technologies, coupled with the hard work of our members, to find topics and programs to keep us informed and connected.

In March, only a few short months ago, I thought zoom was a verb that meant to travel very quickly or to change from a long shot on a camera to a close-up or vice versa. Now Zoom has a whole different meaning. It is the vehicle through which we can socially connect and be together while maintaining our physical distance. Our Zoom Video Chats on Tuesday afternoons have become very popular, and we were able to attend two meetings offered by the Hamiltons. Our book clubs and discussion groups have also been able to meet on their regular schedules, providing some stability in these uncertain times.

Creativity was operating in full force as our communications team, working with Carolyn Zalesne, created a fresh new look for us with a new logo and a re-designed website.

I hope you are all able to join us when we offer our first program of the year presented by WAG, Women Advocating for Georgians, who will present a pre-election primer to help us understand how the results of the 2020 election will shape the lives of Americans. The program will be led by Common Cause executive director Aunna Dennis, and WAG representatives will outline the platforms and positions of candidates in major Georgia races.

We are grateful for the new ways we have learned to connect remotely, and we will keep a mix of the old and the new when, hopefully very soon, we can once again meet in person.

I look forward to seeing you at Zoom chats, discussion groups, book club meetings, Reel Time and other events on the horizon.

Betsy Beekman

Upcoming Events

The 2020 Election: What's at Stake?

Aunna Dennis, Executive Director, Common Cause Georgia

Thursday, September 10

7:00 PM Zoom meeting

Presented by WAG (Women Advocating for Georgians) the advocacy arm of Skidaway Abigails

What's at Stake in this 2020 election? Plenty! Leading off Abigails 2020-21 program season, WAG presents a pre-election primer to help us understand better just how the results of this election will shape the lives of Americans dealing with health care, the unprecedented pandemic, racial justice, the right and opportunity to vote – and democracy itself.

The program will be led by Aunna Dennis, Executive Director of Common Cause Georgia, a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to “Putting Power Back in the Hands of Georgians.” Common Cause uses coalition building, lobbying, litigation, grassroots organizing, research, and policy development to inform voters and hold public officials accountable and responsive to the citizens of Georgia.

In addition to Aunna, WAG representatives will outline the platforms and positions of candidates in major Georgia races.

This Zoom program is open to all Abigails and Hamiltons members. Because space is limited, we suggest you register ASAP by clicking on the button below.

Skidaway Hamiltons

Program Invitation

Chief Jeff Hadley,

Chatham County Police

Tuesday, September 15

4 pm, Zoom Meeting

Chief Hadley will provide an update on the rebirth of the Department following the de-merger of the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department. He will discuss issues like Use of Force Guidelines and Police Accountability in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death and will describe the impact of Covid-19 on the management of the force. The Chatham County Police Department service area includes Skidaway Island.

The meeting is open to all members of Skidaway Hamiltons and Skidaway Abigails. To register, please click on the button below.

Member Spotlight

Carolyn Zalesne

The Abigails Communications Team is pleased to feature Carolyn Zalesne in our first “Member Spotlight”. Carolyn has generously gifted us with her expertise and graphic design skills to create our fabulous new Abigails logo, to design our Abigails communications, and to assist us with the design and launch of our new website. An Abigails member, Carolyn has a clear sense of the organization’s values and mission and brings that awareness to every aspect of the design process. A talented graphic designer for web-based and print presentations, she is also “The IT Girl”.

For the last year Carolyn has been co-writing and designing a book, soon to be released. With a foreword from Billie Jean King, it is a memoir of a former United States top-10 professional tennis player and how the lessons he learned on the court became lessons for success off the court.

Thanks for sharing your skills Carolyn!

To learn more visit carolynzalesne.com or http://theitgirlwebsite.com

Activities

In honor of the passage of the 19th Amendment, the Abigails will take an in-depth look this month, in both the America We Need Discussion Group and Reel Time Film Group, into how women have struggled and fought to win the right to cast their ballots.

Regardless of whether you choose to read or watch or do both, we hope you will learn about this long and important struggle, join in our conversations, and celebrate by voting.

The America We Need Discussion Group

Friday, September 4 and 25

9:30 am

Zoom Meeting

Coordinated by Annette Carnow

The America We Need discussion group will use as their text the Special Section from the New York Times from August 16, 2020. You can access it online at: www.nytimes.com/spotlight/women-suffrage-100. You will receive specific assignments for each session after you register (click button below).

Reel Time Film Group

Wednesday, September 23

4:00 pm

Zoom Meeting

Coordinated by Annette Carnow

The Reel Time film group will view the new 2-part documentary The Vote. It is episode 1 & 2 of the broadcast The American Experience (season 32) and can be accessed either On Demand thru PBS or on your computer, tablet, or smart phone by downloading the PBS app. To register for this discussion please click the button below.

Abigails Video Chat

September 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

4:00 pm

Zoom Meeting

Coordinated by Sheila Grossman

Please join us for our ongoing Abigails Video Chats. We continue to explore how we are dealing with the unique and stressful time in which we are living. How are we feeling about what is going on and what advice do we have for each other?

To register for the next Video Chat, click on the button below. You can register for subsequent sessions through our Weekly Activities Guide. If you have specific ideas of topics you would like to discuss, please send them to sheilagrossman@comcast.net.

Canasta

Coordinated by Sue Kantor

Over the last year or two we have gathered a great group of women for Abigails Canasta. Our lives are different now. Five of us have formed a group and we have been playing online for the last few months.

If forming a group sounds good--—gather your own group of Abigails and/or send me your names, and as soon as there are 4 or 5 women, I will form the group and you are off and running. Each new group will function autonomously. Choose your own day and time; no shopping for snacks or wondering if you have the cards, the shuffler, the tray or the extra table!

If any of you are interested in playing virtually please feel free to contact me and I will be glad to help with the process and share what we have learned from using Canasta Junction. suegkantor@gmail.com.

Book Clubs

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.

Announcements

The Glorias: Abigails in the movies!

Last year I was contacted about participating in the making of a movie here in Savannah - called The Glorias - which is about Gloria Steinem. A number of members of Abigails participated as extras. It was a fun day!

The Glorias is shifting from a theatrical release and heading straight to Amazon Prime Video. Directed by Julie Taymor, the non-traditional film chronicling the life of iconic activist Gloria Steinem is set to stream exclusively on Prime Video starting September 30. This decision was partly based on getting the movie in the public domain before the election.

I am sure Abigails will want to see themselves all dressed up in their 1977 best outfits! The biggest thrill for me was seeing Bette Midler who also stars in the movie. To see an interview between Gloria Steinheim and the producer, Julie Taymor, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IB1-BpDYfA

Rosemary Mackey

Membership

Welcome to the opening of the Skidaway Abigails 2020-2021 program year. Althought this year is looking quite different from last year, we are planning some interesting programs, via Zoom, for everyone to enjoy. We are conducting book clubs, discussion groups, and our Reel Time film group virtually.

For many of us, Abigails has been a llifeline in these troubling times and we will continue to offer ways for our members to connect with each other in meaningful ways.

We have instituted a new software system that enables us to manage all facets of the Abigials' activities, including membership. As with any new system, there is a learning curve. I hope you will be patient with me as I too, am learning.

Notices have been sent out periodically to remind members to renew and pay online with a credit card with only a few keystrokes. However, if you encounter difficulties, please don't hesitate to contact me at apackert@aol.com. If you prefer to pay by check, please mail to:

Iris Dayoub

18 Modena Drive

Savannah, GA 31411-1000

Please keep the renewals coming. It's important that we keep our group of progressive, liberal women strong during these difficult times.

Adele Packert

Membership Chair

Click to Join or Renew

Message From Your Board of Directors

Your new 2020-2021 Board of Directors, like you, are proud Abigails members. We are committed to serving the mission, and the members, of Skidaway Abigails. You’ll be hearing more about individual Board members in future newsletters. We look forward to a great year with our Abigail friends and sisters in action!

President

Betsy Beekman

elizbeek@gmail.com

Vice-President

Susan Terrio

terrio.susan@gmail.com

Secretary

(vacant)

Treasurer

Iris Dayoub

iris.dayoub@gmail.com

Programming Co-Chairs

Pat Wallace

Bruceandpat71@aol.com

Betsey Anderson

betsey.andersen@gmail.com

Social Co-Chairs

Nikki Berdy

nberdy@aol.com

Sue Kantor

suegkantor@gmail.com

Membership

Adele Packert

apackert@aol.com

Activities Chair

Bonnie Kelly

bonniekelly47@gmail.com

Communications Co-Chairs

Anne Boynton

boyntonstudios@comcast.net

Sheila Stallings

cookiestallings@gmail.com

IT Chair

Sheila Grossman

sheilagrossman@comcast.net

Advocacy Chair

Cubby Plonchak

Cubbyplonchak@gmail.com

Ex-Officio/Advisor

Sheila Grossman

sheilagrossman@comcast.net

Mission Statement

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.