*UGA Educator Appreciation Program If you are a teacher or administrator who graduated from UGA, the Alumni Association wants to recognize you. Educators in the Clarke/Oconee and surrounding areas contact Wanda Darden, those in the metro Atlanta area, contact Rosemary Brown and the Association will organize a UGA Educator Appreciation event at your school. UGA Alumni are Needed to Volunteer! The annual Spring Classic at Turner Field is set for May 12, 2009. The UGA Baseball team will play the Georgia Tech Baseball team to benefit Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. UGA Alumni volunteers are needed to help the children's hospital promote ticket sales to the game in our UGA-GT Challenge for Children's. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Dave Winokur events manager for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Dave.Winokur@choa.org. Georgia Tech won the volunteer portion of this competition for the last 5 years! UGA, this is our time to volunteer for the kids, and win the competition! Alumni Association welcomes new Multicultural Coordinator The Alumni Association is pleased to introduce Frankie Grooms '07 as our new Multicultural Coordinator. She received a B.S. and is now pursuing a master's in public health at the University. She is enthusiastic about increasing Alumni Association membership among multicultural alumni as well as strengthening minority alumni relations within the Association. If you would like to contact her, you can email her at fwg475@uga.edu. Campus Visit Alumni Association Executive Director Deborah Dietzler visits with the Director of UGA's Child and Family Development Office, Dr. Gene Brody. UGA Alumni Association 2009 Travel Preview brochure Wins Award Our 2009 Travel Preview brochure has won a CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) Award of Excellence and is a finalist for a CASE Grand Award. The Alumni Association World Tours Brochure was produced by graphics designer Mary Andrews in UGA's Office of Public Affairs as a direct mail item for the Alumni Association. Great work and congratulations, Mary. Calling all UGA Alumni Alternative Spring Break at UGA will be sending more than 200 college students to 14 cities across the U.S. to spend a substance-free week serving the community. As ASB operates on a donations-based budget, many of our trips are still looking for meal donations. Pizzas delivered to housing sites, meals cooked by donors, or monetary meal donations are all greatly appreciated. Trips range from 10 - 20 students. Our trips will be traveling to the following cities: New York City, Boston, Chicago, St. Louis, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Mobile, Orlando, Port St. Joe, Fla., Houston, Clinton, S.C., Blacksburg, Va., Asheboro, N.C., and New Orleans. If you live in or around one of these cities and would love to help a group of service-minded college students trying to make a difference, please send your information to Executive Coordinator Cari Smith, and check us out at www.uga.edu/asb.

Click here to view your local Chapter or Club activities and regional contacts. For more information about UGA Alumni Association Regional Programs, contact Tami Gardner, director of regional programs and alumni tours via e-mail or by phone at 800-606-8786. Monthly Gatherings All alumni and friends of the University are welcome to any of the monthly or weekly gatherings. Augusta Chapter - Bulldogs After Business Hours Boston Club - UGA Alumni Social Hour Chicago Club - SEC Social Hour Cobb County Chapter - Bulldogs After Business Hours Denver Club - SEC/ACC Social Hours Emerald Coast of Florida Club - UGA Alumni Gathering Jacksonville Chapter - UGA Alumni Social Hour Nashville Chapter - Lunch Club Washington DC Chapter - First Thursday Dinner Club   Upcoming Chapter & Club Events For details about the following events, click on your Chapter or Club from dropdown menu on the Regional Programs page. Athens Area Chapter March 5 - Reorganization Meeting. If you are interested in being involved with the Athens Area alumni organization please register for this gathering by clicking here. Boston Club March 13 - 14 - Boston / NYC Alumni Ski Trip at the Killington Ski Resort. For more details contact Keane Johnson '04, '05 & '07. Coweta & Fayette Counties Chapter Feb. 19 - Third Thursday Social Hour. For more information, click here. Columbus, OH Club Feb. 21 - Bulldogs & Grits with Mike Frank. For details and to register, click here. Denver Chapter Feb. 21 - SEC Social Hour. For location and details, click here. Fulton County Chapter Feb. 14 - Georgia vs. Florida Basketball Gamewatching and Trivia Night. For more information, click here. Feb. 19 - Mardi Gras Event. For more information, click here. Feb. 21 - Volunteering w/ the Atlanta Community Food Bank. To get involved, please contact the Fulton Chapter Community Service Coordinator, Emily Robinson. Greater Augusta Area Chapter Feb. 19 - 3rd Annual Birthday Bash. To learn more, click here. Hall County, Ga. Chapter Feb. 26 - Food & Wine Tasting Event at Grapes & Hops Bar & Bistro. Come sample an exquisite wine selection and delectable nibblers prepared by Chef Kris Griffin. For details, click here. March 15 - Paw Painting. Show your artistic Bulldog side by coming to Elmo's Pizza on the Square in Gainesville for this family friendly event. For details, click here. Jacksonville Chapter Feb. 21 - Tour of the San Sebastian Winery. For details, click here. March 14 - Gate River Run. For more information, contact Ashley Dains '02. Louisville, KY Club Feb. 13 - UGA vs. Kentucky gymnastics meet. For more information, click here. March 4 - UGA at Kentucky Men's Basketball. For more information on how to register, click here. Metro Atlanta Chapters Feb. 21, 2009 - Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs, 2 p.m., Atlanta Civic Center Miami / Ft. Lauderdale Club Feb. 24 - UGA Alumni Night at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships. For more information, click here. March 14 - Habitat for Humanity Project in Broward County. To sign up to help, contact Veronica DePadro '87. Dawg Tags - Show Pride on Your Ride!! If you live in Tennessee, North Carolina or Virginia you now have the opportunity to outfit your car, truck, trailer, or RV with Dawg Tags. The UGA Alumni Association has launched a campaign to bring Georgia license plates to these three states. The challenge is that a specific number of tags must be pre-purchased by April 3 before the first plate can be made. To learn more about Dawg Tags and to complete an application form click here. Help Wanted: Calling the Dogs The impact of the UGA Alumni Chapters and Clubs is enormous. Through our Regional Programs, graduates can assist in the UGA admissions efforts in their areas, participate in local community service projects, gather for networking opportunities, celebrate their love for UGA and so much more. Currently, we are looking for graduates who would like to help establish an alumni organization in the St. Simons Island (Glynn, Camden & McIntosh counties) area, as well as graduates who would like to lead the Winston-Salem Chapter. If you are interested please contact Tami Gardner Director of Regional Programs and Alumni Tours with the UGA Alumni Association. New Chapter and Club Leaders Welcome to the following new alumni chapter and club leaders who will be heading up the Alumni Association's efforts in their areas. If you would like to learn more or get involved, please contact them directly. Columbia, SC Chapter - Jordan Shaw '06 Henry County Chapter - Beth Cook Ely '86 and Keisha Foster '96 Lexington, KY Club - Ryan C. Daugherty '02 Louisville, KY Club - Nicole Ferguson '02, '04 Lowndes County Club - Amy Welch '07 Houston, TX Club - Beth Purcell '00 Mobile, AL Club - Jordan Gerheim '01

For more information about upcoming events or activities in Athens, please contact Event Planner Wanda Darden or call 1-800-606-8786. *Men's Basketball The UGA Alumni Association has a block of 50 tickets for two men's basketball games. You must be a UGA Alumni Association member to purchase tickets for the game. March 7, 2009 vs. South Carolina @ 4 p.m. Register by clicking here. Gymnastics The UGA Alumni Association has a block of 75 tickets for the Feb. 28 Georgia/Florida gymnastics meet. You must be a UGA Alumni Association member to purchase tickets. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets. *UGA Alumni Association 2nd annual 5k Run/Walk Mark March 14, 2009 on your calendar and start training for the UGA Alumni Association Dawg Trot 5k Run/Walk. A fun run will start at 7:30 a.m. for children 6 and under and the 5k will start at 8 a.m. For information about being a sponsor, contact Wanda Darden. The UGA Alumni Association invites you to start your day with fellow Association members at a Bulldog Breakfast Club with guest host Reverend G. Richard Hoard, former member of the UGA baseball team, and author of Alone among the Living and The Race Before Us. Tuesday, February 17, 2009 7:45 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Wray-Nicholson House

For events held at the UGA Alumni Association Atlanta Alumni Center, the address is Atlanta Financial Center, 3333 Peachtree Road, N.E., South Tower, Suite 210, Atlanta, GA. To RSVP to any of the events below or for more information, please call 404-266-2622 or e-mail Atlanta Programs Coordinator Chardina Choate '05. Atlanta Alumni Center The UGA Alumni Association's Atlanta Alumni Center is the perfect place for your business meeting. The Alumni Associaton's staff will help you plan your meeting from start to finish. Enjoy local catering in a familiar and professional environment. To plan your meeting, contact Realenn Watters '04 or 404-266-2622. UGA Read Aloud at Drew Charter School Take the opportunity to give your time with UGA at Drew Charter School. The East Lake Foundation, Atlanta Public Schools, and parents in the community of East Lake opened Drew Charter School in 2000, the city of Atlanta's first charter school. Drew Charter's mission is to serve the children and families of East Lake, a predominately low-income community, by providing a learning environment that emphasizes high achievement and character development. Volunteers will be assigned to a classroom and reading to their class. There are two dates to choose from. Volunteer for one or both! Drew Charter School 301 East Lake Blvd. Atlanta, GA 30317 404-687-0001 8:15 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18 Wednesday, March 11 UGA Alumni Gathering at Woodfire Grill Restaurant Join UGA Alumni and friends at for great food, fun and networking at Woodfire Grill. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres will be provided. Guests are responsible for the cost of their own beverages. Wednesday, February 25, 2009 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. 1782 Cheshire Bridge Road Atlanta, Georgia 30324 Phone: 404-347-9055 www.woodfiregrill.com Please click here to register. *UGA's Entrepreneurs and Innovation Summit Sponsored by the UGA Alumni Association and the Terry College of Business Entrepreneurship Program, this program is designed to Foster innovation among entrepreneurs as one of the keys to restoring economic growth. Our "Entrepreneurs and Innovation" Summit is aimed at providing attendees with insight into the innovation process as well as practical advice about raising capital, protecting intellectual property and creating a culture that promotes innovative thinking.

For information about UGA Alumni Association Student Programs please contact Assistant Director of Membership - Student and Young Alumni Programs Julie Cheney '99 at 706-542-2251 or visit the Association's Student Programs website. *Relocation Seminar Feb. 12 - 6:30 p.m. - RM 275 MLC Open to all UGA students - Are you moving for a job or internship? Nicole Lechene, Associate Director of Alumni Career Services, will help you learn how to make the transition to a new city a little easier! SAA members will receive a special gift! *Spring Ring Week Feb. 16 -20 Spring Ring Week at the UGA Bookstore and the MLC (2nd floor) 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You have to earn it to wear it. If you have 60+ credit hours, then you are eligible to purchase your UGA Ring. The class ring speaks the honor and traditions of the University when you wear it. Finally getting a ring is itself a tradition. SAA members receive $25.00 off. *Graduation Celebration Feb. 24 - 26 UGA Bookstore 10am to 4pm UGA students graduating in May can order their caps, gowns, invitations and diploma frames. Senior Class Trip Info Session Feb. 25th - MLC ROOM 268 - 4 p.m. Drop in when you have some time to find out about the UGA Alumni Association Senior Class trip! Click here for more information. *SAC Open Enrollment March 1 - This is the premier student leadership group of the UGA Alumni Association. Please visit the website for information on applying and setting up an interview time. Interviews will take place the first week of April. Membership of the Student Alumni Council must be members of the Student Alumni Association. For more information about SAC click here.

The UGA Alumni Association has formed a Young Alumni Program to engage the Association's growing young alumni population in the greater Atlanta area. For more information, please contact Atlanta Programs Coordinator Chardina Choate '05. Nicole Hunnicutt '97 With 12 years of experience in the agency and corporate PR world, Young Alumni Council member Nicole Hunnicutt '97 has recently launched her own communications agency. Lemonade-PR provides strategic vision and tactical know-how in public relations, social media and writing by partnering with other PR agencies looking for a trusted, reliable extension of their team, as well as companies seeking top talent at affordable rates. Hunnicutt is passionate about mom marketing and consumer-focused PR for lifestyle brands, retail, restaurants and entertainment. She blogs on these topics here. *Young Alumni Volunteer Opportunity at the Atlanta Community Food Bank Join UGA Young Alumni at the Atlanta Community Food Bank Product Rescue Center. Volunteers will be sorting, inspecting, and packing donated items to provide for more than 800 non-profit partner agencies in Metro Atlanta and the North Georgia area. Saturday, March 7, 2009 1pm - 4pm Space is limited so registration is required. For more information and to register, please click here.

For information about Multicultural events please contact 800-606-8766 or visit the Association's Multicultural Programs website. Download the latest diversity newsletter. *Hanging with the Hoop Dogs Join Multicultural Alumni and friends March 7 at the Wray-Nicholson House for snacks and refreshments before the South Carolina basketball game. For more information and to register, click here.

Ginn Legacy Mary Frances Ginn, a senior from Cartersville, is a fourth generation Bulldog from a family which includes more than a dozen UGA alumni. Her parents and both her maternal and paternal grandparents are graduates along with a host of uncles, aunts and cousins. Her UGA legacy began in 1911 when her great grandfather, Candler M. Ginn of Royston, Ga., enrolled in the University. He had two brothers, Stark, ’13, and Rucker, ’14, who also came to UGA and were stars on the UGA baseball team. According to Mary Frances’s late grandfather, Candler’s son Olin W. Ginn, ’42, Stark hit the first home run ever registered in old Sanford Field. Olin retired from Georgia Power Company and is a former president of the College of Agriculture Alumni Association, and he served for years on the Board of the Ag School’s Eterna Club. His wife is the former Suzanne Merk, ’49, of Athens, who presently lives in Stone Mountain. Olin and Suzanne had four sons and a daughter – all UGA graduates. Their first son, Candler, is Mary Frances’ father. He graduated in ’80 in Ag Engineering and is with Georgia Power Co. in Atlanta. He lives in Cartersville with his wife, the former Susan Rankin, BA , ‘79, of Macon, Ga., whose father, the late G. Scott Rankin, graduated from Forestry School in 1950. Mary Frances’ uncle, Olin and Suzanne’s second son, Charles, graduated from Terry College of Business in 1980. He is retired from AT&T and now teaches in Forest Park. He has two daughters who earned degrees from UGA this year. Amy received her AB from Terry College in May and Allison her Masters in Forestry in December. Her uncle, John Olin Ginn, ‘82, married the former Wendy Whipple who graduated in 1983. He is an accountant in Knoxville, Tenn. Olin and Suzanne’s fourth son, Franklin J. Ginn, ’85, is County Manager for Franklin County, Ga. He is married to the former Robin Tardy of Athens who received her Masters degree in Education in 1996. Her aunt, Frances, Olin and Suzanne’s only daughter, received both her undergraduate degree, ’86. and Masters, ’90, in Education from UGA. Her in-laws, Spurgeon (’63) and Mary Frances (’64) graduated from the University. One other ancestor who graduated from UGA was her great-great uncle Julian C. Hill who received his B.S. in Commerce in 1936. In addition, her great uncle, Harry Merk, Suzanne’s brother, graduated in 1957 with a degree in Business Administration. He now resides in Waycross, Ga.

UGA's Greatest Generation In an effort to recognize the "Greatest Generation" World War II veterans, the UGA Alumni Association is sponsoring a special project which will include collecting "war stories" from alumni, staff, and faculty who have personal memories from the war years. If you have a memory you would like included in this project, please send it via email to Claude McBride '55 or mail to Claude at the UGA Alumni Association, Wray-Nicholson House, 298 Hull St., Athens, GA 30602.

Back issues: January | December | September | August | June/July | May | April | March | February | January Tell us your thoughts! The UGA Alumni Association encourages you to send in your feedback, suggestions and comments on our publications. Send any remarks to Stan Jackson. THANKS FOR READING! Assistant Director of Communications Stan Jackson '06 ugastan@uga.edu   Pass this e-newsletter along to other UGA alums who may not be receiving it. Encourage them to join the UGA Online Community and keep up-to-date with all the UGA Alumni Association is doing for alumni and the University of Georgia.