Chapter Minutes - East Tennessee Chapter
July 12, 2008
The East Tennessee Berry Alumni Chapter met at the Flatwater Grill in Oak Ridge, TN at noon on July 12,2008. The surrounding scenery was beautiful and the weather was fantastic! This combination made it extremely pleasant to get together with Berry Friends. Everyone seemed to be delighted with the food and the generous servings. Our special guest from Berry was Chris Waters, Alumni Director.
In the absence of Luci Bell president the incoming president, Joanna Richardson opened the business meeting. She began by asking Chris waters to take charge of the installation of newly nominated officers. New officers are: President Joanna Richardson, Vice president Luci Bell; Secretary, Mary Guthrie; Treasurer, Grace Johnson; and Historian, Frances Barnett.
Joanna asked that Mary Guthrie, Secretary, read the minutes of our last meeting. They were read and approved by a majority vote.
Joanna then asked Grace Johnson, Treasurer, give the treasurer’s report. Grace had earlier passed a basket for today’s donations which totaled $76. At our last meeting, Luci had stressed that our chapter send $100 donation to berry for a senior table party during Reunion Zero. She said it was too late to send it this year, but that Grace could go ahead and send it for next year, which she did. The current balance in out treasury is $501.36.
Thirty-one cans of food were donated today. Peggy Tillery will take foods to the Second Harvest Food Pantry in Knoxville; there they will be distributed to the needy. This was a suggestion made by Elizabeth Shirley at our May meeting. We would like to continue this program at future meetings.
Chris Waters, Alumni Director, discussed many of the recent events taking place at Berry. She emphasized that this year is the 100th birthday of the Berry Alumni Association. She informed us that Clayton Hinson, Berry’s first graduate, started it in 1908. She said that there are over 120,000 now living who are members of the Berry Alumni Association.
Chris was excited as she told us that approximately 600 were present during alumni weekend this year and 170 or more attended alumni work week. She spoke of some of the work crews and the tremendous jobs which they accomplished, such as re-graveling walking trails, location and uncover an unknown fire pit near the house of dreams. She also mentioned the fantastic job the kitchen crew did. She wanted us to be aware that Dr. Briggs and his wife helped many of the crews.
Chris enlightened us with information about the new dorms which will house 345 students and are being built near the barns on the lower campus. They are to be ready for occupancy by august 2009. the adjacent emory barns will be renovated and will be used as a student center. In the meantime, she spoke of other dorm renovations taking place on campus. She said a projected enrollment of 2,400 is anticipated she also said that there will be a Berry softball team.
Chris encouraged us to come to Mountain Day. She said there were more students then ever before in last grand march. She said it will be a 3 day affair. In the meantime she stressed that we attend Founder’s Day in Jan. of 2009. She said there will be 3 days of activities. Instead of one day previously.
Joanna thanked Chris for enlightening us on the activities at berry and thanked everyone for attending.
The meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted
Mary Shurling Guthrie Secretary