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From our president
Karl Sodergren
Board Meeting
Everyone is Welcome
We are holding a Board meeting on Thursday August 7th 5:30 pm at Rib and Loin, 5946 Brainerd Rd.
Note: Future meetings may be held at watch party site or another restaurant that will provide a private room. Any suggestions? Speaking of watch parties, Jill Greblick will be covering that agenda item.
The primary agenda item is The Golf Tournament. This is our number one fund raising event so please attend. While board members cover agenda items, make motions and vote, board meetings in general are open to all current Chapter members. If an attendee is not a current member, no worries, $25/$35 at the meeting will fix that minor technicality.
Come break bread with the ChattaBamaly!
Greetings Bama Chattanooga!
The main purpose of this letter is to notify the Bama Chattanooga Board of Directors and members at large that we have a meeting coming up on Wednesday January 7th at Ankar’s Hoagies on Brainerd Rd. For those unfamiliar with the location it’s in the same general location as the restaurant where we have held the previous meetings.
Join us to eat at 5:30. The meeting will begin at 6:15. We are hoping the semi private room they offer will be conducive for a meeting as the last location had quite a bit of background noise. If you are not familiar with Ankar’s, it’s well known for the steak-in-a-sack and Onion Rings but they have an assorted offering of sandwiches including the vegetarian Falafel.
Yes, while this is a board meeting it is open to all paid and current members and we encourage general member input.
Preview of major points on the Agenda:
- Review of Golf Tournament (Steve Reno)
- Planning for upcoming Spring Dinner (Alan Johnston)
- Other possible events
- Million Dollar Band stopover next football season (Mona Allday et al)
- Scholarship report (Lara McIntosh)
- Social Media and website
- Watch party updates (Pam Ferguson and Jill Greblick)
Please take a moment to put this on your calendar.
Thank you and Roll Tide!!!
Karl Sodergren
President
Bama Chattanooga
Check out some photos from our 28th Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament here.
Hello ChattaBamaly!
As the new President of the Chattanooga Chapter of the Alabama Alumni Association, allow me to formally introduce myself. My name is Karl Sodergren. One of my proudest life accomplishments is that I graduated from the University of Alabama College of Business in 1988. Raised by two Alabama Graduate parents it was a lifelong dream to one day attend the Capstone of education. However, life almost dished out that I would not attend much less graduate from UA. In the 11th hour things worked out and I was a fortunate out of state student. However, my story is a humble reminder that not everyone who has a Crimson and Houndstooth passion must be a graduate of UA to join and participate in our Chapter. We welcome all that are prone to say “Roll Tide” into the ChattaBamaly fold!
But I digress: Tracy was an In-state Education major at UA and graduated in 1990. She is now retired from Hamilton County Schools. We have lived in the Chattanooga area since the early 90’s and now have two children currently studying at the Capstone. Our son graduated in business from U of Tennessee Chattanooga and is now an Alabama Law student. Our daughter is scheduled to finish her UA undergrad studies in December of this year.
In chapter news: Recently a delegation of chapter officers and board members attended a National Alumni Association two-day workshop on the UA campus in Tuscaloosa. I have to admit the new and old information shared was much like drinking from a fire hose. A special thank you to the others who attended: Pam Ferguson, VP; Jill Greblick, BOD; Alan Johnston, Immediate Past President and of course, Tracy Sodergren. Their involvement will prove to be invaluable as I could not possibly obtain much less retain the voluminous information to bring back and put to work.
We have much work to do. Things are changing rapidly. Most notably how we communicate information with our audience in this technical and fragmented media/information-oriented world. Fortunately, thanks to great past leadership and your dedicated involvement these changes will be relatively easily adapted and incorporated. As always the end of summer and beginning of the school year aided by the excitement of a promising football season is our busiest season as a club.
As most of you know if we boiled down the club to a single purpose it would be providing scholarships to deserving local students attending the University of Alabama. We consistently increase our endowment contributions year after year made possible by first and foremost your paid membership but also by the successful events we host. Our Scholarship committee headed by Lara McIntosh is tasked with identifying these local students. With more and more students from our area choosing to attend Alabama our purpose is never more rewarding.
A special thank you to all of our Board and committee members. We couldn’t do what we do without you. I look forward to another successful year and am honored to be working with you. Also, a special shout out to current webmaster extraordinaire, Bob Brazeal. As webmaster Bob has his pulse on many aspects of the club by the sheer indirect requirements of doing his volunteer job. Thank you, Bob, for keeping me informed and in line during my first whirlwind month as President.
Upcoming events:
1/ Not so much a club specific event but wanted to let you know that the “Nothing but a Winner” documentary about Legendary Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant and the living legend Coach Nick Saban is playing at local theaters one day only on July 31st and only at the 7pm showings. Be sure to reserve your tickets. I reserved mine yesterday and while there were plenty left it’s obvious that it will be sold out in many theatres.
2/ New and Improved Football watch party information and schedule will soon be released. Come cheer on the Crimson Tide with your ChattaBamaly!
3/ Our 28th annual club Golf tournament is coming up on September 22nd at Windstone. The golf tournament committee headed by Steve Reno puts on a consistent high-quality event. I’ve heard from past participants that this is among the best organized tournaments, and I have to agree. Reserve your team now and don’t worry, it’s open to non-Alabama fans too. So, make a foursome of work friends, neighbors or your regular golfing buddies. It’s an opportunity to show them what we are all about. The tournament prizes are generous. Last year we even had a hole in one $10,000 contest winner. It could be you this year. The silent auction and live auction are always fun.
4/ Speaking of Documentaries be looking for an announcement soon. The ChattaBama Executive Committee is ironing out details for a one day only showing of “Do Right”. Another Documentary about yet another football coaching legend, Gene Stallings, and his life philosophy brought about by his love and special relationship with his late special needs son John Mark. I have seen the film and without giving away the plot Coach Stallings is quoted after learning that his newborn son had Downs Syndrome “I prayed to God that he would change Johnny, but he changed me”. Don’t miss this life changing documentary. More details forthcoming.
Much more is in the works, but we can’t do it without your membership and involvement. If you’ve not already joined or renewed, please do so now by visiting ChattaBamaClub.com
Come join the ChattaBamaly!
Roll Tide!!!
Karl Sodergren
President
ChattaBamaClub
Website Support
Our new website has been active for some time now and is getting great feedback.
We don’t spend a lot of time on the upkeep of the site but we’d like to have additional people set up to help maintain the website and Facebook.
Let us know through the Volunteer Form if you are interested in being part of the website support team.
You don’t need experience because I can teach you what you need to know. If you have experience then you can probably teach me!
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