Developed our website, www.bpwnorthfulton.org, to reflect meeting information, member benefits, club’s history, calendar, by-laws, resources/links (BPW-USA/GA, Member’s companies and organizations), BPW announcements, i.e. Women’s Equality Day.

Monthly meetings promoted professional development and centered around issues that involve, educate and empower women in order to improve their work-life balance and careers:

	June - Network Diva and Author, Bonnie Ross-Parker spoke about the empowerment through networking.
	July - Management consultant and President of PoleStar Innovations, David Polevoy, spoke about how to harness the energy of employees to create new self worth.
	August - Retta Shealey provided valuable information and varied strategies for personal awareness, protection and safety and whose successful career spans various leadership, sales, marketing and promotions, operations and event management roles with AFLAC, Warner Bros., AT&T and Lucent Technologies.
	September - The Atlanta League of Women Voters co-hosted a Candidate Forum consisting of the candidates for Fulton County Sheriff, Danny Stephens and Myron Freeman.  Kim Neighbors, President of the Atlanta League of Women Voters and NFBPW President Carolyn Gathercole presided over the meeting. Sally FitzGerald moderated the forum.
	October - For National Business Women’s Week, our club honored the accomplishments of women in the workforce. Fulton County Commissioner Karen Handel spoke and shared her story regarding her work experience and what directed her to her career. Also present were young career women Karen Pope, Government Affairs Representative for EMC; Tedra Cheatham, Director of Economic Development of N. Fulton Chamber of Commerce; and Jo LeGood, Vice Counsul, Public Policy for the British Consulate General. Ms. LeGood was unable to attend due to a family emergency.
	November - Our caterer Mark McAnish of Mac's Menu's was invited to show how to prepare some exciting and delicious holiday recipes. However, he was unable to attend, and Mark Hall, Financial Advisor for Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, spoke to enlighten the folks about savings and investments.
	December - Our Holiday Celebration with special guest, Roslyn Ridgeway, BPW/USA President-Elect was held at Altobello’s in Alpharetta. Roslyn’s two nieces, Courtney and Erica Ridgeway also attended. They are Rosebud McCormick Scholarship winners.
	January – Our club’s NBWW/WOMENOMICS event included a panel of three health professionals, Dr. Christine Gustafson, Dr. Michelle L. Mollard and Barbara Peters, RN, LPC, NCC, which broadened our perspectives about integrative medicine of the mind, body and spirit.
	February –Carole Madan of Mamma Nature, Inc., professional landscaper with 40 years experience, shared with us the do’s and don’ts of planting spring gardens and flowers.  Following the presentation, the members of the 2005-06 nominating committee.
	March – In conjunction with the Piedmont Chapter Sons of the American Revolution, the American Legion, and the VFW, our club sponsored a book signing with Col. Jack Jacobs, Congressional Medical of Honor recipient.
	April – The NFBPW Annual Meeting, led by President Carolyn Gathercole reviewed the status of the club’s Golden Circle Decathlon Program, which include NBWW/Womenomics, membership retention/recruitment, Young Careerist Program, BPW Foundation, PAC/GOTV, year-end officer transition.
	May – Our installation dinner was held at Merlot Restaurant in Alpharetta. Newly installed officers are President Peggy Titus Hall. President-Elect Cindy Overton, Vice President Membership, Rita Gray; Vice President-Programs Christy Nilsson, Secretary Amy Darling, and Treasurer Rebecca Smith.

Our club unanimously approved joining the Atlanta Women’s Alliance in conjunction with BPW’s “Turn It Up A Notch” campaign. The Alliance is a local forum for women’s and girl’s organizations.

Issues Management Officer Cindy Overton submitted a letter asking Georgia Freshman Congressman Tom Price to support and vote in favor of ERA. Congressman Price represents District 6 that is supported by many members of our club. Rita Bauer hand delivered the letter.

Our Christmas project, in conjunction with the local MOM’s Club, collected new clothing and toys for a Pre-K class. At their holiday celebration, each child received a new outfit, a new toy, underwear or socks and stocking with a coloring book and some candy. It was a wonderful reminder of what the holiday season is all about!

To compliment BPW/USA’s membership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 2004-05 N. Fulton BPW President, Carolyn Gathercole, successfully coordinated a meeting between BPW-USA President-Elect Rosalyn Ridgeway and Ms. Reta Lewis, a representative of General Counsel for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, while Roslyn was in DC attending late January meetings.  As a side bar, Ms. Lewis has subsequently resigned her position at the U.S. Chamber to pursue other professional opportunities.

The board unanimously elected to change the cost of attending our meetings to include $5 for first timers and $8 for all others.

We made available membership applications at every meeting.  Between May 2004 and March 2005, we lost 3 members, but gained 5. To date, there are 23 paid members in the N. Fulton BPW Club. 

During the course of the year, the club’s secretary was unable to continue her duties for personal reasons.  The club’s President Elect, Cindy Overton, graciously stepped in.

Invitation to attend Georgia State BPW Conference and BPW-USA National Conference were consistently announced at our local meetings and via the newsletter as the dates approached.

As of this report, N. Fulton BPW has collected and submitted $235 on behalf of BPW/USA Foundation through contributions and raffling off tickets for the Teddy Bear.