The State of the City

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin will address AEN at the November 18 meeting. The mayor is expected to address AEN with a state of the city speech.

Franklin is expected to address issues that are important to the LGBT community, including the controversy surrounding the Druid Hills Golf Club and the effectiveness of the Atlanta Human Relations Commission.

The mayor is waiting for the golf club to approve an updated benefits policy by the end of November. In January, the city's Human Relations Commission found the club guilty by failing to provide equal spousal benefits to two of its gay members.

Druid Hills Golf Club management sent members a revised guest policy that allows unmarried partners to visit the club without the member being present, but denies access to the golf course. Unmarried partners are also not allowed to inherit a membership or bring guests to the club.

The mayor is also expected to address various other important Atlanta issues and take questions from AEN members and guests.

Please consider your attendance at Thursday's meeting a sign to the mayor that our community's voice will be heard.

Meeting details

Thursday, November 18
Sheraton Midtown Hotel at Colony Square's North Ballroom
Networking begins at 5:45 p.m. and program starts at 6:45 p.m.
New 205 in 2005 Members and Students: No Charge
2004 Members: $10 and Guests: $20

Have a question for Mayor Franklin? Send it to questions@aen.org

Never pay door fees again!

Our new membership drive, "205 in 2005", states just how many new members we're working to add by the end of 2005.

To help us get there, we're introducing a 12-month membership package that includes door fees for just $100, or $175 for two people at the same mailing address. Students may continue to join and attend meetings for free.

If you have recently joined or renewed your AEN membership, you can upgrade your membership at Thursday's meeting.

"Best of the Best" in Concert

Saturday, November 20, 7 p.m.

First Metropolitan Community Church of Atlanta
1379 Tullie Road, NE
(I-85 and North Druid Hills Road)
Directions

Tickets are $10.

The concert will feature music from the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus, the Atlanta Freedom Marching Band and Jazz Ensemble, the First MCC Choir, Hotlanta Squares.

The "Best of the Best" Concert is a benefit for the Metropolitan Community Center, a program to provide space for community growth and development in arts, social, mental and spiritual growth. The event helps to cover the expenses of the community center and keep the rental donations to their lowest denominator possible.

Over the past 5 years First Metropolitan Community Church of Atlanta has opened their doors to a variety of community groups, providing performance opportunities, meeting space, offices for various community groups, counseling and support groups, educational opportunities in both career and personal advancement, a food bank, social and theatre groups.

The Community Center empowers LGBT organizations and charities, like AEN, the Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Center, Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus, Atlanta Freedom Marching Band, Hotlanta Squares, Georgia Equality and PFLAG.

The Toy Party

AEN and For the Kid in All of Us are teaming up for the Toy Party 2004, a holiday cocktail party and toy drive for the LGBT community. For the Kid in All of Us is a nonprofit organization committed to brightening the holiday season for Georgia's needy and underprivileged children.

The event seeks to raise awareness about the plight of these children while also lessening their struggles during the holidays. The Toy Party has become a highly anticipated event, bringing together members of the LGBT community to support a cause affecting the entire metro area. You will not want to miss being a part of it.

The Toy Party 2004 will be at 5:30-9 p.m. Sunday, December 5, at the Georgia Railroad Freight Depot near Underground Atlanta. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsor and patrons, admission requires only that you bring a new, unwrapped toy or gift card of $10 or greater value. For information, visit www.forthekid.org.

AEN To Receive Funds From Benevolink

Shopping Online With Program Can Help Raise Money for Nonprofits

AEN recently became one of the nonprofit charities to receive funds given each quarter from Benevolink.

Benevolink is a program that brings consumers and nonprofit organizations together via online retailers. The program offers consumers a cost-free way to donate money to their favorite charities. It provides nonprofit groups with an additional way of raising funds at no cost to them.

Benevolink welcomes other nonprofit groups to join.

Here’s how it works. Online shoppers register at www.benevolink.com. When they register, they select the nonprofit groups that will receive funds from their purchases. Registration online is easy and secure.

Once members are ready to shop online, they visit the Benevolink Web site and click the links to the “Marketplace.” From there, members can access any participating online retailers (e.g., Travelocity, Barnes & Noble, Old Navy, Fossil, Gap, Home Depot). When a purchase is made through the Benevolink site, the retailer allocates a portion of its corporate philanthropy based on a percentage of the purchase price to the Benevolink member's account.

Every three months, members select the nonprofit beneficiaries they want to receive the funds from their purchases that have accumulated in their Benevolink accounts.

The program provides shoppers with a means to control a portion of their suppliers' community support. Visit www.benevolink.com to view the nonprofits and the 145-plus retailers participating and to register as a member or to register your favorite nonprofit as a beneficiary.

AEN's Future Speakers and Events

Holiday Party

Thursday, December 9
The Red Chair
5:30-8 p.m.

Free for members, $5 for guests.

Coretta!

Special Date
Thursday, January 13

Coretta Scott King

Widow of slain civil rights leader to address LGBT issues at AEN as part of the 2005 King Holiday Observance.

2005 Members: No Charge
2004 Members: $10
Students: No Charge
Guests: $20 [Buy advance tickets for guests]
Table for 10: $150 [Buy table]

This meeting is made possible by a grant from the Andonios Foundation.

Networking Luncheons

One of the best ways to network your career, your business and your future. AEN offers luncheons each week at convenient locations throughout Atlanta. To reserve your space at a luncheon, follow this link.

Monday, November 22, 11:45 a.m.
Jacob Rothschild & David Payne
Front Page News in Midtown

Tuesday, November 23, 11:55 a.m.
Allen Jones
Houlihan's at Colony Square

Tuesday, December 7, 11:55 a.m.
Allen Jones
Houlihan's at Colony Square

Thursday, December 9, 11:55 a.m.
Sandy Hoke with Mark Buhrke
Waverly Hotel Atrium at Galleria

Wednesday, December 29, 11:55 a.m.
Allen Jones
Houlihan's at Colony Square

With deep gratitude...

AEN wishes to thank its partners who help make our programming possible. We encourage you support these businesses, as they have helped support us and our community.

To find out more about AEN's partnership programs, follow this link.

About AEN

Mission Statement

• Promote business contacts and friendships through networking;
• Advocate equality for lesbians, gays, bi-sexuals, and transgenders;
• Promote diversity in the business community;
• Foster leadership in business, government and the arts.

Leadership Team

Glen Paul Freedman, Executive Director
Bonnie Barton, President
Don George, Vice President; Partnerships Chair, Nominations Chair
Jamie Ensley, Treasurer
Barbara Rubin, Secretary
Drew Barton, Communications Chair
Dana Brown-Owings, Pride Chair
Stephen Julien, Diversity Committee
Carl Lange, Programming Chair
Dan Lax, Membership Chair
David Payne, Past President
Carla Corley, Community Outreach
Sandy Hoke, Partnership Co-chair, Greeters Coordinator
Jacob Rothschild
Tom Eiswerth
Teresa Joyce
Susan MacCray