The Atlanta Alumnae Chapter – a Renaissance in the Making
Last August, three Agnes Scott friends–Janet Bolen Joiner ’73, Lynn Ezell ’74 and Marcia Krape Knight ’73–gathered at Lynn’s home in the mountains of western North Carolina. It was a girlfriends’ overnight before joining fellow Scotties at the annual alumnae luncheon in the Highlands/Cashiers area.
While together, the three brainstormed ways to resurrect the programs of the Atlanta-area alumnae, which had been mothballed during COVID.
As a member of the Alumnae Association Board of Directors, Lynn knew reinvigorating classes and chapters was a top priority. Marcia and Janet were among the alumnae leaders who were part of efforts to navigate the interruptions of Covid, along with the Office of Alumnae Relations. The two classmates had chaired a “virtual” gathering of the chapter in the previous fall but were eager to help Scotties reconnect in person.
The conversation lit a fire underneath these three friends.
Marcia and Janet set about event planning. Their first move was to organize the first in-person Fall Luncheon since the fall of 2019. On a brilliant October day, a record 75 alumnae attended the Ansley Golf Club for fellowship, updates on the college and a celebratory afternoon focused on Agnes Scott. Many of them raised their hand to engage in “a Renaissance” of traditional Atlanta Chapter programming.
During the weeks of planning leading up to the Fall Luncheon, Janet agreed to continue in an ongoing leadership role. Under her leadership as Chapter Chair in early November, the Atlanta Chapter Steering Committee was reassembled, and the group restarted quarterly planning meetings.
Thanks to the many alumnae who agreed to be a part of this Renaissance, since that gathering in the mountains, the Atlanta Chapter has organized a wide variety of events to reach the many interests of Scotties who live in our alma mater’s “hometown.”
The 37th annual Winter Seminar featured Associate Professor Yael Manes as this year’s presenter on Renaissance Italy, a fitting coincidence. Many of those same participants joined Professor Manes’ students earlier this month.
“When our group of Winter Seminar participants joined Professor Manes class this spring, I was reminded of the many seminar classes I took at Agnes Scott. With ten students and nine of us alumnae, we were pretty equally divided. I was so struck by how these young women are today’s version of us. While we may look different, the openness and respect the students showed one another – building on each other’s observations and insights – felt so familiar. I realized that I share more in common with these young women, 50 years younger than I am, than the things that are different between us. The Agnes Scott women of today are smart, kind, and thriving. We had so much fun getting to interact with them.”
Marcia Krape Knight, 1973 Class President
A gathering of alumnae who braved the rain to help the college celebrate Founder’s Day (followed by a happy hour at Thinking Man Tavern) was jointly sponsored by the Decatur Chapter. Many alumnae responded to the Arts Connection visit to the High Museum of Art to view The Mirror Garden exhibit, led by museum docent and alumna Kaye Summers ‘60.
Music lovers enjoyed not one but two pre-concert social hours on campus! In March, a social hour at the Alumnae House was followed by an outdoor evening concert at the Bradley Observatory. A second, in April, is a family-friendly Sunday afternoon gathering at the Alumnae House before a show featuring the Agnes Scott College Community Orchestra.
The remaining events of this year include a “Flower Power Happy Hour” in Sandy Springs later this month and an invitation to all Metro Atlanta alums to come to campus for Alumnae Weekend. Events planned to appeal to reunion and non-reunion years alike include the Friday night generational parties and a full day on Saturday too.
The Atlanta Chapter Steering Committee gathers again in early May to keep up the momentum for next year’s programs and to celebrate that a remarkable “Renaissance” has indeed begun! For those who are interested in being a part of planning events for alumnae within the Metro area, please reach out to the Office of Alumnae Relations. We may be slow to respond between now and Alumnae Weekend, but your calls and emails are important to us, so don’t give up if you don’t hear right back!
As a reminder, every college alumna is warmly invited to all alumnae events. No membership or dues are required.
