Location: Westside Park
Recording Secretary: Kellie Spalding
Hostesses
Margie Hutchison
Guerry Redmond
Kellie Spalding
Mildred Spalding
WELCOME AND CALL TO ORDER
Kendrick Willaims welcomed everyone and thanked our hostesses, calling the meeting to order at 10:47 a.m.
READING AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES
N/A (Kendrick to request approval and affirmation of October ‘24 minutes at January ‘25 meeting, along with approval/affirmation of these November ‘24 minutes).
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND MEMBER UPDATES
Mildred Spalding stepped up to provide a brief, personal introduction of our speakers, noting that the PATH Foundation is celebrating its 30th anniversary and recounting several happy memories of using PATH trails with fellow members over the years. Mildred also recognized Sarah Kennedy for all the work she has done with and for The Path Organization.
OFFICER REPORTS
Vice President: Kendrick Williams, as proxy for Louise Moore
Kendrick announced that Louise has updated the Hostess Chart, and that Louise is again requesting that all members due to host in 2025-2026 continue to sign up to do so. Please see Louise to determine if and when you are due to host, if you are unsure.
2nd VP Speech School: Alden Potts
N/A.
3rd VP quarry garden: Brittany Hill
N/A.
Treasurer: Margaret Warren
N/A.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Membership & Dues:
Kendrick asked that each member please continue to get their dues paid, and noted that Liles Thompson was present for any members who wished to pay in person. Kendrick also reiterated that late fees will applied on all dues not paid by December 1st.
New Member Liason:
N/A.
Correspondence & Website:
N/A.
State Garden Club Liaison:
N/A.
Parliamentarian:
N/A.
Historian:
N/A.
Unfinished or New Business
Kendrick announced that the amaryllises had arrived, and to please see Mary Mac Southerland to collect yours if ordered.
Mimosa’s decorating day for the Dodd Mausoleum at Oakland Cemetery is set for December 6th, and Kendrick requested that members continue signing up to assist, in addition to the eight (8) already signed up to do so. Kendrick also asked those already signed up or planning to sign up to please bring lots of trimmings and materials for day-of decorating.
Cathedral Giving By Design is set for January 24, 2025, and Alden Potts is one of the Homes Tour Co-Chairs. Abby Echols has graciously agreed to do two (2) arrangements for this on behalf of Mimosa. Kendrick circulated a sign-up sheet for additional members to volunteer to assist with this favorite event.
Kendrick finally announced that the Garden Club of Georgia was holding a fundraiser selling wreaths and circulated a sign-up sheet for those interested in purchasing.
Adjournment
The meeting officially ended at 11:27 a.m.
Program
Speaker Names: Greta DeMayo, Executive Director of PATH Foundation, and Pete Pellegrini, Project Manager at PATH Foundation, both introduced by Jennifer Raulet
Topic: Celebrate PATH Foundation’s 30 Years
Greta opened with a few Mimosa-related trivia questions for members and noted that, together with the Beltline Foundation–with whom the PATH Foundation frequently collaborates–PATH provides a vision for a more connected Atlanta.
Greta and Pete stated that, to date, there are more than 327 miles of PATH trails running through Atlanta, and many miles running through additional counties and even other states (Alabama), as well.
Member Amy Smith recalled to Greta and Pete that she wrote an article on PATH for Atlanta Magazine many years ago.
Greta and Pete stated that PATH is aiming to connect its current Chastain Park section with its “PATH 400” section in the imminent future. Plans are already underway to connect the Standing Peachtree section into the Silver Comet Connector with a bridge across Peachtree Creek. Eventually, Standing Peachtree will be connected to downtown Atlanta and Centennial Park, hopefully by 2026, just in time for Atlanta’s hosting of the World Cup soccer tournament.
PATH is working now to connect its northwest Atlanta section through Bobby Jones and Peachtree Hills, but this effort has been slowed somewhat given the need to obtain permissive easements through numerous private properties.
Currently 1 in 5 Atlantans live within ten minutes of a PATH trail, but of course, PATH wants that number to keep climbing higher with the passage of time.
Westside Park, the site of today’s meeting, was once a functioning quarry; the City of Atlanta bought it and instituted drilling nearby and all the way up to the Chattahoochee River, and that is how the water in the Reservoir came to be. Greta and Pete invited all present members to join them on a walk down to the Reservoir upon the conclusion of the meeting.
Greta and Pete ended by passing out dark green baseball caps emblazoned with PATH’s logo, along with paper copies of current PATH trails, to all members present. They encouraged everyone to follow PATH on social media (Instagram: @pathfoundationatlanta; Facebook: facebook.com/PATHFoundation) and to sign up for periodic newsletters at www.pathfoundation.org.
Miscellaneous
N/A.