1. 2014 Annual Business Meeting
“The State of the Chapter”
July 9, 2014
The Year of Involvement

2. Ladies, Call to Order
• Confirm Everyone Is Signed In
• Secretary Establishes
Required Quorum
• Vote to Approve Minutes
from last ABM

3. We have special guests here tonight
• Help me welcome back….
• Sue Anne Morgan, president of IdeaLand LLC
– and producer of AITC
with the special introduction of
• Kelley Hagen, our new Chapter Administrator
on the IdeaLand team

4. Access Presentation via
www.ldeiatlanta.org/members-only
Password: ldeiatl
or through QR Code

5. FROM OUR INTERNATIONAL BLUE BOOK
VISION
LDEI is an international organization of women leaders who create
a supportive culture in their communities to achieve excellence in
the food, beverage and hospitality professions.
TO DO THIS, LDEI MEMBERS:
• share knowledge
• support members
• provide leadership, educational opportunities and
philanthropic events for the larger community
MISSION
LDEI is an invitational organization of women leaders in food,
beverage and hospitality whose mission is education, and
philanthropy.

6. GUIDING PRINCIPLES
1. Provide a supportive culture for members to network
2. Share knowledge with members, upcoming women in the
professions and the general public
3. Appreciate LDEI history with advancing our future
4. Promote the significance of food and beverage in all cultures
5. Provide opportunities for education and career advancement
6. Create and support philanthropic opportunities within our
communities
7. Celebrate and promote the professional diversity of our
membership

7. Atlanta Chapter By Laws
Section 4. The purposes of the Chapter shall be:
To promote the understanding, appreciation, and knowledge of
food, wine and other beverages, nutrition, the arts of the table
and other fields as they relate to these disciplines.
To promote the highest standards in the preparation, supply, and
service of food, wine and other beverages.
To work cooperatively with member by providing advice and
assistance in all matters pertaining to the chosen disciplines.
To promote the education and advancement of and to offer
advice and assistance to women in careers in the chosen
disciplines.
To disseminate such information and advice as advances
the purposes of the chapter.

8. Code of Ethics
• In order to uphold the integrity of the Society, each member
shall adhere to the following rules:
• Abide by the Constitution/By-Laws of both the Society and
her local chapter.
• Will not use her membership or the name of the Society or
her local chapter for her personal monetary advantage
• Never allow the membership list of the society or her local
chapter to be sold or used for merchandising, promotional
purposes, or commercial endorsement.
• Sponsor for membership only those individuals known to her
to have high ethical standards and professional stature in the
area of food, wine, other beverages, nutrition, the arts of the
table and other fields as they relate to these disciplines.
• Maintain the dignity and integrity of the Society and her local
chapter

9. Strategic Plan 2014
• Held February 1st at Piece of Cake headquarters
• Preliminary Work/preparation – included a task-
specific Survey Monkey - 35 Dames participated
• 17 Dames participated onsite
• Jack Beckford, paid Professional Facilitator
Senior Partner of Beckford Consulting and Affiliate consultant
with the Georgia Center for Non-Profits
• Here are the top 3 tasks identified in these
chapter initiatives & what’s been accomplished:

10. Strategic Plan Session

11. AITC ongoing
- Target culinary schools & businesses for volunteers
- Write AITC business plan
- Better recognition for chefs
Board
Hire Admin person for board members
- Board succession planning in discussion
- Blue Book Clean-up, Task Force ongoing
Communications
 Expand website to include member only section
- Interactive website, enhance member section &
public awareness in discussion
- Develop marketing plan in discussion

12. Membership
- Hardship fund to pay for meetings Task Force
- ‘Sponsoring Dame’ improved mentorship process in discussion
- Internal Mentor Program for new Dames in discussion
Programs
- Cultivate ethnic diversity & programming in discussion
Get to know your Dames – small gatherings
Programming: networking, games/icebreakers
Philanthropy
Set expectations from our philanthropies
- Golf tournament for scholarship tabled for 2014
- Increase scholarship fund ongoing

13. - reports from:
• Treasurer
• Communications
• Philanthropy
• Programs
• Past President
• Committees
Let’s Get Involved…
with the information that keeps our chapter thriving

14. Treasurer’s Report
Acting Treasurer Dame Gloria Smiley
• Review of current Treasurer’s Report
• To maintain a proper 501c3 status, the IRS
requires us to maintain these percentages:
• Thus - each year AITC monies are allocated:
• 50% - to Scholarships/Grants
• 35% - to other Philanthropy
• 15% - to Administration (chapter operations)
100%

15. Zero-Based Budget Projection
REVENUE
AITC $ 204,221
AFWF $ 2,500
Circle of Giving $ 4,000
Culinary Yard Sale $ 800
Dues, membership 2014 $ 18,900
GHSF - Culinary Futures $ 25,300
Monthly raffles-incl Cake Raffle $ 6,000
Programs-mo. chapter mtgs $ 15,000
Scholarship-Chap Mtg $ 2,500
Total Estimated 2014 REVENUE $ 279,221

16. Zero-Based Budget Projection
EXPENSES
AITC - 2014 estimate $ 89,000
Admin/General Chapter: $ 35,739
Brock Circle Pledge $ 1,000
COMMITTEE-Communications $ 2,000
COMMITTEE-Green Tables $ 850
COMMITTEE-Membership $ 500
COMMITTEE-Philanthropy: from AITC $ 39,159
COMMITTEE-Program/chap mtgs $ 23,000
COMMITTEE-Scholarship: from AITC $ 50,348
Condolence $ 300
Culinary Futures-Scholarship distrib $ 20,825
Culinary Yard Sale $ 500
Dues to Int'l $ 8,500
GO Conf - Dames to attend $ 1,000
Int'l Conf / Mbr Sch'ships: from Raffles $ 6,000
Int'l - Legacy Award $ 500
TOTAL Est 2014 EXPENSES $ 279,221

17. Expense Detail: Admin/General Chapter
- Ad in Annual GO Farm Guide $ 500
- ABM/AGM/Scholarship standing mtgs $ 6,750
- AFWF $ 50
- Bank fees $ 500
- Board Attendance Int'l Conf-Boston $ 6,000
- Board F2F meetings-quarterly $ 400
Chapter's Paid Administrator $ 4,800
Contingency $ 5,145
- CrCard /Square/PayPal fees $ 2,800
- Eblasts $ 150
- Endowment Angel Fund-frm AITC $ 5,594
- Income Tax Preparation $ 750
- Office supplies $ 100
- Postage $ 100
- Recognition Gifts (7 board/13 chairs) $ 600
- Save the Date/Paperless Post $ -
- Strategic Plan $ 1,500
- Survey Monkey $ -

18. Treasurer’s Report
Acting Treasurer Dame Gloria Smiley
• Additional information
• Total Raffle Income to Date
$ 4,547.70
• Morgan Stanley Investment Account
$ 85,753.32

19. Communications
Dame Dale DeSena, VP

20. Communications
Dame Dale DeSena, VP
• Website
• Updates continue –
- please visit the site often www.ldeiatlanta.org
• Committee Chairs: send website updates to Kelly Norris
• Phase Two of the site was completed:
• Member page (we still need Dame headshots)
• Donate Now page
• Scholarship page
• AITC 2014 tickets now available for online purchase

21. Communications
Dame Dale DeSena, VP
• Social Media
• Twitter – 399 followers, 403 tweets, 37 photos
• Facebook - 362 likes – up 100% from last year
• Proper page is
• **Les Dames d’Escoffier International – Atlanta
Chapter**
• Dames encouraged to interact with the page
– Like, Share, Invite Friends, Tag
• Happy to post your news!...please send to Kelly
Norris, Allison Palestrini or Kelly Hornbuckle

22. Communications
Dame Dale DeSena, VP
• Social Media
• Facebook page posts include –
– Buford Hwy Farmers Market Tour
– Gu’s Bistro with John Kessler of AJC
– Slow Food Ice Cream Social
– Congrats to Dame Marsha Middleton – Best Self Over 40 & Fabulous
– Outstanding in the Field
– Cook’s Warehouse Simple Abundance Cooking Class with Virginia Willis
– Georgia Grown at Monthly LDEI Meeting
– Dinner and A Movie
– Carolyn O’Neil’s Cookbook debut
– JBF Awards
– Hunger Walk
– Charleston Wine & Food Fest with Atlanta Dames
– GRACE Awards
– Board Inductions
– Team Hidi
•

23. Communications
Dame Dale DeSena, VP
• Newsletter & Dames Communication
• e-newsletter – distributed quarterly
– Quality content for the next issue (Summer) can be sent to Lizzie
McDonald
– Open rate is _____
• Tuesday Tidbits – great responses on the timing, content
and calendar
– Send your weekly news and events to Dale and Lizzie
– Open rate is 58%
• evite.com
– Main form of LDEI Chapter meetings and events
– Are you receiving these emails? Do you have an evite.com
account?
– If not, email Dale

24. Communications
Dame Dale DeSena, VP
• Archives – Dame Kelly Hornbuckle
• We now have a members-only archive page!
– http://www.ldeiatlanta.org/archive/
– Password: ldeiatl
• We currently have 34 Galleries - and counting!
• The oldest: 1998 - Annual General Meeting Houston
• The newest: 2014 - June Meeting Buford Highway Lunch at
Gu’s & BHFM Tour with John Kessler
• Archive submissions? Send to kelly.hornbuckle@gmail.com

25. Archives…

26. Communications
Dame Dale DeSena, VP
• LDEI - International Quarterly Magazine - sent to all members
• Atlanta Dames in Print!
• Winter 2014 - Dame Barb Pires review of “So You Want To Write A Cookbook” session at
the 2013 Conference in Austin, TX.
• Spring 2014 - great story by Lana Bernstein the Ohio caterer who won Legacy Award Grant
to visit seven award-winning Atlanta Caterers: Dames Stacy Zeigler, Liz Cipro, Cathy Conway,
Shelley Pedersen, Ashley Mitchell and Sandra Bank for one week.
• Summer 2014 - mention of our Atlanta Chapter’s winning the Allie Award for “Best Public
Fair or Festival” for Afternoon in the Country 2013. Chair Stacy Zeigler and Chapter President
Shelley Pedersen accepted the award at the 24th annual awards gala held March 9th.
• Summer Member Milestones - mention about Dame Dale DeSena’s Taste of Atlanta 2014
Dates – October 24-26th in Midtown. Also mentioned was Edible Agriculture Tour of GA or
EAT GA, a new venture between Taste of Atlanta and Georgia Restaurant Association, Dame
Karen Bremer, Executive Director.
• Member Milestone for Fall 2014 - deadline is August 4, 2014.

27. Our Chapter Wins Award for
Best Public Fair or Festival
at Allies In Wonderland

28. Communications
Dame Dale DeSena, VP
• …and at International level, Atlanta Dames are involved!
• Dame Allison Palestrini joined LDEI Social Media Task Force, working on social
media for the organization/monitoring best practices for our local group
• Dame Shelley Pedersen named editor of Int’l bi-monthly e-newsletter
• Public Relations
• AITC 2014 press release was distributed to local, regional and national media.
Lots of great responses, including Garden & Gun Magazine
• New Dame Class of 2014 press release will be distributed with group photo
• Collateral Piece - rollout
• By early August, our Committee will have an informational flyer about LDEI for
distribution at other events.
• Going forward
• We will continue to update website, produce Tuesday Tidbits, take photos, update
social media and so much more.

29. Philanthropy
Dame Amy Crowell, VP
Accomplishments YTD
• Fundraising
• First Annual Culinary Futures event for GHSF was a
success
• $20,825 raised for a young person in need to pursue
a culinary career
• Date and confirmation for 2015 event
• Planning begins, Fall 2014

30. Philanthropy
Dame Amy Crowell, VP
• Philanthropic Grants
- Application apply for financial grant or volunteer hours –
created and loaded to our website
- Philanthropic Grants Committee was created
- All 2013 grantees invited to apply for 2014 grant
as well as a couple of other organizations

31. Philanthropy
Dame Amy Crowell, VP
• Grants were ratified and awarded to -
Atlanta Community Food Bank $ 2,500
enAble of Georgia $ 2,500
Georgia Organics $10,000
Global Growers $10,000
The Giving Kitchen $10,000
Wholesome Wave $ 6,000
Wylde Center $ 1,000

32. Philanthropy
Dame Amy Crowell, VP
• Philanthropic Grants
These are all returning grantees from 2013
total 2014 distribution of $42,000

33. Philanthropy
Dame Amy Crowell, VP
• Philanthropic Grants
• Volunteer Hours in action
- enAble of Georgia Summer Camp cooking demos –
ongoing through the summer
- volunteer opportunity with Atlanta Community Food
Bank will be planned for Fall
- The Wylde Center is active again, thanks to our
Green Tables Committee…they’ll tell us more shortly

34. Programs
Dame Dana Dabruzzi, VP and Dame Holly Chute, chair
• The Last 12 Months -
• We listened!
• We worked to design events around your content requests
• Education and Partner Interaction
– August’s Scholarship Dinner
– November’s event with Global Growers
– February’s Gluten Free Event -unfortunately cancelled due to weather
– GA Grown Event at Guy Gunter and Associates
• Tours
– Buckhead Beef’s New Facility
• Dame Networking
– September’s Cocktail Party at Olmstead
– January’s New Vision Dinner at 200 Peachtree
• Pure Foodie Fun!
– Home for the Holidays
– Buford Highway Lunch with John Kessler

35. 2013 Scholarship Recipients’ Dinner
at Bold American Events

36. January 2014 New Vision New Year Party
at 200 Peachtree

37. April 2014 Buckhead Beef
Facility Tour & Chef’s Buffet Dinner

38. June 2014 Lunch at Gu’s
and BHFM Tour with John Kessler

39. Programs
Dame Dana Dabruzzi, VP and Dame Holly Chute, chair
• What’s on our Plate for the Remainder of 2014
• A really spectacular Scholarship Dinner in August
• A unique take on the Annual General Meeting
• October’s event will focus on our Wholesome Wave partnership
• November’s event will reinforce our commitment to GCI - Global
Culinary Initiatives
• December will be pure fun – our annual Home for the Holidays
event
• Please Continue to Send Feedback
• Holly and I truly value your ideas and feedback surrounding
Programs
• We’d really like to understand how we can increase attendance and
we really need your participation

40. Immediate Past President’s Report
Dame Stacy Zeigler CMP, CPCE

41. Another Fabulous Sunday…..

42. Scholarships Take Center Stage

43. …a strong philanthropy presence…

44. Green Ribbon Award
from Green Tables Committee

45. Immediate Past President’s Report
Dame Stacy Zeigler, CMP, CPCE
2014 is well under way:
• Our profit goal is $125,000
• All restaurant, retailer and beverage tables filled
plus a waitlist
• Current confirmed sponsors $16,500 - the goal is
$40,000
• One eblast announcing ticket sales so far and we
sold 241
• Mid-July, once sponsor list is confirmed, we will
start bi-weekly eblasts until we sell out

46. AITC 2014 Sponsorships
• MONETARY SPONSORS $ Value 2014 Confirmed
• Stacy Zeigler and Scott Bryan 500.00 500.00
• Bold American Events 500.00 500.00
• Ameriprise 500.00 500.00
• Virginia Willis 500.00 500.00
• Cypress Grove 500.00 500.00
• Halperns 3,000.00 3,000.00
• Inland Seafood 3,500.00 3,500.00
• Springer Mountain Farms 5,000.00 5,000.00
• Preferred Brands / Four Roses 1,500.00 1,500.00
• Sysco 1,000.00 1,000.00
…thus far! So, who can you recommend?

47. Immediate Past President’s Report
Dame Stacy Zeigler, CMP, CPCE
• What we need from you:
• A décor sponsor
• Forwarding the ticket eblasts to your network
for a quick sellout
• Sponsors, sponsors and more sponsors!
• Great auction items
• Cake raffle vendors

48. Immediate Past President’s Report
Dame Stacy Zeigler, CMP, CPCE
 and news from International:
• President – Lori Willis StL
• 1st Vice President - Maria Gomez SD
• 2nd Vice President Ann Stratte DC
• 3rd Vice President - Hayley Matson-Mathes HI
• Secretary - Sharon Olson CHI
• Treasurer - Stacy Zeigler ATL
• Past President - Beth Allen NY
• Chapter Board Liaisons:
– Deborah Mintcheff NY
– Deb Orrill DAL
– Bev Shaffer CLE

49. Culinary Yard Sale 2014
Donations & Signage - Ami Dand | Communications – Carolyn O’Neil
Chef Demos – Judith Winfrey | Volunteers – Molly Gunn
• Grant Park Farmers Market
• Sunday, September 21st

50. Green Tables
Dames Julie Shaffer & Jennifer Booker, co-chairs
• Accomplishments this year
• incorporated Green Tables Initiative educational
information into chapter meetings
• restarted program for senior citizens at Decatur
Housing Authority, in collaboration with Wylde Center
• organized Green Ribbon Award at AITC
• co-sponsored GA Grown event at May chapter meeting
• organized Lexicon of Sustainability pop-up show in
collaboration with Slow Food Atlanta
• acknowledged Food Day 2013 by planning
"One Hundred Mile Meal"

51. Green Tables
Dames Julie Shaffer & Jennifer Booker, co-chairs
• Upcoming plans
• acknowledgement of Food Day 2014 by co-
sponsoring chapter event with Wholesome
Wave Georgia
• sponsoring and organizing monthly program
with Decatur Housing Authority senior citizens
• incorporating Green Tables principles and
ideals into chapter activities

52. GCI – Global Culinary Initiative
Dame Suzanne Brown chair
 our November chapter meeting – GCI involved
 Hello World! The GCI Newsletter
- emailed 5.14.14 - will be twice a year
- all posted on LDEI website under GCI tab
 New COMMITTEE LOGO from International:

53. Membership Committee
Dame Gena Berry, chair
• Snapshot of our current membership profile -

54. Atlanta Chapter, Class of 2014
VETTED & RECOMMENDED FOR LDEI MEMBERSHIP
Nancy Erickson
Sales Representative
Classic Party Rentals
recommended by Dame Gina Christman
Meteka Asali Gilyard
Sales Manager
Inland Seafood
recommended by Dame Vicky Murphy

55. Atlanta Chapter, Class of 2014
VETTED & RECOMMENDED FOR LDEI MEMBERSHIP
Jenni Harris
Marketing Manager
White Oak Pastures, Bluffton, GA
recommended by Dame Angie Mosier
Laureen Herzig
Chef Owner
Peace Love Food, LLC
recommended by Dame Susan Edwards, CC

56. Atlanta Chapter, Class of 2014
VETTED & RECOMMENDED FOR LDEI MEMBERSHIP
Annette Joseph
Author - Food Stylist - Lifestyle Expert
recommended by Dame Sandra Bank
Whitney Otawka
Executive Chef
Cinco y Diez, Athena, GA
recommended by Dame Julie Shaffer

57. Atlanta Chapter, Class of 2014
VETTED & RECOMMENDED FOR LDEI MEMBERSHIP
Debbie Peterson
Key Accounts Manager
Cypress Grove Chèvre
ist recommended by Dame Tamie Cook
Michele L. Stumpe, Esq.
Hospitality Industry Attorney
Taylor English Duma, LLP
recommended by Dame Shelley Pedersen, CPCE

58. Atlanta Chapter, Class of 2014
VETTED & RECOMMENDED FOR LDEI MEMBERSHIP
Julie Thompson
General Manager and Wine Director
4th & Swift
recommended by Dame Kelly Norris

59. …grab your CARD
• Now, a motion and a second to accept
the 2014 Slate of New Dames,
as presented by the Membership
Committee
and ratified by the Executive Committee

60. Membership Committee
Dame Gena Berry - chair
• Next Steps for New Dames
• Meet the Board Private Reception,
September
• New Member Introduction and Welcome at
our AGM (Annual General Meeting) -
September

61. Nominations
Dame Rebecca Lang, chair
• It's now time to think about nominations for the board for 2014-2015.
• If you, or someone you know, would like to be considered to serve on the board, please
notify Rebecca Lang via email at rebeccalangcooks.com no later than Friday August 1.
• President-elect is Gayle Skelton, CPCE.
CHAPTER NOMINATIONS
We are seeking Dames for the chapter officer positions of:
- Vice President of Communications
- Vice President of Philanthropy
- Vice President Programs
(Note that, through nomination discussion with these Dames, one of the VPs shall be
identified as the President-elect for 2016)
- Secretary
- Treasurer
Please contact Rebecca with any questions or to receive a copy of the job description
pertinent to the position you are seeking. Don’t miss the opportunity to get involved
and make a positive impact on LDEI Atlanta
.

62. Scholarships/Grants
Dame Tamie Cook, chair
• This Year:
• - Hosted First Annual Scholarship/Grant Reception in August 2013
- highest attended chapter meeting of 2013!
• - Attended HEFC Hospitality Education Foundation Career Expo February
2014
• - Presented at Savannah Technical College April, 2014
• To Come:
• - Goal of personally reaching out to every culinary program in the state of
Georgia
• - Establish new Atlanta Chapter Residency Grant at The Hambidge Center
• - Host 2014 Scholarship/Grant Reception

63. Scholarships/Grants
Dame Tamie Cook, chair
• Grand Total, 2014 - all Monies Awarded $ 50,632.62
• Scholarships to 10 students $ 31,500
• Scholarship/ Special One-Time Award $ 6,500
• 6 Institutions
• Savannah Technical College (2)
• Boston University (1)
• Kennesaw State University (1)
• Johnson and Wales, Charlotte (1)
• Gwinnett Technical College (1)
• Athens Technical College (4)
• Programs
• Culinary Arts
• BA in Hospitality Administration
• BA in Culinary Sustainability and Hospitality

64. Scholarships
Dame Tamie Cook, chair
Darlene Brand Athens Tech $3,000
Jessica Hunter Athens Tech $2,000
Patricia Jackson Athens Tech $3,500
Taylor Fowler Athens Tech $3,000
Jennifer Case Savannah Tech $4,000
Jennifer Carver Savannah Tech $1,000
Janice Baskin Gwinnett Tech $3,000
Nicolette Kirkpatrick Johnson and Wales $5,000
Melissa Hsu Kennesaw State $2,000
Jordan Fessehaie
(age 19)
Boston University
(Aspiring Culinarian Award)
$5,000

65. Grants
Dame Tamie Cook, chair
• Grants awarded $12,632.62
• awarded in 2013: $4,500
• Euneika Rogers Sipp - Antioch University Master’s Program in Rural
Development Leadership
• Community Farmer’s Market Staff - Georgia Organics Conference
• Alvetta Embry - Advanced Sommelier Course and Exam
• Andrea Thomas - National Farm To Cafeteria Conference
• Jennie Inglis - National Farm to Cafeteria Conference
• Bree Bennett - Culinary Endorsement for HS Teachers

66. In closing…..
• Thank you for another terrific
Annual Business Meeting of our chapter
• Now, let’s close with our monthly raffle…and
quick, who can answer this question:
• Where do those raffles monies go….?
• Thanks so much…and good night!