State of the Georgia Hutchinson Bell
Greetings!
First, thank you for being a member of the Hutchinson Bell. Your support is appreciated and makes it possible for our origanization to exist and make an impact.
In the past, we have provided an annual update to Georgia members at the annual members meeting. This year, in an effort to reach more of our membership we are providing an update in this "State of the Georgia Hutchinson Bell" format. We hope you will take a few minutes to review and reach out with any questions. We type fast...so if you see a typo let us know and we will correct it.
We do plan to have an members meeting later this year, but want to move off the December/ Janaury meeting cycle and maybe incorporate the meeting into a social event. We are open to hearing ideas about meeting formats that would drive higher member engagement and participation!
Who we are
Together we are the friends and alumni organization of Florida College. The Hutchinson Bell was established to raise money for scholarships, host summer camps, plan social events, and introduce people to Florida College. We work to carry out those functions in Georgia through the Georgia Hutchinson Bell.
How we are organized
Officers
The organization is run by our officers who manage the yearly planning, finances, federal and state tax requirements, and committee selection.
Here is our current team:
- President: Nickolas Crim
- VP of Development: Jason Reynolds
Ryan Reel let us know his decision to step down as an officer so he could focus on other responsibilities. He has served as an officer for the past three years and has been a huge contributor to our chapter! We appreciate his service and he will be missed.
Committees
Our committees carry out the work of our organization. They plan and run our social events, fundraising events, and scholarship program. If you are interested in joining a committee and playing a more active role in our chapter send us an email at officers@georgiahutchinsonbell.com. We would love to discuss ways you can get involved!
Elections
Per the bylaws- officers are elected annually. If you are interested in serving as an officer or would like to nominate someone please email us at officers@georgiahutchinsonbell.com by Friday, April 3rd. We will set a date for elections to be held.
What we did in 2019
In 2019 we sponsored and co-sponsored several impactful programs and events. Thank you to the volunteers, committees, and Florida College representatives who made these events possible!
Scholarship Program
Our 2019 scholarship programs paid out a total of $5,500 in scholarships. This program is made possible through the generous donations of our friends and alumni in Georgia.
Spring Recipients:
- Abby Beutjer
- Harrison Caudill
- Ellitt Johnson
- Alex Newman
Fall Recipients:
- Abby Beutjer
- Grace Jamieson
- Harrison Caudill
- Jesse Martin
- Katy Moran
- McKenna Sells
- Peighton Reynolds
Events
- Ladies Spring Tea
- Improv Now! Comedy Show
- High School Banquet
- Friends Concert
- FC Soccer Friends and Alumni Lunch
Fundraisers
Last year our fundraising activity was limited to the silent auction at the Ladies Spring Tea. Thank you for everyone who came out and supported that event!
We anticipate 2020 and 2021 will be heavier fundraising years for us.
What we have planned for 2020
In 2020 we have another great schedule of programs and events. Look for specific announcements and details in your inbox.
Scholarship Program
We have paid out $4,000 in scholarships already this Spring and are expecting another strong applicant list this Fall. The Fall scholarship application will be rolled out later this year.
Spring Recipients:
- Abby Beutjer
- Grace Jamieson
- Harrison Caudill
- Jesse Martin
- Katy Moran
- McKenna Sells
- Peighton Reynolds
- Jade Jacobs
Events
- Ladies Spring Tea: Saturday, March 7th
FC Chorus Concert: Canceled- High School Banquet: Saturday, April 18th
- Coffee With Cassie Miller: Thursday, April 23rd
- Friends Concert: Saturday, June 13th
- High School Lock-in: TBD
- Fall Event: TBD
Falcon Days
March 26th-28th- Canceled- October 1st-3rd
- November 5th-7th
Hutchinson Bell, Inc.
The Hutchinson Bell is our parent organization. They offer guidance to local chapters, provide tax-exempt status, and manage the membership process through thehutchinsonbell.com.
In 2019 the auto membership renewal function of the website was working beautifully! Thanks to the improvements, it has been easier to sign-up new members and renew current members. Also, members are notified when their membership renewal cannot be processed due to a change in credit card information and given the opportunity to update their info.
Also, membership dues and donations to the Hutchinson Bell are being deposited into a bank account completely controlled by the Hutchinson Bell, Inc. This has led to better accounting processes and increased financial transparency for our organization as a whole.
Matt Turner serves on the Hutchinson Bell board and is our representative in Georgia.
Contact Us
Do you have questions, comments, or want to get more involved?
Email us at officers@georgiahutchinsonbell.com