SSU National Alumni Association to Host Legislative Conference

ATLANTA-The Georgia Alumni Association of Black State Universities (GAABSU)-a consortium of the national alumni associations of Albany State, Fort Valley State and Savannah State universities-will present its 24th Annual Legislative Conference January 28-30, at the Holiday Inn Select Capitol Plaza in Atlanta. This year's conference will be hosted by the Savannah State University National Alumni Association (SSUNAA).

GAABSU was organized to allow the universities to share their common goals and concerns with policy shapers and key state leaders. The conference
allows participants, who support and serve the member institutions, to foster collaborations to advance these institutions. Alumni, university administrators, staff, students, friends and legislators may register and participate in this conference.

The opening session will start at 3 p.m. on January 28, followed by a roundtable discussion where the presidents of the three universities will share updates and other relevant information about their campuses.

On January 29, State Senate Higher Education Committee Chairman Seth Harp (D-29) will be the speaker for the Eggs & Issues Breakfast starting at 8a.m. Harp recently made headlines when he suggested combining Albany State University with nearby Darton College in Albany, Ga., and Savannah State
University with nearby Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Ga.

The first workshop, "IRS Rules on Alumni Chapters and 501 (C) 3 Status," will begin at 10 a.m. U.S. Representative Sanford Bishop (D-2) will speak
during the GAABSU Legislative Luncheon starting at noon. Concurrent workshops, "Recruitment Tools for Alumni," and "Capitol Visits: Effective
Communication with Legislators," will start at 2:30 p.m. Guests and university presidents will be honored during the GAABSU Scholarship Ball, a benefit for student scholarships, at 8 p.m. The conference will conclude on January 30 with a business session at 9 a.m.

The late registration fee, which is $160, begins on January 16; registration will continue throughout the conference. Individual sessions are $10 for
registration; $35 for Student/Alumni Recruitment Luncheon; $35 for Eggs and Issues Legislative Breakfast; $35 for Legislative Luncheon; $50 for GAABSU
Scholarship Ball. All registration fees should be made payable to GAABSU and submitted to the Office of Alumni Affairs, Savannah State University, Box
20439, Savannah, Ga., 31404.

To register for the conference or individual sessions, contact the following:

Diane Frink, Albany State University, 229-430-5118; Willie Williams, Fort Valley State University, 478-825-6347; Nicole Blount, Savannah State University,912-356-2427.

To secure a room at the special $89 rate, contact Holiday Inn Select Capitol Plaza, (404) 591-2000, located at 450 Capitol Avenue.

The 2009 GAABSU Legislative Conference is chaired by Roy L. Jackson, president of the Savannah Chapter of the SSU National Alumni Association who
chairs the association's governmental relations committee. For more information, contact Jackson at (912) 236-0631 or (912) 659-9354.