VISIT OF OPEN WORLD DELEGATION, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM GEORGIA
In November ATSCC hosted a delegation of City Council Members from the Country of Georgia through the Open World programs with the leadership of Friendship Force International. The delegates included: Zviad Aphkhazava, Vice Chairman of Lanchkhuti Municipal Council; Manuchari Jokhadze, Head of the Finance and Budget Commission of Gardabani Municipal Council; David Katamadze, Head of the Council of Tkibuli Municipal Council; Aleko Mameshvili, Chairman of the Ozurgeti Municipality Council; and Vardo Gvarjaladze, the facilitator.

The delegates attended meetings relative to their work interests and experiences. The meetings were with Atlanta City Council members at City Hall; witnessing local elections at the Timber Ridge Elementary School in Marietta; being included in Senator Johnny Isakson’s successful re-elections celebration; visiting with Bill Thornton, Deputy Director of Internal Services of the Georgia Municipal Association; visiting with Bart L. Graham, State Revenue Commissioner; meeting with the City Manager of Marietta, William F. Bruton Jr.; and visiting the Dekalb Recycling Center and Landfill Conversion Center. In addition, John Marshall University organized an educational discussion between the Georgian delegates and the Law professors. This meeting assisted the delegation in understanding the State of Georgia’s regulations as they related to state development and progress.
 
Lastly, the delegation had a great time exploring Atlanta and enjoyed its enormous aquarium, shopping malls, Coca-Cola museum, and CNN Center. Many of the Georgians said their favorite experience while exploring Atlanta was an unforgettable visit to the Hawks game where they had an opportunity to meet with Zaza Pachulia, who is a native of Georgia.

UPDATE FROM PEACHTREE ROAD SPONSOR A CHILD PROGRAM
The volunteers from Peachtree Road Sponsor-A-Child program just returned from visiting the Kitski orphanage in Georgia with many wonderful stories. The volunteers spent 4 1/2 days with the children and taught arts and crafts, music, and dance. A lot of time was also spent playing basketball, soccer, and Uno in their donated playground. After days filled with fun, it was time to leave. The older youth prepared an amazing presentation on the country of Georgia using the new projector a PRUMC donor had given Kitski and showcased an elaborate dance for our departure. Also, two vocational programs have been established in the orphanage thanks to donations from Peachtree Road Sponsor-A-Child program. There is a Hair Styling program and our local plumber, Bondo, has been hired to teach the children the trade of plumbing. We hope to establish a bread-making vocational program soon so the children can learn to bake their own daily bread as bread is one of the more expensive foods delivered to Kitski each day.

Finally, the Peachtree Road Sponsor-A-Child program has been moved to February, so please consider re-sponsoring your "adopted" child at that time. Sponsor a child please contact; Lynn Banks at lynnsbanks@charter.net;

EMORY UNIVERSITY INTERNAIONAL AWARD - LADO GURGENIDZE
On November 15, Emory University honored Mr. Lado Gurgenidze with an International Award. Gurgenidze a Georgian and British citizen, received his MBA from Goizueta Business School of Emory University in 1993.

Lado Gurgenidze is a career banker who put the country of Georgia on the global institutional investor map by leading the first-ever international equity and debt capital markets issues by Bank of Georgia and the Georgian government as well as the country’s first-ever domestic IPO.

As Executive Chairman and CEO, he spearheaded a turnaround of Bank of Georgia increasing the bank’s total assets and net income many times over. In 2007-2008, Gurgenidze served as Prime Minister of Georgia, leading the Georgian economy through the final stage of free-market reforms including tax cuts, financial services sector reform as well as aggressive privatization and liberalization policies. In the aftermath of the August 2008 conflict with Russia, Gurgenidze was instrumental in stabilizing the Georgian economy and its financial sector.

In September 2009, Gurgenidze together with Dinu Patriciu established Liberty Investments. This year, Liberty Investments completed the first phase of acquiring a controlling equity interest in Liberty Bank, which has the largest client base in Georgia. The rebranded bank has returned to profitability, growing much faster than the Georgian banking sector.

W.SCOTT HENWOOD TEACHING IN GEORGIA
Scott Henwood greatly enjoyed his wonderful experience while teaching in Georgia. Much to Georgian student’s excitement, Scott returned to Tbilisi for three weeks this fall to teach the second installment of American Legal History at Ilia State University. Scott’s excellent teaching was not only limited to the University; he also taught a well-received Professional and Legal Writing course with the Georgian Justice Department in Tbilisi.

Thankfully, this will not be the last we hear of Scott Henwood’s outstanding teaching as he has been invited back to Tbilisi by the Justice Department and Ilia State University to teach again in 2011!

October 16, 2010
ATSCC & GA2GE foundation together with Friendship Force organization held its 3rd Annual Taste of Georgia on October 16th at the City Hall of Atlanta. Over 150 guests attended the event that benefited IDPs of Georgia as well as orphanages in Tbilisi and Kutaisi. The guests dined on Georgian traditional dishes, desserts and enjoyed Georgian Champagne. Honored guests included Congressman Jim Marshall, Fulton County Commissioner Robb Pitts, Ambassador to the USA Batu Kutelia, Major General William Terry Nesbitt. Congressman Jim Marshall was awarded Phoenix Award for his involvement with the country of Georgia; Norma & Jack Hassingers were awarded with Crystal Globe Award for their 20 years of dedication to the country of Georgia. Taste of Georgia was a great success and once again it brought together natives of the Country of Georgia together with their local friends who have been involved with their home country. It is this type of friendship and support that the country needs today so that it will continue its progress and development. Local Georgian community wants to thank all that were involved in the event and for all the hard work that people put in it to make it a such an unforgettable evening.

March 5-March 13, 2010
ATSCC hosted delegation of Prosecutors from the country of Georgia with National Peace Foundation for the Open World Program Social Issues theme "Rule of Law". Purpose of this visit was to let Georgian Prosecutors observe jury trial processes of criminal cases since the country of Georgia is adopting such processes for its court systems. The prosecutors visited John Marshall Law University, observed criminal cases at the Federal Courts, met with the US Attorney Sally Yates, visited with Charles Olson of Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia, enjoyed discussion with Jeff Dore of WSB-TV Channel 2 and visited Atlanta's favorite Coca-Cola museum and largest Aquarium in the world. Guests were very pleased with the trip, made great new friends and hope to soon begin utilizing their newly acquired knowledge of jury trial processes in their country.

February 11, 2010 
ATSCC Hosts Georgian Delegation through International Visitor Leadership Program
On February 11, 2010 ATSCC together with GA2GA Foundation held a reception for Georgian Delegation at Maggiano's restaurant. The delegation included: Mr. Boris Beraia, Chairman of Christian-Democratic Movement; Mr. Irakli Chikovani, Board Member of Our Georgia-Free Democrats; Mr. Vano Galakhvaridze, Executive Secretary for Christian-Democratic Movement; Ms. Nino Khatiskatsi, Program Director of Advocacy Legal Advice Center; Mr. Irakli Mamaladze, Head of Regional Management Services with National Forum. The evening was full of interesting conversations, sharing toasts and cultural differences.

January 26, 2010
Minister of Diaspora, Mr. Papuna Davitaia visited Atlanta, Georgia.
The reception for Mr. Davitaia and Georgians living in the State of Georgia was held on January 26, 2010 at Eno by Zaza restaurant. The meeting gave opportunity for Georgians to meet with Mr. Davitaia as well as with honored guest, Mr. Tkeshelashvili, Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure, First Vice-Prime Minister, and ask questions about the benefits of the Ministry; about opportunities between two Georgias, and future developments within the country of Georgia.