40th RBANA 2020 AGM Event Details
The upcoming 2020 Robert Burns Association of North America (RBANA) Conference will be hosted April 23 -to- 26 by the Burns Club of Atlanta. The Club was founded in 1896 and is housed in its historically registered Cottage (1910), the exact replica of Robert Burns’ birth home in Alloway, Scotland. The conference-weekend will be based at the modern Georgia Tech Hotel in trendy Midtown Atlanta (Spring & 5th Street) with direct public MARTA Transit available from the airport to many points around the city.
Weekend activities begin at 6:00PM Thursday evening with a cocktail reception at the Burns Cottage, followed by an optional Best of Atlanta BBQ dinner at Fox Brothers, a favorite of locals and celebrities alike.
Friday morning will see a Golf Tourney for those interested in competing, time for Atlanta sightseeing (e.g. Stone Mountain, Atlanta History Center and its famous Locomotive and Cyclorama mural, The World of Coca-Cola, the Georgia Aquarium, etc.) with breakfast and lunch on your own. Afternoon Registration at the hotel begins at 2:00PM and continues through the afternoon. Goody bags will be given to registrants. The Executive Board meeting will convene during the afternoon, allowing more free time for exploration of Atlanta sights. A pre-dinner beverage-hour hosted by the outgoing RBANA President begins at 5:30PM, which will be followed at 6:30PM by an informal buffet dinner and ceilidh featuring musical entertainment, as well as a Master of Ceremonies (MC) to coordinate the evening.
Saturday breakfast is on your own and will be followed by the Annual General Meeting (AGM) from 9:30-11:30AM. After time for lunch, either at the hotel or around town (Check out the famous “Varsity” within an easy walk from the hotel – “Whaddya have?! Whaddya have?!”) the afternoon is set aside for seminars at the hotel addressing topics important for RBANA clubs, e.g. “How to build membership”, “How to host a noteworthy Burns Dinner”, and includes a presentation by Professor Patrick Scott. The annual memorial Burns Quiz will also be taking place.
The pre-dinner drinks reception hosted by the incoming President will precede the 6:30PM formal dinner with Highland Formal or Black-Tie dress highly recommended. The MC will hold forth to guide the evening and announce the winners of the Quiz and annual Poetry contests. Music with the de rigeur bagpipes and pomp will accompany the evening.
This will be a memorable weekend for all members of RBANA and their loved ones. Come enjoy Atlanta in the Spring when it’s at its best.
Please remember that membership dues must be paid to ensure membership in-good-standing, which is required for voting at the AGM!!!!
Mark Ferguson – Event Coordinator