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AERN Annual Meeting Held on Flag Day in Demopolis
The AERN Partners' meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance on Flag Day, June 14, 2011, at the Demopolis Higher Education Center. Ms. Jenn Tate, Director of the Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the audience of community leaders, and Ms. Annette Watters, Co-Director of AERN gave a presentation about the predictors of rural prosperity. Ms. Mary Patterson, AERN Outreach Coordinator, summarized a formal program evaluation of the AERN that demonstrates how AERN is making a difference in Alabama. Mr. Paavo Hanninen, Co-Director of AERN, introduced Dr. Mike Hardin, who was recently named dean of the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration at the University of Alabama, and praised Dean Hardin's support of the AERN. Mr. Hanninen led a round-table discussion of AERN resources and how to get the word out about the AERN, as participants enjoyed a catered lunch from Smokin' Jack's Barbeque sponsored by Mayor Mike Grayson of Demopolis and the Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Sandy Smith of Monroe County discussed ways that she had used AERN's feature "Ask a Business Librarian" to get answers for her constituents, and business librarian Paul Brothers elaborated on the information available through the Bruno Business Library at the AERN centers. Guest speaker Tye Warren, an experienced entrepreneur, discussed the lending environment in rural Alabama and options available to business owners in a soft economy. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the AERN, commemorative tiles were presented to AERN partners present to recognize the powerful role they play in the sustainability and success of AERN. (More information to follow in AERNews Summer 2011.)
More photos from the Annual Meeting are available at the AERN's Flickr site.