-R-E-A-M. Vera Stewart (BSHE, ’74) has these letters on her conference room wall in Augusta as a constant reminder to follow her dreams. This was the first thing I noticed when I visited her business, Very Vera, a gourmet cake, catering, and casserole enterprise. She is following her dreams. Vera has expanded from catering out of her home to opening a second store in a neighboring state.

What were your dreams when you were a student at Dawson Hall? Have your dreams come true? Everyone dreams about his or her perfect job (and everyone’s perfect job is different). I am happy to report I have found my dream job as Director of Alumni Relations for FACS!

As a fellow FACS graduate, it feels great to be back in Dawson Hall. From the moment I walked in the first morning, I knew this job would be different. I had a creative candy sign to welcome me. Everyone has given me the warmest of welcomes!

One of the favorite parts of my job is listening to alumni reminisce about their times spent in Dawson Hall, in a Home Management house, or on a study abroad trip. The alumni office is here to reconnect alumni with former friends and professors and to keep you informed about the current happenings at FACS. My dream is to help you find your niche to help you stay in touch with one another and with the College.

From this September’s South Campus Tailgate to our upcoming FACS Alumni Retreat scheduled for February 7-9, 2003, at New Ebenezer Retreat center near Savannah, your Alumni Board has been planning lots of fun and exciting programs and events to help you reunite, meet old friends, and make new ones! A BIG thank you to current Alumni Board President Kindra Watters and the rest of the Alumni Board for all of their hard work!

I would love to hear from you — where you are, what you are doing, what would bring you back ... I want you to come home to FACS! If you aren’t already involved in the Alumni Association, I will be happy to find a way to keep you connected to the people and programs in Dawson Hall as well as to thousands of FACS alumni all over the world!

Are you following your dreams? Let us know – we want to hear from you! Pick up the phone and give me a call (706) 542-4881 or drop me a line via e-mail to suzanne@fcs.uga.edu. Check out the Alumni Notes section then send us YOUR news for the next issue of FACS Magazine.