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Gwendolyn B. Guster Welch,
President
Message from the President (pdf)
On March 19, 2002, the Birmingham City Council appointed Gwendolyn B.
Guster Welch to serve as a Trustee on the Birmingham Public Library
Board. Since then, Mrs. Welch has served as Finance Committee Chair,
Public Relations Committee Chair, Retreat Committee Chair, Policies,
Procedures and Bylaws Committee Chair, and Vice-Chair of the Library
Board. In November, 2008, board members elected her as Library Board
Chair. Her term on the board expires in December 2012.
Mrs. Welch has a varied background in the education field and
understands the needs of a public library system and its patrons. She
has been employed with the Birmingham Board of Education for over 34
years, having worked as a school media specialist, attendance officer,
and attendance/hearing officer. In 1999, Mayor Bernard Kincaid appointed
her as Birmingham’s first Education Liaison between city hall and
Birmingham Board of Education. She served in that capacity for 8 years.
Currently, she is executive assistant to the superintendent.
Mrs. Welch is committed to public service, having volunteered for
various community boards and committees. She has been an active
participant on the Birmingham Board of Education Family Involvement
Advisory Board, the Birmingham Board of Education Fine Arts Advisory
Committee, the Alys Stephens Center Education Committee. She currently
serves as the Birmingham Arts and Culture Committee Chair. She was a
foster parent for several years and is an active member of St. John AME
Church.
A resident of Birmingham, Mrs. Welch received a Bachelor of Arts in
Business Administration from Miles College, and a Master of Arts in
Education and Advance Study in Education from the University of Alabama
in Birmingham. She has completed additional studies at the University of
Montevallo, Lawson State Community College, and Samford University.
Mrs. Welch is married to Arthur L. Welch and the mother of one son,
Attorney Eric L. Guster.
Message from the President 2009 (pdf)
Message from the President 2010
(pdf)
Email address:
gwelch1745@gmail.com |
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Gwendolyn R. Amamoo, Vice-President
Mrs. Gwendolyn R. Amamoo is a Birmingham native, a product of
the Birmingham Public school system, (Wilkerson and A. H. Parker High),
a graduate of Miles College and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
She has worked in the Birmingham School system for many years and
currently leads the teacher mentoring program through the Professional
Development Department. Mrs. Amamoo is committed to giving back to her
community. She is a member of numerous professional and civic
organizations, which includes the American Library Association, Life
Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the Birmingham Sister City
Commission, Ghana Committee Chair, and is a deaconess at the Sardis
Missionary Baptist Church. Her commitment to service is extended
globally as she and her husband take yearly mission/medical trips to
Ghana, West Africa, her husband's native land. Mrs. Amamoo is married to
Dr. Paul A. Amamoo and they are the proud parents of, Ahinee, Nii-Amar
(Brenda), and Amartei. |
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Samuel A. Rumore, Jr., Parliamentarian
A Birmingham native, Sam Rumore is a graduate of John Carroll
Catholic High School, Notre Dame University, and the University of
Alabama School of Law. He has practiced law in Birmingham since 1974. He
is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Central Alabama Mensa, and the YMBC Civic
Forum. An avid local historian and former Chairman of the Jefferson
County Historical Commission, Mr. Rumore has written articles on the
history of each courthouse and county seat in the State of Alabama,
published in The Alabama Lawyer Magazine. He served as
President of the Alabama State Bar in 2000-2001 and is presently
Chairman of the Alabama Lawyers' Hall of Fame Selection Committee. He
was named a Super Lawyer of Alabama in the area of Family Law in 2009.
Mr. Rumore is a retired Colonel in the United States Army Reserve. He is
a 2010 MLIS graduate of the School of Library and Information Studies at
the University of Alabama and was inducted into Beta Phi Mu
International Library Science Honor Society. Sam is married to Pat Boyd
Rumore and they have three adult children, Claire, Theresa, and Samuel.
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Nell Allen
Nell Allen, the daughter of the late Ollis and Mable Lee, is a native of
Greensboro, Alabama. After completing her studies at A. H. Parker High
School, she earned a B.S. degree from Tuskegee University (elementary
education), an M.S. degree from Southern Illinois University (elementary
education), and an “AA” Certificate from the University of Alabama at
Birmingham. She also studied at the University of Alabama, Miles
College, and Alabama A & M University.
Mrs. Allen taught for 36 years in the Birmingham Public School System.
She also served as president of the Oakwood Place Neighborhood
Association for twelve years and is the founder and president of the
Oakwood Place Neighborhood Improvement Corporation.
In 2003, Mrs. Allen received the F.B.I Community Leadership Award. She
also received the Jefferson County Health Department Community Service
Award in 2007 and the West End Outstanding Service Awards in 1999, 2000,
2004, and 2007.
Mrs. Allen is member of the Thirgood Memorial C. M. E. Church. She is
married to Bill Allen (40 years). They are the proud parents of one
daughter, LaTonya, and two grandchildren, TeVerius and Traveon. Her
hobbies include doing yard work and forming coalitions with neighbors to
improve the community.
Email address:
nellallen@bham.lib.al.us
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Georgia Morgan Blair
Mrs. Blair is a Miles College graduate, and also attended the
University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is retired after having worked
as a placement interviewer and social worker. Mrs. Blair worked with the
following organizations: Birmingham Public Schools (Jones Valley PTA,
Treasurer), Jones Valley Neighborhood Association (Secretary), Alabama
Literacy Council (volunteer), Jefferson County Progressive Democratic
Council, Inc. (Secretary and member), Our Lady of Fatima (PTO President
and Vice-President), Our Lady of Fatima (school board member), NAACP,
Junior Achievement, and Miles College Boosters Club.
Professional memberships include: Alabama Retired State Employees
Association, International Association of Personnel in Employment
Security, American Library Association, Southeastern Library
Association, Public Library Association, and the Alabama Library
Association.
Mrs. Blair is the recipient of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
award for ten years of service, as well as the Junior Achievement award
for five years of service.
Mrs. Blair is married to Lewis Blair and is the mother of one son,
Gregory L. Blair. |
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Dr. Monique Gardner-Witherspoon
Dr. Monique Gardner-Witherspoon currently serves as the President and CEO of Girls Incorporated of Central Alabama. Prior to that appointment she served as the Area Superintendent for the Southwest Area of the Charlotte Mecklenburg School (CMS) System in North Carolina and was previously the Area Superintendent of the North Learning Community. Before being named Area Superintendent, she was the Executive Director for the East Learning Community. In addition, Dr. Gardner-Witherspoon was the Executive Director for the Human Resource Division where she oversaw instructional and non-instructional employment, orientation, licensure, performance evaluation and management, succession planning and other aspects of employment and talent acquisition.
Dr. Gardner-Witherspoon has been a long time educational practitioner and administrator who began her career as a teacher, guidance counselor and was later named assistant principal and principal during her tenure in CMS as well as a number of other school districts. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting, a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s degree in education, an education specialist degree in educational leadership and a doctorate in educational leadership.
Dr. Gardner-Witherspoon was recognized as the Region 6 Superintendent of the Year by the North Carolina Middle School Association and had received numerous awards and recognition for her work with educational reform efforts.
Her husband, Dr. Craig Witherspoon, is the Superintendent of Birmingham City Schools. They have one son, who is in sixth grade.
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Dora Sims
Dora Sims was officially sworn in to serve as Birmingham Public
Library (BPL) Trustee in October 2010. She is the Immediate Past
President of the Friends of Birmingham Public Library and served on the
Library Board in that capacity. Under her leadership, she introduced the
Annual Friends Newsletter which is now a quarterly publication. During
her tenure as President, The Friends received “national recognition”
from ALTAFF (Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and
Foundations), a division of the American Library Association, for its
annual membership drive that grossed $3,000. The drive led to the City
awarding a Proclamation to The Friends for projects not funded by the
City. BPL’s Local Authors’ Expo, sponsored by The Friends, is now one of
the state’s largest venues for authors of self-published books.
Ms. Sims is a native of Autauga County (Billingsley), Alabama and
graduate of Chilton County Training School in Clanton. She holds an AAS
Degree from Lawson State Community College (1968), a Bachelor of Arts
Degree from Birmingham-Southern College (cum laude—1984), and Paralegal
Certification (2002) from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She
also completed additional studies at Jefferson State Community College
and Booker T. Washington Business College.
Dora Sims retired from The Birmingham News with 35 years of
service. She volunteers with Birmingham City Schools and specializes in
working with “special needs” children. Ms. Sims has served as a
neighborhood/community leader for the past twenty years and is an avid
book reader, doll collector and writer. She is a member of Sixth Avenue
Baptist Church and devotes much of her time to work with the Imperial
Club, Inc.
Ms. Sims is married to Ira A. Sims. They have one daughter, Tiffany; a
niece, Sherrita; and one granddaughter, Tayla.
Email address:
dusims@bham.lib.al.us
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The Honorable John Scott Vowell
John Scott Vowell was appointed as a Trustee of the Birmingham
Public Library in January 2011. Born in Calhoun County (AL), he was
educated in the public schools of Anniston, Jacksonville and Calhoun
County, Alabama. Vowell received his B. S. Degree from Auburn University
in 1959, and a J.D. Degree from the University of Virginia in 1961.
Since 2003 he has served as Presiding Judge for the Tenth Judicial
Circuit in Birmingham. Previous positions have included Circuit Judge,
Civil Division, Tenth Judicial Circuit (1995 to present) and General
Civil Trial Practice in Birmingham (1961 through 1994). He is a member
of the American Bar Association, National Conference of State Trial
Judges; Alabama State Bar Association; Birmingham Bar Association; Inns
of Court, Birmingham Inn (Past president); American Judicature Society;
American Judges Association; Alabama Pattern Jury Instruction Committee
(Civil); Alabama Circuit Judges Association (President Elect); Chairman,
Alabama Circuit Judges Judicial Education Committee; Fellow, Alabama Law
Foundation; and the American Law Institute. Vowell has served on the
boards of the Alabama Court of the Judiciary; Birmingham Legal Aid
Society, Past President and Director; Honorary Chairman, Birmingham
Annual Bench/Bar Retreat; Manager, Jefferson County Law Library,
Judicial Award of Merit, Alabama State Bar (2005); Drayton N. James
Award, Young Lawyers Section (2000 and 2006); Facility Member, National
Judicial College; Birmingham Volunteer Lawyers Program Board. Birmingham
Bar Foundation Board. Other civic involvement includes Birmingham Rotary
Club; Birmingham Metro YMCA, Trustee; Greater Alabama Council, Boy
Scouts of America, Director; Opera Birmingham, Board; Space One Eleven,
Board; Oak Hill Memorial Association; St. Andrew’s Society of the Middle
South (Past President); and Episcopal Cathedral Church of the Advent.
Scott Vowell is married to Cameron McDonald Vowell. They have one son
John Scott Vowell, Jr. |
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Katrina Michelle Watson
Katrina Michelle Watson was appointed as a Trustee of the
Birmingham Public Library in January 2011. After graduating from
Washington University in St. Louis, Ms. Watson worked for her alma mater
as Senior Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions. In 2008, she
moved to Birmingham, where she currently works as a Major Gifts Officer
with the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
A devoted civic leader, Ms. Watson founded Jireh’s, a St. Louis, MO
organization that helps financially-strapped families celebrate
Thanksgiving by providing Thanksgiving groceries and a
restaurant-catered holiday meal. A strong believer in financial
literacy, she helped women start and sustain their own businesses during
a period of study in Capetown, South Africa. Ms. Watson further lives
out her commitment to serve through her involvement with the Birmingham
Change Fund, the Birmingham Urban League Young Professionals, the
Rotaract Club of Birmingham, Sisters/Chaverim, Threads, and College Prep
Alabama.
Ms. Watson has received numerous honors and awards over the years. In
2001, Ms. Watson had the distinct privilege of being selected by Georgia
Girls State as one of two females to meet then-President, George W.
Bush. In 2010, B-Metro Magazine recognized her as one of Birmingham’s
most outstanding young professionals. She is a participant in the third
class of BLAZE, UAB’s university-wide Leadership Academy. Ms. Watson
attends Greater St. John Missionary Baptist Church and is married to
Lyord Watson, Jr. |
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