EAAvesdropping is spending a bit of time with the family this holiday season, which is why posting has been a bit slow for the past couple of weeks (and probably will be until next week). Still, we're keeping track of news and are excited to see that the Emory Alumni Association (EAA) and Emory Annual Fund's (EAF) cookie decorating day earned a mention on the Drop in & Decorate: Cookies for Donation website.

Nice for us, but way nicer for the families at the Gatewood Ronald McDonald House, who received the treats.

--Eric Rangus, director of communications, EAA

Tuesday morning, December 22, the Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) Staff Recognition Committee crashed the DAR Information Services holiday party. It was a friendly takeover as the staff recognition committee delivered hot chocolate, apple cider, highly coveted Mini-Moo's coffee creamers and ... a string quartet.

The Emory Annual Fund was in desperate need of some holiday cheer this year, so I took it upon myself to usher in the holiday season with a little decorating. The theme this year is A Blue Christmas, and it really looks quite HAMdsome, if I do say so myself. (That’s right, I went there…and there are plenty more pork references to come.)

Now, you may be thinking, what reason do I, The Blue Pig, have to be blue this holiday season. (And of course, many of you may be thinking, what the heck is The Blue Pig, and why is it writing today's EAAvesdropping post.)

After all, so far this fiscal year more than 300 Emory undergraduates have embraced the spirit of giving that is embodied in the Emory community and have contributed over $2,500 to the Class Gift Campaigns, and that number will only grow as we move into next semester.

Don’t get me wrong, I like to go HOG wild during holidays as much as the next even-toed ungulate, but it’s not an easy time to be a swine. Some folks dread gathering around the table with their loved ones and the string of off color jokes from your BOARish uncle that inevitably ensues. During those times, just remember that things could always be worse. After all, your holiday dinner would not be possible without significant contributions from my family. (I’ll miss you Uncle Sal!)

Have a happy holidays and a PIGtastic new year!

Oink, oink, oink!!

--The Blue Pig, Class Gift Campaign mascot, Emory Annual Fund

And that's good enough for me!

Yesterday, staff here in the Miller-Ward Alumni House decorated holiday cookies for delivery to the Ronald McDonald House, which is located just around the corner.

Just a small, happy and hopefully helpful way to celebrate the season.

I think my favorite is that Christmas tree in the foreground, although I think I see a blank spot. Good thing my mom didn't see that. She'd make me move things around to cover it up.

-- Eric Rangus, director of communications, EAA

Yes, all the lights were shut off immediately after this picture was taken, honest!

The $81.3 million Whitehead Biomedical Research Building opened in 2002 as Emory's first Leadership in Energy Environmental Design (LEED)-certified building. The LEED program was established by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) to promote environmentally friendly, whole building design practices.

Buildings on campus with LEED designation save energy and water, feature improved air quality, are sited appropriately--such as in areas with public transportation, and are constructed using a percentage of recycled, local or rapidly renewable building materials.

Academically, the Whitehead Building is home to the Departments of Human Genetics and Physiology, the Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, and research programs in the departments of Medicine and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.

Whitehead's environmental friendliness was a harbinger of things to come ... by the end of the 2009-10 academic year, Emory is projected to cross the threshold of 2 million square feet of LEED construction.

GALALALALA, LA, LA, LA, LA!

Despite an already-stacked calendar of holiday events and festivities, Emory Gay and Lesbian Alumni (GALA), Emory OUTLaw, and the Goizueta Pride Alliance had a wonderful showing at this year’s GALA Holiday Social last Friday, December 4.

The event, which was organized and executed by Terry Sartor 93B 93C (long-time GALA alumni volunteer leader) was held at Mixx--a fun, simple, clean (!) establishment that is, self-admittedly, fairly unknown at the moment.

In many ways, Mixx was the perfect venue for this year’s Holiday Social–like the event and the people who attended, Mixx was carefree, but put together with thought and care. Among the limited offering of LGBT bars in Atlanta (or, rather, the limited offering of non-sketchy LGBT bars in Atlanta), Mixx was something new. And new was nice.

GALA’s partnership with Emory OUTLaw and the Goizueta Pride Alliance was also a nice addition. The positive impacts of this new partnership were immediately apparent upon entering the event, as alumni from all of Emory's schools and affiliations reveled in the holiday spirit side-by-side.

The best part: everyone seemed to be having fun, a feeling easily overlooked in a season jam-packed with shopping lists, extended family, and resolution planning. It may have been the stellar service, or the smell of tasty food in the air. Or maybe it was the campy--albeit charming--vintage video clips being projected on the walls . . . or perhaps it was the twinkling Christmas lights scattered throughout the private room. Heck, maybe it was just the cocktails talking . . . whatever magical combination of factors brought on the palpable sense of relaxation at this year’s GALA Holiday Social, it was something special--something special that this event planner wishes he could bottle up and save for later.

Cheers to a wildly successful holiday event, and to hoping others will be just as great this season!

Ben Corley 07C, assistant director, regional programs, EAA

More than 150 alumni attended the New York Chapter of Emory Alumni's Fourth Annual Toys for Tots Holiday Party in the heart of Manhattan at the plush Touch Lounge, Thursday, December 3. Guests enjoyed premium cocktails and tasty nibbles while grooving to Emory's very own DJ David Marc Kuntz 98B 04MBA. Everyone left with a warm and fuzzy feeling--not from the open bar, but from the huge donation of toys and books collected at the door for Toys for Tots.

See more photos on the EAA's Facebook fan page.