Dianne Mallernee – President Executive Board.  I have been married to Dwight (Tuse) for going on 33 years now.  We have two daughters and 4 grandsons.  I have two full time jobs at the present time, Di’s Mountain Getaway-Cabin Rentals/Property Management company, I have recently taken on my second career as a Sales Ad Rep for our local newspaper (The News Observer). 

I have been involved and still am involved with several other organizations here in Fannin County:  Fannin County Chamber of Commerce; Alzheimer’s Association; Healthy Women Advisory Council-Fannin Regional Hospital and of course Open Arms of Blue Ridge, which is very close and dear to my heart.

 I along with several others were part of a Fannin Leadership Class in 2004 that was offered by our local Chamber of Commerce.   It seemed to me after attending several of the classes, at the end of each class regardless of the topic, it appeared to always come back to our children here in Fannin County.  I was horrified to hear of the abuse and the neglect of our children here in this county, and the surrounding counties.  I felt I needed to come out of my shell that I had lived in for so many years and get involved somehow to help protect our children.  With all of that being said, myself and several others started a 501c3 non-profit organization called “Open Arms of Blue Ridge”.  Our Board has grown to 12 members now.  We have purchased a house and are in the mist of remodeling it.  Hoping that by the end of 2009 the house will be finished and ready for children.  And the child said, “I want to live here”.

     Stacy Lewis, VP Executive Board.  I am married to Scott and we have one daughter, Reese.  I am employed by United Community Bank in Blue Ridge, Georgia.

I decided to become involved with Open Arms of Blue Ridge after completing a 2004 Leadership Class in Fannin County.  It was alarming how much abuse our children were living through and how unaware the community was and still is to this fact.

This is what compelled me along with several others to try to create a place for the children to come and feel safe.

Barbara was born in New Albany, MS. and moved with her family to Memphis, TN. when she was 2. She attended Memphis State University before joining Delta Air Lines as a Flight Attendant. While flying, she resumed her studies at North Texas State University in Denton,Tx.

She was with Delta for 31 years, flying both domestic and international flights and being based in Chicago, Dallas, Boston, and Atlanta before retiring in 2001 to be home with her family. She and her family lived in Fayetteville, Ga. for 18 years. After the youngest child,Lauren, finished high school, Barbara and her husband, Dick, moved permanently to the Blue Ridge area in 2004.

After retirement, Barbara became a member of the Delta Clipped Wings, a non-profit, charitable organization of retired and active duty Flight Attendants. She served on the board there for 2 years and is still an active participant. Delta Clipped Wings sponsors 2 children’s charities: CURE Childhood Cancer, and Dreams Come True. In addition to these, Barbara is a committed contributor to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, TN. It seemed a natural transition to join Open Arms when asked by her church, Faith Presbyterian, to help in efforts to get this children’s emergency center built.

Barbara and her husband, Dick, have 4 children~ Melissa (Glenn), Chris (Beth), Lane and Lauren, and 3 grandchildren-- Hannah, Jackson, and Valiree. They currently live in Morganton.

Career Path:
Polk County Schools, Bartow, Florida
High School Business Teacher
High School Marketing Teacher
Federal Programs Administrator
Business Owner – Skeenah Mill, Inc.
Fannin County Family Connection – Executive Director

Professional Affiliations:
Polk County Vocational Association – Founder and President
Florida Vocational Association – Vice-President
Florida Marketing Teachers Association – President
National Educators Association
Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association –President
Appalachian Health Alliance – Board Chair
Appalachian Children’s Center – President
Fannin County Child Abuse Protocol Committee – Board Chair
Local Interagency Planning Team – Board Chair
Board of Realtors Citizen of the Year

As a graduate of the University of Georgia with a Bachelor's degree in Early childhood education, Ginnie Martin has spent her adult life dedicated to children.  She and her husband, Trip, have three grown children and a grand-daughter.  Ginnie also spent many years as a pre-school and elementary teacher.  Active in the PTA, community, and church, she brings to Open Arms experience in fund-raising and volunteer organization.  She has been a part time resident of Blue Ridge for over 30  years and donates her time to the Sunny D Children's Theater and Lucky 13 Fire Station.  She is also a member of the Fannin County Emergency Response Team and a graduate of the Leadership Fannin class of 2009.  Ginnie is looking forward to welcoming the children of Blue Ridge into their new home with open arms.

     Robbie W. Muschamp – Board Member.   I am married to David and we have 2 children Molly and Matthew.  We relocated to Blue Ridge from Savannah, Georgia in 2001.  Our church affiliation is St. Luke’s Episcopal.

Since moving to Blue Ridge I have become very involved in our community…here are a few organizations that I’m involved with now:

Fannin County Fire Station #13, Building Committee Secretary; Humane Society of Blue Ridge; Sunny D Children’s Theater, Committee Secretary and Summer Camp Coordinator and Open Arms of Blue Ridge.