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TODAY'S ISSUE
Judy Jordan Johnson is third generation
of family to serve on Lawrenceville Council
By Judy Jordan Johnson
Lawrenceville City Council member
Special to GwinnettForum.com

FEB. 4, 2003 - - January 6, 2003, marked the beginning of my term on the Lawrenceville City Council. I am the third generation member of my family to be chosen by the voters to manage the affairs of Lawrenceville.

My grandfather was on the city council in the 1940's and my father was mayor for 16 years. I don't remember my grandfather's terms because he served before my birth, but I do remember my father's terms as mayor.

When people speak of my father, I often hear: "He was a good man" or "He never wanted to spend the city's money unnecessarily" or "He had to be the slowest driver in Gwinnett County".

Some even say his tight reign on the budget is one of the reasons that the city is in good financial shape. I want the people to remember my father for his accomplishments as mayor and for his goodness to mankind. I don't want to take anything away from what he has done. I am very thankful that the city park bears his name.

Looking ahead, there are several values that my father gave to me that I want to take with me into this office. First, I want to have his strong faith in God, and his belief in prayer. He was faithful to attend church, to seek wisdom through the Bible, and to pray about his decisions on city matters.

Secondly, I want to have his listening ear and his desire to help people. When I worked for my father in his law office, people would come in to ask a question. They would often stay a half-hour or more. When they would leave, I would hear my father say, "No charge, just glad I could help you with your concern."

My father and City Utilities Superintendent Don Martin would ride around the city early in the morning to see that things were going well. I want to take my father's pledge, which was stated as follows: "I will support all programs for the improvement of the general welfare of our people according to the needs of the people and the financial ability of the city."

Thirdly, I desire my father's integrity and his wisdom to cast a vote in the best interest of the city. As in my father's terms, there will be times when friends will be on opposite sides of an issue and I will have to cast a vote. I want to adhere to my father's motto: "You can always agree to disagree and still be friends."

As I contemplate the future on the Council, I am grateful for the footsteps of my father. I will seek to make my own footsteps while maintaining an effort to follow his. I consider it a high privilege to serve the people of
Lawrenceville. I hope the voters supported me both for the Jordan in my name and for my ability and sincere desire to serve the citizens of
Lawrenceville.

ELLIOTT BRACK
Gwinnett law enforcement agencies vie
to raise funds for upcoming Special Olympics
By Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com

FEB. 4, 2003 -- There's no official wager, but the competition is getting fierce between the Gwinnett Sheriff's Department and the county Police Department over a good cause---Georgia's Special Olympics.

The two departments are seeing which can raise the most money for the Special Olympics in Georgia. In reality, law enforcement officers from all over the state are in this competition.

Gwinnett's Sheriff's Department topped all fundraisers in Georgia last year in raising money for the Special Olympics, bringing in $53,000. The money goes to help children and adults with mental retardation compete in Olympic-type sports events.

The Gwinnett Police Department did quite well themselves, raising $40,000 last year. The combined effort for all Gwinnett law enforcement agencies netted more than $120,000.

To date, the Gwinnett Sheriff's Department has raised approximately $35,000. Gwinnett police department is slightly behind with $30,000.

Cpl. Mike Pearson of the Police Department says: "We're going to do our 'darnest to beat the Sheriff's Department this year. They beat us last year through a more successful single event. We have more total events scheduled this year, and are competing against other states, too. And remember, all the money raised in Georgia stays here."

Throughout the winter and spring, both agencies are at the alert to raise more funds. For instance, the Sheriff's Department will hold a major raffle. The Police Department plans a golf tournament, as the single largest event, set for May.

Police Department Platinum Sponsors are North Georgia Telecom, BellSouth Long Distance, The International Brotherhood of Police Officers, and the Fraternal Order of Police. Sponsors for the Sheriff's Department are RSE, John D. Stephens, Inc., Madison Ventures, Ltd., Falling Water, Inc., The Brand Banking Company and The Bondsman.

The motto for Special Olympics is "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt." Sheriff Conway says: "Those are words we can all live by."

The Special Olympics Summer Games are set for May 30-31-June 1 at Emory University.

Meanwhile, Greater Atlanta Christian School hosted the 2003 Winter Olympics for the Severely Impaired on January 17, with some 200 athletes participating.

Since 1968, GACS has been heavily involved in community service efforts in the Metro Atlanta area, across the country and beyond. In the late 1980's, GACS began a special bond by attending and supporting the Atlanta-area Special Olympics. In 1997, GACS began hosting the area-wide event. This activity, which attracts approximately 200 age 7-19 special athletes from Metro Atlanta, gives them an opportunity to perform Olympic events.

In April of 1999, GACS began hosting the spring Olympics as well, welcoming special athletes from Metro Atlanta to their campus to participate in a wide arrange of track and field events. In April of 2002 over 400 area-wide Special Athletes participated on the GACS campus.

GACS coach, teacher and Summer Programs Director Dana Davis coordinates the school's involvement each year. She says: "This is one of our very favorite gifts to the Atlanta community, and what we have found is that we receive so much in return from these very special athletes."

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FEEDBACK
2/4: Little known fact concerning the butterfly

Editor, the Forum:

Did you know that the original name for a butterfly was "flutterby" ? Makes one wonder if politicians were involved. Do they not, even in the simplest of matters, try to reverse part of what the other side says?

-- Jerry Queen, LaFayette, La.

NEWS ITEMS
2/4: Two awards honor Scott Hudgens

Two different organizations are planning significant awards honoring the memory of the late Developer and Philanthropist Scott Hudgens Jr.

On January 31, the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce announced that it would establish The Scott Hudgens Award, to recognize a charitable institution in memory of Scott Hudgens. The language, announced at the annual banquet of the Chamber, says the award will go to "the charitable institution which best exemplifies the spirit of compassion and generosity to which Scott Hudgens was so deeply committed." It will first be presented at the annual meeting of the Chamber in January, 2004.

The second award will come from Peachtree Christian Hospice of Duluth, which Mr. Hudgens conceived and funded. The Hospice is holding a benefit gala and awards dinner on February 5, where they will announce the establishment of the "Scott Hudgens' Good and Faithful Servant" Award in his memory. That award is scheduled to go an individual who "exemplifies the unselfish spirit of love and caring for the people and the genuine interest in the community" that Mr. Hudgens showed.

The event will be held at the Atlanta Athletic Club at 6:30 p.m.

2/4: Carla Steel heads school's apprenticeship program

Gwinnett County Public Schools has a new champion to help students acquire skills for use in today's technologically advanced workplace. Carla Steele, formerly a Division Manager for Ricoh Electronics in Lawrenceville, is the new Apprenticeship Coordinator with the Gwinnett County Public School System.

Ms. Steele's priority will be to strengthen workplace partnerships in order to provide high-quality work-based experiences for Gwinnett system Juniors and Seniors. She will be calling on businesses to consider student apprentice in their workplace. In return, businesses will be growing potential employees to insure continued economic growth. For more information, please call Carla at 678-377-3963.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
One way to solve all of the problems of the world

"There is no human problem which could not be solved if people would simply do as I advise."

-- Author Gore Vidal

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