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TODAY'S ISSUE
Gwinnett may pass $10 million mark this year in Relay
By Phylecia Wilson
Gwinnett RFL Chair, 1994-1997
Special to GwinnettForum.com

MAY 13, 2003 -- It hardly seems possible. It was just 10 years ago that about 500 people came to South Gwinnett High School in Snellville in the form of 43 teams for the first American Cancer Society's Relay For Life in Gwinnett. They took turns walking the high school track for 24 hours to honor cancer survivors.

That first year, we raised $125,000, the most ever raised by a first-time Relay. A perennial top placer since, last year the Gwinnett Relay for Life had nearly 600 teams and netted $2,016,000 - the first Relay in the nation ever to raise or net $2 million.

This year on May 16-17 the Gwinnett Relay For Life will mark 10 years of bringing the community together to fight cancer. Another 600 teams will converge on the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds. The fundraising goal is $2.3 million.

Anyone who has ever been to a Relay, however, knows that Relay is so much more than a fund-raiser. Relay is an opportunity to recognize and support cancer survivors and those who are still battling the disease, when they take the first lap of Relay at 6:30 p.m.

It is a time to remember those who lost the battle and honor survivors during the Luminaria Ceremony at 10 p.m. Thousands of sand-filled bags with candles are lit, to shine and light the way for walkers throughout the night.

At the same time it is a time for fun, frivolity and just visiting with the thousands of people from Gwinnett's schools, businesses, corporations, churches and other religious organizations, civic clubs and neighborhoods. Relay For Life is a happening and has become Gwinnett's favorite event, as evidenced by the number of people who participate. Indeed, with the support and encouragement of Supt. Alvin Wilbanks, Gwinnett County Public Schools have more than 250 teams every year and raise about a third of the total dollars.

Since its inception in 1985, the national Relay For Life effort has become a national and international phenomenon, with 3,800 community locations and cancer organizations in nine other countries holding events this year. More than 2.5 million volunteers and 500,000 cancer survivors will make the American Cancer Society events successful this year, and one in every 100 Americans will be touched by Relay For Life.

Last weekend in Springfield, Mo., the ACS celebrated "A Billion Reasons to Relay," symbolically commemorating the $1 billion milestone for the event since its inception in 1985. Dr. Gordy Klatt's one-man marathon that year raised $27,000 in Tacoma, Wash. Relay For Life has since become the world's single most significant fundraising event.

By the time Relay ends on May 17, Gwinnett expects to see its own milestone - a ten-year total of $10 million raised by the Gwinnett community! On hand to celebrate with us, Dr. Klatt will be Gwinnett's honored guest on May 16. He will lead the Survivors' Walk, speak at Opening Ceremonies and be a part of the Luminary Ceremony.

What is it about Relay For Life that makes it so successful? We think it lies in the fact that it offers everyone in the community an opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer. It represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten and that those who face cancer will be supported. It moves toward the one day when cancer will be eliminated.

We look forward to seeing you May 16 at the fairgrounds for another outstanding Relay For Life in Gwinnett.

ELLIOTT BRACK
Congress trying to tinker with Fair Labor Standards Act
By Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com

MAY 13, 2003 -- At the turn of the century, labor conditions in the United States were not what they are today. Back then, conditions were "horrible."

… Children were routinely employed.
… Conditions were often hazardous.
… A fair wage was seldom seen.
… Overtime was virtually unknown.

All this led to the adoption of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. Why? Here's what Congress said:

"The Congress finds that the existence, in industries engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce, of labor conditions detrimental to the maintenance of the minimum standard of living necessary for health, efficiency, and general well-being of workers."

As a part of this bill, employing children was outlawed, overall conditions were improved, a fair wage was established, and provision was made for the payment of overtime to all workers who, in any one work week, were employed more than 40 hours. The rate for such overtime was set at 1.5 times the regular work rate.

The first minimum wage adopted by the Congress was for 25 cents per hour. It has been raised over the years. Today the minimum wage for most workers is $5.15 per hour.

Now the current Congress has before it proposals to make a drastic change in the payment provisions for all workers.

Instead of paying for overtime, a congressional proposal in the House of Representatives would allow employers to grant compensatory time. This is being called the "Family Time Flexibility Act." Those proposing the legislation say that it gives workers an option of either more money or more time off.

Labor officials have been in an uproar over the bill, noting that this is the first proposal to change the overtime provisions in 65 years.

The proposal of the compensatory time is figured at a rate of 1.5 times the normal hours. In other words, a worker employed for 50 hours in a week would get either 15 hours extra pay, or 15 hours of compensatory time, with cap of 160 hours of accumulated time in a year.

The bill also redefines a work period, from 40 hours a week, to 80 hours within two weeks. A worker employed for more hours one week would not be granted either overtime or comp time if in the two week period he worked only 80 hours.

We think back to the title of the original bill: "The Fair Labor Standards Act." In the intervening years since 1938, workers and employers have come to think of the 40 hour week as the standard, with the understanding that all hours worked past 40 would be compensated differently. In effect, management was being "fair" to workers.

That's what makes this proposal virtually unthinkable: it change the rules considerably, no longer requiring overtime. It also extends the work period before overtime to 80 hours, a new wrinkle entirely.

During these 65 years since the original bill's introduction, people all across this country recognized the "fairness" that the bill created. Now comes tinkering with fairness. It's a bill that the Congress should defeat, for the very reason that it infringes on fairness.

Times have changed, we agree. But fairness hasn't. The Family Time Flexibility Act should be defeated.

FEEDBACK
5/13: Let investigations of the school reporting go forward

Editor, the Forum:

Disparaging folks who do not support the high stakes tests, like Gateway, is a bit beneath you. Actually, most of the ones I've met have been quite active in their local schools, and are fully supportive of public education. They, like I, fail to see the value in putting so much emphasis on one test. And as for the cost, well, we could have had about three brand spanking new elementary schools by now for what's been spent on Gateway.

Be that as it may, I found your attempts to minimize the seriousness of falsifying the incident reports to the state to be rather feeble. It is not "virtually meaningless;" there are, or could be, serious repercussions for all concerned and every taxpayer in this county. The worst part of it, as you noted, was that Gwinnett's actual numbers are rather good when compared to what might be expected with our mix of students or other counties. So what happened?

From news reports and conversations with folks around the county, I believe most schools submitted the reports as required. They were reasonably accurate going in. Then, they were "adjusted", not to comply with rather clear instructions from the state, but to local thinking. Something like ignoring the speed limit for personal reasons. You may not like the law, but there is a penalty if you are caught. And there can be little doubt there were major changes made by central office personnel, including the non-reporting of serious (criminal) incidents. One or two might be a mistake; hundreds or thousands is quite deliberate.

So let the investigations go forward and the results published. Assess penalties, if any, in proportion to blame, regardless of whom it may involve. If our current board and superintendent stay on, as I see it, there will always be a cloud of suspicion hanging over them. An element of distrust will remain, not only by those who would rail at them in board meetings, but just average citizens who come into contact with the school system. The doubt that lingers will make, at times, their difficult jobs almost impossible. And that's the saddest part of this whole affair.

-- Bob Hawkins, Duluth

5/13: Exercise your freedom of speech

Editor, the Forum:

This is a link to a T-shirt that The Regular Guys from 96 ROCK are selling.

In case you can't make out the print on the back of the shirt it say: "Arguing on the internet is like competing in the Special Olympics , even if you win you are still retarded." See it at http://www.regularguys.com.

Don't hesitate to exercise YOUR freedom of speech and drop them a note!! I have had it with these guys constant degrading of others for the sake of "entertainment!"

This statement is disgusting. I don't know about you but I choose not to support such appalling, narrow minded, ignorant "entertainment" and advertising by no longer listening to 96 ROCK (Not that I ever really did much.)

-- Cathy Smith, Grayson

5/13: Says Rumsfield plan would never pass in election year

Editor, the Forum:

Like most Americans, I still worry about protecting my family and our country. I'm also getting tired of having my worries preyed upon by some of our national leaders who are using "national security" to sell Americans public policies that we normally wouldn't buy. The Rumsfeld Plan is a good example.

Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld has asked Congress to quickly pass legislation that would give the Department of Defense (DOD) unprecedented powers. The Secretary's bill would exempt defense facilities from complying with basic environmental laws such as the Clean Air Act and toxic waste laws.

The plan would give the Secretary increased power to give defense contractors huge pots of money with virtually no public oversight. And the Secretary wants the power to eliminate the rights, jobs and pay system for civilian defense employees, the very individuals who deployed and supported our troops in Iraq. These personnel changes go well beyond last year's controversial homeland security bill.

When asked why the Rumsfeld plan was being rushed through Congress now, one White House insider honestly answered, "Because it would never pass in an election year." That's another way of saying that we can sneak things through because voters aren't paying attention to what lawmakers are doing. I encourage all GwinnettForum readers and voters to start paying attention right now.

I support a strong Department of Defense. But I am not willing to unnecessarily sacrifice the health and safety of my family by letting DOD, which uses enormous quantities of hazardous materials, ignore the laws that protect our air and water. I'm also fed up with corporate contractors getting overpaid with my tax dollars. And I don't think that you reward the civilian defense employees who worked day and night to support our troops by asking them to do more with less or eliminating their jobs.

The Department of Defense just proved that we have the most effective armed forces in the world. Secretary Rumsfeld seems to be in a big hurry to fix a problem that doesn't exist. His plan defies common sense and reality.

-- Charlotte Flowers, Riverdale, Ga., National Vice President AFGE 5th District (American Federation of Government Employees)

NEWS
Norcross wants suggestions for a city slogan

The City of Norcross invites all residents to participate in its "Create-A-Slogan" Contest. As a critical part of the City's marketing efforts, we are looking for a new slogan or "tag line" to use in our marketing and public relations materials. The purpose of creating a slogan is to provide a consistent, concise, and positive message about Norcross that reflects the pride its residents feel about their community. It should embody both our history as well as our vision for the future. The slogan should be concise and no longer than seven words. You may submit as many entries as you like.

Entries should include the slogan followed by your name, address, and phone number(s). Please submit your entry or entries by May 26, 2003 to the attention of Lauren Blaszyk by mail, fax, or e-mail at lblaszyk@norcross-ga-gvt.com.