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TODAY'S ISSUE
Recent events prompt Chamber to host safety workshop
By Meghan Beard
Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce
Special to GwinnettForum.com

MAY 20, 2003 -- Recently citizens have been inundated by television and newspaper stories emphasizing how unsafe the world can be. Traumatic and
devastating events including the post-September 11 Anthrax scares, the pepper spray incident in Chicago, the Rhode Island nightclub fire and the explosion on Staten Island have all demonstrated that citizens can be easily subjected to safety hazards at every turn.

Businesses have become increasingly aware of the importance of sound safety programs and emergency plans. In response to this growing need and concern, the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce has made the Gwinnett Safety Professionals Organization open and active for the business community.

The Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the largest Safety Professionals Conference in Gwinnett County on Wednesday, May 21 at the John D. Stephens Education Center, located in the Gwinnett Chamber building at 6500 Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth. The conference is sponsored by Emory Eastside Medical Center.

This conference seeks to educate workers and provide a way to learn safety tips and procedures from other businesses in Gwinnett. The Safety Professionals Conference will begin with registration and networking from 8a.m.and will be followed by presentations from safety experts.

… "Seven Secrets of Safety Success" by Roy Lantz of Roy Lantz Seminars;

… "Effective Use of Job Hazard Analysis: A Misunderstood Tool" from James E. Roughton, an author in the field;

… "Industrial Hygiene- Sampling for Contaminants" by Darryl Watson, industrial hygiene manager of ATC Associates;

… "Ergonomics" by Marty Kaput Frame, physical therapist with Physical Therapy Specialists, Inc.;

… "Emergency Preparation for Businesses" by Frank Daniell, deputy director of Gwinnett County Emergency Management Agency;

… "New OSHA Efforts and Opportunities for Employers", from Howard Mavity, partner with Fisher and Phillips legal firm.

Gwinnett Safety Professionals Organization members are welcome free of charge to the conference; Chamber member guests are $65 per person. Registration deadline is past, but call the Chamber (770-232-8816) to see if seating is still available.

The Gwinnett Chamber's Safety Professionals Organization is a coalition of individuals and organizations dedicated to promoting safety and health in the workplace. It encourages the effective exchange of information and experiences between members and collaborates with other organizations and businesses in areas of mutual concern to help promote the continuous advancement of safety
and accident prevention. It also seeks to facilitate knowledge in the health, safety, environmental and accident prevention profession.

This organization is open to all individuals and entities involved in the multi-discipline field of safety and accident prevention. Throughout the year, the organization will cover topics of concern from occupational safety and health to hazardous materials management.

To get involved in the Gwinnett Safety Professionals Organization today by contacting me at (770) 232-8816 or meghan@gwinnettchamber.org.

ELLIOTT BRACK
New Fallen Heroes Memorial at courthouse is stunning
By Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com

I refer to the Fallen Heroes Memorial at the Gwinnett Justice and Administrative Center. Dedication for the memorial is next Monday, May 26 at 2 p.m., quite fitting for Memorial Day.

The Memorial consists of 13 upright slabs of gray granite, with the names engraved onto the slabs of "fallen heroes" from Gwinnett County.

These heroes are commemorated for all the wars that our country has fought, back from Revolutionary War times, and includes law enforcement, firefighter, emergency medical personnel and other employees of the county who died in the line of duty.

Interestingly, the most names are from the War Between the States, where names of those who died take up three entire slabs.

The setting is the center of the parking circle in front of the courthouse. The memorial of gray slabs set back against the greenery of the trees, gives the site its own niche and a certain privacy. You will be impressed with this new Fallen Heroes Memorial.

When it comes to Relay for Life, we enjoy visiting the Fairgrounds in the early morning hours, about 3 a.m. It is less crowded on the walk around the Grounds, and often, the weather is cooler. When we were there this year, the moon was shining brightly.

Of course, time we left, the rains came again this year, but lasted only about 20 minutes.

Gwinnett has the largest Relay for Life in the world, raising more money than any Relay. This was the 10th year of the Relay for Life in Gwinnett, with the total funds for cancer research going over the $10 million mark "about midnight," says Sandy Ray, director of the Gwinnett unit of the American Cancer Society.

The goal of $2,010 million is still possible Sandy feels. "We are thrilled to be at $1.76 million mark now. We are tickled to death."

Altogether, Sandy estimates there were 8,000 registered participants, over 1,000 survivors walking at the opening ceremony, and altogether, close 10,000 people were involved in this year's Gwinnett Relay. That makes it by far the charity with the largest participation of people in Gwinnett each year. It is also the most successful of all fund-raising events in the county each year.

Walton EMC patrons are generous with their charitable dollars, contributing $64,000 since January 1 to help their neighbors through Operation Round Up. The program allows customers to "round up" their bill payment to the next even dollar, with proceeds benefiting local charities.

"These consumers are faithful to Round Up month after month," said CEO Ronnie Lee. "Many have been participating in the program from its beginning in 1997. Others who have moved into our service area have been contributors from the moment they became a new Walton EMC consumer. Their small change makes a huge difference every day in the lives of people close by." About 20 percent of Walton EMC customers participate in the program.

FEEDBACK
5/20: It's time to let the rule of law take its course

Editor, the Forum:

Vocal Minority, Vulture, Boo Bird, Very Vocal Minority, Fanatic, an ill-mannered parent, all holding grudges because my kid didn't measure up. Are but a few names used by the "higher echelon" of Gwinnett County to describe myself and a few other parents in Gwinnett that believe in the rule of law and have voiced those
opinions since the Gwinnett County student incident reporting scandal was published by the AJC and aired on WSB television.

What I find troubling is that the "higher echelon" has reverted to smearing people that support the very businesses they operate. They have failed to realize that many members of the "Vocal Minority" are customers, concerned and involved parents, voters and taxpayers whose children more than "measure up." They have failed to understand that these customers and voters need not wait until the next election to
make their voices heard. They may take their business to neighboring counties, reducing funds available for our schools, making a very loud statement, one that would, unfortunately, be heard by the very children we are all trying to help.

Perhaps it is time that we all, vocal minority and higher echelon alike, sit back and allow Gwinnett County District Attorney Danny Porter to do his job, to allow the rule of law to take its course, letting the chips fall where they may. It's time for all of us to get on about the business of assuring a safe well rounded education for
the children of Gwinnett County.

-- Jim Dumond, Buford

5/20: Pleased to report T-shirt no longer touted on radio

Editor, the Forum:

(Editor's Note: this letter refers to an item mentioned in a letter in the May 13 Gwinnett Forum. -eeb)

I am very happy to report that the links to purchase the T-shirt has been removed from the 96Rock and Cafepress sites!! This only happened because many of you took the time to exercise YOUR rights of "freedom of speech!" Thank you.

-- Cathy Smith, Grayson

5/20: Thinks 80-hour work period is jus as preferable

Editor, the Forum:

First, let me see if I have the facts right. You say a proposal before Congress changes the rules considerably, no longer requiring overtime. Don't you mean "no longer requiring overtime pay?" Earlier in the article, you refer to the workers getting "an option of either more money or more time off."

If they get an option, what's the objection? As to the change in the measurement period, who says that a week is more fair than three days (24 hours) or two weeks (80 hours)? I don't see the harm in changing the measurement period to compensate the employer for all the weeks that employees work less than 40 hours which I know you must have seen a lot, as I have over the years.

"Fair" should be just as subject to change as other things in our society when applied to employers as well as employees.

-- Chris Fluehr, Snellville

(Editor's note: let me see if I get this straight. You say "fair" can change? - eeb)