TODAY'S ISSUE
Thank you Gwinnett for Great Day of Service volunteerism
By Ellen Gerstein
Gwinnett Coalition of Health and Human Services
Special to GwinnettForum.com

NOV. 23, 2004 -- Thank you Gwinnett! Another Great Days of Service (the fifth annual) has come and gone.

October 22 and 23, 2004 was bigger and better than ever. Thanks to over 78,000 volunteers engaged in over 200 community service projects. Over half of Gwinnett County School children were involved this year building youth volunteerism and leadership, WOW!

Volunteers did amazing work during these two days. Volunteers represented all sectors of our community. Individuals, businesses, schools, churches, and civic clubs pitched in to continue to make Gwinnett a great place to live, work and play and live up to our slogan "Success Lives Here." Projects included exterior and interior painting, murals, electrical, building and carpentry, roofing, construction, food and school supply drives, landscaping, etc.

None of this would be possible without the vision of our chairperson and founder, Paige Havens. She had a dynamic committee of over 20 of Gwinnett's hardest working volunteers. Cheers to Paige and her committee; we are so very grateful.

Another group that makes this event so successful is our sponsors. We are forever thankful to our Superstar sponsors Primerica Financial Services and Gwinnett Place Ford.

Other sponsors included: Advanced Computing Technologies, Georgia Power, Scientific Atlanta, Hayes James & Associates, Discover Mills, Peoples Bank & Trust, Northeast Atlanta Metro Assn. Of Realtors, E2E Resources, Steve Logan, Gwinnett Convention & Visitor's Bureau, Wellsys Corp., Waffle House, Andersen, Tate, Mahaffey & McGarity, Buck Jones Landscaping, Precision Planning, Northeast Georgia Community Foundation and Larson Juhl.

The event was kicked off with a celebration breakfast and several awards. For outstanding service of a corporate citizen, the late Thomas James of Lawrenceville was honored. Technology Park Atlanta sponsors the Crystal Angel Award for citizen volunteerism, which was won by Carolyn Hill of Suwanee. The Gwinnett Health System won for best agency project.

Lasting impact can be felt long after the Great Days of Service is over. Two examples are as follows: Primerica Financial Services partnered with the JM Tull YMCA and the Lawrenceville Boys and Girls Club. Primerica painted bleachers, killed poison ivy, cut down kudzu, mowed grass, replaced infields and many other tasks. The children who play on these fields could not believe what they saw the following week.

Many of the parents felt they would have liked to enroll their children in other sports programs with nicer amenities but could not afford them. Now they feel good about the program in which their child is participating. The children were also proud and their coaches reported they even played harder.

Another project involved the Southeastern Railway Museum and the Hi-Hope Service Center. Hi-Hope is a non-profit organization providing comprehensive services to adults with mental and physical disabilities. A group of clients from the Hi-Hope Center went to the SE Railway Museum and washed trains. On this day the Hi-Hope clients were as productive and valuable as the vice presidents of Primerica! They were able to go out and prove to themselves and the community that they are capable of giving back to their community and that they should be valued as productive members of our community.

Gwinnett's Great Days of Service continues to "Make a Difference" for our volunteers, agencies and most of all for those less fortunate in our community throughout Gwinnett. Won't you join us next year on October 28, 29 2005, and make it the Best Gwinnett Great Days of Service yet. For more information visit our website at www.gwinnettgreatdaysofservice.org.

ELLIOTT BRACK
Precinct splitting by Legislature costs counties dearly
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com

NOV. 23, 2004 -- Gwinnett had a relatively smooth election earlier this month, with a record 83 percent of those registered voting. That's 244,716 casting ballots, out of 298,144 registered! However, voting was far more complicated than it should have been, thanks to the Georgia Legislature. Here's why.

When the Legislature reapportioned the state last year, it allowed splitting of precincts for state senate and house seats.

And for the first time, Gwinnett found itself in a pickle, with 108 of the 148 voting precincts having at least one race where two people represented part of that precinct. It makes it far more difficult for the voting officials, for they must determine in which part of the precinct you live before giving you a voter access card, so that you get the right ballot when you insert the card into the computer.

(Look at it another way. Altogether, there were 163 different ballots required for Gwinnett County. That also means that when getting ready for absentee ballots, the county had to print 163 different ones. Think of the cost!)

The split precinct requirement caused problems in two precincts, where the wrong candidates were listed on ballots. However, in both instances, the winner of the race won by a big enough margin that there was no question about the winner. To show just how closely and oddly the Legislature draws districts, there were no eligible voters living in the small corner of one precinct where the winning candidate was running.

Elections Supervisor Lynn Ledford maintains one reason Gwinnett County has not previously had precincts split within election boundaries was because of former Elections Supervisor Bill Northquest. "He fought reapportioning by splitting precinct lines. Other metro counties, particularly Cobb County, had previously been split along precinct lines, and now Cobb is one of the worst in the state."

What all this means is that splitting political districts by precincts amounts to an extra tax burden for the county, something of an unfunded mandate. The cost can be seen in what is about to happen: Gwinnett County must go over each registered voter, person by person, to ensure that they are placed in the right voting district. Ledford says: "We will start the first week in December, and it will probably take 5-6 people until next September to finalize the voting list by correct district and precinct." She estimated the personnel cost alone at $200,000, not to mention the extra cost of splitting precincts when it comes to computer programming and printing of 163 different absentee ballots.

When you see your state senator or representative, tell them they can help us all out by not allowing splitting of precincts next time there is a reapportionment.

* * * * *

Other voting tidbits:

It required 2,800 temporary poll workers for the 2004 Gwinnett election, and that wasn't enough. "We could have used at least 3,000," Ledford says. Figure that these people work only three or four times each election year, and the relatively smooth election was an amazing feat.

The 83 per cent turnout beat the 81.4 per cent turnout of 1992.

Ledford anticipates that for the 2006 election, there will be more people voting in advance, since for one reason, the time allowed will be up to 14-15 days before the election, compared to five days this year. Altogether, 11,000 people voted in advance in Gwinnett.

Ms. Ledford anticipates that four satellite voting locations, in addition to the courthouse, will be available in 2006, when we elect a governor."

Altogether, election 2004, in Gwinnett, turned out much more smoothly than it could have been. It takes good advanced planning for such a smooth operations. Congratulations to the Election Board, Lynn Ledford and her staff, for their good effort!

ABOUT OUR SPONSORS

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FEEDBACK
11/23: Upset with content of programming on cable TV

To the editor:

I am greatly alarmed by the programming on some of the so-called basic cable networks.

A new Special Report by the Parents Television Council shows just how licentious and depraved some of the programming on basic cable is. I urge you to read the report, which can be found at www.ParentsTV.org.

The PTC's report shows that basic cable is rife with some of the most obscene themes and content imaginable, including pornography, masturbation, oral sex, anal sex, threesomes, statutory rape, incest, and bestiality. Why should I be forced to bring this sewage into my home in order to watch the Food Network, or the Disney channel? Why should parents have to subsidize channels that undermine their core values and beliefs?

I ask you to consider families like mine when you decide on cable choice. By offering me the ability to choose the channels I want, and to pay only for those channels, you put power back in the hands of the consumer and force the producers of indecent or violent programming to fund their own "raunch." These raunchy cable networks have been carried on the backs of American consumers long enough. It is time for this extortion to end, and you have the power to stop it.

-- Roy F McCreary, Dacula

Dear Roy: Remember, cable television is a licensed franchise of local government. By contacting your local government which franchises your cable, you can hope to influence how you may pay and what will be on your cable service. --eeb

11/23: Volunteer to make a difference in the lives of children

Editor, the Forum:

The Gwinnett Neighborhood Leadership Institute (GNLI), www.gnli.org, which trains and empowers local citizens and community leaders to promote positive changes in their neighborhoods and communities, invites you to give your time and talent to meet the needs of foster children, the most invisible citizens of Gwinnett County. One of the greatest ways to give is volunteering. Please join GNLI's Class of 2005 in its partnership with Foster Children's Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, located in Duluth.

Volunteers are needed to:

• Collect donated items
  
• Sort donated items
  
• Staff the distribution center during the monthly open house
  
• Staff special events
  
• Provide specialized or professional services
  
• Recruit other volunteers

How to volunteer:

1) An upcoming event where you can sign up is December 17, at "Coats for Kids", a partnership between the Gwinnett Gladiators and The Foster Children's Foundation Inc (FCF). This will be at the Gwinnett Arena, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth. Bring a coat to donate.

2) Or contact the founder and director, Suzanne Geske, at info@fosterchildrensfoundation.org or phone (770) 623-6135.

Experience the joy that comes only from giving. Please volunteer with the Foster Children's Foundation and make a difference in the lives of these children right here in your own backyard.

-- Josef K. Fain, Bethlelem, Ga.

NEWS
Tree lighting, Santa set in Lawrenceville on Thanksgiving

Gwinnett County Parks & Recreation and the City of Lawrenceville will present the 17th annual Lighting of the Tree celebration on Thanksgiving Day.

Gwinnett's annual tradition is held at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse, located on the square in historic downtown Lawrenceville. Festivities will begin at 5 p.m. with live entertainment, horse-drawn carriage rides and self-guided tours of the courthouse. Santa Claus will arrive by horse and carriage at approximately 6:45 p.m.

Another highlight of the evening includes the grand opening of the Gwinnett Veteran's Memorial room that features military memorabilia and historic artifacts from the Civil War to present. The grand opening takes place at 5 p.m. and will remain open until 8:30 p.m. that evening.

The centerpiece of the celebration is a 35-foot Fraser Fir wrapped with thousands of lights. Another highlight of the event will be the courthouse itself, which is festively decorated both inside and out, including an elaborate miniature Christmas snow village and festival of trees.

After Thanksgiving, the courthouse will be open to the public every weekend (Friday-Sunday) from December 3- December 19 from 4:30-8 p.m. for self-guided tours and visits with Santa (photos are $4). Carriage rides will be offered on Saturdays only from 5-8 p.m. and cost $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under that are accompanied by an adult.

Live entertainment will also be featured Saturday evenings throughout Christmas at the gazebo. For more information, call the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse at (770) 822-5450.

Holidays in Norcross offer varied line-up of events

The holidays kick off in Norcross on Friday, December 3 with the lighting of the Christmas tree and arrival of Santa Claus in Thrasher Park at 7 p.m. The City of Norcross will once again provide free horse-drawn carriage rides around downtown beginning the same evening. The rides will continue every Tuesday and Wednesday until Christmas, from 6-10 p.m. each night. The pick up point will be on South Peachtree Street. Santa will be at the Northern Star Coffee House this year, also on South Peachtree Street, on the evenings of the carriage rides for visits with kids young and old.

The second annual Historic Norcross Holiday Home Tour will be on Saturday, December 4 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., with candlelight tours from 6-9 p.m.. The tour will feature five beautiful homes located in the historic downtown area. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at downtown shops and restaurants, or online at www.norcrossholidayhometour.com.

The Celebration of Life Candles will be placed in the City Cemetery, on Cemetery Street, at 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 11. For more information about all the City-sponsored holiday events, please call Lauren Blaszyk at 770-448-2122 or visit the City's web site, www.norcrossga.net.

Walton EMC customers get refunds totaling $3 million

For the second year in a row, most Walton Electric Membership Corporation customer-owners will be taking part in a $3 million refund. That means $22 million has been returned to customers over the last 17 years.

Most of the refunds will appear as a credit on electric bills, with the average being $27. This saves Walton over $30,000 in check production and mailing costs.

Refunds are based on the amount of the customer's annual power bills.
Walton EMC is a customer-owned electric company and serves 107,000 electric accounts in ten Northeast Georgia counties between Atlanta and Athens. Its subsidiary, Walton EMC Natural Gas, serves customers statewide. Read more at waltonemc.com.

Enforcement wave under way to achieve higher safety

Georgia law enforcement agencies will conduct a major wave of high-visibility safety belt checkpoints and concentrated patrol activity through Sunday, November 28th. During the Thanksgiving holiday travel period, drivers found in violation of Georgia's Primary Safety Belt Law will be ticketed. State law allows enforcement officers to write safety belt violation tickets by simply observing an unbelted driver or passenger.

Hundreds of Georgia communities are participating in the statewide "CLICK IT OR TICKET" enforcement campaign coordinated by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety. This life-saving initiative is supported by the Georgia Sheriff's Association, the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, the Georgia State Patrol and more than 650 law enforcement agencies from communities like yours. For more information, contact Jim Shuler, GOHS Public Affairs, 404-656-6996 or 888-420-0767. The email address is: jshuler@gohs.state.ga.us .

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

• An invitation: What books have you enjoyed? Send us your best recent book along with a short paragraph as to why you liked it, plus what you plan to read next. --eeb
  

ENCYCLOPEDIA TIDBIT
11/23: FDR spent times in Georgia in pools at Warm Springs

Between 1924 and 1945 Franklin D. Roosevelt visited Warm Springs and Georgia forty-one times. In the early years, he spent his days exercising at the pools at the Warm Springs resort as he tried to rebuild his leg muscles from the debilitating effects of polio.

After being elected as the 32d president of the United States in 1932, he used his new home at Warm Springs, "The Little White House," as a retreat from the rigors of leading a nation through the Great Depression. He died there in 1945. To a generation of west Georgians, he was both the president and a trusted friend who could be seen waving as he passed by in his convertible or rode by in a train on his way to the nation's capital.

Roosevelt first visited Georgia in 1913 on business for the U.S. Navy in Brunswick. In August 1921 he contracted polio while on a family vacation at Campobello Island in New Brunswick, Canada. He then sought to heal the damage caused by the disease. In October 1924, he learned of Warm Springs and its beneficial waters. He quickly grew to love Georgia and its people, and they welcomed him as their adopted son.

Perhaps Roosevelt's most lasting legacy lay in inspiring millions of people, most especially the disabled. He accomplished much, despite struggling daily to overcome his paralysis. In 1927 he established the Georgia Warm Springs Foundation. Known today as the Roosevelt Warm Springs Rehabilitation Center, the facility serves patients suffering from the effects of polio. People suffering from strokes, spinal cord injuries, and other disabilities are also treated there. The Little White House is operated by the Parks, Recreation, and Historic Sites Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and welcomes thousands of visitors each year.

• To access the Georgia Encyclopedia, go to http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
  

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Watch out since your manner could become a habit

"It is always possible to be thankful for what is given rather than to complain about what is not given. One or the other becomes a habit of life."

-- Author Elisabeth Elliot, via Cindy Evans, Duluth.

• Another invitation: What's your favorite saying? Share with others through GwinnettForum. Send to elliott@gwinnettforum.com.
  

MORE: Contact Gwinnett Forum at: elliott@gwinnettforum.com

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