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TODAY'S ISSUE
Jackson EMC to begin "Operation Round-up" from members
By Randall Pugh
President, Jackson EMC
Special to GwinnettForum.com

APRIL 26, 2005 -- Practicing the cooperative spirit and principles that helped rural America first get electricity, the members of Jackson Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) are uniting to benefit charitable organizations and less fortunate neighbors in the ten counties served by their electric cooperative.

Using a nationally recognized program called Operation Round Up , participating Jackson EMC members will have their monthly electric bill rounded up to the next even dollar amount. On average, EMC members will contribute $6 per year, which will be deposited in the members' Jackson EMC Foundation. Foundation funds will be administered by a volunteer board of directors and be used to fund grant requests from charitable organizations and individuals.

Jackson EMC has a long history of helping improve the quality of life in the communities we serve through contributions and sponsorships, but we are tremendously proud of our members for joining together and using the strength of their numbers to make change in their communities by donating their spare change.

The cooperative currently serves 185,000 meters, with 180,000 individual accounts. If every one of our cooperative members participated, Operation Round Up could generate significant funds for charitable purposes annually. The power of our members is their ability to come together to accomplish what they couldn't do as individuals. As a group, they have the ability to do an amazing amount of good in our communities, improving the quality of life for many people and serving their fellow citizens.

Individual EMC members will determine whether they choose to participate over the next six months, with voluntary rounding up beginning in October. For the sake of efficiency, the cooperative is beginning the process with a list of all members. Then, over a six-month period, members will be provided with a variety of easy methods to decline participation Operation Round Up if they wish. Those methods will include four bill inserts that can be completed and returned with their bill payment, two forms in the member newsletter, and a form on the cooperative's website (www.jacksonemc.com).

After rounding up begins in October, if a member decides they do not wish to participate in Operation Round Up, Jackson EMC will take them out of the program and refund any money they may have contributed.

Operation Round Up is a continuation of our cooperative heritage and values - people coming together to help their neighbors. Nearly 70 years ago, local residents came together to form Jackson EMC to get electricity to their homes and farms, something they couldn't do individually.

The Operation Round Up program was created by Palmetto Electric Cooperative, Ridgeland, SC, in 1989. Since it's introduction, the program has been adopted by more than 200 other EMCs nationwide, including 17 Georgia EMCs , raising more than $41 million for charity.

Jackson Electric Membership Corp., Georgia's largest electric cooperative and one of the largest in the United States, is headquartered 55 miles northeast of Atlanta in Jefferson, Ga. It serves more than 185,000 meters in the rapidly growing I-85 corridor of Northeast Georgia. As of February, 2005 ,the cooperative serves 4,726 meters in Banks County, 14,515 in Barrow County, 5,240 in Clarke County, 73 in Franklin County, 95,094 in Gwinnett County, 36,929 in Hall County, 909 in Lumpkin County, 10,039 in Madison County and 45 in Oglethorpe County.

ELLIOTT BRACK
Watching Lucky circle bases makes Bulls' baseball more fun
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com

And it all takes place, all across the country, at many minor league baseball parks.

We're not talking about the game of baseball itself, but the art of merchandising the surroundings of the game. Baseball itself is fun, but the many officials behind the game find new ways to make attending games even more fun.

Last weekend we visited at one of the storied baseball franchises, in Durham, seeing the Bulls play in their sparkling park in downtown. It was a cold night, but the game itself was lively, and quite fast, finishing in 2:30.

At many minor league parks, it's between innings when the extra-curricular fun begins. It might be dressing fans up in sumo wrestling outfits, and watching them bump one another around; or kids in sack races, or kids trying to catch fly balls in baggy, baggy pants. Fans enjoy it, and people, even grown-ups, seek to be the ones in the spotlight, often making a fool of themselves.

Durham's games are in themselves distinctive. We once asked a neophyte fan how she knew when to cheer. I learned quickly she cheered "when the bull snorts smoke out its nostrils and wags its tail." That happens when one of the Durham players hits a home run----a perfect time to cheer!

Last week we watched a new wrinkle in Durham baseball. It takes place each home game….or at least, at the conclusion of the game itself.

The Durham Bulls employ a Golden Labrador Retriever, who comes on the field as the players swap congratulatory slaps after the game. The dog goes to home plate with its master, Gene Lonsway and when Lonsway blows his whistle, the dog runs as fast as he can to first base, stops, turns, and looks at his master. Meanwhile, Losway throws his hands to his side, as if signaling safe, and seeing this, the dog starts running in a streak to second base. Again, stops, looks, sees the "safe" sign, and heads lickily-split to third base. One more "safe" sign, and then he's heading for home plate.

To cap his performance, as he nears home plate, his master lobs a ball into the air, and the dog ends his performance by catching it in his mouth.

It's a beautiful spectacle. And think of the ramifications. Consider how many fans might tire of the game, and want to head home before the game is finished. But then, they remember, or perhaps their kids remember, the "dog that circles the bases." Who would want to miss that?

Think, too, what a smart merchandising dollar generator, keeping fans at the game one or two more innings means in sales of refreshments and Durham Bulls' products!

That dog running the bases turns into quite a smart move, for fan enjoyment, for promoting the entire nine innings of a game, and in racking up no telling how much in sales!

It's good to see creative minds at work. Whoever, taught that dog to circle the bases in Durham did a good day's work that will pay off for untold games to come! That's good minor league baseball, worthy of even a major league game!

The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today's sponsor is Gwinnett Banking Company, with offices in Lawrenceville and Alpharetta The bank, organized in 1996, has assets over $300 million and specializes in great rates and friendly, dedicated people. Gwinnett Banking Company was also named Georgia's "Lender of the Year" by the U.S. Small Business Administration, having the highest total dollars in 7(a) loans in Georgia. Check out its web site at www.gwinnettbanking.com, or send an email to info@gwinnettbanking.com.

For a list of other sponsors of this forum, go to: http://www.gwinnettforum.com/about/sponsors.htm.

FEEDBACK
4/26: Feels Lenora Park being raped in name of progress

Editor, the Forum:

How sad to go to the beautiful Lenora Park and see how it's being raped....all in the name of progress. Reminds me of lyrics from an old song: "They paved paradise and put in a parking lot." What idiot or group of idiots planned this? It's digusting.

If there is such a thing as a "perfect" park, Lenora Park fits that description. It has an abundance of beautiful old trees, well mowed green grass, a large pond with ducks and visiting Canadian Geese, plus a challenging but highly enjoyable walking trail. Many of us who take our morning constitutionals at this lovely park know each other by our first names and smile as we pass each other on the trail.

We're not smiling as much anymore because Lenora Park is, in front of our eyes, being destroyed in the name of progress: trees, including huge oaks, are being cut down by the dozens to make way for more parking space and an aquatic area and some sort of "recreation" building.

In the end, Lenora Park will be mostly concrete I'm afraid, and this is just too sad for me and the many other visitors who love this park so much.

It appears that Mr. Brack is proud of Gwinnett's growth. I think if he was to take a closer look at Gwinnett's quality of life, instead of population increases, maybe he could convince our public officials to control growth carefully.

I know of no one - ZERO - that is proud of our traffic, crime, congestion, empty buildings, etc. When will we wake up and smell the coffee? Maybe when our population reaches that of New York we will finally determine that population means nothing except lots of people.

When I moved here in 1975 from Conyers, the county had beautiful landscapes, friendly people, southern charm. Progress, some may say - but to me progress means improving. Let's get real - we are growing - not progressing.

Last night I visited several websites regarding political characteristics of Gwinnett. The quality of newcomers to the county, in terms of job types, has been steadily declining for the past 15 years. Minimum wage earners are now approaching the majority here - everyone knows what follows.

When the money and the brains leave the community, who is left to invest, provide good jobs, pay the public debts? Get real... I'm sure you've visited Alpharetta - I'm sure it is a majority of minimum wagers - uh huh!

See Gwinnett's Natural History - up close! From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, the Lanier Museum of Natural History, located at 2601 Buford Dam Road in Buford, will host Natural History Day. The day features live animal programs that include reptiles, raptors and much more! Exhibitors from the Georgia Herpetological Society, Southern Wings Bird Club and many more will be on hand throughout the day.

Cost is $3 per person and includes admission to the museum and all programs held during Natural History Day. For more information call (770) 932-4460.

State Sen. Curt Thompson (D-Norcross) will review the 2005 legislative session and discuss the future of the Democratic Party in Georgia when he addresses a Georgia Federation of Democratic Women workshop Saturday, April 30, at noon in Marietta. The workshop will be held at the Wyndham Hotel, 1775 Parkway Place. People may make reservations by calling 770-696-4777.

Thompson, who represents parts of Gwinnett and DeKalb counties in District 5, recently completed his first session in the Senate after two years in the House of Representatives. He serves on the Senate Higher Education, Economic Development & Tourism, Veterans & Military Affairs and State Institutions & Property committees

In conjunction with the Atlanta Jazz Festival, on May 5 from 7-9 p.m. the Hudgens Center for the Arts will have an evening with the Moffett Morris Trio. This group features Karin Williams on vocals. It will be the e Opening reception for "The Artists of Tannery Row" exhibition. Tannery Row is a unique artists‚ colony located in historic downtown Buford.

Moffett Morris, originally from Rochester, N.Y. began playing electric bass at the age of 13. He performed with local R&B bands while attending high school and joined the jazz ensemble doubling on bass and trombone. After relocating to Atlanta, Moffett began playing and recording with local musicians.

Tickets are $15 each or $25 a pair, and includes beer/wine and light appetizers. For reservations e-mail elliott@artsgwinnett.org or call 770-623-6001 x102.

Keynote speaker at the Gwinnett Small Business Development Breakfast on May 13 will be Leland Strange, president of Intelligent Systems Corporation of Norcross. He will discuss "The Art of Raising Capital" at the meeting, which will be held at the 1818 Club of the Chamber Building at 8 a.m. The cost will be $25 for members and $35 for Non-Members

Planners of the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life in Gwinnett want to "Pack The Track" at the Survivors' Victory Walk that kicks off the 12th Gwinnett Relay on Friday, May 13 at 7 p.m. at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds. There are thousands of Gwinnetians out there and whether they were diagnosed yesterday or are a 50 year survivor, are invited to participate in the Walk, celebrate life and survivorship and relish in a community that supports all in fighting this disease. For more information, call the ACS office at 770-814-0123. Or for information on cancer call 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

ENCYCLOPEDIA TIDBIT
4/26: During wartime, prisoners have been housed in Georgia

During times of war, Georgia military installations have served as internment camps for enemies taken prisoner, as well as for aliens residing in the United States whose activities were viewed as suspect by the federal government. These prisoners were, at the least, topics of interest for native Georgians; at the most, they contributed significantly to the state's economy, especially during World War II.

During the Spanish-American War (1898), Fort McPherson held 16 Spanish prisoners of war who were captured in Cuba. They were housed in the post guardhouse, which later became the post chapel.

When the United States entered World War I in 1917, the War Department established a camp at Fort Oglethorpe, just south of Chattanooga, Tenn. This camp initially held German merchant seamen whose ships were captured in American harbors as the nation entered the conflict. Inmates constructed the camp, which would eventually hold as many as 4,000 people, and neutral Swiss reports indicated that the inmates were provided with adequate food and other necessities.

By mid-1918 the seamen were removed to Fort McPherson, where another camp of more than 1,300 men was established. Though the war ended in 1918, many inmates in Georgia camps were not freed and deported until May 1919. Some 300 were detained at Fort Oglethorpe until April 1920.

In World War II prisoners of war were again interned in Georgia. By 1943 German, Austrian, and Italian POWs were held at Fort Oglethorpe, Fort Benning, Fort Gordon, Camp Stewart and Camp Wheeler near Macon. The Italians were usually housed separately from the Germans and Austrians. The larger camps were constructed to house 2,000-4,000 prisoners. POWs were treated according to the rules of the Geneva Convention, a circumstance that, according to numerous anecdotes, was surprising to them..

Workers harvested cotton, tomato, and peanut crops, and they worked in numerous industries, including pulpwood and lumber. By mid-1944 the shirts emblazoned with the large letters "PW" were a common sight in Georgia. Some German and Italian POWs befriended soldiers and farmers, and they were invited into Americans' homes for meals and entertainment.

With the war nearing an end, in 1944 the War Department began a reeducation program, which included photos and films of Nazi atrocities, to reorient inmates' thinking. Partly because of these atrocities and for other reasons such as the devastation in Europe and potential employment opportunities in the United States, a number of prisoners chose to remain in Georgia after the war ended.

"The real hero is always a hero by mistake; he dreams of being an honest coward like everybody else."

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