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TODAY'S
ISSUE
Gwinnett group helps
bereaved parents overcome grief
By Patrick Malone
Special to GwinnettForum.com
JUNE 3, 2005 -- In the last few weeks here in Gwinnett, we have
experienced the unfortunate deaths of an increasing number of our
young citizens in automobile accidents. While we need to be doing
everything we can to reduce this number, the simple reality is that
sometimes our children die from a variety of causes and the family
is left behind to pick up the pieces.
When a child dies, families mourn and begin the process of bereavement.
Bereaved families experience many different feelings-disbelief,
sadness, loneliness, fear, anger, regret, guilt, despair and personal
loss. These feelings are all a part of the emotional reaction called
"grief."
Feelings of grief can be overwhelmingly intense. Some people tend
to keep feelings inside, while others are able to express their
grief easily and openly.
The Compassionate Friends (TCF) is a mutual assistance, self-help
support organization which aids bereaved families in the positive
resolution of grief after the death of a child. The secret of TCF
is simple: as seasoned grievers reach out to the newly bereaved,
energy that has been directed inward begins to flow outward and
both are helped to heal.
The Compassionate Friends is open to all families who have experienced
the death of a child from any cause, at any age. The term "member"
is used loosely in TCF-there are no membership dues nor individual
fees of any kind. TCF is funded by voluntary gifts from individuals,
as well as donations from the business and philanthropic communities.
Since TCF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, donations are tax-deductible.
There is no religious affiliation, although local chapters do sometimes
meet in donated church facilities. TCF reaches individuals through
approximately 600 local chapters, each made up of parents and other
family members who have been bereaved for various lengths of time.
The Gwinnett County Chapter meets on the third Thursday of each
month at the First Baptist Church of Lawrenceville, 165 Clayton
Street. More information is available at 770 932 5862 or memories4ever@hotmail.com
or at www.compassionatefriends.org.
Sharing with others is the very heart of TCF. Chapter meetings are
havens where members feel free to talk about their children who
have died; the emotions they are going through; the painful, thoughtless
comments that may have been made to them; their feelings of sadness,
guilt or anger-things no one else wants to hear them talk about.
With the guidance and reassurance of members who are further along
in their grief journey, gradually they resolve what has happened,
find a "new normal" and begin rebuilding their lives.
TCF is not a therapy group, nor are chapter meetings "therapy"
sessions. Yet, healing is slowly and gently promoted as families
gain insight and understanding.
At chapter meetings we learn that we are not alone in facing this
terrible tragedy-others have also faced the isolation and desperation
this loss can bring. There are no instant solutions, easy answers
or timetables for grieving but TCF can help.
* * * * *
Patrick Malone of Snellville is a bereaved parent and currently
serves as the National Board President of The Compassionate Friends.
He is the Senior Partner of The PAR Group, an international training
and consulting firm based in Tucker. He can be contacted at ptm4936@aol.com.
ELLIOTT
BRACK
Looks like South Georgia will continue to
hold gov's office
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com
JUNE 3, 2005 -- The old tome, "The more things change, the
more they stay the same" comes to mind when you take a long
look at Georgia politics, at least from the governor's chair.
While Georgia governors have routinely come from all parts of the
state, only one, the distinctive late Lester Maddox, ever won the
governor's office out of Atlanta.
For years up until the Carl Sanders days, what kept many Atlantans
out of the governor's mansion was the county unit system. Under
this system, the 121 smaller counties in Georgia held the power,
of two "unit" votes each. Coupled with 30 mid-sized counties
having four unit votes, and the eight largest counties having six
unit votes, the smaller counties held the upper hand because of
the discriminations of the "county unit" system.
As a result, the governors generally came from the rural areas
of Georgia. Only after the county unit vote was outlawed in 1962
did people from the populated areas have a chance to win. The closest
anyone from the Atlanta area had come before was in the Democratic
Primary in 1946, when Jimmy Carmichael of Marietta won the popular
vote with 313,899 votes, while Eugene Talmadge scored 297,245 votes.
Under one man-one vote rules, Carmichael would have been the nominee.
But Talmadge took the rural crowd, and by county-unit tabulations,
won the nomination. (Talmadge died before taking office, resulting
in the "three governor" crisis in Georgia.)
It took a maverick from Atlanta, Lester Maddox, to win the governor's
race, and even that was tainted, since it was the Georgia Legislature,
again controlled by the rural vote, that sent Maddox to office.
Take a look at the governors of Georgia since 1930, the year Richard
Russell of Winder won the vote.
Richard B. Russell Jr. Democratic 1931-1933, Winder
Eugene Talmadge Democratic 1933-1937, McRae
Eurith D. Rivers Democratic 1937-1941, Lakeland
Eugene Talmadge Democratic 1941-1943, McRae
Ellis Arnall Democratic 1943-1947, Newnan
Melvin E. Thompson Democratic 1947-1948, Valdosta
Herman E. Talmadge Democratic 1948-1955. Lovejoy
Marvin Griffin Democratic 1955-1959, Bainbridge
Ernest Vandiver Democratic 1959-1963, Lavonia
Carl E. Sanders Democratic 1963-1967, Augusta
Lester Maddox Democratic 1967-1971, Atlanta
James E. Carter Jr. Democratic 1971-1975, Plains
George D. Busbee Democratic 1975-1983, Albany
Joe Frank Harris Democratic 1983-1991, Cartersville
Zell B. Miller Democratic 1991-1999, Young Harris
Roy Barnes Democratic 1999-2003, Mableton
George E. "Sonny" Perdue III Republican 2003-, Bonaire
Noting where they are from, half come from North Georgia, the other
half from South Georgia (counting Augusta as south.)
But, and this is a major point, only Maddox is from Atlanta. Granted,
Roy Barnes was from nearby Mableton in Cobb County, but he did not
consider himself an Atlantan as such, being from Cobb County.
Yet three governors in a row (Joe Frank Harris, Zell Miller and
Barnes) were from North Georgia. Now Dr. Sonny Perdue has broken
the string, being from south of Macon at Bonaire.
The way politics are lining up for the next two years, the next
governor will be a South Georgian, as Dr. Perdue is expected to
be a candidate for re-election. The two main Democrats announced,
Secretary of State Cathy Cox and former Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor, are
from Bainbridge and Albany, respectively.
Though the person in office since 1930 has varied between North
and South Georgia, it's been the influence of the rural, primarily
South Georgia vote, that has dominated. And though Republicans swirling
around suburban Atlanta carry much political influence these days,
the governor will probably be from South Georgia again, riding a
South Georgia wave of power. That's why we say that the more things
change, the more they stay the same.
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McLEMORE'S
WORLD
6/3: Not
really a couch potato
Another great cartoon from Bill McLemore:
UPCOMING
Gwinnett
Glows promises 4th of July fun for whole family
This Fourth of July make plans to join 70,000 of your friends and
neighbors for a spectacular Gwinnett Glows celebration. The event
takes place at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center (GJAC)
in Lawrenceville.
It features arts and crafts, free children's activities and a live
band, Tim Purcell and The Mustangs. Games and live entertainment
will fill the area around GJAC starting at 4:00 pm on July 4, 2005.
The fireworks display will take place after sundown.
Remaining true to its reputation as the largest fireworks display
in the Southeast, Gwinnett Glows 2005 will be bigger and better
than ever.
Children will enjoy clowns, face painting, a fire juggler, trackless
train rides, rock climbing wall, pony rides, and live appearances
from some of their favorite characters. Concessions will be available
for purchase from Arby's, Main Street Concessions, McAlister's Deli,
Papa John's Pizza, Sonny's BBQ, Supreme Vending, Tijuana Flats,
TNC Concessions, and The Varsity.
The event started in 1988 as a dedication party for the newly opened
Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center with just a small budget.
Now the event entertains tens of thousands of Gwinnett citizens
with a night of Fourth of July fun sponsored by area businesses.
A live cablecast of the Gwinnett Glows celebration will be shown
on the TV Gwinnett government access television, channel 23 on all
cable providers within Gwinnett County, for those who are unable
to make it to the event in person.
For directions or more information about Gwinnett Glows, call 770-822-7126.
NOTABLE
Gwinnett
Tech Interiors students win awards again
For the second year in a row Gwinnett Technical College Interiors
students participated in the American Society of Interior Designers
(ASID) Awards of Excellence and, once again, made an outstanding
showing.
Students from design schools throughout Georgia submitted projects
for consideration. And Gwinnett Tech was the only technical college
competing against four-year colleges and universities.
"It means a lot to win these awards because it recognizes
the quality of the training our students receive," said Susan
Arnold, interiors program director, Gwinnett Tech. "The design
community has awarded Gwinnett Tech recognition for its high standing
in the demanding and technical world of interior design. GTC students
can now be recognized by reputation when they apply for jobs and
are more eagerly recruited by larger firms."
Lisa Hawkins received a silver award in the individual category
for her Benson Master Bath design.
Though no gold was awarded in either the group residential or the
group contract categories, Gwinnett Technical College students swept
both the silver and bronze in each.
In the group residential category, Tonya Sherman and Pina Elizalde
received the silver award, while the team of Dan Boykin, Alicia
Johnson, Luann Byrd and Andrea Russ received the bronze award. In
the group contract category, the team of Lisa Hawkins, Allison Petrie
and Angela Rhodes received the silver award. Tonya Sherman, Hayley
Gorne and LeAnn Price were awarded the bronze award.
The winners were announced at a banquet held at The Foundry at
Puritan Mills in Atlanta which was sponsored by the prestigious
architectural and design group, HOK. Jo Rabaut, president of the
Georgia Chapter of ASID, presented the awards.
Winning the ASID Award of Excellence not only recognizes outstanding
work, but is also a factor in opening the doors to employment opportunities
for these students.
Gwinnett Tech offers a diploma and associate degree in Interiors,
as well as certificates for interior design assistants and in painted
and faux finishes.
RECOMMENDED
READ
- An invitation: What Web sites or books have you enjoyed?
Send us your best recent read along with a short paragraph as
to why you liked it, plus what book you plan to read next. --eeb
ENCYCLOPEDIA
TIDBIT
Ted Turner launches
first 24-hour cable news channel
Cable News Network
(CNN) was the world's first 24-hour cable television news channel
when it was established in 1980. From its home in Atlanta, CNN has
extended its reach around the world, becoming a dominant force in
national and international journalism. Along with its subsidiary
channels and the competitors it helped inspire, the network has
changed the way information flows throughout an increasingly connected
world.
 CNN
was founded by Georgia businessman Ted
Turner. In the 1970s Turner took advantage of the increasing
availability of communications satellites to begin broadcasting
his independent UHF station, Atlanta's Channel 17, which he had
acquired in 1970. Rechristened WTBS, the SuperStation, to reflect
the name of its new owner, Turner Broadcasting System, it began
broadcasting to cable systems around the nation in 1976. As cable
television expanded across the nation and new ventures like Home
Box Office (HBO) began to show the feasibility of "niche"
channels, Turner sought to create an all-news network. Working with
Reese Schonfeld, a former manager for UPI Television News and the
founder of the Independent Television News Association, Turner began
making plans for the channel in 1978.
Plans for CNN were publicly announced in May 1979. With the bravado
that was one of his trademarks, Turner predicted that CNN would
represent "the greatest achievement in the history of journalism."
Schonfeld would serve as the network's first president and CEO.
Veteran journalist Daniel Schorr, who had worked for CBS News during
the "golden age" of Edward R. Murrow, lent his credibility
to the venture when he agreed to become the new channel's most visible
correspondent. Turner set an ambitious goal of beginning CNN's broadcast
on June 1, 1980.
Early response was skeptical. Critics doubted whether there was
a market for around-the-clock news, and many questioned whether
such a venture could be profitable. In a television news universe
dominated by the "big three" networks (CBS, NBC, and ABC),
many wondered if there was room for such a shoestring operation,
particularly one that planned to fill an enormous amount of airtime
on a budget that was a fraction of what the networks spent.
Despite formidable organizational and technical obstacles (including
the loss of SATCOM III, the satellite originally scheduled to carry
the network's signal), CNN managed to make its June deadline. An
estimated 1.7 million cable television subscribers were able to
receive the channel when it aired. Although the first day did not
go without a hitch, CNN did get its first "scoop" only
minutes into its inaugural broadcast, cutting away from its first
commercial break to bring viewers live coverage of U.S. president
Jimmy Carter's visit to the Fort Wayne, Indiana, hospital room of
civil rights leader Vernon Jordan, who had been wounded in an assassination
attempt.
Part of the concept of CNN was that the news, not the anchor, would
be the star. The network's early format, drawn in part from that
of all-news radio, was centered on a news "wheel." Major
stories were repeated on a cyclical basis throughout the day, sometimes
with minor modifications. New stories were added to the mix periodically.
At any time, however, breaking news could arise and dominate the
schedule.
Whatever the future may bring for CNN, it has been instrumental
in changing the way millions of people get their news. Speaking
shortly before the network's launch, Turner promised that, barring
technical problems, "We won't be signing off until the world
ends. We'll be on, and we will cover the end of the world, live,
and that will be our last event. . . . and when the end of the world
comes, we'll play 'Nearer My God to Thee' before we sign off."
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Understanding why only
two kinds understand Marines
"There are only two kinds of people that understand Marines:
Marines and the enemy. Everyone else has a second-hand opinion."
-- Gen. William Thornson, U.S. Army, via Annelle Carlton, Sugar
Hill.
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