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Issue 11.78 | Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012 TODAY'S FOCUS ELLIOTT
BRACK'S PERSPECTIVE McLEMORE'S
WORLD FEEDBACK UPCOMING
NOTABLE ALSO INSIDE IN
THE SPOTLIGHT GEORGIA
TIDBIT GWINNETT
CALENDAR TODAY'S
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TODAY'S FOCUS ATLANTA, Ga., Jan. 5, 2012 – Over the past decade, more than 32,000 Georgians have been part of a program that rewards them for doing their part to clear the roads and clean the air. It was 10 years ago last fall that The Clean Air Campaign started offering commuters a financial nudge to make a change in the name of cleaner air and less traffic. The incentive was initially only offered in metro Atlanta, and only during smog season. Today there are more incentives that make up the Commuter Rewards program, and they are available year-round, to all Georgia commuters.
The idea for Cash for Commuters was borne out of a question we ask ourselves all the time at The Clean Air Campaign: what can we do to influence commuters to change their behavior? Some 82 percent of commuters in metro Atlanta – and 79 percent of commuters statewide – drive alone. Why not pay them a nominal amount to try alternatives like carpooling, vanpooling, riding transit, bicycling or walking on their trips to and from work? In effect, this outcome is designed to pay commuters to break an existing habit just as much as it is to acquire a new one. These became the cornerstone principles of the Cash for Commuters program:
While the Cash for Commuters program rewards those who switch with $3 a day, up to a $100 maximum payout, the experience shows it’s not just about the money. That’s why other regions around the U.S. became interested in creating similar programs. The experience here in Georgia also has shown that commuters know where to turn for relief when gas prices jump. There has often been a strong correlation between participation in the Cash for Commuters program and the price at the pump. After Hurricane Katrina swept through the Gulf in 2005 and fuel supply lines were crippled, gas price increases drove more Georgia commuters to change their behavior. And in 2008, the run-up to $4-a-gallon gas had commuters beating down the door to get relief. In all seasons and in all circumstances, Georgia commuters share a common trait: seeking ways to make better use of their time and money. Cash for Commuters, in its ten-year history, has helped thousands of people cross over to the greener pastures of alternative commuting. Discovering the myriad benefits – for their wallets and their well-being – is what keeps them there. For more information, visit http://www.cleanaircampaign.org/ or call the Clean Air Campaign at 1-877-253-2624. EEB PERSPECTIVE JAN. 5, 2012 – What you hope for as you live your life, is that if it were possible that your parents could look back over how you spent a long life, that they would be proud of you.
We have no doubt that the parents of J.W. Benefield Jr., John William and Lula Hall Benefield, would have been proud of him. The former Gwinnett school superintendent died last week at age 86. J.W. grew up in the Harbins community of Gwinnett, and helped his father in his store in Dacula before World War II. After graduation from Dacula High in 1942, he joined the Navy. He was part of the “Greatest Generation,” and as a young man, was in World War II. Eventually, he was a crew member of the USS San Jacinto, a light aircraft carrier launched in 1943. The ship conducted search patrols around the Marshall Islands in an effort to protect her sister carriers, who were attacking the islands of Marcus and Wake. The carrier also participated in air strikes to prepare for the U.S. invasion of Saipan. The ship was involved in strikes against the Palau Islands, targeting Chichi, Haha, and Iwo Jima, as well as strikes against Okinawa. Later in WWII, the ship’s planes flew air missions over Allied POW camps to drop off food and medicine rations to the captured soldiers. For her service, The San Jacinto was awarded five battle stars and a Presidential Unit Citation.
J.W.’s job on the ship was to guide the landing pilots, using paddles to signal pilots to land on the carrier. One of the pilots on the ship would later become president of the United States, George H.W. Bush. No doubt J.W. helped steer the former president to safe landings. After the war, and study at Abraham Baldwin and the University of Georgia, J.W. became an agricultural teacher at Bethesda High and Central Gwinnett High before becoming assistant superintendent of Gwinnett Schools under B.B. Harris. He became superintendent in 1967, when Gwinnett had 14,779 students, and in the beginnings of the growth spurt. When he retired in 1977, the system had nearly doubled, to 28,305 students. His insistence on planning and upgrading of the schools was the initial efforts for the system to reach the heights the schools have reached since. Meanwhile, besides the school system, his passions were his family, his church and the Gwinnett Livestock and Fair Association. He was an original ex-officio member of the fair when an agriculture teacher, and from 1978 to 2009, on the board and its treasurer. Though he spent a lot of time on County Fair business, J.W. Benefield served on many Gwinnett boards. In fact, reading about his life, it is obvious that he was one of the most honored Gwinnettians, as many different groups recognized his contributions. First one group, then another, awarded him their top honor, all the way from being Georgia’s Outstanding Superintendent of Schools in 1977 to being Gwinnett’s Citizen of the Year in 1980. Yet, more than anything, J.W. Benefield exuded a quiet, low-key leadership style, never bombastic, or argumentative, but always insightful, reasonable and supportive. People responded positively to his demeanor. His word was truly his bond. We need more like him. J.W.’s parents would have been proud of him. John William (J.W.) Benefield Jr., 1925-2011: May you rest in peace. ABOUT OUR SPONSORS
McLEMORE'S WORLD
FEEDBACK
UPCOMING The Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services will be hosting a Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 to engage the public and community agencies as well as their representatives in developing the Coalition's next Community Strategic Plan. This is an opportunity to provide input and feedback on issues, needs and trends in the Gwinnett community as well as shape the future and direction of Health and Human Services in Gwinnett County! The Forum will take place at the Norcross Community Center, 10 College Street, Norcross, Ga. 30071. There will be two sessions, at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Register for the meeting here. Duluth Rotary benefit to send Rainbow Villagers to camp The Rotary Club of Duluth will hold their third annual Players’ Party – featuring Texas Hold’em and Bingo plus a Silent Auction-- on Jan. 26, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Gwinnett Place Marriott on 1775 Pleasant Hill Road in Duluth. Rotarians, their friends and family, and members of the community are invited to attend. Proceeds from the event will cover the cost of sending 20-25 children of Rainbow Village to summer day camp at Bunten Road Park in Duluth.??
Thanks to Duluth Rotary’s efforts, with support from Duluth Parks and Recreation, more than 50 Rainbow Village boys and girls have participated in the day camp over the past two summers as campers or teen counselors. While the children enjoyed fun, wholesome activities, their parents were free to focus on their jobs and other obligations with peace of mind. ?? Reservations are required for the January 26 Players’ Party. Confirmations are due by Saturday, January 14. Tickets, which are $40 per person, include entry to the event, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and a choice of starting chips to play Texas Hold’em or cards to play Bingo. Additional poker chips and BINGO cards can be purchased during the party. Game prizes and silent auction items feature airline tickets, premium golf packages, tickets to desired sporting events, live theatre productions, popular retail gift cards, dining, and much more. A cash bar will be available. For reservations and additional information, please contact Mike Ballenger. Learn more about Rainbow Village at www.rainbowvillage.org. NOTABLE Several people have been honored by the Gwinnett Historical Society with awards for the year 2011. The honors were announced recently at the December meeting of the Society.
The winner of the second annual Whitworth-Flanigan Award for preserving the history of the county is Elliott Brack, author of the history book, "Gwinnett: A Little Above Atlanta." The book was cited in 2010 by the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board for excellence in documenting Georgia history. Other award winners include:
Former President Elaine Roberts of Lawrenceville will be president of the Society for 2012. She succeeds Scott Holtzclaw, who has been president for the last two years. Master gardeners award scholarships to 2 from Gwinnett Tech Two Gwinnett
Technical College Environmental Horticulture students have earned scholarships
from the DeKalb Master Gardener Association (DMGA). Andrea McMullin and
Jamari Linder, both living in DeKalb County, were each awarded a $500
scholarship. County moves to improve Jackson Creek Watershed in Lilburn Commissioners
have approved a contract to improve the water quality, habitat, biology
and the overall condition and health of severely impaired Camp Creek in
the Jackson Creek watershed. RECOMMENDED
GEORGIA ENCYCLOPEDIA
(From previous edition) During the Civil War (1861-65), the Georgia Conference of the MECS continued to function, although its General Conference did not convene until the end of the war. Neither the General nor Georgia conference officially supported secession. Eleven Methodist missionaries and seven Methodist chaplains provided religious services to Confederate forces during the war. Beginning in 1862 Georgia Methodists also contributed to the Soldiers' Tract Association, a mission of the MECS that provided bibles, hymnals, and other religious publications to the Confederate army.
In 1876 African American members of the Methodist Episcopal Church established a separate conference, known as the Savannah Conference. That same year, delegates from the Methodist Episcopal Church and the MECS formed a commission to begin negotiations for reunification. Additional competition for members arose after the Civil War with the arrival of two black northern denominations, the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Zion, both of which ministered to newly freed slaves. In addition, a group of black MECS leaders broke away from the General Conference in 1870 to form the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church (later the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church). (To be continued) CREDITS GwinnettForum is provided to you at no charge every Tuesday and Friday. If you would like to serve as an underwriter, click here to learn more. Send
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TODAY'S QUOTE “A newspaper consists of just the same number of words, whether there be any news in it or not.”
MORE COPIES AVAILABLE NOW
The book includes 143 demographic and historic tables, with more than 4,000 names in the index, and 10,000 names in the appendix. Two versions of the book are available. The hardback edition is priced at $75, while a softback edition is $40. Books are available at:
You can also order
books through the Internet. To do that, go to www.elliottbrack.com
to place your order. For mail orders, there is a $5 shipping and handling
fee. Purchases are also subject to the 6 percent Georgia sales tax. SEARCH GWINNETT FORUM Loading
Recycling Christmas Trees will again be led by Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful. Drop off trees through January 16 at most fire stations in Gwinnett for them to be ground into chips. For more information, call 770 822 5187. (NEW) State of Suwanee Address: 6 p.m., Jan. 11, Suwanee City Hall. Mayor Jimmy Burnette will present his first such address at the meeting of the Suwanee Business Alliance. Admission is free to all. Mayor Burnette will compared the Suwanee of his childhood to where he feels the city is headed in its future. Second Samuel, a play, will be presented by New London Theatre in Snellville Jan. 13-29 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Set in a sleepy South Georgia town in the late 1940s, it's the year Miss Gertrude passed away, and dark secrets are about to be revealed. More. New Exhibit, "Lateral Thinking," is up now through Jan.14 at Kudzu Art Zone, 116 Carlyle Street in Norcross. Admission is free. Artists were challenged to construct images from a list of unrelated objects to explore their reaction to disparate items. Gwinnett Technology Forum: Jan. 17, Busbee Center of Gwinnett Technical College. Speakers will be from the health care industry: Dr. Mark Braunstein, Georgia Tech's Health Systems Institute;Tom Chambers, Cisco Systems; and Dr. Tom Upchurch, AllMeds. More. (NEW) Redevelopment Forum: 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Jan. 27, Atlanta Marriott at Gwinnett Place in Duluth. Keynote speaker is Chris Leinberger, a Brookings Institute fellow. Presented by the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce and the Council for Quality Growth. Tickets are $55. More info online. Exhibit Continued: The Living in Space exhibit at the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center will continue now through March 3. Extremely popular with visitors and school groups, the exhibit now is open for an additional two months. More. MORE EEB PERSPECTIVE
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3. Documenting
commute activity during program participation could show commuters and
employers alike the difference they make, expressed in terms
of vehicle miles not traveled, air pollution not emitted and financial
savings on commute costs. Each workday, the commuters who take
part in this and other Clean Air Campaign programs help eliminate 1.4
million vehicle miles of travel and keep 700 tons of pollution out of
the air we all breathe, while saving $658,000 on commute costs. 
The
public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com
to you at no cost to readers. The Gwinnett Place Community Improvement
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to comprehensive planning efforts to address traffic congestion, an area-wide
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We
welcome your letters and thoughts. Our policy: We encourage readers to
submit feedback (or letters to the editor). Send your thoughts to the
editor at 
Rainbow
Village, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, is a one-to-two year transitional
program for homeless families with children in Duluth. Offering temporary
housing along with mandatory support services—such as job counseling,
parenting classes, and after-school programs—the program instills
self-sufficiency as a means to build strong, intact families. ??Ensuring
quality childcare during the summer months, Rotary Club of Duluth will
cover the cost of sending all Rainbow Village kids who are of eligible
age—kindergartners through eighth graders—to Bunten Road Park’s
day camp, operated by Duluth Parks and Recreation. 
Winning
the Preservation Award was the Aurora Theatre for “preserving the
building that housed the Lawrenceville First United Methodist Church,
constructed in 1891.” This building is now the home of Aurora Theatre,
which made extensive changes to the building, but preserved much of the
original structure. It is located just off the Square in Lawrenceville.
Raised
in Delaware, McMullin grew up raising and preserving vegetables for her
family’s use. Her move to Atlanta three years ago was a drastic change
in climate, soils and plants. McMullin’s interest is in landscape
design and she is working towards a diploma in Environmental Horticulture.
She plans to open a small garden design business in the next year or so. 
“Gwinnett’s
growing diverse population might enjoy this book about a retired British
Army major who finds living in his home village in retirement has complications,
because of the changes in British life. Everything is not what it seems,
and leads to all sorts of problems, affecting the entire village (where
everyone knows one another, though they do not always associate.) How
to reunite mated shotguns (one of the major’s, the other of his late
brother) also complicate the scene. The book reads fast, and has an unusual
twist at the end. A sleeper for light reading!" – eeb
