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FEEDBACK
ARCHIVES
January
2002
FEEDBACK
1/29: Tremendous enthusiasm
of Americans is impressive
to Atlanta's former Swiss consul
Editor, the Forum:
Susanna and I enjoyed our 5 1/2 years in Atlanta, Georgia, the
Southeast (then my consular district) and the United States tremendously.
We maintain close contacts with your beautiful country. Both Susanna
and I continue to correspond with many Americans, particularly also
in Georgia. Last but not least, I have excellent relations with
my U.S. Colleague here in Johannesburg.
What has particularly impressed me over these years, and it continues
to do so, is the tremendous enthusiasm of so many Americans. This
is unfortunately not the case with Europeans in general. No wonder
the U.S. is leading the world, not least and as THE basis, economically.
-- Fred Jenny, South Africa
1/25: Give Gwinnett
credit for helping start Tbilisi ball program
(Editor's Note: The former Gwinnett YMCA director
replies to a note about the Duluth Rotary Club seeking baseball
equipment for a team in the Dominican Republic. He was in Tbilisi
in the Republic of Georgia on three different visits, with the editor
accompanying him the second year.--eeb)
Editor, the Forum:
Thanks for the plug about our YMCA baseball experience in Tbilisi.
Here's an update on the baseball program in the Republic of Georgia.
Many of the kids I worked with in Georgia are still playing the
game. Six of the original players who visited Gwinnett in 1994 are
now playing college baseball in the USA. I believe all six are in
the Washington D.C. area.
This past summer the 11-12 year olds from Tbilisi were entered
into the World Little League program in the European District. The
team from Tbilisi played a team from Russia in the finals of the
European bracket. The winner would get to go to Williamsport for
the Little League World Series. Russia eventually won the game and
went on to Williamsport to play in the European Championship. Many
of the players from Tbilisi were the 5-6 year olds that I taught
t-ball to in my last trip to Georgia in 1995.
The Tbilisi baseball program still has the same coaches that we
started with in 1992. I am so proud that we had one player sign
with the California Angels, six players playing college baseball
in the USA, and now a little league team that missed making it to
the Little League World Series by only one game.
These are the same kids that the Gwinnett Rotary Club helped by
furnishing them with their first real gloves, and most of the equipment
they have. Thank you, Gwinnett, for being the catalyst for these
kids lifetime experience in our American past time.
- - Randy Brown, YMCA, Daytona Beach, Fla.
1/22: Enjoyed reading
about life in Dacula and Lloyd Stovall
Editor, the Forum:
Elliott, I always enjoy reading the GwinnettForum but especially
enjoyed the Jan. 8 edition.
In our incredibly fast-paced world today, it is really refreshing
to have an opportunity to look back at our roots and bring things
to a more personal level.
Mr. Lindsay certainly accomplished that by the brief history of
Dacula....which I've passed on to my staff as several of them have
recently transferred to Atlanta and are living up there. It does
create some reflection of all that has gone on before us to help
create the Metro area we live in today.
I also enjoyed reading about Lloyd Stovall. He does represent one
of our most self sacrificing generation and I appreciated the respect
you obviously held for him in your commentary. It was a wonderful
tribute to a very fine man.
I don't know why reading about Mr. Stovall impacted me this way
but it reminded me of a feeling I had the first time I visited Pearl
Harbor (which was during Desert Storm). I recall feeling this incredible
wave of various emotions that washed over me as I roamed the visitor
center viewing the photos and reading the history.
I then found a case with memorabilia from a young man who as I
recall was a paymaster...I could be wrong but believe his name was
Carter. It included letters to his wife, theatre tickets, pay stubs
and other personal items. I was blinded by tears. Bringing the events
of Pearl Harbor down to a personal and individual level gave me
a much deeper understanding of those horrific events and the impact
on the people who lived through it and died that day.
For some reason, reading your personal tribute to Mr. Stovall triggered
that memory and a similar appreciation for him. I think that is
one of your gifts, Elliott. And, I think Lloyd Stovall would be
honored by your words.
Thanks for all that you do, Elliott. You make me proud to live
in and contribute, in some small way, to this community.
- - Susan Artman, Duluth
1/18: Feels Gwinnett
has been slicing, dicing for 20 years
Editor, the Forum:
You wrote: "Some of us apparently need first to learn how
to count, not just use algebra. And you don't need to count very
high, either."
And some of us apparently need first learn how to spell. Her name
is Marcia Neaton-Griggs. I am amazed. One of the first tenets of
writing is verifying your facts. Good job.
Unlike you, Mr. Brack, most of don't place harmony and good relations
among the Commissioners at the top of our lists of things we want
Commissioner Neaton-Griggs to accomplish. If that happens, great,
but that certainly shouldn't preclude good decision-making based
on principles and ethics.
All that getting along, peace and harmony has resulted in more
than just economic success. It has resulted in incredibly infuriating
traffic, overcrowded schools, increased crime and more roads leading
to nowhere. I don't mind the contentious nature of the BoC. I say
shake it up. When women pressed for the right to vote, I'd wager
there was plenty of contentiousness. Thank goodness Susan B. Anthony
couldn't subscribe to the Gwinnett Forum.
For the past 20 years, the citizens of this County have been at
the slicing and dicing end of things. Thank God there is finally
someone who cares about doing what is right and not about legacy
building.
-- Sherry B. Hall
1/18: Questions putting
another name on luggage tags
Editor, the Forum:
Thanks for your recent travel tips on how to pack. But why would
you put someone else's name on your luggage tags?
I am supposing that you'd better have some identification, such
as a business card inside
your luggage, just in case. Because if it says "Jim Smith"
on the label and you are "Elliott Brack," you could have
some difficulty retrieving it, especially when the security guard
checks the name on your airline tickets with the name on the suitcase
as you try to get it out of the gates!
-- Barbara Grastat, Lawrenceville
1/15: Says Commissioner
Griggs standing up for principle
Editor, The Forum:
Mr. Brack, I find your comments regarding Commissioner Griggs to
be highly offensive. Basically, sir, you're hitting below the belt!
To equate standing for one's principles and beliefs with the inability
to add properly is uncalled for.
And obviously, since you are well aware that the Commissioner is
an accountant, your comments are a professional slap in the face.
Commissioner Griggs is standing up for her principles...which is
what her constituents elected her to do. You may not like her politics,
but she is owed a great deal of respect for standing up for her
convictions in the face of constant criticism for her refusal to
"just go along". I think the idea of standing up for your
principles has something to do with why this country was founded.
If more of our politicians stood for their principles rather than
their perks...., well, that song has been played way too many times.
-- Lorraine Green,
Lawrenceville
1/11: Upset over Spring
Break timing
Editor, The Forum:
I thought Gwinnett County was trying to be part of the rest of
the world. Spring Break school vacation is usually either the first
week or the second week in April.
Cobb, Dekalb, and Fulton Counties have their Spring Break the SECOND
week of April this year. Gwinnett has theirs the FIRST week of April.
No big deal, EXCEPT if you teach in one of those other counties
and live in Gwinnett, then you and your children can't vacation
together.
The Gwinnett School Board must feel that to be in sync with other
Metro-Atlanta counties might be a criminal conspiracy. Or somebody
is really dumb.
-- Allan Hytowitz, Norcross
1/8: About Atlanta
and Peachtree Street
(EDITOR'S NOTE: The late Lloyd Stovall was a
continual source of information. He sent this to the Forum a few
months ago.)
"All directions in Atlanta start with, 'Go down Peachtree.
. .' and include the phrase, 'When you see the Waffle House. ...'
Except that in Cobb County, all directions begin with, 'Go to the
Big Chicken. . . .'
"Peachtree Street has no beginning and no end and is not to
be confused with Peachtree Circle, Peachtree Place, Peachtree Lane,
Peachtree Road, Peachtree Parkway, Peachtree Corners Circle, Peachtree
Dunwoody, Peachtree Run, Peachtree Trace, Peachtree Ave., Peachtree
Commons, Peachtree Battle, Peachtree Corners, New Peachtree, Old
Peachtree, or Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. "
-- Lloyd Stovall, 2000
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