TODAY'S ISSUE
Group seeks to introduce more girls to engineering field
By Marsha Anderson Bomar
Special to GwinnettForum.com

JAN. 20, 2006 -- In 1969, when I started classes in Engineering, there were seven women (out of 1,600 students) in my college. After a lot of work by a lot of people over many years, today, women represent about 20-25 percent of the population in engineering programs in the nation. This at the same time that the Federal government is saying that in the next ten years, about 45 percent of the current practicing engineers will retire. This tells me that we need everyone who is qualified to consider an engineering career path, to keep this country competitive.

Farmers have a deep understanding of seasons for planting to reap the greatest crop. We have taken a lesson from this and are now in our sixth year of sowing seeds of thought in the minds of our middle school girls.

Years ago, the Georgia Engineering Alliance proposed to IBM here in Atlanta that we start an "Introduce a Girl to Engineering" program. Waiting until girls are ready to enter college is just too late to guide significant numbers of them to successful careers in math, science and engineering. Through this program, we offer the community the opportunity to participate in a luncheon at the beginning of Engineer's Week (February 18 this year) to "Introduce Girls to Engineering."

Arming sixth, seventh and eighth graders with good information, and a strong dose of inspiration, will allow those with the aptitude and interest to succeed. They will choose the right classes in high school, get into the right colleges and be well prepared to thrive at that level.

In this program, women from all branches of engineering donate their time to be mentors for the day, walking the girls through the various hands on activities and participating in their lunchtime conversation to answer questions about their branch of practice. Organizations set up informational tables so they can hear about different career paths. Even the parents are offered a program of their own so they can be well-informed.

In the past two years, we have expanded the program to include scholarships for summer camps and other activities to further cultivate the girls' interest. Competition is tough as we are attracting some of the metro region's best and brightest.

Investing early to give young women choices is so critical if we are going to have a chance to fill the pipeline. Great things are planned for the 2006 "Introduce a Girl to Engineering" luncheon. Teachers must nominate students to be included in the program. For additional information, contact me, Marsha Anderson Bomar, at iag@streetsmarts.us.

ELLIOTT BRACK
More of county needs to mark celebration of King birthday
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com

JAN. 20, 2006 -- All of us in Gwinnett ought to do more to observe one of our national holidays, Martin Luther King Day. After all, this is a national holiday honoring a person who lived right here in Metro Atlanta.

It's a sad commentary that most white folks in the South look upon M.L.King Day as a black holiday. But Dr. King's heritage is not something he gave merely to the black community. He left his mark for people of all races and nations, for people oppressed and free, no matter what their station in life.

The older generation of white people may can sit back and think this not important. But today's youth understand far better than the current older generation the complexities of this world, and the diversity of our nation, and what that can mean.

We wondered just how far-reaching the observance of the King Holiday was for the governments of the county. So we called around to find out.

Eight of the city governments mark M.L. King Day. We talked with 14 of the 15 cities all or partly in Gwinnett. (We could not reach tiny Rest Haven.) The cities observing the King holiday are Auburn, Berkeley Lake, Braselton, Buford, Dacula, Loganville, Sugar Hill and Suwanee.

Not observing the day are Duluth, Grayson, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Norcross and Snellville.

Meanwhile, Gwinnett County government observes the King Holiday, as do 12-month employees plus school children in Gwinnett, and of course, the State of Georgia.

Since we were in touch with the various governments, we decided to see just how many holidays they do observe. The State of Georgia observes the most holidays, 12, while Gwinnett County Government marks 11.5. Gwinnett County school 12 month personnel have eight holidays, plus about a week at Christmas.

Turns out the cities that observe the most holidays are Sugar Hill, Buford and Dacula, all coming in at 11 each. Braselton observes 10.5 (giving a half day at New Year's Eve), and Loganville totals 10 holidays.

Coming in at nine were Auburn, Berkeley Lake, Grayson, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Snellville and Suwanee. Taking the least holidays are Duluth and Norcross at eight.

* * * * *

When you think of it, it really makes no sense for Gwinnettians, and especially government in Gwinnett, not to observe the Martin Luther King Day. Consider these perspectives:

• It's local. The most important King Day observance in the world is in downtown Atlanta. Scenes from its massive celebration, its star-studded cast of speakers, and its message of non-violence are televised live here, and beamed worldwide.
  
  
• Year after year, the King Day has noted and rousing speakers. It is among the best television of the year in Atlanta. A holiday from work would allow people to see this celebration of what Dr. King stood for. It wouldn't hurt most of us to see and hear this message again and again. (Are you listening, President Bush?)
  
  
• Gwinnett knows its population is quickly becoming among the most diverse in Georgia. Already its school system is minority white, and soon the entire county population will have a majority of minorities within the Gwinnett borders. What Dr. King stood far is for people of all races, such as seen in Gwinnett. Getting down to the basics, celebrating the King Holiday will be good for economic development in Gwinnett. It shows the world Gwinnett understand this facet of human relations. To fail to have both governments and industry mark this day is a step backward when it comes to enhancing our county.

Gwinnett already has a King Celebration taking place in Lawrenceville. Perhaps it can find a more innovative way to pull more people to the celebration. By governmental and private employers observing the holiday, it will create an atmosphere for this celebration, and allow all Gwinnett to join people throughout the world in this undertaking and commemoration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King.

ABOUT OUR SPONSORS

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

McLEMORE'S WORLD
1/20: Medicare Care

The latest from cartoonist Bill McLemore:

FEEDBACK
1/20: World Cup match in Germany seeks workers for tournament

Editor, the Forum:

I have received numerous emails from persons interested in volunteering for this coming June's World Cup soccer tournament here in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Needed are all kinds of talented persons, including speakers of different languages and experts in various fields, who wish to dedicate their time and efforts to be part of this World Cup event and help make Kaiserslautern shine in the process.

To help persons achieve this goal, the city of Kaiserslautern's World Cup office is providing an English language volunteer application. This form may be downloaded from the website address:
http://web2.kaiserslautern.de/wm2006/gastgeber/freiwillige/index.html?lang=en

I encourage all who wish to be considered for volunteer positions as Kaiserslautern joins the World's stage in June, to apply soonest. And please share this information to others who might have the time, interest and talents to make "our" World Cup location the best in all of Germany.

-- Larry Zani, Kaiserslautern American German Business Club

UPCOMING
College plans Writer's Institute open house Jan. 23

Georgia Perimeter College will host its first Writer's Institute Series Open House on Mon., January 23,. The meeting will be at its Clarkston Campus in the Jim Cherry Learning Resources Center, located at 555 North Indian Creek Drive, Clarkston.

At the open house, GPC will unveil its Writer's Institute program design and objectives for the series. It is slated to run February through April covering topics from creative and magazine writing to speech writing and book publishing.

Local author of When the Finch Rises and GPC faculty member, Jack Riggs, is scheduled to speak along with Rob Jenkins, the director of the Writer's Institute. Refreshments, door prizes and media information will be provided.. A campus map can be found here http://www.gpc.edu/Campus_Maps/Clarkston.html.
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Linder hosts town hall in Lawrenceville on Saturday

Congressman John Linder will host a Town Hall meeting this Saturday, January 21, from 11 a.m. to noon. The meeting will be held in the auditorium of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center at 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville, and is open to all who wish to attend.

The format will be largely question and answer with the questions coming directly from those in attendance. Congressman Linder represents Georgia's Seventh Congressional District which includes parts of Gwinnett, Forsyth, Cherokee, Bartow, and Paulding counties.

Wayne Hill enters race for seat in the Georgia Legislature

Former Gwinnett County Commission Chairman Wayne Hill has launched a campaign to win the Georgia House District 98 seat, which includes much of northwest Gwinnett. Hill's name will appear on the Republican ballot during the July 18 primary election. Hill said he is eager to once again represent the interests of those living in Gwinnett County.

Hill

"As a Gwinnett County native, I have seen immense prosperity come to our community," he said. "We still have much to accomplish for the benefit of everyone who calls this county home. I want to help protect Gwinnett's quality of life under the Gold Dome."

Hill was chairman of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners for 12 years. His administration was marked with continuous decreases in the county's portion of the millage rate. During his tenure, Gwinnett County established one of the largest park and greenspace programs organized by a single county in Georgia history.

His overall experience is unique in the county's political history. He served as chairman of the Atlanta Regional Commission, president of the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia and president of the National Association of Regional Councils.

For decades, he led his family's successful Hill Cabinet Company in northern Gwinnett. He also is a co-owner of Nashill Inc., which is an infrastructure consulting firm. He and his wife, Carolyn, have three children and six grandchildren.

NOTABLE
Impact Group plans third Monoploy event on Feb. 10

Could you be the next MONOPOLY® tycoon? On February 10, The IMPACT! Group, a non-profit community housing development organization, will hold its third annual MONOPOLY® Gala & Silent Auction. The event, postponed last Fall because of the organization's hurricane relief efforts, will be held at the Atlanta Marriott Gwinnett Place in Duluth.

Event host IronStone Bank and honorary chair Kerry Armstrong of Duke Realty invite local businesses to sponsor MONOPOLY® properties in support of the non-profit's work to end homelessness, revitalize neighborhoods and help families achieve homeownership. Guests at the Gala receive a stake of MONOPOLY® money and properties to buy and sell from other guests. Entertainment includes music, silent auction, food and a cash bar. At the end of the evening, a MONOPOLY® tycoon is named for having the most properties. It could be you!

To purchase tickets, sponsorships, or donate an item to the silent auction, please visit The IMPACT! Group's website at www.theimpactgroup.org or call (678) 808-4477.

State recognizes Sherrington work on Driver Service board

Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner Katherine Sherrington was formally recognized for her outstanding service and dedication to the State Board of Driver Services, formerly called the Board of Motor Vehicle Safety. Sherrington served a four-year term through 2005, after being appointed to the Board by the former Governor Roy Barnes in 2001. In its January 11 ceremony, the Board issued a resolution recognizing her service and citing "invaluable advice and insight regarding the Georgia Electronic Insurance Compliance System."

RECOMMENDATION

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

GEORGIA TIDBIT
Inman family prominent in Atlanta since the Civil War

The Inman family came to Atlanta from eastern Tennessee around the time of the Civil War. In 1865, Shadrach W. Inman followed his two younger brothers, William H. Inman and Walker P. Inman, who had arrived in 1859 and were acting as agents for the Northwestern Bank of Georgia in Ringgold. Shadrach established dry-goods stores with his youngest son, Hugh, in Atlanta.

Samuel Inman

The dry-goods stores of the time served as places to barter goods, particularly for farmers growing cotton , but were later discontinued in favor of direct dealings in cotton. The Inmans worked as factors, purchasing cotton from farmers and reselling it when the market turned more favorable. From their interest in cotton, they expanded into such related areas as fertilizers, cotton presses, steel hoops to hold compressed cotton, and railroads for the shipping of cotton.

In order to influence shipping rates, the Inmans obtained positions on the boards of various railroads and as voting stockholders. As a result of serving in these capacities, John H. Inman became president of the Richmond and Danville Railroad in 1890. As president, Inman was accused of charging the Richmond and Danville too much money for the stock of the Central of Georgia Railway, of which he was one of the largest stockholders. Due to this conflict of interest, Inman was forced to resign in 1892, and investigations followed. He never recovered from this incident and died on November 5, 1896, with his once wealthy estate in bankruptcy.

Samuel and Hugh, on the other hand, found their interest in various businesses growing along with the city of Atlanta.

Starting as railroad stockholders, they became investors in streetcars with their friend Joel Hurt and began to invest in banks, often serving as board members of those banks. Atlanta real estate also became a large part of the Inmans' business interest, as did insurance, which, because of the threat of fire to their real estate investments, was a natural progression.

The Inmans were soon able to venture beyond the world of business and into the politics of the city. Samuel and Hugh served as aldermen and as members of various civic organizations, all the while pushing the physical development of Atlanta and improving the value of their real estate investments.

Through the money they made on cotton and railroads, the Inmans were able to participate in philanthropic activities in Atlanta. They were key to the development of the Georgia Institute of Technology and Agnes Scott College , as well as, to a lesser extent, Atlanta University and Oglethorpe University . Other charities supported by the family included churches, the Confederate Soldiers' Home, and Women's Work in the American Red Cross during World War I (1917-18). The Inmans also supported the founding of an orphanage and of Grady Memorial Hospital. Many cultural endeavors, including the High Museum of Art, also benefitted from the Inmans' generosity.

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

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Wants to make sure that dogs are around later on

"If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. "

-- Will Rogers, via Brian Luders, Duluth.

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

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