Cox transforms corporate filing to full
Web transactions
By
Ashley Holt
Special to GwinnettForum.com
JAN. 9, 2007 -- On her final full day as Georgia's Secretary of
State, Secretary Cathy Cox announced that her Corporations Division
completed and fully implemented an historic operational transformation
that permits Georgia businesses, attorneys and other corporate agents
to complete the filing of a new corporate entity entirely online,
and to complete that task in a single business day. Georgia is one
of the first states in the nation to offer this service to corporate
customers.
Cox |
The Georgia Secretary of State's Corporations Division has a history
of groundbreaking improvements in customer service. It was the first
in the nation to allow corporate entities to renew their registrations
online, and also led in allowing filers to reserve a new corporate
name via e-mail. Now, customers who choose to file online can have
their new entity's registration processed the same day it is received.
Ms. Cox, the outgoing Secretary of State, says: "There is
no greater priority for Georgia's Secretary of State than to make
interacting with this agency as convenient and business-friendly
as possible, so the transformational improvements in our corporations
division are among our proudest achievements. When I arrived in
the Secretary of State's office, completing a new corporate filing
would take a month, and often even longer. Georgia customers were
paying hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in expedited fees
to reduce that waiting period, but even an expedited filing would
take far too long to complete.
"I know how important rapid turnaround is for Georgia businesses,
and to their attorneys and others who assist them with this work.
That's why I am especially proud that, as I complete my final days
in office, our corporations division is a national model for customer
service, rapid response and technological innovation. These are
the kinds of changes that spur new economic growth and job creation,
and I am tremendously grateful to the dedicated agency staff who
made these improvements possible," Secretary Cox adds.
Georgia's Corporations Division has also now digitized and made
available online more than 2.5 million records and images of corporate
filings made in the last decade. Users can easily and conveniently
research and view the articles and application documents of most
companies created after 1997. A new virtual "shopping cart"
feature also allows customers to make a single payment for multiple
transactions.
These new online offerings further expand the Corporations Division's
already substantial suite of e-commerce offerings and will result
in substantial savings to Georgia taxpayers. An immediate savings
of $300,000 per year will be achieved by removing the corporate
database from the state's mainframe computer system and managing
the data in-house.
Another feature to the division's suite of online services is instant
e-mail notification to acknowledge receipt and processing of all
new entity filings, including LLCs, Corporations and Limited Partnerships.
Customers receive an e-mail notification when their filings are
received and another e-mail when their documents are processed.
This electronic notification is similar to the systems used by e-commerce
providers such as UPS, Amazon.com, FedEx and others to ensure that
customers are aware of the status of their orders.
There are more than one million entities on file with the Corporations
Division, which include corporations, limited liability companies
and limited partnerships. The Corporations Division collected nearly
$11 million in e-commerce revenue in FY 2006.
Norton views Gwinnett as Atlanta's next twin
future city
By
Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com
JAN. 9, 2007 -- Remember when back in school, getting your report
card at regular intervals? That's the way we look at Frank Norton's
annual "Native Intelligence Report," something of a report
card for the counties of northeast Georgia.
Brack |
For the 20th year, the Norton Agency (real estate and insurance,
based in Gainesville), put on a show with their report last week.
It gives an objective view with loads of statistics of what will
happen in the Northeast area. Call the Norton Agency if you want
to get a copy at (770 534 5248.)
The top 10 trends he sees happening are these.
1. Return to a state of normalcy in real estate, and a repeat
of the record 2003 sales year. "Immigrants, retirement and
job migration will weave a prosperous housing industry."
2. "Water, the resource we take for granted, is in short
supply." With the Metro Atlanta population on the way to
12 million by 2050, Norton says: "Water is the single most
limiting factor to this region's prosperity."
3. Those "in between" towns you have never heard of
will grow the fastest. They include Auraria, Coal Mountain, Maysville,
Matt, Hoschton, Arcade, Chestnut Mountain and Pendergrass. Norton
cites the "evolutionary transformation" of Duluth from
1,248 in 1940 to a projected 40,000 in 2010. "Hang on to
your hat; it's going to be a bumpy ride," he says.
4. "Green Tech: environmental improvements are going to lead
toward profitability." He calls it "making green from
green," as tinkerors, investors and creative souls search
for America's next light bulb invention."
5. Communities should be into "economic gardening,"
which Norton defines as simply stimulating the gardens of business
entrepreneurs laying dormant in the community. It's nurturing
what is already present in the community, rather than "putting
effort into landing a large manufacturer who may shutter their
plant in a downturn or merger."
6. The rise of the creative class is a factor, a group which includes
highly educated and well paid segments which now includes 30 per
cent of the people. These people "want to be in a place that
is exciting and challenging and open to new ideas, and values
them, as individuals."
7. North Georgia now merits a "kool" list of places
to go, things to see, eat or buy. He produces a list of places,
from Chestatee Wildlife Preserve to the Batesville General Store,
to Vickery in West Forsyth County (similar to a new phase of downtown
Norcross), to the Nacoochee Grill in Helen, and many more. He
calls it "new urbanism" in the mountains.
8. Golf course conversions: "With over 38 golf courses in
North Georgia, and land ranging from $20,000-$75,000 zoned developable
acre, the green fairways may be too tempting to pass up."
9. An annexation war: He cites several cities fighting to include
developable land within their borders. He adds about Buford, "which
through innovative revenue sources and annexation of prime commercial
acreage and industrial property has successfully lowered the city
millage rate 15 consecutive years."
10. Search for quality of life. He asks: What did it take to get
to where you are today, and what would you do differently? He
suggests: "Do five things well…before moving on to the
next five."
About Gwinnett, Norton says: "We see Gwinnett entering its
third wave of development. The original settlement pre-1975; the
boomtown settlers who migrated in from 1976 until 2000; and now
the third wave, a mix of urban oriented, diverse, mixed middle and
upper class immigrants who are building the next generation Gwinnett.
"We see the infancy of urbanization of Gwinnett.
"The next 20 years will be one of vertical development…
By our estimates, Gwinnett is the wealthiest and strongest (financially)
county in Georgia. One might consider Gwinnett Atlanta's twin future
city."
* * * *
Whew! Such a report card, and for all of North Georgia. Luckily,
it appears that Gwinnett passed…..though changing dramatically!
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Has seen benefits of not electing school superintendents
Editor, the Forum:
I've just read your article on Representative Cox's idea of elected
school superintendents. [Commentary,
1/4] You are absolutely correct in your comments.
Having been a member of a Georgia school board, I understand the
dynamics between elected Boards of Education and the superintendent.
In large urban counties, it would be a very bad idea to return to
elected superintendents, as it would be in small rural counties.
In my current position in another state, I work closely with an
appointed superintendent, who is a member of my Economic Development
Commission. Through that association, I continue to see the dynamics
between elected boards and superintendents.
An elected board sets policy and if they are smart, they hire the
best administrator to carry out that policy. A superintendent does
not need constituents of his own other than the students and he
doesn't need his own policy goals other than the betterment of education
for the entire community.
-- Patricia Mitchell, Jefferson N.C.
(Editor's Note: Pat Mitchell was previously elected
as a member of the Gwinnett Board of Education. She currently
is the director of Economic Development in Ashe County, N.C. -eeb)
After five years of
hard work, "Dream House" a success
Editor, the Forum:
Just a short time ago, approximately five years, it was a "dream"
when Laura Moore came before the Lilburn Business Association asking
for helping in establishing a "dream house" for medically
fragile children. Today with her steadfastness, this dream has been
a reality for many children here in Georgia.
Now, hopefully, with the recent ABC's World News Woman of the Week
segment, plus an article in People magazine, and articles in local
newspapers, she will be able to reach the hearts and minds of those
who can help her reach the big dream and get more children into
loving homes giving them a chance at life.
Dream House for Medically Fragile Children, Inc. is a non-profit
(501c3) organization dedicated to keeping these children out of
institutions and at home with their families. Dream House is about
providing the support resources and programs necessary to prepare
their families and communities so they can provide safe and effective
care for their special healthcare needs children and provide the
quality of life they all need to survive.
As Laura tells me, if anyone has time and would like to visit the
"Dream House" here in Lilburn, just give her a call at
770 717-7410 or visit the web site at www.dreamhouseforkids.org.
She loves to show it off! And, you just will not believe all you
see!
-- Helen Morriss, Lilburn
King
celebration starts with symphony at Morehouse College
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, King Center, Spelman College and
Morehouse College will present the 15th anniversary of "A King
Celebration," the annual musical tribute to Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. The performance takes place at Morehouse College, the alma
mater of Dr. King, on Thursday, January 11, at 8 p.m.
The program features Richard Danielpour's "Triptych"
from Margaret Garner with mezzo-soprano Pamela Dillard; Gershwin's
"Rhapsody in Blue" with pianist Terrence Wilson; Childs'
"For Holly"; and "Ode to Joy," the finale to
Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with soprano Cynthia Haymon, mezzo-soprano
Pamela Dillard, tenor Vinson Cole, and bass-baritone Alfred Walker
as soloists.
On Monday, January 15, 2007, the concert will be broadcast on "Performance
Today," which is produced and distributed by American Public
Media, in partnership with National Public Radio to more than 250
public radio stations across the nation. Fred Child will host the
broadcast. For nationwide station information and broadcast times,
please visit www.americanpublicmedia.org.
Tickets, for the January 11 performance are priced at $25 with
a "buy one get one free" provision. They are available
at the Woodruff Arts Center Box Office located at 15th and Peachtree
- until 3 p.m. the day of the concert. They can also be charged
to major credit cards by calling 404-733-5000 or by visiting the
ASO website at www.atlantasymphony.org.
Tickets may also be purchased at the Martin Luther King Jr. International
Chapel on the campus of Morehouse College starting at 6:30 p.m.
the day of the concert. All seats are general admission.
Suwanee program seeks
artists ready to go out on limb
The City of Suwanee is seeking artists who are willing to go out
on a limb with their creativity. The City is hosting a design competition
for artwork to be featured this year in its award-winning "Art
on a Limb" program. Samples of proposed artwork must be submitted
by Friday, February 2.
Art on a Limb is a month-long initiative designed to celebrate
and bring attention to the arts as well as the natural beauty of
the four-mile Suwanee Creek Greenway. Through the program, two or
more pieces of original artwork, especially created for the City
of Suwanee, are placed along the Suwanee Creek Greenway each day
throughout the month of May. Greenway-users who find the art pieces
get to keep the unique trail treasures.
Submitted artwork must be original, able to be placed outdoors,
and be reproducible. Artwork may include paintings or drawings on
a variety of materials as well as sculptures, glasswork, ceramics
or any other suitable medium. At least 150-200 pieces of the selected
artwork will need to be produced; the winning artist will receive
compensation for the pieces. The artwork may reflect one to three
different themes, and each piece should be individually unique.
For more information and an application form, visit the City of
Suwanee website, www.suwanee.com.
Or, contact Event Coordinator Amy Doherty at adoherty@suwanee.com
or 770/945-8996.
Previous Art on a Limb pieces have included ceramic orbs created
by students at the Hudgens Center for the Arts and original paintings,
by local artist Melody Orr, on small pieces of Suwanee's old water
tower.
Ham radio's TechFest
set for January 13 near Lawrenceville
Amateur (ham) radio operators and Homeland Security will team up
at the Gwinnett Amateur Radio Society's 10th annual TechFest on
January 13 at St. Marguerite D'Youville Church, 85 Gloster Road,
just off U.S. Highway 29 southwest of Lawrenceville. Activities
begin at 10 a.m. and should conclude at 2 p.m., though the site
will remain open until 10 p.m., says Norm Schklar, president of
the society.
This year along with displaying and operating several modes of
amateur radio equipment, the Techfest is scheduled to have the Gwinnett
Police Command Vehicle on site. It will be equipped with some of
the latest amateur radio equipment. Ham radio communications is
highly reliable and generally not dependent on public power or carriers.
Ham radios are operated by federally licensed operators and in times
of emergency provide point to point and mobile communications for
served agencies.
Situations like the WTC, Katrina and the Tsunami proved beyond
any doubt that Ham Radio and Ham Radio operators could provide critical
communications quickly and reliably while other communications systems
were in the process of being restored.
Amateur Radio is about much more than emergency communications,
Schklar says. "We will be displaying Amateur Satellite gear,
digital communications, Morse code or CW, Echolink (radio over the
internet), low power Ham equipment in packages smaller than an Altoids
tin and much more. For the technically inclined, we'll have a session
on designing circuit boards with the PC. There will be information
on obtaining an Amateur Radio license."
Gwinnett
Chamber seeks nominations in small business area
Gwinnettians are being asked to nominate a business for the top
small business award of the year from the Chamber of Commerce.
The Gwinnett Chamber's 2007 Pinnacle Small Business Awards (formerly
the Small Business Person of the Year) will select Gwinnett's top
entrepreneur as its Small Business Person of the Year. It will also
name top businesses in three categories (1-10; 11-149; and 150+
employees). The overall Small Business of the Year winner will be
eligible to participate in Georgia's Small Business of the Year
competition.
The 2007 Pinnacle Small Business Awards will be announced at an
April 25 at 6 p.m. at a location to be announced. For more information,
contact Laurie McKenzie at the Gwinnett
Chamber.
Richardson to head
Gwinnett home builders' group
Richardson |
Mark Richardson, vice president of development, Richardson Housing
Group, will take office this month as the president of the Gwinnett
Chapter of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association (GHBA).With
more than 4,100 members, the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association
is the second largest local homebuilders association in the country.
The Gwinnett Chapter of the GHBA, one of 10 chapters representing
the metro-Atlanta area and the city of Atlanta, focuses on issues
related to the regulatory and market conditions within the Gwinnett
area.
In addition, Richardson, was also appointed by the County Commission
to the Gwinnett Development Advisory Council. Richardson has also
served on the board of directors for Gwinnett County Habitat for
Humanity and is the chairman of the Carpentry Advisory Council for
Gwinnett Technical College, which serves as a small-business incubator
for soon-to-be home builders. Married with one son, Richardson and
wife Shannon reside near Dacula. Richardson, a native of Lawrenceville,
is a graduate of Reinhardt College.
Tax savings available
when filing homestead exemption
Property owners may file for a 2007 homestead exemption from now
through March 1, 2007. Homestead exemptions can offer tax savings
to property owners who own and occupy a property as of January 1
of the tax year for which the exemption is filed.
Property owners who already receive an exemption and had no ownership
changes to their deed do not need to reapply. They will continue
to receive their current exemption on property taxes.
The Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner collects property taxes for
the cities of Berkeley Lake, Dacula, Grayson, Lawrenceville, Lilburn,
Snellville and Sugar Hill. Property owners residing in these cities'
limits and who apply for a county exemption will also receive applicable
city exemptions to which they may be entitled.
For more information regarding available exemptions, contact the
Department of Property Tax. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday. For 24-hour service, customers are encouraged
to utilize TaxTalk24, the Tax Commissioner's automated customer
service telephone system, at (770) 822-8800, or they may use the
Tax Commissioner's website at www.gwinnett-tax.com.
Customers may also e-mail questions to the Property Tax Department
at Propertytax@gwinnettcounty.com.
Susan Lee, Kenneth
Poe in new slots in county government
|
Lee
Poe
|
Susan Lee, a veteran Gwinnett County employee, has been appointed
deputy county administrator. Lee fills this new position after having
served as human resources director for the past two years. Her promotion
takes effect immediately. Lee will oversee several areas of county
government operations, including human resources, support services,
police, fire and emergency services, corrections and human relations.
Replacing Lee in the position of human resources director will be
Kenneth Poe, who has been the deputy director of human resources
since April 2006. He earned a bachelor's degree in social work and
a master's degree in public administration from the University of
Georgia. Poe has more than 20 years of experience and leadership
in the field of human resources management, including almost eight
years with Gwinnett County, and is a certified Human Resources Manager.
- 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
Evans County
named for Confederate war hero and minister
A Confederate war hero, Methodist minister, and public servant,
Clement
Evans (1833-1911) was a prominent Georgian during the 19th century.
Clement Anselm Evans was born on February 25, 1833, near Lumpkin
in Stewart County. He married Mary Allen Walton in 1854, and the
couple had eight children. Evans was admitted to the bar at the
age of 18, elected a county judge at age 21, and elected a state
senator in 1859 as a member of the Know-Nothing Party.
Evans |
When war broke out in April 1861, Evans resigned from the legislature
and joined the Confederate army as a private. Wounded five times
(twice severely), he rose to command the 31st Georgia Infantry (Bartow
Guards) in May 1862. He fought in nearly every major battle of the
Army of Northern Virginia. During the Gettysburg campaign, the 31st
Georgia reached York, Penn., the most northern advance of any Confederate
unit. The regiment was also the last Confederate unit to leave Union
territory, providing rear-guard support for the retreating Army
of Northern Virginia after the Battle of Gettysburg.
In May1864 Evans was promoted to brigadier general and commanded
Lawton's/Gordon's Brigade in the Army of Northern Virginia's II
Corps. Providing rear-guard support during Lee's retreat toward
Appomattox, Virginia, in April 1865, Evans led the last charge of
the Army of Northern Virginia, after Generals Lee and Grant had
agreed to surrender terms.
Evans began a 26-year career as a Methodist minister in 1866 and
served churches in Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Cassville, Cedartown,
and Rome during his life. In 1888 Evans was offered the position
of chancellor at the University of Georgia but declined in order
to continue his ministry. In 1897 he was appointed to Georgia's
first prison commission and spearheaded the effort to exempt first-time
offenders from wearing the traditional white-and-black-striped prison
uniform.
Evans remained a proud Confederate and promoter of the Lost Cause
ideology throughout his life. He served as editor of the 13-volume
Confederate Military History; coeditor with Allen D. Candler of
Cyclopedia of Georgia; and author of Military History of Georgia.
Evans also helped found the United Confederate Veterans (UCV) and
served as its Georgia Division commander for several years. In 1909
he became commander in chief of the UCV but retired in 1911, shortly
before his death.
When Evans died in Atlanta on July 2, 1911, his body lay in state
in the central rotunda of the capitol, and the state legislature
adjourned for a day to attend his funeral. He is buried in Oakland
Cemetery in Atlanta. To honor his memory, the legislature created
Evans County in the southeastern part of Georgia in 1914.
Insight into the way
the Navy views its ships
"A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built
for."
-- Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper, 1906-1992
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