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President gives update to community on four-year college
By Dan Kaufman
President, Georgia Gwinnett College
Special to GwinnettForum.com

NORCROSS, July 10, 2007 -- As we approach mid-summer, it is an appropriate point to provide to the citizens of Gwinnett County an update on the activities and programs at Georgia Gwinnett College. As I talk to audiences around the county, I am always struck by the degree to which the community wants---and expects---Georgia Gwinnett College to succeed. Managing expectations is our greatest concern, but it is a wonderful problem to have. The programs at GGC are progressing in very good order, indeed.

Our first freshman class will arrive in mid-August. The summer season is a busy time for our admissions staff, as we have received about 1,000 applications to date, with more arriving each week. As an access institution, we will accept applications until school begins in mid-August. We hired over 80 new faculty members to teach our new class, and they have begun to arrive and prepare for the new semester. We had over 1,500 applications for those 80 jobs, so all of us are delighted with the extraordinarily talented faculty who will be joining the college and the Gwinnett community.

The construction crane may well become the GGC mascot. We are putting the finishing touches on our facilities master plan, which will guide the overall development and character of our beautiful campus. Concurrently, we are completing the expansion of one classroom building, which includes a state-of-the-art 300 person auditorium, and we have begun construction on a parking deck, which we hope to put into operation before Christmas. We will begin the design of the GGC library and learning center as well as a new student center in the very near future. These critical facilities will enable us to provide the kind of educational and developmental experiences that our young people deserve.

We have submitted our application for initial accreditation to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Initial accreditation is a two-step process. Institutions are admitted to candidacy status after review of the accreditation request and a site visit from a SACS team. Full accreditation follows after submission of another, more comprehensive, report and a full accreditation visit. The length of the process varies with each individual institution. While the accreditation process is underway, we have acted aggressively to ensure that our students can receive both needs-based aid and merit scholarships. Our students are fully eligible for HOPE scholarships, and we have made provisions to provide need-based aid in lieu of federal aid. Federal aid will become available after GGC is admitted to candidacy status by SACS. Further, since GGC is a member of the University System of Georgia, our credits are transferable throughout the system, subject to the same review and approval criteria applied to every other school in the system.

Our first year of operation was a truly remarkable one. The coming year promises to be even more exciting as we deepen a culture at GGC devoted to teaching and student development, and as we establish the programs and facilities that will contribute to the quality of life for all of us in Gwinnett County.

New play about Georgia mountains now playing in Sautee
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com

JULY 10, 2007 -- Thousands of people flock the cooler climes of the North Georgia mountains during the summer, seeking to get away from their everyday activities and enjoy the area. For some it's water sports, though that has slowed in the drought this year. For others, it's poking around the picturesque small towns, delving into junk and even sometimes antique shops, enjoying the local foods, taking in the vistas…and for some, just relaxing.

Yet the mountains have lost one focus in the past few years of a local drama production. At one time, the Reach of Song was Georgia's official historical drama, but it halted production in 2003 at Young Harris. Up until last weekend, there was no serious drama for those visiting the mountains to attend.

Yet last week a new production opened for the first time smack in the middle of the northeast Georgia mountains at the Sautee Nacoochee Center, near Helen. The theatrical production is "Headwaters: Stories from a Goodly Portion of Beautiful Northeast Georgia." Call it "Headwaters" for short.

It's a production of The Sautee Nacoochee Community Association, a non-profit organization seeking to nurturing creativity and to preserving and protecting the natural and historical resources of the Sautee and Nacoochee Valleys and surrounding area. The SNCA maintains a cultural and community center housed in a restored rural schoolhouse, offering a Folk Pottery Museum, theatre, gallery, art studio, History Museum, heritage site, nature preserve, environmental studies room, and conference facilities. The Sautee Nacoochee has been selected as an official Historic District and one of "The 100 Best Small Arts Towns in America."

The play, written by acclaimed Jo Carson, assisted by local writer Jerry Grillo, features a large cast of area residents who tell local tales and sing traditional and original songs. Carson you will remember as the author of scripts for "Swamp Gravy," the folklife play out of Colquitt, Ga.

The presentation is both entertaining and interesting, and came across the first night with no awkward hitches. It's somewhat homey, telling local stories with flair and drama, though you must listen carefully at times to pick up all the lines.

Lisa Mount is project director of the Association, while Tommy Deadwyler and Terri Edgar are co-producers of the play. We were delighted in the seven person, low-key string musical group accompanying and adding considerably to the production.

"Headwaters" takes place in the converted gymnasium of the former school, which has just been renovated, and air conditioned. The facility seats about 200 in comfortable, padded chairs.

Act fast if you want to see this play. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays and Sunday afternoons only through July 22. Dinner is available before each performance in the nearby Community Hall. Ticket prices are $10 for SNCA members and $15 for non members. The box office phone is 706 878 3300, or tickets may be purchased at www.snca.org. Perhaps next year the SNCA will add matinee performances, which should attract even more people vacationing in the wider area.

The drive is about one and a half hours from Gwinnett to the Sautee Nacoochee Center, perfect for an outing, or even an overnight stay in the cooler air of the mountains. We hope that there is enough support for this new venture that they can extend the performances, perhaps this season, if not next season.

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Thanks for the coverage on the Forum and for your response back about the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Lilburn. By the way, their "grand opening" (my word, not theirs) is not open to the public. However, the temple will be having some "open house" type opportunities after that for the public. And thereafter, they will always be open to the public, with eight clergy in residence.

History comes alive when Movies Under the Stars brings Night at the Museum to Suwanee Town Center Park on Saturday, July 14. This free outdoor movie presentation will begin at dusk, around 8:45 p.m.

The 108-minute movie is rated PG for mild action, language, and brief rude humor. "Parents should know that the movie has a good deal of comic peril, mayhem, and violence," notes Movie Mom's Review at www.yahoo.com.

Bring snacks, blankets, and low-back chairs to Town Center Park, but no alcohol please. Refreshments also will be available for purchase.

The City of Suwanee has received accreditation for the fourth consecutive year from the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Main Street program. Suwanee was one of 78 Georgia cities recognized for downtown development excellence at the annual Georgia Municipal Association conference in Savannah June 23-26.

The Main Street program, implemented in Suwanee through its Downtown Development Authority, uses a comprehensive revitalization process that seeks to integrate a locally driven management strategy with a focus on physical improvement of buildings and public spaces, aggressive promotion and image-building, and economic development of the downtown area.

The July 17 Gwinnett Technology Forum will feature Michael Kogon, chief executive officer of Atlanta-based Definition 6. The firm leverages expertise in business applications, advanced infrastructure, design, marketing and consulting to create innovative communication, collaboration and commerce solutions that help our clients increase revenues and reduce costs to build competitive advantage.
The meeting will be at 7:30 a.m. on July 17 at the Scientific-Atlanta Auditorium in the Busbee Center of Gwinnett Technical College in Lawrenceville.
Kogan founded the company in 1997 and continues to be integral in day-to-day activities. In particular, he meets regularly with the CEOs and CMOS of Definition 6 clients, to share his expertise in interactive marketing and technology, ensure their satisfaction and express his commitment to the growth of their business. Under his leadership, Definition 6 has created over $10 billion in revenue for clients and forged partnerships with such industry leaders as Microsoft, as a Gold Certified Partner with five competencies; and Google, as the first Enterprise Professional Partner headquartered in Georgia.

As a result, Georgia Trend named Definition 6 a "Best Place to Work in Georgia" in 2006. Kogan, was awarded the 2004 Small Business Person of the Year Award by the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. He was also listed as one of the Up and Comers "Under 40 and Rising - 50 of Atlanta's Most Promising Young Stars" in the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

There is no charge to attend the Technology Forum, but you are asked to make reservations by emailing Jo Anne Wymer at Joanne@gwinnettchamber.org.

On Wednesday, July 18, United Way in Gwinnett Women's Legacy volunteers will present award grants totaling $52,000 to eight different agencies throughout Gwinnett County. Selected agencies with programs that respond to the basic needs of families, especially those of homeless women and children, will attend the Women's Legacy Luncheon to receive Community and High Impact Award checks ranging from $3,000 to $15,000.

Women's Legacy of United Way was founded in 1999 to mobilize women to become powerful philanthropists through leadership, fundraising and advocacy. In 2006 United Way Women's Legacy collected more than 10,000 shoeboxes filled with travel-sized essentials for homeless women and children.

The luncheon is at the 1818 Club from 11:30 am. For more information on United Way in Gwinnett Women's Legacy or the July luncheon, contact associate director for resource development Leng Leng Chancey at (404) 527-8807 or lchancey@unitedwayatlanta.org.

A total of $38,500 in scholarships and advancement grants have been awarded by the Gwinnett Federal Credit Union to local high school graduates and teachers.

The credit union also awarded $1,500 Career Advancement Founders Scholarships to:

Gwinnett Federal Credit Union (founded in 1961 as Gwinnett Teachers FCU) continues its long-standing support for excellence in education with the Career Advancement and Legacy Student Scholarships. These scholarships honor the founders of Gwinnett Federal. The Career Advancement Scholarship was created for adult credit union members to assist them with their continuing education expenses. The Legacy Scholarships, given in honor of past and present Board members and employees who have served for over 20 years, are awarded to high school seniors majoring in education and planning to return to Georgia to teach.

Additionally, Gwinnett Federal Credit Union is proud to recognize the lifetime achievements of Louise Radloff (Gwinnett County) and Anderson Byers (Jackson County) by funding a $2,000 student scholarship in their honor at each of the school systems. This year's Louise Radloff scholarship recipient was Dat Thanh Le from Collins Hill High School. Diana Flores from Jackson County Comprehensive High School was the Anderson Byers scholarship recipient.

New ID law applies when applying for license plate

As of July 1, 2007, Georgia law (Senate Bill 38) requires that first time vehicle registrants provide a valid Georgia driver's license/identification card before a license plate can be issued.

Accordingly, all Gwinnett County Tag Offices will begin verifying legal residence in Gwinnett County before processing a vehicle registration. Vehicle owners requesting registration or applying for a tag at Gwinnett Tag Offices must provide a valid Georgia driver's license or a valid Georgia-issued identification card reflecting a Gwinnett County address.

New residents moving to Gwinnett County from out of state are required to provide a valid Georgia driver's license or Georgia ID card with the current Gwinnett County address before a license plate can be issued.

New residents moving to Gwinnett County from another Georgia County must provide:

Current Gwinnett County residents who already have vehicles registered in Gwinnett and move within Gwinnett County may change addresses by telephone or e-mail. Proof of residency requirements and change of address request forms are available on the Tax Commissioner's website at www.GwinnettTaxCommissioner.com. The form can be submitted with the required residency documentation by mail, fax or a visit to any Gwinnett County tag office.

"Georgia Tom" Dorsey first gained recognition as a blues pianist in the 1920s and later became known as the father of gospel music for his role in developing, publishing, and promoting the gospel blues.

Thomas Andrew Dorsey was born in Villa Rica on July 1, 1899, to Etta Plant Spencer and Thomas Madison Dorsey, an itinerant preacher and sharecropper. Dorsey was first exposed to music in church, where he heard shape-note singing and emotional, moaning spiritual songs. His mother was a respected organist, and Dorsey began playing the instrument at a young age.

In 1908 the family relocated to Atlanta, where Dorsey was introduced to a broader spectrum of secular music, especially on the Decatur Street scene. He worked at the 81 Theater, where he witnessed performances by Gertrude "Ma" Rainey, and met Bessie Smith as well as being the 91 Theater house pianist Eddie Heywood. From age 12 to 14, Dorsey played at house parties and brothels in Atlanta, gaining the nickname "Barrel House Tom."

In 1916 Dorsey moved to Chicago, where he continued his musical training at the Chicago School of Composition and Arranging, and in 1920 he published his first composition. Throughout the 1920s Dorsey's rising fame derived from his blues music. To earn money Dorsey worked as a composer and arranger for the Chicago Music Publishing Company under J. Mayo Williams and as a music coach for Paramount and Vocalion Records. Meanwhile, his decision to publish his own music paid off when both Monette Moore and King Oliver recorded his pieces.

In 1932 Dorsey's wife, Nettie Harper, died during childbirth, and their son died the following day. This tragedy caused Dorsey to renounce blues music and inspired him to write his famous piece Take My Hand, Precious Lord, the first of his religious songs to mirror lyrically the emotional and personal impact of his blues compositions.

During the late 1930s and early 1940s, Dorsey worked extensively with Mahalia Jackson, establishing Jackson as the pre-eminent gospel singer and Dorsey as the dominant gospel composer of the time.

Dorsey died in Chicago on January 23, 1993, of complications from Alzheimer's disease. Although he didn't invent gospel blues, Dorsey was one of its earliest performers. Furthermore, his foresight in deciding to publish all of his material, coupled with the large audiences for his music at some of Chicago's prominent churches and at the National Baptist Convention, helped Dorsey to become an icon.

"In times like these, it helps to recall that there have always been times like these."

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