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Pounding halls of Washington pays off
for Duluth firm
By
Arthur Salus
President, Duluth Travel
Special to GwinnettForum.com
DULUTH, Ga., Nov. 16, 2007 -- It has been a long haul….but
persistence pays off. I was troubled that my travel agency sales
were diminishing. Since the early 90s with the creation of multiple
websites from the airlines ( Delta.com, AA.com) and the on-line
booking engines like Travelocity, Expedia, Priceline, etc., the
travel business left the majority of traditional travel agencies,
This meant we got a "big hit" when the airlines quit paying
commissions to travel agents. Prior to 1999 there were approximately
65,000 "brick and mortar" travel agencies nationwide.
Today, only about 19,000 are open for business.
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Salus
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So there was a big dilemma for me: whether to shut down my business
or look for other niches. My business partner, Ed Arias, mentioned
an article on government business about veterans, as well as service
to disabled veterans returning from battlefronts like Afghanistan
and "Desert Storm." The " feds" were not providing
much help as these GIs returned home to find their jobs or business'
gone. Since I am a serviced disabled veteran from the Vietnam era,
I had an idea to see if federal contracting would be an alternative
for my business.
As in the title of the Jimmy Stewart movie called "Mr. Smith
Goes To Washington," I embarked on a similar mission and went
to the District of Columbia. It took many trips to the Capitol,
with me knocking on Congressional doors just to meet as many people
as possible to get them to listen to me.
I was able to get the help of Sen. Johnny Isakson, who is a veteran
and sits on both Committees on Small Business and Veteran Affairs
in obtaining federal contacts for travel services. Yes, persistence
paid off. For today, Duluth Travel has won the worldwide travel
service's contract from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
This is a multi-year $400 million contract for three years with
option periods.
WOW! All this worked because of using the old adage: don't take
"no" for an answer. "No" means to me "not
now" or "maybe". I did not back down and take "no"
as an answer. In fact, this persistence led me to testify on the
Hill in Congress in May of 2005. And now I am due back again on
the Hill to testify on behalf of small business and veterans.
When asked on what other small businesses or veterans should do,
I suggest they register with General Services Administration, and
after obtaining approval, start calling, writing, or even visiting
Washington. Contact every procurement officer or contracting person
from every agency you find under www.gsa.gov.
Another source is to contact your regional office of SBA for information
on specific loan programs and classifications. Make sure you have
a concise "story" to tell about your business. Or try
to team up with someone who already does business with the "feds."
Even as a sub-contractor, your chances are better to receive your
own contract.
And be patient. Government moves slowly…but persistence pays
off. There are laws on the books that state that all federal contracts
must include 25 percent to small business and three percent to veterans.
I continue to do battle with the DC " bureaucrats for more
opportunities for my fellow vets and small business owners. If I
can do it…so can you.
Four thick daily Korean newspapers found in
Gwinnett
By
Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
NOV. 16, 2007 -- Those of us who have been around Gwinnett for
quite a while, and even those who are relative newcomers here, may
not realize just how quickly Gwinnett is changing.
Brack |
Sometimes the change has to hit you in the face to be recognized.
After all, when you are around something all the time, you don't
realize the pace of impact that all this change engenders.
The movement of diverse populations into the county since 2000
may be more dramatic than you realize. After all, when the 2000
census was taken, Gwinnett had 72.7 percent of its residents who
were white. A mix of diverse people had been slowly moving in since
1960, but still the white population was truly dominant.
But look what has happened in the six years from 2000 to 2006,
according to the official census estimates. Gwinnett now counts
only 52.5 percent white, with the black population estimated at
19.8 percent; the Hispanic population at 17.1 percent; and the Asian
population estimated to be 9.1 percent. Other groups make up less
than 1.6 percent of the population.
Look at it another way. Most of you know that there are two daily
newspapers in the county. Wrong! In the Korean language alone, there
are four daily newspapers published out of offices in Gwinnett for
the ever-growing Korean community in the county, and in Metro Atlanta.
That's right: four daily Korean newspapers! And these newspapers
are not small, struggling operations. One day this week, The Korea
Daily counted 80 pages, including 53 pages of advertising. It has
a printing plant off Jimmy Carter Boulevard in Norcross. The Donga
Daily News on Berkeley Lake Road in Duluth had 72 pages, of which
42 were advertising; and The Atlanta Times, on Buford Highway in
Doraville, had 60 pages and 33 were advertising. The tabloid Korean
Daily News, with offices on Steve Reynolds Boulevard in Duluth,
had 80 pages, 41 of which were advertising. That's 252 pages (counting
tab as 40 pages) aimed at the Korean community in one day!
You're talking about a lot of newsprint, and a whole lot of advertising
aiming at the 80-100,000 people in Metro Atlanta who are Korean.
The majority of the Korean community calls Gwinnett home.
The average American would be totally dysfunctional picking up
these pages, for 99 per cent of the pages are in Korean characters.
Unless you know some smattering of Korean, you can't even tell what
type of business the advertising messages contain.
By the way, in addition to the four dailies, which all are distributed
free, having from 5,000 to 8,000 circulation, there's more. There
are also eight Korean weekly newspapers in the Atlanta area. In
addition, remember there are two Korean radio stations, and one
TV station, also serving the Korean community. It's not as if Georgia
Koreans are suffering from lack of media. Remember, the Asian community
accounts for less than 10 per cent of the population of Gwinnett.
The arrival of this massive mixture of media for the Korean population,
for most Gwinnettians, no doubt, came in under your radar and mine,
too. It shows just how much Gwinnett has changed in the last few
years….and points to even more change in the future.
 The
public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com
to you at no cost to readers. Today's sponsor is Brand Banking
Company, headquartered in Lawrenceville, where it has three
offices, with additional branches in Snellville, Grayson and Flowery
Branch. It is the largest privately held bank in Gwinnett, with
assets of $960 million. The bank will open branches in Duluth and
Buford this year. Member, FDIC and Federal Reserve System. More:
www.thebrandbank.com
Feels
public art is dynamic venue to engage creativity in area
Editor, the Forum:
Thank you for your latest
article about public art. I fully concur that public art is
a dynamic venue to engage many layers of creativity in a community.
Having worked as a public art administrator for one of the oldest
public art agencies in the nation, I can attest to the added value
that a well-structured civic art program can provide.
Now that I've relocated to Gwinnett, I'm certainly looking forward
to becoming a proponent for public art in my new community. I'm
greatly encouraged by the efforts of cities like Lilburn, which
should certainly serve as inspiration to other cities in Gwinnett
wishing to embrace such a vision.
Public Art can serve as a catalyst not only to artists wishing to
explore this exciting and challenging medium, but also as a viable
means to enhance the economic development of a growing city. I believe
that Gwinnett, as a whole, is well poised to embark on an ambitious
journey and become a role model by implementing a comprehensive
public art program that will take advantage of this county's growing
diversity, and genuine desire for providing optimum quality of life
for its residents.
Please continue your support of public art! And, please don't hesitate
to let me know if you are aware of a means through which I may facilitate
further discussion on the subject, or actual implementation of this
worthwhile effort.
-- Samuel Delgado, Duluth
Feels developers are
"strong-armed" into paying for art
Editor, the Forum:
What would all those poor starving "artists" do if developers
weren't strong-armed into paying for city "art?"
Do you really believe that developers are paying for that art?
They aren't! That cost is passed along to the final consumer; namely
you, me and everyone else in the community.
Since when is it the government's (local, county, state or federal)
job to force citizens to pay for so-called "art"? Wake
up!
-- Craig Heighton, Hoschton
Dear Craig: To quote Ronald Reagan, "There
you go again." Why am I not surprised by your comments? You
are in a faltering minority. Even the county commission and Chamber
of Commerce are now talking about how art is a "quality of
life" issue, not to be overlooked. Come on, join the rest
of us who appreciate the finer things of life. -eeb
Watch
out for Grandma
The latest great cartoon from Bill McLemore:
Suwanee,
Santa to host Ho-Ho holiday celebration Dec. 1
Get those wish lists ready 'cause Santa Claus is coming to Suwanee.
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Performers
from the 2006 Riverside Elementary Chorus
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Santa will arrive in the City Saturday, December 1, as part of
the annual Old Town Holiday Festival and Caboose Lighting. Festivities
begin at 5 p.m. in the historic Old Town commercial district on
Main Street.
In addition to Santa's magical lighting of the caboose, activities
will include:
- Holiday performances by Level Creek, Riverside, and Suwanee
elementary choruses.
- Reindeer and a sleigh, along with carriage rides.
- Free hot chocolate, s'mores, and cookies. Hot dogs and sodas
will be available for purchase from the Downtown Development Authority.
- Fun holiday crafts.
- Photos with Santa---bring your cameras!
Two Gwinnett charities
to benefit from Walton Round Up
The latest round of grants from Walton Electric Membership Corporation's
(EMC) Operation Round Up touches many parts of the cooperative's
10-county service area. Gwinnett charities that will benefit from
Walton's Operation Round Up include:
- New London Theatre -- $7,200: To purchase royalties and scripts
to provide community participation in all aspec ts of theatre
production.
- Gwinnett Sexual Assault Center -- $10,000: For forensic medical
equipment to meet the physical, psychological and emotional needs
of those victimized by sexual assault or abuse.
Deserving groups who can put an Operation Round Up grant to good
use are encouraged to apply. Call Walton EMC at 770/266-2353 for
more information. Walton EMC customers who participate in Round
Up allow their monthly electric bill to be rounded to the next dollar.
A 15-member volunteer board administers the resulting change, which
adds up to $23,000 monthly, and awards assistance to deserving groups
and needy individuals.
Pipeline
returning water to Lake Lanier starts next year
Gwinnett's long-term plan to return more treated wastewater to
Lake Lanier took another step this week when commissioners approved
a contract to build the remaining 5.1 underground miles of a 72-inch
diameter pipeline. Low bidder John D. Stephens, Inc., of Lawrenceville
got the $26 million, 18-month job.
The new line, to be built almost entirely under roadways, will
carry highly cleaned and disinfected wastewater from the F. Wayne
Hill treatment plant approximately 8.4 miles to a discharge point
deep within the lake.
Board Chairman Charles Bannister pointed out: "By returning
our water to its source, we'll be helping folks downstream along
the Chattahoochee instead of sending it the other way to the Atlantic
Ocean.
Bannister and State Rep. John Heard helped negotiate higher treatment
standards acceptable to the Lake Lanier Association and state regulatory
authorities. Stream crossings for the pipeline are regulated by
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which gave its approval in October.
Construction will begin soon after the first of the year.
Gwinnett's 750,000 residents used about 526 million gallons from
the lake each week in October. The new line is expected to return
up to 40 million gallons per day. For comparison, the Corps of Engineers
has been releasing about 6.7 billion gallons per week for downstream
users.
The Hill plant is at the junction of I-85 and I-985 near the Mall
of Georgia. About 3.3 miles of the pipeline are already being built
as part of roadwork projects in the area. Total cost for the entire
line, including the underwater part, will be about $65.5 million.
Forfeited drug funds
to pay for new gang tracking system
With gang-related crimes trending upward across the metro region,
Gwinnett Police are getting a new tool to help track gang members
and their activities.
Police Chief Charles Walters got approval from the Board of Commissioners
this week to start using computer system "GangNetR" to
help collaborate and share information with local, state and federal
agencies.
Butch Ayers of the Gwinnett Police Department said the system helps
police gather information about gang members along with their relationships,
vehicles and locations as well as symbols and tattoos to help police
recognize and stop gang activity. Because it's already used by many
law enforcement agencies nationwide, it will allow Gwinnett police
officers to track information on a national and even international
scale.
The county would is using seized and forfeited drug money to pay
for the system. GangNetR was developed by SRA International of Fairfax,
Va., a firm that has served federal agencies for 27 years.
Medical Center's Kid's
Clinic to get new name honoring Masons
For 15 years, Gwinnett Medical Center's Kids' Clinic has provided
primary care for uninsured and under-insured children age 16 and
younger. The Clinic's special brand of pediatric outpatient primary
care is provided by a multi-disciplinary team of healthcare professionals
who take great joy in participating in many miracles, large and
small.
Mason |
In honor of years of support and service from Dr. and Mrs. Miles
H. Mason, III, the Kids' Clinic will now be known as The Miles Jr.
and Lib Mason Children's Clinic, the parents of Dr. Mason III.
In 2006, the Clinic earned the Walt Orenstein Champions of Immunizations
Award, signifying their commitment to the standards of care for
the improvement of immunization practice across Georgia.
Six Clinic physicians treat over 100 patients each day, averaging
2,000 patients a month. Nursing staff cares for another 30 patients
every day. In the past year, the Clinic had 28,867 visits and administered
24,939 immunizations from July 2006 to June 2007 - second only in
Georgia to Grady Health System, which has several facilities.
Town of Braselton resolution
honors veterans of the nation
The Town Council of Braselton paid homage to the nation's veterans
with a resolution adopted by the Council and recognition of veterans
who attended Monday's Council meeting. From left are three council
members who are veterans: Dudley Ray (Army), Phil Spivey (Air Force)
and Ralph Richardson, Jr. (Army). Mayor Pat Graham recognized all
military veterans in the audience as the Council adopted a resolution
tracing the history of Veterans Day, originally called Armistice
Day, from 1918 until present.
- 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
Seventh-Day
Adventists have strong presence in Georgia
The Seventh-Day
Adventist Church has a strong presence in Georgia that dates
from 1872. Congregations in Georgia are part of two administrative
church conferences, both with headquarters in Georgia. The predominantly
white Georgia-Cumberland Conference includes churches in Georgia,
North Carolina's Cherokee County, and eastern Tennessee. The South
Atlantic Conference consists of the African American Adventist congregations
throughout most of Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
These conferences have grown significantly from 16,298 members in
1964 to 53,659 members in 2000.
The Adventist Church developed in the 1840s in the Northeast as
part of a movement led by William Miller, who believed that the
second coming, or advent, of Christ was imminent and that the date
for Christ's return could be determined. After Miller and his adherents
failed at several attempts to set this date, Miller's followers
splintered into different groups.
The largest and most significant group to emerge, the Seventh-Day
Adventists, formed on the basis of three major beliefs. The first
concerns what is known as the Sanctuary Doctrine, which construes
Miller's last estimated date for Christ's return, October 22, 1844,
as a spiritual rather than a physical event. The second belief is
celebrating the Sabbath on the seventh day (Saturday), as prescribed
by the Ten Commandments. Finally, and most important, is the belief
that a former Millerite named Ellen G. White was receiving direct
revelation from God, which gave her prophetic authority.
Adventist churches of all varieties have continued to develop in
Georgia and are presently part of a denomination with 13 worldwide
divisions comprising 203 countries and areas, more than 5,000 schools,
more than 700 health care facilities, and a membership in excess
of 12 million.
Adventists in the state sponsor health care facilities, hospitals,
a youth campground, and 33 educational institutions, most of which
are K-8 schools. Two secondary schools in Georgia are affiliated
with the church: Atlanta Adventist Academy and Georgia-Cumberland
Academy in Calhoun.
This guy may have it
right when it comes to living
"The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing."
-- Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (121-180 A.D.)
Send your thoughts, 55-word short stories, pet peeves
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Forum for future publication.
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is an online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible
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