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Couple arrives in Lilburn to lead Mormon
mission in area
By
Rosemary Cantrell
Special to GwinnettForum
LILBURN, Ga., Aug. 5, 2008 -- Steven D. King and his wife, Michelle,
recently arrived in Lilburn to preside over the Georgia Atlanta
North Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
They are replacing Randy and Marty Browning.
Michelle and Steven D. King |
The Kings will be supervising 132 missionaries, mostly young men,
as well as some young women and senior couples. A few of the missionaries
are Spanish speaking. All of the missionaries are serving from 18
months to two years as volunteers, paying their own way. The Kings
will serve as unpaid full-time volunteers for three years.
President King had been working as Chief Marketing Officer and
Creative Director for the Ken Garff Automotive Group, which has
56 dealerships in seven states. He was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho,
but grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Livermore, Calif. After serving
a mission in Frankfurt, Germany, he graduated from Brigham Young
University with a degree in design.
Mrs. King was born outside London, England, at an Air Force Base
hospital and grew up in El Monte, Calif. She also graduated from
BYU with a degree in broadcast journalism and worked at KUTV, the
CBS affiliate in Salt Lake City, as a news anchorwoman for nearly
30 years before she retired in November of 2007.
The Kings have four children and four grandchildren. One son, Collin,
started serving a mission in Puerto Rico at the same time his parents
came to Atlanta. Their youngest son, Connor, 15, is here with them
and will be attending Parkview High School in Lilburn.
The Kings received the call to become the mission president in
December 2007. They prepared by participating in a Mission President's
Seminar, as well as working with a specialist. Mrs. King commented
that there will be a lot of on-the-job training as well.
Every six weeks, new missionaries arrive while others leave. In
addition to providing training for the new missionaries, they also
watch over their other needs. They will help the missionaries with
their physical and mental well being, give spiritual advice and
counsel, and help them stay motivated.
When President King was asked why they would put everything on
hold to serve this three-year mission, he said it was because of
'our commitment to Jesus Christ and His restored gospel. We are
here to bless the lives of other people, inviting them to come unto
Christ.'
The Georgia Atlanta North Mission is one 338 missions, with 53,000
missionaries worldwide, in nearly every country of the world of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Commission needs action to mark Gwinnett's
200th birthday
By
Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
AUG. 5, 2008 -- Today's Republican run-off primary in Gwinnett
will produce two candidates for the county commission for the fall
election. The winners could be sitting on the county commission
come January 1.
Brack |
Here's a suggestion for either the commission on that date, or
preferably, the current county commission: put together a blue-ribbon
committee of about 100 Gwinnett citizens to plan the celebration
to mark the 200th anniversary of the founding of Gwinnett. That
will come in 2018.
While the commissioners are at it, we also suggest a second study
group with an entirely different focus: to determine where the people
of Gwinnett want the county to be 10 years from now, when it is
200 years old. This group would study the entire scope of county
life, in such areas as transportation, education, economic development,
culture and similar broad subjects. Such suggestions could help
solve a lot of issues that the county is now facing. With preliminary
reports, their suggestions could be implemented well before the
birthday, improving the entire county.
Ten years out is not premature.. The studies need to get organized
relatively soon, then delve and probe deeply so that there are sound,
determined suggestions, made to be implemented as practical, seeking
continuous improvement of all aspects of the county.
We suggest a committee of approximately 100 persons, or larger,
so that there will be representation from every element of the county
involved in the process. Certainly the commission could accept recommendations
for members from the 15 cities in the county for the bi-centennial
groups. However, with approximately 70 percent of the county being
residents of incorporated areas of the county, perhaps that would
indicate that about 30 members should represent Gwinnett cities.
The other 70 members of the group should come from unincorporated
areas. The commission will also want to ensure that the make-up
of the groups would include the new minorities that have come to
populate Gwinnett in recent years.
These studies need also to be funded by the county commission,
for it will take resources to provide good recommendations. It might
even be useful to have full-time staff helping the committees focus
on their work, and not put all of the work on citizen-volunteers.
While some may call this a frivolous waste of taxpayer money, we
differ: it costs money to do good planning and studies. The commission
should invest tax dollars in these studies. The groups need not
hire highly-paid consultants, but it will take sufficient staff
who are not focused on other details.
The benefits of such planning are enormous. Rather than approach
matters in a helter-skelter fashion, the studies can gather solid
information, mull it over, and make sound recommendations.
Gwinnett County has a wonderful history, has seen enormous growth
in the last 50 years, and is primed for a bright future. Now, 10
years out, is a time to focus on what we want to be, and celebrate
our past 200 years with style and elegant good taste. We urge the
adoption of these two bicentennial groups.
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To learn more, visit www.gwinnettmedicalcenter.org.
Suggests
thinking regionally about classical music scene
Editor, the Forum:
Regarding your story on the Gwinnett Philharmonic, we in Gainesville
have a pretty good symphony, plus several chorale groups. Like your
arts organizations, they all suffer with a lack of funding. So,
perhaps it is time we think regionally.
-- Mike Banks, Gainesville
Dear Mike: Wow! Short letter, but powerful impact.
What you suggest just might work, providing a much stronger classical
music ensemble, with funding from people and organizations who
support the arts in two, or three (Forsyth, too) counties. They
could also give several performances in different locations of
the same music at a series of shows, rather than just one or two
performances. You came up with a good idea, Mike. Be proud. --eeb
"Tutus
for Tatas" plans 3rd annual luncheon Aug. 9
"Tutus for Tatas" will hold its third annual Susan G.
Komen Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk, "A Taste of Hope," on
Saturday, August 9 at the First Baptist Church in Sugar Hill. Tickets
are $50 per person, $350 for a table of eight, or $60 per person
at the door.
Hosts are Karyn Greer from WXIA News and television personality,
and Denny Moore. Entertainment includes the Shades of Pink Gospel
Choir and the Bob Ferrell Quartet. Also included will be a fashion
show featuring breast cancer survivors modeling the designs of Coldwater
Creek, great food, door prizes and a silent auction.
The Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk has been a success across the country.
It began as the Avon Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk in 1998. This year,
"Tutus for Tatas" will participate in the Atlanta event
on October 24-26. This walk consists of a total 60 mile course broken
into three 20-mile days. Each walker commits to training, fundraising,
and dedicating the entire weekend to this cause.
For more information, contact Barbara Mock at mock5496@bellsouth.net.
For more information about the Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk, visit www.The3Day.org
or call 1-800-996-3DAY.
Revamped Women's Forum
to present program on finances
The Gwinnett Chamber will be launching a new program titled GLOW:
Gwinnett's Leadership Organization for Women, presented by Gwinnett
Medical Center, on Friday, August 15. To kick-off the event, Emily
Sanders, president and CEO of Sanders Financial Management, will
be presenting "Financial Management: An Investment to Match
Each Purse." The event will also feature a purse give-away
sponsored by Montage Boutique and Gifts.
Formerly known as the Executive Women's Leadership Series, the
re-vamped GLOW is designed to assist in the success of business
women within the community. The quarterly series helps women to
become more competitive in the business arena, establish a network
of business contacts and address areas of personal and professional
growth by learning from accomplished women who are making an impact.
The event will be at the Parc in Duluth, on Peachtree Industrial
Boulevard. Cost is $45 for Chamber members; $55 for Non-Chamber
members
Duluth Hospital to
present Five "F's" of gallbladder disease
A presentation on gallbladder disease will be presented at the
Gwinnett Medical Center in Duluth on August 18 at noon. The event
will last for one hour, and is free to the public.
Dr. James Elsey will present the five "F's" of gallbladder
disease. He will also discuss the advancement and options of treatment
of the disease. The event will be in the Education Center at the
Center.
Writer's Institute
presents literary programs during August
The Writer's Institute at Georgia Perimeter College and its community
partners plan a slate of literary programs in August, including
visits by nationally acclaimed authors. All events are free and
open to the public. They include:
August 16: Pulitzer-Prize winning poet Natasha Trethewey
and renowned crime novelist Karin Slaughter will visit the Atlanta
Writers Club's monthly meeting. The meeting is set for 1 p.m.,
Dunwoody Campus, building NC, room 1100.
August 21: Joseph "Rev. Run" Simmons, a founding
member of the pioneering hip-hop group Run DMC and star of MTV's
"Run's House," will discuss his new book, "Take
Back Your Family." The event will be held at 7 p.m., Cole
Auditorium, Clarkston Campus.
August 29: Lawrence Hill, winner of the 2008 Commonwealth
Writers Prize, will discuss his new critically acclaimed novel,
"Someone Knows My Name," at 11 a.m., Decatur Campus,
building SA, third floor library foyer.
August 29 to 31: AJC Decatur Book Festival, Decatur Square.
GPC is a founding partner of this annual book festival, which
in its third year has become one of the largest in the country.
More than 70,000 people are expected to descend upon downtown
Decatur over Labor Day weekend.
Georgia Perimeter College is one of only two community colleges
in the nation with writers institutes. The Institute at GPC enhances
the educational experience for students by promoting excellence
in writing throughout the college and also works with its community
partners.
Edwin McCain performing
at concert in Suwanee on weekend
On tour to promote his just-released album, a collection of vintage
R&B cover songs, platinum-selling singer/songwriter Edwin
McCain will perform a free concert at Suwanee's Town Center
Park on Saturday, August 16. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. with
an opening act by Atlanta-based performers Gareth Asher and Sam
Thacker. McCain is well-known for his blend of Southern soul and
acoustic storytelling.
Bring lawn chairs and blankets, picnic dinners, friends, and neighbors.
Food and beverages, including beer and wine, will be available for
purchase; however, no alcohol may be brought into Town Center Park.
Off-site parking and free shuttle transportation to Town Center
Park will be provided. The shuttle will run from 7:30-10:30 p.m.
from Shawnee North Business Center, 305 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road.
Reed joins WIKA team
to boost lean management program
WIKA Instrument Corporation (WIKA) announces that Rick Reed is
its new director of continuous improvement, reporting directly to
WIKA President Michael Gerster. His joining the company is "proof
of WIKA's continued determination to improve our manufacturing and
business processes," said Gerster.
Reed |
Reed will be responsible for managing the implementation of the
Toyota Production System using Kaizen methodology across the entire
value stream. He says: "WIKA began its journey to 'Lean' several
years ago and has made great strides in implementing a Lean culture.
My experience in Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement will
allow us to take WIKA to the next level."
Reed was mostly recently with St. Louis-based Siegel-Robert, Inc.,
as corporate manager, Lean Enterprise Training, introducing Lean
Manufacturing and Six Sigma into the corporation's seven divisions.
Reed has over 30 years experience in assessing and deploying lean
concepts in companies across the United States and Asia.
Emory Eastside gets
new director of food and nutrition
Wyatt |
Wendy Wyatt, a registered dietitian and certified dietary manager,
has joined Emory Eastside Medical Center as the director of Food
and Nutritional Services.
Wyatt graduated from the University of Tennessee and completed
her internship at Oakwood College in Huntsville, Ala., where she
is now an associate professor. She has been with HCA, Emory Eastside's
parent company, for 16 years.Wyatt is a native of Chattanooga and
has been involved in the charitable community there.
Emory Eastside Medical Center is a 210-bed, acute care hospital
in Snellville, Ga.
- 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
Augusta
Art Institute provides instruction, showcases art
The Gertrude
Herbert Institute of Art is located in downtown Augusta. Founded
as a nonprofit art school, the institute's primary mission is to
educate citizens and to showcase the visual arts through a variety
of exhibitions, special programs, and classes. Each year its galleries
host an average of eight exhibitions, which display the work of
artists ranging from the regional to the nationally recognized.
The institute is supported through funding from the Georgia Council
for the Arts and the Greater Augusta Arts Council.
Gertrude
Herbert Dunn |
Founded in 1937 by Olivia A. Herbert, a New Yorker who spent winters
in Augusta, the institute began as the Augusta Art Club and later
renamed in memory of Herbert's daughter, Gertrude Herbert Dunn.
The Ware house, constructed around 1818 by Nicholas Ware, the mayor
of Augusta at the time, is also known as Ware's Folly because of
the high cost of its construction. Today the house is listed on
the National Register of Historic Places, and the institute plans
a major renovation.
The institute includes studio and classroom spaces, darkrooms,
galleries, and a student exhibition space. While there is no permanent
collection, audiences may view rotating exhibitions throughout the
year, including eight juried and non-juried exhibitions of art from
both regional and local artists. These exhibitions focus on works
produced by artists in the Augusta area, as well as on works produced
by students in the institute's programs and workshops.
The institute provides studio art classes and workshops, including
drawing, painting, ceramics, weaving, collage, and photography,
for both children and adults. Additionally the institute offers
ArtVentures, an after-school arts program for local elementary students,
as well as arts camps throughout the summer. Scholarships are available
and membership discounts apply toward classes and workshops. The
institute administers and houses an Artist Slide Registry, a collection
of images and information about regional artists. Viewing of the
Artist Slide Registry is free and by appointment only.
What happens in one
newspaper towns
"One-newspaper towns are not good because all the surviving
newspaper does is print money. They make 25 percent on their money
every year, and if they go down to 22 percent, they start laying
people off."
-- Political Cartoonist Pat Oliphant (1935- ).
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Forum for future publication.
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© 2008, Gwinnett Forum.com. Gwinnett Forum
is an online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible
social, political and economic approaches to improve life in Gwinnett
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