8/21: Labor commissioner on skills; Corn dodger recipe; more

BEAUTIFUL GARDENS: Gibbs Gardens near Ball Ground is so beautiful that Roving Photographer Frank Sharp had to revisit the place recently. This photograph is of the manor house, Frank says, which is a long walk from the Welcome Center “…so I rode the Tram for $5, which seemed like a bargain on a hot day.” For another view of some of the gorgeous scenes at Gibbs Garden, see Lagniappe below.

Editor’s Note: The Forum is taking a week off. The next Forum will appear on Tuesday, September 1. –eeb

IN THIS EDITION

TODAY’S FOCUS: Labor Commissioner Pens Work Emphasizing “Soft Skills”
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Corn Dodger Recipe Can Make Your Mouth Water
ANOTHER VIEW: Three Major Problems Threaten Stability of USA
UPCOMING: Pull Out Those Superhero Costumes for Suwanee Fest Race
NOTABLE: Gwinnett Leads Metro Atlanta (Again) in Population Growth
RECOMMENDED AUTHOR: Alexander McCall Smith
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Julian Bond Had Distinguished Career around Civil Rights
TODAY’S QUOTE: What People in the Expensive Seats Can Do
MYSTERY PHOTO: This Feature Returns with Depiction of a House
LAGNIAPPE: Another Scene from Gibbs Gardens

Teamwork, respect, communication and attitude are key skills

By Mark Butler, Commissioner of Labor, State of Georgia

ATLANTA, Ga., August 21, 2015 — According to research conducted by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation and Sanford Research Center, well-developed soft skills account for 85 percent of job success. Soft skills, also known as “people skills” or “interpersonal skills,” refer to personal attributes such as teamwork, respect, communication, attitude and more.

Butler

Many students graduate from high school with appropriate academic credentials while lacking the soft skills needed to succeed in today’s workforce. This has become a national epidemic, with over 80 percent of all first-times hires losing their jobs because of a lack of soft skills, according to Forbes Magazine. Workforce readiness is more than just hard skills training.

Under my leadership, the Georgia Department of Labor sought to address these startling statistics by creating the GeorgiaBEST (Business Ethics Student Training) program. GeorgiaBEST concentrates on teaching students the soft skills needed to be successful.

Through the program, students must earn 25 out of 30 possible points and complete a required project to earn GeorgiaBEST certification. GeorgiaBEST teaches students leadership development, critical and creative thinking, decision-making, problem solving, teamwork, and social media ethics. They gain real world experience through work-based learning, mock job interviews, résumé critique and hearing from guest speakers from the business community. The program, just like in the workplace, tests students through everyday observation and their ability to adapt to the standards required of them.

KayLynn Samples, 2013 GeorgiaBEST Student of the Year, believes she has an advantage over others entering the workforce because GeorgiaBEST taught her the value of core work ethic traits that are needed to be successful on the job. KayLynn says: “GeorgiaBEST has helped prepare me to face tomorrow with a confident and committed attitude that will propel me to excellence.”

GeorgiaBEST certification serves as validation to employers that students have displayed strong work habits that will foster success in higher education and in the workplace. This program helps young people gain an understanding of the lifelong process of determining self and career identity.

In 2011, a total of 20 schools across the state piloted GeorgiaBEST. Today, GeorgiaBEST is in over 120 high schools across the state and now includes middle school and technical college programs. It is my belief that soft skills training not only helps build our workforce, but also helps solve some of our more pressing matters in K-12 education. A child with strong soft skills is less likely to drop out or have disciplinary issues, and most likely will have better grades. Simply put, when an individual has a strong foundation in soft skills, they and any organization they belong to will be more successful.

The key to Georgia’s economic prosperity is a reliable and consistent workforce with well-developed soft skills. Therefore, one of the Georgia Department of Labor’s fundamental goals is to equip Georgia’s youth with the soft skills they need to succeed.

In doing so, the Georgia Department of Labor increases both the employability of the individual and the profitability of the business. GeorgiaBEST has positioned the State of Georgia ahead of the curve when it comes to addressing the national soft skills crisis.

Former student’s corn dodger recipe can make your mouth water

By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher

AUG. 21, 2015 | It’s great to see your former students do well. A surprise gift (Vidalia onions) from him allowed a re-connection. And this student, Ray Moses, graduating in journalism, writes so well. He uses his journalism skills in a different way today, as president of Genoa Construction, an Alpharetta-based building firm which now does business in 15 states. The firm concentrates on renovation work, but recently completed one of its biggest projects, Smithgall Woods at the new Atlanta Botanical Gardens in Gainesville.

The onions came our way you might say naturally….since Ray is originally from Alston in Montgomery County, Ga., right in the middle of the Vidalia Onion belt. He’s been sending his clients onions for years. Read part of the letter accompanying the article to see what a good writer he is:

“Well, it’s onion time again, and back home the Robison boys have had a rough year. They called me a while back and said the whole onion crop was a disaster. I said ‘Explain disaster.’ Well, it turned warm at the wrong time, and then it turned cold at the wrong time. Next it rained when it was not supposed to, and didn’t rain when it was needed.

“Disaster! Now I started to tell them to get rid of the weather channel app on their smart phone and go back to checking the Farmer’s Almanac to get reliable weather info, but since they are about the best farmers in the state, I kept my mouth shut.

“Good thing, because it turns out that every grower down there had a bad season. Quit? If you quit, what am I gonna do, send folks 20 bucks and a map to Kroger? John said they didn’t make any Jumbos or Larges, and only a few Mediums. I asked how they tasted, and he said they were great. Good! Then Charles said that they were real ugly. Well, I ain’t taking ‘em to the prom. So we traded.

“Did you know that Bill Gates just bought one of the biggest onion farms in Vidalia? It’s the truth. I guess poor Bill got tired of trying to scratch out a decent living in the computer business, and now he’s going to start farming. Farming being noted for its high margins, excessive profits and low risk. Good luck, Mr. Gates.

“Ever heard of a Corn Dodger? Been around for years. Abe Lincoln ate them for breakfast……(It’s) made from Indian Head cornmeal, hot water, a little salt, all made up into little balls about the size of a lemon and fried in pork fat. Now if you want to turn a piece of staple fare into a culinary masterpiece, mix in as much chopped-up Vidalia onions as the mixture will stand and still hold together before you fry ‘em. It’s a game changer. My Mama made ‘em that way. My Aunt Thelma would fry up a mess of fresh caught bream and onion corn dodgers. Folks said (my Uncle Cooney) would go to moaning like a black and tan. Rather have bream than lobster. Rather have an onion corn dodger than a pound cake.

“Now listen, this is not simple cooking like say, Baked Alaska or Beef Wellington. You may have to try it a couple of times to get it right.”

That’s Ray’s recipe, and you might benefit from trying it. Meanwhile, it makes my mouth water.

Three major problems threaten the stability of our country

By George Wilson

AUG. 21, 2015  |  Anyone running for President and any political office should address the three major problems that threaten our country.

• They should campaign against gerrymandering;

• They should campaign against restrictive voting laws;

• They should campaign against the “Citizens United” decision that unleashed unlimited funding of campaigns by the wealthy oligarchy.

Let’s take a brief and quick look at all three issues,

Consequently, gerrymandering causes extremism by pushing like-minded voters into one district, thereby eliminating compromising. This is a major reason for the gridlock in Washington.

Voter fraud is so rare that the draconian laws designed to prevent it is nothing more than an attempt to suppress the votes of young people, the elderly and minorities. The best solution is the automatic voter registration of all citizens starting at age 18.

The Koch brothers pledge to give $800 million to the presidential campaign is an example of an attempt to buy the election by the moneyed oligarchy. Therefore, perhaps a form of public financing and a limitation on the length of time to campaign would be a good solution.

We need a plan for unrigging the system first. Who of all the presidential candidates have given us a complete plan to restore and strengthen our democracy? Finally, we need proposals and laws that that answers all of the above three problems with concrete solutions, if our republic is to survive.         

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Time to pull out Superhero costumes for Suwanee Fest Race

You don’t have to be as fast as The Flash to participate in the 15th annual Suwanee Fest Superhero 5K and 10K Classic on Saturday, September 12. Presented by Georgia Fitness to benefit Cure Childhood Cancer, the annual Suwanee Fest races, including a children’s 1K fun run, begin and finish at Town Center Park. Superhero costumes are strongly encouraged.

Registration is now available at active.com. Course maps for the 5K, which meanders through historic (and hilly) Old Town, and the 10K, which is an out-and-back route primarily on the Suwanee Creek Greenway, are available at runsuwanee.com. All participants who register before September 1 will receive a finisher’s medal, race shirt, and goodie bag.

Last year, more than 900 runners participated in these races. Those interested may sign up to run both the 5K and the 10K. Race start times are:

• 7:30 a.m. – 5K;
• 8:30 a.m. – 10K; and
• 8:35 am – Fun Run.

Prizes will be awarded for overall winners as well as best costumes. Early packet pick-up will be available from noon until 6 p.m. September 9 and 10 at Classic City Running at 3480 Financial Center Way near the Mall of Georgia and from 4:30 until 7 p.m. September 11 at Suwanee City Hall, 330 Town Center Avenue. Race-day registration and packet pick-up will begin at 6:30 a.m. at Town Center Park.

Watch for warning signs that someone stole your medical identity

Medical identity theft can be one of the most devastating forms of identity theft.  This type of identity theft significantly impacts people because victims find it difficult to undo the damage caused by inaccurate medical records or fraudulent bills. The Metro Atlanta Better Business Bureau (BBB) is urging consumers to carefully check all health-related documentation from doctors, drug stores and insurance providers.

A thief may use your name or health insurance numbers to see a doctor, get prescription drugs, file claims with your insurance provider, or get other care. If the thief’s health information is mixed with yours, your treatment, insurance and payment records, and credit report may be affected.

Read your medical and insurance statements regularly and completely. They can show warning signs of identity theft. Read the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statement or Medicare Summary Notice that your health plan sends after treatment. Check the name of the provider, the date of service, and the service provided. Do the claims paid match the care you received? If you see a mistake, contact your health plan and report the problem.

Other signs of medical identity theft include:

• a bill for medical services you didn’t receive;
• a call from a debt collector about a medical debt you don’t owe;
• medical collection notices on your credit report that you don’t recognize;
• a notice from your health plan saying you reached your benefit limit; or
• a denial of insurance because your medical records show a condition you don’t have.

If you know a thief used your medical information, get copies of your records. Federal law gives you the right to know what’s in your medical files. Check them for errors. Contact each doctor, clinic, hospital, pharmacy, laboratory, health plan, and location where a thief may have used your information. For example, if a thief got a prescription in your name, ask for records from the health care provider who wrote the prescription and the pharmacy that filled it.

You may need to pay for copies of your records. If you know when the thief used your information, ask for records from just that time. Keep copies of your postal and email correspondence, and a record of your phone calls, conversations and activities with your health plan and medical providers.

Gwinnett again leads metro area in population growth

The 10-county Atlanta region added 60,300 new residents between April 2014 and April 2015, according to the latest population estimates from the Atlanta Regional Commission, with Gwinnett again leading the way.

Metro Atlanta’s growth rate has picked up steam as the economic recovery gains traction. Metro Atlanta’s population grew by 1.4 percent in the past year, compared to 1.2 percent a year earlier. The Atlanta region’s population is now 4,332,600 million, larger than 24 states.

Mike Alexander, manager of ARC’s Research & Analytics Division, says that: “The Atlanta region has experienced strong employment growth in the past year, helping fuel our population growth. It’s not the explosive growth we were seeing 10 and 20 years ago, but the trend for the last couple of years is that population growth, like employment growth, is accelerating.”

The Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) region added nearly 80,000 jobs between May 2014 and May 2015, the fourth-highest total in the nation.

Each of the region’s 10 counties experienced population growth during the year. Gwinnett County led the way, adding 15,700 residents. Fulton County added 12,300 residents, while Cobb County grew by 10,500. The City of Atlanta continued its strong growth, adding 4,800 people.

Cherokee County added 5,800 people, DeKalb 5,500, Henry County 4,200, Clayton County 2,200, Rockdale County 1,500, Douglas County 1,400 and Fayette County 1,200.

Sidewalk project on Buford Highway completes CID’s second phase

After

Before

The Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District (CID) strives to increase connections throughout the community in all modes of transport. A recently completed project along Buford Highway not only improves the safety and connectivity for pedestrians, but provides an aesthetic boost for the area as well.

The project was the second phase of construction that added sidewalks and landscaping from the DeKalb County line to Jimmy Carter Boulevard.. The project also includes work on the curb and gutter and crosswalks at four intersections along the stretch.

Chuck Warbington, executive director for the Gwinnett Village CID, says: “The Buford Highway corridor has one of the highest concentrations of pedestrian traffic in our area. From a pedestrian safety and connectivity perspective this project was a high priority for us.”

The project, which was just over $1 million, was funded through a combination of Gwinnett County, Georgia Department of Transportation and CID funds.

Norfolk resident presents flag to the City of Snellville

Councilwoman Diane Krause and Mayor Pro Tem Tom Witts with the American flag given to the city by Krause’s brother, retired Navy Lt. Thomas A. Chorlton. Click image to see larger photo

Retired Navy Lt. Thomas A. Chorlton was so impressed by Snellville’s Veterans Memorial that he knew he wanted to do something to preserve its legacy.

It wasn’t until the Norfolk, Va. resident and his sister, Councilwoman Diane Krause, found an American flag in a hope chest in their parents’ house that he knew what he wanted to do. The flag was given to him while he was serving on the U.S.S. Saratoga in January 1991 during Operation Desert Storm. Following tradition, the flag was flown for a month and given to someone on the ship. When Chorlton returned home from war, he gave the flag to his parents and they flew it in their yard. After they passed away, the flag was found in the chest by the siblings.

Krause says: “He didn’t want to give money. He wanted to do something special.”

At a recent council meeting, the flag which spent years tucked away in a chest and once flew on a battleship, was given to Snellville and to the memorial’s creator, Mayor Pro Tem Tom Witts.

Witts accepted the flag and said it will now fly near the memorial each Veterans Day and Memorial Day and will be displayed in City Hall.

Alexander McCall Smith

Alexander McCall Smith is a most prolific author, sometimes completing four full-length books a year. This Scots medical ethicist is my favorite author, who won fame through his first book, The Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency, set in Botswana. That became a series of books, as have several of his stories. You’ll love the character of six-year old genius Bertie in his 44 Scotland Street series. McCall Smith writes so easily, never using foul language, and often makes you roll with laughter. His most recent book is somewhat different for him, more of a drawn-out love story, with the agony that can come with true love. It’s The Forever Girl, a love story told so beautifully. A few years back, McCall Smith was visiting at the Atlanta History Center, dressed in kilts of his native Scotland. He was delightful, laughing the loudest at his wonderful stories. Get to know him. It’ll be worth it.  His books are in print and on tape at the Gwinnett Public Library branches. (He’s listed under McCall Smith, not simply Smith.)—eeb

An invitation: what books, restaurants, movies or web sites have you enjoyed recently? Send us your recent selection, along with a short paragraph (100 words) as to why you liked this, plus what you plan to visit or read next. –eeb

Bond had distinguished career after role as civil rights protester

As protester, politician, scholar, and lecturer, Julian Bond was committed to civil rights, economic justice, and peace from the 1950s until the end of his life. Bond played a significant role in the civil rights movement and continued his battle to ensure equality for all Americans during his twenty-year tenure in the Georgia legislature. When Bond retired from the Georgia senate, he had been elected to office more times than any other black Georgian.

Horace Julian Bond was born on January 14, 1940, in Nashville, Tenn. His father, Horace Mann Bond, became the first president of Fort Valley State College in 1939 and the first African American president of Lincoln University in Pennsylvania in 1945, as well as dean of education at Atlanta University (later Clark Atlanta University) in 1957. After finishing high school, Julian Bond moved to Atlanta in 1957 to attend Morehouse College.

At the all-black college, Bond joined the varsity swimming team, was one of the founding members of the literary magazine The Pegasus, and served as an intern for Time magazine. Bond’s lifelong dedication to civil rights began at Morehouse when the young student helped organize the Committee on Appeal for Human Rights. The civil rights organization staged various nonviolent protests that led to the integration of Atlanta’s theaters, lunch counters, and parks.

On Easter weekend 1960, Bond joined several other college students in Raleigh, North Carolina, to form the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and he became its communications director. An organization made up entirely of college students, SNCC worked with local communities to establish grassroots support for the civil rights movement. In 1961 Bond left Morehouse to dedicate more time to the movement, becoming the editor of a new protest magazine, the Atlanta Inquirer. In 1971 he returned to Morehouse and graduated with a degree in English. He was later awarded 21 honorary degrees from various colleges and universities.

In 1965 Bond officially entered the political arena. The veteran civil rights activist won a seat in the Georgia legislature but his outspoken objection to the Vietnam War (1964-73) prompted the legislature to deny Bond his seat. Three times voters in Bond’s district elected him as their representative only to have the legislature ignore their wishes.

Finally, in December 1966, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the actions of the Georgia house were unconstitutional. Bond was sworn in on January 9, 1967, and served until 1974, when he was elected to the Georgia Senate. During this time Bond also served as president of the Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights law firm established in Montgomery, Ala. by Morris Dees, the former business partner of Habitat for Humanity founder Millard Fuller.

While in the senate, Bond became the first African American chair of the Fulton County senate delegation and was chair of the Committee on Consumer Affairs. In 1971 he returned to his SNCC roots when he conducted a widely publicized voter registration drive in heavily black areas of Georgia. He retired from the senate to run for the U.S. Congress in 1986. He lost the election in a fiercely contested battle to his longtime friend and fellow civil rights activist John Lewis.

Following the end of his political career, Bond was a professor of history at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, and a visiting professor at American University in Washington, D.C. In 1998 he became chair of the board of directors of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. His writings have appeared in The Nation, Life, The New York Times, and other national publications.

Bond was married twice, first to Alice Clopton Bond, with whom he had five children. In 1990 he married Pamela Sue Horowitz, a lawyer at the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Bond died at the age of 75 on August 15, 2015, while vacationing in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.

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

Mystery Photo might even have a Georgia connection

Try on this photograph and see if you recognize it. The house may be more famous than you realize, and might even have a Georgia connection. We’ll give this tip: it’s not in Georgia. Send in your idea to elliott@brack.net and be sure to include your home address.

Beautiful scene

Here is a view of the water lily pond at Gibbs Gardens, with a brilliant Japanese maple tree in the background. The gardens are located at 1987 Gibbs Dr, Ball Ground. Gibbs Gardens admission charges include: Adults (18 to 64 years old): $20 per person; Seniors (65+): $18; children: (ages 6-17) $10; and (children 5 and under are free). Group rates are $16.00 per person for an unguided group of 10 or more. The group must arrive together.

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