10/9: On nonprofits, candidates, bridge, progressives

DEDICATION SOON: Gwinnett’s new First Training Academy Educational Building will be dedicated October 20 at 3:454 p.m. It is located at 3608 Braselton Highway in the Hamilton Mill area. Funding for the Academy came from SPLOST pennies.

TODAY’S FOCUS: Non-Profit Organizations Are Force To Be Reckoned With

EEB PERSPECTIVE: Two Republican Candidates To Visit Gwinnett on Saturday

ANOTHER VIEW: Progressives Must Start from Bottom to Win Races

UPCOMING: Flu Season Coming, So Move Soon to Get a Flu Shot

RECOMMENDED RESTAURANT: Three Lil’ Pigs, Buford

GEORGIA TIDBIT: It’s Apple Time; Learn More about the Georgia Apple Crop

TODAY’S QUOTE: When You Think About This, Well….It’s Forever

MYSTERY PHOTO: New Photograph Comes without a Lot of Clues

Nonprofit organizations are force to be reckoned with

(Editor’s Note: this item first appeared in The Executive newsletter of the Chairman’s Club of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce.) 

By Keith Fenton, chief development officer, Annandale at Suwanee

SUWANEE, Ga., Oct. 9, 2015 | I have spent my entire professional career in the nonprofit sector, doing work that I have found intellectually and personally rewarding. All of my positions have involved some mix of fundraising, communications, marketing, or organizational development. I have spent a lot of time thinking about the things that we do, and finding ways to explain to others how nonprofit organizations operate similarly to for-profit businesses.

Fenton

Nonprofits employ people, nonprofits buy goods and services from for-profits, and nonprofits are an important economic engine of the United States economy. In fact, if the global nonprofit sector were a country, it would have the 16th largest economy in the world. In 2012, the nonprofit sector contributed $878 billion to the U.S. economy, or about 5.4 percent of our nation’s GDP. Additionally, the nonprofit sector is the third largest employer with nearly 11 million paid employees. Even more, it is one of the few areas of the U.S. economy adding jobs at a rate of nearly two percent per year.

Obviously, the nonprofit sector is a force to be reckoned with in so many areas. However, economic impact pales in comparison to the enormous impact the combined mission outcomes have on our community. In Georgia, the nonprofit sector is quite large and diverse, addressing some of our community’s most critical issues, including health care, homelessness, hunger, education, the arts, and many others.

Strong, effective nonprofit organizations have adopted many best practices from business. We know that good management and strategically deployed resources help us gain market respect, donor confidence, and public support. But the attention rarely goes in the opposite direction. All too frequently for-profit companies just do not see what nonprofits do as relevant to sound business practices, let alone making a profit. Frankly, the fact that so many nonprofits have been able to respond to significant increases in demand for service without going over the financial cliff is testament to some pretty remarkable business skills.

Yet, in a world of fast-diminishing customer and employee loyalty, for-profits can learn substantial lessons from nonprofits in three areas: cultivating passionate employees; keeping clients and customers engaged and loyal, and identifying and serving a compelling mission that emphasizes a higher purpose.

Great organizations have tremendous business execution in part because they have strong core values. The “essence” of what lies at the crux of our continued success here at Annandale Village are the seven core values that serve as our guiding principles taken to heart by each member of our Board of Directors, professional staff and volunteer leadership.

• Individuals with intellectual disabilities and traumatic brain injuries come first in everything we do.
• Commitment to excellence and professionalism are key tenets at all levels of our organization.
• We are one team with one vision and one mission working together.
• Collaboration and partnership within our organization, and with others who share our vision and values, are keys to our sustained success.
• Integrity, honesty and ethical behavior guide all our endeavors.
• Diversity of ideas, cultures, ethnicity and backgrounds strengthen our efforts.
• Financial strength enables us to accomplish our goals.

Core values are designed to capture “how you show up, how you serve, and how you promote who you are as an organization.” If you are able to infuse your core values into the many layers of your business and its operations, the organization’s capacity to fulfill its fundamental purpose is considerably greater.

Candidates coming, new Highway 20 bridge and another scam

By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher

OCT. 9, 2015 | The national political campaign comes to Gwinnett Saturday, when two Republican candidates make appearances here. Donald Trump will be at the North Atlanta Trade Center, 1700 Jeurgens Court in Norcross. Doors open at 10 a.m. and the rally is set to begin at noon.

Then Dr. Ben Carson comes to the county Saturday at 7 p.m. at Books-A-Million at Sugarloaf Mills shopping center. Carson will be signing his recent book as he meets with supporters. Then on Sunday, remaining in Georgia another day, Carson will be in Gainesville at the Free Chapel, 3001 McEver Road.

Though it may be late to try, but tickets to the Trump event are free. You may register to get tickets at this site: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/donald-j-trump-georgia-rally-tickets-18917894933

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Georgia DOT began demolition Thursday on the old Georgia Highway 20 Bridge over the Chattahoochee River, as traffic is now moved to the new four-lane bridge, which is south of the old bridge.

The Georgia Highway 20 bridge at the top of this scene is being demolished, as traffic is now routed on a four lane bridge across the Chattahoochee River.

The old bridge deck or driving surface will be removed in 10 feet long sections beginning on the Gwinnett side of the bridge. Work will move towards Forsyth County in 10 feet long sections to remove the driving surface. The next phase of demolition will remove the horizontal bridge beams. The vertical bridge columns will be last to come down.

This is a systematic demolition to capture and contain all debris out of the river. Demolition is expected to finish by December 31, 2015.

The State Highway 20 corridor from Samples Road in Cumming across the Chattahoochee River to Peachtree Industrial Boulevard is under construction, to be widened to a four lane divided highway in three separate projects totaling 7.53 miles. The original bridge over the Chattahoochee River was built in 1947 and does not meet current design standards.

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What people won’t do for vanity.

For years, publications have run promotions allowing readers to vote for a “Best of ____” designation. In reality, this usually is nothing less than asking readers to vote favorite places, then the publication going to that business and using this as a reason they should buy an advertisement.   Such awards have always seemed hollow to me.

Now there’s a new twist: An email coming into my spam box said the following:

Gwinett Forum has been selected for the 2015 Best of Norcross Awards for Publishing Consultants & Services.

For details and more information please view our website: 2015 Best of Norcross Awards – Publishing Consultants & Services

If you are unable to view the link above, please copy and paste the following into your web browser: http://norcross.recepts.org/sbh4gavt_GWINETT-FORUM

Note that the firm spelled Gwinnett wrong. And put in an extra dash in our forum’s name.

Clicking to this site, lo and behold, I find that that GwinnettForum can “claim its award” by paying $149.99. And I can get that dolled-up plaque in blue, yellow, red or green.

Watch out. Businesses in other cities may be getting this “offer” too!

Gimme a break. I hope other businesses don’t fall for this scam.

Progressives must start from ground up to win election

By George Wilson

“I live in a part of the country where it’s easier to buy a gun, than to cast a vote”….unknown

OCT. 9, 2015 | Unless and until the Democrats are seen as actually improving people’s lives, the path is open for Republicans to stoke fears about declining living standards and stoke white anxiety about a racially changing America.

By contrast, where Democrats made issues like raising the minimum wage central to their campaign, they won.

In Connecticut, Governor Dan Malloy won narrowly by showcasing his actual record: raising the minimum wage and passing paid sick days for workers. Connecticut was the first state to pass these two landmark laws.

Moreover, Democrat Tom Wolf walloped Republican Governor Corbetin in Pennsylvania with a campaign focused on raising the minimum wage and increasing education funding.

The lesson: Addressing income inequality by lifting up the economic standard for working class voters is good policy and good politics.

Finally, even in states where Republicans won Senate seats, voters took matters into their own hands and voted to raise the minimum wage. Ballot initiatives passed in Arkansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Alaska. In Illinois and several Wisconsin cities and counties, voters passed non-binding referendums, telling their state government even as it lingers in Republican hands — voters want a raise.

What energizes working and middle-class voters are not lackluster candidates who avoid telling the truth because they don’t want to seem anti-business. It’s the Elizabeth Warrens, the Bill de Blasios and Bernie Sanders — the ones who shout: The game is rigged against us. We need to fix it by lifting up workers and changing policies to work for people, not the oligarchy represented by the Koch brothers and Sheldon Adelson.

In conclusion, Progressives need to start from the ground up to recruit, train, and elect candidates that will speak truth to power and change policies for working families in the south.

Brand Banking Company

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 $2.1 billion. The bank’s main office is in Lawrenceville on the Historic Courthouse Square, plus there is another branch on Hurricane Shoals Road. Other locations are in Grayson, Snellville, Flowery Branch, Buford, Duluth and Buckhead. Member, FDIC and Federal Reserve System.

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Flu season on its way, so get protected from virus early

With influenza season around the corner, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is urging families to get vaccinated to be protected from the flu virus this year. Seasonal influenza and contagious respiratory viruses swept the country earlier than expected in the 2014-15 season.

Dr. Andi Shane, medical director , Hospital Epidemiology of Children’s Healthcare, says: “The flu season is unpredictable. The best way to protect yourself and your family from the flu is for everyone to get a seasonal flu vaccine. We are fortunate to have vaccines for seasonal influenza – commonly known as the flu shot or flu nasal spray – that can help prevent flu infections and prevent the spread of the flu. It’s important for everyone over the age of 6 months to get a seasonal flu vaccine as soon as possible to have the best chance of immunity when flu is present in our community.”

Seasonal flu was associated with 145 pediatric deaths and more than 17,000 hospitalizations during the 2014-15 influenza season, according to the CDC.

Renee Watson, RNC, BSN, CPHQ, CIC, Director of Infection Prevention Epidemiology and Industrial Hygiene adds: “While everyday preventative actions to stop the spread of the flu virus like washing or sanitizing hands, covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and limiting exposure to other ill persons can help, getting a flu vaccine is a step that you can take to protect yourself and the community against the spread of flu.”

This year’s seasonal influenza vaccines have been updated to protect against the common circulating influenza viruses, including protection against a flu virus that emerged last flu season. Although there are different forms of the flu vaccine (shot or nasal spray) and some protect against three flu viruses and some against four flu viruses, the choice of vaccine is not as important as getting a flu vaccine. A health care provider can provide advice about the vaccine types that are best for children and their families.

Everyone six months of age and older should be vaccinated annually against influenza. Children younger than 8 years who have not received two flu vaccines during their lifetime before July of 2015 need two doses of 2015-16 seasonal flu vaccine.  For more information on the flu vaccination schedule for children, please discuss with your child’s health care provider.

Snellville Entrepreneurship Alliance offers program Oct. 27

The Entrepreneurship Alliance, a partnership between Snellville and local schools, invites the community and business owners to learn about the entrepreneurship program and the academies at South Gwinnett High School.

Snellville Economic Development Manager Eric Van Otteren says: “I encourage you to come and learn more about how high school students are engaged in starting their own businesses. It is a truly inspiring experience.”

The Entrepreneurship Alliance Open House on October 27 at 5:30 p.m. at the school will be an opportunity for the South Gwinnett High School Business Academy to display and talk about the entrepreneurship programs. Support from small business owners is needed in the development of these future successful entrepreneurs.

Gwinnett ad valorem property taxes due Oct. 15

Gwinnett 2015 property tax payments are due Thursday, October 15. For property owners with an escrow account, tax information is available to mortgage companies; however, it is ultimately the responsibility of the property owner to ensure taxes are paid by the due date. If there are questions about who will pay the taxes, homeowners should contact their mortgage company directly, especially if their mortgage company has recently changed.

There are several options for property tax payment:

• Pay online by check, credit or debit card at GwinnettTaxCommissioner.com. (Paying by check is free; debit card: $3.95 flat fee; credit card: 2.29% service fee.)
• This year there is a new way. Pay property tax with a credit/debit card at a self-service kiosk at any Tax Commissioner office. Credit/debit service fees apply to this option also.
• Mail payments to P.O. Box 372, Lawrenceville, GA 30046.
• Pay by check using drop boxes 24 hours a day at all Tax Commissioner offices.
• Pay in person during business hours at all Tax Commissioner offices.

Three Lil’ Pigs, Buford

Check out a new family-owned barbecue restaurant in Buford, Three Lil’ Pigs. Owned and operated by former police officers, this addition to the varied Buford fare is a welcome one.  The storefront is inviting. There is pickup available or you can make yourself at home in the inside seating area.  The award-winning grillmaster, Tim Smith, serves up a smoky barbecue that has a great flavor, and the Quattlebaum girls whip up some delicious sides.  I had the Brunswick stew and mac and cheese: both superior in quality and portion. Banana pudding and peach cobbler are for the sweet tooth.  An added attraction is the selection of “Law Dawgs,” variations of hot dogs that challenge even the biggest appetite.  The “Hawg Dawg” is topped with chili, cheese, slaw, and barbecue pork…mountainous!  Prices are reasonable and they cater, too! Open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, 359 West Shadburn Avenue in Buford.

— Karen Burnette Garner, Dacula

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

Lot of Georgia apple varieties now coming in

Most of the apple crops produced in Georgia are grown in the north Georgia mountains. Ellijay, in Gilmer County, is known as the apple capital of the state.

The state’s apple season can extend from July through December. The apple production of the state totaled 26 million pounds in 1997, with the produce valued at almost $3.8 million. There are an estimated 360,000 apple-bearing trees in Georgia. (Washington State, for comparison, the state that produces the most apples, has 81 million apple trees, an informed Washingtonian told us this week.—eeb)

The most popular varieties include Ozark Gold and Paulard (July and August); Red Delicious and Golden Delicious (July-December); Rome Beauty and Mutzu Crispin (August-December); Empire, Jonagold, and Jonathan (August-September); Arkansas Black, Fuji, Granny Smith, Stayman Winesap, and Yates (October-December).

Apples are not a difficult crop to grow and will thrive in a wide range of soil types, from sandy loam to sandy clay loam. Apple trees do not do well in poorly drained soil; the roots die, growth is stunted, and eventually the trees die. Soil should be tested before planting, because most fruit trees, including apples, grow best if the soil has a pH that is close to 6.5. Most of the soil in Georgia is too acidic, so lime must be incorporated into the soil before planting.

Rootstock influences tree size. Some growers prefer the standard tree; others like dwarf trees. Pruning is important to encourage maximum growth and fruit production.

Diseases common in Georgia apple trees are black rot, fire blight, scab, bitter rot, and alternaria. Insects that cause a problem for growers are apple tree borers, scales, aphids, fruit worms, and red spider mites.

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

Only one identified recent Mystery Photo from northern Africa

CLUE: All we can tell you about this Mystery Photo is that it is a mountain scene. Unless you get some clue from that tin can hanging on the fence post. If you think you know where this is, send your answers to elliott@brack.net and be sure to include the town where you live.

The recent Mystery Photo was a tough one. Several readers remembered the movie, Patton, thinking that they garnered from seeing it that the photo was made in various parts of North Africa. They were right, though only one person named the specific place. Ruthy Lachman Paul of Norcross identified the photo as “Pastoral valley of olive groves and agricultural fields, 18 miles north of Meknes, Morocco, are the towering glory of the remains of the ancient Roman city Volubilis. These remains are impressive and are evidence of an important administrative center and a agricultural center of Roman Empire in the second and third century. Volubilis was the county seat farthest western edge of the Roman Empire, and attracted farmers settled barbarians and Romans, Muslims and Jews. The site, which was declared in 1997 Aonsk international cultural heritage site.” The photo came from Donny Loeber of Norcross.

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