6/28: On selling your business, Zika virus, more

MARKING HER 104th birthday last week is Ms. Bessie Faulkner, born June 21, 1912 in Bethlehem, Ga. Her birthday was marked at the Buford Senior Center, where she has celebrated her special day since 2002. She is a former domestic worker who has taught Sunday School and been part of her church’s usher ministry for years. She was one of 11 children, and her only living sibling is Annie Ruth Bush, who is 87. She also has a nephew, Bonnie Bell, who is 90 years old.

TODAY’S FOCUS: Once Selling a Business, You Must Then Get Out of the Way!

EEB PERSPECTIVE: Pregnant Women Are the Most at Risk from Zika Virus

SPOTLIGHT: Infinite Energy Center

FEEDBACK: Watch for Independence Movements in Scotland and Northern Ireland

UPCOMING: Norcross Names Mary Beth Bender To New Executive Position

NOTABLE: Central Students Complete Three Month Health Career Academy

RECOMMENDED: Pilgrims by Garrison Keillor

GEORGIA TIDBIT: Whitewater Paddling Not Without Risk; Learn the Language

TODAY’S QUOTE: Mickey Rooney’s Reason for Wanting an Early Morning Marriage

MYSTERY PHOTO: Figure Out Where These Nine Smokestacks Are Located

LAGNIAPPE: 30,000 Daylilies in Bloom of the Gibbs

Once selling a business, you must get out of the way!

By Jim Nelems

BLUFFTON, S.C., JUNE 28, 2016  |  It is no secret that most new businesses do not survive into a second generation of owners. Marketing Workshop, a national marketing research firm headquartered in Peachtree Corners, successfully made this transition three years ago when my wife and I decided to retire after more than 40 years in marketing research. Our two firms, The Marketing Workshop and Compass Research, are now operated by our daughter, Sherri Taylor, and husband, Scott.

Jim and Dot Nelems

It was in 1972 that my wife and I founded The Marketing Workshop.

Years ago, it was not uncommon for family run research firms (as well as other industries) to have children who would eventually take over the business. However, today that is most rare. In fact, we are among the few research firms still family owned, and we like it that way.

Yet transitioning to the second generation is not merely handing over the keys. There are four common-sense principles which have to be learned, absorbed and followed.

First, always stay close to market trends and realize that changes will have to be made – like it or not. We eliminated our 160 station phone center where, before the Internet, we did over 200,000 phone interviews annually. However, we didn’t cut this center before we found a new resource for that portion of the business, saving 57 interviewing jobs. Today, more surveys are conducted over the web than by phone, where the average response rate is only nine percent; at one time it was 60 percent or higher!

Second, focus on the right target market.   Use the strengths of your past and your present situation to attract the right customers and help avoid spinning your wheels with the wrong market.  We found a strong untapped market, testing new menu products, for restaurants.

Sherri and Scott Taylor

Third, make sure you have the right people in the new environment. Culture fit is now equally important as skills.  You have to realize that sometimes work habits will need to change. As our son David, who started an Internet company which revolutionized the way focus groups are now done, has said, “Evolve or die.”

And last, you must let the new managers run the transitioned company, which sometimes is hard to do. What if the new managers want a new logo or new marketing campaign, but the former managers do not? Ultimately, you have to trust the ‘new’ kids on the block and let them make decisions. After all, they are now in the business on a daily basis and have a good pulse on what’s going on.

As parents and first generation owners, we are pleased as to how the first three years have gone, while we relax on the river in Bluffton, South Carolina.

Now, the next job would be to get at least one of our four grandchildren interested in marketing research as a career!

Pregnant women are the most at risk from Zika virus

By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher

JUNE 28, 2016  |  While no one in Gwinnett has been found to be infected with the Zika virus, still there are 819 travel associated cases in the United States with this horrendous virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Georgia reports 25 travel-associated cases. New York reports the most cases, 198, while Florida counts 162, as of June 22.

Since the virus is most commonly spread through mosquito bites, each homeowner should take steps to slow the growth of mosquitoes. Use larvicide treatment in such areas as bird baths to halt breeding habitats and reduce the adult mosquito population.

Another way the Zika virus can be spread is during sex by a man infected with the Zika.

The group most at risk with the Zika virus are pregnant women. Babies whose mothers are infected with Zika during pregnancy have an increased risk. Many women infected during this outbreak have delivered healthy babies.

The CDC has suggestions to prevent mosquito bites. When in areas with Zika and other diseases spread by mosquitoes, take the following steps:

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
• Stay in places with air conditioning and window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
• Take steps to control mosquitoes inside and outside your home.
• Sleep under a mosquito bed net if you are overseas or outside and are not able to protect yourself from mosquito bites.
• Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or para-menthane-diol.
• Reapply insect repellent as directed.
• Do not spray repellent on the skin under clothing.
• If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen before applying insect repellent.

To protect your child from mosquito bites:

• Do not use insect repellent on babies younger than two months old.
• Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol on children younger than three years old.
• Dress your child in clothing that covers arms and legs.
• Cover crib, stroller, and baby carrier with mosquito netting.

Standing water is the key factor in the fast growth of mosquitoes. Even water existing in such a small container as a bottle cap can breed larvae which turn into mosquitoes. The wide drought we have been going through in the Atlanta area at least produces fewer mosquitoes. Be sure to keep any outside container free of water.

Though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is concentrating on producing an agent which will slow or halt the Zika virus, so far nothing has been found.

Traveling? Visit CDC’s Travelers Health website to see if the country you plan to visit has any travel health notices. Even if they do not feel sick, travelers returning to the United States from an area with Zika should take steps to prevent mosquito bites for three weeks so they do not spread Zika to mosquitoes that could spread the virus to other people.

Infinite Energy Center

The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum to you at no cost to readers. Today’s underwriter is Infinite Energy Center, home to four distinct facilities in Duluth: Infinite Energy Arena, Infinite Energy Theater, Infinite Energy Forum, and The Hudgens Center for the Arts. Infinite Energy Arena has had 13 years of tremendous success hosting countless concerts, family shows and sporting events, and is home to the ECHL’s Atlanta Gladiators and the NLL’s Georgia Swarm.  Some past concerts include George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Beyoncé, Foo Fighters, Eric Clapton, Katy Perry, Kid Rock, James Taylor and Michael Bublé. Infinite Energy Arena also hosts many family shows including Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey, Cirque du Soleil, Disney On Ice and Harlem Globetrotters.  Infinite Energy Forum offers patrons the opportunity to host or attend a wide variety of events, from corporate meetings to trade shows to social occasions.  Infinite Energy Theater has an intimate capacity of 708-seats and is home to many local events, family shows and even some comedians. The Hudgens Center for the Arts showcases a range of artwork throughout the year along with offering a wide range of fine art classes.

• For further information visit InfiniteEnergyCenter.com.

• For a list of other sponsors of this forum, go to: Our sponsors.

Watch for independence movements in Scotland, Northern Ireland

Editor, the Forum:

After Britain exited the European Union last week, now watch for a renewed independence move from Scotland, which wants to be in the European Union.  Northern Ireland wants to be in the EU, too, and did not cast a Brexit vote.  Wales and England wanted out.

Ireland is in the EU, so the border with Northern Ireland will become a tension point.  Immigration was a big issue in the vote, so control of people entering the United Kingdom will be important.  Unification of Ireland may become a reality since Northern Ireland wanted to stay in the EU.

— Byron Gilbert, Peachtree Corners

Send us your thoughts:  We encourage you to send us your letters and thoughts on issues raised in GwinnettForum.  Please limit comments to 200 words.  We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length.  Send feedback and letters to:    elliott@brack.net

Norcross names Bender to new executive position

The City of Norcross has named 17-year city employee Mary Beth Bender as the director of the public works, utilities and parks department. Bender’s role also includes serving as assistant city manager, which is a new position.

Bender

The announcement came from City Manager Rudolph Smith, who says: “As a City of Norcross veteran, we are confident in Mary Beth’s abilities and skills to serve as second in command and in leading the public works department that operates as the backbone of our city. “

The director of public works, utilities, and parks manages the various public works departments such as streets and highways, parks, as well as the public utilities, including power, stormwater, and sanitation.

Bender has been an employee of the city for 17 years, including working for the marshal and court services. For the last 10 years, Bender has worked in the public works, utilities, parks department as an executive assistant, superintendent and now as the director. She is a member of the American Public Works Association, Georgia Recreation and Parks Association, the International Association of Administrative Professionals, National Youth Sports Coaches Association, and the Southeast Festival and  Events Association.

Mary Beth has also achieved the Certification in Public Works Management from the Carl Vinson Institute of Government. Bender earned her administrative professional degree from Madison College in Madison, Wis.  She is married and lives with her husband in Suwanee, has two children, and a one year old grandson.

You can choose to be safe with fireworks this holiday season

Choose to be safe during the July 4 holiday.

Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services encourages residents to be cautious in celebrating this year’s Independence Day.

If you choose to employ fireworks, here are the Department’s suggestions:

• Never allow children to handle or light fireworks
• Always read and follow instructions printed on labels
• Only use fireworks outdoors in a clear, safe location away from homes and cars
• Light one firework at a time, and quickly move back after lighting
• Have a bucket of water and fire extinguisher nearby
• Submerge spent fireworks in water for at least an hour before disposing of them
• Never re-ignite malfunctioning fireworks
• Never attempt to make your own fireworks
• Never handle fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol

You should call 911 in case of emergency. For more information on fireworks safety, visit www.gwinnettsafety411.com.

City of Sugar Hill awarded Main Street America affiliation

The City of Sugar Hill has been designated as a Main Street America™ Affiliate program by the National Main Street Center.  This comes in recognition of Sugar Hill’s commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach.

Downtown Development Authority Chairman Taylor Anderson states: “Sugar Hill is listening to residents and working to add all of the key ingredients to our downtown, so that it will become a vibrant location where our community will be able to live, work, shop, dine and play.”

This is just the start for Sugar Hill as the city broke ground this week on the $36 million dollar EpiCenter project located east of City Hall. The EpiCenter will feature a 350 seat community theater, a sports gymnasium, retail, restaurants, and office space.

The City of Sugar Hill is also wrapping-up renovations to its concert venue, The Bowl At Sugar Hill, will host various local and visiting bands in 2016. The concert venue will now be flanked by a turf family plaza, and one of the largest splash pads in North Georgia.

Main Street America has been helping revitalize older and historic commercial districts for more than 35 years. Today, it is a network of more than 1,000 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, who share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development.

Central students complete 3-month Health Career Academy

Central Gwinnett High School in Lawrenceville was the site of a three month long Health Career Academy which brought medical school mentors into the classroom of 30 tenth grade students this year.  The high school students were part of Central Gwinnett’s Medical and Healthcare Sciences Academy and had shown an interest in the healthcare field. The program will continue during the students’ junior and senior years as well.

GA-PCOM students traveled to Emory to watch the high schoolers present “The Total Package: holistic Health from a Kid’s View.” From left are, seated, Valencia Oglesby, Sunita Jena, Kita Mack, Lakshmi Rao, Anna Nay, Morgan Myers, Sara Khalid and Francesca DiSantis. Standing are Daryllynn Patterson, Dominque Lewis, Ra’Shead Pompey, Catlyn Thigpen, Anthony Kamson, Nick Hernandez, Morgan Zegers, Yasmeen Shariff, Jeremiah Arnold, Hannah Shin and GA-PCOM Director of Student Affairs Patience Mason.

Osteopathic medicine, pharmacy and biomedical sciences students from Georgia Campus – Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (GA-PCOM) served as mentors in the program designed by Main Line Health, a network of hospitals and clinics in Philadelphia, and supported by Aetna. The engaging curriculum was delivered to the high school students who elected to stay after school on Friday afternoons to participate in the program.

According to Hannah Shin, a first year GA-PCOM osteopathic medical student who led the program along with her classmate Yasmeen Shariff, the first few weeks focused on emergency medicine cases which were designed to build the high school students’ critical thinking skills. “We wanted them to not only be able to shift through the noise and determine which parts of the case contributed to the overall diagnosis, but to also learn how to find and utilize reliable sources,” Shin said.

The experience culminated in a symposium at Emory University School of Medicine where the Central Gwinnett students showcased their final presentation, “The Total Package: Holistic Health from a Kid’s View.” Other high schools participating in the program this year were Carver High School, Maynard Jackson High School and North Clayton High School, all sponsored by Emory.

The high school students even tried on their mentors’ white coats. Shin said, “I hope (by wearing the coats) they were inspired to one day be physicians, to feel the weight of the coat with all its responsibility, privilege, and discovery and want to bear all of this in the service of patients.”

According to Shin, the GA-PCOM students who acted as mentors “not only showed immense dedication to our mission of giving back to the community and continuing the cycle of education, but also surprised us with their individual strengths and amazing ability to connect with the students and share what we’ve learned thus far in med school.”

“At the end of the day,” she said, “we just really want to show the Central Gwinnett students that they can dream and want more, because they are fully capable and able to get where they want to be.”

State tollway authority funds 2 new projects in Gwinnett

On Wednesday, Governor Nathan Deal and State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) Executive Director Chris Tomlinson announced $75 million in state funding for 11 transit projects throughout the state. Two of these projects were awarded for Gwinnett County.

The two GO! Transit Capital Program awards for Gwinnett County will improve reliability, efficiency and travel times for bus and Park-and-Ride commuters in this manner:

• Gwinnett County Transit will be purchasing 20 new buses.
• The Sugarloaf Mills Park-and-Ride will get redesigns and upgrades to improve bus access and passenger amenities. Additional shelters will be added and the ability to purchase fares on-site will now be available. Buses will also be able to take a more direct route to the I-85 Express Lanes.

More information about the program and projects can be found on SRTA’s website.

Walton EMC elects 3 board members at annual meeting

A near record number of Walton Electric Membership Corporation customer-owners recently took part in their cooperative’s annual meeting held at the Walton County Agriculture Education Center just south of Monroe.

Walton EMC customer-owner Keith Stout of Monroe, second from right, receives the keys to the annual meeting grand prize, a recycled Ford pick-up truck from CEO Ronnie Lee.

An  important function of the meeting is allowing customer-owners to participate in running their cooperative by electing representatives from among themselves to serve on the board of directors. Directors Johnny Allgood of the Southwest Walton district, Billy Ray Allen of the Mountain Park district and Dawn Taylor of the Five Forks-North Snellville district were re-elected to three-year terms.

Board Chair Dan Chelko of Gwinnett told those attending that in 2015, customer-owners received a portion of the largest capital credit refund distributed in the company’s 80-year history. “Last December we doubled our return to $10 million,” said Chelko.“ This is done through being lean, being efficient and making the best use of technology available.”

In his remarks, CEO Ronnie Lee explained dependable electric service requires a balanced approach. Lee assured attendees that the cooperative will continue to deliver electricity at the lowest possible cost. They also heard that Walton EMC’s system proved 99.99 percent reliable while enjoying the sixth lowest rates in Georgia over the past year.

Pilgrims

A novel by Garrison Keillor

Saturday night (July 2) will be the last live broadcast of A Prairie Home Companion, the Garrison Keillor public radio program.  He’s leaving broadcast radio to concentrate on writing. His recent novel, Pilgrims, is about 12 Lake Wobegonians traveling together to Rome, Italy, for a special reason. The book reads much like Keillor’s Lake Wobegon news, twisting here and there to bring in new subjects, all centered around the adventures of the people in this mythical town on the prairie. You almost need to make yourself a list of the characters, since they tend to run together with their various intertwined troubles. These ‘gee-whiz’ Americans look at and sometimes are confused and question the Italian lifestyle. The book keeps you guessing at just what these ‘pilgrims’ might run into next. And in the end, it turns out that people everywhere are alike, with the good ones and the bad ones.

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

Whitewater paddling not without risk; Learn the language

Although whitewater paddling is an enjoyable way to experience the majestic scenery of Georgia’s waterways, it is not without risk, and fatalities do occur. To reduce the risk, some safety precautions should be observed.

It is extremely inadvisable and in some locations illegal to boat alone; experts strongly advise paddling with a partner or group. At least one member of the party should be familiar with the river being attempted. Furthermore, it is important to “scout” rapids where one’s view might be obstructed from the river by getting out of the boat and evaluating from shore the safest route.

It is important to realize when a rapid should be portaged, that is, when the boat should be pulled from the stream and carried around the rough water. Entrapment beneath trees, undercut rocks, or other objects in the river is the most common cause of death in whitewater accidents. Georgia law requires that lifejackets be worn on rivers in the state. Helmets, although not required on all rivers, are also necessary for safety.

An  international rating scale for comparing river difficulty was developed using six classes or difficulty levels. Class 1, the easiest level, is defined as fast-moving water with small waves, a few obvious obstructions, and relatively little danger to accidental swimmers. The classes increase in difficulty, culminating in Class 6, which is described as extreme and exploratory. These runs are almost never attempted, even by expert paddlers, and offer extremes of danger and unpredictability. The consequences of a mistake can be severe or fatal.

As interest in whitewater paddling has increased, several terms have been developed to describe river phenomena and paddling maneuvers.

• eddy: a pocket of water downstream of an obstacle that flows back upstream;

• ferry: a maneuver used to move back and forth across a river;

• hole: a swirling vortex of water where the river flows over an obstacle and drops toward the river bottom, leaving a pocket into which upstream current flows;

• keeper: a dangerous hole that can hold a swimmer or boat for an extended period of time;

• put-in: the place where the whitewater trip begins;

• scout: to walk along the bank to inspect a rapid;

• strainer: an obstacle, such as a tree, that lets water flow through freely but traps swimmers, boats, and debris;

• take-out: the place where the trip ends.

Although Georgia’s whitewater rivers and creeks are far too numerous to describe in detail, two rivers in particular, both in the northeast Georgia mountains near Clayton, deserve special recognition.

The crown jewel of Appalachian whitewater, the Chattooga River is one of the few remaining free-flowing streams of substantial size in the Southeast. The river has its source in the mountains of North Carolina and flows south, forming the border between Georgia and South Carolina. Pristine for much of its length, the Chattooga received federal protective status in 1974 under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The Chattooga has been divided into four sections, three of which are available for whitewater paddling. The Chattooga has sections to accommodate all skill levels: Section II is suitable for novices, Section III is suitable for intermediate paddlers, and Section IV is considered an advanced run.

The Tallulah River and the gorge through which it flows are among the geological marvels of the Southeast. The Tallulah River is also one of the premier whitewater runs in the world. Located in Rabun County, Tallulah Gorge and the nearby town of Tallulah Falls were once tourist destinations, until a hydroelectric dam completed in 1914 silenced the mighty falls.

In 1988 the Georgia Power Company and the federal government reached an agreement allowing recreational releases of water from the dam at the head of the gorge five weekends per year. Overnight a world-class, expert-level whitewater run was reborn.

The fall and spring releases in Tallulah gorge draw whitewater enthusiasts from around the globe as well as hundreds of spectators.

As increasing numbers of paddlers are beginning to discover, whitewater paddling offers a wonderful way to enjoy the natural beauty of Georgia.

• For more of the Georgia Encyclopedia online, go to http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org

Figure out where these nine smokestacks are located

Do you count nine smokestacks in this Mystery Photo?  Can you figure out what this photograph represents, and where it is?  If so, send in your thoughts to elliott@gwinnettforum.com and be sure to include your hometown.

That Mystery Photo of the last issue was the ceiling at the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Library, in Washington D.C.  Ginny Harrell of Peachtree Corners says: “Most Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) will recognize this photo. It is the ceiling, called the ‘Lay Lights,’ in the DAR. Library at the DAR Headquarters at 1776 D Street. It is open to the public except when the D.A.R. have their annual convention in June. The library is an archive of county, state and family history from the beginning of this country.”

George Graf of Palmyra, Va. ,tells us: “The Daughters of the American Revolution organization set a Guinness World Record by sending more than 100,000 letters to military personnel serving overseas. The original goal was 10,000, but they shattered that with an incredible 100,904 letters sent to servicemen and women, thanking them for their service. The world record attempt was to help celebrate the organization’s 125th Continental Congress, which took place on June 15.The Daughters of the American Revolution is a lineage-based membership service organization for women who are directly descended from a person involved in the United States’ struggle for independence.”

Neal Davies of Decatur also recognized this photo.

Gibbs Gardens now has 30,000 daylilies in bloom

Roving Photographer Frank Sharp made another trip with a photography society to Gibbs Garden in Ball Ground on a hot Thursday last week.   He says: “It was 92 at home, but 82 in the mountains when I got there. The daylilies and roses were in bloom. They have 30,000 daylilies, quite a sight to behold. These photos were all made with a Lumix FZ-1000, which has a 2.8 Leica lens and a 1 inch sensor. I like it because it is lightweight.”

Photography Exhibit on India and the Taj Mahal is open through July 27 at the Collins Hill Library, 455 Camp Perrin Road in Lawrenceville. The work is by GwinnettForum Roving Photographer Frank Sharp. The library standard hours are now Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m., on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., and on Sunday from noon until 5 p.m.

GwinnettForum is provided to you at no charge every Tuesday and Friday. If you would like to serve as an underwriter, click here to learn more:

• MORE: Contact Editor and Publisher Elliott Brack at: elliott@gwinnettforum.com

UNSUBSCRIBE

We hope you’ll keep receiving the great news and information from GwinnettForum, but if you need to unsubscribe, go to this page and unsubscribe in the appropriate box.

© 2016, 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 County, Ga. USA.