Category Archives: Greensboro

Labor of Love is a True Highlight

3 Replies

This weekend was the kick off for a project that I'm already sure will be one of the highlights of my career.  The organization I work for, Triad Apartment Association, is doing it's annual Labor of Love project and this year it really is audacious.  We're taking on a three story building at The Children's Home that has been vacant for over 25 years and fixing it up so that it can be used to house children that the Home serves.  The project includes cleaning and painting every room, installing new carpet, replacing outlets and light switches, repairing all plumbing fixtures, re-glazing all bathroom tiles, replacing/repairing floor tiles, repairing and refinishing a parquet floor, removing an interior wall from one room, installing new appliances, installing 9 new ceiling fans, repairing exterior woodwork, providing new furniture and installing new landscaping. What makes it so incredibly rewarding is that all of the materials, time and money have been donated by companies and individuals involved with TAA, and even more remarkably, people in the community who somehow heard about it and volunteered to help.

We're getting all this done in four days, Feb 12-13 and 19-20, which you'd think would be impossible until you consider that on the 12th we had over 70 people show up to help and on the 13th we had over 90. We're expecting just as many, if not more, next weekend.  We had so many people that we had enough to go out and do other projects on The Children's Home grounds.  

One of our volunteers is a woman who grew up at The Children's Home and lived in the building that we're working on.  I can't even describe the feeling of standing in a room with her as she painted a window and told a story about her first night at the Home spent in that very room and how it changed her life.  It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.

There aren't words appropriate enough to describe what all of these volunteers have given The Children's Home, so to those of you who have participated please accept these humble words: Thank you! If you would like to help with The Labor of Love you still can and please feel free to shoot me an email if you're interested.  Otherwise there is always a need for volunteers at The Children's Home and there's plenty of information on how to help at their website. 

So What Are You Trying to Say?

1 Reply

Greensboro's City Manager sent a memo to the Mayor and City Council members that had the following item noted by an alert commenter at Cone's blog:

1. Guilford County will host an Ethics Training Class for Elected Officials in the COG region on February 16, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at the Guilford County Agricultural Center, 3309 Burlington Road, Greensboro. The cost is $10.00 per attendee and includes a continental breakfast, materials and a certificate of completion. Resignation is attached for your convenience.

I can't laugh too hard; I've had my fair share of uncomfortable typos.

One of Those Health Reform Arguments

Leave a reply

One of the arguments I hear about health reform proposals is that it will inevitably lead to socialized medicine and eventually the only people who will get "good" doctors will be those who can afford to pay cash for access to them.  Well I hate to tell you but we've had a "have vs. have not" health system in place here in the US of A for quite a while and I'm pretty sure it's only going to get worse with or without reform.  Check out this piece from a Greensboro blogger (h/t to Ed Cone for the lead):

I recently received a form letter saying that Dr. James Kindl, my physician for the past two decades, is joining MDVIP, "a national network of physicians who focus on personalized preventative healthcare." His letter goes on to say "In order to provide enhanced proactive care, I will be reducing the size of my practice to no more than 600 patients who may join on a first-come, first-served basis."

What his letter doesn't say, and what doesn't become apparent until one goes to his new website and actually tries to sign up for his new practice, is that this members-only service has an annual fee of $1,500, and that this fee only pays for membership; all the usual charges will still apply, billed to your insurance company.

Right now if you don't have health insurance your "safety net" is the emergency room and they must treat you if you show up.  Unfortunately if you have any assets at all the provider will take them in return for services rendered and you'll end up without much to enjoy with your (hopefully) good health.  Of course there are the free clinics but those offer inconsistent care at best.  That's what I mean when I say that we are a nation of haves and have nots with regards to health care. I'm flummoxed by the arguments against reform that say we need to resist "socialized medicine" so we can keep seeing our doctors without interminable waits for service and we can continue to have access to cutting edge medical equipment.

As for the anti-reformers' warning that my taxes will go up with any kind of public option, well I have a hard time believing that the tax burden can be any worse that what my health insurer does to me each year.  Right now my health care burden is about 15% of my gross income and it is only that low because my family has been extraordinarily healthy the last couple of years (knock on wood) and since our premiums tend to rise at a higher annual rate than inflation or my wages then I'm fairly certain that my health care burden will be approaching 20% of my income within a couple of years.

I'm not necessarily arguing for the reforms currently being proposed by Congress, but I'm pleading for the powers that be to do something because we're drowning out here in the real world.  And don't get me started about the impact on small business because we could be here all day.

Triad Restaurant Week

Leave a reply

Here's something I can definitely get into.  It's Triad Restaurant Week from November 13-22 and there are plenty of good restaurants participating in Winston-Salem, Greensboro and High Point.  The participating restaurants are providing specially priced three course meals.  Since I hit all three cities at some point in any given week this gives me a great excuse to eat out.  A lot.  Like I need an excuse.

Thanks to Sarah South for the link.

A Little Good News for Forsyth County

Leave a reply

According to this report Forsyth County saw the largest increase (5.9%) in visitor spending in 2008 of the large tourist destinations in North Carolina. And here are some interesting stats:

Visitor expenditures directly generated 190,500 jobs and nearly $4.2 billion in payroll income within North Carolina in 2008. Payroll increased 3.9 percent from 2007. Visitor spending in the state also directly generated close to $2.7 billion in tax revenue for federal, state and local governments in 2008, up 3.6 percent from 2007…

Mecklenburg County received more than $3.6 billion in domestic travelers' expenditures to lead all 100 of North Carolina's counties. Wake County ranked second with more than $1.5 billion, followed by Guilford County with close to $1.1 billion.

Yesterday Was a Fun Work Day

Leave a reply

I have to say that yesterday was one of the best work days I've ever had.  Why?  Well, because Dale Holder, the chair of TAA's food drive, and I got to drop off about $14,100 dollars at Second Harvest and then we got a tour of their operation (The money that we raised through the food drive was helped greatly by an anonymous $10,000 donation). And here's the reason I was so excited to drop off the donation: given Second Harvest's buying power every $1 donated equals about 12 cans of food, so the money we dropped off will buy about 170,000 cans of food. If you include the food and financial donations that were sent directly to Second Harvest before our grand finale on Tuesday then we were able to get them about 207,000 cans of food.   

SecondHarvestEmptyRoomOur tour was given courtesy of Marcia Cole, Second Harvest's Director of Development and Community Relations, and it drove home the fact that Second Harvest is still in serious need of assistance.  Take a look at the picture I took with my phone and you'll see a rather large room that is still way too empty.

The problem for Second Harvest is that even though donations are up this year, the need for help is up even more.  Add to that the fact that North Carolina's budget problems have delayed the normal state contributions and you have what Clyde Fitzgerald, Second Harvest's Executive Director, calls "a perfect storm."  Want to help?  Here's a couple of ways:

Easy Way to Help Second Harvest

Leave a reply

Tonight is the culmination of the Triad Apartment Association's (TAA) food drive for Second Harvest.  The goal is to raise 50,000 cans and we can use all the help we can get, so if you have some food you'd like to donate just swing by the Embassy Suites near PTI (right off of I-40) between 5-8 p.m.  Second Harvest will have a truck there so all you'll have to do is pull up and let the TAA volunteers load it up for you.

This morning Dale Holder, this year's chair of the food drive committee, was on WXII to talk about the campaign.  Here's a link to the video.

Here's the Embassy Suites location:

View Larger Map

2011 US Figure Skating Championships Good News for Some Local Firms

Leave a reply

The 2011 US Figure Skating Championships are going to be held at the Greensboro Coliseum and that's already led to work for some local agencies:

  • MediaFit, based in my town of Lewisville, is serving as the advertising and marketing agency for the championships.
  • BEM Interactive is handling the website, e-newsletter, online marketing and Facebook and Twitter presences for the championships.

  • Annese Public Relations of Winston-Salem is handling the PR for the championships.

City Academy

3 Replies

I just got an email announcing that registration is open for Greensboro's next City Academy class.  This looks like a very cool idea and I wonder if Winston-Salem has one.  If not I think it would be a very good idea.  Here's a description from the Greensboro city website:

The mission of Government Works is to develop future leaders and build a better community through the efforts of well informed and civically engaged residents.

Classes use engaging hands-on activities to show how City government affects the quality of life in Greensboro. Class  are held weekly from 5:45-9 pm from September 3 through November 12. Sessions include information on topics ranging from police to economic development to leadership. 

Program components include:

  • Preparation for service on a City board or commission
  • Experiential learning and hands-on activities
  • Thursday evening classes for 11 consecutive weeks at various locations throughout the City
  • Free meals at each session beginning at 5:30 pm
  • Graduation will be held on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at the regularly scheduled City Council meeting at 5:30 pm

City Academy is free and open to any resident who lives within the corporate limits of City of Greensboro. Twenty-five people representing all council districts and various backgrounds will be selected for the academy. Other selection criteria include:

  • 18 years of age or older 
  • Must attend 80 percent of classes
  • Written statement of desire to participate
  • Preference given to those willing to serve on a board or commission