Make a Difference in Our Community by Participating in Gwinnett Great Days of Service

Friday, October 1 and Saturday, October 2

The Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services is planning its 11th annual Gwinnett Great Days of Service scheduled for Friday, October 1 and Saturday, October 2, 2010. This event engages thousands of volunteers in a day of community service projects all around Gwinnett. Last year we had over 80,000 volunteers, including large corporations, schools, small businesses, individuals, church groups, and families, completing 160 service projects which made it one of the largest volunteer initiatives in the country!!

We partner corporate and community teams with local agencies to work side-by-side to make a difference in the community and to learn from each other. The Great Days of Service addresses specific needs in the county through volunteers who complete much-needed service projects for local non-profits and schools. These projects held to build the community while educating citizens and leaders about the needs around them.

This event could not happen without the support of the community and our sponsors. Getting involved with Gwinnett's Great Days of Service is easy. We are currently in need of corporate sponsors and volunteer teams. There are several ways to get involved:

• You can sponsor a volunteer team from your business to complete a service project in the community.
  
• We have landscaping, painting, light construction, and other projects available.
  
• Conduct a food, toy, or school supply drive at your business for a local agency or school.
  
• Become a Great Days of Service Sponsor

Many local businesses such as Primerica, E.R. Snell Contractor, Inc. and the Community Foundation of Northeast Georgia have been involved with the Great Days of Service over the past few years.

Here's what some had to say about how their involvement has had an impact on the community:

Herman Melville once wrote, "We cannot live for ourselves alone. Our lives are connected by a thousand threads..our actions run as causes and return to us as results." This expression captures the volunteer experiences that are associated with the Great Days of Service. I'm not sure who gains the most from the day, the people receiving the service or those rendering the care?

"It's a great experience and opportunity to serve the Gwinnett Community" - Gary Kart, resident, Kart Enterprises, Inc d.b.a. Kart Landscaping Services and 2008 & 2009 Gwinnett Chamber Pinnacle Award Winner

"Gwinnett Medical Center initially became involved in the Great Days of Service in 2002 when the hospital labyrinth team enlisted volunteers from the community to help build a 50 foot, seven circuit, classical labyrinth on the hospital campus in Lawrenceville. It was the first labyrinth located in a hospital setting in metro Atlanta. Within two years the hospital was ready to construct another labyrinth on the campus of Glancy Rehabilitation Center in Duluth.

We could not have done this without the tremendous support from our Great Days of Service volunteers. We had donations of not only time and labor, but also materials needed to construct this ancient walking path. These labyrinths are a tool for wholeness and a place for meditation and peace. They are enjoyed daily by patients, visitors, staff and community members. In fact, the Glancy labyrinth was on the International Labyrinth Society's tour in 2009, because it was so unique in being handicap accessible.

Over the past eight years Gwinnett Medical Center has had countless donations from Gwinnett Great Days of Service volunteers providing beauty and unique services in Lawrenceville and Duluth, Thank You Gwinnett Coalition for developing this fantastic program in our community. " - Debbie Froehlich M. A. CCC-SLP Therapy Manager-Glancy Rehabilitation Center Gwinnett Medical Center

If you have any questions or want to sign up to participate in the largest volunteer event of the year, visit our Web site www.gwinnettgreatdaysofservice.org or contact Nicole Love at 770-995-3339 nicole@gwinnettcoalition.org or Susanne Thomas at 770-962-9862 stjthomas@att.net

You’re invited to the 2nd Annual Korean Festival

The Korean community has made a tremendous impact on the Metro Atlanta community with their energy and passion. Now, the Korean community wants to express their appreciation and respect toward their fellow Americans and the community in a very unique way.

The Korean community would like to invite all of their friends to the 2nd Annual Korean Festival celebrating the traditional Korean version of Thanksgiving, called "Choosuk."

When: Sat., Sept. 25 & Sun., Sept. 26 at noon
Where: Suwanee Town Center Park
What will be going on: A lot!

• Twelve performances including dance, different kinds of martial arts, orchestra, traditional Korean music, etc.
• Lots of games that you can participate in (all participants will receive a little souvenir)
• Many different kinds of Korean foods
• Moonwalk, Euro-bungy, face painting, and cotton candy
• Korean cultural exhibit
• Many artists including portraitists and musicians
• Several contests on stage
• You will never get bored at the Korean Festival!

What is the admission: FREE!
Who is invited: Anyone and any family who loves to have fun and knows how to enjoy life!

Proud Sponsors of the Korean Festival: Consulate General of Republic of Korea in Atlanta; Atlanta Radio Korea; The Weekly Magazine W's; AirTran Airway; Korean Air; H-Mart; Namdaemoon Market; Assi Market; FIC Bank; MetroCity Bank; Noa Bank; Shinhan Bank; Numerous Korean Businesses

Fort Daniel Foundation to Hold Meeting on August 17

There will be a meeting of the Fort Daniel Foundation (www.thefortdanielfoundation.org), Tuesday evening, August 17, at 7:30 p.m. in Conference Room A of the Administration and Justice Center, 75 Langley Road in Lawrenceville. The public is welcome to attend. The program will include slideshows on the 2010 Frontier Faire and the archaeology of Fort Daniel, which will focus on new information about the Palisade wall trenches, corner blockhouse, and additions to our artifact assemblage. In addition to this retrospective, there will be an update on preservation efforts leading to the purchase the site property and creation of an archaeological park, as well as an announcement concerning the involvement of three local schools in an educational program being planned for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Nursing Positions Available with Gwinnett-based Dream House

Dream House has current full time and PRN opportunities for pediatric RNs at the Family for Keeps® Transition Care Home, a licensed Children's Transition Care Center in Lilburn, Ga.

Qualifications: Current Georgia license as a Registered Nurse, minimum 2 years experience; current CPR certification; Satisfactory criminal record background result.

Preferred Experience: pediatrics, home care and hospital, caring for medically fragile children, trach and vent care

Shifts: Full Time Nights (7pm-7am) and PRN (day & night 12-hour shifts)

Submit cover letter with Job Code, resume, references, shift preference, and employment application by email to: info@dreamhouseforkids.org fax to: 770-923-0659.

New trash plan offers more recycling

On July 1, Gwinnett County implemented a new residential garbage and recycling program for unincorporated areas of the county. City residents are not affected by this new plan. Gwinnett County contracted with five private haulers to each serve a designated area, offering consistent solid waste service to all residents.

What are the benefits of the new plan?

• Efficient and cost-effective solid waste service
  


• Cleaner neighborhoods: less illegal dumping and reduced truck traffic and wear and tear on our streets
  


• Environmental sustainability: greatly increased recycling opportunities and reduced air and noise pollution
  


• Additionally, the State of Georgia requires all its counties to update solid waste disposal plans every 10 years and to work toward reducing the solid waste deposited in landfills; this plan will accomplish that goal.
  

What does the new base service include?

• 
  
  Weekly trash pickup of the following items is included in the base service
  
  
  
  
  
  • Household waste
    
  
  
  • Bulky items – old furniture, mattresses, etc. (contact your hauler to schedule pickup)
    
  
  
  • White goods – stoves, refrigerators, etc. (contact your hauler to schedule pickup)
    
  
  
  • 35 different kinds of recyclable items
    

What about yard waste?

• Yard waste collection is elective
  


• Subscribe directly through your hauler
  


• $60 for six months of service (January – June, July – December)
  

How much will the new base service cost?

• $17.86 per month for base service (no additional fees unless you contact your hauler to arrange for yard waste pickup or other additional services)
  


• Base rate is guaranteed for 18 months, through 2011
  


• Charges for the remainder of 2010 and all of 2011 will be billed with the property tax statement mailed this summer and due in the fall (total of $321.48)
  

Questions about the new garbage and recycling program?

• Contact the Gwinnett County Solid Waste and Recycling Division Call Center at 770.822.7141 weekdays between 7:30am and 5:30pm
  

Questions about your pickup service?

• Contact your assigned hauler
  

Gwinnett Nonprofit Agency to Host Foreclosure Prevention Forum

Lawrenceville, GA – The Gwinnett-based IMPACT! Group will host a day-long community foreclosure prevention forum on June 7^th at the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center. The event will be open to the public and include speakers from the housing counseling, legal, and financial fields. There will also be a special continuing education seminar for realtors.

"This forum will be one of the largest public foreclosure events held in Gwinnett County to date," according to Tom Merkel, President of The IMPACT! Group. "We're expecting homeowners from throughout Gwinnett and the metro Atlanta area to attend, and we hope that by the end of the day attendees who are behind on their mortgages will understand their options and be able to begin taking the first steps in regaining stability."

The forum will begin at 8:30 am on June 7^th with a three-hour continuing education credit seminar for realtors. Offered through instructors at O'Kelley and Sorohan, LLC, the seminar will focus on short-sales and foreclosures, with a special section on how to help clients avoid foreclosure prevention scams. Realtors who complete the session will receive three CE credits towards their re-certification.

Then, starting at 1 pm, the forum will host a presentation and discussion session for general homeowners. IMPACT! housing counselors and representatives of the lending and legal fields will discuss homeowners' options and there will be time for questions and answers as well as the chance for attendees to meet individually with IMPACT! housing counseling staff.

There will be limited space for both the morning and afternoon sessions, so interested homeowners and realtors are asked to register in advance at www.theimpactgroup.org.

This Foreclosure Prevention Forum is part of The IMPACT! Group's annual celebration of national NeighborWorks® Week from June 5 through 12, 2010. NeighborWorks America® is a congressionally-created housing and community-based agency that supports housing agencies nationwide. This year, the theme of NeighborWorks® Week is ending foreclosure prevention scams, which can cheat homeowners out of thousands of dollars. Because Georgia has consistently ranked among the top ten states in number of foreclosed homes, Georgians have been especially susceptible to foreclosure prevention scams. In 2009 alone, The IMPACT! Group provided housing counseling and education services to over 4,800 households and expects to increase that number in 2010.

Gwinnett Medical Center - Duluth Meets Hollywood

Duluth, GA – Gwinnett Medical Center – Duluth was transformed into Falmouth Medical Center for a Hollywood film this spring starring Owen Wilson and Jenna Fischer. Directed by the Farrelly brothers, 'Hall Pass', was one of two major Hollywood films that took place on the campuses of Gwinnett Medical Center in the last six months. ('Due Date', directed by Todd Phillips and starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr was filmed at Gwinnett Medical Center – Lawrenceville last fall)

At GMC's flagship campus in Lawrenceville, a patient room has been named after Warner Brothers for their donation to the hospital system.

"With the influx of filmmakers coming to Georgia over the last few years, GMC is enthusiastic about the opportunity to share our location and be a part of the rapidly growing business entertainment industry," said Andrea Wehrmann, hospital spokesperson.

Filmmakers have a 30 percent tax incentive to produce their work in Georgia, Senator Mitch Seabaugh, who led the effort in passing the tax incentive, has stated several times that the Governor has never seen a more thankful and appreciative industry group, so the support statewide is evident.

"Patients, visitors, physicians and staff all enjoyed getting the "behind the scenes" look of how a scene is filmed for a movie," said Lea Bay, administrator for GMC-Duluth."The film crew was great to work with and made it their priority to make sure the set up and filming did not negatively impact our primary mission here at GMC-Duluth which is high quality patient care."

"We looked at a many locations and decided on Gwinnett Medical Center - Duluth for its great look and the willingness to allow us to film under very careful and very cooperative guidelines," said Maida Morgan, location manager for Warner Brothers. "The staff's enthusiastic understanding and cooperation in guiding us through our work on the Duluth campus made for the ease of filming that the 'Hall Pass' crew experienced."

GMC's mission is to transform healthcare and provide the highest quality of care to treat our patients and serve the community. Anytime a major motion film comes to campus, specific safety protocols and HIPAA requirements must be followed to protect the patients and their families.

About Gwinnett Medical Center
Gwinnett Medical Center is a not-for-profit healthcare network providing award-winning healthcare services to the Gwinnett community and beyond. Campuses in both Duluth and Lawrenceville provide acute care, outpatient services, orthopedic and neuroscience specialty care as well as a full continuum of wellness services. Digital imaging is the standard of care at all GMC facilities including the newest imaging center in north Gwinnett's Hamilton Mill area. In 2009, GMC's 4,300 associates and 800 physicians served more than 400,000 patients. Gwinnett Medical Center's incredible vision for the future is to transform healthcare. To learn more, visit http://www.gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/.