November Newsletter 2015
Please read my newsletter for November 2015.
What’s Happening In District 1
Ft. Benning Sequestration still on course…
And the continued negative affects to expect if unresolved.
The Columbus community will soon be feeling the effects of Sequestration. Due to the Army’s commitment to downsize from 570,000 soldiers to 450,000 and to reduce the number of combat brigades from 45 to 30, at least 2,200 military personnel and at least double that number of family members will be receiving orders and relocating to other military duty assignments. The reduction of military personnel and their dependents will also have a direct impact on the number of civilian personnel needed on Fort Benning.
This reduction will have a direct financial impact on Columbus and create a substantial loss of tax revenue. Mr. Gary Jones, Executive Vice President of Military Affairs at the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerceadvocates that the citizens of Columbus get actively involved in preventing any future cuts in military personnel by contacting their elected representatives and signing the Chamber’s petition at www.growbenning.com
In an article in the Ledger-Enquirer Mr. Jones said,
“Sequestration is not going away. It’s just looming and the minute that you relax and forget about Sequestration and the impacts of it, all of a sudden it’s going to be there and you’ll ask how did it happen and we didn’t know what was going on”
Mr. Jones’s words will prove to be very prophetic, if we don’t become actively involved. I will encourage everyone to write to our elected representatives and to also go to the Chamber’s website www.growbenning.com
PATH TO SHINE COLUMBUS
New Program and Community Partnership designed to motivate youth academically, socially, and mentally; scores big with lasting results utilizing mentoring, and athletics
Lisa Venable and Greg Herring members of St. Thomas Episcopal Church created a new program from the Episcopal Diocese called Path To Shine to Columbus.
Lisa Venable says,
“Path To Shine is a mentoring program that pairs a mentor with two children as an after school program. The mentors take many hours of training including background checks and safeguarding God’s children. We seek to inspire children to find their talents, achieve their goals and be interested in learning and growing. We meet on Thursdays from 4-45 until 6:30PM.
Path To Shine provides children with a healthy snack, homework help, reading, math review, writing and comprehension. We have a speaker or curriculum each week based on principles such as honesty, courage, perseverance, self control and manners.”
Lisa and Greg also started a soccer team for the children. Path To Shine began partnering with the Boxwood Recreation Center in August of 2014 according to Ms. Sharon Hunter the Boxwood Recreation Center Director. They meet Monday, Tuesday. and Friday. from 5PM-6:30PM for soccer practice and Thursday 4:45PM- 6:30PM for tutoring.
Lisa and Greg started the soccer team for the children, many of whom had no knowledge of the game, however , with the help of the Chattahoochee Valley Ministries’ Infusion Leadership Teens (who also help with tutoring), and parents, the children have done exceptionally well.
St. Thomas recently gave a Thanksgiving dinner at the Boxwood Center for the neighborhood. During the dinner, the coaches handed out trophies to the children. On December 23rd from 12PM-4PM, the Chattahoochee Valley Ministries Infusion Leadership Teens will host a Christmas Party at the Boxwood Center. The Path To Shine program has been embraced by the Boxwood community for the contributions it has made and is a shining example of the public private partnerships in the city of Columbus.
KEEPERS OF LEGACY:
who have made positive contributions to the Columbus community.
The Columbus Times Newspaper is more than a newspaper, it is an institution. For over forty years, it has annually celebrated “Head and Shoulders Above the Rest”, a program that honors men and women who have made positive contributions to the Columbus community. This years program on December 20 at at 7:30 PM at the Cunningham Center has a new format and a new name”The Keepers of The Legacy” There will be a formal dinner. the Keepers of The Legacy Awards Presentation and a live entertainment featuring the World Famous Platters in full concert.
The 2015 Keepers of The Legacy Honorees are: Mrs. Carole Jackson Munroe, Director of Public Relations, Walt Disney World, Dr. Cathy Cook, Cook’s Dental Care Columbus Georgia, Mr. Charlie Johnson, former National Football League Player, Mr. Guy Sims, Humanitarian and a former Superintendent of Education, Muscogee County School District, Columbus Georgia, Mr. Jack Pezold, Pezold Management Associates Inc., and Ms. Angie “China Doll” Ward of the Plattters (Salute to The Platters).
The Family Business Legacy Award recipients are: Dr. Thomas M. Malone and Dr. Thomas N. Malone
The Military Family Legacy Award recipients are: Colonel,(Ret.) Myles B. Caggins Jr.; Lt. Colonel Myles B. Caggins lll and Lt. Colonel(P) Elliott R. Caggins
There will also be a Scholarship and Posthumous Lifetime Achievement Tribute given to the late Dr. Ophelia DeVore and a Special Legacy Award given to Dr. DeVore’s daughter Mrs. Carol Gertjegerdes.
TAKE ACTION: Get 2016 Healthcare Coverage
Now’s the time to sign up for a 2016 health insurance plan and join the millions of people who have quality and affordable coverage from HealthCare.gov.
Time is running out to get covered. Nearly 3 million people have already signed up for quality 2016 health coverage.
The December 15 deadline is today — it’s your last chance to sign up for coverage starting January 1.
8 out of 10 people who enrolled in a health insurance plan qualified for financial help, and most people can find a plan for $75 or less per month.
If you haven’t done so already, submit your application today. If you haven’t done so already, submit your application and pick a coverage plan today, the deadline for applications is December 15.