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Blog
Happy New Year, North Carolina! I hope 2010 is a wonderful time for you and your family!
The year gone by was certainly tough for many.
The economy squeezed budgets from the kitchen table to the halls of state government. We all faced challenges - and there will be more to come - but as North Carolinians are so apt to do, we turned challenges into opportunities.
With the dawn of a New Year, we have time to pause, reflect and dream of what's to come. Our New Year's resolutions can be bold. We have a chance to turn things around.
Dream big, because anything is possible in the New Year!
Interested in learning more about birds and bird-watching in North Carolina?
Then, you’ll want to visit some of our 206,000 acres of state parks and natural areas this year for a rare and wonderful opportunity.
The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation is partnering with Audubon North Carolina to celebrate the “Year of the Birds.”
Throughout the year, birds and bird-watching will be the focus of special education programs and activities in the state parks. You can see wild turkeys in our mountain parks, bald eagles in the Piedmont or even piping plovers along the coast. Not only are birds an important part of the natural experience in our parks, they also give us a good idea of the health of our natural resources and ecosystems.
State parks are regularly involved in annual bird counts, and the parks are among Audubon’s Important Bird Areas, sites for research about the health of bird populations and habitats. Audubon North Carolina, the state parks and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission were also among partners that are establishing three distinct birding trails in North Carolina in an effort to combine eco-tourism and natural resource protection. If you’d like to know more about that initiative, visit http://www.ncbirdingtrail.org/.
In addition to preparing interpretive programs, state park rangers and natural resource biologists are actively involved in projects to protect and restore habitats for some of our rare and threatened birds, such as the red-cockaded woodpecker and colonial nesting shorebirds. Park rangers and biologists also participate in multi-year bird tagging projects.
Learn more about birds at the division’s Web site, www.ncparks.gov, or the Web site for Audubon North Carolina, http://nc.audubon.org/.
Recently, history and a whole lot of business took place in Greenville. The North Carolina League of Municipalities held its Annual Conference east of I-95 for the first time in their history. The North Carolina League of Municipalities is a nonpartisan association of more than 540 cities, towns and villages in North Carolina. The mission of the League is to enhance the quality of life in municipalities through excellent municipal governance.
A few of the presentations at the Conference covered; Ethics Training for Elected Officials, Financial Warning Signs for Small Cities and Towns, and Transportation in the 21st Century. The three day conference included many guest speakers including Marion Sullivan, Governor Perdue’s Director of Intergovernmental and External Affairs.
Governor Perdue would like to congratulate Brevard Council Member Rodney W. Locks who has been elected president of the North Carolina League of Municipalities. His election and installation took place at the NCLM 2009 Annual Conference. He will serve a one-year term.
Governor Perdue’s Director of Intergovernmental and External Affairs Marion Sullivan sharing the stage with NCLM President Rodney W. Locks.
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During the holiday season it is important to remember those who are less fortunate than we are. That’s why I've called on all North Carolinians to reach out to their communities through volunteering and community service. And during these rough economic times that’s more important than ever.
One North Carolinian, William Mangum, has been doing this for more than 20 years. Mangum is a successful artist who began to lend his talents to raising awareness and financial assistance for the homeless and needy.
Mangum’s creation was “The Honor Card.” Since 1988, he has created one contemplative painting each year that shares a message about homelessness. During the holiday season, you can send a card, featuring that year’s image, for a minimum donation of $5. Send them to friends and family, and the money goes to various homelessness outreach programs.
As we approach the 21st anniversary of the Honor Card program, over $2,650,000 has been raised to support homeless agencies across North Carolina. This year’s image is entitled “Moving On.” Find out more at www.thehonorcard.org.
We always hold our breath a little when awaiting an assessment by an outside agency, but the Commission of Indian Affairs has again earned high marks from the state Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) for our grant-funded Supporting Our Native Students (SONS) Program.
In examining FY 2008-09 outcomes, OEO found that actual performance exceeded planned performance for the period. Additionally, SONS served 173 percent of the number of students it had planned to assist. In summary, 92 percent of available funding was expended to support a total of 52 American Indian students who are pursuing a degree from an accredited North Carolina community college or university.
I am pleased to acknowledge the exceptional efforts of Kimberly Hammonds, who has managed this program since 1999. Kim continues to keep the program operating at or near capacity and provides support and encouragement to participants.
This year, the program changed its name to Supporting Undergraduate Native Students (SUNS) and introduced a new logo to better identify and promote its mission. For information, visit our website or call 919-807-4440.
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The Jones County Center held an open house and ribbon cutting on Monday, Dec. 14 at its new location off Highway 58 North. The new facility will house classrooms for Jones County residents who want to start, continue or simply supplement their education.
Several dignitaries attended the ceremony from all parts of the state, including Kennon Briggs,North Carolina Community College System executive vice president, and North Carolina Representative William Wainwright. Tours were offered throughout the new facility after brief remarks and the ribbon cutting.
Lenoir Community College is now accessible to residents in the Jones County area; this is great news for folks who have found themselves out of work during this national recession. Classes offered range from Carpentry, Basics, Nurse Aid and Phlebotomy. Several online classes beginning in the New Year will be offered. Pharmacy Technician and Healthcare Billing and Coding are offered online through LCC in Jones County.
Congratulations to LCC and the new Jones County Center.
The Department of Administration brought back an old tradition for this year’s holiday reception. For the first time in more than a decade, we invited colleagues to submit nominations for the DOA Employee of the Year. Joined by Zach Ambrose, Chief of Staff to Governor Perdue, I today presented the award to Stephanie Nantz, Assistant Director of the Youth Advocacy & Involvement Office.
Nantz, who joined DOA in 2005, was praised as an “unselfish supervisor who always puts others’ needs before her own.” This was especially seen this past year, when she stepped up to cover for a colleague who needed extended time off for a family emergency.
Nantz serves on several boards committed to youth advocacy and professional development. She is the lead staff person to the N.C. Child and Family Leadership Council and a facilitator with the Youth Accountability Task Force. She also volunteers her time with the Training Committee of the Grants Information Network, which has provided grant-writing programs to hundreds of North Carolina citizens through Wake Technical Community College.
A consummate professional who recently earned her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from N.C. Central University, she also is a classic practical joker, amusing colleagues with her quick wit and self-deprecating humor.
Other nominees were: Beth Allison, Human Resources Management; Felix DeSantis, Director of the Mail Service Center; Jill Hammergren, Agency for Public Telecommunications; Rod Helder, Director of Division of Non-Public Education ; Robert Matney, Division of Purchase & Contract; Glenda McLeod, Mail Service Center; Catherine Reeve, Director of the State Parking Division ; Greg Richardson, Executive Director of the Commission of Indian Affairs; and Charlie Smith, Assistant Secretary for Veterans Affairs.
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Students across North Carolina practice penmanship and learn about civic engagement by writing letters to state officials. We receive several letters every year – not from students, however, but from grateful school administrators who would not have working computers without the help of the State Surplus Property Agency.
“I wanted to say thank you for all your help in acquiring the computers,” wrote Wanda Kelley of Rod of God Christian Academy in Charlotte. “We are up and running, and the students are ecstatic to be back online. (Principal) Dr. Bonnie Allen wanted to add her thank you for all your help.”
During calendar year 2009, the State Surplus Computer Warehouse filled orders for 332 computers that met public or nonprofit school requirements. In collaboration with Information Technology Systems (ITS), we obtained operational computers with cleaned hard drives, repurposed them to support North Carolina students, and kept them out of landfills.
We like to think of this as a textbook win-win-win situation. ITS and State Surplus will continue to work together to help more students succeed and qualifying schools save money on technology. To learn more about this program, visit our Computer Center page.
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The dedicated employees of the two State Veterans Nursing Homes make a special effort to help our vets enjoys the holiday season. You can help them provide cheer by sending cards, wish-list gifts or monetary donations to benefit residents.
Located in Fayetteville and Salisbury, the homes have a wish list for those who would like to contribute specific items. Needs at either site include T-shirts, sweatpants and sweatshirts in sizes large or extra large; non-skid socks; electric razors; body spray and body wash; lotion or aftershave; and DVDs or games. Monetary contributions will be used to give a resident a gift personally selected for them by staff.
Contributions received through the nonprofit Friends of the N.C. State Veterans Homes are tax deductible. Monetary contributions can be made to Friends of the N.C. State Veterans Homes and should be addressed to Holiday Cheer, c/o James Woodard, N.C. Division of Veterans Affairs, 1315 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1315. Donations may be accompanied by a signed card or given anonymously.
The Division of Veterans Affairs in the N.C. Department of Administration administers the 150-bed Fayetteville facility, which opened its doors in 1999, and the 99-bed Salisbury facility, which admitted its first residents in 2004. Wartime veterans receive priority in admission.
Gov. Bev Perdue recently announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has conditionally approved the state’s application for federal assistance to build 100-bed State Veterans Homes in Kinston and Buncombe County. Each of the new facilities will provide residential care for up to 100 veterans and will employ 150-170 staff.
This far into the holiday season, it’s safe to say that most people are feeling the holiday rush. Amid last-minute shopping and holiday parties, eating smart and moving more can fall by the wayside.
To help you survive the holiday season with your waistline intact, remember these top tips from the Eat Smart, Move More…Maintain, don’t gain! Holiday Challenge.
• Keep track of what you eat each day to help you eat smart – that slice of pie or that extra scoop of mashed potatoes and gravy will add up before you know it.
• Remember to move more. Break activity up throughout the day – turn on some holiday music and dance, or go for a brisk walk before lunch.
• It’s all about balance. Get plenty of rest. Know that it is okay to say no to extra commitments that will stretch your holiday schedule to the max.
• Remember why you’re celebrating the season – not for the food, but for the gift of family and friends.
For more tips on maintaining your weight this holiday season, join the Eat Smart, Move More…maintain, don’t gain! Holiday Challenge at www.MyEatSmartMoveMore.com.
The Maintain, don’t gain! Holiday Challenge is a part of the statewide Eat Smart, Move More NC movement to increase healthy eating and physical activity wherever North Carolinians live, learn, earn, play and pray. Find out more at www.EatSmartMoveMoreNC.com.
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