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The largest battle of the Civil War in North Carolina took place near Four Oaks in the last days of March 1865.  Recently, I was one of some 50,000 people who traveled to Johnston County to watch a reenactment that marked the 145th anniversary of the Battle of Bentonville.

When I arrived on a Sunday morning at Bentonville Battlefield I came upon row after row of tidy canvas tents, with wood smoke rising from carefully tended campfires. Strolling along a lane of sutlers – merchants – gave me a better understanding of what people of the era needed – fancy and plain dresses and bonnets, high button shoes, and plenty of riding saddles and harnesses. Reenactors – nearly 2000 dressed in gray and 800 dressed in blue – tended to their breakfasts, drilled, and prepared their weapons and themselves, for the “battle” ahead.

History helps us understand people and society, and prepares us for the future by deriving lessons from the past.  And, as the broad fields that stretch out from the visitor center at Bentonville remind us, history comes alive in the places where it happened.

The battle reenactment was exciting.  To be on the same land and hear cannon fire and the sounds of horses neighing and shouted commands was quite an experience! And yet, the crowd was quiet, watching the dramatic scene unfold.   State Historic Sites Director Keith Hardison, Bentonville Site Manager Donny Taylor, and Historic Sites staff and volunteers did a great job helping a lot of people get their hands on history.

The 37 state Historic Sites and history museums are a boon to the local economy in both urban and rural areas.  For instance, reenactors came from as far north as Vermont and Canada, and as far south as Tampa. Families are looking for value, time together, and learning opportunities – that’s what Cultural Resources helps provide every day.

As the spring continues there will be other commemorations of the 145th anniversary of the end of the Civil War, including a reenactment of the largest surrender of troops of the War, at Bennett Place State Historic Site in Durham on April 17-18.  Union and Confederate military encampments, merchants, artisans, and musicians will be part of this special commemorative event.

Cultural Resources is hard at work getting ready to begin the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, which will take place from 2011 through 2015.  For more information, you can go to www.nccivilwar150.com.

Today, Gov. Perdue announced that North Carolina has received $1,006,573 to help seniors with chronic diseases and diabetes better manage their health.  The award is the 4th highest announced by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius as part of a national effort to support chronic disease self-management programs for older adults. 
 
The funding will expand and strengthen our current support for two chronic disease programs over the next two years – extending help to thousands of additional seniors.
 
During the past two years, the North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services and the Division of Public Health in the  Department of Health and Human Services have worked together to offer Stanford University’s Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) and Diabetes Self-Management Program (DSMP), called Living Healthy in NC, to over 800 people with chronic health conditions in over half the counties in the state.  This new funding opportunity will allow the two divisions, as well as Community Care of North Carolina, to increase the availability of both programs.

By the end of 2012, CDSMP will be available statewide, DSMP will be available in 10 Area Agency on Aging regions, and over 3,000 people will have benefited.
 
Approximately 70% of deaths and 75% of health care spending are a result of chronic diseases.  The goal of this initiative is to decrease chronic disease rates among seniors and to help older adults stay out of hospitals and nursing homes by helping them become better managers of their own health.
 
For more information visit: http://www.ncdhhs.gov/aging/livinghealthy/livinghealthy.htm. 

Cynthia Giles works hard every year to ensure that Youth Legislative Assembly is a youth-focused event that meets students’ needs and helps to develop their leadership skills. But these bright, appreciative kids turned the tables on her this year.

During the Awards Banquet, an annual highlight in which outstanding delegates and the YLA Leadership Team are recognized, the Tri-Speakers took control of the program and surprised Cynthia with an Appreciation Award. Presented on behalf of all YLA participants, they said it recognized both her personal commitment and the program’s 40th anniversary. They also credited her year-round dedication as a mentor.

After receiving the tribute, a beautiful wooden plaque embossed with the 40th anniversary logo, the very surprised program director hugged each of the presenters and told the group how much their thoughtfulness meant to her.

We praise Cynthia’s efforts every year, too, but this acknowledgement truly has special meaning. It’s symbolic not only of her accomplishments, but also how her efforts contribute to the maturity and success of the youth she works so hard to serve.

Cynthia Giles (middle) joined by YLA Tri-Speakers Precious Powell of Durham (left) and Aanya Udyavar of Fayetteville.

An important part of the mission of the state parks system is to set an example of good stewardship and to educate when possible about sustainable practices.

So, it’s particularly gratifying when news came this week that the new Fort Macon State Park Coastal Education and Visitor Center received a gold rating in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program of the U.S. Green Building Council.

The facility is the first non-university, state-owned building to earn the distinction.

The 22,547-square-foot center at North Carolina’s second oldest state park was dedicated in October and is devoted to environmental education about the state’s fragile coastal ecology. Funding came from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.

The gold rating was the result of a team effort, led by Bruce Garner of the state parks design and development program, parks construction manager Glenn Sheppard and retired park superintendent Jody Merritt as well as designer, Hobbs Architects, PA of Pittsboro and general contractor Daniels & Daniels Construction Co. of Goldsboro.

Sustainable features that contributed to the gold rating include a sophisticated rainwater collection system and stormwater runoff controls, low-energy lighting, water-saving fixtures and preferred parking for fuel-efficient vehicles. Also, several tons of concrete construction debris was collected to contribute to an artificial, offshore reef, an idea that came from the park ranger staff.

Another visitor center built to LEED standards that awaits certification was dedicated at Merchants Millpond State Park, and others are under construction at Raven Rock and Cliffs of the Neuse state parks.

The state parks system made a commitment in 2006 to begin designing all large facilities to LEED standards, a holistic approach that puts a priority on energy efficiency, water savings, thoughtful materials and site selection and a healthful indoor environment.

Ideas for sustainable living can be just one more thing that visitors can carry home with them from a trip to a state park.

On Thursday I attended a search and rescue exercise at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville.  This yearly event is sponsored by the N.C. Emergency Management Division and hosts emergency response agencies from around the Southeast.  The exercise simulates conditions for a missing person in the mountains.

It was fascinating to see the variety of people participating, trained in different areas and from all over the country.  The participants worked in small teams to enhance their search and rescue skills.  It’s obvious how technology today improves rescue times and thus saves lives.

You can read about the exercise in the Asheville Citizen-Times and check out the great photos.

We’ve all been hearing about how the state is looking for new ways to increase efficiency and reduce spending. We’ve been urged to think big – but here at Management Information Systems (MIS), we’ve discovered that even thinking small can yield substantial savings while making once-burdensome tasks simpler.

For example, one of our Divisions had relied on an outdated method of processing routine data. In fact, it had become so old that it was necessary to have two computers on one employee’s desk, one of which functioned solely to operate the program.  As soon as we discovered this, our team drafted a simple program to collect, update and distribute the same information, making the extra computer unnecessary.

Cutting $70 a month in computer fees, or $840 each year, may not sound like much when you consider the entire state budget.  But we also eliminated an entire server recently when it, too, was deemed unnecessary. The savings there could be as much as $4,000 annually.

In lean times, every opportunity to reduce expenditures could mean a job or program saved from elimination. MIS is dedicated to continue to working with Department of Administration Divisions to identify ways to improve technology services while reducing associated costs.

The Council for Women is proud to have been a partner in a Women’s History Month Celebration that truly honored the pioneering women who led the suffragist movement, and whose victories paved the way for today’s women to earn their rightful place in a wide range of leadership roles.

It was fitting that Gov. Bev Perdue – our state’s first female Governor, who before that was our first female Lieutenant Governor – joined us Monday night at the N.C. Museum of History to deliver welcoming remarks.  Having her there was a very positive statement to the people in the audience, men and women, who obviously care about women’s rights.

The crowd was highly engaged in the program, which featured a conversation with Dr. Sally McMillen, Department Chair and Mary Reynolds Babcock Professor at Davidson College. The Q&A that followed was lively, including a discussion about “modern-day heroines” whose efforts may be examined by future historians.  In addition to our Governor and the female majority on the Council of State, we acknowledged First Lady Michelle Obama, female heads of state around the world, and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose leadership this week was instrumental in passage of healthcare reform.

There was a flood of enthusiasm afterward at the reception, where the conversation continued. A gentleman who described himself as a Civil War buff thanked us for increasing his knowledge and giving him a better perspective on how women affected outcomes of the time – and of course, the ripple effect to today’s ongoing struggles and accomplishments.

Earlier today I enjoyed the opportunity to welcome nearly 1,200 participants of the 29th annual State Construction Conference at the McKimmon Center. Through the State Construction Office, we provide a forum for industry leaders – and hopefuls – to gather each year to brainstorm ideas and discuss mutual concerns about the built environment.

I cannot overstate the importance of the attendees, who are vital to North Carolina’s ability to preserve and create jobs. Their diverse efforts will help to position the state for economic recovery as well as increase the transparency of our efforts so that citizens understand and value the hard work that goes into building a better future for North Carolina.

It takes considerable creativity and dedication to achieve energy efficiency, functional practicality and eye-pleasing design in a field that is so directly affected by the economic downturn. I told the group how very much we appreciate their efforts to streamline costs without sacrificing quality. And I told them they are not alone.

Under the leadership of Director Greg Driver, the State Construction Office itself has changed the way it does business in the past year.  The once-separate major review and inspection processes have been combined under one roof, increasing efficiency, coordination and consistency. 

I pledged to attendees that more steps will be taken this year and in the future to further improve our processes. Our goal is for design and construction to readily translate into well-paying jobs and quality facilities for citizens and our employees. 

In North Carolina approximately 643,000 people have been diagnosed with diabetes, and over 200,000 more are likely not aware that they have this disease.  People with diabetes are not able to use their food for energy the way that people without diabetes can.  People with diabetes end up with too much sugar in their blood, which can lead to amputations, blindness, heart disease and kidney failure.  The good news about diabetes is that, in many cases, it can be controlled or prevented with some lifestyle changes such as increased physical activity, better food choices and active weight management.

March 23 is Diabetes Alert Day – a day devoted to raising awareness across the nation about diabetes and encouraging people to learn their risk of developing it.  Knowing your risk for developing diabetes is a powerful way to stop this disease and the problems that can accompany it.  The American Diabetes Association has an online test to help you determine your risk for diabetes.  You can take the test at www.stopdiabetes.com.

The State Diabetes Prevention and Control Program and several local health departments plan to acknowledge Diabetes Alert Day with a variety of activities:

• The Davie County Health Department, in cooperation with the County Community College and County Employees and the Kinderton Community, is sponsoring a community presentation about diabetes prevention and management.
• The Robeson County Health Department plans to participate in a radio segment about diabetes and nutrition and to assess the risk of health department staff with a paper-based diabetes risk questionnaire.
• The Sampson County Health Department will be promoting Diabetes Alert Day with a Facebook post and by using the paper-based diabetes risk questionnaire.
• The State Diabetes Prevention and Control Program will help employees at the Six Forks Road location assess their risk for diabetes using the paper-based diabetes risk questionnaire.

Remember, that people with diabetes can live normal lives if they manage their condition.  To learn more about diabetes management, please visit the American Diabetes Association’s website at www.diabetes.org or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s website at www.jdrf.org. 

To learn more about Diabetes Alert Day and about efforts to prevent and control diabetes in our state, please visit our website, www.ncdiabetes.org.

Photo: Kaye Gattis, Colonel Shafiqa Quraishi, Jill Dinwiddie and Leila Bekri (from left).

I have been fortunate to know and work with many inspirational women. Today I met one that I will never forget.

Colonel Shafiqa Quraishi is the Director of Gender, Human and National Rights within the Afghanistan Ministry of the Interior. Along with Kaye Gattis, Director of the N.C. Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, I spoke with her as part of the prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program.

Prior to beginning her tour of select agencies across America last week, Quraishi was presented with an “International Women of Courage” award from Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and met First Lady Michelle Obama. The mere mention of the honor made her very emotional.

“I don’t even know what I did to deserve this award,” she said, her quiet Arabic relayed by a State Department translator. 

This humble activist doesn’t think what she does is extraordinary, but it is. She sees it simply as what she needs to do so girls coming behind her can have a better life.

The Colonel, who rose through the ranks of the Afghan National Police, works to ensure that women and girls learn about the laws that guarantee them basic human rights. The pervasive influence of the Taliban has made education and personal safety seem like unreachable dreams for many, but Quraishi said most girls living in cities are attending schools, and more women are achieving success in the workplace.

Education is the key that will unlock a brighter future for Afghan girls who, thanks to Quraishi, will gain the skill set and confidence few of their mothers have. Meeting such an extraordinary leader reminds me how fortunate I am to have a chance to make a difference in the lives of women and girls in North Carolina.