Category Archives: Newsletters

May 13, 2013 Newsletter

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U.S. Department of Education Deletes “Mother” and “Father”

The 2014-2015 Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, will provide a new option for dependent applicants to describe their parents’ marital status as “unmarried and both parents living together.” Additionally, where appropriate, the new FAFSA form will also use terms like “Parent 1 (father/mother/stepparent)” and “Parent 2 (father/mother/stepparent)” instead of gender-specific terms like “mother” and “father.”
– ED.gov, April 29, 2013 Press Release (Accessed 05-12-13)

Also in the above press release, the Department of Education said the proposed changes would be in the Federal Register for a month to allow public comment, as required by law.
ACTION – Oppose. Email your opposition to openfederalregister@nara.gov

Federal Control of Education via Common Core Curriculum
As indicated in the above press release USDOE officials do not promote community values, which is painfully evident in the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) required in states receiving Race to the Top (RTT) grants, which Georgia did. In addition, Georgia and other states with RTT grants had to adopt CCSS-aligned “college- and career-ready standards.”

CCSS requirements are so egregious that Senator Chuck Grassly (R-Iowa) and his peers signed a letter asking the Senate Appropriations Committee to cut off all future funds that allow the Obama administration to “cajole states” into participating in CCSS and its assessments that are being developed by designated consortia without input from parents or educators across the country.

In the last several weeks, the Michigan House of Representatives voted to defund Common Core and sent the bill to the Senate. Next, the Indiana legislature passed a bill halting the implementation of Common Core until there was further study and an open review process.

In Georgia, “The Cobb County school board rejected a proposal to spend $7.5 million on CC-aligned math textbooks after opponents packed the meeting and spoke of the folly of pouring money into something that may not exist in a year or two,” said Jane Robbins, an attorney with the American Principles Project.”

Access www.stopcommoncore.com to learn about an upcoming CCSS-related event in Rome on May 30th.

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April 13, 2013 Newsletter- On the Horizon, New State Laws

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Voters Lose Control of Sunday Sale of Beer & Wine …
Unless the Governor Vetoes H.B. 124

The introductory paragraph of Representative Harrell’s H.B. 124 explains how retail sales of distilled spirits and other alcoholic beverages are, currently, governed and will be governed in the future. H.B. 124 secures the right of malt beverage businesses to sell on Sundays by removing the right of future voters to EVER prohibit Sunday retail package sales of malt beverages and wine. Malt beverages are made from barley or other grain that’s soaked and softened in water until it sprouts. Then, it’s kiln-dried, brewed and distilled into beer and ale.

H.B. 124, actually, nullifies future election results in which the majority of voters disapprove of Sunday retail package sales of malt beverages and wine. However, it DOES authorize future voters to STOP Sunday retail sales of distilled spirits, i.e. liquor (alcoholic drinks made by distillation), rum (made from fermented sugar cane or molasses) and whiskey (strong alcoholic liquor distilled from fermented mash of grain, especially rye, wheat, corn or barley). Both provisions are included in H.B. 124, which passed March 4th.

H.B. 124, plainly, states: If more than one-half of the votes cast on the question are for disapproval of Sunday package sales by retailers of malt beverages, wine, and distilled spirits on Sundays between the hours of 12:30 P.M. and 11:30 P.M., such rejection shall not nullify the prior election results for approval of Sunday package sales by retailers of malt beverages and wine on Sundays between the hours of 12:30 P.M. and 11:30 P.M. pursuant to subsection (p) of this Code section.” (Page 2, lines 40 – 44)

H.B. 124 expands the definition of “retailer” or “retail dealer” to include a business that, primarily, sells distilled spirits and unbroken packages of malt beverages and wine, not for consumption on the premises, and whose retail sale of such is at least 75 percent of its total annual gross sales. (Page 3, lines 64 – 66)

Unless the governor vetoes H.B. 124, these things will happen: (1) Sunday retail package sales of malt beverages and wine will continue, regardless of the outcome of future referenda. (2) Sunday retail package sales of malt beverages and wine are permanent, UNLESS future legislators amend this law and return power to voters. (3) Sunday sales of hard liquor and whiskey will be the only alcoholic beverage sales voters may prohibit.

Although it’s obvious the bill protects beer, ale and wine businesses at the expense of community values, some retailers have been reluctant to open their business on Sunday for a very good reason – it’s not worth the trouble! They’ve learned that Sunday customers are those that formerly bought alcoholic beverages Monday through Saturday, but now wait until Sunday to spend the same amount of money. So, opening on Sunday ADDS to the retailers’ cost of doing business with no increased profit!

If H.B. 124 is not vetoed, it automatically becomes law July 1st.

ACTION – Before May 7th, call 404 656-1776 and ask Governor Deal to VETO H.B. 124.

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Special Edition Newsletter- March 2013

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The Life and Love of Robert Deadwyler

Present with the Lord: March 6, 2013
By Sue Ella Deadwyler

 

 

 

More newsletter information below tribute.

At my request, fully mounted tires and wheels were added to Robert’s casket. It was unusual, but very appropriate. Robert was one of a kind and I was delighted when the funeral director agreed to make his home-going as mischievous as he was.
I had often said, “Robert, when you get to Heaven and find there are no cars, you’ll ask for a transfer.” He never denied it, so for visiting time his casket was modified with tires and wheels, which were removed before the funeral began. With that, Robert’s brand of fun was added to a sad situation. Everyone enjoyed the levity and declared, “That’s Robert!”

You might have heard Robert say, “I like to have fun and I’m going to have fun,” because he said it so often.  He meant what he said and that’s what he did.  He kidded wherever he was and, if you ever met him, you probably kidded WITH him.  He enjoyed people and people enjoyed him.

He was a southern gentleman who’d rather hug the women than shake their hands.  If we were in a crowd, I’d always find Robert with a group of women.  In fact, he had a unique ministry with the widowed women in one of my Sunday school classes of mature ladies.  Week after week, I had noticed how much those hugs meant to the ladies who, most likely, hadn’t had a hug all week.  So, the hug line on Sunday morning was Robert’s unofficial faithful ministry to wonderful ladies who needed it most!

But, Robert wasn’t born a full-grown lady-hugging Christian man.  He was born in Atlanta, Georgia on March 3 and celebrated his last birthday three days before he died March 6, 2013.  His birth year was his forward gear (he’d like that analogy) that kicked in to bring him onto earth and this month his reverse gear kicked in to transport him into Heaven to meet his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Though that was a great day for Robert, it was the saddest day of my life, which has been irretrievably reversed.

Before all that happened, Robert had a full and meaningful life filled with as much fun as he could manage.  His mom and dad were Ralph Campbell Deadwyler who married Nellie Laura Greene.  Together they produced Robert and his baby sister Gloria Jane, who grew up to become the bride of Bernard Anthony “Bud” Flatley.

Soon Robert was old enough to go to school and always enjoyed telling the story about the little girl who sat in front of him.  You might not realize it in this technological age, but back in “the day,” inkwells on the desk got many a boy in trouble and you guessed it!  With such temptation, it was inevitable that a pigtail found its way into the ink.  It was great fun, until the little girl screeched and the teacher lowered the boom on sweet little Robert.  I think he mentioned something about a dunce cap in a corner.

However, he DID mature enough to be on the yearbook staff in high school, where he joined the Reserve Officers Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) and soon became Cadet Major Robert Deadwyler, second in command as Battalion Executive Officer.  For special ceremonies, I was his sponsor, because I was his high school sweetheart.  One of his duties was to train the other cadets to march in cadence.  Just last year, one of those cadets, grown up a bit himself since then, told Robert how good he was as an instructor, but those boys just couldn’t seem to “get it.”  He was awarded a Military Training Certificate for completing the prescribed course of instruction in the Junior Division Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.

But, let me back up a bit.  R.O.T.C. was a natural choice for Robert.  As a junior at Roosevelt High School, Robert had enlisted in the Service Company, 122nd Infantry, Georgia National Guard.  At the end of that four-year term, having reached the rank of private first class, he was awarded an honorable discharge; reenlisted for another three years; earned the rank of Sgt. E-5; and was honorably discharged again.  Soon, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve and attained the rank of sergeant first class within a few months.  Subsequent enlistments resulted in three additional honorable discharges.

Robert and I married within months of our high school graduations.  Our two children, Robert Daniel and Ginger Sue were loved and loving.  The children of Dan and Sandra Patrice are our grandchildren – Amanda Cheree, Robert Daniel, Jr. and Chris Bailey.

Robert loved the Lord and his family, but they weren’t his only love.  His natural mechanical engineering talent, that allowed him to drive or fix or modify or repair or improve or invent (if necessary) practically anything, guided him into another love – the automotive field – where he worked briefly with an auto repair shop, drove a gasoline tanker-truck for Texaco, but was soon moved into the Texaco Bulk Plant office in Doraville.  From there, Texaco transferred him to North Carolina to manage the bulk plant in Paw Creek.  Eight years later, upon Robert’s request, Texaco transferred him back to the Atlanta corporate office as an accountant and in that position he took early retirement to avoid a departmental transfer to Texas.

Soon, he and a friend established Auto Parts Mart in Cumming.  Later, Robert became sole owner and changed the name to Robert’s Auto Parts.  Is there any doubt what he sold there?  After selling that business, he worked with other auto parts companies – always becoming a part of management – including Genuine Parts Company (NAPA) in Norcross, from which he retired a second time as assistant manager of the Main Branch.  After several months of retirement, he returned to work part-time at a NAPA store closer to home.  Not only did Robert have a passion for automotive vehicles, he loved the parts that made them work!

As a NASCAR fan, he was thrilled to get a pass from NAPA so he could visit the pit and have up-front-and-personal access to pit crews, drivers and all the intricacies of an Atlanta Speedway Race.

Robert loved showing his classic metallic midnight blue Ford Mustang and, rightly so.  He had restored it to a pristine condition with most of its original parts and pieces.  It (the car), obediently and quickly, earned several trophies at car shows.  He restored his Dad’s 1969 Chevrolet Impala and was thrilled to win a trophy the first time he showed it.  Actually, it won the children’s trophy, because the children selected the Impala as their favorite of the show and that trophy was ’way taller than all the others.  He was so proud!

Last fall, Robert sold his Mustang and bought a gold-metallic magnetic red (a beautiful dark red) 1999 Corvette.  He planned to enter it in the Norcross Car Show this spring.  Incidentally, most metallic paints contain flecks of silver, but Robert’s Corvette has gold metallic, a special tribute for my husband who had a heart of gold!

Appropriately, he will be buried in a midnight blue casket with gold pin stripes (color of the Mustang and his Chevy van) and, for fun-loving, car-loving Robert the casket might have wheels on it.  The funeral director said they’d never had a request like that before, but it would be done.  I can’t wait to see it!  When the Lord created Robert, he made him uniquely gifted, loving and loved.  He will be sorely missed and his leaving has left an un-mendable void in my heart and life!  He was my man and I loved him with all my being!  I trust Robert found his mom and dad and my mom and dad in Heaven right after he was greeted by the Lord Jesus Himself!

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February 15, 2013 Newsletter-Legislative Action Needed

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House Rule 171.9
Without a Lobbyist Badge, Discussion
is Limited at the Capitol & CLOB

Rule 171.9 is not about crime and punishment for representatives or staff. It’s about limiting the constitutional freedom of speech for representatives and visitors at the Capitol and Coverdell Legislative Office Building. Rule 171.9 is as follows:

Rule 171.9. “No member of the House shall knowingly meet at the state capitol or Coverdell Office Building with any person who is required by the law of this State to register as a lobbyist to discuss the promotion or opposition of the passage of any legislation by the General Assembly or any committee thereof or the override of a veto unless such person either is wearing his or her valid special registered lobbyist badge or is a resident of the House district which such member represents.”

Although Rule 171.9 does not prohibit citizens from speaking with representatives, it forbids communication FROM representatives TO individuals who are not wearing a lobby badge … unless the individual and the representative live in the same district. Until now, individuals and representatives could freely communicate with each other and discuss political issues, with or without a lobbyist badge, regardless of where the individuals and representatives live.

On January 14th the Georgia House of Representatives passed H.R. 9, adopting its 52-page Rules, Ethics and Decorum for 2013, with 13 changes from 2012. Five rules from 2012 were deleted; seven amended; and a new one implemented – Rule 171.9, that made lobbyist badges mandatory, caused backlash from non-professionals who try to influence issues at the Capitol.

Rule 171.9 is listed under responsibilities of the seven Republicans and four Democrats on the House Ethics Committee1. Of those seven, four – the Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, the Majority Whip and the Minority Whip – comprise the preliminary inquiry subcommittee that first investigates reported ethical violations.

To expand an investigation, the subcommittee may retain paid or unpaid counsel and/or investigators, which the accused may do, likewise. In addition, the accused may cross examine accusers and obtain documents and materials offered in evidence. Representatives found guilty may be fined, censured or imprisoned or expelled. Expulsion requires a two-thirds House vote.

H.R. 9, implementing the new Rules, Ethics and Decorum of the House of Representatives for 2013, passed 118-57, revealing an almost total lock-step commitment to party. One Democrat and a lone Independent joined Republicans to pass it; two Democrats and a Republican failed to vote; and the two vacant seats in the House counted as failures to vote.

ACTION: To express your opinion about Rule 171.9 (a) call Speaker Ralston’s office at 404 656-5020.
b) Also, call Ethics Committee members: Representatives Joe Wilkinson, Ch., 404 463-8143; Abrams, 404 656-5058; Buckner, 404 656-0116; Floyd, 404 656-0314; Hugley, 404 656-5058; Jan Jones, 404 656-5072; Lindsey, 404 656-5024; O’Neal, 404 656-5052; Ramsey, 404 656-5146; Sheldon, 404 656-5025;
Willard, 404 656-5125

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