I have recently joined the Lake Mary Life team for the April 17th Relay for Life event. Relay for life is an American cancer Society event held each year in various locations across the country to raise money and awareness for cancer research and patient care and resources.
If you are interested in more information or starting your own team or joining any other team please visit:http://www.relayforlife.org/relay/
I am constantly amazed at how cases of cancer are on the increase. Several friends and neighbors of mine either have had it or are currently being treated for it. It's really scary and more important than ever for each of us to be sure to live healthy lifestyles and keep in touch with our doctors if we notice anything out of the ordinary.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Breast Cancer
I attended a presentation today given by a very passionate young lady who works for the "Susan G. Komen for the Cure" foundation. This is an organization that helps low income women with no health insurance, or women who are having trouble paying what insurance does not for breast cancer treatment. As you know, cancer treatment is not cheap at all! But this group raises not only funds but awareness about the devastation breast cancer can cause if not detected early, and how to get financial assistance depending on your age bracket and ability to pay.
I volunteered to chair a team for an upcoming Komen for the cure race to raise money for this group. The event is October 4th at Disney. For more information on how you can help, or if you need help please visit: www.komen.org; komencentralflorida.org and www.ActNowEndBreastCancer.org.
Did you know that Macy's at Millenia sells Wacoal? For every purchase they give a $2 donation to Susan G. Komen for the cure.
I volunteered to chair a team for an upcoming Komen for the cure race to raise money for this group. The event is October 4th at Disney. For more information on how you can help, or if you need help please visit: www.komen.org; komencentralflorida.org and www.ActNowEndBreastCancer.org.
Did you know that Macy's at Millenia sells Wacoal? For every purchase they give a $2 donation to Susan G. Komen for the cure.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
THANK YOU VETERANS!!
To ALL our military...God bless you and your families!
A veteran
is someone who, at one point in his life
wrote a blank check made payable to
'The United States of America '
for an amount of
'up to and including his life.
' That is Honor '
• Today •
There are way too many people in this country
who no longer understand that!
A veteran
is someone who, at one point in his life
wrote a blank check made payable to
'The United States of America '
for an amount of
'up to and including his life.
' That is Honor '
• Today •
There are way too many people in this country
who no longer understand that!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Ovarian Cancer
I attended the 8th Teal Magnolia Luncheon today and it was wonderful as always! It was a full house with a great comedic, magician entertaining everyone and a silent auction to raise money for research and support for victim's of ovarian cancer.
To my fellow women, make sure you go for your annual check ups and tell your doctor about anything out of the ordinary.
For more information on symptoms and/or how you can help please visit www.ocaf.org.
To my fellow women, make sure you go for your annual check ups and tell your doctor about anything out of the ordinary.
For more information on symptoms and/or how you can help please visit www.ocaf.org.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Salute to Women
The Seminole Regional Chamber hosted it's first Salute to Women in Seminole at the Lake Mary Events Center last night.
I was one of the 40 honorees to be recognized for my accomplishments to the community through Public and Community Service. No accolades or awards are necessary - the joy it brings to my heart and soul is enough - but the Chambers efforts to acknowledge us all for our efforts is much appreciated.
My motto remains - "It's not about me - but YOU!" Everyone should feel free to come to me anytime for questions, concerns or ideas that wil help our community grow together in a responsible, positive manner for future generations.
God Bless America, our troops and Lake Mary!
I was one of the 40 honorees to be recognized for my accomplishments to the community through Public and Community Service. No accolades or awards are necessary - the joy it brings to my heart and soul is enough - but the Chambers efforts to acknowledge us all for our efforts is much appreciated.
My motto remains - "It's not about me - but YOU!" Everyone should feel free to come to me anytime for questions, concerns or ideas that wil help our community grow together in a responsible, positive manner for future generations.
God Bless America, our troops and Lake Mary!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
More on Hometown Democracy
Daisy Lynum is an Orlando city commissioner and president of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials.
'Hometown Democracy' would disenfranchise voters
By Daisy Lynum
March 6, 2009
Only 46,000 petitions short of reaching the 2010 ballot, Hometown Democracy is again in the spotlight.
There is little doubt that the folks behind this proposed constitutional amendment chose a clever (albeit terribly misleading) name for their idea. However, as voters, we have an obligation to analyze the facts.
Every community in Florida has a "comprehensive-land-use plan." The folks behind Hometown Democracy would force voters to decide the hundreds of changes these plans undergo yearly.
At first, Hometown Democracy sounds tempting. However, in reality this amendment will dampen voter participation in government and cause underprivileged citizens to suffer most.
The argument that Hometown Democracy will empower voters is a sham. If passed, Hometown Democracy will disrupt our daily lives. Even small communities will be required to fund elections for each proposed comprehensive-plan change -- not just major projects, but even minor details.
As a result, voters -- not elected representatives -- will be expected to decide 200 or 300 comprehensive-plan changes yearly. Complex planning material will be condensed into 75-word ballot summaries. As citizens are deluged with technical background materials, our state's hospitals, schools, churches, work-force-housing areas and other key redevelopment projects may be lost in the mix. To the dismay of our neediest citizens, many will not be built in a timely and efficient manner. Planning for these vital community improvements will become virtually impossible.
Furthermore, the size of a Hometown Democracy ballot will disenfranchise voters. Between managing two jobs, paying the mortgage and raising kids, many working Floridians will lack time to read hundreds of pages of planning data. Most will be discouraged by seemingly endless ballot questions. Thousands will drop out of the democratic process entirely.
Who could blame them? At the end of the day, Hometown Democracy won't actually give decision-making power to citizens -- it will take it away.
In the long run, Hometown Democracy will trample on issues of community justice. This amendment will not only disenfranchise many voters, it will also remove power from those most affected by land-use changes. Residents of wealthier neighborhoods will pay for expensive campaigns to force unwanted development -- jails, landfills, sewage sites, etc. -- onto less-privileged communities. Poorer communities will suffer in a system that rewards those with money.
In the end, Hometown Democracy bypasses the representation these communities have through city and county commissions by outsourcing major planning decisions to the ballot box. This amendment will make it easy for the majority to trample on rights and freedoms of the minority. Having lost recourse and representation in government, less-fortunate citizens will simply have to live with the results.
Floridians deserve better growth management, and that must happen. Voters want to be more involved in the local-planning process, and that must happen, too. But we must always guard against a "wolf in sheep's clothing" like Florida Hometown Democracy.
If you want better growth management, a stronger economy and a real voice in public planning, then steer clear of this amendment. Hometown Democracy will make the system far worse, not better.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For more information go to: http://FLSmarterGrowth.org
'Hometown Democracy' would disenfranchise voters
By Daisy Lynum
March 6, 2009
Only 46,000 petitions short of reaching the 2010 ballot, Hometown Democracy is again in the spotlight.
There is little doubt that the folks behind this proposed constitutional amendment chose a clever (albeit terribly misleading) name for their idea. However, as voters, we have an obligation to analyze the facts.
Every community in Florida has a "comprehensive-land-use plan." The folks behind Hometown Democracy would force voters to decide the hundreds of changes these plans undergo yearly.
At first, Hometown Democracy sounds tempting. However, in reality this amendment will dampen voter participation in government and cause underprivileged citizens to suffer most.
The argument that Hometown Democracy will empower voters is a sham. If passed, Hometown Democracy will disrupt our daily lives. Even small communities will be required to fund elections for each proposed comprehensive-plan change -- not just major projects, but even minor details.
As a result, voters -- not elected representatives -- will be expected to decide 200 or 300 comprehensive-plan changes yearly. Complex planning material will be condensed into 75-word ballot summaries. As citizens are deluged with technical background materials, our state's hospitals, schools, churches, work-force-housing areas and other key redevelopment projects may be lost in the mix. To the dismay of our neediest citizens, many will not be built in a timely and efficient manner. Planning for these vital community improvements will become virtually impossible.
Furthermore, the size of a Hometown Democracy ballot will disenfranchise voters. Between managing two jobs, paying the mortgage and raising kids, many working Floridians will lack time to read hundreds of pages of planning data. Most will be discouraged by seemingly endless ballot questions. Thousands will drop out of the democratic process entirely.
Who could blame them? At the end of the day, Hometown Democracy won't actually give decision-making power to citizens -- it will take it away.
In the long run, Hometown Democracy will trample on issues of community justice. This amendment will not only disenfranchise many voters, it will also remove power from those most affected by land-use changes. Residents of wealthier neighborhoods will pay for expensive campaigns to force unwanted development -- jails, landfills, sewage sites, etc. -- onto less-privileged communities. Poorer communities will suffer in a system that rewards those with money.
In the end, Hometown Democracy bypasses the representation these communities have through city and county commissions by outsourcing major planning decisions to the ballot box. This amendment will make it easy for the majority to trample on rights and freedoms of the minority. Having lost recourse and representation in government, less-fortunate citizens will simply have to live with the results.
Floridians deserve better growth management, and that must happen. Voters want to be more involved in the local-planning process, and that must happen, too. But we must always guard against a "wolf in sheep's clothing" like Florida Hometown Democracy.
If you want better growth management, a stronger economy and a real voice in public planning, then steer clear of this amendment. Hometown Democracy will make the system far worse, not better.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For more information go to: http://FLSmarterGrowth.org
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