THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 22, 1995 TAG: 9510190205
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 163 lines
I rarely write letters to any newspaper or magazine. But after reading Ronald L. Speer's column in the Oct. 8 Coast, I felt the urge to share a few thoughts with you.
First of all, I'd like to salute you on commenting on a topic other than the O.J. verdict. Your column on Michael Milken's $50 million payoff from Time Warner and Ted Turner was excellent. What kind of drugs are corporate America on that they can feel justified to pay a single man $50 million for a lifetime of work, much less 30 days?
In addition to my chosen occupation as a farmer, I have to work two part-time jobs to somehow pay the living expenses of a family of six. I'm sure that most of your readership can identify with my situation. Thank goodness I at least don't have to worry about being laid off by a downsizing, mergered corporation that pays megabucks to CEOs, boards of directors or high-priced consultants such as Michael Milken.
I have one last thought concerning Mr. Milken: I wonder if he'll pay any taxes for his most valuable services rendered.
Emery Midgette
Engelhard Girls need your help
We have offered a number of ways this fall to get the word out to all citizens of Dare County and Ocracoke about a serious need in all of our communities, but apparently we aren't reaching someone and/or we aren't making the magnitude of the problem clearly known. It is my intention by writing this letter to address both of these possibilities.
There is a precious and valuable group of school-age girls in each of our communities who are now, and will grow up to be, a significant and important part of our society. No, the girls aren't the problem, but they do have the great need I spoke of.
Please don't ``tune me out'' at this point just because you don't have a daughter or granddaughter or don't know a girl this age. You may be exactly who I'm trying to reach!
As do all our youth, these girls face many changes and challenges growing up, and they'll experience successes and failures every day. What they'll need most is love, understanding, support, guidance, positive role models and time to just enjoy their childhood.
Even in the most ideal of settings, with a wonderful home life, church, school and a variety of recreational activities, these girls often still have a real desire for identification with and support from other girls with the same joys, feelings, problems and experiences that are common to all girls. When you remove even one of these elements of a ``well-rounded'' environment, that ``real desire'' becomes that desperate need that I again refer to.
In plain English, these girls need you! Help provide the opportunities they need by volunteering to help with a Girl Scout troop. I'm not talking about selling cookies or camping, although they provide beneficial experiences. They are only a very small part of the overall Girl Scout program.
Girl Scouting is based on an ethical code, the Girl Scout Promise and the Girl Scout Law. Its purpose is to help girls reach their full potential as competent, confident and resourceful women. To address the interest and needs that are unique to girls, the Girl Scout program emphases are: deepening self-awareness, relating to others, developing values and contributing to society. A few of the titles from the Contemporary Issues Series are: ``Valuing Differences,'' ``Staying Safe,'' ``Facing Family Crises'' and ``Leading Girls to Math.'' There is something for everyone.
Locally, we are presently serving 150 girls, which is almost 100 fewer than were registered in the 1994-95 scouting year. The other 100 girls are not only out there, but they are begging for this resource. There is a waiting list of 32 girls in the mainland-Manteo area, 20 to 30 in the beach communities and 12 on Ocracoke Island. We are currently unable to offer any services in the northern communities on Hatteras Island.
All this is because we don't have enough adult volunteers. Many girls that attended Summer Day Camp want to be placed in troops as well. We are obviously pleading for troop leaders and co-leaders, but we need support staff, too. You don't have to be a parent or grandparent, and although female role models are needed in the leadership positions, we welcome dads or other men in any of the other volunteer positions. By offering to do paperwork, help with projects, teach a skill or help with planning and communications, you may make the leadership job more manageable for someone else.
Would we rather spend our time now encouraging, guiding, preparing and enjoying our girls, or later, seeing them through rehabilitation programs and teenage pregnancies or finding them ill-prepared to succeed or unable to realize their dreams?
Please contact Ruby Thompson at 473-5148 or Mary Hall at 480-8500 and make a difference. The girls are literally waiting.
Robin Gard
Outer Banks North Service Unit Position Restated
At this past Monday night's meeting of the candidates put on by the League of Women Voters, I was quoted as being against the newly selected fire chief. What I said was that I was told that he was supposed to retire in April. I am not talking about his qualifications, but I don't think he can hold down two supervisory positions in two separate towns separated by more than 300 miles.
A supervisory job is a salaried position and is not covered by the Fair Labor and Standards Act as quoted by one of the candidates. A person who is a supervisor is usually expected to be on the job each day for at least, if not more than, five days a week SUPERVISING. If one considers that this person is on the job for 40 hours, then they don't understand what being a supervisor requires.
Another question dealt with morale of the town employees. I feel that the employee morale will increase when the commissioners realize that when they hire new supervisors from another organization or city, rather than promote an existing employee regardless of his training, how good he does his job and how loyal he or she is, they don't help morale. I know that the new fire chief and the new police chief are experienced professionals, but we have some really experienced and qualified employees in our town, and we should take advantage of their experience and training before beginning to look elsewhere.
The black (really green) garbage cans came up again, and one candidate rehashed the whole mish-mash again. I said that we should work together to make the most of a bad situation.
The current commissioners approved the plan, the contract for the truck costing not $85,000 as one candidate stated, not $115,000 as estimated by the town's budget people, but more than $139,000. The contract for the ``green containers'' has been approved, and 2,000 containers have been ordered. This program has been beaten to death, and now is the time for us to pull together and solve the startup problems, such as where they should be stored, when they should be put on the street, how many cans are required for permanent residents or for rental houses, etc. A simple way to hide these cans (or carts) would be to remove one end and the bottom of your existing garbage rack and roll the new can in the modified rack.
I also was quoted about a proposed new beach high school that has been indicated as needed. I oppose a proposed swimming pool, as I know it would take a lot of money to fund a pool, as well as support equipment and employees to maintain its operation. To add additional varsity sports such as swim teams, diving teams, coaches, etc., to support would require an additional tax increase, which would be a burden on the taxpayers. The general public would not be able to use the facility. Just try and go to the current schools and use the gym facilities. As a taxpayer you would probably be out of luck.
Another football stadium is a frill also, as the existing stadium in Manteo could be shared in a similar fashion like in many adjacent counties or cities, with one team playing on Friday night and the other playing on Saturday night.
The other day I had the occasion to talk to the police chief, and he informed me that in January 1996 he will submit to the commissioners what he feels that the town needs to do for public safety to the 21st century. I don't feel that I am qualified to state that he needs more officers or training. I do feel we have an expert in law enforcement and public relation in Charlie Cameron, and we are fortunate in having him.
Coming from a small town in North Carolina that changed from a mayoral type of goverment to a city manager, I feel that for us to go backward would be a horrible way to go. I know that we have a capable city manager, and we should work with him and through him to make our city better.
Sadly, there were only about 50 of the 1,254 residents of Nags Head at the forum. I hope the rest of the residents will watch the televised forum, which will be aired on Nov. 1 on channel 12.
Chuck Thompson
Nags Head Praise for Carrier
I live on Bells Island in Currituck. For the past 4 1/2 years, the paper has been delivered on time every morning except one: the winter storm of 1993. Since we were underwater, we were amazed she even bothered!
I have never seen nor met Charlene Sylvester, as she travels in darkness. From her service, I can imagine her to be a dependable friend along with honest and good values.
I would like to nominate her for carrier of the year for The Virginian-Pilot.
Mary Bradley
Bells Island by CNB