Newspaper Page Text
The Lee County Ledger, Wednesday, July 2, 2008, Page 7A
It’s a Start, but Small Businesses Need to Hear More
Special to the Ledger
By Todd Stottlemyer
When Senator John Mc
Cain delivered the keynote
address at the National Fed
eration of Independent Busi
ness 2008 National Small
Business Summit last month,
he did much more than
speak to several hundred in
terested small business own
ers. He pushed the concerns
of a significant voting bloc to
the forefront of the presiden
tial campaigns. In fact, both
Sens. McCain and Barack
Obama have spent much
time specifically addressing
the No. 1 issue among small
businesses—healthcare. And
it’s about time.
Recognizing that health
care costs have become un
manageable for many entre
preneurs, Sen. McCain said,
if elected, his administration
would introduce healthcare
reform that would provide
hardworking Americans
more options and expand
portability of coverage.
Sen. Obama, who was in
vited to speak at the summit
but did not attend, responded
to Sen. McCain’s remarks by
reiterating that small busi
nesses need more options
to access quality, affordable
healthcare coverage. We
also know both candidates
recognize that implementing
health information technol
ogy and addressing an ineq
uitable tax structure should
play a part in any compre
hensive reform package.
Over the past few weeks,
it’s been encouraging to
see the candidates discuss
the issues facing the small
business, especially the ris
ing cost of healthcare. But
they—and all of our coun
try’s leaders—must realize
that entrepreneurs deserve
more than just discussions.
Because the truth is, these
job creators, those on the
front lines of the healthcare
crisis, are the voters who
will be electing the next
president, and they are de
manding the next adminis
tration and Congress imple
ment real change that makes
healthcare more affordable
for working Americans.
According to a recent
NFIB survey, 81 percent of
small business owners and
52 percent of employees
do not feel the presidential
candidates are adequately
addressing issues that are
important to them, spe
cifically healthcare. In
fact, nearly three-quarters
of those polled say fixing
healthcare should be a top
priority for the next presi
dent, and nearly 80 percent
agree that “it is important to
me to vote for a presidential
candidate whose healthcare
plan makes sense for small
business.’’
A similar survey showed
that the small business com
munity comprised 43 per
cent of U.S. registered voters
and nearly 32 percent of the
electorate on Super Tuesday.
Students complete fifth annual HBCU-UP
Summer Research Internship at ASU
Special to the Ledger
After six weeks of intense
investigation and learn
ing, students in the Albany
State University HBCU-UP
Summer Research Internship
presented their results during
a program held Friday, June
27, in the President’s Dining
Hall.
“I was very pleased with
the students’ performances
and how prepared they were
with their presentations,’’
said Cheryl Jones, director
of the HBCU-UP Science
and Mathematics Resource
Learning Center. “I look
for them all to explore other
opportunities to present and
articulate their research.’’
This year marked the fifth
HBCU-UP Summer Re
search Internship, a six-week
program for Albany State
undergraduates in which
participants learn research
skills by completing a
research project under the
direction of a faculty mentor.
The program is designed
to increase the number of
students enrolling in and
completing science, technol
ogy, engineering and math
ematics (STEM) programs,
which will prepare them to
pursue graduate studies in
these disciplines. The goals
of the project are developing
students’ research skills and
providing them with research
experiences.
“Undergraduate research
plays a vital role in enhanc
ing students’ ability to make
the transition from classroom
learning to the application
of what they have learned to
viable solutions to real world
societal problems,” said
Connie Leggett, director of
the Title III Program, which
funds HBCU-UP Summer
Research Internship. “It
motivates students to explore
graduate research programs,
and serves as a catalyst for
greater intellectual exchange
between students and fac
ulty.”
Anais Hall-Garrison, a
senior biology major, began
compiling research as early
as January.
“I am better-rounded now
as a result of participating
in an internship like this,”
she said. “Many aspects of
science were inclusive in my
project, so it was definitely a
learning experience.”
Hall-Garrison’s project
focused on the use of saponi
fied spent oil as a carbon
source for the production
of polyhydroxyalkanoates.
Throughout the course of
her project, she fed oil to
bacteria to see if they would
produce a biodegradable
plastic. Her end result was a
method of cheaply produc
ing a non-toxic biodegrad
able plastic that could enable
the plastics industry to cross
over from standardized pe
troleum-based plastics.
Shawn King, a graduat
ing senior at ASLT, said his
greatest challenge was bal
ancing summer school and
his research project.
“The research itself was
not much of a problem be
cause I love doing research,”
the biology major said. “I
ran into a few bumps along
the way, but the knowledge
I gained from the project
made it worthwhile.”
King’s research expounded
on singular perturbation
problems encountered in
mechanical systems and hy
drodynamics. He attributed
his mentor, Dr. Zephyrinus
Okonkwo, for keeping him
motivated and focused dur
ing the six-week process.
Twenty-four students
participated in the program
and gave synopses of their
summer research. Five of the
participating students came
from outside ASLT, includ
ing Darton College, Atlanta
Metropolitan College and
Abraham Baldwin Agricul
tural College.
“An internship like this
is essential for students
trying to solidify a place
in the job market,” said Dr.
Morris Blaylock, one of the
Letters, From Page 4A
There was a generation gap
between my grandparents
and me which made them
not quite understand what I
had to deal with in everyday
life. Through the follow
ing year, Deputy Rachals
became very aware of who
I was and my situation at
home. He would always
listen to me and give positive
feed back on how I could
deal with things, rather than
pass judgment on me. Often
Deputy Rachals would speak
with his wife Melissa about
my situation. Things wors
ened at home, and there was
talk of me being sent away.
One of my older sisters
wanted me to stay within
the family, and made an at
tempt to get custody of me,
which she felt was nearly
impossible. Deputy Rachals
was aware of this concern
and made every effort to
convince the judge and oth
ers involved in the case that
this was the best thing for
me. My sister was eventually
granted custody.
However, little did I know
at the time that Deputy Reg
gie Rachals and Melissa had
an alternative plan. They
were going to attempt to
adopt me themselves, if my
sister had not been granted
custody. Through the years
our paths crossed several
times, and I learned how far
they had gone, making the
effort to adopt me, if I had
not been allowed to live with
my sister. They had the pa
pers and everything needed
to file for adoption. I am still
humbled at how they had
prepared so well, and were
willing to take on the re
sponsibility of raising me. It
is a privilege to know people
like them, with such morals
and character. Even though
Reggie and Melissa Rachals
did not adopt me, 1 still feel
like I am a part of their fam
ily, and they certainly treat
me as if I am.
I am not the only Person
they have reached out to.
This story is similar for
many others in the Lee
County area. I believe it is
important for the people of
Lee County who are not fa
miliar with Reggie Rachals
to know that he is a person
of compassion and of high
character. Reggie Rachals is
the kind of person I want to
be the Sheriff of Lee Coun
ty. He never tried to cover up
my mistakes. He just pointed
them out, and told me I did
not have to continue making
them. Thank God, he was
right.
Dusty Duckworth
program’s mentors. “There
is a deficiency in top-notch
scientific talent, so students
need rigorous research and
development training. The
students in the program get
all those things plus so much
more, like the ability to criti
cally think, a chance to work
in a lab setting with their
partners and an opportunity
to effectively communicate
to others what they have
learned.”
Garrison said she is eager
to attend national conferenc
es to gain more experience
and network with different
companies and individuals.
“This symposium has re
ally prepared me for future
conferences and graduate
school,” she said. “I feel con
fident enough in my research
and presentation skills to go
and speak anywhere.”
Blaylock said the students’
future success is largely
contingent on their continu
ance in conducting research
and remaining active in their
discipline. He also said how
important it is for the faculty
to continue to mentor the
students and provide them
with the training they need.
These numbers prove that
small business is a powerful,
motivated group in a posi
tion to demand substantial
solutions to the healthcare
crisis from their candidates.
Both candidates are
focused on reforming our
ailing healthcare system and
have begun to recognize
that small business must be
considered in any proposed
legislation. The National
Small Business Summit
may have ended, but small
business’ commitment to
achieving quality, affordable
healthcare has not.
We’re at the beginning of
long and productive discus
sions with both candidates
to ensure the needs of small
businesses remain at the
forefront of the healthcare
debate. Because we know
that solutions to America’s
healthcare crisis must start
with small businesses,
the backbone of the UTS.
economy. When healthcare
is fixed for small business, it
will be fixed for America.
Todd Stottlemyer is
president and CEO of the
National Federation of
Independent Business in
Washington, D.C.
Lee Branch YMCA
Summer Day Camp
REGISTER NOW
Registration held at Lee County Park
& Rec Gym, 110 Starksville Street
or the YMCA Central Facility,
1701 Gillionville Road
Field Trips - Swim Lessons
Sports - Fitness - Arts
For more info call: 759-9008 or
436-0531
www.albanyareaymca.org
1
Lee Kounty Jamboree
Saturday nights (7:00 p.m. until?)
Free admission
Family Environment - Live Music
Mac Mercer <& Good Time Kountry Band
All welcome to join in, sing, play or dance
1104 U.S. Hwy. 19 South Leesburg
Call 759-2893 for information
flout
Leesburg
Garden Center
Pine Straw $2.75
Red Cypress Mulch $2.90
Shrubs • Trees • Flowers
See Our Selection of Old Antique Yard Furniture!
115 N. Walnut St. Downtown Leesburg 759-1777
Put my knowledge,
experience, and education
to work for you!
• Member of the Leesburg City Council for
15 years
•Served as Mayor Pro-Tem
•Accessible - lives and works in Leesburg
•Ready to Serve You as Mayor
Paid for by the Candidate
Norman
Hoover
Leesburg District ★ Commission Seat
“^Decisions with in AAind”
As your commissioner:
* I will listen to the people
* I will use the taxpayers money wisely
* I will control spending
* I will keep
property taxes down
VOTE July 15th Republican Primary
Phone: (229) 485-7275
Email: gotapak4u@aol.com
Paid for by the candidate