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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2008 THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS PAGE 5A Other Views An education on our electoral process T his year is turn ing out to be a major landmark in American politics. There is no obvious choice for President. The two major parties are becoming more and more fractured, with ele ments of both drifting off into the fringe of politics. The Internet is making it more and more practi cal for average people like you and me to make our opinions known. In my conversations with friends, acquaintances and potential voters, I find that many of them simply do not understand the procedures for select ing the next president. Therefore, I plan to use this space to explain some of the quirks of our political system. For example, at no point in the process do we vote directly for a president. The President is selected by a group of delegates called “The Electoral College” that is apportioned among the states according to their representation in the U.S. Legislature. Georgia, for example, has 15 votes in the electoral college. One for each of our 13 congressmen, and one each for our two senators. When we go to the polls and vote for a president, we are, in fact, taking part in the process for selecting these delegates. Another question I get often is about the difference between a primary and a caucus. Others ask about the nomi nating conventions held by the various political parties. I plan to give the best answers I can to these questions. There is a debate underway about the Electoral College. Some people want a constitutional amendment abolishing this institution, and going to a direct vote for president. Others argue that it is an essential part of the rights of the states as opposed to federal power. I will try to explain this dis pute. The pundits are predicting a brokered convention for the Republicans. Someone wanted to know what that means. I will explain in a later column. What about the minor parties? Former Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney is thinking of running on the Green Party ticket. Who are they? What is the Libertarian Party and what do they believe? How about the Constitution Party or one of the other little known groups? If you vote for a minor party that cannot possibly win, are you wasting your vote? I know that many of my readers will already know these things. But there are enough of them who are confused about the whole thing that a series of articles explaining it will be helpful. I invite you to suggest topics to be dis cussed in this series. I welcome your ideas for sources of information. This series will not be used to promote one candidate or party over another. My goal will be to help voters understand the process so that they can make an informed decision. So watch this space for the next few weeks. I hope you enjoy it and that it will be helpful. Frank Gillispie is a contributing columnist for The Banks County News. His e-mail address is frankgil- lispie671@msn.com. His website can be accessed at http:/frankgillispie. tripod.com/ frank gillispie Let us know your story ideas Have an interesting story to share? Do you have a unique hobby? If so, we would like to know. Contact Angie Gary, editor of The Banks County News, at 706-367-2490 or e-mail information to her at AngieEditor@aol.com. Visit mainstreetnews.com BANKS COUNTY’S LOCAL WEB SITE Snow bound O ne day last week I stopped by the grocery store to pick up a few items that we were out of. As I came around the corner of the bread aisle, I couldn’t help but notice that it had been completely stripped. As I approached the dairy section I was surprised to find that there wasn’t even one gallon of milk left in the large refrigerator. After searching for and finding an employee, I asked if she could check to see if there was any more milk in the back of the store. She said that they had sold out earlier in the day, due to the fact that it was “supposed to snow.” It has always puzzled me as to why people run out and stock up on milk and bread if there is even a hint of snow mentioned in the forecast. Why not water and toilet paper? If the power goes out, the milk will ruin any way. And what are the chances that we will be trapped in our homes for more than a day or so? My sister-in-law and her family recently moved to Chicago. They were born and raised in the South. The day that people here were raiding grocery store shelves over the possibil ity of a little white stuff, it was minus eight degrees there. The wind chill fac tor was minus 24. Although they have had treacherous weather for the past couple of months, life still goes on. I asked her what items she had stocked up on during the cold winter months. She replied “Only Dukes may onnaise!” which she had shipped to her in bulk since it is not available in any grocery stores up there. This past weekend, we were faced with yet another threat of ice and snow. I had to make my weekly visit to the grocery store to pick up the usual items. This time I was for tunate enough to purchase a gallon of milk and some bread-items that just happened to be on my list. While shopping, I did grab some popcorn, hot chocolate, graham crackers, marshmallows, chocolate bars, extra toilet paper and a case of bottled water — just in case there was a chance that we might become snowbound, of course. Sherri Stephens is a contributing columnist for The Banks County News. She may be contacted at charmbug5@hotmail.com. sherri Stephens Why did chairman go back on animal control promise? Dear Editor: We read the article in the Jan. 2 issue of The Banks County News in regard to Mr. Gene Hart’s intent to seek re-election as county chair man. However, we have questions about his past performance. We see no positive results and even question why he should even hold the office. We met with him in his office in August 2007. At this meeting, he told us he was working on animal control and it would be in the budget by July 2008. We recently found out that he doesn’t even want animal control. Did he just lie to us in order to get re-elected? We have animal problems all over the county and it doesn’t seem to concern him. His answer to animal control is to “shoot them.” Besides the fact that we have children in our neighborhood and this doesn’t seem the safest course of action, we prefer a more humane approach. We just expect him to keep his word. Mr. Hart, why do you not want animal control? Sincerely, Gwen England Jane Boys Alto Area organizations in need of volunteers To be listed in the volunteer column, send information to AngieEditor@ aol.com or mail it to: Angela Gary, The Banks County News, P.O. Box 920, Homer, Ga. 30547. The following are volunteer oppor tunities in Banks County and the surrounding area: •Piedmont CASA volunteers speak for children who are in foster care. For more information, call the CASA office at 706-387-6375. •The Banks County Adult Literacy Center is seeking volunteer teachers. They especially need math tutors, including the areas of introductory algebra, geometry and Algebra I. Tutors are needed on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. For more information, call 706-677-4302. •BJC Medical Center Auxiliary is seeking volunteers. For more infor mation, call 706-335-1199. •Civil Air Patrol: cadets, ages sixth grade through 18 years old, par ticipate in search and rescue mis sions and learn how to fly airplanes. Senior members teach cadets and students at middle and high schools and can also work with emergency services. Contact Luther McCoy, 706-677-1490. •Adult learning center at Lanier Technical College satellite campus 706-335-1931. •Hope Resource Center: cri sis pregnancy support center, 706-367-5304. •Action: help package and distrib ute food to low-income families and the elderly, 706-367-9599. •Christian Outreach Food Bank: work in warehouse, 335-6084. •Girl Scouts: needs troop leaders, assistant leaders, trainers and recruit ers. Call Terri Bear, 706-548-7297. •Boy Scouts of America, Northeast Georgia Council: volunteers need to be troop leaders and assistants, 706-548-1435. •AIDS Coalition of Northeast Georgia: help with information line, office support, the buddy program and helping hands, 706-542-2437. •American Red Cross, East Georgia Chapter: needs help with disaster relief and blood drives and needs first aid and CPR instructors, 706-353-1645. •American Cancer Society: assistance with special events, 706-549-4893. •American Heart Association: assistance with special events, 706-549-0939. •BJC Nursing Facility: needs teen and adult volunteers to help with various activities and to visit with the residents. Tracy Jones, 706-335-1305. •Children’s Advocacy Center: assist with clerical work in office, provide child care during various group meetings and solicit donations of snacks, drinks, paper products and various children’s items. Tina Grubbs, director, 770-868-1900. •Peace Place: various oppor tunities at the shelter for battered women and their children, Marilyn, 770-307-3633. •Maysville Elementary School: read to children, Jane Scales, 706-652-2241. •Our Daily Bread: Athens urban ministry soup kitchen, 706-353-6647. •Sandy Creek Park: several volun teer opportunities, including month ly hikes and canoeing trips to pick up trash. The park also needs volun teers to supervise children during the monthly special programs and events the park offers. Sandy Creek Park has volunteer opportunities available for anyone willing to do office work or help with publications. Contact the park at 706-613-3615. •Athens Area Humane Society: help with special events and hands- on work in the shelter, Lisa Klein, 706-353-CATS (2287). •Community Connection of Northeast Georgia: work on infor mation research and database and directory updating, 706-353-1313. •Special Olympics: needs assis tance for athletic events, Kathy Smith, 706-548-3550. •State Botanical Gardens of Georgia: needs tour guides, people to greet guests and work in the gift shop, greenhouse and at special events, 706-542-6195. •Athens Regional Medical Center: help at information desk, in admis sions, at the gift shop, mailroom and at special events, 706-354-3510. •St. Mary’s Hospital: help at information desk, in admissions, at the gift shop and at the mailroom, 706-354-3169. •Athens Area Homeless Shelter: assist with preparing and serving meals, childcare, and the shelter is also in need of drivers with a truck, 706-354-0423. •Salvation Army: assist with pre paring and serving meals, help in thrift shop and at special events held in December, 706-543-5350. •St. Mary’s Hospice: needs vol unteers to provide additional sup port and assistance to terminally ill patients and their families, Geneva Burton, 706-355-7711. •Georgia Museum of Arts: needs tour guides, museum shop assistance and assistance with the summer art outreach program, 706-542-0450. 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