Posted on 05/05/2004 11:36:12 AM PDT by cyn
CLEARWATER POLISHES ITS ALL AMERICAN PRESENTATION
The city has become a finalist for an award that recognizes cooperative efforts to make progress.
Clearwater is one of 30 cities that have been named finalists for the designation of All-America City.
The award is passed out every year by the National Civil League, a Denver-based think tank that promotes efficient government.
Ten winners will be declared in mid June. Before then, the city has to convince the NCL judges that they are the best in the bunch, which includes South Florida's Lauderhill, Pembroke Pines and Pompano Beach. Other finalists include Stamford, Conn., and Cottage Grove, Ore.
"It's an effort to recognize communities where people are working together in a proactive, thoughtful and constructive way," said Chris Gates, president of the NCL.
All finalists are asked to send a delegation to the June 10-12 final selection competition in Atlanta. Judges will hear each group's pitch and then decide winners on June 12.
Clearwater is poised to send 17 or 18 people - possibly including a spoken-word poet from North Greenwood - to convince the NCL that they are the best.
"It's a three-day process that consists of a community expo where you showcase your city," said Doug Matthews, the public communications director for Clearwater. "Obviously, you want to have representatives indicative of the breadth of the partnership. You want to have the right people."
Clearwater hopes to win by focusing on three things: the Hispanic Outreach Center, the library's GOALS program (a youth reading and tutoring effort) and the revitalization of the North Greenwood area.
Each of those programs relies upon the joint efforts of businesses, city government employees and volunteers, a major criterion for award-winners.
"It's how the community as a whole gets together as a whole to solve a problem," said Matthews.
The National Civil League was created by Theodore Roosevelt in 1894 and has been giving out the All-America City Award since 1954. In addition to the awards, the NCL promotes good government by conducting research and publishing a quarterly journal.
The NCL designation does not mean a community is perfect, said Gates. But it is a boon to the city.
"This is a boost both internally and externally," said Gates. "This is the Good Housekeeping seal of approval for a community. It says this is a place where people worry more about solving problems than who gets the credit. Internally, it's a helpful reminder to a community that as tough as their challenges might be, that somebody from outside has recognized they are making progress and doing good things."
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FV SAYS: "they are making progress and doing good things?" Not in the rule of Terri's case. Clearwater doesn't deserve the equivalent of a good housekeeping seal of approval.
Terri's rehab money is gone and she's in isolation. What, 37 days now, since MARCH 29 / Monday pm
[cyn -- This is NOT the Mother's Day present this city should be giving one of it's most patient mothers.]
Life Legal Defense Foundation
NAPA, Calif., May 6 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Today in Florida, Circuit Judge Douglas Baird overturned Terri's law, which ensured that disabled individuals, like Terri Schiavo, are protected from the removal of life-sustaining treatment by individuals who do not have their best interests in mind.
According to the Associated Press, "Michael Schiavo is engaged to another woman with whom he has two children. At one point in the case, he stood to inherit hundreds of thousands of dollars from a medical trust fund that paid for his wife's care; the money has largely been depleted through legal bills." When the money was awarded to Terri's medical trust fund, under oath, Michael promised the money would be spent for Terri's care.
Terri Schiavo is a practicing Catholic and based on the tenets of her church, she would want to continue to receive nutrition and hydration.
"The right to make medical decisions includes the right to receive treatment, especially in light of Terri's religious beliefs," stated Dana Cody, an attorney and the executive director of Life Legal Defense Foundation. The Foundation has provided funding for Terri's parents in this case, along with Arizona-based Alliance Defense Fund.
Life Legal Defense Foundation, was established in 1989, and is a non-profit organization composed of attorneys and other concerned citizens, committed to giving helpless and innocent human beings of any age, particularly the unborn, and their advocates, a trained and committed voice in the courtrooms of our nation. For more information, call Dana Cody at 916-727-4396.
Email: gchandler@ncl.org if you don't think Clearwater deserves an award based upon excellence in civil rights and civil conduct...
OPTIONAL AS PER USUAL.
Thanks for the ping. IF IT TURNS OUT THAT THE GREENWOOD COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER as founded by Judge Greer is one reason Clearwater is in the running for All American City, that's A COMPELLING TO email the National Civil League to state that Clearwater doesn't deserve to be All American City over in a field of 30 finalists. I doubt those other cities are ganging up on an innocent women!
I sent an email chewing them out for even considering it.
Clearwater hopes to win by focusing on three things: the Hispanic Outreach Center, the library's GOALS program (a youth reading and tutoring effort) and the revitalization of the North Greenwood area.
Each of those programs relies upon the joint efforts of businesses, city government employees and volunteers, a major criterion for award-winners.
"It's how the community as a whole gets together as a whole to solve a problem," said Matthews.
FV SAYS: LAST QUOTE AMENDED - The community as a whole got together to WASH THEIR HANDS OF OR PARTICIPATE IN THE STARVATION DEATH OF AN INNOCENT woman who resides in Clearwater, Florida!!!
I noticed the competition is in Atlanta. Maybe some GEORGIA FREEPERS could PROTEST AGAINST CLEARWATER AT THE MEETING with SOME BIG SIGNS CLEARWATER, WHAT ABOUT TERRI? to embarrass their sorry shameless behinds.
Clearwater is poised to send 17 or 18 people - possibly including a spoken-word poet from North Greenwood - to convince the NCL that they are the best.
TERRI RALLY IN ATLANTA OUTSIDE THEIR COMPETITION IN ATLANTA? Who knows Georgia Freepers who can hold signs that say "CLEARWATER, WHAT ABOUT TERRI???" June 12 - don't know the Competition Location yet...
bttt
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