Agenda 12-02-19 Item 8-a - Minutes

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2 1 the co-founder of the Redbud Writing Project, the Triangle's only adult education creative 2 writing school, which offers six-week courses in memoir, fiction, and poetry. 3 Arshia Simkin read an excerpt from the Redbud Writing Project called Baby Talk. 4 5 2. Public Comments 6 a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda 7 Riley Ruske said nine weeks ago, he petitioned the Board of County Commissioners 8 (BOCC) to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of each meeting. He said in a few 9 days, veterans will be recognized, who have pledged their lives and allegiance to this country. 10 He asked if it is too difficult to do this act of patriotism, and invited the people in the room to 11 stand, remove their caps, and join him in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, which people did. 12 He asked if there is a reason that the BOCC cannot agree to this simple act. 13 Jonathan Klein said he is present to speak about the Swim for Charlie endeavor. He 14 said he has served on the Board of Health, and serves as the Chair of Swim for Charlie. He 15 said Charlie was his friend, and his death was the impetus for this program, which sponsors 16 youth-based water safety programs. He said it coordinates with the schools to bring 2nd 17 grade students to the Sportsplex to learn about water safety. He said Guilford County has 18 gained support with its program, which consists of eight 45-minute sessions. He said the first 19 classes will be for around 250 students at Efland Cheeks, Central and New Hope Elementary 20 Schools starting in the spring of 2020, with the goal of expansion throughout the county and 21 region in the coming years. 22 Meg Pomerantz said she supports this water initiative. She said she is the Executive 23 Director of Girls on the Run, serving girls in grade 3-8, and has seen firsthand how these 24 types of initiatives can affect lives. She said she was the "swim test lady" at UNC for many 25 years, and still has past students tell her of the impact of this on their lives. She said 26 teaching a 7-year old is easier than teaching an adult, and generally children learn through 27 swimming lessons provided through the support of their parents, but not everyone has this 28 opportunity. She said the program's goal is to make children safer in the water, and studies 29 have shown that formal swimming lessons reduce child drowning by 80%. She said she is 30 confident these programs will help children in the community to be safer. 31 Jim Tucker said he is a 22-year resident of Orange County, and he learned to swim at 32 age 3.5 years, when encouraged by his grandmother, because she lost her brother to 33 drowning. He said this type of program can help create great family memories. He said he 34 understands how public/private initiatives can start, and this program is starting with three 35 schools and with the Board's help, would like to expand, school by school. He also petitioned 36 the County to fund a full rental waiver during the day to get the program off the ground for the 37 spring 2020. 38 Seamus O'Neill said she supports the petition to open BOCC meetings with the 39 Pledge of Allegiance. He said he grew up in the Bronx, New York, an area that was very 40 diverse with a lot of immigrants, and many different cultures, seeking a safe place to grow 41 their families. He said despite these differences, all community meetings started with the 42 Pledge or the national anthem, which everyone supported. He asked the Board to act 43 positively upon this request. 44 45 b. Matters on the Printed Agenda 46 (These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda 47 below.) 48 49 3. Announcements, Petitions and Comments by Board Members