Yesterday the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Network had its second
monthly organizationl meeting at the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce.
It’s working up a business plan to submit to the Chamber Board for next year.
The Chair is the eminent Dr. Dennis Marks, VSU Emeritus Professor,
and the Chamber contact is ReKasa Deen of
Opportunity Central.
Here everybody says “renewable energy and solar power!”
Sherry Wheat (Hannah Solar), Sharon Jackson (South GA Solar Power), Ron Jackson (Production Community Services), Bill Branham (21st Century Telecom), ?, Dr. Dennis Marks (Chair), Matt Jansen (Boys and Girls Club), John S. Quarterman (Okra Paradise Farms), ReKasa Deen (VLCoC Opportunity Central)
picture by Myrna Ballard (VLCoC President) for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange
Sherry Wheat of Hannah Solar drove down from Atlanta to help me announce
that
Okra Paradise Farms got the USDA REAP grant we applied for,
to add about 52 solar panels to our farm workshop.
Hannah Solar helped us submit the paperwork in 3 days.
More on that as it transpires.
-jsq
video link lists partners as The Boys & Girls Club and The YMCA. There is a long history of both of these private organizations being mixed into the Valdosta/Lowndes parks & recreation government operations including past competitions between these private sector elements. One of the main reasons Public/Private Partnerships are not in the citizen’s best interests is the fact the private entities are used to evade government transparency responsibilities. If the VLPRA is going to consider themselves partners with any private organization then the public has a right to know what is being discussed & what future plans are being considered. Those of us who are aware of past conflicts with partial privatizations of parks & recreation have a right to know that safeguards are enacted to prevent a return to situations that were not always in the best interest of the citizens and/or created sweetheart deals for private entities. Any private organization who claims to be non-profit should have to submit to an independent audit and also account for how for profit revenues relate to non-profit claims. When any organization that claims non-profit status in order to receive tax credits, grant monies, and United Way funds can have a million dollar plus extortion operation siphoning off revenues at the same time something is not right. Local taxpayers have a right to know that full disclosure and auditing methods are being employed to prevent any repeat situations before partnering is allowed.