Lawrenceville Rotarians Report on Community Interests

President-elect Nancy McGill invited members of the Rotary Club of Lawrenceville to share news related to their companies or positions at the noon meeting of the Club on April 1. Reporting were Richard Steele, Tax Commissioner for Gwinnett County; Marshall Boutwell, President and CEO of Peach State Federal Credit Union; Thomas Shepherd, Senior Vice President of the Gwinnett Health System, and Alvin Wilbanks, CEO and Superintendent of Gwinnett County Public Schools. Richard Steele updated the group on changes related to the title taxes on moving vehicles. He clarified how Fair Market Value would be defined and who pays for leased vehicles. He also reminded property owners that assessment notices will be mailed by April 5, with a 45-day window for appeal. Marshall Boutwell spoke on behalf of the Board for the Aurora Theatre, which recently suffered fire damage that destroyed some sets and costumes. A fund raising effort will be initiated to replace the property and raise money for the Theatre. He praised the high quality of the productions and encouraged the group to buy season tickets to support the theatre. Tom Shepherd emphasized the teaching aspect of the Gwinnett Medical Center, informing the group of the pharmacy, nursing, and radiology students, as well as medical residents, which have long been served by the Center. A new development is a graduate medical education program planned for next year. He touted the quality of the cardiac unit and of the Center as a whole. Alvin Wilbanks described a program in Gwinnett Public Schools which provides mentors for black males, the group at most risk in our education system. Students are referred by principals and assigned a mentor who devotes time to them and their families. He extended a call for volunteers to help with this successful program. Another program he featured was the Student Leadership Program, which takes a couple of 11th-12th grade students through a leadership training program.

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