Letters for January 18, 2012

School Board Recognition Month

January is School Board Recognition Month and a good time to spotlight the men and women who serve our school district and help promote public education.

The Hitchcock Independent School District will join other districts across the state to celebrate the countless contributions of these dedicated community leaders.

Local school board members work tirelessly and devote hundreds of hours to lead our students to success. Setting aside time in January is one small way to celebrate their service to our community and say thanks for caring so much about the future of every child enrolled in our schools.

School board members shoulder critical responsibilities as advocates for our children. They face difficult challenges and make hard decisions with the overall goal of promoting student achievement.

They are a vital link between the community and classroom. They serve as the passionate voice for public education and help ensure the future of our state and nation.

We truly appreciate every board member for voluntarily tackling the enormous job of governing our local school districts.

The board members serving Hitchcock ISD are Dianne James, president; Monica Cantrell, vice president; Estelle Holmes, secretary; Pat Turner, member; Ted Robinson Jr., member; Tom Ivey, member; and Shirley Price, member.

James Leroy Knapp
Hitchcock ISD Superintendent

Gratitude From The Seniors

I’m writing in regard of the holidays from the seniors. As a resident of the Galveston Housing Authority’s Gulf Breeze Apartments and others, we would like to say thank you to a few people who made our holidays special.

We would like to thank Walmart, The Salvation Army, and Kim and Joann Cavazos for their generous donations and others we do not know.

We would like to thank Coastal Community for the food that was donated. Thank Mr. and Mrs. Bloom and their helpers for delivering it to us — and others we do not know by name.

We would also like to thank the county clerk’s office and their helpers for the hot chocolate, cookies and Christmas cards.

All of the above made the time to remember the seniors wonderful, and we thank each of you.

We want everyone to know the seniors were not forgotten and we wish all of you, including everyone in the city of Galveston, a very Happy New Year.

Georgia Sullivan
Gulf Breeze Council, vice-president
Galveston

A Chance To Join The Optimists

The New Year has arrived bringing with it unlimited opportunities for personal growth and service. An individual is limited in what she can do for a community.

However, when many people are united with a common goal then the impossible becomes possible.

When these like-minded men and women are empowered by an optimistic spirit and a willingness to share of themselves, then you will see dramatic positive change in the individual, family and community.

Optimist International was founded in Buffalo, N.Y. in 1911 and has grown into an international force with thousands of members. Optimist International has been the beacon of light in communities throughout the world, bringing out the best in kids with projects like bicycle safety, drug prevention, oratorical and essay contests with scholarships.

The good news is that the general public is invited to learn about this special organization with one of the county’s biggest advocates: Judge Lonnie Cox.

He will be the keynote speaker at the NOW (New Optimists Welcomed) event sponsored by the Mainland Optimist in Texas City-La Marque.

According to club President Irvin G. Williams: “If our community is going to improve the change starts with you. I hope everyone will join us for this worthy endeavor.”

The event will be at Mainland Preparatory Academy on Feb. 2 at 6:30 p.m.

For information or to RSVP, call 409-763-3300 Ext. 118.

Make 2012 the year that you make a difference in the life of a child, community and your world.

James M. Rankin
Galveston