I'm MOVING! 2008 Brings In My New Website!
Check me out at my new website: www.jeffthigpen.com
Friday, December 28, 2007
Carolina Mama gets "Photo of the Year!
My mom, Geraldine "Carolina Mama" Thigpen from Burgaw, NC. UNC Tarheels celebrate 50th Anniversary of the 1957 team and 25th Anniversary of 1982 NCAA basketball championship. She gets Wilmington Star News Photo of the Year.
Monday, December 24, 2007
A Story For The Holiday Season
High Point Historian Glenn Chavis writes "In a time of hatred, some chose not to"
This is a perfect example of when historical research takes on personal significance. The information for this story was found in large part in the Transylvania County Register of Deeds office.
This is a perfect example of when historical research takes on personal significance. The information for this story was found in large part in the Transylvania County Register of Deeds office.
Friday, December 21, 2007
A Franciscan Blessing
A blessing with teeth in it....
May God bless you with discomfort at half-truths, easy answers, and superficial relationships, so that you will live deeply and from the heart.
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and the exploitation of people, so that you will work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those in pain, so that you will reach out your hand to them and turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with just enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this old world, so that you will do those things that others say cannot be done.
May God bless you with discomfort at half-truths, easy answers, and superficial relationships, so that you will live deeply and from the heart.
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and the exploitation of people, so that you will work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those in pain, so that you will reach out your hand to them and turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with just enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this old world, so that you will do those things that others say cannot be done.
Register of Deeds move to BB and T Building
Scott Yost writes about the move in this week's Rhino Times.
Vital Records Abstracts Have Been Restored
Vital Records abstracts were removed from the web in July 2007. We apologize for any inconvenience to land records professionals, geneologists, and citizens that use this service.
The abstracts have been restored under a registration and authentication process. To register and for more information, please go to Guilford County Online Services or call Larry Conrad, Business Process Analyst, at (336) 641- 2477.
The abstracts have been restored under a registration and authentication process. To register and for more information, please go to Guilford County Online Services or call Larry Conrad, Business Process Analyst, at (336) 641- 2477.
2007 Year End Accomplishments.
Here are our 2007 Year End Accomplishments.
Highlights include:
* Property Records Education Partners (PREP) meeting February 2007
* New carpeting and workstations in the Vault in Greensboro April 2007
* Land Records and Vital Records Restoration July 2007
* Social Security Number Redation begins November 2007
* Guilford County Commissioners purchase BB and T building November 2007
Highlights include:
* Property Records Education Partners (PREP) meeting February 2007
* New carpeting and workstations in the Vault in Greensboro April 2007
* Land Records and Vital Records Restoration July 2007
* Social Security Number Redation begins November 2007
* Guilford County Commissioners purchase BB and T building November 2007
ROD Vital Records Survey Results
This Vital Records survey was completed last week.
The Vital Records survey took place from September 24, 2007 to December 12, 2007. The survey was completed or partially completed by 208 citizens. There are a number of positive indicators from the survey that affirm the knowledge and customer service skills of our employees.
The highlights include: 54% strongly agree and 36% agree that our staff were courteous and helpful; 53% strongly agree and 35% agree that our staff are knowledgable in their area; 48% strongly agreed and 35% agreed that we exceeded their expectations durign their visit to our office.
There are also points of concern raised that are being addressed. For example, 38% responded that they could not easily find adequate parking and 37% believed the building was not easily accessible.
User comments are generally very positive and appreciative of our office and services provided. I congratulate my Vital Records staff in Greensboro and High Point for their hard work at 80- 90% customer satisfaction in core areas!
The Vital Records survey took place from September 24, 2007 to December 12, 2007. The survey was completed or partially completed by 208 citizens. There are a number of positive indicators from the survey that affirm the knowledge and customer service skills of our employees.
The highlights include: 54% strongly agree and 36% agree that our staff were courteous and helpful; 53% strongly agree and 35% agree that our staff are knowledgable in their area; 48% strongly agreed and 35% agreed that we exceeded their expectations durign their visit to our office.
There are also points of concern raised that are being addressed. For example, 38% responded that they could not easily find adequate parking and 37% believed the building was not easily accessible.
User comments are generally very positive and appreciative of our office and services provided. I congratulate my Vital Records staff in Greensboro and High Point for their hard work at 80- 90% customer satisfaction in core areas!
Friday, December 07, 2007
Congrat's to Kirk Perkins!
Mr. Chairman, congratulations your 10-1 vote.
My first memory of Kirk was his inclusive statement that he needed votes to be elected. He said, "I'll listen to you and represent you if you are Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, or Vegetarian!" As a regular at Earth Fare, I know many appreciated it.
Good job and best of luck in the new year Kirk. Also, congratulations to Madam Vice-Chair Kay Cashion. I'm sure she'll do a great job too.
I'm sure Paul Gibson will enjoy getting a little rest from his hectic pace over the past year!
My first memory of Kirk was his inclusive statement that he needed votes to be elected. He said, "I'll listen to you and represent you if you are Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, or Vegetarian!" As a regular at Earth Fare, I know many appreciated it.
Good job and best of luck in the new year Kirk. Also, congratulations to Madam Vice-Chair Kay Cashion. I'm sure she'll do a great job too.
I'm sure Paul Gibson will enjoy getting a little rest from his hectic pace over the past year!
Mary Rakestraw and Seating Arrangements on the City Commission
I know there has been some recent discussion about whether the Greensboro City Manager should be seated on the dias with Council Members.
History shows that one of Councilmember Mary Rakestraw's first actions when elected to the Board of Commissioners was to vote to move former County Manager Hector Rivera off his seat too.
History shows that one of Councilmember Mary Rakestraw's first actions when elected to the Board of Commissioners was to vote to move former County Manager Hector Rivera off his seat too.
Martin Lancaster
President Martin Lancaster stepped into the morass of the illegal immigration debate in North Carolina and the country through his actions this week. I appreciate his pushing of the issue and I'm glad the Attorney General will review the law. But to paraphrase Gov. Easley, I agree "the federal government and Congress need to get off their BUTTS, close the border" and create a comprehensive approach to dealing with the issue.
As a former college admission counselor, I saw first hand some very talented and hardworking kids miss the opportunity to further their education because of status issues. I don't know what the comprehensive solution will look like, but a combination of education, enforcement of existing laws, earned citizenship, and closing the borders will be a part of that effort. Unless the federal government reforms immigration policy, it is unlikely that the students will ever return home. Without reform and engaging these highly complex and tough issues with integrity, things will not get better.
As a former college admission counselor, I saw first hand some very talented and hardworking kids miss the opportunity to further their education because of status issues. I don't know what the comprehensive solution will look like, but a combination of education, enforcement of existing laws, earned citizenship, and closing the borders will be a part of that effort. Unless the federal government reforms immigration policy, it is unlikely that the students will ever return home. Without reform and engaging these highly complex and tough issues with integrity, things will not get better.
Pender High School Football has Banner Year!
The Pender Patriots lost to Warsaw Kenan 28-0 last week to end the season. It was a great year considering they made to the State 1-AA Semi-Finals. Beating Wallace Rose-Hill for the first time in 26 years and stunning top seed Louisburg were highlights.
I'll call it. This is Warsaw Kenan's year. Thomasville got smoked in earlier rounds. We'll see tomorrow.
I'll call it. This is Warsaw Kenan's year. Thomasville got smoked in earlier rounds. We'll see tomorrow.
Meeting Molly..
I met Molly Broad a couple of months ago during a County Administration course at the North Carolina Institute of Government. The former Chancellor of the University of North Carolina system is now on the faculty there and, after a few moments of pause, I introduced myself and had a pleasant conversation with her.
Molly was a former School Board member in New York and we talked about electoral politics and the challenges she faced as Chancellor. We both chuckled when she said one of the hardest parts of her transition is not having four secretaries and, of course, period of decompression from the stresses, demands and adreneline of public life.
I wish her well in her transition and hope she gets many opportunities to spend time with her grandchildren.
Molly was a former School Board member in New York and we talked about electoral politics and the challenges she faced as Chancellor. We both chuckled when she said one of the hardest parts of her transition is not having four secretaries and, of course, period of decompression from the stresses, demands and adreneline of public life.
I wish her well in her transition and hope she gets many opportunities to spend time with her grandchildren.
Former Commissioners have Historic Meeting!
This was one of the best meetings I've attended... Commissioners came out of retirement for a special engagement of the Guilford County Strategic Planning Initiative. There was more substance discussed in this 1 1/2 hour meeting than you can imagine. Schools; taxes, transportation; economic development; growth; etc. I may have extended comments later.
Commissioners in attendance included: Bob Landreth, Mike Barber, Dot Kearns, Wally Harrellson, Walt Cockerham; Mary Rakestraw, Phyllis Gibbs, Richard Maxwell, Odell Payne, Fred Pryor, Joe Wood, Doug Gaylon, Forrest Campbell, Bob Shaw, and Chuck Winfree.
Quick Points:
* Milk toast government is not the right way to go and Guilford County government is not in that category--Mike Barber
* Guilford County needs to engage the talents of the local university system--Chuck Winfree
* Mental Health issues are crucial and need to be a priority--Forrest Campbell
* What makes this planning effort different than all the others put on the shelf?--Bob Landreth
* Guilford County should take care of its greatest resource, its employees--Joe Wood
* There needs to be more done on issues of substance abuse. We have made some progress, but not nearly enough--Wally Harrelson
* The congeniality of the Board of Commissioners has been an issue for some time. Does Guilford County need an 11 member Board?- Richard Maxwell
* Fed Ex is going to be an engine for growth in the Triad. We need to preserve the land and land use in the area to help facilitate that growth- Walt Cockerham
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Greensboro City Commission installed...
I was not able to make it over to the installation last night. I caught a few remarks from commission members. Mike Barber did a great job introducing his family and I was pleased to see Yvonne Johnson lead the meeting as mayor.
