Start the New Year with character

By Carrie A. Mizell

It’s becoming exceedingly difficult to find communities where children are being taught to say “please” and “thank you” and refer to their elders as “m’am” and “sir.”
That’s why Randy Durden is proud to call Gilchrist County home and thankful his parents, Grover and Maude Durden, taught him to be a person of character by being polite, respecting his elders and sitting still in church.
“For children to exhibit good character, it has to be taught at home,” Durden said.
It was while addressing community members at the Gilchrist County Character Council’s Kick Off Breakfast on Tuesday, that Durden said how proud he is to live in a county of character.

Character Council President Pete Randolph holds up a Character Council
sign that will be placed on a Gilchrist County line sign.

As a county commissioner and president of AARP’s local chapter, Durden indicated that he has seen a change in county employees since the Character First initiative began nine years ago.
Diane Rondolet, code enforcement officer for Gilchrist County, reminded everyone that good character is an inward motivation to do what’s right, regardless of the situation. Good character makes one be a better parent, spouse, employee and friend.
Character Council president Pete Randolph showed off metal signs with Gilchrist County Character Council’s logo that will soon be placed on Gilchrist County signs at the county lines.
Not only are Gilchrist County students learning good character traits each month through curriculum initiated by Dr. Jim Surrency, former assistant superintendent of schools, and Dr. Geneva Cornwell, but prisoners at Lancaster Correctional Institute are now being taught a Character First curriculum.
According to Cornwell, the Character Council plans to get more involved with Bell and Trenton schools in 2011.
Currently, the Character Council members are preparing for a visit from the ALERT team. The team of hardworking, respectful men, ages 18 to 24, will arrive in Gilchrist County on January 24 and begin working on January 25.
Character traits for 2011 are as follows: January-Enthusiasm, February-Flexibility, March-Discernment, April-Sincerity, May-Virtue, June-Server, July-Organizer, August-Mediator, September-Responsibility, October-Patience, November-Initiative and December-Self-Control.