May 4, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME to new members,
  Sheinitia Bennett and Melissa King.
• April Blood Drive Results: ONE HUNDRED-TEN!

SATILLA ADVOCACY SERVICES (SAS)

SAS Executive Director Tess Aldridge was introduced by her proud father, Tony Tanner. Tess reminded the members that Waycross Exchange Club has been a long-time supporter of SAS and the fight against child abuse. She thanked the club for all the services Exchange does for the community.
Beginning in 1996, SAS has been a part of the community. SAS serves the 6 counties in the Waycross Judicial Circuit. In 2022, 664 children were seen by the SAS. Sadly, 80% of the victims of abuse are children. The GOOD News is 95% of abuse is preventable! Education is the key. Teach children that they have a voice and education teaching awareness can protect them from future victimization.
SAS is proud to be nationally and state accredited. There are ten trained staff members who provide 24/7 services in advocacy, forensic interviews, and medical exams. Services include three SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners) nurses, a nurse practitioner, two counselors, and a community awareness coordinator who teaches child abuse and sexual abuse prevention programs in the schools and for community organizations.
One of the most important aspects of SAS is the multidisciplinary team case reviews. Reviews are held monthly for each of the six counties. The teams consist of DFACS, DA, the health department, Unison, DJJ, and the school system. The best way to help the children is if we continue to build and strengthen our network of collaborations with community agencies and schools.
To learn more about the Satilla Advocacy Services please call: 912-285-7355. On the Web https://satillaadvocacy.org
If you are someone you know is a victim of abuse, contact the Crisis Line at:
912-283-0987.

WAYCROSS CITY MANAGER ULYSSES D. RAYFORD

President Craig Head introduced guest speaker, Ulysses D. Rayford. Waycross City Government’s new City Manager hit the ground running. After barely one month on the job, he has addressed several groups of citizens to share his ideas and plans for the future of the city. Speaking of his military career of thirty-one years, he told of posts from Georgia to Europe. His mission has always been and will continue to be to take care of people.
Talking directly to the citizens helps him guide the Mayor and City Commissioners as to how to best serve the community. He believes that a positive attitude and open communication are keys to making improvements. There are a large number of policies that need to be communicated more clearly to the citizens. The city is a customer service entity, and the citizens should have transparent communication with the city’s services.
Being proactive, his other priorities are to work more closely with the county on matters that affect both the city and county, reigning in the city budget by asking department heads to find a 5% savings in spending in their departments. In an effort to attract new businesses, plans are underway to share creative videos showcasing what we have to offer and to restart the local TV station.