Apalach City Commission Congratulates Mayor Johnson

Apalachicola City Clerk Lee Mathes presents cake baked
to congratulate Mayor Van Johnson 

Click link for more photos of the event: https://flic.kr/s/aHsk2S8YKw

As an initiative of City Clerk Lee Mathes the Apalachicola Board of City Commissioners and staff congratulated Mayor Van Johnson following the regular scheduled monthly city meeting held last night at the Battery Park Community Center.  

From left to right: Apalachicola City Commissioners Brenda Ash,
James Elliott Mitchell Bartley, Mayor Van Johnson & Frank Cook

Johnson was congratulated by his colleagues and staff on receiving the Golden Rule International Award along with a Global Leadership Award during the latter part of August at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Synopsis and photos from the Golden Rule Award Ceremony

Ambassador Clyde Rivers, Mayor Van Johnson and First Lady Gail; the
mayor's holding the Golden Rule International Award presented him by Rivers.

This past weekend was very much rewarding for Gail and I to be part of a group of men and women of different races, cultures and backgrounds assembled at the Golden Rule International Award Ceremony held at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Yes different, but with a commonality of purpose… their contributions toward making the world a better place for all.

This diverse group of men and women all share and continuously promote through their work, words, deeds and actions within their sphere of influence the simply yet powerful message of the Golden Rule, “Treating Others the Way You Want to Be Treated”.

Mayor Johnson was also presented the Global Leadership Award by
(L-R) Dr. Kevin Storr, Ambassador Clyde Rivers and Dr. Brian Williams. 

   

Can you image just for a moment the transformation of the world, our communities, our relationships and interaction with others, if we all paused for a second and considered our words, deeds and actions within this simply context?  Practiced by all this one fundamental principle could play a major role in peace-building efforts in every facet of our lives and in the rebirth of humanity.

The Golden Rule International Award is affiliated with the Interfaith Peace-Building Initiative of Ethiopia (IPI), the United Nations and the United Religions Initiative.  Each year an award is presented to individuals and/or communities who have made outstanding contributions in promoting the message of the Golden Rule through their actions.

This past weekend a group of such from across this great nation and abroad assembled in Grand Rapids to be recognized for their extraordinary work within their cities, towns, villages, communities, and countries.

Recipients of the award included the Archbishop of India who has over 3,000 churches under his care, Sam Griffith, 12th District Court of Appeals Judge from the State of Texas, the family of Sonny and Linda Lara from San Jose, California for their work in curbing gang violence on the streets of California and their very lovely and talented daughter Angel Garza who was one of the finalist on American Idol in April of this year where she performed the popular old school tune, 'You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman' by Aretha Franklin.  

Other noteworthy recipients of the award that Gail and I had the pleasure of meeting were Dr. Paul S. Moller, the California inventor of the Skycar, a flying automobile, former inmate, Nashon Walker, who was incarcerated on felony charges that carried a maximum mandatory sentence of 85 years is now out of prison and serving as president of Empowered 2 Excel, a network that’s helping break the cycle of poverty and incarceration in his community and lastly a Florida engineer that has taken discarded tree limbs and leaves along with other material and created a coating called Geo-Blue Crete that can be used to coat wood to keep it from burning.

All of which through their work have committed and dedicated themselves to serving the interest of mankind, however up until now their efforts have largely gone unrecognized and unnoticed, but thanks to Ambassador Clyde Rivers, iChange Nations and many others that's beginning to change.

"You are here today because I think you're the best of the best", said Ambassador Rivers during Friday's meet and greet.  Rivers is the ambassador at-large for the country of Burundi and an official of the Golden Rule International Award and iChange Nations.

A link to online photos of the entire weekend can be access by clicking HERE or by clicking on the first photo above.

Apalachicola Mayor Nominated for International Award

Mayor Van W. Johnson, Sr.

Apalachicola Mayor Van Johnson will be stepping onto the world stage at a public ceremony to be held August 22, 2014 at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  

Johnson will be at the ceremony along with his wife, Gail to receive the highly esteemed Golden Rule International Award.  The mayor was nominated to receive the international award by Dr. Kevin Storr, Ph.D., associate professor of physics at Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas.  Dr. Storr is the author of a new book titled "The Pursuit of Kingdom Value" and an avid follower of the Mayor's Blog and a Facebook friend of Johnson.

The award was created as a culture of honor to be bestowed upon those who best represent the Golden Rule in their everyday life, "Treating Others the Way You Want to Be Treated". The award has been established in 120 nations around the world; past recipients include leaders of international countries, ambassadors, executives, professors and teachers.

The Golden Rule International Award is affiliated with the Interfaith Peace-Building Initiative (IPI), African Union, the United Nations as well as the United Religions Initiative (URI).

It was through following Johnson on his social media sites that Dr. Storr became acquainted with his work as mayor of Apalachicola, which in Storr's own assessment exemplifies the Golden Rule.

"I was speaking to the Ambassador of Burundi about you this morning and how we became acquainted through Facebook.  I mentioned about what you are doing for the city, because I read your blog.  You are only the second person I have ever nominated, so I know that you will represent my nomination well because of the work you have already done", wrote Dr. Storr on July 11, 2014 in a direct message to Johnson through Facebook from Burundi, Africa.

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan

"It has come to our attention that you have the heart and compassion towards others where you have exemplified, "Treating Others the Way You Want to Be Treated". Our office has come to know that you impacted your community with trust, dignity and have improved the quality of life by those you have touched through your humanitarian leadership under the organization which you serve", wrote Dr. Brian Williams in a nomination letter to Johnson.

At the ceremony Johnson will receive the Golden Rule Award from Ambassador Clyde Rivers Representative for the Interfaith Peace-Building Initiative to the United Nations in New York and African Union.  After which, the mayor will join a list of other Golden Rule International Alumni; a proclamation from his office will be submitted to the United Nations as a legal document by Dr. Mussie Hailu, Founder and Board Chairman of the Interfaith Peace-building Initiative, to implement a new World policy of peace.

Johnson was first elected mayor of Apalachicola in 2007 after serving 10-years as the Seat 3, City Commissioner on the Apalachicola Board of City Commissioners.

To access a digital copy of the proclamation to be submitted to the United Nations click on the above photo of Mayor Johnson.