Sunday's letters: Guardian ad litem advocates for neglected children

Tampa Bay has the largest number of abused and neglected children in the state. Hillsborough County, which comprises Florida's 13th Judicial Circuit, has the most children in out-of-home care of all 20 circuits — 2,437 as of Sept. 30. The 6th Circuit, which includes Pasco and Pinellas counties, is second statewide with 2,166.

That's why we at the guardian ad litem program — we who advocate in court for so many of these vulnerable children — are so grateful for your support. We're seeing a rise in new volunteers, along with staunch moral and practical help from the communities we serve. We couldn't do what we do otherwise. For instance, since the tragic death of 2-year-old Jordan Belliveau in nearby Circuit 6, the 13th Circuit has trained and certified 63 new guardian ad litem volunteers, for a total of 726.

Hillsborough Commission Chairwoman Sandra Murman, a longtime volunteer with our program, has helped establish a Blue Ribbon Panel that brought together leaders of the local child welfare community. Last year, thanks to the county, our staff was able to certify more than 200 additional volunteers to represent even more children in dependency court. And there's our non-profit partner, Voices for Children, which supports us in every sense of the word. Led by Executive Director Ronna Kennedy, this group raises funds to provide the children we represent with school supplies, music lessons, prom tickets and more. Like the county, its members help recruit volunteers by spreading the word.

I tell you all this not just to thank those who make it possible for others to foster, adopt and volunteer, but because I'm also personally grateful. My husband and I just celebrated the fourth year after adopting our son, Kyle. National Adoption Day was Saturday, but we celebrated Kyle's "adopt-a-versary" on Nov. 7.

Think about supporting vulnerable children by volunteering as a guardian ad litem. Children with a court-appointed special advocate are twice as likely to be adopted as those without.

Tabitha Lambert, Tampa

The writer is circuit director for guardian ad litem. Visit www.galtampa.org to find out more.

Death of an English major | Nov. 11

Keep your guard up

It just occurred to me that there might possibly be something positive about Donald Trump being president. After reading "Death of an English Major" by Florida State English professor Gary Taylor, I was struck by an inconsolable sadness not only for the family of murder victim Maura Binkley, but also for the rest us who live in America. It made me think that we Americans have become far too complacent in our belief that our country will always be a safe haven in a dangerous world simply because this is America. Not so. Because how safe are we really, with a leader in the White House who has so often espoused dangerous and inflammatory views contrary to our country's principles? Donald Trump has woken me up to the realization that the safety and security I have long taken for granted, simply by being an American, is fragile. He has alerted me to the fact that, considering world history, the worst of humanity can emerge anywhere on this planet, in any country, if we let our guard down.

Sara Baker, Tampa

Plastic? Paper? Please pay up! | Nov. 16

Not 'single-use' at all

In yet another move to force "green" on all of us, the St. Petersburg City Council is again talking about cracking down on what they call "single-use" plastic bags. In our house, they're not single-use at all. We use them when cleaning out the litter boxes, bagging food items for food collections or clothing and household items to donate to those in need, gathering soil and mulch from the reclaim facilities, and a host of other reuses. Sometimes the same bags are reused several times over. Rather than charge people for getting them in the first place, why not a refund for returning them to be recycled? Or does that make too much sense?

Debi Ford, St. Petersburg

It's a recount by hand | Nov. 16

The crab-claw conundrum

More than 10 percent of U.S. voters are left-handed. As I see it, that is a potential problem. Most left-handed people like my wife and myself twist our wrists clockwise so that we are writing from above. It's a form of writing called "crab claw," which can lead to smudged graphite from pencils or smeared ink from pens. That dragging of the hand is a known problem among the people who supervise voter signatures on the electronic touch screen machine during the check-in process. In order to produce a signature we lefties cannot drag our curved hands across the screen. In my opinion, the signature I produced was in no way akin to my normal signature. And my wife had an additional problem when she voted. The cord holding the pen she used was not long enough to permit her to curl her hand! She tells me that her signature was not accurate either. Presumably both of our signatures were accepted, but I have some concerns not just for the two of us but for all left-handed voters. What if those touch screen signatures are scrutinized further in a recount and consequently thrown out? What a kick in the posterior that would be! Ten percent is a huge number.

Tonie Toney, Hernando

IDs are easy to get

I walked into Moffitt Cancer Center the other day and was asked for my ID card before I could be waited on. When I refused, I was shown the door. I said that this was unconstitutional but could not find this in our national or state constitution so I left. Was I in the right or was this conduct stupid? The latter you say! Well, you say that requiring an ID to vote can disenfranchise thousands of voters. How is this? Persons without IDs can visit their local DMV in Florida and pick one up. They will need two proofs of residence, proof of a Social Security number and a birth certificate. Those not having a Social Security card should visit their nearest Social Security office and obtain a letter stating that you do not have a Social Security number. Anyone over the age of 5 is eligible to obtain an ID card.

Roger Oddson, Sun City Center