January 16, 2025 Meeting Summary

Citizens for a Better America started the year off with new direction and new leadership.  At the January 16 meeting at Legends Steakhouse, Penny Johnson, Co-founder and outgoing Executive Director of CBA, introduced the new Director, Shirley M. Frisbee.  Penny told about Shirley’s qualifications.  Shirley has been in community development since the mid-1990s when she was an International Consultant for Habitat for Humanity living and working in Guatemala among the Mayan Indians.  She also started a 501-C-3 non-profit organization serving indigenous populations in 2000.  Penny said she is fully supportive of Shirley and the new direction CBA is taking.

Shirley recognized and thanked the outgoing leaders of CBA.  She read the Mission, Objectives, and Vision statements and introduced the new format which CBA will be taking in 2025.  Citizens for a Better America will serve the county through five task forces that address issues of concern to citizens:  Community and Leadership Development; Arise!; Reform; Education; and Spiritual Development.

A question was raised about the spiritual component of CBA, and Shirley said, “Our country was founded on Christian principles and our purpose is to uphold the pledge and maintain our allegiance to God and country.”

Shirley said she hopes everyone can find a task force that they feel they can fit into, and if not, people don’t have to be a member of a task force to attend meetings or be part of CBA, as long as they are supportive.

Ron Wright had information about a disaster relief agency that is helping hurricane victims and he invited everyone to engage and contribute.  Attendees of the meeting filled out a query asking what their top concerns are about our county, and how they wanted to participate.  The meeting ended with a closing prayer.