The Official blog of Fred Hawkins Jr.

This is truly one of my favorite times of the year.  The county fair, the 4-H livestock shows, Speed weeks in Daytona and something that is very dear to my family -  the Silver Spurs rodeo.  The past two weeks have been extremely busy, trying to attend all the events and spend time with my family.  Kendrie, my four year old daughter just loves the fair and rodeo. 

Let me go back a week and talk about a very important fund raiser that Galyn and I attended with some friends of ours.   A week ago Saturday at Ginn Reunion Resorts, the Children’s Advocacy Center, a board that I am involved in, held a fund raiser that included dinner and silent auction, but also something that after years of going to events like this had a different twist.  After dinner, was a competition titled Florida’s Next Big Star.  If you missed this event, you missed some of the best singers around Central Florida.  The entire evening was a success, and I for one would not have wanted to  have been one of the judges because again the talent was incredible.

Last Monday I with a group from Narcoossee attended the Board of County Commissioners meeting.  I had contacted many residents in the area to address Billboards on Narcoossee Road.  I had a made a request to the BOCC to designate Narcoossee Road a no billboard road once the new construction was completed.  I had already spoken to representatives from the companies that currently have outdoor advertising and they agreed that not only should Narcoossee road join the list of Pleasant Hill road and Boggy Creek, but that they would take their current signs down once construction begins and not replace them.  I do think billboards have their places in our county but feel it is more in the short term rental and tourist areas.  I think this was a great victory for our community in the fight to be active and not reactive to those things that we find inappropriate.

Thursday was a day to step back from work and the campaign.  For over 13 years running our families business my brother and I had always talked about what we would do or how we would spend our time when we were not working 6-7 days a week 10-12 hours a day.  So on Wednesday I called to surprise him with tickets to the 150 race at Daytona.  He had never been and it was just a great way for the guys to have a day together enjoying something that all of us truly love, NASCAR.  It turned out to be one of those days that in years to come we will look back on and tell stories about it.

This weekend was of course spent at the fair, the Silver Spurs Rodeo and church.  It was great to see the “tough enough to wear pink” night Friday night.  Our entire family participated and the Spurs donated almost three thousand dollars to Breast Cancer research. There was not only a majority of the crowd dressed in pink but every performance had the largest crowds that I had seen since the rodeo moved into the indoor arena.  As always the action was fantastic and the Silver Spurs organization did a first class job of hosting the event.  I tip my hat to you for what you bring to this community.  There is a lot of hard work and planning in hosting the largest rodeo east of the Mississippi.

Today, at Cornerstone Church the focus of the sermon was on the youth ministry.  More important though what our youth are facing in their daily lives.  If you do not attend Cornerstone I recommend that every parent log on to Cornerstonefamily.com and go to the podcast.  Chip, the new youth pastor gave a moving sermon, that was not only inspiring and informative but made you feel like he had been with our church for years.  I am so glad that we have him and his family at our church and hope they remain for years to come.

I look forward to seeing and meeting you at the next events in our area. If any of you would like to contact me or wonder what community event i may be at next, please contact me and I will be glad to give you the information.  I look forward to not only meeting with you  and getting to know you but also listening to your questions and concerns for our area.  I can only be as good at helping you and addressing your concerns and questions if I hear from you. 

God Bless

This is something that I would like to try to do weekly, to review some of the highlights from my week. 

I have already wrote about the All Pro Dad Breakfast but again what a great organization for the St. Cloud Area.  I am still feeling uplifted from all the positive fellowship that was in the room.  Thanks again for allowing me to be a part of it.

Saturday was an extremely busy day for many in Osceola County including myself.  There were three major events that I know of and not only did the times of the events over lap, the events were located on opposite sides of the county.  I started out around 4:00 pm at the Red Neck Gala held at Lake Gentry Farms.  This event was hosted by the St. Cloud Main Street Program and was a first for the area.  Forget any controversy over the title “Red Neck Gala”, this was not only a very well planned evening it was extremely fun.  Lots of people from the area and for the time that I was there it looked like a kick’in good time.  Personally, I have no problem with the slang Red Neck, if you would want to call or label me one, I am fine with it.

Rushing to change into suit and tie and off to Disney for the Kissimmee / Osceola Chamber Annual Meeting.  This is always a fantastic event and well attended.  I have to say Mike Horner, and the staff of the Chamber did it again.  Everyone at my table had a great time and were talking even the next day about the event.  The highlight of the night for me was the Hall of Fame award.  Tom Franklin was the recipient, and was well deserved of the honor.  Personally Tom, has been a great friend, teacher and mentor for me especially the support, instruction and help he provided to me on the Planning Commission.  Congratulations Tom,  you are and have been an asset to Osceola County. 

The last event of Saturday was the annual party that is put on by Bill Folsom.  I have to apologize to Bill because I was not able to make it back to St. Cloud in time and get out to his hunting camp for the festivities.  If the party was anything like the previous years, not only am I sorry I missed it, but I am sure a good time was had by everyone that attended.

Sunday, was so welcomed not only to relax but because most important at my church was a Revival.  As a choir member we were given the day off to be uplifted with the rest of the congregation of Cornerstone Church.  My feeling is that we, as a congregation, were not just uplifted but very blessed.  WOW, what a first service, if you were not moved by that service and the word, I question if you are alive in this world and I know that you are dead spiritually.  I am looking forward to the remaining services over the next 4 days.

I received many questions over the weekend as to, “where is your wife Galyn”?  I will assure everyone that all is fine and if you know us very well, you know that Galyn is very much into her barrel racing career.  She had events all weekend long and was on the road.  I will try to update you as to the outcome of her competition when I get all the results.

As a candidate, I have to tell you this weekend was fantastic for meeting people and discussing my candidacy.  Thanks again to those that provide invitations to the weekend events and to those that were my guest.  I also want to thank all of those that provided me with encouragement for the campaign and those that committed to support my efforts.

Make it a great week, God Bless each and every one of you!

Today I was asked to be the Keynote speaker at a breakfast function known as ALL Pro Dad.  Wade Davis had contacted me 2 weeks ago and asked if I would start the organizations year off and be their speaker.  It was truly an honor and a privilege to speak to so many fathers, their children and the administrators from St. Cloud Elementary.  I focused on one of my number one priorities, my relationship with my daughter.  This was a very easy speech to deliver because it came from my heart.  I encourage any parent to contact myself or Wade Davis to find out when the next meeting is for the All Pro Dad organization.  What a great way to connect with other parents in the area and more than that it is something you can do together with your kids.  I will say I was very impressed with the turn out and the participation that was there.  There is something to be said for St. Cloud Proud!  This is a program that should be in all areas of Osceola County, I would encourage others to seek out how to get a program in your area or school.   Thank you again to the ALL Pro Dad organization for thinking of me and asking me to share my personal story.  I would come back anytime.  If anyone would like a copy of the speech I gave, please contact me via my web site and I will forward one to you.

Welcome to the official blog of Fred Hawkins Jr.. Fred is a candidate for Osceola County Commissioner Dist. 5. Please check back frequently as Fred will be posting numerous times each week. It’s the mission of this blog to allow people to understand more clearly how Fred plans on making a difference in Osceola County as a County Commissioner. Fred is listening to the people…and will be the voice of change.