Summertime is approaching.  We have to remember how to save ourselves in water.  Floating is the answer.  I can swim.  But if the boat goes down in the middle of the lake I CANNOT SWIM TO SHORE.  But as long as I can see the shore, I can float to it. 

I recently had the wonderful opportunity to share my Float Like a Boat program across the Atlanta airwaves with THREEEEE radio interviews. 

Classix 102.9 w/Neicey Shaw, MAJIC 107.5/97.5 w/Jackie Paige and Praise 102.5 w/Neiko

If you missed it, just click the icons to listen to all three right here. 

Classix ATL 102.9  Interview with Neicey Shaw

nieceyshaw, Author at Classix ATL

MAJIC 107.5 / 97.5 Interview with Jackie Paige

lovejackiepaige, Author at Majic 107.5 / 97.5 Atlanta

Praise 102.5 Alanta’s Inspiration Station: Interview with Neiko Flowers

Neiko Flowers

I’m a Mother, Grandmother, Jeeper (I love my jeep.  Her name is Mean Green Geraldeen.) I’m an international traveler.  I went to Honduras, Kenya, London and Paris all in October last year.  I’m trying to get it all in while I can.

I’m an elected official/servant leader, entrepreneur/tech start-up founder, corporate retiree, IT professional.  I am a Change Agent and Thought Leader.  I think outside of the box to make things better.

I have an BBA and MBA from Columbus State University in my hometown of Columbus GA.  (Mary Granison | LinkedIn)

In my college days, I was a model.  I am a former Jet Beauty of the Week Jet – Google Books. 

I can be a social butterfly; BUT, I’m also very happy chillaxing at home and with family.  Yes, I’m a homebody.  Don’t believe it?  I made the state championship in high school in Home Economics GHSA_RR_1985-1986.pdf   

Yes, I’m every woman. 

But what makes me happiest is being DJ’s mom

and granny to my grandsons. 

I love them all.

One day, I realized if something happened to me while out of state away from home, little DJ would be lost.  I needed to ensure emergency contact information was accurate, up-to-date and readily available whenever there was a need. 

I created eREC, the electronic Record of Emergency Contacts.  findeREC.com eREC is your 24-Hour Emergency Contact Finder.

If something happens to my loved ones, I want to be found. 

If something happens to me, I want DJ and my loved ones to be found. 

eREC makes is easy for everyone to be found when there is an emergency or a need.

Little DJ was 8 years old when I first built eREC. He’s now in his 30s.  And yes, if something happens to him now, I still want to be found

2025 Goals for eREC are to

• Relaunch with the new refreshed branded look and new features
• Continue to pursue our global vision with laser focus:  Become the first point of reference when emergency situations occur and loved ones or relevant individuals need to be found and informed.

I love the water.  I’m a pool owner.  My son was raised to swim; my mother taught him.  But a disheartening truth is that many of my community don’t know how to swim.  I often saw it as guests visited my house. 

Drowning is preventable.

The purpose of Float Like a Boat is to increase the awareness of the technique to save yourself in water-based emergencies, by floating.

We teach emergency preparedness:

• If you’re on fire:  Stop, drop and roll
• If a tornado is coming:  Get in the hallway and cover your head
• And now, be prepared for an active shooter.

Yet, every year, we and/or our children get in water and have not been taught what to do if there’s an emergency or if your kids friends throw them in them pool. 

Float Like a Boat  is here now and teaches children (and adults) how to float when they are in water.  The City of Riverdale implemented a program that accomplished the following:

• Increases the awareness of floating as a live saving technique to save lives
• Provides in-water floating lessons to our community
• Provides downloadable materials to aid in teaching how to float like a boat outside of water
  • YouTube Presentaton for Schools
  • Learn how to Float – Video Instructions and Flyer Download
  • Float Like a Boat Public Service Announcement

2025 Float Like a Boat Goals

• Spread the message that floating is a way to save your life.  This should be the first thing we remember when in water, just like we know what to do if we’re on fire.
• Encourage this message to be taught in schools at the same time other emergency preparedness is being taught, such as fire and tornado drills.

less than two weeks after the merger vote, April 25^th, I was driving down my street going home.  On my street, I passed a Clayton County fire truck and ambulance at a neighbor’s house.  No sirens or lights were on, so I assumed the emergency was under control, but it still struck me that this is what we just voted for, and it touched my heart.  I proceeded to drive to my house.  I backed up into the driveway as I normally do but stayed at the foot of the driveway/street, resonating on what I just witnessed.  I was praising God for what I just saw, still sitting in my jeep at the bottom of the driveway.  All of a sudden, while sitting in my jeep praising, a City of Riverdale fire truck strolled down the street right in front of me.  No lights or sirens were on, as the emergency was now under control, and they were no longer needed.  THE CLOSEST source of help was able to get to my neighbor.  PRAISE GOD!!

I looked at this as a sign from God as confirmation that I had done the right thing, and this is what I was called here to do.  If I were 15 minutes earlier or later, I may have missed what I just witnessed.  If I were laying on the couch watching TV, I would not have seen the fire truck drive by my house.  How many times do you go outside and see a fire truck rolling down the street?  I was placed in the right place at the right time to get this confirmation from

God:  Girl, you did the right thing, and you know I got you!!

If this does end up being my last year in office, I have no complaints and can leave with my head held very high. Because I know that a decision I made will indeed save a life, if it hasn’t already done so.

In 2015, I had a fire at my home that resulted in a major loss.  It wasn’t a kitchen fire or a one room fire. The entire house was destroyed.  I had a decision to stay or leave and chose to rebuild.  My house was completely gutted from the ground to the roof. 

There is a fire station at the top of my street. I pass it every day leaving and returning home.  It’s about 1/5^th of a mile from my house, walking distance.  For my fire, this station did not come to my house.  It’s a Clayton County fire station.  I had to wait for Riverdale to send a fire truck to me.

Here’s a map of the City of Riverdale BEFORE the merger and AFTER. The red stars indicate the Clayton County fire stations and black circles indicate the Riverdale fire stations.

Now, with this merger, the closest station/truck/EMS will be able to come to the rescue.  For me, it was about saving lives first and saving homes second.  I believe with every breath in my body that this is the reason God called me to the office of the Riverdale City Council.

BREAKING NEWS

What ended up being the most controversial decision since I’ve been in office resulted in a full week of news coverage.  We were on every major news network, every hour and ½ hour that the news was on, from morning thru late nights for an entire week.  The controversy was over our plan to merge our City’s Fire Department with the County’s Fire department. 

After a full week of council and townhall meetings to a standing room only audience filled with citizens and media; I’m proud of making the motion to move forward with the merge in a vote that passed 3-1.    Mary Granison initiates Historic Vote to Merge Riverdale and Clayton County Fire Services

You see, I’m not here to win votes in a future election.  I don’t make decisions based on whether anyone will be angry with me and may not vote for me again.  I’m here to make decisions for the good of our community, right now.  This is what we are voted into office to do on behalf of our citizens.  It’s doing the right thing whether people are watching or not.  We needed proper fire service and protection.