Your Company and the Community — Improving Your Standing with Volunteer Work

March 9th, 2010

We all know that giving your time as a volunteer allows you to strengthen the bonds of your community and in the same stride assist the needy. Of course, organizing your schedule so that you’re free to volunteer may waste very time that could really be put to better use elsewhere. It hardly needs pointing out, when volunteering becomes a team effort with friends from work, it will be far more fun. Consequently, firms have begun making themselves into points of organization encouraging their employees to give back to the community through volunteer activities. One of the leaders in this is Adaptive Marketing LLC of Connecticut who developed shopping and financial benefits programs including SavingsAce. Luckily, company-supported volunteer activity has grown beyond blood drives and once-a-year charitable giving. Tennis shoe recycling programs and more energetic efforts like tree replanting days — these and other activities have been arranged for its staff by Adaptive Marketing. For events like these, the dates, times and locations that had been arranged were announced, ensuring that employees knew what to expect, and how much time it might take precisely.

Giving volunteers a say in what activities are available is essential. Staff members from Adaptive Marketing, the company who developed the program SavingsAce, choose from among many activities. Prior projects have included work in areas as diverse as education for children and young adults, environmental awareness activities, and events supporting performance art. Adaptive Marketing’s staff members have so much to choose from that they’re certain to have something they enjoy to volunteer for, ensuring they’ll spend their time effectively and happily.

Usually a company supported charity project — getting involved with a local school or helping out at a homeless shelter — is either done on a regular schedule or as a one-off event. There will be those who claim they don’t have the time, but even they can arrange for the public library’s used book sale or a Saturday morning park clean-up. Commercial history is full of examples of companies giving back to the people who live around them. The good worksefforts of those who work at businesses like Adaptive Marketing create important good feeling in their home town. Another upside is, the benefits of volunteer work include feeling better about yourself — an upbeat feeling that uplifts the entire company. Promoting the volunteer spirit among your staff becomes its own reward.

Making Time to Volunteer

October 25th, 2009

Volunteering — a path to a better community, and supporting your local needy. As the old saying has it, “charity begins at home”. Yet, scheduling this is often difficult, and before you know it you don’t have as long left to actually do some good. Of course, if volunteering becomes a larger effort with friends or co-workers, it’s likely to be far more fun. Consequently, some companies are making themselves into organizing points helping their employees to give back to the community. One of the more significant examples is Adaptive Marketing LLC of Connecticut who also offer financial benefits programs including Privacy Matters Identity.

Company based initiatives like these were always rare, minor occasions — in today’s world, so much more can be accomplished. Athletic shoe recycling initiatives and more active work like tree planting weekends — these are just some of the activities that have been scheduled by Adaptive Marketing for its employees. Applying the principles of central organization individual initiatives grew into larger programs, with specific locations, times and dates publicized in advance to help those signing up with their time management. Giving volunteers a say in which drives the company sponsors is essential. Staff members from Adaptive Marketing, the company that offers the financial benefits program Privacy Matters Identity, choose from among many local activities. Earlier projects have seen improvements made in areas as diverse as aid and assistance for children and young adults, environmental programs, and events related to artistic projects. Often, the more the volunteer enjoys it, the more productive they are, so by providing so many projects Adaptive Marketing ensure that progress can be made in a great many areas. Typically a company supported charity initiative — getting involved with a local school, say, or assisting at a homeless shelter — is either done on a regular schedule or as a one-off event. Staff may well say they have no time to give, though it would be pretty surprising if they honestly can’t find enough hours to lend a hand with some smaller one-day event.

It’s hardly a new practice for businesses to help out the community which they serve. Adaptive Marketing maintains volunteer programs in part to spread positive feeling through its home community through its members of staff activities. Helping others leaves you feeling much better about yourself — just the sort of thing to motivate staffers both in their regular work and their volunteer activities, too.

Clark Howard, Radio Personality

August 18th, 2009

Clark Howard, born on June 20, 1955, a famous United States talk radio host of his nationally-syndicated program called The Clark Howard Show. The program, which primarily stresses on consumer concerns, is aired by WSB AM, an Atlanta, Georgia-based radio station.

Prior to this work, he attended the Westminster Schools in Atlanta. In 1976, he received his Bachelor’s degree in Urban Government at the American University. A year later, he earned his Master’s of Business Management at the Central Michigan University.

Clark Howard is a self-made millionaire, making his fortune in the traveling agency business. However, in 1987, he left the travel agency business he put up six years ago in 1981. He then started providing travel recommendations in appearances on radio shows in Atlanta. His segments were that effective that he soon hosted his own show. Every Friday, he spends 60 minutes giving out travel advice to his Atlanta listeners. The segment, Friday Flier, airs from 3pm to 4pm. He sometimes recommends Atlanta residents who are seeking out deals to the West Coast to travel to Birmingham, Alabama for more affordable deals.

Aside from offering travel advices, Clark Howard once stated on the air that he was going to enter the Georgia State Defense Force, Georgia Department of Defense’s non-federal subdivision, following the terrorist strikes of 2001. He told his listeners that in joining the Defense Force, he would be helping out and serving his country.

Clark Howard also implied that he would possibly run for political office, but explained on The Neal Boortz Show that he was not yet prepared to declare his candidacy. A report on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in May 2007 said that he was still thinking about running for Atlanta mayor in 2009 right after Shirley Franklin, the current Atlanta city mayor.

Centre Court Action

July 1st, 2009

It’s the last week in June which signifies just one thing. Wimbledon has hit our screens! It’s the 14 days in the calendar where people want to root out their tennis rackets, find their addidas attire and meet the unavoidable rain to exercise their serve and volley. Man and Van Wimbledon is devoted to providing the most competent and value for money service purchasable even when SW19 occupied with tourists. Man and Vans, London’s high ranking light removal service, is established in South West London and genuinely enjoys helping its neighbors with any light removals they might have. Man and Van Wimbledon might be too occupied to hit the courts this summer but here at Man and Vans headquarters we’re highly thrilled about Wimbledon’s new Centre Court Ceiling. Although Man and Van Wimbledon will work in the rain, Rafael, Roger and Andy have never been too ready to face nature’s elements. luckily this summer there’ll be no need for Cliff Richards’ services as, from the 17th May, Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Association has been using its new retractable roof. Health and Safety tests on the court were conducted by the tennis heroes Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf, Tim Henman and Kim Clijsters, who delighted in an exhibition game of mixed doubles as the typically British rain patted the roof as it closed.

The US Support of Drug Profits

June 8th, 2008

In this article I would like to address the reasons why street drugs are illegal. It is my perception that decriminalizing drugs would stem the tide of illegal US initiatives to make foreign nations subservient to the true rule of law that the real power-brokers in the US follow - “He who has the gold rules”.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/drugs/archive/gunsdrugscia.html

Specific areas of interest are the Hmung (Hmong) who were promised US citizenship and subsequently left to die en masse when the US pulled out of Vietnam. IN this report you see reference to the Laos illegal war that the US was involved in and lied to its people about. I live with a person who was in Laos as an aircraft mechanic and who became a drug user in this operation. I also met the man mentioned in the movie Air America and in this report, who got the Holiday Inn in Buena Park near Disneyland as part of the US effort to maintain the Russell Opium War on the world that saw Jardine-Matheson (Above the Russell founders of Skull & Bones and the people who declared war on China to force opium upon the people there) directors properly state the following:

“If the trade {Opium} is ever legalized, it will cease to be profitable from that time. The more difficulties that attend it, the better for you and us.” — Directors of Jardine-Matheson

Another area of interest is Colombia where my niece now lives since she married a great young man from a family of doctors there. My niece is an activist and Master’s graduate in Peace studies and the like. Colombia and Peru (where the President is a coca grower) are a lot like Vietnam or Laos and the people of this region have no idea what is in store for them. Neither do most Americans understand why GHWB and Reagan backed the efforts of Poindexter and North or Secord (K2) and others involved in assasination squads, drug running and the like.

A young student (ignorant and wet behind the ears) named Willy has proudly stated the fact that the US will never adhere to the World Court. And in this correct assessment we can argue the end of the world or most human life on earth is guaranteed. For how can a rogue nation such as the US is and always has been, be allowed to do this and force its agendas on its own people (ignorant as they are) and the rest of the world?

“Countries whose governments attempt to uphold their state sovereignty and to retain control over national market and resources are often undermined in their efforts. In the case of Yugoslavia, the economic instruments of aggression were accompanied by U.S., German and other NATO member states’ intelligence agencies’ covert manufacturing, financial support, arming and training of local terrorist groups willing to cooperate with NATO against such governments. Covert military activity has become already routine in strategically important regions all over the globe, like Indochina, Central America, Caribbean, Middle East, Central Asia. Local groups that are expected to become compliant clients of their patrons, are financed mainly through the laundering and recycling of billions of dirty money collected by narcotic, women and other illicit traders and organised crime syndicates. This is done through the extension of fat commissions by the anonymous shell companies to the most respected banks in the international banking system (McCoy, Alfred W., 1991)- Vera Vratusa (-Zunjic) FACULTY OF PHILOSOPHY, Department of Sociology Cika Ljubina 18-20, 11OOO Beograd, Yugoslavia”

Author of many books available at Lulu and World-Mysteries.com

How to Become a Legal Immigrant: The Green Card and Naturalization

May 4th, 2008

The process for a foreign citizen to legally acquire a green card and eventually become a legal naturalized citizen of the U.S. is difficult, time consuming, and expensive. Many critics of the system maintain that if the process was simpler there would be far fewer foreign citizens entering and remaining in the U.S. illegally.

When a foreign citizen visits the U.S. as a tourist, a medical patient, a student, or for business purposes, they generally need to present only a valid national passport, a photo ID card or birth certificate, and sometimes an entry visa. A visa is simply an endorsement on a document that shows authenticity and conveys permission to travel to and to enter a foreign country. This type of visa is also known as a nonimmigrant visa. Fees for a passport, a nonimmigrant visa, and a border crossing card total about $300.

However, when a foreign citizen wishes to reside and work in the U.S., they need to present an immigrant visa, also known as a green card. The green card was originally called the Alien Registration Receipt Card, but it has recently been renamed the Permanent Resident Card. Originally the card was green in color but now the card is white with some green printing on the back. It is still known generally as the green card. Recipients of the green card must carry it with them at all times. The green card is valid for a period of 10 years.

The green card is issued to a foreign citizen as a response to a petition by an employer or a relative who is a U.S. citizen. The petition by the employer or relative allows the foreign citizen to enter the U.S. for the purposes of being employed and residing permanently in the country.

The process for acquiring the green card generally follows three steps. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) issues the green card. This service used to be known as the INS or Immigration and Naturalization Service. USCIS is often referred to as simply the Immigration Service and is now part of the Department of Homeland Security. The first step is for the USCIS to review all of the paperwork and approve the petition from the qualifying relative or employer. The second step is to send the approved paperwork to the National Visa Center (NVC) where the petition waits for a visa number to become available. Only a limited number of visa numbers are available each year. Once a visa number becomes available, then the third step is for the petition to be forwarded to the appropriate U.S. embassy or consulate in the foreign citizen’s home city or country.

The three step process appears to be simple and straightforward, but the expenses and the amount of paperwork and time involved make the process difficult and frustrating.

The first step to obtain a green card is for the sponsoring relative or employer to submit the proper forms to USCIS. The process of filling out, collecting, and forwarding the paperwork on to NVC can take two months or more. Typically, not all of the necessary forms are submitted the first time and communication by mail between the USCIS and the petitioner and between the USCIS and NVC is slow. Fees for the paperwork, photos, and supporting documents can total $190 to $400.

Next, NVC collects the paperwork and determines if additional items are needed to complete the application process. There generally are additional necessary forms, passports, and documents needed before everything can be forwarded to a U.S. embassy or consulate in the foreign citizen’s home city or country. This process can take two to seven months and requires the payment of processing fees and fingerprinting which cost about $500 or more.

If the petition is for an immediate relative, such as parents, spouses, and minor children, then the application does not need to wait for a visa number, and the petition can be sent on to the U.S. embassy or consulate. Some consulates are busier with green card applications than others and the waiting period for an appointment at the consulate ranges from a couple of weeks to 9 months. In addition to identity documents the applicant must present blood tests and medical exam results which may cost an additional $200 or more. After the appointment at the consulate and the approval of the petition, the foreign citizen is issued the Permanent Resident Card or green card. The citizen is then free to enter the United States for purposes of establishing a residence or beginning employment.

If the petition is for a family member other than an immediate relative, such as adult children, married children, and brothers and sisters, then the application must wait for an Immigrant Visa number to become available. The waiting period may take a few months to as long as 10 years. Only a limited number of Immigrant Visa numbers are available for each country each year. An application may wait for a long period of time if the applicant is from a country which sponsors a large number of applicants. After the petition receives a visa number the application is sent to the U.S. embassy or consulate and the citizen can then complete the appointment and receive their Permanent Resident Card or green card.

The green card is valid for 10 years. After five years of residency in the U.S. the citizen is eligible to become a naturalized U.S. citizen. In addition to the five years of residency, the citizen must show an ability to read, write, and speak English, understand U.S. history and government, have good moral character, and be willing to abide by the principles of the U.S. Constitution. Fees for the application and electronic fingerprinting total about $400. Once the citizen has taken the Oath of Allegiance they become a full U.S. citizen.

Obtaining permanent residency or citizenship in the United States requires a large commitment of time, determination, and resources. Simplification of the process would allow foreign citizens to more easily immigrate to the U.S. legally and would likely reduce the number of illegal immigrants. The United States has a proud history of successful legal immigration.

Garry Gamber - EzineArticles Expert Author

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Garry Gamber is a public school teacher and entrepreneur. He writes articles about politics, real estate, health and nutrition, and internet dating services. He is the owner of http://www.TheDatingAdvisor.com and the founding station master for Good Politics Radio Alaska.