My Papas Waltz Essays - Alcohol Abuse, Drinking Culture,

My Papa's Waltz In "My Papa's Waltz", Roethke discusses a very heartbreaking and distressful situation. He talks about alcoholism in the family and how it affects the members of the family. Growing up in a family full of alcoholism and abuse, I can relate to the point of view that this poem is written in. Although it is very sad, all of these things the poet describes are true of a family cursed with alcoholism. Whiskey breath had always been a familiar smell to me until I moved to Baton Rouge. The people in my household would drink all day long, starting with the morning cup of coffee and ending whenever their bodies just passed out from drunkenness. Whenever drunks come home from the bars, parties, etc. they cause havack throughout the house. Arguing and making lots of noise are two qualities all too familiar to me. People who drink will argue with anyone who tries to talk to them reasonably and will even get violent and destructive at times. As for being a spouse of a drunk, I have never been married but have experienced a scenario similar to that of being married. During high school, I dated a guy that was quite older than I and he was of legal age to drink already. Whenever he would go out to the clubs with his friends drinking he would always come home to his apartment and if I was there and everything was not clean and perfectly in order he would burst into fits of anger. He would yell, scream and throw things at me and even sometimes he would physically abuse me. In the morning, after there was time to sleep off the effects of the alcohol he would always apologize saying that he was going to slack off and try to quit drinking, but as we know that never happens. Finally in March of 1995, he went to get help and before we could find out if the long ordeal of the past four years was over God decided it was time for him to go to a better place where all of the problems would dissappear. Because of the horrible ways alcohol has affected me in the past 21 years it makes me not like drinking or going out to bars because it usually leads to bad things.

Total Ban on Guns essays

Total Ban on Guns essays Imagine a world without guns. How much less deaths would there be? Do you know or have heard of anyone who has died from a gun shot? Most likely you have or do. Now imagine if guns did not exist. These people would most likely still be living today. Having a total ban on guns would lessen many deaths that occur every year. Banning guns would make some people feel safer because people would not have the option to reach for a gun in times of danger, anger, or insecurities among other reasons they feel the need for a gun. Having a total ban on guns would also eliminate many accidental deaths caused by guns. Now, there are those who are against the idea of banning guns. Lets first look at why they would oppose the idea of total banning of guns. Those who oppose the idea of banning guns, not having a gun would make them feel insecure that they may no be able to protect themselves from criminals. They want to be able to protect themselves and their families in times like having their house robbed. Researchers have shown that felons actually stay away from victims who do own firearms. In the article, Should You Own a Gun? Witkins states, A 1986 survey of 1,900 incarcerated felons by sociologists James Wright and Peter Rossi founded that 40 percent had at some time decided not to commit a crime because they believed the intended victim was armed. The author goes on to say, Three fifths of the felons said criminals are more worried about meeting an armed victim than they are about the police. These answers cam from the criminals themselves about their life of crime. They are scared that a victim with a gun is potentially more dangerous than the police. They also fear that suspected victims with guns are prepared to pro tect themselves from criminals, so they back off. Those who lobby for gun control want to ban firearms because it poses as a threat to anyone who ...

Business organisation and policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Business organisation and policy - Essay Example Both large and small firms are confronted with huge demands to step up output but must stay creative and pioneering as they face mergers of immense scope, escalating health care costs, cost-control efforts, fast-changing population demographics and high-speed evolution of new technologies. Such development has pushed several major players in the pharmaceutical sector to persistently invigorate and maximize their R&D expenditures in order to enhance their pipelines and keep abreast with their competitors in the pursuit for high level, large scale operations. This is in harmony with the perception that for large companies to keep on satisfying its shareholders’ expectations, undoubtedly, it is not acceptable and tolerable for them to stick with the status quo. However, the cost of taking in a new active substance (NAS) into the market, projected at US$600 million (Kettler 1999) and the plummeting number of these substances launched lately (Van de Haak 2001) explicitly describe t he scope and magnitude of this challenge. The US$600 million figure per NAS introduced consists of a considerable contribution from the expenses of all NASs that didn’t make the grade in the R&D process. So as to minimize and lower the high gnawing cost, a lot of firms have put portfolio management systems into operation. Since development projects eat up 10 times or more the capital needed for a research project, project selection and prioritization have been strongly emphasized, before entry into the development process. For specific corporations, the expenditure per NAS is greatly influenced by the firm’s character and distinctiveness -- its product profile, type of technology being used, and the kind of activities the firm opts to conduct in-house and those it decides to outsource (Findlay and Kirmani 2000). For so many years, large pharmaceutical companies had wished and anticipated that the greatly increased number of compounds

Opera property management system an evaluation report Assignment

Opera property management system an evaluation report - Assignment Example In the past few years information technology has brought a number of changes to almost all the industries. However, it has a serious impact on the hospitality industry. In fact, a large number of people from hospitality industry now consider that the implementation of latest and modern IT tools is necessary not simply to maintain and run hospitality-related functions but also to set up a bridge with potential customers. In this scenario, these varying IT trends in hotel industry force all kinds of hospitality firms to effectively take advantage of any innovative technology that can offer their firm’s substantial excellence in forms of superior customer satisfaction and employee competence. Up till now a large number of researches and studies have been carried out by various researchers to find out the positive effects of IT tools and systems on the hospitality industry. For instance, carried out a research in order to determine the impact of information technology supported sy stems in Australia, which demonstrated that the implementation of information and management systems can play a significant role in increasing the capability of hospitality industries.... The selection of a property management system heavily depends on the nature and size of the hospitality firm. This paper presents a critical review of an information system that is particularly designed for managing and dealing with property related operations. In this paper I am going to review a modern property management system known as Opera Property Management System. This paper will discuss different aspects of Opera Property Management System. Property Management System Before going into the depth of this property management system there is need to understand the importance of using these IT systems in the hospitality industry. As Opera Property Management System focuses on Wi-Fi usage so we will also discuss the use of Wi-Fi technology in the hospitality industry. In their research, (Pandey, 2010) discuss the importance of information technology for the hospitality industry. According to their viewpoint from dealing with guests and customers and developing and presenting food menus to keeping track of their employees, IT tools and systems have not only completely changed but also restructured the way the hospitality firms carry out their tasks in this information technology based era. In fact, the hospitality sector for all time thrash about to find out more ground-breaking tools and applications with the passage of time as they make changes to the format of the hotel and restaurant business (Pandey, 2010). In addition, a large number of researches and studies have concluded that IT tools and applications have turned out to be a key driver of economical growth for the hospitality industry in the past few years. In this scenario, extensive availability of easy to use and state-of-the-art tools and software applications for

Mergers and Acquisitions Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 9500 words - 1

Mergers and Acquisitions - Dissertation Example I am grateful for the many people who aided me in the completion of this project, without whom I would have had great difficulty completing my research on mergers and acquisitions. ABSTRACT With the advent of companies like Microsoft, Google, and Yahoo! merging, all kinds of discussions have ensued. What constitutes a merger What constitutes an acquisition And, admittedly, what is the difference The ensuing discussion raises questions as to the validity of mergers and acquisitions in a day and age when companies are struggling to meet their overhead costs. Many times, mergers and acquisitions are the solution-not the problem-to the dilemma which ails many organizations: "How do we stay in business" A comprehensive view of mergers and acquisitions is taken into account, as the pros and cons of equity financing, and the desirability of mergers and acquisitions ("M&A's") are evaluated. As an example, hundreds of M&A's on the London Stock Exchange are reviewed for a period of the past 10 years. Conclusions are summarily drawn from the data provided. I. Introduction A. Statement of the Problem What follows, regarding mergers and acquisitions, is all too common. Barmash (2003) stated, "The company didn't have a new president so it bought a company that didThey couldn't compete with the company, so they bought itThe company really didn't want to sell; it just wanted to see what kind of price it could draw" Unfortunately, for some companies, this is what happens. For whatever reason, companies sell out and new companies come to take their place. It is increasingly the way of the world. This is now the way business works. It is common for several industries to consolidate due to... Mergers and acquisitions can be the bright spot on lawyers and others’ resumes, based on how important the nature of the prospective deal is. And, M&A’s (as they are wont to be called) are highly valued in society and can change a company’s outlook on the future. Anon (2009) comments, â€Å"Not surprisingly, these actions often make the news. Deals can be worth hundreds of millions, or even billions, of dollars. They can dictate the fortunes of the companies involved for years to come. For a CEO, leading an M&A can represent the highlight of a whole career.† Many people in the information security and technology sectors are looking to the relative absence or presence of mergers as a way of gauging how successful their own company is. This is a key factor to remember when evaluating a company. As Tenopir et. al. (2007) denote, â€Å"There are a lot of worries from database providers but they are working on ways to integrate social networks, provide increased depth within their specialties, and make their products stand out in order to succeed on the information farms of the future.† Mergers and acquisitions are common. A majority of the populace should be concerned with M&A’s because they significantly affect the quality of life of millions. Anon (2009) denotes, â€Å"†¦it is no wonder we hear about so many of these transactions; they happen all the time. Next time you flip open the newspaper’s business section, odds are good that at least one headline will announce some kind of M&A transaction.†

Review Of Motivation In Volunteering Commerce Essay

Review Of Motivation In Volunteering Commerce Essay The objective of this literature is to attempt some discussions of Motivation in Volunteers, a complex difficulty, facing the NGOs and Humanitarian Aid Agencies of today. Studies specifically relating to this area started in the early years to the present day. The actual dissertation will go through a much more comprehensive literature scan. In the concerned world economy and wide blow stricken regions of the world today, Volunteerism seems more relevant today than the more frequently employed tools relating to Typical Employment methodologies of the past and present. In the last century preceded by the great Industrial Revolution and followed by the great Information Age, much has been said and done regarding employee motivation and the ways to augment or harness it to achieve superior organization goals. It started with the Hawthorne Studies of the 1920s (McCarney R, Warner J, Iliffe S, van Haselen R, Griffin M, Fisher P (2007) which in detail were initially carried out to determine the effects of Light on employee output, however by the way reflected the importance of working as a group, having a concerned supervisor and work credit were indeed the real drivers of efficiency. Thus started the long research in Human Motivation, culminating in such great works as Maslows Hierarchy Theory (A.H. Maslow, A Theory of Human Motivation, Psychological Review 1943) and Herzbergs (1959) motivational hygiene theory to name a few. However it wasnt until the 1970s that work on Motivation in Volunteers began. while having much in common with motivation in employees if compared particularly to Herzbergs motivational hygiene theory, there are indeed some unique factors such as reciprocity, self esteem, personal growth, recognition and social understanding (Developing the Volunteer Motivation Inventory to Assess the Underlying Motivational Drives of Volunteers in Western Australia, a research project carried out by Dr Judy Esmond et-al; 2004). Notable work (other than those cited in the quoted study) on this was Motivation of volunteers (Wiehe, Vernon R.; Isenhour, Lenor Journal of Social Welfare. Win 1977, 73-79. Of 490 persons contacting a volunteer recruitment and referral center requesting to be referred to a group of people agency for post as volunteers, 249 questionnaires were returned asking them to spot t heir motivation for seeking to be volunteers. Four categories of motivation were ordered by partakers in the research on the basis of most to least important: personal satisfaction, self-improvement, altruism, and demands from outside. Implications for the assignment and recruitment of volunteers are noted. Motivation is the fundamental element of the theme of this research. The investigation of motivational factors in a group, individual in public sector surroundings is central to developing ways to better performances in an organization. The motive why motivation should be investigate in generic organizational behavior terms as well as public service and volunteer terms for this research is that there are some aspects of motivational theories that are related irrespective of the sector and industry. An understanding of motivation in broad terms, public service terms and volunteer terms in the literature review will go a long way in making sure that there can be a constructive influence on the public sector volunteer workers performance levels. Terpstras model of motivation (1979) drew its inspiration from the motivational model presented as the hierarchy of need laid down by Maslow (1954). Maslow talked about five need levels in a motivational framework known as the physiological need, the safety need, the social need, the ego need and the need for self actualization. According to this model, the most essential needs had to be fulfilled before the next need of the human being comes into the play. Terpstra looked into this theory of Maslow from the angle of the industrialized age. Maslow assumed that the most vital need was the physiological need. It is only after the accomplishment of this particular need that the role of other factors comes to the equation. In the case of our research of the volunteer fire fighters, the want for safety as laid behind in the need hierarchy holds significance. The individual mind and senses are more motivated to do better in an environment where the safety measures are good. This is why the primary research of the fire fighter volunteers and their motivation will also consider the element of safety in their work environment and job design. Gidron (1978) carried out a wide research in an understanding of volunteering motivation. For this reason he based his research on the studies and theories of Herzberg two factor theories. This two factor theory, as reviewed above, focused on both the intrinsic as well as extrinsic motives behind a working person. Gidron was one of the first researchers who believed that extrinsic factors might be found in the general drive to work in volunteers. He believed that volunteers were working for either the intrinsic motives which focused on self accomplishment and working towards the growth of a positive relationship with the society or towards things that are extrinsic, in an indirect way. This might comprise the need to gain some work experience that may come in handy in the future. For this reason he carried out a study which involved 317 volunteers across four different institutions. The call for was to be able to spot the co relationship that might exist between different motivation factors and the age of the individual. He rounded it up that volunteers who were grown-up were actually more interested in volunteer work for intrinsic factors and it was the younger volunteers where work experience and indirect extrinsic factors also played some part on the whole motivation . To better know how to attract and retain volunteers, it is imperative to identify key motives of individual volunteers and their effect on pro-social attitudes toward helping behavior (Bussell and Forbes 2002). (Reed, Aquino, and Levy 2007), theories of altruism and helping behavior suggest that intrinsic rewards and satisfaction from helping others are primary motives for volunteering The theory laid down by Vroom with respect to the performance of employees, efforts made and returns seen is also highly relevant (Vroom, 1964). Vroom believed that the prize that is seen at the end of an effort is the root of motivation in a human being in the work setting. This compensation may come in different forms. A positive compensation will reinforce the behavior of better efforts in the work setting. This compensation may or may not be financial. A compensation can also be something intangible such a recognition of services or a public acknowledgement of the efforts made by an individual. Brewer et al. (2000) built up their research on the grounds of the 40 articles listed down by Perry and verified motivational attributes. They came up with four categories of motivation in the public services two of which are highly relevant in our study as well i.e. humanitarians and communitarians. The subject that often revolves around Public service motivation is whether it can be actually used for the good of positively influencing the motivation level of employees in public service. This work now more looks into the way the human resource management and higher performance could be ensured through better thoughtful of motivational factors in public service. Basics such as recruitment, selection, screening, retention, job performance and satisfaction are important to understand in public service context as per the research scope of this paper. In the case of nonprofit organization, more than 60 percent employees in a research carried out by Paul (2002) said that they worked in the organization with the motive to make a difference in the community. The lesser the economic incentive for working in an organization, the more probability there is that the intrinsic factors constitute the motivational force for the workers. His research concluded that workers in such environments e mphasize on making a difference as well as a shared vision of the work place (Paul, 2002). Compared to workers in the private sector, these employees and workers were more responsive to factors such as being of help to the public, being able to make a difference to the community and doing a job which has meaning. As all these entail commitment to serve the community. The role of fire fighter entails a commitment to doing a job: fighting fires and taking care of communities. Jules Naudet (2002), a filmmaker who filmed the fire command activity in the World Trade Centre, said, Theyre fire fighters, theyll put the fire out, that is what they do. Fire fighters did their job on September 11 because it was their job. They identified with the job and with the role the job of fire fighter imposed on them; they were committed to that identity, and it predicted their behavior. Commitment is a multidimensional construct that links individuals in varying ways to a superior, to a work group, to an organization, and finally, to a served community. We will test this four-dimensional measure of commitment on a small sample of firemen. This study suggests a direction for research into the connection between commitment and behavior. In the CBS documentary 9/11, a probationary fire fighter comments on his very small payroll check, saying that if he wanted money, he would have been a lawyer, but I wanted something that I could live with for the rest of my life. I can live with this. In the same documentary, a fire chief says that when he gets up in the morning he wants to feel good and to look in the mirror and know that I am doing something with my life. Dennis Smith (2002) reports a story about a retired fire marshal who bemoaned the death of a fellow fire fighter who was repelling when a rope broke. Another fire fighter responded by saying, Remember this, its part of the job (50). Fire fighters commit to an identity that requires heroic behavior. Identity theory dictates that they act altruistically because that is what is expected. Fire fighters do their job in order to maintain internal congruence and because others expect them to act as their job requires.1 In these cases, we see commitment directed toward the role-most notably, a job that entails responsibility to safeguard the welfare of others. Fire fighters are not the only professionals in this category. We include other public-sector careers, such as police officers, teachers, and military personnel, and private-sector occupations, such as flight attendants and doctors. These jobs require the person to uphold a higher standard, and they are expected to do what is required to maintain the safety of their charges. They do well because it is their job to serve the community. Volunteerism also plays a critical role in the functioning of marketing systems, and therefore investigating volunteer activities on an individual level has important micromarketing implications (Laverie and McDonald 2007). During the year ended September 2006, 61.2 million Americans volunteered for an organization at least once, representing 26.7 percent of the population (U.S. Department of Labor 2006). In Australia, 5.2 million people (or 34 percent of the Australian population) participated in voluntary work in 2006 by contributing 713 million hours to the community (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2007). These volunteers now recognize they have the freedom, capabilities, and confidence to address chronic social problems in their societies, such as inadequate health systems, entrenched poverty, environmental threats, and high-crime rates among other social ills (Bornstein 2004). For example, volunteer numbers at the Olympic Games have gone from almost zero in the 1980s to 40,917 accredited volunteers used in conducting the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney (Green and Chalip 2004). In retrospect, researchers have concluded that without these volunteers, the Sydney Olympic Games could not have been produced. An additional dimension for societies that host special events such as the Olympics is that such events are now used in the economic and social development strategies of cities, regions, and countries to win positioning as a favourable destination for business, investment, and tourism. It is well understood that volunteering can also have a positive impact on the volunteer themselves, as well as on society as a whole. Volunteers live longer, have better mental health, have higher occupational prestige, and have greater employment opportunities than those who do not volunteer (Wilson and Musick 1999). Brooks (2008, 183) notes that charity brings happiness for psychological reasons because it gives individuals a sense of control, while volunteering time can provide an important way to mentally reboot and redirect energy away from personal problems. These benefits translate into reduced health care costs, greater productivity, and higher QOL, directly benefiting society as a whole. DECLINING VOLUNTEERS The National Association of state foresters [1993] affirmed that since the early 1970s, state and local governments have been concerned with the decline in volunteer firefighters. A 1993 study published by the National Association of State Foresters reported a national drop in active volunteer firefighters from 884,600 in 1983 to 815,500 in 1993, an 8 percent decline in 10 years. Explanations for declines in volunteer firefighters have been attributed to national social changes, difficulties in finding new volunteers, and problems with retaining existing volunteers. According to a 1998 National Volunteer Fire Council and United States Fire Administration report, Retention and Recruitment: Problems and Solutions, 11 factors have contributed to reductions in the number of men and women joining and remaining in the volunteer fire service. These 11 factors included time demands, training requirements, increasing call volume, changes in the nature of the business of firefighting, changes in urban and suburban populations, changes in sociological conditions (two-income families and time demands), leadership problems, federal legislation and regulations, increasing use of combination departments, higher cost of housing (in affluent communities), and aging communities. The Pennsylvania fireman [2004] asserted that the impact of these and other factors has made it more difficult for VFCs to recruit and retain members. A 1992 survey by the Pennsylvania Department of Community Affairs (now the department of Community and Economic Development) found that 79 percent of the responding VFCs reported problems with recruiting, 51 percent reported active membership declines in the prior decade, and 37 percent reported no growth in membership over the prior decade. One implication of this decline was that 61 percent reported problems with insufficient volunteers responding to Monday-to-Friday daytime emergencies. The study concluded: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.requirements on volunteer time has increased. If there are no more or even fewer volunteers, then there are fewer people bearing a larger share of the workload. Prolonged situations like this lead to disenchantment and burn-out. The 1998 National Volunteer Fire Council and U.S. Fire Administration report, mentioned previously, also found that volunteer fire service is a tradition in many generations of firefighting families, but that, unfortunately, it is also a tradition in danger of weakening and possibly even dying out. The report also says: Fire departments can no longer count on the children of current members following in their parents footsteps. Nor can they count on a continuous stream of local people eager to donate their time and energy to their volunteer fire department. Departments cannot even rely on members staying active in the volunteer fire service for long periods of time. Recognizing that many VFCs are facing a recruitment problem, the council noted that recruitment solutions must begin with an assessment of VFCs staffing needs and the volunteer skills and abilities most needed to maintain VFC performance. The report found that person-to-person recruiting by active volunteer firefighters was the most successful recruiting method and that many retention problems could be traced to the following sources: demands on volunteer time and the need for increasing firefighter training requirements, additional call volume, changes in economic and social conditions in suburban and rural areas, and VFC leadership problems and internal conflicts within the fire company. Participants targeted leadership issues as the most important problem for retention across the country. This sentiment was echoed in numerous other studies that pointed to poor leadership and management practices as one of the main reasons volunteers left the fire service. An unpublished State University of New York at Buffalo Ph.D. Dissertation (Sargent, 1992) on satisfaction and retention of volunteer firefighters found that altruism ranked first as the most satisfying reason for volunteering. The eight top reasons for active firefighters to stay on the job were altruism, skills, thrills, work environment, management, social relations, material issues, and recognition. Retention policies identified as important by the active volunteers were management quality and skill development, quality of the work environment, and altruism. The researcher also noted that the lack of VFC leadership and management skills might be retention issues worthy of further investigation. Fire service reports written over the past 30 years indicate Pennsylvania VFCs were experiencing increased difficulties in recruiting and retaining sufficient active fire company members. Furthermore, there is a distinct risk that some rural VFCs lack sufficient active firefighters to adequately respond to all emergency service calls. The Pennsylvania Fire and Emergency Services Institutes 2001 report, Funding for Pennsylvania Emergency Services à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Beyond 2001, stated a concern that VFCs were experiencing a steep and steady decline in the number of volunteers attracted to these vital services in Pennsylvania. The continuing decline in the number of active rural volunteer firefighters may eventually force Pennsylvanians to pay directly for fire protection. In July 1999, DCED reported that the average wage and benefit compensation for a paid firefighter was $55,000. The Pennsylvania Fire and Emergency Services Institute (2001) calculated that staffing 2,000 fire companies would cost municipalities about $2.2 billion. Fire service studies [1994] suggested the most serious fire company problems involve recruitment, retention and volunteer availability to respond to calls, followed by a lack of funding sources, absence of community support, issues involving insurance costs, training requirements, and government regulations. Rural VFCs vary greatly in their ability to recruit and retain volunteer staff. To encourage recruitment and retention, most published reports suggested financial benefits be used to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters. While volunteer fire chiefs and firefighters encourage public and private financial incentives to support their firefighting mission, financial benefits represent only one part of a complex story. According to the volunteer fire service [1998] although money may assist and encourage volunteer firefighters to join and remain active members in their VFC, financial benefits are not the primary reasons why individuals choose to become and remain volunteer firefighters. While many fire service reports reviewed provided policy suggestions, these reports did not prioritize their suggestions. Furthermore, no field tests were conducted to discover which recruitment and retention policies were most effective in influencing individuals to become volunteers and remain active. Therefore, little empirical data concerning volunteer firefighter motivation exists. Todays Volunteer Fire Companies According to the U.S. Fire Administration [2005], in 2005, there were 17,438 all-volunteer fire companies in the U.S., or 72 percent of the nations 24,294 fire companies. The states with the most VFCs were Pennsylvania, New York, and Texas, each with more than 950 VFCs. On a per capital basis, however, the states with the most VFCs were North Dakota, South Dakota, and Vermont, each with more than 25 VFCs per 100,000 residents. Nationally, Pennsylvania ranked 17th in the number of VFCs per capital. United States Fire Administration [2001] data showed there were nearly 431,500 volunteer firefighters nationwide. Forty percent of these volunteers were found in Pennsylvania and the six surrounding states of Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware. On a per capita basis, the most volunteers were in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Vermont, each with more than 450 volunteers for every 100,000 residents. Nationally, Pennsylvania ranked 8th in the number of active volunteer firefighters per capital. Throughout the U.S., the average VFC had 25 active members. The states with the most active firefighters per VFC were Delaware, New York and Maryland, each with more than 50 active members per VFC. Among the 50 states, Pennsylvania had 33 active members per VFC, or the 8th highest number in the nation. Benefits Provided to Volunteer Firefighters According to National volunteer fire council [1998] among the 50 states, volunteer firefighters received a variety of benefits. Benefits were grouped into five categories: workers compensation, death benefits, retirement pension, property or income tax rebates, and health care benefits. According to data from several sources, 44 states, including Pennsylvania, provide workers compensation benefits for volunteer firefighters injured or killed while on duty. Twenty-seven states provide death benefits, and 20 states provide retirement pensions. Seven states provide income tax or property tax rebates and only one state, Louisiana, provides volunteers with health care benefits. It is important to note that not all benefits were mandated and some VFCs do not participate. According to national fire protection association [2001] survey of State Fire Officials through the interviews with 41state fire officials in 32 states, the researcher found general agreement about the increasing problem of finding volunteers who would respond to Monday-to-Friday daytime emergencies. For example, an official from Illinois estimated that 25 percent of VFCs sometimes were unable to respond to daytime emergency calls, while officials in Delaware, Nevada, and Texas said up to 50 percent of VFCs were sometimes unable to respond during weekdays. To solve this problem, an Ohio official said that his state is looking into paying part-time firefighters to cover trouble areas during weekdays, but funding may be a problem. When asked why there were not enough firefighters available during the weekday, the officials said that in rural areas more volunteer firefighters must commute long distances to their jobs and thus are unavailable for daytime fire emergencies. Current critical issues Willing [1994] asserted that state officials suggested that volunteerism, in general, was decreasing, and thereby negatively effecting recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters. Other critical issues included funding, firefighter deaths by heart attack, increased firefighter training and qualification requirements, and new responsibilities for homeland security. State officials also mentioned the need for additional technical training for new hazards, such as biological and chemical spills. Many state officials suggested that communication with local community and municipal leaders needs to be improved. Firefighter Training According to the interviews, most states required little or no formal training or qualifications to serve as a volunteer firefighter. Officials explained that since most states do not fund firefighting training, they have no power to enforce any training requirements. VFCs are community-based and do not pay much attention to state training requirements unless there are financial incentives. Most states had a formal state fire academy that provided free or discounted training and certification for volunteer firefighters. State fire academy courses were offered free in 18 states, including Pennsylvania. Other states offered training at low or reduced costs. One of the more innovative education programs was in Kentucky, where a fleet of trucks delivers free comprehensive firefighter training to local VFCs. This mobile fire academy provides local training without the expenses of travel, food, and lodging. Pennsylvania has an Academy on the Road program that has prove d quite popular with rural VFCs. Volunteer Firefighter Incentive Benefits Officials said they believe nonfinancial incentives are more effective at motivating and retaining volunteer firefighters than financial benefits. A common opinion was that financial benefits do not motivate volunteers; however, constant fire service related expenses made it difficult for volunteers, especially those with lower incomes, to continue their volunteer service. One of the most essential research methodologies and survey was done by McEwin and Jacobsen-D`Arcy in 1992. The research methodology and principle will also aid in the research work in assessing motivation of fire fighters as volunteers. The research carried out by McEwin and Jacobsen consisted of around 280 volunteers who came from a wide array of organization. The research was based on three separate stages. The first stage was focused on 40 volunteers who came from two organizations. They were given checklists, asked open ended questions and given the liberty to explain why they volunteers as well. On the basis of the participants and a literature review, there was the development and formulation of the final questionnaire with 15 categories. In the next stage, this survey was distributed to over 200 volunteers based on which the volunteer motivation inventory was developed consisting of forty statements. They came up with 8 motivational factors on a 5 point Likert scale which the research have decided to use in this research work. The eight motivational factors that were utilized include values, career, personal growth, recognition, hedonistic, social, reactive and reciprocity. Let us look into each one of this factor for a better understanding of the inventory Values: The individual might have strong personal or family values which have a relationship with volunteering. Every human being has a set of values and volunteering might be a constituent of this set Career: The individual might be taking part in volunteer services for the purposes of acquiring experience and field. These volunteering services might in the end help them in their professional career or help them in finding jobs Personal Growth: The individuals personal growth needs are often met by the volunteering services Recognition: The individual might be motivated by the ultimate recognition that might be received for the volunteering services that are given. This means a satisfaction of the recognition of contributions that are made to the society Hedonistic: This is associated with the happiness that might come with the act of being of assistance to the community Social: This a way of finding a pleasant feelings in the social construct of volunteering where they interact amongst each other and build their personal relationship network Reactive: The individual might be taking part in volunteer services as a reaction to a past incident. Therefore, this act might in fact be a need to address a personal past issue Reciprocity: The individual might see it as an equal exchange and views it as an act of higher good Pennsylvania Volunteer Fire Companies According to a 2005 report by the Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee, there are 2,354 VFCs in Pennsylvania; 40 percent are located in rural counties. Fire Chief Interviews The researcher interviewed 35 fire chiefs from across rural Pennsylvania. The chiefs were asked to comment on volunteer firefighter retention, recruitment, training, certification, leadership, female firefighters, financial support, and municipal relationships, and to offer recommendations for fire company best practices. The chiefs identified career requirements as the main factor affecting the retention of volunteers. Firefighters who move away for job pursuits or who must commute long distances for work affect volunteer turnover the most. Adding to the turnover rate is the realization of how much time is required to obtain training and assist with fundraising. These requirements put too many time constraints on firefighters and keep them away from their families. Several chiefs offered that both good and poor leadership would affect retention of volunteers. Successful recruitment often stems from a new volunteer having a family member or friend already involved in the fire company. The chiefs offered that active firefighters must make a concerted effort to recruit new community residents and not simply rely on existing residents. Some also noted their success in recruiting college students. The chiefs expressed some skepticism about recruitment programs that rely too heavily on newspaper ads, open houses, or apparatus demonstrations. A personal one-on-one approach was cited as the best recruitment method. A wide variety of perspectives were offered with regard to female firefighters. Some chiefs expressed concerns about the physical demands of the job, while others were confident of a womans ability, citing active and successful recruitment of women. Many volunteer fire companies recruit members in the 14-to-18- year-old age bracket as a result of visiting local schools and youth groups, such as the Scouts. Some chiefs also mentioned that a number of volunteers referenced presentations made while they were in elementary school as having a lasting impact. For many VFCs, part of the recruitment screening effort involves an interview, a criminal background check and, for some VFCs, a drug test. The degree of screening varies among fire companies from a written process to a personal interview. Oftentimes, members vote to accept or reject new recruits. Chiefs said that during the selection process, it is imperative to present a realistic description of the demands of volunteer fire service, including the need to complete the 88-hour training requirement. All chiefs cited the need for physical conditioning and many did not view age as an issue. The cost of maintaining a fire company is of great concern to the chiefs participating in the interview. They said volunteers understand that active service costs money, since many must purchase their own safety gear. This prompted statements about the need for financial support to cover the cost of firefighter training. Chiefs said that while most volunteers do not want to be paid for their services, they would like to have funding for new apparatus and equipment. Some chiefs suggested state income tax credits, educational tuition assistance, a pension program, and free license plates as legitimate incentives and rewards for people to serve as volunteer firefighters. It was evident from the interviews that some rural VFCs have mixed relationships with municipal officials. Some chiefs enjoyed strong working relationships that included significant financial support. Others stated that municipalities within the VFC service area do not accept any responsibility for funding. The chiefs discussed conflicts over how

Essay examples --

Justice Penny White of Tennessee, lost her retention election in 1996 after the Tennessee Conservative Union campaigned against her, saying she was soft on crime and capital punishment. A retention election is beneficial because it eliminates Justices that feel pity or emotion towards cases and/or people. Justice White for example ordered a new death sentence hearing for the case of State v. Odom and was knocked off the bench in a retention election because of her decision. This retention election process is beneficial because it allows citizens to retain judges who are doing significantly. It also allows us as citizens to vote off Judges who we think are doing poorly or do not represent us as a whole. Justice Penny White was voted off the ballot because citizen did not like the decision she made in the case on State v. Odom. Churches formed prayer circles to call community members stating that they would vote no for Justice White because she is evil. (Denver Bar Assoc iation.) White was opposed by a variety of victims' right groups as well as by Republic governor Don S... Essay examples -- Justice Penny White of Tennessee, lost her retention election in 1996 after the Tennessee Conservative Union campaigned against her, saying she was soft on crime and capital punishment. A retention election is beneficial because it eliminates Justices that feel pity or emotion towards cases and/or people. Justice White for example ordered a new death sentence hearing for the case of State v. Odom and was knocked off the bench in a retention election because of her decision. This retention election process is beneficial because it allows citizens to retain judges who are doing significantly. It also allows us as citizens to vote off Judges who we think are doing poorly or do not represent us as a whole. Justice Penny White was voted off the ballot because citizen did not like the decision she made in the case on State v. Odom. Churches formed prayer circles to call community members stating that they would vote no for Justice White because she is evil. (Denver Bar Assoc iation.) White was opposed by a variety of victims' right groups as well as by Republic governor Don S...

The Twilight Saga 3: Eclipse Acknowledgments

I would be very remiss if I did not thank the many people who helped me survive the birthing of another novel: My parents have been my rock; I don't know how anyone does this without a dad's good advice and a mom's shoulder to cry on. My husband and sons have been incredibly long-suffering-anyone else would have had me committed to an asylum long ago. Thanks for keeping me around, guys. My Elizabeth-Elizabeth Eulberg, publicist extraordinaire-has made all the difference to my sanity both on and off the road. Few people are lucky enough to work so closely with their BFF, and I am eternally grateful for the wholesomeness of cheese-loving Midwestern girls. Jodi Reamer continues to guide my career with genius and finesse. It is very comforting to know that I am in such good hands. It is also wonderful to have my manuscripts in the right hands. Thanks to Rebecca Davis for being so in tune with the story in my head and helping me find the best ways to express it. Thanks to Megan Tingley, first for your unwavering faith in my work, and second for polishing that work until it shines. Everyone at Little, Brown and Company Books for Young Readers has taken such amazing care of my creations. I can tell it is a true labor of love for you all, and I appreciate it more than you know. Thank you Chris Murphy, Shawn Foster, Andrew Smith, Stephanie Voros, Gail Doobinin, Tina McIntyre, Ames O'Neill, and the many others who have made the Twilight series a success. I can't believe how lucky I was to discover Lori Joffs, who somehow manages to be both the fastest and the most meticulous reader at the same time. I am thrilled to have a friend and accomplice who is so insightful, talented, and patient with my whining. Lori Joffs again, along with Laura Cristiano, Michaela Child, and Ted Joffs, for creating and maintaining the brightest star in the Twilight online universe, the Twilight Lexicon. I truly appreciate all the hard work you put into providing a happy place for my fans to hang out. Thanks also to my international friends at Crepusculo- es.com for a site so amazing it transcends the language barrier. Kudos as well to Brittany Gardener's fabulous work on the Twilight and New Moon by Stephenie Meyer MySpace Group, a fan site so large that the idea of keeping track of it boggles my mind; Brittany, you amaze me. Katie and Audrey, Bella Penombra is a thing of beauty. Heather, the Nexus rocks. I can't mention all the amazing sites and their creators here, but thank you very much to each of you. Many thanks to my cold readers, Laura Cristiano, Michelle Vieira, Bridget Creviston, and Kimberlee Peterson, for their invaluable input and encouraging enthusiasm. Every writer needs an independent bookstore for a friend; I'm so grateful for my hometown supporters at Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe, Arizona, and especially to Faith Hochhalter, who has brilliant taste in literature. I am in your debt, rock gods of Muse, for yet another inspiring album. Thank you for continuing to create my favorite writing music. I am also grateful to all the other bands on my playlist who help me through the writer's block, and to my new discoveries, Ok Go, Gomez, Placebo, Blue October, and Jack's Mannequin. Most of all, a gargantuan thank-you to all of my fans. I firmly believe that my fans are the most attractive, intelligent, exciting, and dedicated fans in the whole world. I wish I could give you each a big hug and a Porsche 911 Turbo. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any formor by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Little, Brown and Company

Antonio Gramsci - Biography and Intellectual Contributions

Antonio Gramsci - Biography and Intellectual Contributions Antonio Gramsci was an Italian journalist and activist who is known and celebrated for highlighting and developing the roles of culture and education within Marxs theories of economy, politics, and class. Born in 1891, he died at just 46 years of age as a consequence of serious health problems he developed while imprisoned by the fascist Italian government. Gramscis most widely read and notable works, and those that influenced social theory were written while he was imprisoned and published posthumously as  The Prison Notebooks. Today, Gramsci is considered a foundational theorist for the sociology of culture, and for articulating the important connections between culture, the state, the economy, and power relations. Gramsci’s theoretical contributions spurred the development of the field of cultural studies, and in particular, the field’s attention to the cultural and political significance of mass media. Gramscis Childhood and Early Life Antonio Gramsci was born on the island of Sardinia in 1891. He grew up in poverty amongst the peasants of the island, and his experience of the class differences between mainland Italians and Sardinians and the negative treatment of peasant Sardinians by mainlanders shaped his intellectual and political thought deeply. In 1911, Gramsci left Sardinia to study at the University of Turin in northern Italy and lived there as the city was industrialized. He spent his time in Turin amongst socialists, Sardinian immigrants, and workers recruited from poor regions to staff the urban factories. He joined the Italian Socialist Party in 1913. Gramsci  did not complete formal education, but was trained at the University as a Hegelian Marxist, and studied intensively the interpretation of Karl Marx’s theory as a â€Å"philosophy of praxis† under Antonio Labriola. This Marxist approach focused on the development of class consciousness and liberation of the working class through the process of struggle. Gramsci as Journalist, Socialist Activist, Political Prisoner After he left school, Gramsci wrote for socialist newspapers  and rose in the ranks of Socialist party. He and the Italian socialists became affiliated with Vladimir Lenin and the international communist organization known as the Third International. During this time of political activism, Gramsci advocated for workers’ councils and labor strikes as methods of taking control of the means of production, otherwise controlled by wealthy capitalists  to the detriment of the laboring classes. Ultimately, he helped found the Italian Communist Party to mobilize workers for their rights. Gramsci traveled to Vienna in 1923, where he met Georg  Lukcs, a prominent Hungarian Marxist thinker, and other Marxist and communist intellectuals and activists who would shape his intellectual work. In 1926, Gramsci, then the head of the Italian Communist Party, was imprisoned in Rome by Benito Mussolini’s fascist regime during its aggressive campaign of stamping out opposition politics. He was sentenced to twenty years in prison but was released in 1934 because of his very poor health. The bulk of his intellectual legacy was written in prison, and is known as â€Å"The Prison Notebooks.† Gramsci died in Rome in 1937, just three years after his release from prison. Gramscis Contributions to Marxist Theory Gramsci’s key intellectual contribution to Marxist theory  is his elaboration of the social function of culture  and its relationship to politics and the economic system. While Marx discussed only briefly these issues in his writing, Gramsci drew on Marx’s theoretical foundation to elaborate the important role of political strategy in challenging the dominant relations of society, and the role of the state in regulating social life and maintaining the conditions necessary for capitalism. He thus focused on understanding how culture and politics might inhibit or spur revolutionary change, which is to say, he focused on the political and cultural elements of power and domination (in addition to and in conjunction with the economic element). As such, Gramsci’s work is a response to the false prediction of Marx’s theory that revolution was inevitable, given the contradictions inherent in the system of capitalist production. In his theory, Gramsci viewed the state as an instrument of domination that represents the interests of capital and of the ruling class. He developed the concept of cultural hegemony to explain how the state accomplishes  this, arguing that domination is achieved in large part by  a dominant ideology expressed through social institutions that socialize people to consent to the rule of the dominant group. He reasoned that hegemonic beliefs dampen critical thought, and are thus barriers to revolution. Gramsci viewed the educational institution as one of the fundamental elements of cultural hegemony in modern Western society  and elaborated on this in essays titled â€Å"The Intellectuals†Ã‚  and â€Å"On Education.† Though influenced by Marxist thought, Gramsci’s body of work advocated for a multi-faceted  and more long-term revolution than that envisioned by Marx. He advocated for the cultivation of â€Å"organic intellectuals† from all classes and walks of life, who would understand and reflect the world views of a diversity of people. He critiqued the role of â€Å"traditional intellectuals,† whose work reflected the worldview of the ruling class, and thus facilitated cultural hegemony. Additionally, he advocated for a â€Å"war of position† in which oppressed peoples would work to disrupt hegemonic forces in the realm of politics and culture, while a simultaneous overthrow of power, a â€Å"war of maneuver,† was carried out.

Writing for the Health Markets

Writing for the Health Markets In case you had not noticed, America is getting older. And while that might cause alarm for some people, for freelance writers, it is time to dance a jig. Why? Because with the so-called graying of America, the opportunity to write for health markets has exploded and reached an all-time high. And it will continue to grow and grow and grow. Here are five  tips to keep in mind when writing for the health markets: Find the latest health and fitness news. Think like an editor, who is always trying to think like a reader. What is happening in the world of health and fitness, and why is it newsworthy? Find a timely topic in the health world, and you are one step closer to landing an assignment. There are thousands of websites that are devoted to health and fitness information. A good place to start is the Federal Governments own site, the National Institutes of Health. Visit them at nih.gov and youll find every health topic and late breaking bulletin there is. Target your audience. Know the audience of the magazine, newsletter or website, and your job as a health writer will be a lot easier. For example, does this publication like to include a lot of statistics and facts, or is it looking for more of the human side of the story? Read back issues, study the writers guidelines, and youll do fine. Know where to find statistics and facts. As a freelance health writer, you need to know how to research the basic health facts and statistics. Compile a list of reference books, directories (including online sources) and other health materials. A good place to start is a local university or college library. Or better yet, check with your local hospital; many times, they will have a health library that is open to the public. You wont find a better source of reference materials anywhere. Know where to get good quotes from doctors. If you have not yet visited www.profnet.com, then take a few moments and do so. It has the worlds largest group of experts in every field, and they are just waiting to answer your questions. Need a quote from a dentist? Go to ProfNet; need a quote from a heart surgeon? Go to Profnet. Dont write like a doctor. Unless you are a doctor, that is. But even if you are a doctor, remember that you are writing for a general consumer market (unless you are writing for a medical journal!). Dont use 18 letter words when shorter ones will work just as well. Read other general consumer health materials as a guide. Here are a few health markets that are actively seeking new articles: Health Central Find them online at https://www.healthcentral.com/ I recently sold two articles to them at $150 for 500 words. Everyday Health Find them online at https://www.everydayhealth.com/ Last year I wrote four articles for them at $350 for 600 words. When searching for new markets to sell health articles, dont forget to check out health and medical associations.   You can find lots of links right here: meditec.com/resourcestools/professional-associations-list/ Many associations use freelance writers on a regular basis.   A few years ago the American Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) hired me to update a Medicare manual.   Although the work was a little boring, it did pay nearly $6,000.

Michigan Liquor Control Commission Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Michigan Liquor Control Commission - Case Study Example . They can even decrease the transportation cost by directly supplying the goods to the retail outlets thus decreasing the number of state based stores. But downsizing may experience confrontation from the end of the labor unions as several workers will end up losing their jobs. The commission can even look at privatization as an option thus resulting in the decrease of the involvement of the state in the liquor industry. There are fewer chances that the state would take this option due to the heavy revenue earned from this sector. The money earned in revenue from liquor distribution and from the taxes applied on them is used for other welfare programs operated by the state. The state can invest in instituting proper information systems in order to identify issues in logistics and in order to meet customer demand in a better way. This implementation can be supported with increased supply of information between the retailers and the suppliers and thus will lead to better management of inventory and will lead to heavy reduction in cost. The state can even conduct bargaining with the suppliers as well as the retailers and distillers. Distillers store the supplied liquor and transfer it at higher prices to the sate stores and then the stores sell it at a much higher price. Thus the state can invest in MIS system to reduce the quantity of inventory managed by the distillers and negotiate with the state stores to charge lower markup in order to increase sales and can decrease the number of licenses it is issuing to retailers. 2. The best option available to the state for distilled liquor distribution is investment in proper management information system. A proper MIS system will increase the efficiency of distribution. This system will even decrease the quantity of liquor that is stored by distillers. A proper supply chain backed by management information system will report to the state about the needs of the consumers. Thus the amount of liquor supplied will be in c ompliance with consumer needs and extra storage cost will decline. The distillers will not have to store unpurified liquor for a longer period of time, thus they will charge lower storage cost. Decrease in storage cost will result in decline in the amount at which state stores obtain distilled liquor and thus they will sell it at lower prices to the retailers and the end customers will be able to obtain it at a much lower price. The problem with this issue is the implementation of change which may not be preferred by those who are inexperienced and do not have the proper training to work with the new change. Another cost will be the high cost of implementing a MIS system. The state cannot privatize the distribution of liquor as it will result in loss of heavy revenue. During the period of 1992 and 1993, the state earned total revenue of over $515 million through distribution of liquor (Bowersox, 1996, p.458). Secondly, privatization will result in reduction in cost of operations as private ownership will aim at gaining higher profits and thus they may close several second tier stores which will result in loss of jobs and this will not be liked by the unions such as the UAW and they might take up strike as an option, thus resulting in complete stoppage of the operations. 3. Several considerations might be of great amount of importance and are needed to be taken into consideration while making any changes. Previously the state had adopted prohibition policy in order to restrict the activity of bootlegging but still bootlegging continued to operate in the region of Michigan. The state realized that prohibition was not a good idea and they took the industry under their own control and ended up earning heavy amount of revenue and the heavy revenue it earned due to its

How cultural values get reflected in technological artifacts Essay

How cultural values get reflected in technological artifacts - Essay Example Poster informs that the media of first media age is centralized and restricted as it is in the hands of certain producers and consumers who use media for their own purposes. Moreover, Poster adds that no value is given to culture in first media age while the second media age because of its being unrestricted will give value to culture. Technology helps any culture to depict its cultural values. With the help of technological development, media is going to be free to reveal its culture with freedom, as is informed by Poster. According to Poster, technology has affected the society and culture as a whole because it is only because of technological developments that the media is going to enter from first media age to the second media age. With technological development, there will also be culture development and media will enjoy more freedom as compared to its previous status. According to Poster, with the help of technology and culture in the second media age, the communication process will be decentralized. According to Mark Poster, the second media age is closely related to enhancement in technology. Mark Poster informs with the help of interface that the technology has improved. According to him, the word interface means a connection between human beings and the machines. Computers have an interface that allow them to be connected to human beings, while being worked at. According to Mark Poster, it is the technology that can be considered as associated to the second media age. With the help of technology, the second media age will be more supportive for media. Communication in second media age will be decentralized. Winner, in his article, â€Å"Do Artifacts Have Politics?† informs that culture and technology are related to politics. According to Winner, technological design, artifacts and social order have the power to affect the affairs of a community.