Essay Sample on Developing Strategies to Address Strategic Issues

Essay Sample on Developing Strategies to Address Strategic Issues Every organization needs to adapt to changes in the business environment. In so doing a strategy has to be formulated that will aid in the transformation of the business. This requires thinking and analyzing the current business state compared with the targeted state that the management desires. The strategies instituted must be in line with the business mandate and must be able to create public value. Strategies instituted may involve continuation of specific practice or the complete cessation of the same. The organization strategy may also be targeting the organization in its entirety or specific departments or franchise. There are various considerations that can be made while making a company strategy, these include: The new capabilities and skills that will be needed in achieving the desired target. It would also be important to consider how such a strategy would affect the workforce composition. The desired results after the implementation of the strategy. The entire structure of the business enterprise would be considered taking in the reconfigurations needed to deliver the intended target and goals. Characteristics of effective business strategies It is common for individuals to assume that setting business strategy is a simple activity yet this is quite wrong in the context of the organization. It is important for top level management to understand the set procedures for a successful strategic planning. The strategy instituted must be followed by action. Employees need to understand the new strategy being employed in order for them to realize that the whole organization is needed to capture the set goals. The management must ensure that they consolidate the department action plans into a full organization plan. It is important that every unit of the organization sets its own strategy while the management team synchronizes these plans to form a complete strategy for the organization. The top management team must be fully involved in the strategic planning. There are different types of strategies employed by organizations. This include: Coordinate departmental activities- the different departments and sections of the organization are run by managers who ensure employees in that particular unit are operating under the same target. Develop distinctive advantages- developing competitive advantage is important in establishing a successful organization core competencies. This includes attaining economic resources at a cheaper price than other competitors. Marking market niches- this involves conducting a comprehensive economic analysis and identifying the unique consumer demand trends. Monitor product strategies- organizations must review business-level strategies in their daily operations. This allows the organizations to be flexible in the business environment. Vision Office Systems, Inc. The company is based in Charlotte and has over 150 years of experience in office equipments supply and dealership. The company boasts of technicians who are factory certified. The company supplies state of the art machines for the modern hi-tech office. The company lays emphases on ensuring customers are satisfied with their services. The products supplied by the company include Ricoh, Kyocera, Samsung and Canon. Strategic issues It is evident that not all issues under the strategic plan are strategic. The method used to determine whether an issue is strategic includes: Determining whether the issue is likely to hold an effect on the way the organization conducts its mission. The issue must be one that the organization may expect to have influence. The issue must generate a response of pure organizational commitment on resources. The strategic plan of Vision Office Systems Mission Statement The company has put great emphasis on satisfying customers’ needs. The company ensures that communication between the customer and business is maintained. Strategic Analysis This involves evaluating the existing business scenario and the future plan and vision. The company has always hired service technicians that are fully certified. This ensures that the services offered to their customers are of high quality. The company has also dedicated fully its operations to printer, copier and the facsimile business segment. This has ensured that the services are more specialized and hence easier to implement. The management team ensured that the response time to their customers does not exceed four hours and that customers are not directed to voicemail. Strategy for attaining the plan The company believes in supplying the best office equipments available in the market. That is why the company has dedicated to only supply brands such as Ricoh, Kyocera and Samsung. These are the best known and trusted office equipment brands. Customers normally tend to be loyal to the most reliable brands and not necessarily the cheapest. The corporation has gone further to providing a 5 year performance guarantee. This is advantageous in pulling more customers since they would want to purchase equipments which can be serviced in case of a breakdown. Strategic issues are technically significant in the planning process. The entire plan can have a positive impact to the business through increasing employee morale and the number of customers. Strategic planning enables businesses maintain a strong position in the industry. It is imperative for Vision office to uphold their plan and not deviate. The management needs to familiarize the employees on new practices they need to employee. At CustomWritings.com you can buy an essay paper online, written from scratch. We hire highly qualified writers to provide students with original essays and research papers of superior quality.

Dont Hate Me Because Im Beautiful

Dont Hate Me Because Im Beautiful Don’t Hate Me Because I’m Beautiful Don’t Hate Me Because I’m Beautiful By Mary When it comes to writing, looks matter just as much as substance. Don’t get me wrong, there is no substitute for high quality writing. But great writing poorly presented will be just as ineffective as bad writing. Several years ago when I was working in an advertising agency, I received a resume from someone who was applying for a copywriting job. The resume had chocolate (I hope!) smudges all over it. That sent a very clear message to me about how meticulous this person would be when it came to being careful about the appearance of work that went out of his office. Needless to say, I moved on to the next applicant. Recently I was working with a young lady who was looking for an entry-level clerical job. She told me that she recently completed a resume writing class and proudly showed me a very nicely written and formatted resume printed on paper that was completely covered with yellow daisies. This paper might have been perfect for an invitation to a garden party, but for a resume it was completely inappropriate. The scary thing is that her resume was approved by the person who taught the class. We do judge books by their cover. We do it every day, and we do it without being aware that we are doing it. We also judge letters, resumes, and memos by the way they are formatted and presented. What message is the appearance of your writing sending about you? Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the General category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 Types of Narrative Conflict40 Fish IdiomsCapitalizing Titles of People and Groups

Is the 'Kolb cycle' helpful or a hindrance in planning a church's Essay

Is the 'Kolb cycle' helpful or a hindrance in planning a church's strategy for Christian education of adults - Essay Example The experimentation stage involves planning out and implementing what they have learnt. The cycle attempts to explain learning behaviours in group environments, and how the group members support one another to learn. At the core of the cycle’s understanding is the belief that learning is solely based on internal cognitive processes (Kolb 1984, pp. 43-44). The cycle considers an individual to be effectively learning when they; experience a scenario; observe and reflect on their experience; reviewed their knowledge based on the observations and reflections; and test their new knowledge to have new experiences. In essence, effective learning involves an individual going through all the four sequential stages in a never ending cycle. While describing the four stages in the learning cycle, Kolb also identified four types of students based on the students’ response to the cycle. The first type includes those who prefer observation and theoretical solution of problems at the expense of taking action. The second type includes those who organise ideas into logical formats. The third type includes those who apply theories and ideas in practical problem solving. The fourth type includes those who rely on intuition at the expense of logic in solving problems (Kolb 1999, p. 47; McLeod 2010). Each learner will show a strong inclination and preference for a specific learning type approach, and differences in the ability to switch between different types. Learners with a clearly preferred learning style will tend to learn more effectively if the learning experience is oriented towards their preference. Tensions can develop when teachers and students use different learning types in the same setting. If possible, it is imperative that teachers identify their students learning style and facilitate learning environments that build on their strengths, though the students must develop abilities

Economic issue Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Economic issue - Essay Example The progressive widening of this gap occasions the government to take an active role in addressing emerging issues in that regard. Wealth concentration to a few people while the rest of the population battles poverty and middle class-related social and economic issues only worsens the state of the larger economy. In this respect, it is important to review the minimum upwards. Finally yet importantly, putting more money into people’s pockets will ultimately improve life standards in diverse and dynamic ways. More people across America will realize improved purchasing power, consumption of goods and services will increase, and reliance on unemployment benefits will reduce as more people enter the job market. Even though minimum wage debates have proven to be contentious, it is important to consider individual and/or household benefits that an increase in minimum wage will provide to the American population. Morath, Eric. White House: State, Local Minimum-Wage Efforts to Help 7 Million Workers. The Wall Street Journal, Aug. 12, 2014. Web. 15 Sept. 2014.

Student Services and Student Success Essay Example for Free

Student Services and Student Success Essay The literature review tackles on the research problem: â€Å"School Services: Its Role in and Contribution to College Student Success†. It includes researches done on school services and student success. The organization of this review is on the order of answering the research questions. A SUCCESSFUL STUDENT The first research question is: What are the indicators of college student success? The review will look into (a) the definition of student success, and (2) how schools particularly in higher educational institutions measure student success. What does it take to be successful? As what students would always ask as soon as they enter college life. But how do we describe a successful student? According to Zepke, Leach, and Butler (2011) student success is â€Å"variously understood as engagement, persistence, completion, graduation and entry to employment† (p. 227). But not merely limited to achieving high scores in an exam but to put in a deeper sense, success covers a wider aspect in a student’s life. In the article, The Thriving Quotient by Shreiner (2010) common notion equates student success with academic performance and persistence to graduation. She further emphasizes that for those â€Å"who have worked extensively with students know that there is more to a successful college experience than grades and graduation† (p. 3). There is an empirical factor that drives students to succeed. There is the existence of a thriving quotient, where thriving is â€Å"describing the experiences of college students who are fully engaged intellectually, socially, and emotionally† (p. 4). These thriving students will have a deeper sense of fulfillment that extends beyond academics but with other aspects of learning as well. This will allow them to gain more than mere conceptual ideas but experiential learning too. And in order to help institutions measure their effectiveness in providing students with worthwhile college experiences, she developed an instrument that measures thriving. Analyses indicated that thriving is â€Å"indeed a distinct construct comprised of: (1) engaged learning, (2) academic determination, (3) positive perspective, (4) diverse citizenship, and (5) social connectedness† (p. 5). Institutions, therefore, play an important role in ensuring that students perspective in life is positive, â€Å"students with a positive perspective keep trying; even when progress is slow or difficult, they remain confident of their ability to achieve the final outcome and therefore persist in the face of challenges† (p. 7). Moreover, the students should be given an opportunity to â€Å"envision a bright future for themselves, and this image serves to motivate them to persevere when the going gets tough† (p. 8). Therefore, higher institutions should focus on how students thrive, more than just surviving college life since it connotes a deeper understanding of student success. On the other hand, in Fostering Student Success in the Campus Community, Kramer and Assoc. (2007) explain, student success â€Å"takes on a variety of forms and is related to a multitude of characteristics, conditions, indicators, outcomes, and institution-specific factors† (p. 433). It takes on different variations depending on the circumstances of the student. Each student has different needs and they face various types of deterrents for success. This implies that different approaches should be laid down and prepared to address these various needs. Another point, higher educational institution should not only look into graduation as their sole basis for student success but rather look into other indicators as well. Bailey (2006, as cited in Kramer, 2007) enumerates the following indicators: (a) student’s skills for work; (b) employment for the purpose of serving the society; (c) getting hired after completing coursework; (d) being financially literate; (e) engagement in civic works; (f) achieving basic general information; (g) licenses and certifications, and (g) continuing learning. These indicators will facilitate in assessing student success. Another important matter that needs to be factored in when we talk about student success is the role of assessment and evaluation of programs and services. This will help gauge the amount of learning that students receive from their academics and non-academic experience. Likewise, the institution will be able to tailor fit their service offerings based on these assessments. Certainly, there should be a drive to foster student success at all times. STUDENT SERVICES Every institution must provide for the needs of its students. They shall aspire to meet the demands of the changing times as well as the evolving kind of students that we have now. In order to do so, each institution is called to provide services to address these demands. This brings me to my second research question that is: What student services are expected to be provided by higher educational institutions? According to Arbuckle (1953), the need for student services is inevitable. He says, â€Å"Most college students are adolescents, and, even in an environment where they are understood and accepted, for almost every student there will be occasions when he will be in need of assistance† (p.1). This entails that each student is expecting help from any authority as soon as they step into the school. Furthermore, â€Å"every institution of higher learning needs a program of student services that is dedicated to the welfare of the individual student† (p. 2). The institution then has the responsibility to ensure that they provide services that will address the concern of all students. Needless to say, the programs and services of the institution should cater to the holistic development of the student –physically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually, as well as intellectually. Those services mentioned in the book are the following: â€Å"(a) admissions, (b) orientation, (c) counseling, (d) occupations, (e) health, (f) student aid, (g) religion, (h) housing and dining, (i) student activities, and (j) teaching† (p. 22). With each of these services addresses specific concerns that each student experience in school. For Kramer and Assoc. (2003), there are those services which are intended for the purpose of providing students with opportunities to enrich themselves through programs intended for personal development and learning. It is also intended to assist the student in their academic deficiencies, as well as to prevent future academic and personal difficulties. Finally, services will facilitate the students stay in the university as comfortably as possible. It is also important to note that an effective program and service engages the student both in the learning and assessment process. This involvement will provide the student an opportunity to reflect on its own performance and allows them to realize ways on how to deal with barriers that hamper their own success. The student should be given the chance to fully optimize the learning that is available both inside and outside of the classroom. In The role of student affairs and services in higher education: a practical manual for developing, implementing and assessing student affairs programmes and services the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO, 2002) clearly states that in an institution the office of student affairs is among one of those who provide critical programs and services to students. They have the task of providing highly effective and efficient services that enhances student learning likewise increase student retention and graduation rates. The student affairs practitioners are supposed to be knowledgeable with regard to dealing with students. They should have an in-depth knowledge of the uniqueness of each student, generally in all aspects as well as their behavior and motivation which are all critical factors that uphold student success. The manual â€Å"focuses on ways to build an effective student affairs and services operation that puts the student at the center of all efforts by supporting students in their academic endeavors and enhancing their personal, social, cultural, and cognitive development† (p. 2). Moreover, the manual presented different programs and services used in other countries as well. In light of the emerging student type, there came a need to establish programs and services which encompasses â€Å"recreation, cultural activities, sports, testing, orientation, career assistance, job placement, financial assistance, and disability services† (p.22). This later on were enhanced and made in collaboration with the academic units in order to produce an integrated student-centered programs and services. Hence, providing programs and services to students is an unending process. It continuously evolves as the students evolve themselves differently year in year out. Therefore, it is a necessity to constantly conduct assessment and evaluation of programs and services to check its applicability to the current set of students. In the Philippines, according to Memorandum Order no. 21, also known as â€Å"Guidelines on Student Affairs and Student Services,† of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED, 2006), states that in any university or school, the student affairs and services â€Å"are concerned with non-academic experiences of students to attain total student development† (p. 2). Just the same, the holistic development of a student should and always be the guiding principle in an institution. And in order to facilitate student development towards student success, an institution should provide the following services to its students: (A) Student welfare programs and services, include (1) information and orientation, (2) scholarships and financial assistance, (3) health, (4) guidance and counseling, (5) food, (6) career and placement, (7) safety and security, (8) student discipline, (9) student housing, (10) services for students with special needs, (11) international students services, (12) admission, (13) research, monitoring, and evaluation of student affairs and services. Then, (B) Student development programs and services, include (1) student organizations and activities, (2) student council/ government, (3) leadership training program, (4) student publication, (5) sports development programs, (6) cultural programs, (7) social and community involvement, and (8) multi-faith services. (pp. 5-10) All these programs and services are multi-faceted that are geared towards creating an institutional environment wherein each students’ experience are worthwhile. STUDENT SERVICES and STUDENT SUCCESS It is apparent that student services should be assessed or evaluated whether it contribute and pose a positive impact on the lives of the students most specifically in the attainment of success. For Morante (2003), assessment of academic and student services is essential. Assessment will enable the institution to identify whether their programs are effective and if it provides a positive impact on students. The function of which is: â€Å"(a) to focus on student learning outcomes (SLO’s),which includes processes, especially in seeking ongoing improvement, (b) to demonstrate and improve student learning and student success, and (c) to facilitate accreditation, accountability and institutional effectiveness † (p. 3). The third research question is: Which of these student services have been shown to positively contribute to student success? In what ways did it contribute? In the article of Chaney, Muraskin, Cahalan, and Goodwin (1998), they found that with the use of â€Å"Student Support Services (SSS)† (p.197), there were significant changes in the progress of disadvantaged student in higher education in the United States (U. S. ). They conducted a longitudinal study of the effect of SSS on retention. Clearly the â€Å"results confirm that retention programs should address both academic and social integration on campus† (p. 197). The SSS is one of the largest programs provided by the U. S. Department of Education to the following groups of people: â€Å"(a) low income, (b) first-generation college students, and (c) physically handicapped† (p. 198). The SSS is comprised of services which are specifically selected to cater to a certain group of people. It include, â€Å" counseling, tutoring, workshops, labs, cultural events, special services to handicapped students, and instructional courses† (p. 198) Some other important points tackled were participation, student integration and the amount of services provided as factors contributing to the positive effect of SSS to retention. Keep in mind that retention is likewise is attributed to student success; therefore, it can be qualified that the SSS program will have a positive impact on student success. The SSS program facilitated students’ capacity to stay in college by providing sufficient amount of help needed to succeed. To cite a specific example showing a significant and positive impact on student’s success is the study conducted by Lanasa, Olson, and Alleman (2007). They examined whether providing a resident hall within the campus would increase student engagement that will eventually lead to student success. Relatively, the on-campus residence hall may have helped students to have more time for outside of the classroom engagements. Nonetheless, the institution will still need to focus on other programs and services for the students that will form part the entire learning process of the student. On the other hand, institutions should also address the needs of all types of students. It is a reality that in every institution there are students who are â€Å"special†, those who are challenged in various ways. Capper, Frattura, and Keyes (2000), connotes that all people even those with special needs, have an equal opportunity in an institution to learn and succeed. They believe that these students â€Å"have a continuum of needs—physical, social, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual—that fluctuate and vary over time, depending on circumstances† (p 1). Then in order for these types of students to succeed, the institution should learn the fundamentals in addressing the students need and eventually unlocking all of his or her potential and capacity to learn. They taught students with special abilities by looking deeply into the specific need that needed attention. Programs were tailored-fit depending on a specific need the student has. Continuous monitoring and evaluation is done in order to ensure that students are able to follow and eventually learn. RELEVANCE OF THE REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE After going through all that was mentioned on student services and its role in and contribution to student success, I am convinced that indeed student services play an important, more so, critical role in promoting student success in higher education. Moreover, Drake (2005) in his article mentioned about the collaboration of academic and student affairs to boost student learning and success in the school. Basically, everybody in the institution has a role to play in assuring the success of a student both inside and outside the classroom. Furthermore, the institution should support programs and services that promote student learning and success. REFERENCES: Arbuckle, D. (1953). Student personnel services in higher education. US: McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. Capper, C. , Frattura, E. , Keyes, M. (2000). Meeting the needs of students of all abilities: How leaders go beyond inclusion. US: Corwin Press, Inc. Chaney, B. , Muraskin, L. , Cahalan, M. , Goodwin, D. (1998). Helping the progress of disadvantaged students in higher education: The federal student support services program. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, Vol. 20 No. 3, 197-215. CHED. (2006). Guidelines on Student Affairs and Services Program. Retrieved August 10, 2011 from http://www. ched. gov. ph/chedwww/index. php/eng/Information/CHED-Memorandum-Orders/2006-CHED-Memorandum-Orders. Dale, P. and Drake, T. (2005) Connecting Academic and Student Affairs to Enhance Student Learning and Success. New Directions for Community Colleges, No. 131, 51-64. Kramer and Assoc. (2003) Student Academic Services. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley Sons, Inc. Kramer and Assoc. (2007) Fostering student success in the campus community. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley Sons, Inc. Lanasa, S. , Olson, E. Alleman, N. (2007). The impact of on-campus student growth on first-year student engagement and success. Research in Higher Education, Vol. 48, No. 8. doi: 10. 1007/s11162-007-9056-5. Morante, E. (2003). Assessing student services and academic support services. iJournal: Insight Into Student Services, Issue No. 4, 2-8. Schreiner, L. (2010). The â€Å"thriving quotient†: A new vision for student success. About Campus , 2-10. doi: 10. 1002. abc. 20016 UNESCO. (2002). The role of student affairs and services in higher education: a practical manual for developing, implementing and assessing student affairs programmes and services. Retrieved August 10, 2011 from http://unesdoc. unesco. org/images/0012/001281/128118e. pdf. Zepke, Nick, Leach, Linda, Butler, Philippa (2011). Non-institutional influences and student perceptions of success Studies in Higher Education, Vol. 36 Issue 2, 227-242.

Local Involvement :: Development, Farmers

One main issue about local involvement is how to integrate participatory principles in the present dominant top-down hierarchical extension system in developing countries. In the study about participatory extension approach in Vietnam, Minh et al. (2000) examine the potential and challenges to scale up several new participatory principles (participatory-based training methods, interactive training sessions, group-based sharing experience, practical learning, and learning-by-doing process) in the existing supply-driven extension system. They found that by the help of external support, the approach has been proved to be successful to be applied in farmer level. In order to institutionalize this approach, they recommend using a stepwise procedure, in which it must be initiated by identifying the core problems of the existing extension system and the capacities and then gradually introducing the innovations rather than giving them on the whole. Other issue about local involvement is how to integrate farmers’ innovation into wider existing formal institutional system. Tchawa et al. (2002) assess the Participatory Technology Development in Cameroon, in which they institute that such an innovation may be effectively adopted by the various social actors involved in it, even though it requires difficult learning process difficult at the beginning of the implementation. Taking the case of soil and water conservation, this participatory approach integrating indigenous practices and modern agricultural innovations using the techniques of informal and formal learning (pp. 206-211) However, one study showed that collaboration that involving farmers must be accomplished carefully because of the possibility of social bias. The study of collaborative research-extension plans conducted in Iran indicate that the joint plans, although able to promote collaboration between extension workers and researchers, and extension workers and farmers, the results of this study indicate that such a cooperation plan may be more adaptive to larger-scale farmer segments than the smaller ones. (Movahedi et al., 2007). (pp.304-309Â ¬) Other social segment that should be considered is the young farmers. Auta et al. (2010), in the study of Nigerian youth farmers, argue that the youth needs agricultural trainings as well as more access to agricultural inputs and services to enable them participate in agricultural activities continuously, particularly under scarcity of food availability. Other focal extension issue in developing countries is about partnership among agricultural actors. In the study of cost-sharing scheme, as part of relationship reform between government and farmers extension service, Ozor et al., 2007) found that both farmers and extension workers hold positive perceptions regarding this new partnership scheme; 80.

Analyze the change and continuities in commerce along the Indian Ocean from 650 to1750 C.E. Pgs

Analyze the change and continuities in commerce along the Indian Ocean from 650 to1750 C. E. Pgs. Across the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, from 650- 1750 C. E. , theIndian Ocean trade had many changes and continuities. Economically, the IndianOcean trade stayed the same with its spread of goods from one place to another, but changed because of the ways goods were traded along this trade route. Culturally,the Indian Ocean trade stayed the same because of the same continuous spread of religion and ideas, and changed because of the diffusion of thereligions alreadydominant in places.Politically, the Indian Ocean trade stayed the same in the sensethat it flourished while under the control of strong Analyze the change and continuities in commerce along the Indian Ocean from 650 to1750 C. E. Pgs. Across the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, from 650- 1750 C. E. , theIndian Ocean trade had many changes and continuities. Economically, the IndianOcean trade stayed the same with it s spread of goods from one place to another, but changed because of the ways goods were traded along this trade route.Culturally,the Indian Ocean trade stayed the same because of the same continuous spread of religion and ideas, and changed because of the diffusion of thereligions alreadydominant in places. Politically, the Indian Ocean trade stayed the same in the sensethat it flourished while under the control of strong Analyze the change and continuities in commerce along the Indian Ocean from 650 to1750 C. E. Pgs. Across the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, from 650- 1750 C. E. , theIndian Ocean trade had many changes and continuities.Economically, the IndianOcean trade stayed the same with its spread of goods from one place to another, but changed because of the ways goods were traded along this trade route. Culturally,the Indian Ocean trade stayed the same because of the same continuous spread of religion and ideas, and changed because of the diffusion of thereligions alr eadydominant in places.

Unfortunate Incident At Your Restaurant

Dear manager of Bella NapoliI am writing to you because of an unfortunate incident yesterday at noontime. You see, what happened was that my son and I wanted to enjoy a beverage and maybe something to eat, but we couldn’t get a table. According to your waiter, all tables were reserved. This, I am sure wasn’t the case, as the restaurant was totally empty†¦Therefore I am writing this complaint to you, as I don’t want to be treated that way. I was actually in a good mood but that incompetent waiter practically ruined my day. I was speaking Italy, but the rude waiter apparently did not understand it. Nevertheless, I wanted to point out to you, that one of your waiters had bad manners, and that I find this unacceptable.I – before this incident – had a good impression of your restaurant, but unless I am going to be given a proper and formal apology, this was my last time at your restaurant. Furthermore I will spread the word, this will be very unplea sant for your restaurant and will affect your sales.I hope I have made myself very clear. The formal apology must be given within 14 days or else the word will spread and I will consider legal actions.I look forward to hearing from you soon,Yours faithfullyJohn Collins

Adventures On The Rapids Essays - Rafting, Rapids, Free Essays

Adventures On The Rapids Essays - Rafting, Rapids, Free Essays Adventures On The Rapids Adventures on the Rapids This could be your last meal, my mother jokingly said before we left that day. The day was bright, and the sun gleaming. The group packed into the muggy van, it was stifling hot, and downright uncomfortable. On a hot summer Missouri day, in the middle of July, your shirt clung to your damp skin. The mission: White Water Rafting. The drive to the river, where we would begin our incredible journey, seemed to last endless miles. The humidity was almost unbearable; the van had absolutely no ventilation. Fifteen people packed like sardines, anticipating beginning the trip over the rapids. Envisioning the cool water splashing on our sunburned faces. Fleeing from the van was like jumping from a burning building. Bathing suits on, sunblock applied, strength in tact, we were set. Waiting for the moment when we were able to jump into the raft, and head down stream. Savoring our feet splashing in the chilly water. What we didn't know, was what the day was about to become, and how it could have changed our lives forever. Less than two hours from now, we would know. I was assigned to a raft with my brother, my friend, and the river guide. The adults went in another. About an hour after we left, we made our first stop; an enormous rock midstream. We sat there for several minutes hopped back into the raft and we were on our way, rushing down the river, nearing towards the end. As we approached the last of the rapids, our guide asked if we wanted to surf up them. Surfing is basically paddling up a rapid. We practiced for several minutes, because you have to get used to paddling against the current, then you can go up against a rapid. We were prepared, and ready for the last of the excitement in our adventure on the rapids. Fighting our way up the rapid, it all played out in slow motion. We paddled hard, and so powerfully. I remember it being like a space ship bursting into the sky, or a bomb exploding, when another raft came charging down the rapid, crashing into my side of the raft. I was thrown off the raft, into the bitterly frigid water. All playing back in my head now, even slower I found myself panicking. I realized that my foot had been lodged in between two rocks. As my life is flashing before my eyes, I saw fearful people above the water. I was unbelievably frightened. I heard screams, and yelling from above water. Then I thought to myself, What if I can't see images of my life seconds from now? What if I can't feel terrified? What if I can't see the people just above me? Abruptly, as if I was released from a funnel cloud. I was pushed into the stream. Now I was gliding downstream. My foot was released, my fear calmed, and the images weren't flashing anymore. I was safe.

Wildlife and the Pittman-Robertson Act

Wildlife and the Pittman-Robertson Act The early part of the 20th century was a low point for many wildlife species in North America. Market hunting had decimated shorebird and duck populations. Bison were dangerously close to extinction. Even beavers, Canada geese, whitetail deer, and wild turkeys, all common nowadays, reached very low densities. That period became a pivotal moment in conservation history, as a few conservation pioneers turned concern into action. They are responsible for several key pieces of legislation which became the first North American wildlife protection laws, including the Lacey Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. On the heels of that success, in 1937 a new law was enacted to fund wildlife conservation: the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (nicknamed for its sponsors as the Pittman-Robertson Act, or PR Act). The funding mechanism is based on a tax: for every purchase of firearms and ammunition an excise tax of 11% (10% for handguns) is included in the sale price. The excise tax is also collected for the sale of bows, crossbows, and arrows. Who Gets PR Funds? Once collected by the federal government, a small portion of the funds go toward hunter education programs and target shooting range maintenance projects. The rest of the funds are available to individual states for wildlife restoration purposes. In order for a state to collect Pittman-Robertson funds, it must have an agency designated as responsible for wildlife management. Every state has one these days, but this caveat was originally a powerful incentive for states to get serious about taking steps toward wildlife conservation. The amount of funds a state is allocated any given year is based on a formula: half the allocation is in proportion to the state’s total area (therefore, Texas will get more money than Rhode Island), and the other half is based on the number of hunting licenses sold that year in that state. It is because of this fund allocation system that I often encourage non-hunters to purchase a hunting license. Not only do the proceeds of the license sale go to a state agency working hard to manage our natural resources, but your license will help funnel more money from the federal government into your own state and assist in protecting biodiversity. What Are PR Funds Used For? The PR Act allowed the distribution of $760.9 million for the purpose of wildlife restoration in 2014. Since its inception, the Act generated over $8 billion in revenue. In addition to building shooting ranges and providing hunter education, these monies have been used by state agencies to purchase millions of acres of wildlife habitat, conduct habitat restoration projects, and hire wildlife scientists. It is not just game species and hunters who benefit from PR funds, as projects are often focused on non-game species. Plus, most of the visitors of protected state lands come for non-hunting activities like hiking, canoeing, and birding. Â   The program has been so successful that a very similar one was designed for recreational fisheries and enacted in 1950: the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act, which is often referred to as the Dingell-Johnson Act. Through an excise tax on fishing equipment and motorboats, in 2014 the Dingell-Johnson Act led to the redistribution of $325 million in funding to restore fish habitat. Sources The Wildlife Society. Policy Briefs: Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act. United States Department of the Interior. Press Release, 3/25/2014. Follow Dr. Beaudry: Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter | Google

Service Marketing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words - 1

Service Marketing - Research Paper Example Marketing challenges are a common issue for all service companies. The major focus of these companies is to highlight intangible or tangible element present within the service aspect. In this research study five different companies will be included belonging to different service sectors. The various service sectors chosen for this study are financial services, telecommunication services, airlines, hospitality and health care services. Financial services are usually provided by finance industry and are regarded as economic services. There is wide range of firms belonging to this industry like banks, insurance companies, real estate funds, credit unions, investment funds, accountancy companies, etc. Air transport services are another well-known service for travelling freight and passengers. Telecommunication service is all about enhancing transfer capabilities of user information through telecommunication systems. On the other hand, health care services are highly responsible for provi ding appropriate health care facilities to patients. Hospitality services are inclined towards providing guests accommodation facilities, travel, food, other amenities, etc. Etisalat is the brand name for Emirates Telecommunications Corporation. The company belongs to the telecommunication industry and was founded in 1976. Etisalat is a well-known telecommunication service provider based in UAE. In current scenario the company operates across 15 countries encompassing Asia, Africa and Middle East. The company is ranked as 12th largest operator of mobile network across the globe. Total customer base of the firm is about 150 million. Services being offered by the company are mobile and fixed line telephony, digital television and internet services. It can be stated that fixed line telephony and digital television is a form of tangible substance being offered by Etisalat. The company has even entered into approximately 150 roaming agreements, expanding across 186