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By Kenneth Stepp
Today is a typical Saturday. The day for track meets and kids visiting my kids, the day to sit, think, and occasionally write. I remember when times were different. First, I was younger and in good shape. Some memories even portray me with hair. But I have some memories that were about my kids. I'm in them, but my kids are the stars of them.
When my daughter, Kathryn was born. We had a great pregnancy. It was just perfect. But near the due date my wife began bleeding. I do not freak out when things like this happen. The "worst case" just doesn't enter my mind. We went to the hospital, as it was just a few days from the due date. They took one look and rushed my wife off to Neonatal Care. Now I was worried. After a short amount of time the doctor came to talk to me. "Mr Stepp. "We can save your wife but the baby is in distress" . It's funny how much of an impact the word "but" can have. My knees literally buckled. I had read to this child, talked to her, and as horrible as I sang, I sang to this baby. I already loved her. All I could do was sit, cry, and wait. Seconds turned to minutes and on it went. Praying and calling others to pray was my way of processing.
All of the sudden the surgical team came out. The doctor himself came through the door with the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen. I will never forget that moment. The moment when my little girl lived. Somewhere there exists a picture of me leaning back in a chair eyes closed holding Kathryn. It was about 15 minutes later. That was a favorite memory.
When my son Daniel was born times were tough. I ran a small business and had almost no money at all. He was an amazing little boy. I use to follow him around the house just watching how his mind worked. My thoughts about his intellect were correct. He did turn out to be a verified genius. Stellar as a matter of fact. One day when he was 3 years old. I was sitting in the living room and I could hear Kathryn and him playing in the hallway. "It's broken" Kathryn exclaimed. There was a brief pause. "Daddy fix it" Daniel said confidently. As I sat thinking about his statement I realized he thought far more than he should of a man with feet of clay. But it felt awfully good at that moment. That was a favorite memory.
My son, Samuel and I use to pray together every morning in the same place. On our knees in front of the love seat in our den. As he got older our schedules changed, he entered his teens and I lost my prayer partner. One day in the early morning before I started waking everyone for school, i was in that spot praying quietly, lights off, on my knees, still dark outside. I heard someone come downstairs, I got quieter but continued. Knowing no one could see me where I was, I just thought i'd finish up. All of the sudden I felt someone beside me. It was my son, now a teen and struggling to be cool. Just assumed his old spot. That was a favorite memory.
In November of 2011 my father passed away. Up until 3 or 4 months before he passed away I thought he was doing fine. You see they lived in Kentucky on the Stepp Farm with my brothers. They all built fine homes a distance from each other. Really, a nice place. I went to see dad and no sooner was I back in Atlanta my brother called with the news he was gone. I had no idea what the flood of memories would do to me. I just wept. He was my strong man. He defined what a man was to me and unconditional love. I was picking Sarah Beth up at school. She was 16. I got myself together but just couldn't quite keep myself there. I just started crying again. Sarah Beth immediately put one arm around my neck and began praying the most beautiful prayer I had ever heard. She was telling God about me. "This man", over and over reminding me how much she loved me and all the things I did in her life. I was moved, humbled, and forever touched. That was a favorite memory.
Take just a few moments and remember yours. It is truly an experience I hope to repeat often. I have more, but these were standouts for me.


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Entertainment & Education
This page features educational videos from various sources/ organizations regarding vegetarian issues. We provide these links as a service the community, and although we review each site before adding it to this page, we take no responsibility for the content.
- Compassion Over Killing: Based in Washington, D.C. with an office in Los Angeles also, Compassion Over Killing is an incredible resources for vegan living, including a vegetarian starter kit, outreach programs, and even a Los Angeles Vegetarian Restaurant Guide!
- Earthlings: An utterly gruesome film about the horrors that go on in food production and other industries in which animals are exploited.
- Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead: A documentary about a guy who lost a lot of weight when he started juicing. I haven't seen it, but many people have told me it inspired them to go vegetarian.
- Forks Over Knives: A documentary about the benefits of a whole-foods, plant-based diet that took off and found some mainstream success.
- How to Become a Vegetarian, the Easy Way: Practical advice from Leo Babauta in typical, no-pressure Zen Habits style.
- Scientific Basis For Vegetarianism: Read an interesting analysis of the implications of a vegetarian diet on cancer rates.
- The China Study: Perhaps the most comprehensive book on vegetarianism and the related health benefits that I have ever read. The author, T. Colin Campbell, is a Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Biochemistry at Cornell University and Project Director of the China-Oxford-Cornell Diet and Health Project. The study was the culmination of a 20-year partnership of Cornell University, Oxford University and the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine. This is the book that converted Tony Gonzalez, Professional Football Player, into a vegan. Read Tony's story, The 247 lb Vegan to find out how he maintains his size and strength on a vegan diet.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships so we may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.
This is an amazing deal on headphones.
You can get the Sony Extra Bass smartphone headphones in blue for 26% off right now.
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Our mission is to develop effective leadership skills in people of all ages. LEAD Graduates make and engage in a promise to lend their skills in service to the community.
Everything revolves around the Leadership Continuum. We strive to create awareness, educate leaders, and share what we know by being an open source of knowledge through a variety of Programs. To give back to their community, LEAD Program Graduates make a Promise to proactively address a need that will better the Clermont County region. Through a set of tested best practices, we strive to build a sustainable, world-class organization, and attract and retain talent. This is how we measure our success.


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True Colours, Cyndi Lauper's version. A very vivid memory. I was 15 and had moved out west to a tiny valley town when I started questioning myself. I was back in Toronto to visit family and I looked up the village and rode the train there in hopes to just look at people. I didn't know anyone who was LGBT at the time. I remember walking into the Second Cup in the village and sat down with my coffee when True Colours came on. Every single person in there including the staff stopped what they were doing and started singing along. A couple of people put their arms around each other. I couldn't help but cry happy tears in my coffee. And I felt like there was a world beyond that homophobic/racist town. That moment kind of saved my life.
Awna Teixeira, New Mexico


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If you're like most people, you probably have items in the attic, basement, garage and closets that you don't need, use and maybe even forgot that you had. Garage sales allow you to make space in your home while making money.
Use these easy tips to plan your garage sale:
- Create an inventory sheet of what you're selling, and list the price of each item in case the tag is missing.
- Price it right. Although you want to price your items slightly higher to account for haggling, don't price them so high that you can't sell them. Remember, shoppers expect bargains.
- Sell with others. Recruit your neighbours, family and friends to sell their stuff with yours. Bigger garage sales often attract more people.
- Get your items ready to sell. Clean your sale items, and make sure that they're in good shape. If you're selling electronics, make sure they're in good working order, and have the cords attached.
- Set the date and place for your sale. Saturday is the best day of the week to hold your garage sale.* Choose a date a few weeks in advance to give you time to prepare, and choose an alternate date as well in case of bad weather.
- Advertise your garage sale in your local newspaper, on Kijiji and Craigslist, and with signs on your local roads. Choose bright coloured poster board or cardboard, and write the details of your sale in large black letters that drivers can see from their vehicles. Put up six to eight signs a few days before your sale to improve the chances of shoppers stopping by.*
- Set up an hour or two early on the morning of the sale. Experienced shoppers will show up at the posted time so that they can score the best deals. So if you plan to open your sale at 7 a.m. (the best time of day to do so*), then start setting up around 5 or 6 a.m.
*Source: Signs.com


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Arts in Motion happening in Niles
Posted: Jun 20, 2012 9:53 PM EST | Updated: Nov 6, 2014 2:12 AM EST
NILES, Mich. -- Art is in motion in downtown Niles.
One-thousand pound tree trunks will be transformed into elephants, giraffes, and cranes.
These carvers usually create ice sculptures but consider wood carving more of a hobby.
Carving the sculptures takes about four days.
"It's not the art that makes it hard. For one, it's rounded, you can't draw it, you gotta picture it. So you really gotta keep it in your head what you're carving. And also just getting through the wood with chainsaws..wood is really hard," said sculptor Burr Rasmussen.
The carving will be a bit trickier as some of the trunks are coated with poison ivy.
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Home turf
Ngọc Lâm Secondary School will defend their title at a tournament for the U13 students, which will kick off June 1 in Đắk Lắk Province.
The tournament, which is known as the Yamaha Cup, gathers eight teams that successfully qualified in local matches in March.
In the opening match, a team from Đắk Lắk, which will be identified after a later tournament, will play Đà Nẵng representative Ngô Thì Nhậm Secondary School in Group A, which also includes Cần Thơ Province's Chu Văn An and Ngọc Lâm of Hà Nội.
Group B includes Mai Xuân Thưởng from Nha Trang, Nguyễn Thị Định from HCM City, Nghi Long from Nghệ An and Trần Hưng Đạo from Hải Dương.
The winners of the festival will enjoy an exchange tour to Japan, where they will take part in friendly matches against local teams.
The aim of the festival is to create a professional playing field for young players to learn about fair play and respect.
The festival, co-organised by Thiếu Niên Tiền Phong (Youth Pioneers) newspaper and Thể Thao 24h Joinstock Company, is part of a Yamaha programme titled "For the Future of Việt Nam Football".
"We are really glad to receive a very positive response and huge support from all schools, parents and other organisations, which is a great motivation for us to constantly contribute to the development of sport activities and create a healthy social cohesion," said Yano Takeshi, general director of Yamaha Vietnam, at a press conference yesterday in Hà Nội. — VNS


text: Is it ok to create a Windows account? Basically, we recommend not doing this. If in the event it does not work correctly, and you have changed the settings from when it was shipped, we can no longer provide support, so you will need to take responsibility for it in your company. Was this article helpful? 0 out of 0 found this helpful


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Hi, my human friends! I like to highlight diabetic cats, but I also write about other special needs cats. Today I want to tell you about my furiend Tango. Like me, Tango's special need is something you can't see on the outside. It's something that's wrong on the inside. He has a disease like what you humans call cerebral palsy.
Tango's problem is that his brain sometimes doesn't communicate with the nerves in his legs and his eyes, so he will have instances where he can't walk and his eyes don't see. But most of the time, things work well and he can move around and see just fine.
Because of this disease, some cruel humans dumped him in a garbage can. What kind of human does that, dumping a helpless kitten into a garbage can? But some kind humans at a veterinarian's office took him in, and bottle raised Tango.
Tango was doing pretty well despite his limitations, and the veterinarian's office had Tango sit up front to greet the creatures who walked on both two and four legs when they came to visit the office. That was great, as it allowed the office to show off the cat they rescued and the humans bringing in their four legged creatures got to pay some attention to Tango.
Unfortunately, things had to change when Tango was attacked by a dog who was hurt. Poor Tango was nursed back to health by the veterinarians one more time, but they knew they couldn't keep him. So they turned him over to the nice humans at SaveTheAnimalsToday.org.
Tango has lived there for almost four years, and he is the king of what they call the Catio. He is one of the smaller animals they have rescued, since they take care of a lot of horses!
A diabetic cat like me is similar to Tango in that you humans can't see the medical issues we have. But regardless of whether you can see them, they can be treated. And just like me and Tango, cats with special needs, whether they are diabetic cats or have cerebral palsy, can be loving and fun furiends for the right humans.


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Clearly you all wanna back your friends up which is admirable, fact remains, Im right, and most of you know that, but wont admit it.
Fact that Im now called an 'Ass' proves that, and 'gtfo' dear oh dear
Clearly you all wanna back your friends up which is admirable, fact remains, Im right, and most of you know that, but wont admit it.
Fact that Im now called an 'Ass' proves that, and 'gtfo' dear oh dear
And here you are mr 24 post wonder giving it large thinking yr right, everyone else is wrong. We are just "backing up our friends"... etc etc
Fact is that anyone that wants to take a pop at a respected forum member will get it large from a few of us on here that simply wont stand back and allow it to happen. And you over stepped that line. So did your ripoff update.
Backing up my friends you say?
As you wouldn't know since you are barely ever here, me and pat don't actually get along a lot of the time, but that doesn't mean i don't respect the massive amount of work and effort he puts into this site. So no, sorry, i'm not going to let you sit there telling everybody what this site is for and how it works when you quite simply don't have a fucking clue.
Go and get some respect.
a.) I am not sure you are one determining what this forum is about. Mark and Welsh do since they are the ones who built it / finance it.
b.) there are about 20 members in the update team right now. some scout, some update, all contribute something towards the goal of "keeping the game alive". what pisses me off is guys spending hours / days / weeks / months updating the game. guys most people wouldn't have heard of since they ain't active in any other subforums. you seem to think changing 3 transfers qualifies as updating. we are not spending months updating for guys to sell it on ebay or for guys like you to re-release an update which is to 99% ours. we do it for the thousands members of this site who still love the game and want to play with updated data. if you change anything at home for yourself, go ahead. but don't create a new thread every 2 weeks promoting "your" update. that's a freaking joke
c.) why have you never approached the update team? you seem to be enjoying some scouting and updating, why not make a difference and work in a team to improve our half-yearly update instead of sitting in your dark chamber updating a few transfers just for yourself and then posting up something unofficial. i don't get it. you seem to love the game.
Ok, looks like this has gone on long enough......
Well, we agreed behind the scenes to allow these updates to be posted on the forum as a trial run......... we've now decided against carrying on with it as we feel it demeans the work of the official update team and from what i can see personally it is causing nothing but hassle. From now on no current updates will be allowed on the site bar the official updates released by our own Official Update Team plus the historical back-dated databases (if you don't know the difference then feel free to pm me).
This decision has been taken by the Moderator Team and site owner, not by the Update Team themselves. We feel it's in the sites best interests and therefore is non-negotiable.
I'm sure you all understand the update team go to great measures to ensure their work is as accurate as possible and it may be viewed as slightly demeaning towards them if we continue to allow the posting of said 'user updates'. So, from now on, if you wish to share your databases then you may do so here by private message alone....... what you do away from this website is your own business. Any unofficial updates will be removed. Any subsequent "user-updates" will be deleted and you will receive a warning.
This topic is now closed.


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Become a Corporate Partner
We understand the importance of partnering with corporations to multiply the impact of our efforts to support research, educational and training activities in order to advance the treatment of hepato-pancreato-biliary diseases and enhance the quality of hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery and patient care.
Why Partner with A-PHPBA
A-PHPBA offers excellent opportunities to promote your company in the field of HPB surgery. We have more than 500 members who come from various countries over the world. The average attendance rate of our biennial congresses was above 1,000 attendees. With the launching of the new website and the educational platform – myA-PHPBA will allow us to support more educational resources to stimulate learning and interaction on our discussion boards.
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6. Listen to the Wisdom of Silence
Ours is a noisy society, filled with the sound of machines, the buzz of conversation, and the music and talk of television and radio and the Internet. You need time to be away from all the noise. A quiet time in silence will replenish your spirit and give you access to your own inner wisdom. Let go of all the chatter and opinions and your to-do lists; just be present in the silence. Listen and you will hear Divine wisdom whisper to your heart.
Just for today, create a personal mini-retreat for a time of silence, prayer, and meditation.
Affirm with me:
I quiet my busy mind and rest in sweet silence. Setting aside my cares and worries, I wait in the Divine Presence. I listen for the still small voice. I find peace and rest for my weary heart.


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How I stay encouraged as a mom
As a mom, it is easy to become discouraged. Over the past few weeks I have posted about my struggles in becoming a mom as well as some indulgences to get me through those rough days. Today, I wanted to write about how I stay encouraged as a mom. Here are a few methods I use to stay positive that I want to share with you.
Mommy Friends
I have found that one of the best ways to stay positive is to talk to someone who has been where you are. It helps you realize that what you are going through is completely normal and you are not alone. I have a few friends that I talk to about what is going on with me, as well as what is going on with my baby. They often offer advice that really puts things into perspective. It is also really helpful to know that someone is there to talk to and lean on when you just need to let it all out. Sometimes you aren't looking for advice, and an "I'm sorry" and a hug is all you really need to lift your spirits.
Writing down the good stuff
One of the things I really struggle with when I am going through a rough patch, is remembering all of the happy moments I have had with my son. It's sort of like the dark cloud over me is so thick that I don't even remember that the sun exists. So, I have started writing down some of the things I love most about being a mom to my son. It helps me reflect on the good times instead of dwelling on the hard ones. Pictures and videos also offer a lot of encouragement. If I am feeling down, I watch a video of my son cracking up and it immediately makes me smile.
Mommy Books
Motherhood is HARD. Because of that, there are a lot of books about motherhood and dealing with all of the difficulties that come with it. I am currently reading a book titled Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe by Sarah Mae. I highly recommend it! I plan to write my thoughts on the book in future posts. Again, reading books like this help remind you that you are not alone. So many other moms have been where you are and lived to tell about it.
I love music. It always seems to lift my spirits and put me in a good mood. My parents bought me an Amazon Echo Dot for Christmas this past year so through out the day I say, "Alexa, play Christian music." It has really helped keep me uplifted and encouraged throughout the day. I have to give my husband credit for this one, he is the one who suggested it.
Prayer & Love
I would be amiss if I did not mention prayer. I believe that God is the supplier of my joy. He holds my every tear in His hands. He promised in His word that He would never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5 KJV). That means when I am having a rough day, I can call out to Him and He is always there. I also have to mention love because without the love of my God, family and friends, there is absolutely no way I could survive.


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Allow me to introduce you to my recent client and new found friend, the beautiful Miss K! I knew from the moment I met her that she would be a joy to photograph. She exudes so much warmth and kindness. And has a killer sense of humor to boot. An all around wonderful person with a gorgeous smile, she's the kind of woman you immediately like and want to go hang out with.
She did arrive with a few nerves but hey, most ladies do! This is totally normal when it comes to boudoir photography. She had the great idea to bring some friends along though. And after a glass of wine and some upbeat music she really loosened up and had fun with it. I'm sure it helped to have her friends encouragement to "push up and hang those boobs out even more". 🙂
Would you believe the gorgeous Miss K is single! How awesome to do this for YOU. Girl you've got it going on! Thank you for the opportunity to capture some gorgeous images for you. And especially thank you for allowing me share them with other ladies.
In her own words…..
Why did you decide to book a boudoir photography shoot? Because, in my mid 40's, I felt like I wanted to feel "sexy" again. Sometimes, at this age, we lose sight of that!
How did you prepare for your session? I thought about what kind of looks I wanted to try, and took Renee's advice to bring more rather than less. I brought a variety, some work clothes, jeans, then some lingerie.
Why did you choose Spotlight Sexy Photography? Renee's pictures were beautiful, she seemed to want to work with each person as an individual so she could capture that "special something" that each of us has.
How was your boudoir photo session experience? It was great! Since it is a home based business, it was very comfortable, so much more relaxing than going into a studio. Plus, it was all female, and Renee is terrific at making you comfortable. I was a little bit nervous that I couldn't pull off anything remotely sexy, but I think because I was so comfortable, and having so much fun, I was able to! I was very happy with the photos she took!
(Renee) I especially LOVE these two images below. It was a bit out of her natural comfort zone. I literally had to pry the robe out of her hands and throw it across the room with a quick…"Gimme that robe…trust me." haha
But wow, was it worth it? Oh ya!
Sometimes by pushing our limits just a little, we walk away with something lovely that was never expected. 🙂


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Please pardon my absence of late. Life has become so full of things to do (even though I seem to move infinitesimally) that it is actually becoming quite hard to sit down at a computer AND film, not to mention EDIT.
I am yet to put up the great footage I collected from my cruise and by great I mean the 7 minute long video of my friends and I singing Queen for a Karaoke competition.
It is also hard to be inspired to make videos when I can't actually make videos that are relevant or true. That's right, sirs and madams - all my videos are lies. You heard it here first.
This year is significantly different from last year, though there are some things that seem to have come full circle, however, due to my current circumstances, I can't tell you ANYTHING about it. It is extremely frustrating and I look forward so fondly on the day where I can finally "spill the beans" (even though quite a few of you have figured it out, though you can't pretend that you know how or why I am where I am)...
For now, let's look at the news.
- Starbucks closed yesterday to learn how to push button... and who says the USA isn't moving forward? Huh?
- People are starting to tell Hillary Clinton to back out of the race, I can't see why the US can't have 2 fairly awesome people as President and Vice. When I think about it, it seems like a beautiful reality.
- I wear a watch now.
- I am absolutely OBSESSED with starting my own PodCast. I think I know how to do it and already have a plan to run with... Unfortunately my show, like my videos, will be full of copyright violations - but I'm not going to worry about that since I don't earn any money for it anyway... I've always dreamed of having my own radio show and was even accepted into Radio School, but stupidly decided to drop out because of my commitments to my Theatre Group. STUPID, STUPID, STUPID.
- The Oscars were boring and nobody cared who won what. I did shout Aussie Aussie Aussie! when they showed Heath Ledgers picture and then someone took a picture of me doing son, which was weird... especially because he did the "Perfect" sign with his hands afterwards... Wha-!?
- Apparently we're facing the 6th biggest extinction of the world which will occur during this century and THIS time it's all our fault - woot! Let's make those Butterflies SQUIRM!
- ...Seriously, we are all shit.
- Microsoft is being sued for a bazillion dollars for doing something that nobody in the US cares about because the Euro's are all twatty and smoke vanilla scented cigars.
- Wow, is it International Racist Day for Caitlin Hill?
- Yes, it is.
- Really?
- No. I LOVE everyone but the news makes me angry.
- Apparently Women are the ones who keep the whole 2.0 thing alive. Sure, the boys make the better videos, but it's the GIRLS who make that fucking annoying glitter shit and layouts and create those infuriatingly cute icons. I HATE 2.0FEMALES!!!
- Oh crap, I'm a contributor to this nonsense.
- Caitlin Hill, 19, decided to end it all today when she learned that not only did she contribute to the extinction of thousands of harmless, important species but that she also helped Google earn money with her Blogs about shite and Videos that were also about shite.
- The End.
New Shoes
A microphone
Something to get my drank on!


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Dress & Dine: Fiesta Time
It's almost Cinco de Mayo, which means it's almost time for margaritas, which means.....it's almost time for a FIESTA!!! I couldn't possibly think of a better celebration for bringing Dress & Dine out of hibernation, so here we are dressing & dining our way through a grand ol' fiesta! Ole!
When I think of Cinco de Mayo and fiestas, I think color. Due to my move to more neutral territory, colorful outfits aren't exactly calling my name. Instead, I stuck with my favorite denim-on-denim combo, making it fiesta-appropriate with a bright scarf and some fun earrings (both of which won't put too much strain on my neutral vibes). I've selected a bevy of bright scarves and accessories (below) should you feel like jazzing up your own Cinco de Mayo outfit.
I'm as big a fan of guac, queso and tacos as the next person, but I thought it would be fun to switch things up and make some bite-sized empanadas. Serve them with chimichurri sauce (recipe here) and I promise you, no one will be complaining!
For drinks, I whipped up a pitcher of tropical matcha tea margaritas. I recently professed my hatred for all things matcha tea, until I was reminded of a Trader Joe's purchase from last year that I was pretty obsessed with. Their tropical fruit green matcha tea mix is pretty ridiculously good on its own, but it tastes even better with a little tequila added in. If you're looking for more fun margarita options, check out this post (the sorbet-rita ones are a fave of mine).
Floral Garland: Layer 5-6 sheets of tissue paper on top of each other. Cut in half (or leave as is for larger flowers). Fold accordion style, staple in the middle, then spread the tissue paper and fluff up/scrunch up the paper to create each flower. String together using twine or use each flower individually. (I used these instructions as a guide.)
Fiesta Letters: Cut from cardboard, sprayed painted copper, strung up with string
Papal Picado Banner Straws: Cut out small squares of construction paper (about 2"x 2"). Then use your scissors to make freehand cut-outs (along the edges, or fold the paper in half or in thirds before cutting to make cut-outs in the center; I used this as inspiration). Using a small piece of invisible tape, adhere each banner to a straw.
Centerpiece Ideas: Succulent plants, aloe plants, cacti, mini flowers, a bowl of limes or jalapeños.....just make sure to have an assortment of sizes and heights to break things up
Napkin Paper weight: Mini Crystal Head bottle (bought at a liquor store for under $5)
For more ideas be sure to check here.


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More states lost construction jobs in May than at any point since June 2011 as 30 states experienced annual job losses and 27 states and Washington, D.C., lost jobs during the past month, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of U.S. Labor Department data. The weak state construction employment figures come as public investments in construction decline and the federal transportation program is at risk of shutting down on June 30.
"As the public sector continues to restrain growth in construction demand, we will continue to see weak reports like this," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. "There isn't enough demand for private sector structures to compensate for dwindling investments in highways, bridges, water systems, and public buildings."
Simonson noted only 19 states plus the Washington, D.C., added construction jobs between May 2011 and May 2012, while construction employment was stagnant in Kansas for the year. Montana added the highest percentage of new construction jobs for the year (15.2%, 3,400 jobs), followed by North Dakota (13.7%, 3,200 jobs), and Nebraska (10.6%, 4,400 jobs). Texas added the most new construction jobs (15,600 jobs, 2.8%), followed by California (11,700 jobs, 2.1%), Arizona (11,000, 10%), and Indiana (8,800 jobs, 7.5%).
The economist said that among states that lost construction jobs during the past year, Alaska lost the highest percentage (-20.4%, -3,200 jobs), followed by Wisconsin (-10%, -9,200 jobs), and Mississippi (-9.2%, -4,500 jobs). Florida lost the most jobs (-22,200 jobs, -6.6%), followed by Illinois (-12,200 jobs, -4.7%), New York (-12,100 jobs, -3.9%), and Wisconsin.
Twenty-one states added construction jobs between April and May 2012, while construction employment levels were stagnant for the month in Delaware and Maine, Simonson noted. Nebraska added both the highest percentage and the most new construction jobs for the month (8.2%, 3,400 jobs), followed by Montana (7.6%, 1,700 jobs), and West Virginia (2.5%, 800 jobs). Other states adding a high number of construction jobs for the month were California (2,600 jobs, 0.5%), Ohio (2,400 jobs, 1.4%), and Texas (2,400 jobs, 0.5%).
Mississippi had the steepest percentage decline among states that lost construction jobs for the month (-5.1%, -2,500 jobs), followed by Wyoming (-4.9%, -1,000 jobs), and Rhode Island (-3.9%, -600 jobs). New York had the largest number of job losses (-7,800 jobs, -2.5%) followed by North Carolina (-4,800 jobs, -2.7%), Maryland (-4,600 jobs, -3.2%), and Illinois (-4,600 jobs, -2.3%).
Association officials warned that construction employment was likely to get worse if Congress continues to cut investments in public infrastructure and buildings. They added that a failure to enact new federal transportation legislation before a June 30 deadline could result in tens of thousands of construction layoffs around the country.
"While the economy will have to get a lot better before we see big gains in construction employment, public cuts are not helping the situation," said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association's chief executive officer. "Passing a highway and transit bill, in particular, would give a needed boost to construction employment."


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Show Results and News
If you have any interesting news about your birds that you wish to share with other club members, photos or poems then just contact us via email at [email protected] for it to be put up on this site and included in future newsletters.
Likewise, if you wish for your Show Results to count towards the Exhibitor of the Year Trophy then please email them to the same address. They have to be published on here for them to count. Polands have done really well recently and it would be nice for as many of our members as possible to know how well we are currently doing.
Annual General Meeting 2017
Notice is hereby given that The Annual General Meeting of The Poland Club of Great Britain will take place at 4pm on Saturday 16th December 2017 in Room 2 at Bingley Hall, The County Showground, Stafford ST18 0BD. All members are invited to attend. A copy of the agenda, the 2016 minutes and the 2016-17 Financial Report will be emailed to all members or are available on request.
If any members are unable to attend and wish to send their apologies for absence these, too, can be emailed to the Club
Clare Beebe - Secretary
Novice Anthony Takes The Poland Crown at Ballymena Poultry Club
Polands were out in force at Ballymena with 41 birds in 9 different colours being penned by 6 exhibitors. The quality on display was exceptional with some classes having 12 and 13 birds in them, Polands are now on the up with many new exhibitors getting involved with this great breed. Best Poland was awarded to Anthony Welshman with a well turned out White-crested Black pullet ( this was his 3rd show so well done to him ) and reserve was a WC Cuckoo cockerel from James Weatherup. The large Fowl class was won by one of the Fullerton family's nice White-crested Black females. Gerry Logue won the selfs with a fantastic self black pullet which certainly caught a few eyes. Jean Wall travelled from south of Ireland and had some nice laced Polands on show. Judged by Gordon Walker
New Membership Rates Now Active
At the 2016 Club AGM one of the motions passed was that there would be an increase in the Membership Fees for the first time since 2012 to reflect the running costs of the Club and to match what a lot of other Breed Clubs currently charge.
So, as from February 1st 2017, the following rates will apply. All fees are for a rolling 12 months period and your renewal date is the anniversary of you first joining.
Single - £10
Joint/Family - £14
International - £20
Thank you for your understanding and we hope that Membership continues to provide Value for Money. Membership can be renewed using the PayPal buttons on the left hand side of this page or, if you are in the UK, using the new GoCardless Direct Debit system which we have trialled for the last 8 months and are now in a position to roll out. This offers considerable savings over PayPal, while also being fully secure and backed by all the major banks. For more details please contact our Treasurer Simon Pickles, who can send a link over to you to allow you to set the system up.
Polands to feature in February 2017 Edition of Fancy Fowl Magazine
Look out for two great articles on our breed in the forthcoming edition, featuring Stephen Hodge and Martin O'Hara, which highlight the various challenges of breeding Polands from the eyes of an experienced showman and a newcomer.
Fancy Fowl is available to buy on subscription or from Sephton's Gunshop and Newsagent in Rufford!
Federation 2016 - Poland Club 125th Anniversary - Tombola and Silent Auction
As per the article in the recent Newsletter the final details of how this will run have been uploaded as a PDF, along with a catalogue of the items available.
All prizes have been kindly donated by members, supporters, and suppliers and are mostly connected to our wonderful breed, though we still welcome more donations, up to the date of the show. May we take this opportunity to thank each of the donors for their generosity in helping to raise funds for The Poland Club.
We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the show, but for those of you who cannot make it, but still want to support us, there is a way of bidding and buying remotely, which is all explained in the document.
Still winning at 90!
After recently celebrating his 90th birthday, Gerry Logue proved that there is still life in the old man yet, winning Best Poland at the recent East Antrim Bantam Show.
Pictured here is Gerry and James Weatherup, who kindly sent this photo and the results in, which are published here
Remember, that if you want the results to count towards the Exhibitor of The Year Trophy, please ensure that your membership is up to date, that the results are full and legible, including the date of the event, the judge's name and the number of entries, to make collating these as straight forward as possible. Please treat it the same way as if you were sending them to Fancy Fowl
Telford's Terrific Trophies!
With just a couple of days to go until The National, and with the penning slips on their way, here is a run-down of the trophies available to be won along with their donor.
Champion Poland - The Sugden Cup (pictured)
Reserve Champion Poland - The Ball & Son Shield
Best Bantam Poland - The N Drake Cup
Best Large Poland - The Steve Lane Trophy – kindly donated by Steve Lane
Best Frizzled Poland - The Dr Mee Cup – kindly donated by Viv Mee
Best Gold-Laced Poland - The Melling Trophy - kindly donated by Simon Pickles
Best Chamois Poland - The O.M. Harding Memorial Cup – kindly donated by Alison Jones
Best Silver-Laced Poland - The Richardson Cup – kindly donated by Amelia Richardson
Best Laced Frizzled Poland - The Nelson Salver – kindly donated by Bev Nelson and Family
Best White-Crested Poland - The Corinthian Stone Trophy – kindly donated by Kathy Nuttall
Best Poland Trio - Clare Beebe Perpetual Shield kindly donated by Clare Beebe
If you are interested in donating a trophy to the club for next year there are still a few categories available. Prices range from £30 - £100. Please email for details.
Good luck to all the exhibitors and may the best bird win!
Yates and Jones Steal The Show At Southport
Alison Yates and Ewan Jones, had true cause to celebrate after Southport Championship Show, on November 5th 2016. Their White-crested Black Pullet not only won Best Poland but also went up onto Championship Row as Best Soft Feather Light Bantam - no mean achievement at a Show with over 700 entries and frequented by some of the country's most renowned exhibitors, who had travelled from as far away as Scotland and the South Coast to be there.
Full details are can be found on our Show Results page and there are some photos on The Poland Club Facebook Group.
Well done Alison and Ewan
I wonder if you can help?
The next issue of the Newsletter is currently being compiled and if you wish for something to be included now is the time to submit it. Do you have interesting or amusing photos of your flock, any husbandry or breeding tips, or maybe a poem or short story to share? Have you been promising to do something for a while, but never quite got around to it, perhaps that overdue Show Report or the tale of how you found true love through a shared interest in all things Poland! The Newsletter is only as good as your submissions, so if you do have something fitting of a wider audience please send it to [email protected]. Deadline Day is October 17th. Thank you in advance
It's Showtime!
The Schedule for the 2016 National Championship Poultry Show is now available. For a copy contact The Secretary, Mrs Kate Dickinson, Chattlehope House, Catcleugh, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE19 1TY.
It can be also be downloaded from www.nationalshow.poultryclub.org.
Entries can be submitted via post (deadline 10th October 2016) or online (17th October 2016). This is a Poland Club Regional Show with nearly 30 classes, including Juveniles and Trios, to be judged by Lee Pedley.
There are many trophies and rosettes on offer to Poland Club Members, so if you are not already in The Club it is not to late to join (via the button on this page) to be in with a chance.
We're all looking forward to what promises to be a great show!
It's Showtime again!
Schedules for our Club Show at The Federation are now available (see photo for details of how to get one if you didn't exhibit last year).
This is our main show and features nearly 30 classes, covering all colours, sizes and feather types. 2016 is The Poland Club's 125th Anniversary, so hopefully we will see a big entry from as many of you as possible. Although it is an Open Show, Club Members will be able to compete for themed rosettes and dedicated Club Trophies, some of which date back over 90 years.
If you are not already a member and would like to join The Poland Club, full details are contained on the left of this page.
Our Club AGM also takes place at 4pm on the Saturday afternoon and all members are welcome to attend. We look forward to hopefully seeing many of you there. And even if you don't exhibit Polands please pop by to the stand and say hello
Smith Nails it in Washington
Recent International Member, Cynthia Merrell-Smith and her husband Rob won Reserve of Show in mid-August with their pretty Brianna at the Southwest Washington Fair, only beaten by Frankie the Wonderduck. "The good thing about chicken shows", says Cynthia, "is that here ARE points for second place!"
Well done!
A Poland Features in World-renowned Poultry Artist Chris Jones' Calendar For The Second Consecutive Year
Every year our good friend Chris Jones produces the most wonderful poultry calendars, and in 2017 one of the months features a Poland again for the 2nd time in 2 years.
Published by Uniq Publishing they are priced at just £9.99ea (+P&P). If you wish to order, please do so through Chris' website -http://www.chrisjonesart.com
International orders are accepted and the website will work out a cost in your local currency. Alternatively they can be picked up directly from Chris at either The Federation or The National.
Smith Nails it in Halifax
Congratulations to Poland Club Member, and first time exhibitor, Vicky Smith, who won Best Poland at Halifax Agricultural Show on August 13th with her Gold-laced Frizzled Female.
Well done Vicky, and as you said, we'll hopefully see you at some more shows around Yorkshire this Autumn!
Calling All Show Secretaries
Please contact our Secretary, Clare Beebe, to ask for a Certificate of Merit for The Best of Breed for your show. This can be exchanged by Club Members for a Rosette by sending her the Certificate with an SAE.
Likewise, if you are a member entering a show, please remember to let them know that The Poland Club will provide a Certificate on request.
Amber Triumphs Again at Nevern Show
After being prevented from officially winning last year, as her Dad was judging, young Amber O'Connor, now aged 3, repeated her victory of 2014 in the Feather Section at Nevern Show on August 10th 2016, with a Female Chamois Poland.
Even at such a young age, Amber is a seasoned exhibitor, and visited The National Poultry Show in 2015, helping out for a while on The Poland Club stand, which was much appreciated.
The small village of Nevern in South West Wales holds its show every August and draws people from all over the British Isles, and is renowned for its friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Full details can be found here. They also have a Facebook Page.
You can see details of the 2014 show by scrolling down below
Well done again, Amber, on your fantastic victory and may many more come your way.
Royal Highland Show Sees Some Great Results for Polands
Polands had a good day all around at The Royal Highland Show on June 25th.
Veteran Exhibitor Jimmy Hope, who has been breeding Polands for nearly 50 years won Overall Best Trio with his White-crested Blacks, while Ilona Burns (pictured here) who shows with here mum, Shona, was pleasantly surprised to win Best Poland with her Female Chamois. Brian Millar also won the AOV Soft Feather Large Class with a WCB.
Well done everybody. Results are here
Polands are a Big Hit in Worcestershire at Hanbury Show
The Worcester News website featured this photo recently of PCGB Judge Louise Carpenter coming eye to eye wih a Male Chamois Poland at Hanbury Show.
Louise's future Brother-in-Law, and fellow PCGB Council Member and Judge, Philippe Wilson looks on dispassionately!
Some have suggested this would make a great caption competition. So what do you think Louise is thinking or saying? The photo is also on our Facebook Group where you can enter your suggestions underneath.
125th Anniversary Vase Donated to Poland Club
Sarah at Sussex Garden Poultry has kindly donated this vase for our tombola at The Federation Show in December. Well it has now been fired in the kiln and has arrived safely in the post. And I have to say, it looks magnificent.
The design is based on David Fullerton's Large WCB Male Poland that made Champ Row at The Scottish National in 2015, and, as Judge Colin Clark will verify, was a vicious so and so! Thank you again Sarah :-)
As not all of our Club members will be able to get to the show our Secretary Clare Beebe is looking ways so that people who cannot attend also get the opportunity to win some of the prizes. Watch this space!
David Fullerton Wins at Ballymena Agricultural Show
Northern Ireland's most successful current Poland exhibitor, David Fullerton won Overall Best In Show recently at Ballymena Agricultural Society Showm with a Bantam White-crested Black male.
Thank you to his Mum, Caroline, for taking the photo and sending it in.
Yates & Jones Nail it in Shrewsbury with Double Victory
Like buses, you wait all year for a win, and then two come along at once!
Derbyshire-based couple, Alison Yates and Ewan Jones, are among the most prolific showers on the circuit, with a number of high profile awards under their belt, for the various breeds they exhibit.
Only 2 seasons into their Poland-breeding and -showing career, they notched up their fist Best In Show with a White-crested Black Female at The Oswestry & District Poultry Society Regional Spring Show, which is also the first Poland Victory for quite a while too.
And to top it off, the couple also won Best Eggs in Show, against some very stiff competition with their plate of 6 White Bantam Eggs.
Well done Alison and Ewan on your well-deserved win!
It's a Great Day for Barrett and O'Hara at North Wales Show
Caerwys Agricultrural Show hosts a Poultry Section each year and local exhibitors Matthew Barrett and Martin O'Hara did The Poland Club proud on June 11th 2106 by winning Best Bantam Soft Feather Light with a WCB Female, and Best Pair with these two Buff-laced Bantams.
The same birds won the same awards a couple of weeks earlier at Shropshire County Show, as well.
Well done chaps!
New Proposed Constitution from PCGB.
A Message from our Secretary - Clare Beebe
I would just like to bring to your attention a post on the Poultry Club of Great Britain web site concerning a new proposed constitution which contains many changes to the present one we work to today.
The constitution is a document that governs your rights as a member and is something we adhere to especially on the exhibition scene.
Please check out the link at the top of the page on the PCGB web site that enables you to read and download the proposed new constitution that will be put to the AGM 2016 held at National Poultry Show at Telford in November.
Any member of the PCGB are allowed to challenge any issues they are unhappy with by putting it in writing and forwarding it to the secretary Kate Dickenson.
As secretary of the Poland Club I have informed the Secretary that I have questions relating to various sections on behalf of the club as I do feel it would affect any member if certain incidents arose at a show.
Please read the new and old constitution as many changes are being made which may give concern.
Clare Beebe.
Poland Club Secretary.
It's a Trio of Valentine's Victories as Judges Fall in Love with our Vivacious Birds!
St Valentine's Weekend 2016 saw three PCGB Regional and Championship Shows take place around Great Britain - and Polands made it onto Championship Row in all of them!
At Northampton, long-standing Club Member Linda Lane (was Rupniak) won her first Poultry Club Embossed Card for being acclaimed Best Bantam Soft Feather Light Breed with a delightful Frizzle-feathered Chamois Female (pictured here).
Lee Pedley, from Pedley's Poultry, exhibited an Andrew Ball-bred WCB Female, and won Best Large Soft Feather Light at Devon Fanciers Championship Show at Dawlish Leisure Centre.
And at Clitheroe Auction Mart, where Longridge & District Poultry Society were holding their Annual Championship Show, Stephen and Graham Hodge, as well as winning Overall Supreme Champion with a Rosecomb, also delivered the goods with a Large WCB Poland Female that was awarded Best Large Soft Feather Light also.
Well done to everyone, and if I could ask them to send in the results I can put them up here so that they can earn a point towards the Exhibitor of The Year Trophy.
All around Eggs-ellence from Abbie Higginson at High Peak
As well as some excellent placings with her Poland bantams at High Peak on February 6th 2016, Abbie did superbly well with her Egg entries, winning Best Supreme Bantam Egg, Best Decorated Egg and Best Painted Egg too - all with Poland Eggs.
And a big well done of course to Yates & Jones, who won overall Best Poland with their WCB! Full results from the show are here
Jersey Boy Excels in Latest Channel Island Show
It was nice to hear the news from Jamie Laffoley Edwards that his home-bred Large Fowl White-crested Female Poland won Best Overall Large Fowl at the Jersey Poultry and Ornithological Society's Winter Show on January 30th.
Coupled with a Best Poland Award for Lee Pedley at Pool Poultry Show near Redruth in Cornwall it certainly was quite a weekend for the Big Girls!
Preliminary Results are on the Show Results Page.
Thank you to both of you for sending the updates in so promptly.
January 29th 2016 - Update to Poland Breed Standards - Action Required
To all Poland Club Members,
You will shortly be receiving an email containing the proposed revisions to the Breed Standards for submission to the Poultry Club of Great Britain for inclusion in the new edition of the standards book in 2017. All alterations are highlighted.
The proposed standard has been drawn up by Andrew Ball, our Chairman, and Clare Beebe, our Secretary, and has been an ongoing project over the last two years, to help provide a better understanding for new and established judges to evaluate the breed for exhibition.
Although not a great deal has changed from the current edition it is important that all members please print off and return the slip provided to enable the club to follow procedure for the proposed changes to get them approved by the PCGB in time for the new edition.
Your email letter will contain a voting slip, so please tick the appropriate answer and return by post to Clare Beebe by 12th February 2016. If you do not have a printer please contact Clare via phone or email and she will send out a hard copy for you to return.
Thank you all in advance for your assistance with this.
Yates & Jones Record Double Success at The 2016 Scottish National
There was true cause for celebration at Lanark as Yates & Jones not only won the award for Best Booted Bantam, but followed this up by being awarded Best Poland by Judge Clare Beebe for their White-crested Black Female Bantam.
There was a huge range of birds on show, numbering nearly 50 in total, with special mention going to Ilona Burns, who won Best Juvenile Poland, and S&G Hodge who won Best Opposite Size Poland.
Ilona Burns is Adjudged Best Juvenile Poland at The Scottish National
A regular at this event, which she attends with her Mum, Shona, pictured here is a very pleased Ilona Burns who won Best Juvenile Poland at The Scottish National in 2016.
A very we'll done to you and we all look forward to seeing you again next year.
Nicole Ball wins Best Bantam Soft Feather Light Breed at The Federation
It is with great pride that we are able to announce that Nicole Ball's Best Poland at The Federation went on to make it onto Championship Row as Best Bantam Soft Feather Light Breed.
Our Club Secretary has described the bird as being one of the best examples of our breed that she has seen for a long time.
Well done Nicole!
It was a great Poland Club Show for all concerned. Entries were 10% up on last year and there were 25% more exhibitors than in 2014 too!
Soggy Hodges Deliver Two Polands to Top Row at The Welsh Winter Fair
Despite struggling through atrocious conditions to get there, exhibitors managed to bring more than 1,000 poultry and eggs to the Welsh Winter Fair Championship Show in Llanelwedd on Tuesday December 1st 2015. Conditions worsened as the day went on, and eventually over 40 visitors had to abandon their vehicles in the car park as they were submerged under 4 feet of water.
Luckily this did not deter the Brothers Hodge from occupying most spaces on Championship Row with their different breeds, and although they didn't win Best In Show or Reserve, we are pleased to tell you that their Polands won Best Bantam Soft Feather Light and also Best Large Soft Feather Light Breed too with WCB Females.
Well done Steve and Graham and we hope you have dried out by now. Thank you to Andrew Homer for giving permission to use his photo.
The Fullerton Family Double Up at Antrim
Thank you very much to Caroline Fullerton for sending in all the results of the Poland Classes of The East Antrim Bantam Society's Show at Ballymena on November 28th 2015.
We are very proud to report that not only did they have two Polands on Champions Row, but that the Bantam Whire-crested Female was crowned overall Show Champion.
Well done to everyone concerned and I am sure you will all agree that this is a wonderful result for the Breed in Northern Ireland. Photo is courtesy of Joshua Kittle and shows the winning bird, and the full results can be found here.
Nicole Ball Triumphs at The National
Here is Nicole Ball's impressive haul of Trophies, Rosettes and Medals from the National Poultry Show 2015. She won the Sugden Cup for Best Poland, the Noel Drake Cup for Best Bantam Poland and the Corinthian Stone Trophy for Best White-crested Poland, along with a Poultry Club Best of Breed Medal and also a Medal for Best Poland Juvenile. Well done Nicole!
Limited Edition Poland Prints Available to Order from Top Artist
World-renowned Chris Jones Poultry & Wildlife Artist has kindly produced prints from some of the originals that were on display at The National last weekend, including one based on The Chamois Poland Female that won Best Laced Poland at both the 2014 National and Federation.
Limited to just 75 numbered and signed copies, these prints are available to order through Chris Jones' website for just £50 plus postage (£4 in the UK).
Autumn Flower Blooms in Driffield
Leeds-based Novice exhibitor, Claire Flower came up trumps at The East Yorkshire Fur & Feather Society's Autumn Show on November 15th 2015 by winning the award for Best Poland with her White-crested Black Male.
Claire was presented with her rosette for Champion Poland at The National a week later.
But there was further cause for celebration later in the afternoon when Claire's friends Les and Shirley Allen's Sultan Male, Darcy, was adjudged Best Rare Breed and made it on to Champions' Row, before going on to win Best Rare Breed at The National.
Well done Mrs Flower and Les and Shirley!
Ball Bounces Back at Southport Diamond Jubilee Show
After several months away from the show scene, Nicole Ball delivered the perfect result when winning Best Poland at Southport on November 7th 2015.
With 21 birds entered across 5 classes, out of a total entry of around 800 poultry and waterfowl, this show is now securing its place as the best supported non-Regional Show on the mainland, and it can surely only be a matter of time before a member offers to sponsor a cup and rosettes and apply for Regional Status, due to both the number and quality of entries.
For bantams there are 4 classes (WC M and WC F along with AOC M and AOC F), with regular exhibitors Yates & Jones winning WC M, the Hodge Brothers winning both the AOC classes with Self Whites, and Nicole triumphing in the hotly-contested WC Females, and subsequently being adjudged Best Poland!
The Hodges LF WCB Female won the Soft Feather Light Class of 11 and went on to be placed on Champions Row as Best Large Soft Feather Light, meaning once again our breed proved that it can compete with the very best.
Well done to all the winners! For the full results click here
Yates & Jones Win Best Poland at Stalybridge
The 86th running of this small Cheshire society's Poultry and Egg Show saw Alison Yates & Ewan Jones take the honour of Champion Poland at the new venue of St Marks Church Hall in Dukinfield.
With just under 200 entries overall, the six-strong Poland entry made it one of the best-supported classes on the day, and Judge Colin Gullon awarded the coveted Red Card and new-style Champion Poland Rosette to one of their home-bred White-crested Black pullets that was beautifully presented on the day. Well done Alison and Ewan!
Smith's Supreme Skamania Success
News reaches us from one of our distant outposts, that one of our growing number of International Members, Cynthia Merrell Smith, won Supreme Champion at the Stevenson Poultry Classic in Skamania, Washington, USA on October 24th 2015, with her White-Crested Black Female, now nicknamed "Breezy". Cynthia says she unfortunately couldn't attend the show personally due to work commitments and literally dropped the phone, when she received the call telling her of her success!
Great result Cynthia and it's lovely to see our breed winning in different parts of The World.
Latest Design of Poland Club Badges Now In Stock and Available to Order
Featuring a White-crested Blue Female, and based on one of Paul Lutkin's prize-winning birds, the latest in our series of Limited Edition Poland Club badges is now in stock and available to order from the Club Shop.
Priced at just £4.50 (plus £1.25 UK p&p) these enamel badges feature a brooch-style pin to help keep them in place on your lapel.
They are available to members and non-members alike and would make a lovely present, either for yourself, or for that special Poland lover in your life!
They will also be available to purchase at all major shows around the UK during the coming months.
For overseas orders please email the club for a bespoke P&P price.
Proud Pedley's Personal Pullet Is Best Poland at Poultry Show in Poldark Country!
Southport & Ormskirk Bantam Society Announces Championship Show Line Up
Schedules are now available to download for the Southport and Ormskirk Bantam Society Annual Open Show and PCGB Championship Show on Saturday 7th November 2015.
There are 4 Poland Bantam Classes (WC M/F and AOC M/F). It's a great day out at a fantastic venue. We hope to see you there, even if you are not showing.
The Federation Championship Show 19/20th December 2015
This is the highlight of the Poland Club's Calendar as we will be holding our Annual Club Show (judged by our President Brian Anderton) and AGM (19th December 2015 4pm Room 2). This is an Open Competition with over 30 Poland classes to enter, and for Poland Club Members there are many rosettes and trophies on offer, some dating back to the 1920s.
Any questions just send us an email. We look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible and making it a great couple of days.
National Poultry Show Schedule Now Available to Download
The National Poultry Show in Telford takes place on the weekend of 21st and 22nd November 2015, and hosts a Poland Club Regional Show with many cards, rosettes and trophies on offer.
The Schedule is available to download here
There is one slight amendment to make to The Poland Classes, which is that Class 691 in the Large Fowl section should read "Self - Plain or Frizzled M/F".
Although this is an Open Competition, and anyone can enter, remember that Rosettes and Trophies can only be won by fully-paid up members of The Poland Club, so please make sure your membership is up to date when you enter.
August Show Round-Up
With plenty of Agricultural Shows taking place the results have been coming in thick and fast from our members and they have now been updated on the Show Results Page, albeit a little belatedly.
Our secretary, Clare Beebe, kindly set in this photo of S & G Hodge's Self White Pullet which won Reserve Best in Show at Ashover. She's a lovely specimen, I'm sure you'll agree.
Please send any results or photos here.
It's Tight at the Top In The Race to Be Crowned Poland Club "Exhibitor of The Year 2014/5"
With just under 3 months to go before the end of our Financial Year, and having done a preliminary running calculation from the results submitted so far, it would seem that S&G Hodge are narrowly in the lead as of August 7th 2015 with 9 "Best Poland" Awards, closely followed by Lee Pedley and James Weatherup on 7 each. Also in the running is Tom Buck with 5 awards to his name.
Remember, for results to be counted, the competition applies to all non-Club or Regional Shows from November 1st - October 31st, and the results have to appear on this website at the time or in the newsletter.
So keep getting the breed out there and submitting your photos and results.
Poland Makes Championship Row at Bakewell
The Hodge Brothers won Best Bantam Soft Feather Light at Bakewell Show on August 6th 2015.
May we say thank you to Jane Eardley for capturing and sending in this photo of their winning Bantam White-crested Black Female.
Channel Islander's Poland Wins Show Champion at New Forest
Looking back through our records it is nearly 12 months since a Poland won the highest accolade at a show, so well done to recent Poland convert Jamie Laffoley-Edwards from Jersey for winning at The New Forest Show on July 28th, with his White-crested Black Female.
As one of the other top breeders commented after hearing the news, "I'm going to need to sharpen my game"
Cornish Judges Award Consecutive Accolades to Lee Pedley's Polands
It was a very productive couple of days for Lee Pedley as one of his Andrew Ball-bred White-crested Black Females won Best Bantam Soft Feather Light at Liskeard on July 11th, and then went on to repeat the feat at Stithians on Monday 13th.
It takes hours of dedication and skill to constantly turn out birds that catch the judges' eyes and it can now surely only be a matter of time before he goes one better and comes home with a Best In Show Trophy.
Well done Lee! Full results are here!
Perfect Polands Feature in July's Practical Poultry
As well as being on the front cover of the new edition, there is also a six-page buyers guide with plenty of hints and tips on what to look for when acquiring and subsequently keeping Polands.
If you have come here as a result of reading that article, then "Welcome Aboard". As well as the public pages on this site, there is also a Members Only Section containing a Breeders' Directory and other useful articles. We hope you like what you see and that it tempts you into becoming a member.
Membership costs from just £8 per annum and runs for a full 12 months from the date of joining. You can join by clicking on the Featured Products list on the left hand side of the page. We also have a very limited stock of Poland Club badges that are also available to members and non-members alike.
Finally why not take a look at our our Facebook Group which currently has over 450 members and features many lovely photos and stories about our Poland flocks.
Large Chamois Female is "Head" and Shoulders Above The Competition at Royal Norfolk
Congratulations go to breeder and long-term Poland Club member Beverley Head for winning Best Large Soft Feather Light at The Royal Norfolk Show on July 1st with a Chamois Female, pictured here.
A lovely shot, I'm sure you'll agree, taken by our Secretary, Clare Beebe.
Perhaps it's a sign that the laced birds are starting to catching judges' eyes again, as both here and at Cheshire Show recently, Chamois have been placed ahead of White-crested Blacks.
Make a Diary Date for Bakewell!
Bakewell Show is the country's largest tented agricultural show and features a PCGB Championship Show on Thursday August 6th. The organisers kindly lay on 4 Poland Classes (WCB, AOC and Frizzle-feathered) so it gives a rare chance outside the majors for "like" to compete against "like". There's prize money down to 3rd place in every class as well as the coveted PCGB embossed cards on offer for those on Championship Row.
Closing date for entries is Friday July 10th 2015, which can be made online or by post, and schedules are available to download from here. For any further information contact Clare Beebe, our Club Secretary, who is on the organising committee for the Poultry and Pigeon Section.
Fantastic Fullertons Win Reserve Champion at Armagh!
The Fullerton Family won Best Poland, Best Bantam Soft Feather Light and Reserve Show Champion on June 13th 2016 at Armagh Agricultural Show, surpassing the same bird's achievements recently at Balmoral. Well done everybody and thank you to Joshua Kittle for granting permission to use the photo.
Full results are on the Show Results page
James Weatherup Triumphs at Lurgan
Committee Member, James Weatherup from Northern Ireland has kindly sent in the results for Lurgan Show, which is held annually on the first Saturday of June, and is, by all accounts, a great day out.
Well done James with your winning Best Poland and Reserve Best SFL in what, I'm told were relatively large classes. Our Irish members do a great job of getting our breed out there to shows, and they are always presented to an excellent standard. Well done!
Nicole's Winning Bird
Stafford Success for Nicole Ball!
Congratulations to Nicole Ball for winning Best Bantam Soft Feather Light at Stafford County Show on May 27th 2015 with this WCB Male pictured on the left. Nicole also won Best Juvenile with her Bantam WCB Female.
Polands on Championship Row will hopefully become a regular sight during the Summer Show Season.
Here's a link to a short video of all the successful birds that day!
Thank you Jane Eardley.
Well done everyone!
It's a Right Royal Victory for The Fullertons as Their Winning Poland Makes Top Row at Balmoral
The Summer Agricultural Show season got off to a flyer for Polands with Caroline Fullerton winning Best Soft Feather Light Bantam at The Royal Ulster Show at Balmoral Park on May 13th 2015 with her WCB Female. Well done to The Fullerton Family on this achievement and thank you to Joshua Kittle, whose photo is used with his kind permission. Full results are here
The aim of this website is to promote the breed as well as offering help and support to breeders and keepers of Polands.
On the site you will find valuable reference material relating to Polands. The site is in its infancy so please bear with us whilst we add many more articles over the coming months.
You need to be a member of the Poland Club to gain full access to the website which is not viewable unless a member - member only pages include:
Membership is only £8 year for single and £12 year for family which offers fantastic value. To cover the extra postage costs, Republic of Ireland membership is just £12, and it is only £18 for the Rest of The World. This can be paid online through our Poland Club Shop.
Don't be shy come and say hi in the Forum - introduce yourself and we will do our best to help you.
Wishing you all the very best of success in keeping Polands - whether it is for exhibition or fun - our aim is to cater for everyone's needs.
See you in the forum.
The Poland Club Committee.
Yates & Jones Take The Honours at Oswestry!
It was "all about the boys" in The Poland Class at The Oswestry Spring Show on May 2nd 2015,
Experienced exhibitors, but new to Polands, Yates & Jones won Best Poland with a Bantam WCB Male, while Oswestry-regular Alison Jones came 2nd with a Chamois Male.
After the Spring Break from showing, as we enter the Summer Agricultural Show circuit lets hope to see many more Polands out there as beautifully presented as this one. Well done Alison, Ewan and Alison!
As usual full results are here.
Veteran Jimmy Hope Wins Best Poland at Peebles - With Brian Millar Close Behind
Only Our President, Brian Anderton, has been showing Polands longer than Jimmy Hope, who first won at The Poland Club Show back in 1968 - 47 years ago!.
At Peebles, Jimmy's WCB Bantam Female won Best Poland in a class of 5, while Brian Millar triumphed in the Male and Trio Classes.
It was, by all accounts, an excellent, well-organised show, and one that perhaps those Northern Exhibitors, who didn't show at Reading, might consider supporting next year.
T&J Buck Win Best Poland at Reading in an Increased Field Over Recent Years
The two-day Championship Show at Reading, with 4 Poland classes, saw 11 entries which is very encouraging, and so it was fitting that the winner of the largest class of 8 WC birds, T&J Buck went on to win Best Poland and a place on Championship Row.
Entrants had travelled from as far away as East Anglia and Derbyshire, as well as The Home Counties, going to prove that this show, being held at Newbury Leisure Centre for the 25th Year, really is The Bantam Classic.
Pedley's Poland Makes It To Champions Row and Wins PCGB Bronze Star
Great result for our breed on February 15th at Devon Fanciers' Exhibition Society's Show in Dawlish where Lee Pedley won Champion Bantam Soft Feather Light with this WCB Female bred by Andrew Ball!
Well done guys!
What a Lovely Display of Polands on Valentine's Day!
Coinciding as it did with the bi-monthly Pure Breed Auction, along with Peter Watkinson's Stock Reduction Auction, there were many visitors able to take a look at the three different White-crested varieties that entered the M/F Bantam Poland Class in The North of England Championship Show on February 14th 2015.
Well done to Stephen Hodge on his victory!
Holy Higginsons! - High Peak Victory for Young Abbie
Abbie Higginson had a great day at High Peak Poultry Show Bakewell on Feb 7th 2015 - winning Best Young Handler - with "Fluffy", her Chamois Poland Bantam Hen, Best Bantam Egg Contents- with Fluffy`s egg- and Best Decorated Egg- which was designed as a tribute to Valentine's Day! - but Abbie admits it looks like a riot in a feather factory!
Well done! In the words of the song "I believe that children are our future"
Jean Wall Claims Best Poland at The Irish National
Jean swept the board in the bantam class winning 1-2-3, with her petite Gold-Laced Pullet, Simone, triumphing over FiFi, Jean's Silver-laced hen, who I hear was none too pleased to be beaten by another of Jean's birds!
Pedley's Poultry Picks Up Poland Prize at Pool Poultry Club
All the way from Redruth in Cornwall, news reaches us of Lee Pedley's First Place in the well-supported AOV Bantam Soft Feather Light Class, on Jan 24th 2015, with his lovely WCB Female, which, as the only Poland entered, duly won the Club Rosette for Best Poland, and so earns Lee another Point towards the Exhibitor of the Year Trophy.
Well done Lee! As always, if you send in your show results from the Poland Classes we will publish them on the Show Results page.
Hodge and Weatherup Let The Birds Do The Talking at Scottish National
After months of good-humoured banter about who would triumph at The Scottish National, Steve Hodge came out on top with a White-Crested Black Bantam Female winning The van Hoesen Trophy for Best Poland.
James Weatherup won Reserve with his Female Chamois Bantam and David Fullerton's Large Male WCB was adjudged by Colin Clark as Best Opposite Size.
Pictured here is our Club Secretary, Clare Beebe, presenting Steve with his trophy.
Full Results are here and there are plenty of photos on the FB Group too
Club Members Win Classes at Welsh National and Ballymena Championship Show
Well done to Lee Pedley for winning Best Poland at The Welsh National with a WCB female (top right) and to The O'Connors for coming 2nd with a Chamois Female (Dolly, bottom left).
At The Ballymena Championship Show, which is a Poland Club Regional Show, James Weatherup won Best Poland with a Self-White Female. He won 1st in all 4 Poland classes he entered including with the Chamois Female (bottom right).
Well done everyone. Results from The Welsh are here
Are You All Set for The Scottish National?
With a total entry of just under 4000, The Scottish National Poultry Show is all set to live up to its name of "The Friendliest Show".
Staged over 2 days on Jan 17/18 2015 at The Lanark Agricultural Centre, The Poland Club has been awarded Regional Show status and has laid on 13 different breed-specific classes (see article below for details).
Colin Clark has kindly agreed to act as our Judge, and as well as selecting the class winners will also award 8 Specials including Best Large, Best Bantam, Best WC, Best Self, Best Laced and Best Juvenile along with Reserve Best Poland and Best Poland, who will also be the inaugural recipient of The Van Hoesen Trophy.
For more details and updates join The Scottish National Poultry Show Facebook Group. See you there!
New Poland Club Member Tom Buck Wins Best Poland at Syston Christmas Show
Syston Fanciers Society held their Annual Winter Show in a small youth club near Leicester, and even with snow laying thick on the ground and treacherous driving conditions, nearly 300 entries were penned from as far afield as Preston and Norfolk.
In an entry of 5 Poland Bantams, Judge Stephen Hodge awarded the Red Card to Tom Buck who was showing this breed for the first time. Well done Tom, who earns a point towards the newly-created Exhibitor of the Year Trophy.
Full results are here.
2014 Federation Championship Show - Preliminary Results
A full write up will follow in due course but we just wanted to put the preliminary results up here as quickly as possible. Well done to Nicole Ball for winning Best Poland with a Bantam WC Black Pullet, to David Pownall for Reserve Best Poland with a Self White Bantam Female and to S & G Hodge for Best Opposite Size with a WCB Female and Best Opposite Sex with a Bantam WCB Male.
Poland Breeders' Workshop - The Federation - December 20th - What Do You Want To Learn About?
As previously announced, The Club has arranged a Workshop on the Saturday afternoon following on from Paul Lutkin's Judging Summary. Grant Brereton, Editor of Fancy Fowl, will be there along with Andrew Ball and, hopefully, Clare Beebe.
What would you like to know more about? Which aspects of breeding are you struggling with and would like to learn more about? Is it your laced birds? Or Frizzle-feathered ones that you would like to refine? Do you have separate pullet-breeding and cock-breeding lines? Do you wish to learn more about "Complementary Breeding" or ask Andrew about the specific techniques he uses to improve his "family of birds"?
The presenters would like to know in advance what it is that you are particularly keen to find out more about. That way, they can be prepared, and the answers will be more thorough and hopefully more people will benefit from the session.
Please contact us via email here with the topics you would like to be covered and even specific questions, to help make it an even more enjoyable and productive afternoon.
James Weatherup Earns Back to Back Victories, with First Place at Ballymena Poultry Club on December 13th 2014.


text: This specimen has one of the most unusual crystallizations of any pyromorphite I have seen from ANY locality: The top crystal spreads out in a flower-like, hoppered growth atop the pedestal of lesser crystals. It is, even amongst thousands of specimens from the locality, very unique! The crystal measures 3 cm across atop. 3.9 x 3.1 x 2.4 cm


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When days are warm but nights still cool
I'm just another April fool,
Listening for the first soft calls
of Chuck-will's-widow as dusk falls
across the firefly-lit fields.
In March, as stubborn Winter yields
reluctantly to Spring's advances,
life awakens and then dances,
dances like an April fool,
a carefree lad, cutting school.
And wind-blown flowers aside a pool,
in mirrored motley, as a fool,
dance as well to vernal song --
those strains, so distant and yet strong,
I recall from Springs afore.
Now I'll join in that song once more,
when blackberries blossom along the fence.
If in these days, I make no sense
just know me for an April Fool;
I'm but another April fool.
Stephen Brooke ©2010
A bit of a quickie, rhymed tetrameter (though not terribly strict in meter). I probably painted myself into a bit of a corner by repeating the 'April Fool' phrase -- there are only so many ways to rhyme it, resulting in a shorter poem than it might otherwise have been!


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Video Links: youtube.com
Come take a trip on a railroad like no other you've ever seen.
It is the famed Underground Railroad of the nineteenth century, traveled by countless African-American slaves on their perilous exodus from bondage to freedom. A Christmas Journey to Freedom will give you and your family a whole new perspective on the glorious hope of the gospel, seen through the eyes of a people who deeply related to the lowliness, the suffering, and the liberating power of Jesus.
In this unforgettable 3 part Day of Discovery DVD, acclaimed vocalist Wintley Phipps and actress Gwendolyn Briley-Strand reenact the true story of Joe, a slave who flees his Southern plantation on Christmas, and guided by the Moses like figure of Harriet Tubman makes his way through the Underground Railroad to freedom in Canada.
Featuring musical selections such as O Holy Night and Sweet Little Jesus Boy sung by Wintley and commentary by historian Dr. Allen Callahan, A Christmas Journey to Freedom is a powerful drama that will stir your soul and enrich your faith both at Christmas and at any time of the year.
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
O Holy Night
Rise Up Shepherd and Follow
Silent Night
Some Children See Him
Sweet Little Jesus Boy
Joy to the World


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Air Peace Limited Recruitment 2017 │ How to Apply
Air Peace Limited Recruitment 2017 │ How to Apply
Air Peace Limited is one of the largest renowned Private Airline in Nigeria with its Head office in Lagos, Nigeria. Airspace has thrived excellently with the help of consistent patronage from its customers. And this is possible because Airspace has never failed to pay more attention to the comfortability of its customers and patronizers.
Also Read On: US Embassy Nigeria Recruitment 2017
Air Peace Limited Recruitment 2017
Currently, Air Peace Limited Recruitment is on for the following position(s):
Job: Internal Auditor
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Job Description
Appraise and contribute to the improvement of governance, risk management, and Business control processes.
Regular appraisal of Air Peace Business Processes- perform and control the full audit cycle including risk management and control management over operations' effectiveness, financial reliability and compliance with all applicable directives and regulations
Determine internal audit scope and draft annual plans
Evaluate the efficiency of risk management procedures that are currently in place
Ensure that the company's operations comply with relevant laws and statutes
Presents summarised findings concerning audit results and trends for internal groups
Reviews audit results to determine methods for appreciating profits and decreasing unnecessary costs
Assesses best financial practices for an organization and makes relevant, informed suggestions
Act as an objective source of independent advice to ensure validity, legality and goal achievement for the organization.
Engage in consistent knowledge development regarding sector's rules, regulations, best practices, tools, techniques, and performance standards
Internal Audit activities to conform to The Institute of Internal Auditors' Definition of Internal Audit, Code of Ethics, and Standards.
Make recommendations on how to improve internal controls and governance processes
Obtain, analyze, examine and evaluate documentation, including reports, statements, records, accounting documentation, previous reports, data, flowcharts to gather information
Qualifications and Experience
At least a B.Sc in Accounting or related degree. A Master's degree is preferred
Professional certifications such as Certified Internal Auditor® (CIA®), Certified Financial Services Auditor® (CFSA®), Certification in Control Self-Assessment® (CCSA®), and Certification in Risk Management Assurance™ (CRMA®)
Should be familiar with accounting procedures, record keeping, Management and technology
Proficient in Data analysis and Management
Must have a strong understanding of business practices, business law, mathematics, and possess great communication skills
Must be a member Of The Institute Of Internal Auditors Of Nigeria is compulsory
At least 10 years' experience in Organisational, process, and .or financial audit
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates can:
Application Closing Date:
20th October 2017.


text:
Originally posted July 11, 2014
We are thrilled to announce that Donkey Punch, by Micheline Auger, is being transferred for an Off Broadway run at SoHo Playhouse!
Tickets are on sale now for July 25-August 31st!
Uninhibited Kareena delves into monogamy while her uptight best friend, Sam, starts dating a pornographer. In the ultramodern world of sex, relationships and blurred lines, is it punch or be punched?


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Are you a Health Insurer that wants to improve your STAR Rating? Bring On Control-M Big data and reduce your Medicare member complaints and grievances, and generate more revenue.
Is your Star score improving? Is your score staying the same or declining? Do you want to generate additional revenue? Drive higher quality? Improve your ratings by before they are released this fall? Control-M for Hadoop is the answer!
Each year, Medicare checks each Insurers plans to see if there are problems with the plan related to members having problems getting service and the plans are following all of Medicare's rules. Medicare also provides insight into the Insurer's drug plan's performance. Whether the drug plan has improved or declined from one year to the next year as drug benefits are an area of major concern to Health Insurers. Medicare compares the plan's previous scores to its current scores and averages the results to give the Insurers plan their improvement rating.
- If a plan receives 1 or 2 stars, it means, on average, the plan's scores have declined (gotten worse).
- If a plan receives 3 stars, it means, on average, the plan's scores have stayed about the same.
- If a plan receives 4 or 5 stars, it means, on average, the plan's scores have improved.
Star ratings are critical to the Insurer's business performance through these Medicare Advantage plans. The star rating system is important because it determines if the Insurers plans are eligible for bonus payments. Plans earning at least three stars are entitled to higher payment rates. Each half star is worth between $15 and $50 each month per enrollee, insurance. That potentially adds up to a substantial amount of money hinging on star ratings.
With Control-M for Hadoop, getting out in front of the plans data and understanding where the issues are as they relate to improving customer satisfaction with the quality of care the patients are receiving. What is the overall perception of customer service and how can you get in front of the data before the member or patient files a complaint or has issues with the drugs that being prescribed to treat their conditions? Providing accessibility and understanding of patients with multiple chronic conditions and complex care needs is often critical challenges for Insurers that offer Medicare Advantage plans. This is where the "Getting out ahead, Outrunning, Outpacing" the competition with Control-M for Hadoop will lead you towards outperforming and improving your Star Rating from year to year. Big Data for Insurer's will ultimately assist their members and their patients with improved management of long term chronic conditions, assist consumers with improving their quality of life and avoiding preventable deaths. Insurers are ultimately held accountable for their members, and the responsiveness of their care and any issues they have with accessing quality services.
With Control-M for Hadoop and accessibility to these data models, Insurers can make decisions on the effectiveness of their plans and the overall consumer satisfaction of their plans. It is all about improving the models of how customers are driving the demand for models of treatment and how successful they are able to access these rapidly changing treatments. The ability to dive deeper into the analytics and each patient to understand where we can improve this patients experience, earlier in the process, before they are engaged in far more serious stage of illness that ultimately drives move expensive treatment and ultimately increases the complaints and grievances to Medicare.
A little Background to begin with on the Star Rating System
Before we begin on how Control-M for Hadoop can improve your Star Rating, let's understand how the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid uses the Star Rating System to measure how well Medicare Advantage and prescription drug (Part D) plans perform. Medicare scores how well plans did in several categories, including the quality of care the patients receive and the overall perceived view of customer service from members. Ratings range from 1 to 5 stars, with five being the highest and one being the lowest score. Medicare uses this data to assign plans one overall star rating to summarize the plan's performance as a whole. Plans also get separate star ratings in each individual category reviewed. The overall star rating score provides a way to compare performance among several plans. Medicare reviews these plans performances each year and releases new star ratings each fall. This means that your plan ratings change from one year to the next.
What does Medicare Rate for the Star System? The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid insurers are held accountable "for the care provided by physicians, hospitals and providers to their enrollees."
Medicare health plans are rated on how well they perform in the following five different categories:
1. Consumers staying healthy: screenings, tests, and vaccines
2. Managing chronic (long-term) conditions for their members
3. Plan responsiveness and care
4. Member complaints, problems getting services, and choosing to leave the plan
5. Health plan customer service
Medicare drug plans are rated on how well they perform in four different categories:
1. Drug plan customer service
2. Member complaints, problems getting services, and choosing to leave the plan
3. Member experience with drug plan
4. Drug pricing and patient safety
Private Medicare plans are still failing on many levels, particularly when it comes to prescription drug benefits.
So how can Insurer's generate more revenue?
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid have tied financial incentives to the STAR rating system for Insurer's. Plans that earn at least four stars earn extra revenue via a 5% boost to monthly per-member payments from Medicare. The Insurer's Plans that receive lower scores do not receive any incentives from Medicare.
How can Control-M for Hadoop improve Insurer's Star Rating?
In assisting Insurer's with this very dilemma, it was critical to get in front of these complaints to Medicare and understand how to remediate the issues and make sense of the data. Providing a solution that gives the data scientists the ability to measure and provide predictive analytics so that they can get in front of the data and assist with diving deeper into the analytics. Where can we assist Insurer's with the technology they need to generate improvements in the patient's experience? How can we get in front of the data so that the patients who have chronic conditions and complex care needs are receiving the preferred high touch, differentiated level of service, one that is committed to helping their members navigate the complex world of health care.
Control-M for Hadoop will assist Insurer's with understanding where the issues are within their Plans. Understanding what can be done to drive higher quality for their patients, continuous experience improvements and stem the issues related to prescription drug benefits. Escalations related to the Drug Benefit plans are generated from companies and Insurer's that have outdated technology and this ultimately causes systemic issues with rejection of prescriptions and this ultimately escalates the complaints to Medicare and lowers the overall satisfaction of the Insured's plan and the overall non-responsiveness.
Control-M for Hadoop is assisting the very largest Insurer's today to build out advanced analytical procedures to generate statistic based models to understand where their plans are exposed to multiple variables that would cause complaints to Medicare. Control-M for Hadoop delivers a highly usable interface that allowed the Data Engineers and Scientists to streamline the Hadoop processing and remove the complexity that they were experiencing with Oozie. The difficulty for the Data Scientists with Oozie was preventing the Insurer's from getting in-front of the data as close to real-time as possible. The goal was to implement a big data solution that would increase the speed and meet the critical timelines via a simple intuitive interface that the Data Engineers and Data Scientists could drag and drop with no scripting to consolidate simply into a workflow from different sources across the enterprise: data warehouses, legacy applications, relational databases, ETL's. The complexity of Oozie and the inability to not be able to integrate all aspects of the data in a "Single Pane of Glass" caused much frustration with the Data Scientists and ultimately these Insurers were not able to implement the predictive, statistical based modeling that was needed to meet the Project timelines and ultimately stem the complaints to Medicare. The Centers for Medicare has levied millions of dollars of fine on Insurers this past year due to pharmacy benefit (PBM) violations as well as Insurer's that have a difficult appeals process for their members that have complaints. Every complaint to Medicare is a direct cost to the Insurers.
Control-M for Hadoop streamlined the entire implementation and the Data Engineers and Scientists were able to integrate the workflow at all levels to meet their critical project timeline and improve their quality scores. Not only have they been able to implement predictive, statistical based modeling but also they have been able to design models for the future as the Insurers have been able to utilize the data that they have collected in the past as part of the complaints process. Future models have been built to analyze the data from the past, and this ultimately provides the big data scientists with exactly what they need to define more predictable results moving forward. This strategic approach will ultimately benefit the patients via improving customer satisfaction within all levels of their plan, but also generate revenue based on predictive results.
Improve your Star Rating with Control-M for Hadoop. "Get out ahead, outrun, outpace" the competition with Control-M for Hadoop! This will lead you towards outperforming and improving your Star Rating from year to year as well as improving customer satisfaction within the plan from year to year. Remember the past holds a vast amount of data to model your plans future outcomes!
Gartner Magic Quadrant for ITSM
These postings are my own and do not necessarily represent BMC's position, strategies, or opinion.
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Carlos Quentin has reason to think that his getting hit by a pitch was intentional. But Zack Greinke also has plenty of reason to prove it was not.
Either way, the benches emptied twice Thursday night for one of the biggest brawls in recent Major League Baseball history, with Greinke taking home a broken collarbone and Quentin finally relieving his aggression after getting plunked dozens of time.
Quentin was facing Greinke in the bottom of the sixth, with the Padres trailing 2-1. He had worked the count full when a Greinke pitch came in and popped him on his leading shoulder.
Quentin has been hit 109 times in his career, twice by Greinke. That was enough to convince him that the pitch was no accident, no matter how improbable it is that Greinke would go after him in that situation.
Quentin charged the mound, and Greinke met him with some expletives and a lowered shoulder. It soon devolved into a scrum, with Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp — who had to get away from a tight pitch of his own earlier in the game — in the middle of most of the action.
Check out the clip below to see how it went down, including Vin Scully's interpretation of the events ("fertilizer," anyone?) and the original pitch that had Kemp upset. Josh Beckett, who isn't exactly known as a peacemaker, can also be seen smoothing some feathers after the benches clear for a second time.