text:
Finding the value in environmental, social, and governance performance
Not surprisingly, environmental, social, or governance issues can trigger a crisis that leads to fundamental changes in a company's management, culture, and of course its financial health. As investors seek value from ESG, however, there is evidence that companies demonstrably prepared for these shocks can better mitigate downside risks, capture investor interest, and establish the long-term value of ESG management.
"Chance favors the prepared mind"
—Louis Pasteur
We'd all like to find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. This is no less true in the world of sustainable investing, which seeks to leverage a company's environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance to identify winning stocks. To date, managers of approximately $30 trillion in financial assets—all signatories to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI)1—are trying to identify companies with higher levels of ESG performance and strong returns. For nearly all of the world's largest publicly traded companies, reporting on ESG performance is table stakes. ESG management is on the agenda of more CFOs.Yet when questioned, many investors doubt whether that pot of gold exists, and companies are having a hard time convincing them.
These doubts have been detrimental to how much companies invest in ESG management and make it more difficult to argue for mandating disclosure of ESG metrics because they are financially material. Integration of ESG criteria into investment strategy has reached an estimated $10.7 trillion in assets under management, only about seven percent of the total global market.4 How companies approach ESG and report their performance varies greatly, and this idiosyncratic behavior only further clouds the issue. Mixed messages from the academic community do not help.
At the heart of the matter is the kind of information investors pay attention to. Our review of the evidence on investor behavior confirms that ESG issues can unleash a crisis resulting in fundamental shifts in a company's management, culture, and financial well-being. A growing class of risks, they can be financially material and increasingly a concern in today's growth-challenged and volatile environment, where even small shocks from the outside world can determine whether a company sinks or swims.
Those companies that are demonstrably prepared for ESG shocks can better mitigate the downside risks, both short- and long-term. This makes disclosure on how companies manage their ESG risks all the more critical, because it can help capture investor interest and establish the long-term value of ESG management.
The market value of ESG information
First things first: Is there evidence that ESG information matters to investors? Researchers have over the past 40 years examined various pathways through which ESG issues can impact company performance in multiple contexts, in emerging and developed markets, over different time periods, and as a function of both regulation and voluntary initiatives.
Indirectly or directly, ESG impacts performance
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues can impact company financial performance tied directly to its operations or products, or indirectly through stakeholder actions along the entire value chain, for example:
Direct operations risk
- Accidents/spills/equipment failure
- Environmental: pollution, e.g., carbon emissions, water pollution, penalties, and fines
- Social: employee strikes, wage concerns, health and safety
Supply chain risk
- Social: child labor
- Ingredients/natural resource use, such as palm oil, old growth forest, or water
- Weather catastrophes
Product risk
- Ingredients: toxic chemicals, genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
- Product performance, recalls, boycotts
- Governance
- Board composition and independence
The strongest evidence that ESG performance impacts financial performance is found in short-term event studies, which put the spotlight on the link between ESG information and investor interest and decisions. A wide range of ESG events have been studied, including the negative impact on stock returns of corporate criminal activity, to violations of labor and environmental laws and product recalls.5 News on human rights issues associated with a company have triggered an average $892 million drop in market value, and boycotts and other forms of protest can and do impact stock prices.6 Public protests on labor and consumer issues, such as product quality, can cause a 1 percent drop in stock prices in the days around the event.7
Investor perception matters, and there are signs that it has been changing. With each decade since 1980, investors respond more to negative environmental news (1980–1989: –0.42 percent drop in stock returns; 1990–1999: –0.66 percent; 2000–2009: –1.12 percent).8 The same study finds that positive news on a company's environmental behavior is also rewarded by an average increase in stock returns of 0.84 percent; though the positive investor response to good environmental news has been tapering off in more recent years. These trends may also be influenced by systemic biases associated with how we perceive good versus bad news; we are more risk averse when it comes to bad news, which can accentuate the outcomes of our decision-making processes. A good rule of thumb is that one negative story is the equivalent of five positive stories.9 Not surprisingly, as media coverage increases so does the drop in stock price, especially for those companies with an already tainted reputation. These companies are more likely to accede to stakeholder demands, even if their sales have not been negatively affected.10
On the upside, a positive ESG reputation adds an extra layer of protection—what we call an ESG halo.11 Companies with an ESG halo were shielded from a decline in stock price around the time of the dramatic protests that disrupted the 1999 World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial meetings in Seattle—even if these companies operated in industries more broadly regarded as environmentally damaging and labor-abusing.12 For these reasons, ESG disclosure is valuable because it helps a company demonstrate that it is managing its risks and has a track record of paying attention to its ESG performance. Those that disclose more ESG information are more likely to enjoy a lower cost of capital according to academic research.13
Third-party recognition of a company's ESG performance can provide a protective ESG halo—but not always. When a company was added to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) between 1999 and 2007—a third-party recognition for its ESG performance—stock returns increased after the announcement.14 Perhaps intuitively, companies that are dropped from the index experience a decrease in stock returns, especially if they have received negative press in the week prior to the announcement date, while for companies expected to have strong future financial performance, addition to or deletion from the DJSI has little impact on market value. But for companies where market expectations are lower, addition to the DJSI can increase market value, and deletion can drive down market value.
The empirical evidence to date most strongly suggests that:
- The average investor (not only the ESG-focused investor) is paying attention to ESG when things go wrong and the company is in the limelight and usually under duress.
- It is likely that the investor reaction to negative ESG events will continue to increase as more investors pay attention and increasingly understand what these events can mean for a company.
- Disclosure of ESG performance can partially protect against drops in shareholder value when things do go wrong.
Short-term events are one thing. It would be easier to draw a firm conclusion on the effect of strong ESG management as a driver of drive long-term returns if the evidence were clearer. Many attempts have been made to show that ESG indices outperform a benchmark index. Yet research finds that the outperformance of these indices is better explained by factors other than ESG,15 including performance of the popular KLD 400 Social and Dow Jones Sustainability Index.16 Claims of sustained outperformance of an index are inherently questionable because, if true, investors will quickly arbitrage away the effect. Two notable recent review papers suggest that past conclusions on a potential long term financial impact of ESG management should be interpreted with caution because many researchers use faulty methods or questionable data.17 Based upon a set of papers using what the researchers deem more credible methods, they find that over longer time periods ESG performance affects financial performance (both accounting measures and stock returns), but that on average the impact is minimal.
This outcome is not entirely surprising. Most companies adopt an incremental approach when they take action to improve their ESG performance, often indistinguishable from business as usual.18 Disentangling the effects of these efforts from other long-term drivers of market value is difficult.
ESG Shocks
The empirical record therefore, most strongly supports the conclusion that the value of ESG management—or lack thereof—is clearest after the fact, when the crisis has hit. ESG events can occur at any time as a short-term shock, which, if repeated, can chip away at a company's performance or be large-scale catastrophes of the black swan variety; especially for companies already facing a tough business environment. Many have knock-on effects. An ESG event at one company can also negatively affect returns of its industry peers.19 Large-scale events, such as explosions and spills, can trigger an industry wide paradigm shift. For example, the 1984 Bhopal chemical accident resulted in the US Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)—including mandated reporting of toxic chemicals to the EPA's toxic chemicals inventory (TRI), the chemical industry's Responsible Care program, and widespread scrutiny of chemicals emissions by investors, advocacy groups, and academics.
On April 5, 2010, there was an explosion at Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch mine in Montcoal, West Virginia, killing 29 miners. At that time, Massey Energy was the fourth largest producer of coal in the United States and the largest coal producer in Central Appalachia. The stock fell 11 percent on April 6, and by the end of April was down by 33 percent (see figure 1)20. Facing estimated costs between $80–$150 million to compensate the families of the fallen miners and pay insurance deductibles and possible legal fees, as well as about $62 million worth of equipment and mineral rights impacted by the disaster, Massey's financial performance deteriorated rapidly. As evidence of a poor safety record was unearthed, pressure on senior management increased, leading the CEO Don Blankenship to retire in December 2010. On January 28, 2011, shareholders of Alpha Natural Resources—known for a focus on safety—agreed to buy Massey Energy for $7.1 billion, and the stock price jumped 10 percent. The Massey accident brought the consequences of shortchanging safety for the sake of profit to the fore in the coal mining industry, which has since been in decline due to cheap natural gas and increased regulation.21
Figure 1. Massey Energy mining accident: Impact on stock price and price/sales ratio
Figure 2. Bausch & Lomb product recalls: impact on stock price and price/sales ratio
Figure 3. Bausch & Lomb performance relative to S&P 500
Product recalls are also significant events in the life of a company, often associated with brand and reputation loss and multimillion dollar law suits. For example, in May 2006 Bausch & Lomb issued a worldwide product recall of ReNu with Moisture Loc contact lens solution due to fungal infections in user eyes. The market appeared to be aware of the problem in April and the stock fell 28%. Within weeks, the company's US market share for lens solutions dropped to 29 percent, down from 41 percent, and was rapidly snatched up by its competitors—pushing down Bausch & Lomb price/sales ratio. A well-known 156-year-old Rochester-based company with 2006 sales of $2.3 billion, Bausch & Lomb issued another recall in March 2007, this time of ReNu MultiPlus contact lens solution. The stock price continued to underperform the S&P 500 for an extended time period, see figures 2 and 3. Under pressure from two product recalls, tough competition, rising litigation costs, and accounting restatements, Bausch & Lomb was sold to Warburg Pincus in May 2007. Shares rose again (36%) between March 16, 2007 and May 16, 2007 on speculation that the company could be a target of a leveraged buy-out.22 Thus, while the company faced several challenges, the product recall triggered a significant immediate drop in stock price followed by a sustained period of underperformance.
Why focus on catastrophes? They serve as an important point of reference for those managers intent on building a more resilient company. These worst-case scenarios—where a company can simultaneously face several headwinds, including an ESG event—have several things in common: a significant drop in stock price after the ESG event (over 25 percent), a sustained period of underperformance, poor post-event management and reputation loss, negative brand exposure in the media, senior management turnover, lack of effective communication, increased regulatory activity, and quite often, takeover. Empirical research generally finds that catastrophes from which companies have difficulty recovering are marked by the following:23
- An initial negative response of over 10 percent of market capitalization and significant financial loss in the first two or three months after the event
- A large number of fatalities
- Sustained underperformance based on management response to the catastrophe.
The latter point is revealing in that quite often the direct losses associated with catastrophes are dwarfed by investor loss of confidence in management's ability to deal with the situation and its aftermath. This need not always be the case according to Daniel Diermeier.24 He has argued that those management teams that quickly shift from crisis management (emphasizing containment and solution) to managing the risk of future events can more rapidly recover from a crisis. The key is the realization that what underlie many of these crises—and resulting large shareholder value shifts—are a company's strategy, execution of core business processes, and whether it is adapting to changes in the business environment, and not merely operational or financial risks.25 According to Andre Abadie, managing director at JP Morgan, "Companies can implement safeguards to minimize the impact of operational risks. They have greater difficulty managing their strategic risks, which are driven by macro shifts in the business environment."26 ESG events can trigger a shift in the business environment requiring a strategic rethink and enhanced risk assessment.
Risky business
ESG issues are particularly vexing because they can arise anywhere in a company's value chain. Many ESG risks—labor protests and safety concerns or ecosystem damage—are embedded in vast corporate supply chains, where they are getting more attention.27 Activists often target similar companies or popular brands because they have a strategic vulnerability to the supplier. For many companies, these are reputation risks—guilt by association—rather than direct operations or financial risks. However, the risks cannot simply be outsourced.28
For several reasons, we believe ESG risks will increasingly impact financial performance. First, investors seem to be paying more attention to ESG information, evidenced by an increasingly steeper drop in stock price around such an event. Second, volatility in the global business environment due to financial risks, regulatory uncertainty, extreme weather (e.g., flooding in Thailand as this is being written), rising business interruption premiums,29 crop failures, commodity price volatility, and social unrest means that what seem to be black swans are more likely than previously thought.
Third, today's lean supply chains are often more brittle and vulnerable to disruption because supply chain managers tend to focus on efficiency, in many cases without fully understanding the consequences of reduced redundancy and flexibility. When they occur, supply chain disruptions can have longer-term financial consequences similar to the ESG events described above.30
And fourth, the rise of social media and private politics—where nonregulatory agents push an agenda—is beginning to rival the impact of public politics and regulatory processes, including those addressing ESG issues (see figure 4). Social media speed up and complicate the entire news cycle on a global scale. While traditional high-profile news media are typically still the first to report a new story, it is the dynamic blogosphere that may pick up the story within a few hours and discuss it at length, which prolongs the focus on a company's shortcomings.31 In this way, ESG issues can gain momentum on social media and continue to erode corporate reputations and investor confidence in corporate management.
Figure 4. Most important risk sources in the next three years (top five)
Leveraging ESG Information
"Managers need to understand the latent risks embedded in their company's business model before they become a full-blown risk," according to Bruno Bertocci, managing director and global equity portfolio manager at UBS Global Asset Management.32 He adds that investors focus on management's preparedness for the unknown, for volatility, and its ability to execute a business strategy without incurring too much risk—which requires a better understanding of all aspects of the business.
"ESG is a proxy for risk that is not priced in, and companies that better manage these risks can deliver returns with greater certainty," according to Dan Hanson, managing director at BlackRock.33 For example, investment in stakeholder engagement pays off as a preventive strategy and can mitigate ESG shocks when they occur. This is underscored by research in the gold mining industry. Mines with better engagement with the local community and government enjoy a significantly lower discount rate than mines with contentious stakeholder relations because they have typically experienced a higher success rate of extracting the gold.34
There are three implications for managers arising from this research. First, a record of ESG disclosure matters because it can help mitigate the immediate impact of an ESG shock when it occurs. Second, the severity of an ESG shock depends in large part on post event management, and the duration of the shock often hinges on long-term changes that a company implements to minimize the risks of future ESG events.
This leads to the third implication and opportunity: To increase and maintain investor confidence, managers need to show how they are prepared to respond to ESG shocks and prevent them from turning into a longer-term problem. This means disclosure of ESG outputs (e.g., reporting of emissions) and clearer explanation of how ESG risks—the often unintended consequences of various ESG outputs—are identified, assessed in terms of their materiality to business value,35 and managed. Historical information on ESG outputs matters because it can be predictive of future consequences. For example, the risk of costly chemical accidents increases at facilities that emit more toxic chemicals.36 When reporting on climate change, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are only part of the story, indicative of regulatory risk and a potential price on carbon. The issue for many companies is whether they are adapting to the consequences for their business of higher GHG concentrations in the atmosphere, such as higher insurance premiums, business interruption and property damage.
The pot of gold analogy, therefore, is more nuanced than many observers would like. Companies that factor ESG risks into their planning, and manage accordingly, have the potential to fare better and lend credence after all to the notion of ESG performance as worthy of market recognition. To capture value derived from ESG management, corporate leaders can demonstrate to their investors how they are getting ahead of ESG risks in their day-to-day management and building resilience before the next ESG shock. This may entail strategic rethinking of the business, including new product innovation, business model changes, and other steps to increase profitability. While this is a narrative of crisis and aftermath, a closer look at ESG by the numbers suggests that it is a lens through which business leaders can build better, more resilient, and more valuable enterprises.
EndnotesView all endnotes
- Introduced in 2006, the UN PRI currently has over 1,000 signatories, including asset owners, investment managers, and professional service partners, who seek to integrate ESG factors into investment practice. <http://www.unpri.org/publications/annual_report2011.pdf>.
- Of the 250 largest companies in the world (G250 companies), 95 percent issue separate sustainability reports. KPMG International Survey of Corporate Responsibility Reporting 2011.
- Two-thirds (66 percent) of CFOs said they were "always" or "frequently" involved in driving execution of sustainability strategy in their organizations. More than half (53 percent) said their involvement increased over the last year, and more than 61 percent said they expected their involvement to increase over the next two years. Deloitte Survey of 250 finance executives, "Sustainability: CFOs are coming to the table." See: <https://www.deloitte.com/view/en_GX/global/services/sustainability-and-climate-change/b7f9c8b6840b9310VgnVCM3000001c56f00aRCRD.htm?id=gx_theme_CFO>.
- PRI, Report on Progress, 2011. See: <http://www.unpri.org/publications/2011_report_on_progress_low_res.pdf>.
- Wallace N. Davidson III and Dan L. Worrell, "The Impact of Announcements of Corporate Illegalities on Shareholder Returns," The Academy of Management Journal 31, no. 1 (1998); W. Davidson, D. Worrell, and L. Cheng, "The effectiveness of OSHA penalties: A stockmarket-based test," Industrial Relations 33, no. 3 (1994). Deborah L. Gunthorpe, "Business ethics: A quantitative analysis of the impact of unethical behavior by publicly traded corporations," Journal of Business Ethics 16, no. 5 (1997); Jonathan M. Karpoff, D. Scott Lee, and Valaria P. Vendrzyk, "Defense Procurement Fraud, Penalties, and Contractor Influence," Journal of Political Economy 107, no. 4 (1999); Alan K. Reichert, Michael Lockett, and Ramesh P. Rao, "The Impact of Illegal Business Practice on Shareholder Returns," Financial Review 31, no. 1 (1996); Jonathan M. Karpoff Jr., John R. Lott, and Eric W. Wehrly, "The Reputational Penalties for Environmental Violations: Empirical Evidence," Journal of Law and Economics 48, no. 2 (2005).
- Vivien Kappel, Peter Schmidt, Andreas Ziegler. "Human rights abuse and corporate stock performance – an event study analysis," whitepaper, December 21, 2009; W. Davidson, D. Worrell, and A. El-Jelly, "Influencing managers to change unpopular corporate behavior through boycotts and divestitures," Business and Society 34 (1995); Michael Lenox and Charles Easley, "Private environmental activism and the selection and response of firm targets," Journal of Economics Management and Strategy 18, no. 1 (2009).
- Brayden G. King and Sarah A. Soule, "Social movements as extra-institutional entrepreneurs: The effect of protests on stock price returns," Administrative Science Quarterly 52 (2007).
- Caroline Flammer, "Corporate social responsibility and shareholder value: The environmental consciousness of investors" (MIT Sloan School of Management, 2011).
- Roy F. Baumeister et al., "Bad is stronger than good," Review of General Psychology 5, no. 4 (2001); Paul Rozin and Edward D. Royzman, "Negativity bias, negativity dominance, and contagion," Personality and Social Psychology Review 5, no. 4 (2001).
- Brayden G. King, "A political mediation model of corporate response to social movement activism," Administrative Science Quarterly 53 (2008).
- Dinah A. Koehler and Eric Hespenheide, "Drivers of long-term business value: stakeholders, stats and strategy," June 2012 <http://www.deloitte.com/view/en_US/us/Services/additional-services/deloitte-sustainability/a4521cabe6cc7310VgnVCM3000001c56f00aRCRD.htm>.
- Karen E. Schnietz and Marc J. Epstein, "Exploring the financial value of a reputation for corporate social responsibility during a crisis," Corporate Reputation Review 7, no. 4 (2005).
- Dan Dhaliwal, Oliver Zhen Li, and Albert Tsang, "Voluntary nonfinancial disclosure and the cost of equity capital: The initiation of corporate social responsibility reporting" (University of Arizona, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010).
- Olga Hawn, Aaron Chatterji, and Will Mitchell, "Two coins in one purse? How market legitimacy affects the financial impact of changes in social legitimacy: Addition and deletion by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index" (Duke University, 2011).
- Rob Bauer, Kees Koedijk, and Roger Otten, "International Evidence on Ethical Mutual Fund Performance and Investment Style," Journal of Banking & Finance 29, no. 7 (2005); Gary Geczy, Robert Stambaugh, and David Levin, "Investing in Socially Responsible Mutual Funds," in Wharton Discussion Paper (University of Pennsylvania2003); Meir Statman, "Socially responsible indexes: Composition, performance and tracking errors" (Santa Clara University, 2005); Michael Schroeder, "Is there a Difference? The Performance Characteristics of SRI Equity Indices," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting 34, no. 1 (2007); Lloyd Kurtz and Dan diBartolomeo, "The Long-Term Performance of a Social Investment Universe," Journal of Investing 20, no. 3 (2011).
- We evaluated the performance of the MSCI KLD 400 Social Gross Return Index compared to the MSCI Investable Market Index USA Gross and S&P 500 Total Return Index, and Dow Jones Sustainability World Total Return Index compared to the Dow Jones Wilshire Total Return Index. Since inception we consistently find underperformance for the sustainability indices, due more to different industry weightings and, in the case of the DJSI, country weightings rather than ESG ratings. We also evaluated differences in stock return volatility compared to their benchmarks. While the KLD 400 did have lower comparative volatility across various time frames, volatility increased during the tech bubble (1998–2000) due to higher weighting of tech stocks. For the DJSI, however, volatility was greater since inception compared to its benchmark, due to differences in industry and country weightings. We find lower volatility for Dow Jones Sustainability North America Composite Total Return Index vs. Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Total Stock Market, further confirming our conclusion that country weightings are very influential.
- Joshua D. Margolis, Hillary Anger Elfenbein, and James P. Walsh, "Does it pay to be good … and does it matter? A meta-analysis of the relationship between corporate social and financial performance," (Harvard Business School, 2009); Markus Kitzmueller and Jay Shimshack, "Economic perspectives on corporate social responsibility," Journal of Economic Literature 50, no. 1 (2012). ESG performance is often correlated with other drivers of stock performance (e.g. industry competition, risk, regulatory stringency, market value, and intangibles such as R&D, brand, and marketing). Researchers often do not correctly control for these interfering factors, leading to questionable results. See: Abagail McWilliams and Donald Siegel, "Corporate social responsibility and financial performance: correlation or misspecification?," Strategic Management Journal 21, no. 5 (2000).
- See for example: Richard D. Morgenstern and William A. Pizer, Reality Check, the Nature and Performance of Voluntary Environmental Programs in the United States, Europe, and Japan (Washington, DC: Resources for the Future, 2007).
- Michael. L. Barnett, "Tarred and untarred by the same brush: Exploring interdependence in the volatility of stock returns," Corporate Reputation Review 10, no. 1 (2007).
- Stock price is drawn on primary Y-axis and Price/Sales (P/S) ratio is drawn on secondary Y-axis. Source: Bloomberg.
- Bloomberg and analyst reports. Alpha reached a $210 million settlement in December 2011 that included investments in mine safety and research, civil penalties, and restitution to families. <http://wvgazette.com/News/201112060055>; <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/06/upper-big-branch-report-findings_n_1132462.html>.
- Bloomberg, analyst reports.
- Rory F. Knight and Deborah J. Pretty, "The Impact of Catastrophes on Shareholder Value," in The Oxford Executive Research Briefings (Templeton College, University of Oxford, 2003).
- Daniel Diermeier, Reputation Rules: strategies for building your company's most valuable asset (McGraw-Hill Books, 2011).
- Oxford Metrica, Ernst & Young, and New World Research, "Risks that Matter: Sudden increases and decreases in shareholder value and the implications for CEOs," (2002).
- Conversation with Dinah Koehler, October 8, 2012.
- McKinsey & Company, "The challenges ahead for supply chains, McKinsey Global Survey results," (2010).
- Diermeier, Reputation Rules: strategies for building your company's most valuable asset.
- After suffering high losses in 2011, brokers estimate that 2012 business interruption rates are 5–12 percent higher than last year, and those companies exposed to catastrophes or with poor loss histories could face 30–50 percent increases. <http://www.propertycasualty360.com/2012/07/09/huge-business-interruption-losses-spur-new-informa>.
- Financial impacts include: 33 percent to 40 percent lower stock returns in a three-year window around the supply chain disruption announcement date, a 10.45 percent decline in share price relative to their benchmark portfolios, and 13.50 percent increase in share price volatility the year after the announcement. Accounting performance deteriorates by: 107% drop in operating income, 7 percent lower sales growth, and 11 percent growth in cost. See: Kevin B. Hendricks and Vinod R. Singhal, "The Effect of Supply Chain Disruptions on Shareholder Value, Profitability, and Share Price Volatility" (Georgia Institute of Technology, 2010); "An empirical analysis of the effect of supply chain disruptions on long-run stock price performance and equity risk of the firm," Production and Operations Management 14, no. 1 (2005).
- Jure Leskovec, Lars Backstrom, and Jon Kleinberg, "Meme-tracking and the Dynamics of the News Cycle" (paper presented at the KDD, Paris, France, 2009).
- Conversation with Dinah Koehler, September 16, 2012.
- Conversation with Dinah Koehler, Sept. 17, 2012.
- Witold J. Henisz, Sinziana Dorobantu, and Lite Nartey, "Spinning Gold: The financial returns to external stakeholder engagement" (Wharton School, 2010).
- Dinah Koehler, Eric Hespenheide, and Charles Alsdorf, "Going from Good to Great: ways to make your sustainability report business-critical," September, 2012. <http://www.deloitte.com/view/en_US/us/Services/additional-services/deloitte-sustainability/8918785fc75b9310VgnVCM3000001c56f00aRCRD.htm>.
- Michael R. Elliott, Paul R. Kleindorfer, and Robert A. Lowe, "The Role of Hazardousness and Regulatory Practice in the Accidental Release of Chemicals at U.S. Industrial Facilities," Risk Analysis 23, no. 5 (2003).


text:
Ken-Tool® 18" drop-center tire spoon is designed to hold the bead to avoid pinching the tube. Constructed of premium-quality stock steel (11/16" stock), then heat-treated for long-lasting performance. Patented one-piece construction is specially designed for agricultural use. Best when used in pairs. USA made by Ken-Tool.
2016 Master Catalog: Page 663

subset: commoncrawl


text:
To help improve our concentration, Nintendo teamed up once again with famous Japanese neuroscientist Ryuta Kawashima to create "Brain Age: Concentration Training" for the 3DS. It features a nice collection of activities, although plenty of them are locked away from the start. It's a good incentive to play the game every day to unlock more content, but some exercises require nearly a month's worth of attendance or more before becoming playable, which is a bit excessive.
Separated into various modes, the highlight of the game is Devilish Training, complete with Kawashima turning into a devil himself. As the name implies, these set of exercises are not for the faint of heart.
Devilish Calculations involves solving simple math problems, but with a twist: You're not answering the problem currently shown on the screen but the one(s) before that. 1-Back requires memorizing the solution to one problem, 2-Back for two of them, 3-Back for three, etc. It's real tough solving answers from three questions ago and at the same time adding the current problem to your memory bank. My tip: Say the answers out loud and get a good rhythm going. Devilish Shapes uses the same concept, only you have to memorize all kinds of weird shapes, which is even harder.
Other devilish games include Devilish Pairs, a Memory-type game where you have to pick pairs of numbers out of so many cards.
Supplemental Training exercises focus on the speed of one's working memory. In Calculations x 20, you answer 20 math problems as fast as possible. Word Attack flashes a word on the screen for a split second and you have to quickly write it down. Unfortunately in these type of writing exercises is where the game sometimes doesn't register answers correctly. The way I write the letter 'r' shows up as a 'p' or an 'e,' or sometimes the 't' will be an 'r.' I had a number not register correctly in Devilish Calculations. That small moment of hesitation broke my rhythm and I was done for.
One of my favorite activities comes from the Brain Training section, called Block Head. It pits you against the computer to see who can collect the most territory. Territory taken by someone else cannot be selected, so winning may involve blocking the computer from making more moves.
Besides locking you out of content from the start, the game limits how much you can play certain exercises. Devilish games are limited to five minutes a day, so if you really like a specific activity it's a long wait to play it again. In Block Head you can only select one new stage a day, but are allowed to play cleared stages an unlimited amount of times. Other exercises can be played multiple times, but it only saves results from the first playthrough of the new day.
Multiple profiles encourage competition between family and friends. There are also a bunch of awards to receive for hitting certain milestones during exercises. Relaxation Mode features a few activities designed to give the brain a break, like a color-matching puzzle game called Blob Blast. "Brain Age: Concentration Training" is a different type of video game. It's meant to be played in short bursts, and the goal is not mindless entertainment but actually attempting to improve our minds. It retails for $29.99, which will seem pricey due to a lack of content initially. But if you have patience and a little time set aside each day, a variety of fun and interesting activities start rolling in. Who knows? Your brain might even thank you for it.
3 stars out of 4
A code for "Brain Age: Concentration Training" was supplied by Nintendo for this review. Jeff Hoard writes about video games for The Oakland Press. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffHoard921. His blog is www.yay4videogames.blogspot.com.


text:
As the nation gets close to plunging over the metaphorical fiscal cliff, triggering what could be massive tax increases and spending cuts in January, scores of businesses -- including at least two major Bay Area corporations -- are taking steps to soften the landing for their shareholders.
Oracle (ORCL) of Redwood City and San Jose-based Cisco Systems (CSCO) are among more than 100 companies nationwide that are paying dividends in advance this year so their investors won't get taxed more heavily for the money next year. And experts believe the number of firms jumping on the early dividend bandwagon is bound to increase.
"We're going to see an avalanche," said Howard Silverblatt, a senior index analyst with Standard & Poor's. "It's a no-brainer. If I'm a shareholder and you don't do that, you're going to hear from me."
But the rush to pay dividends before the end of the year drew fire from one liberal-leaning tax reform group.
"This is just the masters of the universe taking care of each other," complained Rebecca Wilkins, senior counsel at Citizens for Tax Justice, a Washington, D.C., research group that has been critical of corporate tax practices under current law. "It's pure self-interest."
While paying dividends early poses little financial problem for corporations, she added, it will be "detrimental to the U.S. Treasury."
The fiscal cliff refers to the year-end expiration of 2003 legislation that cut taxes, reducing the rate for dividends from 38.6 percent to 15 percent. Unless Congress and President Barack Obama work out a compromise, the rate will rise again. And that change -- coupled with a surcharge also set to go into effect in January to help pay for Obama's health care law -- would boost the dividend tax rate for the county's highest earners to 43.4 percent, experts say.
As a result, Standard & Poor's has seen a big jump in companies issuing dividends before the law runs out. Some have moved up the payment date of dividends that were scheduled for 2013. Others are awarding extra dividends, money not routinely issued to stockholders.
In November, 228 companies awarded "extra" dividends, compared with only 72 in November of last year. Silverblatt suspects many if not most businesses paying such dividends now were specifically avoiding the looming tax increase.
The trend doesn't surprise officials at financial data firm Markit. In its recent survey of 100 public companies, 38 percent said they were likely to issue unscheduled dividends before the end of the year, in many cases because of the fiscal cliff. Many corporate investors fear the dividend tax will increase "even if a grand bargain is struck in Washington," according to Markit vice president Chaitanya Gohil.
Nationwide, companies that have moved their dividend payments from 2013 to 2012 -- or have announced an extra dividend before the end of the year -- include Wal-Mart, Campbell Soup, Dillard's and Ethan Allen Interiors.
In the Bay Area, Oracle on Monday said it will pay three dividend payments of 18 cents per share in December -- for its second, third and fourth fiscal quarters -- which otherwise would have been paid next year. Oracle officials declined to discuss the decision. But they noted in a prepared statement that their biggest shareholder, CEO and board member Larry Ellison, didn't vote on the matter. He reportedly will get nearly $200 million from the accelerated payments.
Cisco's board decided in November to pay a dividend of 14 cents per share on Dec. 19 that ordinarily would have been paid in January. Although the board didn't reference the fiscal cliff in its announcement about the dividend, "the date changed because of the possible pending tax changes," said Cisco spokeswoman Kristin Carvell.
It's unclear how many other local companies are doing or considering the same thing.
Most Silicon Valley companies don't pay dividends because they are young and growing and prefer to invest the money in building or buying new technology, said Robert Hendershott, a finance professor at Santa Clara University, adding "there's a stigma" that paying dividends implies a company is no longer growing. But he noted that some leading tech firms have so much cash they can easily return some of it to shareholders.
Among local companies that do pay dividends, several -- including Intel (INTC), Hewlett-Packard (HPQ), Agilent, Applied Materials and The Gap -- said they haven't announced dividend changes. Others -- including Apple (AAPL), Chevron and Wells Fargo -- declined comment.
But Carl Guardino, CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, said he "would not be surprised" if more local firms chose to pay dividends this year instead of next, given worries about the fiscal cliff.
"Uncertainty makes people and businesses nervous," he said. "Therefore, some might act now... rather than wait upon the uncertainty of 2013."
Contact Steve Johnson at email@example.com or 408-920-5043. Follow him at Twitter.com/steveatmercnews.


text:
|Length Overall
|43' 3''
13.18 m
|Dry Weight
30,000 lbs.
13,607 kg
15' 4''
4.67 m
|Tested Weight
4' 2''
1.3 m
|Weight Capacity
|Draft Up
|Person Capacity
|Draft Down
|Fuel Capacity
600 gal.
|Air Draft
|Water Capacity
130 gal.
|17.5 deg.
|Length on Trailer
|Max Headroom
|Height on Trailer
|Bridge Clearance
10' 7''
3.22 m
|Trailer Weight
|Total Package Weight (Trailer,Boat & Engine)
|Prices, features, designs, and equipment are subject to change. Please see your local dealer or visit the builder's website for the latest information available on this boat model.
|Std. Power
|Not Available
|Tested Power
|Currently no test numbers
|Opt. Power
2 x 715-hp Cummins QSM11 Diesels
Over half of the 4300's length consists of outside space, just what you want in a multi-use boat. Who wants to sit below decks on a beautiful day, anyhow? If you don't want to fish, a swim platform is optional ($5,680 for a 42" model).
Swiss Army Knife
The Tiara's big cockpit is ideal for not only fishing, but also diving, a swim party, an evening cocktail party, sun bathing, and just plain old hanging out. The raised bridge deck provides a comfortable, roomy helm station with excellent sight lines all around the boat, especially helpful in docking and close-quarters maneuvers, but with easy access to the deck and cockpit; add a hardtop and enclosure and you have a rainy-day pilothouse.
Over a decade ago the folks at Tiara realized that not all of the people buying their express fishboats were gung-ho fishermen. Many were just boaters who wanted an express boat, but didn't want one that looked like an over-sized sportboat. These were customers who wanted set themselves apart from the beer and pizza set, preferring instead a model and brand that was more closely associated with the salty aspects of cruising offshore.
Many Tiara owners used their boats as floating condos or weekend summer retreats. Years ago Tiara started obliging by putting fold out seats in the cockpit, thus turning it in to large outdoor entertaining area. Even if you don't know a ballyhoo from a balaclava, a express-style boat like the Tiara 4300 is probably just what you need. It's a Swiss Army Knife of boats, and now we are seeing many other builders following the same strategy.
Fish boxes or storage bins, depending on how you want to use the boat. You can't see the 24"x24" aluminum backing plate for a fighting chair molded into the cockpit sole, but it is there just in case.
Live Al Fresco
The lower cockpit is 95 sq. ft., ample for all kinds of activities. Tiara includes a transom door, coaming bolsters, fresh- and raw-water washdowns and insulated under-sole boxes as standard; the lid for each box is divided in half for easier access. The bridge deck provides another 98 sq. ft. of al fresco space, equipped with the usual furniture you'll find on a boat of this type. There is a wet bar, and a TV jack behind the helm seat if you can't live without the box. (A 32" Sharp Aquos in the dinette area below decks is standard.) Engine access is via a hatch in this area.
The 4300 even has a mezzanine, just like a sportfishing convertible – an ideal place for a couple of folks to kick back and watch the action, whatever it may be. There's a cooler under the seat, stowage under the step. This boat has the Tournament hardtop, with rod holders and rocket launcher.
The swivel seat on the L-lounge – it becomes a forward-facing companion helm seat. The hardtop is optional, but we can't imagine the boat without one.
Tiara builds the 4300 Open using vacuum bag injection molding to ensure excellent laminate bonding; both hull and deck are balsa-cored. Instead of polyester, Tiara uses a high-profile AME 6000 vinylester resin in the hull; it's strong and flexible, and less prone to water absorption than polyester resin. We think lots of 4300s will end up in warm climates, where they'll stay in the water year 'round, so that's important. Osmosis is more likely in warm water, and when boats swim for extended periods. Vinylester stops any water migration through the laminate, so with the Tiara 4300 you don't have to worry.
There's a five-year transferable warranty on hull, deck and fiberglass fuel tank, two years on accessories. Many boats in this class have aluminum fuel tanks which can rust if they sit in bilge water or water drips or drains on top of them. Fiberglass tanks are not cheap nor are they easy to install, but they are the best way to go.
That mezzanine looks pretty comfortable to us. The black panel on the foredeck is an acrylic skylight.
The Cabin We Need
Like most express fishboat cabins, the 4300's is fine for the cruising most of us do – short trips of a few days a couple times a year – you can live without a salon for that long, especially in the summer. Thanks to the boat's 43'3" overall length (45'11" including the molded pulpit) and 15'4" beam, there's lots of room below decks.
There's no salon in a boat like this one; the bridge deck doubles as a gathering place. But the 4300 has room enough below for a spacious dinette and excellent galley. Teak joinery is standard.
There are two staterooms, a master forward with pedestal queen berth, and a guest cabin with upper and lower berths. This arrangement makes the boat ideal for a family with kids, or two couples willing to flip for the queen. There is one head, which is all you need on a boat this size, to our way of thinking. Adding a second head is going to take valuable space out of the dinette or galley.
If you need more sleeping space, the dinette converts to a double; the backrest becomes a Pullman berth, too.
The galley has a 2-burner electric cooktop and a microwave oven, Vitifrigo dual refrigerator/freezer drawers, but no icemaker; you can get one as an option ($940) – it fits in the freezer drawer.
Simple but adequate, the master has stowage under the berth and in port and starboard hullside cabinets. A 19" Sharp Aquos TV is standard, as is Marine Air Systems A.C.
Standard power is a pair of 715-hp Cummins QSM11 diesels. We haven't tested the boat, but according to Tiara the Cummins produce a top speed of 35 knots, and cruise around 30 knots. These are straight-shaft engines; if you want something more exotic (and more expensive), check out the Tiara 4300 Sovran, with IPS drives.
An Onan 9.0-kW genset is also standard, as is most other mechanical stuff you'll need, including a windlass. Trolling valves are a $7,910 option, but they will come in real handy at times; ditto a bow thruster ($8,790).
A clean, well-lighted space for the two big Cummins and the Onan genset. This is typical Tiara quality – everything neat as a pin and easy to access.
So Where Does the Fishing Come In?
The Tiara 4300 Open's MSRP of $907,990 includes just about everything you need for boating, but very little piscatorial gear. However, there's enough on the options list to satisfy any modern-day Izaak Walton. How about a tournament hardtop with rocket launcher and side rod holders ($33,780)? Rupp 30' outriggers ($10,890)? Rod stowage under the queen berth in the master stateroom ($290) and dinette ($450)? A macerator for the cockpit-sole lockers, turning them into bona fide fishboxes ($760)? Tiara will even add teaser reels if you must have them ($11,640).
Rod stowage under the queen berth is optional, and under the dinette, too.
A few minutes on the calculator and you'll see that a well-equipped, fishable Tiara 4300 will run close to a million bucks, MSRP, once you add electronics, but that's not out of line for a tournament-ready sportfisherman this size, and of this quality. You can spend more and get less than Tiara packs into the 4300. If you buy the cruising version you'll save money.
On the other hand, a lot of cruising express boats look about the same and cost a lot less. Why?
We once attended a Tiara owners' rendezvous and at lunch one owner asked the other five Tiara owners sitting at his table, why its boats cost so much compared to other brands. "They have the same engines and equipment as the others, but cost 15% more." he said. "Why do we pay it," he asked. The table was quiet except for the rolling eyeballs. What the other five folks were silently saying is that after owning a Tiara, if you have to ask that question you are not paying attention.
You don't find many newbies buying Tiara yachts. It is not for nothing that Tiara owners are virtually all veteran boaters, many of whom are on their 10th or 12th boat. Most have been around long enough to know that if you want a premium yacht and a first-class boating experience, you will gladly pay a premium price to get it. To these people, the alternatives are simply not worth the money saved. Life is too short not to do it right when you can afford it.
|Marine Electronics
|VHF Radio
|Air Cond./Heat
|Battery Charger/Converter
|Dripless Shaft Seals
|Head: Fixed
|Shore Power
|Trim Tabs
|Washdown: Fresh Water
|Washdown: Raw Water
|Water Heater
|Exterior Features
|Carpet: Cockpit
|Outlet: 12-Volt Acc
|Swim Ladder
|Swim Platform
|Transom Door
|Transom Shower
|Wet bar
|Boats More Than 30 Feet
|Bow Thruster
|Glendinning Cablemaster
|Oil Change System
= Standard = Optional
|Warranties change from time to time. While BoatTEST.com has tried to ensure the most up-to-date warranty offered by each builder, it does not guarantee the accuracies of the information presented below. Please check with the boat builder or your local dealer before you buy any boat.
|Hull Warranty
|5 years
|Deck Warranty
|5 years
|NMMA Certification
|Pricing Range
|Prices, features, designs, and equipment are subject to change. Please see your local dealer or visit the builder's website for the latest information available on this boat model.
|Model (Length)


text:
Local hospitals grade well in infection report
Published: Thursday, November 15, 2012 at 5:20 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, November 15, 2012 at 5:20 p.m.
MONTGOMERY | Tuscaloosa-area hospitals graded fairly well in a new study released Thursday that rated four types of reportable hospital infections for 2011.
Except for DCH Regional Medical Center in one category, hospitals rated the same as the national statistical average in four reportable hospital infections, according to the report by the Alabama Department of Public Health.
Under a 2009 state law, hospitals have to annually report their rates in four categories:
-Catheter-associated urinary tract infections
-Central-line associated blood stream infections
-Colon surgical site infections
-Abdominal hysterectomy surgical site infections.
DCH Regional Medical Center's rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infections was worse than the national average; in the other three categories, DCH's rates were about the same as the national average.
Dr. Ken Aldridge, DCH's vice president for medical affairs, said the hospital has shown improvement in minimizing infections over the last few years.
"The good news is we recognize this process was an area we had to work on," he said. "I'm a urologist and I encourage my patients to ask about it, why it happens, how to prevent it."
Medical and nursing staffs are aware of the steps being taken to combat infection, he said.
"Already our catheter UTI rate is back in the normal range compared with national averages," he said.
Fayette Medical Center and Northport Medical Center had similar catheter-associated urinary tract infections rates. Pickens County Medical Center, Bibb Medical Center, Hale County Hospital and Greene County Hospital, did not have sufficient data to be statistically compared.
DCH and Northport had similar central-line associated blood stream infections rates, while Pickens County and Fayette County hospitals had too few to calculate.
DCH, Northport and Pickens County hospitals had similar rates in colon surgery infections. Fayette Medical Center had too few to calculate.
DCH and Northport had similar rates in abdominal hysterectomies, while Pickens County had too few to calculate.
"The law requiring hospital infection reporting was passed in 2009 with cooperation from Alabama's hospitals, ADPH, and the state's Legislature, most notably its sponsor, retired Sen. Bobby Denton," said Dr. Don Williamson, the state health officer, in a statement.
Williamson said the report should not replace discussions between patients and physicians.
"While this report is important and helpful, it should not be used as the sole factor in the selection of a hospital," Williamson said.
Trinity Medical Center CEO Keith Granger, chairman of the Alabama Hospital Association's quality task force, said hospital leaders recognize that their work on infection prevention will never be done.
"When compared to the rest of the nation, Alabama's hospitals performed better than the national average on three of the four categories reported and similar to the national average on the other," he said.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


text:
Given the song's ubiquity, it wasn't wholly unusual to hear "Brown Eyed Girl" while walking through a hallway at Tahoe Senior Plaza Wednesday.
What was unusual about the Van Morrison staple was the tone it took while emanating from the center's recreation room - in that it was being played on half a dozen ukuleles.
Meet Ukuleles of Tahoe, a group of South Shore residents who gather at least twice a month to practice songs on the diminutive, four-stringed instrument with Hawaiian roots. The informal group formed about three years ago.
"It's a casual instrument and we're a casual group," said South Shore resident Mary Lou Whitcomb, who planted the seeds of the "uke" troupe with an email to friends after a trip to the islands.
Whitcomb - who had played the ukulele as a teenager, but put it down for years - brought a ukulele back from the seven-week trip after being able to soak up a series of free lessons. Starting off with three local ukulele enthusiasts, the group has grown to include eight people who regularly meet to refine their playing abilities, but don't take themselves too seriously.
Member Karen Miner said she and her husband, Jeff, started playing the instrument after buying one at a fundraiser on a whim.
"We never even thought of playing it," Miner said. "It's just kind of cute."
But the decoration came to life after the Miners' heard about other players in the area.
"It was just fun," Karen Miner said about playing the ukulele.
"And it was doable," Jeff Miner added, noting the instrument's four strings are intuitive for people who are not trained in music.
Members of the group list artists who played the ukulele, like Don Ho and Harry Belafonte, as influences, but also marvel at modern-day virtuosos like Jake Shimabukuro and Brittni Paiva.
Although considered a novelty at times in its history, the ukulele is going through a renaissance, with Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder putting out an album based entirely around the instrument and popular actress and musician Zooey Deschanel taking up the cause. Shimabukuro's and Paiva's YouTube videos have racked up millions of hits.
The growth of the instrument can also be seen on a regional level, with the Annual Reno Ukulele Festival adding an extra day in 2013. The festival runs April 11-14 and several members of Ukuleles of Tahoe beamed when discussing the upcoming event, billed as "24,000 square feet of ukulele bliss."
Ukuleles of Tahoe does hold occasional performances outside of the practice room, including this summer's Great Gatsby Festival. The group laughed at receiving a couple dollars from onlookers after leaving a ukulele case open during the festival.
The group usually performs classic pop songs, but they were working through several tropical numbers this week in preparation for an event at Heavenly Village.
A nationwide community of ukulele players exists and the local group will occasionally get a visiting ukulele player who sees an announcement of the group's regular practice and sits in. They are always open to new players, regardless of skill level, member Penny Fairfield said.
"We mentor beginning people and we encourage them to come," Fairfield said.
Sharing the love of the ukulele is a big part of the group's existence.
"Music is fun," Jeff Miner said. "That's why people do it."
For more information, contact Fairfield at email@example.com.


text:
- Tea Pouches
- Loose Tea
- Iced Tea
- Teaware
- Gifts
- Sale
- Why Mighty Leaf?
ML Vanilla Bean Black Tea Tin
ML Vanilla Bean black tea is made from Ceylon and Chinese black teas that blend with Madagascar vanilla beans and caramel to create a full-bodied and fruity cup.
3.0 oz. loose tea in tin
Black tea, vanilla bean bits, natural flavors
Medium leaves
Sweet, perfumed nose with woody undertones
Reddish black liquor
Rich and malty with a lingering sweet vanilla flavor
Preparing the perfect cup of tea is a process to be savored. Watch how the traditional elements harmoniously come together to make the perfect cup and enjoy the liberation of pure tea goodness.
This is what we call the Mighty Leaf signature multi-sensory ("sensory melange") tea experience. Come share with us and learn how to get infused.
Hot and iced tea instructions are listed below.
Hot Tea ::
The quality of tea is affected by the quality of water used to prepare it. Using filtered or bottled water is best. If possible, avoid brewing tea with tap, distilled or mineral water. Never over-boil water, as it results in flat-tasting tea.
1) Heat filtered or bottled water to a rolling boil or to 205 F. 2) While the water is heating pour hot water into your teapot and cups, let sit and then drain completely. A warm teapot will maintain the requisite temperature for superior tasting tea.
Whole Leaf Tea
Prepare Mighty Leaf teas using a teapot, paper tea sachet, infuser or traditional brewing methods. Use one rounded teaspoon of loose tea per 12 ounces or cup of water.
Infusion Time
Pour boiling water over tea leaves. Keep teapot covered to retain heat. Time steeping carefully and infuse for 3 - 5 minutes.
Savor the Leaf
Sip your cup and rediscover the pleasure of the way tea was naturally meant to be. This is the magic of Mighty Leaf.
Iced Tea ::
A stronger brew is required for iced tea than for hot tea because of ice's dilution action. Prepare a tea concetrate as follows:
Single Serving
For a single serving, prepare as for hot tea, use one rounded teaspoon of loose tea per 12 ounces of water and after brewing pour over ice.
Large Serving
1. For a larger serving, prepare a iced tea concentrate by bringing one quart of cold water to a rolling boil in a tea kettle.
2. Remove from heat and add 8-10 teaspoons per quart of brewed tea.
3. Steep 3 - 5 minutes or to desired strength.
4. To serve immediately, pour over ice in a tall glass, or add another quart of cold water to the concentrate and chill in refrigerator.
China, Sri Lanka
Health Benefits
Black tea
Black tea contains an abundant source of natural plant-derived antioxidant compounds called polyphenols that aid in fighting harmful free radicals. Research shows that these free radicals can cause heart disease, cancer and increase the risk of strokes. Drinking black tea with its high antioxidant levels may help protect the body by combating harmful free radical activity.
Further health benefits of black tea may include lowering cholesterol, strengthening the immune system, promoting healthy blood vessel functionality and even protecting teeth and bones. In addition, black tea provides a source of nutrients including magnesium, Manganese, potassium, calcium, and the vitamins C and K all in trace amounts.
Vanilla Bean ("Vanilla planafolia")
Originally discovered by Spanish conquistadors in Mexico, and later cultivated in Madagascar and other parts of the world. Vanilla Bean promotes calm by easing anxiety and tension with its sweet scent and taste. The beans come from drying green pods not yet ripe.
Subscribe and save 5% with Regular Tea Rituals, our Auto-Delivery Program. Details
Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.


text:
Dizzeeyo, on 19 December 2012 - 04:24 PM, said:
True but it will only be a matter of time till the same thing happens with tempest, and the range/consistency of breaking cc with tempest is greater then lb, at 12.51 you get an extra bomb tick vs 2 ticks of tempest. I hate how much we rely on our bombs. Still gonna play around with lb and see what I find.
past that 12.51 mark most mages wont hit the 20.85 or even 29.12 mark
Edited by Execx, 19 December 2012 - 04:40 PM.


text:
October 10, 2006
Advertisers may soon have another way to reach our kids...and the rest of us.
No matter where we turn, ads are already everywhere, whether we're riding down the road, watching TV, or even flipping through a magazine.
And now our children's school buses might be for sale.
If two Augusta businessmen get their way, Richmond County school buses may soon be carrying more than just students.
Tonight the Richmond County School Board heard a plan from Mike Williamson of MD Signs and Scott Gibony of Redwolf Inc. to advertise on school buses.
The ads would be on the outside of the buses, and they could actually help the school system make the buses safer.
One plan is to use the extra money to put a school safety officer on every bus.
"I'm open to the possibility," school board member Helen Minchew told News 12.
"School districts in Florida, Arizona, New Jersey and across the United States are successfully using bus advertising as a way to mitigate increasing cost for school systems," Williamson said in his pitch.
"More than likely it will be a fifty-fifty split," he later told News 12 . "We are looking at anywhere from $200 to $600,000 in revenue."
But where do you draw the line?
If approved, Richmond County school buses will more than likely never advertise products such as alcohol or tobacco. Instead, the buses may advertise products like soft drinks or fast food chains. Ultimately, which ads are shown will be up to the school board.
"The school board is the controlling entity," Gibony told News 12. "They have the last say in the ads as far as the quality of the ads, the safety of the ads, and the content of the ads."
"Yes, it's a business proposal for us, but also it's a way to raise money for the schools without raising taxes," Williamson said.
Augusta mom Dawn McNair's two children ride the bus, and she says she isn't against the idea.
"Any time taxes are not raised it's a good thing for the parent," she said. "When this money is going toward the school, to me it's a great opportunity for the school. It's a simple way of raising money."
According to a CBS News report, a school district in Colorado Springs first allowed advertisements on school buses back in 1993, and last year, that school district collected $650,000 in revenue.
But Augusta isn't getting on board with the idea just yet.
At tonight's meeting, the Richmond County School Board decided to have their attorney look at the plan and see if there are any legal issues. If there aren't, then another meeting will allow for other plans to be heard.
If approved, the earliest we could see ads on our buses would be 2007.


text:
Look for Billie Joe on the cover of the May 29th issue of KERRANG! Magazine: HERE.
Look for Billie Joe on the cover of the May 29th issue of KERRANG! Magazine: HERE.
Congratulations to American Idiot for taking home 2 awards at the 2010 Broadway.com Audience Awards:
Favorite Leading Actor in a Broadway Musical: John Gallagher Jr.
Favorite Ensemble Performance
Congratulations to Michael Mayer who took home the Outstanding Director of a Musical Award at the Drama Desk Awards Sunday.
Dookieheads (that's what Green Day fans are colloquially referred to, right?) who downloaded the two-track Green Day: Rock Band demo from Xbox Live Marketplace today (gold subscribers only) found a little bonus waiting for them when they exited the demo: The teaser image posted above. Alongside the series' four iconic instrument logos is a whole new symbol, which seems to indicate that keyboards (or perhaps ... keytars?) will be added to Rock Band 3.
You can check out the demo, which includes the songs "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and "Welcome to Paradise," to see the teaser
Bob Gruen posted some amazing photos of the Foxboro Hot Tubs in New York City last month: HERE.


text:
Sixteen-year-old Ben Lochstampfor salts the sidewalk on South Church Street in Waynesboro in front of Lochstampfor Funeral Home Inc. Thursday. The National Weather Service is calling for another 3 to 5 inches of snow to fall today and into this evening. Flurries started early this morning, and some roads are slick with ice. The NWS advises travelers to take caution and to take extra supplies like flashlights, blankets, food and medication in your vehicles in case you become stranded.
Location, ST | website.com


text:
Good news for the oil industry
Published: Friday, January 18, 2013 at 9:17 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, January 18, 2013 at 9:17 a.m.
The oil industry is here, and its future is bright.
That's the word from the Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, whose president addressed the Bayou Industrial Group this week.
"Take a look at the Gulf of Mexico region. If it were a country, it would be the eighth-largest producer in the world. Louisiana is the No. 1 refining area in the world," Chris John told the local group on Monday.
The numbers are on John's side.
The U.S. uses around 20 million barrels of oil each day. Of that, 6 million is produced in the Gulf of Mexico. The industry accounts for $70 billion in business in Louisiana and keeps thousands employed.
"When you look at the whole region, it is the strongest port system in the world," John said. "To put that in global context, no other region in the world has this oil standpoint."
You don't have to take John's word for it or that of his organization.
All you really have to do to see the significance of this vital industry is to look at the employment and unemployment numbers of our region and our state.
While most of the rest of the country was mired in double-digit unemployment during the national economic downturn, Louisiana enjoyed a relative stability.
And our area was among the top even within the healthy atmosphere within the state.
Similarly, you could look at real-estate values, a good overall measure of a region's economic health. While real-estate values throughout the nation fluctuated wildly, creating economic turmoil, the values here remained strong, a great testament to our strength, much of which is directly attributable to oil and gas.
Or, you could just ask your neighbors. The chances are that either you or your neighbors work in the oilfield or know someone who does.
That economic engine touches almost every part of our area.
Finally, you could ask one of the many people who each year take jobs in the industry or retire from long, lucrative careers in the industry — careers that have made countless lives better throughout south Louisiana.
So there is no doubt of the oil industry's immense significance and of its health.
John and others have said that even as the U.S. searches for alternative sources of energy, oil and gas will continue to play a pivotal role, meaning our region will continue to benefit from it.
That is good news for all of us.
Editorials represent the opinions of the newspaper, not of any individual.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


text:
Trust me, it sounds a lot worse than it is. Until now, WordPress at FIT was not connected to use your FIT username and password to log in. Now that the number of blogs being created is picking up and the number of users growing (yey!) we were able to fix this problem.
So, what does this mean to you as an FIT blogger? The TDT (Technology Development Team) will be contacting all of the blog administrators to walk through the process of migrating all of your past posts and information over to your new FIT accounts.
All that this requires is for each user to log into your WordPress blog with your FIT username and password. This process will create your new account, however, the page will look blank and none of your past information will show up. That's ok. Once we see that you have logged in, we will migrate all of that data for you and will contact you as soon as it is done.
If you have any questions what so ever, please contact Meredith Perkins
More information to come soon, please keep checking back for the lastest and greatest.


text:
Sutter North Hospice will be holding its annual Memorial Celebration by Candlelight on Sunday October 14thstarting at 3:30pm located at Yuba City Veteran's Memorial Hall, at 1425 Veteran Memorial Circle.
Sutter North's annual Memorial event is a is a non-denominational service held once a year to remember those who have received care from Sutter North Hospice, and to offer support to loved ones. This service provides an opportunity for families and Hospice team members to honor patients together while paying tribute to those who passed within the year. The memorial celebration features special music, inspirational thoughts and a special candle lighting by those in attendance to honor their loved ones. All families and friends of loved ones who have passed on Sutter North's Hospice services are invited to attend.
For more information, call Sutter North Hospice at 530-749-3460.
Sutter North Hospice strives to provide physical, emotional, social and spiritual support to our patients and their families while enabling the patients to live with dignity and comfort as they cope with end-of-life issues. Learn more about Sutter North Hospice's services.
Location, ST | website.com


text:
City Service Requests & Information
Dial 311 or 210.207.6000
Communications and Public Affairs: 207-7234
Published on Friday, April 26, 2013
Early voting by personal appearance begins Monday, April 29, 2013 and ends Tuesday, May 7, 2013. Early voting sites include the Bexar County Elections Office along with 34 other locations. The hours of voting by personal appearance vary. To view a complete list of Early Voting sites, visit the City Clerk's website.
City of San Antonio registered voters will have the opportunity to vote for Mayor and their respective City Council representatives.
For polling locations and hours, individuals may also call the Office of the City Clerk at (210) 207-7253 or the Bexar County Elections Department at (210) 335-VOTE (8683).
Categories: City News, City Clerk


text:
- Apr 10:
- Federal budget: $3.8 trillion plan is Obama's attempt at 'grand bargain'
- Federal budget: Obama re-introduces 'Buffet tax' for wealthy
- Federal budget: Obama seeks 40 percent increase in clean energy spending
- Federal budget: FHA could need bailout of nearly $1 billion, Obama says
- Federal budget: Defense spending faces $150 billion in cuts over next decade
- Federal budget: Obama says his plan shrinks deficits and expands economy
WASHINGTON -- House Speaker John Boehner says President Barack Obama deserves some credit for what Boehner calls incremental entitlement reforms in his budget proposal.
But Boehner says he hopes Obama will not "hold hostage" those reforms in his demand for higher taxes. He says Obama got a tax hike as part of the "fiscal cliff" negotiations at the end of last year and that further tax increases were not needed.
The Obama budget envisions reducing the federal deficit through a combination of higher taxes on the wealthy and trimming benefit programs such as Social Security.
Boehner said the two sides should concentrate on what they can agree on and held out hope that in the coming weeks that Republicans and the White House could find common ground on ways on deficit reduction.


text:
Vestal Digichord Watch
A watch is more than just a way to tell time, it also makes a style statement. Show you're a trendsetter with the Vestal Digichord Watch. This durable, extremely lightweight timepiece is the pefect accessory for any outfit.
You'll be amazed out how light this watch feels, as it weighs only 5.5 millimeters at its thickest point. It doesn't lack durablitity, however, as it can stand up to wear and tear easily. It's also water-resistant up to 30m, so you don't have to worry about ruining this stylish timepiece if it gets a little wet.


text:
Munich Edition
- Munich Edition Looks Mighty Fine
- Currently Unavailable
Kick the ball like you're playing in Bavaria with the rest of Europe's best in this Munich edition of the PUMA PowerCat 1.12. Munich is the capital of the German state of Bavaria and this special edition design is inspired by the blue-and-white checkered pattern that makes up the region's flag. This lightweight professional level cleat will have you looking like a true champion when you hit the field.
UPPER: Lightweight and comfortable kangaroo leather with 3D Power Shooting Technology DUO in the strike zone. This technology is two densities of TPU for both responsiveness and rebound. External TPU injected heel counter for added balance and protection. Asymmetrical lacing for increased strike zone.
MIDSOLE: Cushioned EVA insole.
OUTSOLE: Lightweight TPU injected with pointed stud configuration for optimum traction on firm, natural surfaces.
WEIGHT: 10.4 oz.
Juega como si estuvieras en Bavaria con los mejores de Europa calzando la edición Munich de los PowerCat 1.12 de PUMA, que vienen con un diseño a cuadros azules y blancos similar a los colores de la bandera regional. CORTE: Piel de canguro cómoda y ligera


text:
CORPUS CHRISTI - In this week's Islanders Insider, it's our basketball season preview show, as Stephen King chats with Islanders men's basketball coach Willis Wilson and women's basketball coach Royce Chadwick. This week's feature is on Islanders Men's Basketball, and its offseason conditioning with the men and women of NAS-Corpus Christi.
Islanders Insider is produced every other week during September and October before going weekly during the height of Islanders Basketball season. The show is recorded and produced by the Islanders Broadcast Crew, a group of student volunteers at the Island University.
For all the latest on Islanders Athletics, be sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram (@Go_Islanders) and like us on Facebook (Islanders Athletics).


text:
CHARLESTON (AP) - Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin urged the Legislature on Wednesday to expand educational and economic policies that he thinks could uproot West Virginia from difficult financial constraints.
The Democrat pointed to reductions in business-franchise and corporate income taxes and touted plans for a new ethane cracker plant and three polyethylene plants in Wood County. He also touched on a wide-ranging education bill that was a prominent issue during the last legislative session.
In his state of the state address, Tomblin also advocated for slight teacher and state worker pay raises, even as West Virginia stares down a $60 million budget deficit. He hopes to balance them out with reserves that have largely been untapped, except in emergencies.
Article Photos
Teachers would receive a 2 percent raise in his budget, while state employees would get a $504 pay boost.
"We continue to experience positive change across the Mountain State and have set in motion many initiatives that will not fully bloom until long after my term has ended - but the hope of a fruitful harvest keeps us working hard each and every day," Tomblin said during the 43-minute speech in which he likened the work he and state lawmakers are doing to
Tomblin outlined how he plans to build on those programs, including a proposal to create an A-through-F grading scale for West Virginia's schools.
He also wants to emphasize science, technology, engineering and math education. Tomblin is suggesting $500,000 more to fuel technical-career-training courses first funded last year.
House Speaker Tim Miley, D-Harrison, commended Tomblin's mix of vocational and higher
"By taking the step of putting the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) services at vo-tech centers, I think that would go a long way for people who aren't necessarily college bound," Miley said.
Senate President Jeff Kessler, D-Marshall, said teacher pay raises are needed to keep salaries competitive.
"We need to continue to bring them up to the regional average, I'm not saying national, to keep our best and brightest and keep them in the classroom teaching our kids," Kessler said.
Tomblin emphasized that the state can spur growth without raising taxes. His budget taps into $84 million of a $918 million rainy day fund that is one of the nation's best.
"Unlike other states that have had to drain their reserve funds during the recent recession, West Virginia did not have to borrow one dime," Tomblin said.
Tomblin hopes to improve the business climate, as well as fight drug abuse and better prepare the state for emergencies.
Although West Virginia is struggling through a budget deficit, Tomblin said the state remains strong because it prepared itself for lean years.
"We pay our bills on time and we've invested in our future by continuing to work together as we face future challenges," Tomblin said. "We will not impose financial burdens on future generations. In fact, our reserve fund is one of the healthiest in the nation."
Republican lawmakers said Tomblin gave a well-delivered speech, but said it focused too much on what's already been accomplished without providing enough detail about what more can be done to improve the state's economy and schools.
"It was sort of more of a pep talk and looking back than it was a road map for the future and that's what concerns me," said House Minority Leader Tim Armstead of Kanawha County. "It's incredibly important that we take the next 60 days and make some bold changes particularly in terms of education, in terms of economic growth, in terms of our tax structure."
And Republicans also questioned the ability to follow through on Tomblin's proposed raises.
"I'm a little nervous about talking about pay raises in a very bad fiscal year. I understand people need the money, but we're struggling with a big hole in the budget, so it will be interesting to see how he proposes we pay for that," said Senate Minority Leader Mike Hall of Winfield.
Tomblin ended the speech by saying West Virginia, whose population is declining, has a bright future.
"For those who have left the Mountain State - come home. Come home to take advantage of the growing opportunities that we are creating for you," he said. "West Virginia's garden is thriving and we will yield a great harvest for years to come."


text:
Different groups discuss an amendment that would legalize and regulate marijuana like alcohol, and a group of former law enforcement officials is supporting the measure.
"We're not going to have a free-for-all, go buy it like you buy a Hershey's or 'maybe I'll get Snickers today ' or something," said Tony Ryan, member of the Law Enforcement Against Prohibition group. "It's not that way. There will be regulations."
Amendment 64 would allow adults 21 and older personal possession of 1 ounce or less of marijuana and the growth of up to six plants. It would also impose a tax system on marijuana.
But not everyone supports the measure. The Colorado Education Association spoke out against it.
"We oppose Amendment 64 because of the risks it poses to children when adults have additional access to drugs," said CEA president Kerrie Dallman. "And we want to make sure that marijuana approved for recreational use for adults 21 and older does not fall into the hands of youth, as well."
Amendment 64 will appear on November's ballot.


text:
Paypal temporarily disabled
"Crazy Organization XIII Party" by candy_heart_girl
Categories: Kingdom Hearts
Characters: You, Axel, Demyx, Larxene, Lexaeus, Luxord, Marluxia, Naminé, Roxas, Saïx, Vexen, Xaldin, Xemnas, Xigbar, Zexion
Description: Ok, I wanna see either a one-shot or a chapter story about what would happen if Organization XIII threw a huge party, and the requirments are:
1. Must have a readerXorganization member pairing (a good way to do this is to play 7 min in heaven or something like that)
2. all Organization XIII characters and reader is involved in the plot somehow (Namine is allowed, but not necessary)
3. Must have a Yaoi pairing
This is gonna be good...
Posted: 07/21/08 | Deadline: None
This website is solely for non-profit entertainment purposes only. No profits are being made from this website whatsoever. All fan fiction represented in this archive are © their respective owners and/or authors. All original works are © their respective authors. No reproduction of the written works in this archive is permitted without prior consent of their respective authors. All Rights Reserved. Icons used on this site are from famfamfam.com. Protected by Spam Poison Bleach, Ichigo are © Studio Pierrot, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, and Tite Kubo.


text:
Spring into Action During Physical Fitness and Sports Month
- 05-01-2013
- By Amy Davidson
May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, so designated with the goal of encouraging individuals, families and communities to develop or maintain routines of regular physical activity and practice sound nutritional habits.
Because spring is a time for renewal, there is no better time to start taking control of your health. Consider trying some new, healthy recipes. Commit to a fitness routine, try out a new sport or simply explore the outdoors. Choose activities that are right for you. Here's why.
Approximately one-third of youths and two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese in this country. Instances of overweight and obesity are correlated with numerous health issues, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and hypertension. This trend can be prevented by increasing the amount of time engaged in physical activities, reducing the amount of time spent in sedentary activities and eating a balanced diet, including lean sources of protein, whole grains, reduced fat dairy products and plenty of fruit and vegetables.
Being active on a regular basis offers health and wellness benefits for everyone, such as increased strength, improved mobility and enhanced mood and longevity. How much we need depends on our age and other factors.
The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, recommend at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity for children and adolescents and at least 30 minutes for adults five or more days a week. Even 10-minute bursts of this kind of activity can add up to your daily total.
Visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture's SuperTracker web site at www.supertracker.usda.gov for your personalized nutrition and fitness plan as well as tips to stay on track. Be sure to check with your doctor or healthcare professional before starting an exercise program.
Here are some ideas for getting active this spring:
- Form a walking group with friends, neighbors or workmates.
- Challenge yourself to hike as many local mountain peaks as you can.
- Ride a bike on some of the region's many trails, recreation paths and back roads.
- Plant a home or community garden.
- Do yard work including raking life back into the lawn.
- Join a community sports league or just get outside for some active play with the kids.
Try to choose activities that are accessible and fun for you. That way you are more likely to stick with it.
To learn more, check out "Physical Activity--It's Essential," a University of Vermont Extension publication at www.uvm.edu/extension/food/pdfs/in-your-hands/physical-activity.pdf.
Here's a spring salad adapted from a U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (http://snap.nal.usda.gov) web site to start you on your way to eating healthier:
- 2 cups spinach/mixed salad greens of your choice
- 1 cup chopped carrots/vegetables of your choice
- 1 cup fresh strawberry, orange or apple segments*
- 1/4 cup Dynamite Dressing (recipe below)
- 2 Tbsp. raisins or dried cranberries
- 2 Tbsp. chopped pecans or other nuts
Fill a large platter or salad bowl with spinach/mixed salad greens. In a large bowl mix together the chopped vegetables and fruit segments. Add dressing to vegetable/fruit mixture and stir. Spoon mixture over salad greens. Top with raisins or dried cranberries and nuts and serve.
Vary the recipe by adding seasonal greens, vegetables and fruit. When fresh fruit is not in season, substitute mandarin oranges, pineapple or other canned fruit (in juice).*
- 1/4 cup nonfat plain yogurt
- 1 Tbsp. orange juice
- 1 1/2 tsp. white vinegar
Mix all ingredients in a small bowl. Refrigerate in a tightly covered container for up to one week.
Nutrition information per 1-cup serving: 350 calories; 3 grams (g) total fat; 50 mg sodium; 12 g total carbohydrate; 3 g dietary fiber; 7 g sugars; 2 g protein. Yield: 4 servings.


text:
August 2012 State Sales Tax Collections To General Revenue
State sales tax net collections* deposited to general revenue totaled $2,341.7 million in August 2012. Compared with the $1,976.8 million collected in August 2011, this represents an increase of 18.46 percent.
These figures refer only to state sales tax collections.
Local sales tax collections (not including the boat and boat motor tax, which does not have a local component) may show different growth rates, depending on changes in local rates, changes in jurisdictional extent, and local economic events.
*Includes the limited sales and use tax and the boat and boat motor sales tax.
Previous months' collections:


text:
David Brubaker
Office Phone: (540) 432-4423
Cell Phone: (540) 560-2883
Main Campus, Harrisonburg
Office Location: CC 214
Office Hours: Wednesdays, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 noon
Associate Professor
CJP - Center for Justice & Peacebuilding, MA in Organizational Leadership, and MBA
"Since heeding the call to become a university instructor in 1997, I have attempted to integrate my passion for justice and peace rooted in Christ's life and teachings into my academic and practice work. I believe that my mission in life is to partner with organizational leaders to create healthier organizations that will over time transform both organizational members and the communities that they serve, thus leading to a more peaceful and just world community."
David R. Brubaker, Associate Professor of Organizational Studies. David earned a BS in Business Administration from Messiah College, an MBA from Eastern University, and a PhD from the University of Arizona, where he specialized in the study of change and conflict in religious organizations. David has trained or consulted with over 100 organizations, including in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe.
Since graduation from college in 1980 David served with several community development and conflict transformation organizations. These roles included Associate Director of Mennonite Conciliation Service and Assistant Director of Mennonite Central Committee's Recife, Brazil program where he became fluent in Portuguese. David is the author of numerous articles on conflict transformation, both in organizations and internationally. He is also the author of "Promise and Peril: Understanding and Managing Change and Conflict in Congregations," published by The Alban Institute and co-author (with Ruth Hoover Zimmerman) of "The Little Book of Healthy Organizations," published by Good Books.
B.S., Messiah College (1980)
M.B.A., Eastern University (1992)
Ph.D., University of Arizona (2007)
- Author, Promise and Peril: Understanding and Managing Change and Conflict in Congregations. Alban Institute, 2009. (Read an interview regarding this book at the following link: www.churchexecutive.com/webexclusive.asp?N_ID=2175)
- Co-Author, The Little Book of Healthy Organizations. Good Books, 2009.
- Author, Leading Healthy Organizations in a Turbulent Environment. Monday Developments, Nov/Dec 2008; Interaction.
- Author, Organizational Conflict Intervention: An Arena for Justice Making. ACResolution Magazine, Summer, 2008; Association for Conflict Resolution.
- Author, Got Conflict? Deal with it! Leader Magazine, Fall, 2006. Mennonite Church.
- Editor, Groups: Process, Conflict, Systemic Change. Chapter 5 in Mediation and Facilitation Training Manual; Mennonite Conciliation Service, 2000.
- Co-Author, Conflict in Congregations. Chapter 15 in Making Peace with Conflict: Practical Skills for Conflict Transformation; Herald Press, 1999.
- Co-Author, Conflict Transformation Training in Another Culture: A Case Study from Angola. Mediation Quarterly, Spring, 1999.
- Author, Organizational Trauma Recovery: The God's Fellowship Community Church Reconciliation Process, in the Consensus Building Handbook, 1999.
- Author, numerous articles published in Conciliation Quarterly and Conflict Resolution Quarterly.
- Academia.edu Site: https://easternmennonite.academia.edu/DavidBrubaker
Scholarly Presentations and Abstracts
- "Managing Change and Conflict in Congregations." Presentation to the 2010 Massanetta Springs Bible Conference; August 3, 2010; Harrisonburg, VA.
- "Peace with Self." Presentation to the Peace-Bearers Convocation of the Center for Baptist Heritage and Studies; May 18, 2010; Richmond, Virginia.
- "From the Inside Out: Transforming Organizational Conflict by Coaching an Internal Reference Team." Presentation to the Association for Conflict Resolution; October 9, 2009; Atlanta, Georgia.
- "Conflict as Opportunity: Transforming Organizational Conflict into Opportunity for Systemic Change." Presentation to the Association for Conflict Resolution; September 27, 2008; Austin, Texas.
- "All About Assessment: The Ombuds Role and Organizational Transformation." Presentation to the International Ombudsman Association; April 14, 2007; St. Louis, MO.
- "All About Assessment: Organizational Conflict Intervention as Opportunity for Systemic Change." Presentation to the Association for Conflict Resolution; October 27, 2006; Philadelphia, PA.
- "Change and Conflict in Congregations: Research Results from 100 Religious Congregations in Dynamic Environments." Presentation to the Association for Conflict Resolution; October 1, 2005; Minneapolis, MN.
Professional Memberships
- Member, Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR).
- Member, The Alban Institute.
- Member, The Organization Development Network.
EMU Service
- Vice President, Faculty Senate. 2013 to present.
- Practicum Director, Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. 2009 to present.
- Member, Leadership Team of the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, 2006 to 2011.
- Academic Director, Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. 2006 to 2009.
- Co-Facilitator, Academic Structure Review Task Force. 2006/2007.
- Co-Director, University Accord. 2004 to 2006.
- Member, Prioritization Steering Committee. 2004/2005.


text:
I highly recommend this and am interested in going myself. For those that think Texas is a ridiculous drive, this area is actually just under a 10 hr drive. Here's the email I received:
Hi Everyone!
We are contacting you for the first ever National invitation to Texas Teams Disc Golf Tournament to be held Nov 23-24, 2013. Please forward this information to as many players in your state so that they can have this information and see if they want to send a team to participate. IT IS OPEN FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY! YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A PDGA MEMBER TO PLAY!
TTC 13 is HERE! It's our 14th annual event as it was started in the year 2000 by John Houck, Disc Golf Hall of Famer & Premier Course Designer for the "LOVE OF DISC GOLF". This event is about sharing a weekend of friendly competition and enjoying the company of disc golfers from Texas and now from around the country!
It has become the largest Team event in the world with a record 456 players. This year, you will have a chance to play on the #1 & #2 ranked courses in the world at Selah Ranch and John's 2 latest courses being designed at the Trey Texas Ranch near Selah Ranch, Mt. Vernon, Texas.
You can camp at Selah Ranch or Trey Texas Ranch or book a hotel/houses/cabins. Email us for information.
4 Premier Championship John Houck Courses
2 Private Campgrounds or discounts on hotels, if you prefer that. Selah Ranch has rooms as well.
A "quiet" camp at Selah Ranch (book directly with Selah) or Camp at Trey Texas Ranch, Home of the latest 2 new courses (pay with your registration)
The first 10 Established teams and the first 10 Merged Teams to fully register will get a SPECIAL free towel for each team member that they will pick up at check in with their shirts. It's not just any towel…it's a special TTC 2013 towel with a custom logo commemorating the first year Texas Teams became a National event. A Limited number of extra towels will be available for sale for $10
Each player will receive a TTC13 Full color custom stamped disc, a custom design sweatshirt and a custom mini. In addition, greens fees to both courses is included in the price. Friday, you can play Selah and Trey Texas courses for free. On Friday night is a BIG bonfire at the Trey Texas Ranch, a party, and games with lot's of prizes to be given away. This is free for all players. As usual we will have lot's a little extras for you…music, cookies, etc. Some of you may want to come early as you do each year. We will keep communicating details with you as registrations are sent in.
We are expecting some teams from other states this year. We are not sure how many as it is our first year and we would still encourage everyone to register early to ensure your spot. There will be two winners. A Texas winner and a Non-Texas winner. John is still developing the playoff between the two…but it will be something special and fun! We are still working on details of what we will offer to over-all winner! Something different this year! Remember, you do NOT need to be a PDGA member for this event. It's a non-sanctioned event for FUN! We are in our 14th Year! Last year we had 3 courses and about 350 players. This year we think we will have about 500 plus players! It's a great get-together and a chance to camp together and socialize with players from all over Texas and now from around the country!
The new Texas Twist course and Trey Domino courses are under development and will be debuted at this event. This year there are 2 types of camping...quiet camping at Selah or regular hootin' and hollern' at Trey Texas Ranch. We will have wristbands for campers. Tickets for the party and the raffle. Please make sure you indicate if you are camping or attending the party so we get the right amount of food for Friday night.
We do want to let you know though...the owners are fine with alcohol and tobbacco...but that said, you know the rest…the owners don't want any incidences, drugs, or their ranch trashed. Same stuff as every year. Just plain common sense. No Fireworks. If no burn ban, campfires are fine. We'll keep you posted. There are lots of hotels and we have information posted on our website on a link: http://www.circularproductions.com/texa ... event.html
If you are planning on driving, get a designated driver if you are going to drink. While we are attempting to arrange buses in between the courses, we are not sure if we can get them...still working on lots of details and will keep you posted. The earlier you register, the better it helps us plan.
As every year, there is a party, FRIDAY night and check in starts on Friday that includes food, beer and soft drinks. At the party, there will be a TEXAS SIZE Bon Fire, Games, Ring of Fire, and many prizes given away by free drawings. Some special John Houck memorabilia from Circle R Ranch will be included this year. We are getting some beer donated to serve to those over 21 by ticket (free, 1 or possibly 2 per player) you will receive at check-in. Campers will have wrist bands. Throughout the weekend, expect to play on some amazing courses. Friday is practice day and greens fees at Selah and Trey Texas are free for players. This is a fun format and we invite you to come enjoy an event as part of your disc golf destination vacation at the #1 & #2 courses in the world!
Dynamic Discs is providing much manpower for this event as our partner. They will have a van at each location. There will be food vendors at both places and thinking about doing a western cowboy type dinner on Friday...Still working on it!
Regarding the form, please fill it out completely and send it in. This year you have choices on camp grounds. If you want to camp at Selah, please contact them directly. We are only collecting money for the Trey Texas Ranch. Please fill out all the info. We need to know how many room nights were sold where...in Mt. Vernon or outside Mt. Vernon. That is why we are asking. This information will help us with future events to arrange more support from the business community locally for them.
I have not made the sponsorship packages yet but if anyone know any businesses who may want to sponsor, please have them email us.
We have taken out an ad in the "Disc Golfer" magazine which should be out in a few days and know there are teams coming from around the country to participate as well.
Email us with questions. We prefer if you mail checks to us. If you want to pay by CC, do not write it in an email or on the form. Call us at 512-970-9001. EMAIL ADDRESS for applications or questions: firstname.lastname@example.com
THANK YOU ALL and we look forward to seeing you!!!! Application is attached. Fill it out and email it back. If you have any questions or need help with something. Email us!!
Registration will close Oct, 25, 2013 as we will need to place the shirt and disc orders by then. It's first come first serve and we may sell out sooner.
We are here to make this easy and fun for you but it takes a lot of work to organize it so we appreciate your help getting us the info requested. If for some reason, you need to wait to get us all the info, email us and we'll see what we can do to accommodate you.
It's going to be the most FUN Texas Teams and hope you all are there to enjoy it!
See YOU THERE!
Dee & John Houck
Texas Teams FACEBOOK PAGE with INFO: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Texas-Te ... 5995901371
Send us an email ASAP if you are planning on bringing a team!