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The Chad Vs. Pizza Challenge
Last week, I had a remote at A PIZZA PALACE on Emory Drive in Owensboro. The owner of the restaurant, Adam, thought it would be a good idea to have a CHAD vs. PIZZA challenge while I was there. Now, my friends will tell you that I can flat out throw back some food. When we go to dinner, I will eat off other people's plates after I am finished with mine. Not kidding. But THIS pizza was no ordinary pizza. It was a 16-inch PIZZA PIE that weighed over 7 pounds! It's cooked like a pie, stuffed with mozarella and provolone cheeses and the toppings you ask for! Of course, like an idiot, I ordered pepperoni, bacon, ham and ONIONS (Wth???)!! But my tapeworm and I were ready! (And, yes, I have a tapeworm, or at least I pretend to so I have an excuse for being able to eat so much!) Let the "challenge" begin!!!


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Swizz Beatz, Mashonda Beef Spills Onto Twitter
Producer Swizz Beatz and estranged wife Mashonda filed for divorce back in April, but the beef between them is still fresh. Mashonda released a statement back in September citing Swizz infidelity with singer Alicia Keys as the cause for their breakup, to which neither Swizz nor Keys responded. To his credit, Swizz avoided defending himself, or even acknowledging Mashonda's allegations, until now.
This past weekend, after being repeatedly called out about his alleged infidelity, Swizz took to Twitter to defend himself. "F— what they say or said. I'm a good man but when it's time [to] move on it's just time! I'm also a great f—— Dad but nobody give a s—," Swizz tweeted, angrily. "People talking about I cheated how the f— can i cheat when I was seperated [sic] a–holes its been damn near 2years plus hello! G. A. Life!"
Of course, Mashonda was quick to respond to Swizz defensive remarks, tweeting "Here's the bottom line. [You] were married whn u started ur affair, ur married now. And both of u knew wht it was. Seperation [sic] came after the fact." She then claimed to be rinsing her hands of the whole affair, "But just know! I never lied and never will. Thank God we are doing this b4 2010. My new year ill not involve this scandol. [sic] That all folks."
Swizz and Mashonda were married in 2004 and have a son together. While Swizz has never publicly admitted to his relationship with Keys, he has hinted at the singer being his "boo" via Twitter, and referred to their relationship as "so precious." Though Swizz and Mashonda deleted their tweets immediately, the internet never forgets, so you can view them here. Never thought we'd see Alicia Keys involved in such a public situation.

subset: commoncrawl


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North Carolina Banking Institute, 2009
7 Pages Posted: 30 Jan 2009 Last revised: 25 Mar 2009
As part of an exchange on the financial crisis generated from a roundtable discussion at the University of North Carolina School of Law, this commentary observes the sharp shift in public discourse on, and regulatory interest in, the federal bankruptcy system, financially distressed homeowners, and judicial discretion, presumably brought about by the changed financial climate. That shift is reflected in stark differences between the 2005 amendments to the Bankruptcy Code (BAPCPA) and pending proposals to enable home mortgage modification in chapter 13 bankruptcy cases. I identify several challenges associated with using bankruptcy law to pursue current housing and economic policy goals and offer suggestions on how to manage those challenges, including the repeal of BAPCPA.
Keywords: Bankruptcy, foreclosure, homeownership, financial crisis, judicial discretion
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Jacoby, Melissa B., Bankruptcy Reform and the Financial Crisis. North Carolina Banking Institute, 2009; UNC Legal Studies Research Paper No. 1335540. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1335540


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Hi Everyone,
Thanks to you all who came and lurked even if you didn't post. I really appreciate your coming! ;-)
However, if you would like to win a copy of Homecoming, then please do post a comment somewhere in this thread. For those that do, you will be in the running! You can post until midnight tonight. I will post the winner in this thread tomorrow by noon.
Thanks again everyone!


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Watching the latest bit of legislative "Russian Roulette" being played with the lives of the American people, I've become absolutely convinced that on almost every issue or group of issues, there appears to be a reasonable position or positions, a right wing position or positions, and a left wing position or positions. To me, that is generally the setup for compromise. If there are reasonable majority public positions in the center, the right and the left move toward that reasonable position.
Instead, we hear the president make certain concessions and then hear the republicans try to tell us that the president is a socialist and isn't negotiating at all. Well, we all know that there is a truth, and then there are politics.
Taking four of the issues of the day, I'm going to try to define what I think are the reasonable positions held by the majority of Americans, then identify what I think are the far right positions {which I identify through observation} and the far left positions {which I identify through a personal belief system}.
- Reasonable Position #1: National debt is a combination of too much spending and too little revenue.
- Reasonable Position #2: Taxes and other revenues must increase.
- Reasonable Position #3: Spending must decrease in a realistic manner.
- Reasonable Position #4: National debt recedes when employment is high. Both government and private business have a roll in keeping employment high.
- Right Wing Position#1: Taxes must not be raised in any debt reduction deal. This includes no increases on income, estate, capital gains, and business taxes.
- Right Wing Position #2: Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid should either be eliminated, privatized, or severely cut back.
- Right Wing Position #3: There should be no decrease in defense or military spending. In fact, the percentage of defense spending in relation to GNP should be increased.
- Left Wing Position #1: Taxes should be raised on the top 2% of earners on all forms of income.
- Left Wing Position #2: All income above a certain level should be treated as earned income. This includes estate, capital gains, and business taxes.
- Left Wing Position #3: Medicare savings should be realized through negotiation with pharmaceutical companies redefining payment schedules under part D, medicare.
- Left Wing Position #4: Defense and military budgets must be decreased and brought in line with military spending throughout the world.
- Reasonable Position #1: The second amendment is valid, but can be modified based on progress in the development of armaments.
- Reasonable Position #2: Assault weapons and large magazines should be limited to law enforcement and active military.
- Reasonable Position #3: Consideration of new laws and review of laws currently on the books is necessary given the number of mass murders and incidents utilizing assault weaponry.
- Right Wing Position #1: There should be no additional gun laws. There are more than enough current gun laws on the books.
- Right Wing Position #2: Armed guards / teachers should be placed in every school.
- Right Wing Position #3: Murders will be significantly decreased if concealed carry laws are implemented throughout the United States.
- Left Wing Position #1: Repeal the second amendment and replace it with local right to own laws.
- Left Wing Position #2: Limit the number of guns and the capacity of those guns that Americans are allowed to own.
- Left Wing Position #3: All gun sales must be accompanied by a criminal background and mental health check.
- Reasonable Position #1: Implement the Affordable Care Act as passed.
- Right Wing Position #1: Totally repeal the Affordable Care Act.
- Left Wing Position #1: Replace the Affordable Care Act with Universal Single Payer Health Care.
- Reasonable Position #1: Religions have the right to function within the law, free from government interference.
- Reasonable Position #2: The government has the right to function within the law, free from religious interference.
- Reasonable Position #3: Private businesses and individuals must follow the legally passed laws of the nation.
- Right Wing Position #1: An individual's religious belief can be imposed upon those who do not share those beliefs.
- Right Wing Position #2: Specific religions can be excluded from public forums at the insistence of the majority religion.
- Left Wing Position #1: The separation of church and state is absolute.
- Left Wing Position #2: All references to God in the pledge of allegiance, on our currency, or on any other government document is unconstitutional.
Think about the positions that are dividing our country. Are they intractable? Only in the eyes of the most fervent ideologue. Our legislators may have political beliefs at ideological extremes, but they represent an America that goes from the furthest left to the furthest right with most in the middle. The problem is that we keep electing these unmovable wingnuts that never loosen. We allow them to gerrymander our districts so that they get re-elected even though we keep telling them we don't like what they are doing. Most republicans are in republican majority districts and most democrats are in democratic priority districts. These political jackals think that none of you can think for yourselves. The most conservative and the most liberal vote without thinking because they know they are going to be re-elected.
This will only stop when we all start telling them that we are not democrats or republicans, liberals or conservatives. We are Americans and we pay them to govern. If they don't do that, we will collectively pull a "Donald Trump" and tell them "You're Fired!"


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Companion bills House Bill 71 and Senate Bill 210 authorize the holder of a Class 8 Farm Brewery license to sell or serve any type of food (instead of only specified types of food) if …More
Current Issues
Download the latest Monthly Legal Update
Review a consolidated presentation of the latest legal proceedings or filter updates by state below.
Bill Would Allow New Jersey Breweries to Get Distillery Licenses
Companions A.B. 4559 and S.B. 2948 would permit the issuance of a craft distillery license to the holder of a limited brewery license, restricted brewery license, plenary winery license, or farm winery license, for use …More
MA Bill Elevates Contracts Over Franchise
S.D. 1687 holds that, regardless of whether or not the parties have entered into a written agreement, relationships between a malt beverage supplier and a wholesaler shall be governed by the parties' agreement, the law …More
Craft Reciprocity Bill on Tap in NM
House Bill 51 seeks to amend the liquor control act to create retail reciprocity among craft distillers, small brewers and winegrowers.
MA Distributors Propose Franchise Bill
Distributor-backed legislation (H.D. 3525) would allow brewers under 30,000 barrels annual production to terminate distributors without cause.
NM Excise Tax Increase Proposed
Senate Bill 314 seeks to raise excise taxes on alcoholic beverages, with the rate for beer increasing from 41 cents/gallon to $3.08/gallon for breweries that produce more than fifteen thousand barrels a year.
Franchise Reform Reintroduced in MA
H.D.1319 provides for the termination of a distributor in the absence of good cause by small brewer suppliers that are 20% or less of the wholesaler's total sales in the prior calendar year preceding any …More
Task Force to Study MA Alcohol Laws
State Treasurer Deb Goldberg has convened an Alcohol Task Force to examine the legal and regulatory framework governing the alcoholic beverage industry and make recommendations to improve alcohol regulation.
Tripling of Excise Tax Proposed in MA
S.D. 138 seeks to triple the excise tax on beer.
MI Growler Sales Expanded
Approved by the Governor, S.B. 973 amends the Michigan Liquor Control Code to expand the kinds of businesses that are legally allowed to fill beer growlers. Specifically, it would allow a person holding both a …More


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Gift Premium Subscription To mannings
Join Date:02-13-2010
Last Activity:06-09-2010 7:27 PM
- Nokomis,Florida
- Corvettes
- Director of Sales, Packaging Machinery
Posted in thread: New to the crew! on 04-19-2010 at 12:13 AM
Thanks. The LCR is on top of the list so far. I've also been instructed by a VERY credible (to
me) friend, to check out Kahr too. Obviously not revolvers, but, all options are on the
table.My wife use...
Posted in thread: That's it. I'm carrying at work now ! on 04-19-2010 at 12:05 AM
I own a small company and if I chose to ban weapons it would be my right and I would fire or
prosecute anyone that broke my rules, however I don't, so that is not an issue. But if i did
and an employe...
Posted in thread: Helicopter crash on 04-06-2010 at 12:22 AM
OUCH! Hope the crew made it out. :eek:
Posted in thread: New member from Tennessee on 04-06-2010 at 12:19 AM
Welcome to FTF
Posted in thread: New Member Intro. on 04-06-2010 at 12:16 AM
Hey Charlie, good to have you with us.
Posted in thread: new member on 04-06-2010 at 12:14 AM
Welcome aboard here, great group.
Posted in thread: Wife wants New Gun, something to keep in her purse! on 03-29-2010 at 01:35 AM
Do you have a gun range nearby where she can rent a gun and try it? I have found that women are
just as picky as men when it comes to guns they like. I have a close female friend who carries
a Sig 239...
Posted in thread: How many Glocks do you have? on 03-23-2010 at 10:37 PM
Just 1, G17 and love it. Not into collecting (yet).;)
Posted in thread: New guy/gal from Nokomis on 03-23-2010 at 10:33 PM
Really new to this the wife and I. Looking for continuing education from the Forum.
Posted in thread: felony charge on 03-21-2010 at 01:52 PM
Damn! I remember in Louisiana growing up; that was years and years ago you can have a shotgun
or rifle in the vehicle. A pocket knife then was nothing to worry about. It is a different
world we live i...


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When Fort Sumter fell and the war came
I cried out in bitterness of soul:
"O glorious republic now no more!"
When they buried my soldier son
To the call of trumpets and the sound of drums
My heart broke beneath the weight
Of eighty years, and I cried:
"Oh, son who died in a cause unjust!
In the strife of Freedom slain!"
And I crept here under the grass.
And now from the battlements of time, behold:
Thrice thirty million souls being bound together
In the love of larger truth,
Rapt in the expectation of the birth
Of a new Beauty,
Sprung from Brotherhood and Wisdom.
I with eyes of spirit see the Transfiguration
Before you see it.
But ye infinite brood of golden eagles nesting ever higher,
Wheeling ever higher, the sun-light wooing
Of lofty places of Thought,
Forgive the blindness of the departed owl.
Poet: Edgar Lee Masters
Poem: Jacob Goodpasture
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Edgar Lee Masters books


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Alexander McQueen Puma
Cool Pumas for a suit or jeans.
No, I don't recommend a lot of men's wear. That's simply because guys get gimped when it comes to the dramatic fashion department. This jacket, however, I could NOT resist showing off. Fit with fine details, super cool retro lines... No, I don't recommend a lot of men's wear. That's simply because guys get gimped when it comes to the dramatic fashion department. This jacket, however, I could NOT resist showing off. Fit with fine details, super cool retro lines to the cut and style, this is nice enough you could even pull it off in an 'upscale' way. Yeah, we're talking double-breasted and double rows of button decorated cuffs - seriously sophisticated craftsmanship.
It's almost like this sparkly skirt, with its shimmering interstellar sea of black sequins interspersed with the occasional burst of silver, and I were meant to be together.
The sequined detailing above the bust take this basic LBD to a whole new level of sexy.
The delicately beaded ruffles do just enough to soften the edgy black bustier top. Must. Have. It.
Nothing like an embellished tank layered under a blazer to really put you in the holiday party mood!
So great for the holidays or a night out with the girls.
Of course I love this tank, of course!
Amazing 100% leather jacket with snake skin effect and asymmetrical zip. Wear with jeans for the ultimate biker girl look or a cute day dress for an instant edgy rock update.
Super comfy and casual pullover sweater. Makes me want to go to the apple orchard... don't get me wrong, I like summer, but these Fall styles are making me crave the next season!
Amazing heather gray dress featuring ruching at waist and a cutout back with black lattice detailing and exposed zip closure. I love dresses with pockets!
brilliant choice for a rehearsal dinner or a date.
This is so sweet and sexy!
Keep warm this holiday season with these adorable deer inspired sweatpants.Added 8 Years Ago from Spreadshirt
This corset is amazing. So well made and comfortable too.
Paired with a gold leather skirt = amazing!
This skirt looks so cool on. Especially with a black beaded top. So chic.
The Oval Buddha Silver (2008), a sculpture of great beauty and harmony made of silver and considered by Murakami as one of his own "gods of art." The piece is a meditative Buddha posed atop a lotus leaf and was created by Murakami... The Oval Buddha Silver (2008), a sculpture of great beauty and harmony made of silver and considered by Murakami as one of his own "gods of art." The piece is a meditative Buddha posed atop a lotus leaf and was created by Murakami in response to Naoki Takizawa, the then creative director for the fashion mogul Issey Miyake, who encouraged him to create a character inspired by Humpty Dumpty and Hyakume, a Japanese manga character that the artist read about as a child. I'm so getting this awesome t-shirt by Murakami's Co.
A t-shirt that conveys to the others how far one has to go in order to get aid regarding ones health that is not to far and one that is affordable.
A cool basic tshirt, for when you don't have time to work at looking awsome.Added 8 Years Ago from Urban Outfitters
A loud party shirt, great for concerts or for just looking badass.
Cool, classic, great fit. Grab a black jacket and your're all set for a fall night.
Lighter than leather, and waxed for good looks and bad weather, this jacket is sleek, versatile and fully equipped with multiple pockets for your stash. (Whatever that might be.)
Few things are more crisp and timeless than black & white combos. The shimmery skirt adds that after-7 pop.Tags: apparel, dresses, white, black, cocktail dress, Clothes, fashion, women's apparel, styleAdded 8 Years Ago from Zappos
This tube top will be flattering on most body types. It will look great under a structured jacket or leather bomber. The studded detail gives it a little edge. Skinny jeans with over the knee boots anyone?
I really love this skirt but I can't justify spending 100 bucks on something that I can only wear Fall-Winter and is quite memorable. Please please please go on sale soon!Tags: Clothes, embroidery, apparel, flowers, black, purple, floral, Anthropologie, fallAdded 8 Years Ago from Anthropologie
For some reason this black dress makes me think of Tim Burton or maybe a My Chemical Romance video. Dressed up with the right accessories, it could totally be like a Panic! At the Disco inspired rock look. In any case, I love it!
So splendid, so freshTags: fashion, Clothes, accessories, style, apparel, black, gloves, leather, cold weatherAdded 8 Years Ago from Patricia Field
This is a really chic cardigan. It is great for adding some hip military inspired style into your wardrobe, without being too trendy.
Drapey tops are another Fall trend favorite of mine. Also, I just realized that a lot of shoes, handbags and apparel that I like are named Fiona.. weird.


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Mental Health
Have Mental Health Questions? Ask a Psychiatrist Online
You are never a disappointment! Nor are you a failure. If you think that, then all things you try make you worthless. Which is far from the truth.
You tried. That is wonderful progress. As with anything worthwhile, trying is the key. The point here is that you made the effort. You did tell your therapist about your desire to talk about the assault. And I believe she is right. There are many people who write out their thoughts and feelings better than they say them. There is nothing wrong with that. It is all about what works best for you. You are trying to communicate and however you are best at doing that is the way you should do it.
You are not going to be able to talk about something as horrible as an assault without feeling anything about it. That is unreasonable and nearly impossible. If you were that out of touch with your feelings about the assault, then you would need therapy to help you through it. The best thing you can do is feel those feelings. That is what helps you heal.


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The 2014 marketing campaign called "Has it All" spotlights the roads-less-traveled, in addition to the more crowded tourist meccas on the east coast. "We are a diverse destination that prides itself on offering unforgettable trips to travelers of varying interests. The campaign entices first visits and return visits to a new area of the country as each region provides an experience like no other," said Magaly Toribio, marketing advisor for the ministry of tourism. www.asonahores.com
Hosting the trade show, 554-room all-inclusive Paradisus Palma Real on Bavaro Beach offers three pools, casino, six bars, upscale Passion restaurant, spa and plenty of options for the active traveler like beach volleyball, aqua aerobics and snorkeling . For those splurging on a higher-end more expensive stay, 214-room adults-only "Royal Service" includes unlimited green fees at the Cocotal Golf Club, gratis cell phones for receiving international calls and butler service. A Melia property, the resort is now targeting the meeting market with a new on-site convention and business center. "There is clearly great potential for us because this group travels year round and confirms rooms in bulk," said Rafael Torres, general manager.www.paradisus.com.
Along a stretch of sand dotted with coconut palms, Club Med Punta Cana is the granddaddy of the all-inclusive vacation with a Mini Club Med for kids, three restaurants including the renovated beachfront Celeste and the first and only L'Occitane-branded Spa in the Caribbean. For families needing a bit more space, Tiara Luxury is a boutique hotel within the resort and tempts with multiple bedroom suites, concierge service, private pool and secluded Pearl Bar. Outdoorsy families won't be bored with windsurfing, sailing, flying trapeze, fourteen tennis courts, Tom Fazio designed 18-hole Corales Golf Club and 27-hole P.B. Dye designed La Cana with three nines and fourteen oceanfront holes. www.clubmed.us
Sirenis Resorts launched a travel agent program aptly called "Sirenis Passport" providing sales resources and marketing tools to sell the 816-room Sirenis Punta Cana Resort and Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya. "This program allows agents to have everything they need right at their fingertips, plus we will continue to roll out exclusive incentives," said Amanda Carlow, director of sales and marketing. "This program differs from others as it is not only a loyalty program like many are, but also provides agents with analytics and reporting tools to monitor their Sirenis bookings." Agents who join before July 31 are eligible to win a three-night stay at either property. Added to the all-inclusive package at the Punta Cana Resort, access to the Aquagames Waterpark includes play time on the high-speed water slides, zero-entry shallow pool for kids and a four-lane aqua racer.
Diamonds on the Beach
Twelve hotels received top honors by AAA including Tortuga Bay with a 5-Diamond rating and Casa de Campo, Casa Colonial Beach, Catalonia Royal Bávaro, Bannister Hotel, Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana, Dreams Punta Cana, Hard Rock Hotel, Paradisus Palma Real Resort, Paradisus Punta Cana, Sivory Punta Cana Boutique and Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana awarded 4-Diamond distinctions. www.AAA.com
Eden Roc at Cap Cana is now a member of Relais & Châteaux; one of seven in the Caribbean and the first in the DR to be named to the group. The premier property in the Solaya Resorts portfolio is surrounded by a Jack Nicklaus golf course and caters to a swanky crowd who come for the gourmet menu at Mediterraneo, cocktails at the Italian-inspired Riva Bar and "Moonlight Massages" at the adjacent Caleton Beach Club. Nightly rates start at $800 for a Junior Suite.
In the historic town of Sosua on the north coast, Casa Veintiuno made Trip Advisor's list of the top twenty-five boutique hotels in the Caribbean. Elegantly private with just three rooms, the petite hotel offers a gourmet restaurant with an impressive wine list. www.casaveintiuno.com
Sassy Santo Domingo
The 255-room Sheraton Santo Domingo re-opened in March with a casino and outdoor pool on a terrace overlooking the Caribbean Sea. After a $20 million facelift, the landmark hotel is now going after the business market with the addition of thirteen meeting rooms and convention facilities. Operated by the DR-based Hoteles Nacionales, the US branded hotel fronts George Washington Avenue, the scenic seaside boulevard known as the "Malecón". "By offering the Sheraton brand, we are expanding our market to attract both the business and leisure traveler to this historic city," said Paula Lama, vice presidentof Hoteles Nacionales. www.starwoodhotels.com
New in the city's colonial quarter and a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Casas del XVI offers history buffs a choice of seventeen rooms in five restored 16th century homes. Rates start at $225 per room, per night and include breakfast prepared by the butler in each house's kitchen.
From the Trade Floor
"Carnival Cruise Lines will open a cruise ship terminal in November in Puerto Plata which will make this part of the country more appealing to tourists," said Radhomes Martinez-Aponte, vice minister of tourism for the Dominican Republic. www.godominicanrepublic.com
"We fly to the DR more often than any other US-based airline and will be adding flights from Fort Lauderdale to Punta Cana and from Newark to Santiago on May 1," announced Jessica Banchs, manager of international sales for JetBlue.
"Our tours cover the entire country, although our Safari tours that take tourists inside cigar factories, to pineapple plantations and for tastings in rum distilleries are by far the most popular," said Nadira Garufi, director of salesfor Outback Adventures.
"Marriott understands the guest experience which is why we are undergoing such a pricey renovation to the entire property," said Maria Checo, sales manager for Renaissance Santo Domingo, referring to the $30 million upgrade which will close the hotel for one year beginning this spring.
Window Seat
Delta Vacations is adding daily service from JFK to Santo Domingo (SDQ) and Santiago (STI) beginning June 5. "By the end of this year, Delta is expected to have increased service into Punta Cana by more than thirty percent," said Steven Bradley, product manager for MLT Vacations. Referring to flights from JFK and Atlanta to Punta Cana, Bradley added, "Bookings have seen triple digit growth from 2011 to 2013 and Delta Vacations' destination weddings have more than quadrupled." Delta Vacations offers packages to Punta Cana, Santo Domingo, La Romana and Samana.
www.worldagentdirect.com & www.Delta.com
American Airlines installed six self-service machines at Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) to expedite the boarding pass process. The second busiest airport in the Caribbean and the country's most popular. PUJ saw 2.6 million visitors in 2013, about a third of which were US travelers.


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Blogs // 1 Articles
Media // 1 Articles
The Electric Pop Group: Seconds
21 Apr 2010 // 5:30 AM
Erik Aamot doesn't mumble, but the wall of noise that he has to get through does the job of mumbling for him.
The Electric Pop Group - Seconds (new album / MP3s)
10 Feb 2010 // 8:30 PM
The Electric Pop Group Seconds (Matinee) Released: 2 February I've been watching a lot of 1970s Pippi Longstocking movies lately. I adored them as a kid,


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Ian Somerhalder: Raise your voices!
Ian Somerhalder has encouraged youth to "raise voices" on climate change and gun violence.
The 36-year-old The Vampire Diaries star has been involved in activism for years.
And during a live Facebook video he created on Friday 2 October (15), Ian urged his fans to take action on environmental welfare and firearm violence.
"I don't know if anyone [else] is so sick and tired of schools being bombarded with bullets and guns," he noted. "There's no need to make our educational institutions dangerous places. This stops right now, today. Raise your voices."
Ian made the motivating statement in light of a mass shooting that took place in Oregon this week. A 20-year-old male reportedly entered Umpqua Community College and began shooting at staff and students, leaving 13 dead and an estimated 20 others injured.
In December 2010 the actor launched his charity the Ian Somerhalder Foundation, an organisation that "aims to empower, educate and collaborate with people and projects to positively impact the planet and its creatures".
Ian is a native of Louisiana and the devastation left by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico opened his eyes to the need for philanthropy.
"I hit my absolute apex of vulnerability when I returned to my home state of Louisiana during the gulf oil spill disaster and witnessed mass devastation to every demonstration of life surrounding me—from grass, trees, bayous, insects, to animals and people," he recalled to The Mash in 2014. "Overcome with a raw true sense of helplessness, I knew I never wanted to feel this way again. As I surveyed the echoing voices around me, I realised there were countless others who were just as impassioned and were ready to make some serious changes. We united as a family of international change-makers that soon were known as the IS Foundation."
- Cover Media


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Brussels, COM(2009) 313/4
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL on guidance for better transposition and application of Directive 2004/38/EC on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL on guidance for better transposition and application of Directive 2004/38/EC on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States (Text with EEA relevance)
On 10 December 2008, the Commission adopted its report1 on the application of Directive 2004/38/EC2 which presented a comprehensive overview of how the Directive is transposed into national law and how it is applied in everyday life. The report concluded that the overall transposition of the Directive was rather disappointing, particularly as regards Chapter VI (which provides for the right of Member States to restrict the right of EU citizens and their family members on grounds of public policy or public security) and Article 35 (which authorises Member States to adopt measures to prevent abuse and fraud, such as marriages of convenience). The Commission announced in the report its intention to offer information and assistance to both Member States and EU citizens by issuing guidelines in the first half of 2009 on the issues identified as problematic in transposition or application. This intention was welcomed by the Council3 and by the European Parliament4. The guidelines state the views of the Commission and are without prejudice to the case-law of the Court of Justice ("the Court") and its development. This Communication aims to provide guidance to Member States on how to apply Directive 2004/38/EC of 29 April 2004 on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States correctly; with the objective of bringing a real improvement for all EU citizens and of making the EU an area of security, freedom and justice. The report also identified frequent problems relating to the right of entry and residence of third country family members of EU citizens, and to requirements to submit with the applications for residence additional documents not foreseen in the Directive. The Commission announced in the report that it will step up its efforts to ensure that the Directive is correctly transposed and implemented. In order to achieve this objective, the Commission will continue to inform citizens about their rights under the Directive, in particular by
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3 4
COM (2008) 840 final Directive 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States Conclusions of the JHA Council meetings in November 2008 and February 2009 Resolution of the European Parliament of 2 April 2009 on the application of Directive 2004/38/EC (2008/2184(INI))
distributing a simplified guide for EU citizens and by making the best use of the Internet. Moreover, the Commission will meet Member States bilaterally to discuss issues of implementation and application and will use fully its powers under the Treaty. Today more than 8 million Union citizens have taken advantage of their right to move and reside freely and now live in another Member State of the Union. The free movement of citizens constitutes one of the fundamental freedoms of the internal market and is at the heart of the European project. Directive 2004/38/EC codified and reviewed the existing Community instruments in order to simplify and strengthen the right of free movement and residence for Union citizens and their family members. As a general remark, the Commission recalls that the Directive must be interpreted and applied in accordance with fundamental rights5, in particular the right to respect for private and family life, the principle of non-discrimination, the rights of the child and the right to an effective remedy as guaranteed in the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) and as reflected in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The freedom of movement of persons is one of the foundations of the EU. Consequently derogations from that principle must be interpreted strictly6. However, the right of free movement within the EU is not unlimited and carries with it obligations on the part of its beneficiaries, which implies to obey the laws of their host country. 2. EU
The Directive7 applies only to EU citizens who move to or reside in a Member State other than that of which they are a national, and to their family members who accompany or join them. T., a third country national, resides in the host Member State for some time. She wants to be joined there by her third country spouse. As no EU citizen is involved, the couple cannot benefit from the rights under the Directive and it remains fully up to the Member State concerned to lay down rules on the right of third country spouses to join other third country nationals, taking due account of other instruments of Community law, if applicable. EU citizens residing in the Member State of their nationality do not normally benefit from the rights granted by Community law on free movement of persons and their third country family members remain to be covered by national immigration rules. However, EU citizens who return to their home Member State after having resided in another Member State8 and in certain circumstances also those EU citizens who have exercised their rights to free movement in another Member State without residing there9 (for example by providing services in another Member State without residing there) benefit as well from the rules on free movement of persons.
5 6 7 8 9
Cases C-482/01 and C-493/01 Orfanopoulos and Oliveri (paras 97-98) and C-127/08 Metock (para 79) Cases 139/85 Kempf (para 13) and C-33/07 Jipa (para 23) Article 3(1) Cases C-370/90 Singh and C-291/05 Eind Case C-60/00 Carpenter
P. resides in the Member State of his nationality. He likes it there and has not resided in another Member State before. When he wants to bring his third country spouse, the couple cannot benefit from the rights under the Directive and it remains fully up to the Member State concerned to lay down rules on the right of third country spouses to join its own nationals. Frontier workers are covered by Community law in both countries (as a migrant worker in the Member State of employment and as a self-sufficient person in the Member State of residence). 2.1. 2.1.1. Family members and other beneficiaries Spouses and partners
Marriages validly contracted anywhere in the world must be in principle recognized for the purpose of the application of the Directive. Forced marriages, in which one or both parties is married without his or her consent or against his or her will, are not protected by international10 or Community law. Forced marriages must be distinguished from arranged marriages, where both parties fully and freely consent to the marriage, although a third party takes a leading role in the choice of partner, and from marriages of convenience, defined in Section 4.2 below. Member States are not obliged to recognise polygamous marriages, contracted lawfully in a third country, which may be in conflict with their own legal order11. This is without prejudice to the obligation to take due account of the best interests of children of such marriages. The Directive must be applied in accordance with the non-discrimination principle enshrined in particular in Article 21 of the EU Charter. Partners with whom an EU citizen has a de facto durable relationship, duly attested, are covered by Article 3(2)(b). Persons who derive their rights under the Directive from being durable partners may be required to present documentary evidence that they are partners of an EU citizen and that the partnership is durable. Evidence may be adduced by any appropriate means. The requirement of durability of the relationship must be assessed in the light of the objective of the Directive to maintain the unity of the family in a broad sense12. National rules on durability of partnership can refer to a minimum amount of time as a criterion for whether a partnership can be considered as durable. However, in this case national rules would need to foresee that other relevant aspects (such as for example a joint mortgage to buy a home) are also taken into account. Any denial of entry or residence must be fully justified in writing and open to appeal. 2.1.2. Family members in direct line
Without prejudice to issues related to recognition of decisions of national authorities, the notion of direct relatives in the descending and ascending lines extends to adoptive
11 12
Inter alia, Article 16(2) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or Article 16(1)(b) of the Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women ECtHR case Alilouch El Abasse v Netherlands (6 January 1992) Recital 6
relationships13 or minors in custody of a permanent legal guardian. Foster children and foster parents who have temporary custody may have rights under the Directive, depending upon the strength of the ties in the particular case. There is no restriction as to the degree of relatedness. National authorities may request evidence of the claimed family relationship. In implementing the Directive, Member States must always act in the best interests of the child, as provided for in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child of 20 November 1989. 2.1.3. Other family members
Article 3(2)(a) does not lay down any restrictions as to the degree of relatedness when referring to 'other family members'. 2.1.4. Dependent family members
According to the case-law14 of the Court, the status of 'dependent' family member is the result of a factual situation characterised by the fact that material support15 for that family member is provided by the EU citizen or by his spouse/partner. The status of dependent family members does not presuppose a right to maintenance. There is no need to examine whether the family members concerned would in theory be able to support themselves, for example by taking up paid employment. In order to determine whether family members are dependent, it must be assessed in the individual case whether, having regard to their financial and social conditions, they need material support to meet their essential needs in their country of origin or the country from which they came at the time when they applied to join the EU citizen (i.e. not in the host Member State where the EU citizen resides). In its judgments on the concept of dependency, the Court did not refer to any level of standard of living for determining the need for financial support by the EU citizen16. The Directive does not lay down any requirement as to the minimum duration of the dependency or the amount of material support provided, as long as the dependency is genuine and structural in character. Dependent family members are required to present documentary evidence that they are dependent. Evidence may be adduced by any appropriate means, as confirmed by the Court17. Where the family members concerned are able to provide evidence of their dependency by means other than a certifying document issued by the relevant authority of the country of origin or the country from which the family members are arriving, the host Member State may not refuse to recognise their rights. However, a mere undertaking from the EU citizen to
14 15
Adoptive children are fully protected by Article 8 of the ECHR (ECtHR cases X v Belgium and Netherlands (10 July 19750, X v France (5 October 1982) as well as X, Y and Z v. UK (22 April 1997)). Cases 316/85 Lebon (para 22) and C-1/05 Jia (paras 36-37) Emotional dependence is not taken into account, see AG Tizzano in case C-200/02 Zhu and Chen, para 84 The test of dependency should primarily be whether, in the light of their personal circumstances, the financial means of the family members permit them to live at the minimum level of subsistence in the country of their normal residence (AG Geelhoed in case C-1/05 Jia, para 96). Cases C-215/03 Oulane (para 53) and C-1/05 Jia (para 41)
support the family member concerned is not sufficient in itself to establish the existence of dependence. In accordance with Article 3(2), Member States have a certain degree of discretion in laying down criteria to be taken into account when deciding whether to grant the rights under the Directive to "other dependent family members". However, Member States do not enjoy unrestricted liberty in laying down such criteria. In order to maintain the unity of the family in a broad sense, the national legislation must provide for a careful examination of the relevant personal circumstances of the applicants concerned, taking into consideration their relationship with the EU citizen or any other circumstances, such as their financial or physical dependence, as stipulated in Recital 6. Any negative decision is subject to all the material and procedural safeguards of the Directive. It must be fully justified in writing and open to appeal. 2.2. 2.2.1. Entry and residence of third country family members Entry visas
As provided in Article 5(2), Member States may require third country family members moving with or joining an EU citizen to whom the Directive applies to have an entry visa. Such family members have not only the right to enter the territory of the Member State, but also the right to obtain an entry visa18. This distinguishes them from other third country nationals, who have no such right. Third country family members should be issued as soon as possible and on the basis of an accelerated procedure with a free of charge short-term entry visa. By analogy with Article 23 of the Visa Code19 the Commission considers that delays of more than four weeks are not reasonable. The authorities of the Member States should guide the family members as to the type of visa they should apply for, and they cannot require them to apply for long-term, residence or family reunification visas. Member States must grant such family members every facility to obtain the necessary visas. Member States may use premium call lines or services of an external company to set up an appointment but must offer the possibility of direct access to the consulate to third country family members. As the right to be issued with an entry visa is derived from the family link with the EU citizen, Member States may require only the presentation of a valid passport and evidence of the family link20 (and also dependency, serious health grounds, durability of partnerships, where applicable). No additional documents, such as a proof of accommodation, sufficient resources, an invitation letter or return ticket, can be required.
18 19 20
Case C-503/03 Commission v Spain (para 42) COM(2006) 403 final/2 Articles 8(5) and 10(2)
Member States may encourage integration of EU citizens and their third country family members by offering language and other targeted courses on a voluntary basis.21 No consequence can be attached to the refusal to attend them. Residence cards issued under Article 10 of the Directive to a family member of an EU citizen residing in the host Member State, including those issued by other Member States, exempt their holders from the visa requirement when they travel together with the EU citizen or join him/her in the host Member State. Residence cards not issued under the Directive can exempt the holder from the visa requirement under Schengen rules22. 2.2.2. Residence cards
As stipulated in Article 10(1), the right of residence of third country family members is evidenced by the issuing of a document called "Residence card of a family member of a Union citizen". The denomination of this residence card must not deviate from the wording prescribed by the Directive as different titles would make it materially impossible for the residence card to be recognised in other Member States as exempting its holder from the visa requirement under Article 5(2). The format of the residence card is not fixed, so Member States are free to lay it down as they see fit23. However, the residence card must be issued as a self-standing document and not in form of a sticker in a passport, as this could limit the validity of the card in violation of Article 11(1). The residence card must be issued within six months from the date of application. The deadline must be interpreted in light of Article 10 of the EC Treaty and the maximum period of six months is justified only in cases where examination of the application involves public policy considerations24. The list of documents25 to be presented with the application for a residence card is exhaustive, as confirmed by Recital 14. No additional documents can be requested. Member States may require that documents be translated, notarised or legalised where the national authority concerned cannot understand the language in which the particular document is written, or have a suspicion about the authenticity of the issuing authority.
24 25
Cf. the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on multilingualism: an asset for Europe and a shared commitment (COM (2008) 566). Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 562/2006 establishing a Community Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code) Council Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002 laying down a uniform format for residence permits for thirdcountry nationals does not apply to family members of EU citizens exercising their right to free movement (Article 5) and Article 21 of the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement. COM(1999)372 (point 3.2) Article 10(2)
Residence of EU citizens for more than three months
EU citizens have a right of residence in the host Member State if they are economically active there. Students and economically inactive EU citizens must have sufficient resources for themselves and their family members not to become a burden on the social assistance system of the host Member State during their period of residence and have comprehensive sickness insurance cover. The list of documents to be presented with the application for residence is exhaustive. No additional documents can be requested. 2.3.1. Sufficient resources
The notion of 'sufficient resources' must be interpreted in the light of the objective of the Directive, which is to facilitate free movement, as long as the beneficiaries of the right of residence do not become an unreasonable burden on the social assistance system of the host Member State. The first step to assess the existence of sufficient resources should be whether the EU citizen (and family members who derive their right of residence from him or her) would meet the national criteria to be granted the basic social assistance benefit. EU citizens have sufficient resources where the level of their resources is higher than the threshold under which a minimum subsistence benefit is granted in the host Member State. Where this criterion is not applicable, the minimum social security pension should be taken into account. Article 8(4) prohibits Member States from laying down a fixed amount to be regarded as "sufficient resources", either directly or indirectly, below which the right of residence can be automatically refused. The authorities of the Member States must take into account the personal situation of the individual concerned. Resources from a third person must be accepted26. National authorities can, when necessary, undertake checks as to the existence of the resources, their lawfulness, amount and availability. The resources do not have to be periodic and can be in the form of accumulated capital. The evidence of sufficient resources cannot be limited27. In assessing whether an individual whose resources can no longer be regarded as sufficient and who was granted the minimum subsistence benefit is or has become an unreasonable burden, the authorities of the Member States must carry out a proportionality test. To this end, Member States may develop for example a points-based scheme as an indicator. Recital 16 of Directive 2004/38 provides three sets of criteria for this purpose: (1) duration
• For how long is the benefit being granted?
26 27
Case C-408/03 Commission v Belgium (para 40 et seq.) Case C-424/98 Commission v Italy (para 37)
• Outlook: is it likely that the EU citizen will get out of the safety net soon? • How long has the residence lasted in the host Member State? (2) personal situation
• What is the level of connection of the EU citizen and his/her family members with the society of the host Member State? • Are there any considerations pertaining to age, state of health, family and economic situation that need to be taken into account? (3) amount
• Total amount of aid granted? • Does the EU citizen have a history of relying heavily on social assistance? • Does the EU citizen have a history of contributing to the financing of social assistance in the host Member State? As long as the beneficiaries of the right of residence do not become an unreasonable burden on the social assistance system of the host Member State, they cannot be expelled for this reason28. Only receipt of social assistance benefits can be considered relevant to determining whether the person concerned is a burden on the social assistance system. 2.3.2. Sickness insurance
Any insurance cover, private or public, contracted in the host Member State or elsewhere, is acceptable in principle, as long as it provides comprehensive coverage and does not create a burden on the public finances of the host Member State. In protecting their public finances while assessing the comprehensiveness of sickness insurance cover, Member States must act in compliance with the limits imposed by Community law and in accordance with the principle of proportionality29. Pensioners fulfil the condition of comprehensive sickness insurance cover if they are entitled to health treatment on behalf of the Member State which pays their pension30. The European Health Insurance Card offers such comprehensive cover when the EU citizen concerned does not move the residence in the sense of Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 to the host Member State and has the intention to return, e.g. studies or posting to another Member State.
28 29 30
Article 14(3) Case C-413/99 Baumbast (paras 89-94) Articles 27, 28 and 28a of Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons, to self-employed persons and to the members of their families moving within the Community. As of 1 March 2010, Regulation (EC) No 883/04 will replace it but the same principles will apply.
This section builds on the Communication of 199931 on the special measures concerning the movement and residence of EU citizens which are justified on grounds of public policy, public security or public health. The content of the 1999 Communication is still generally valid, even if it refers to Directive 64/221, which was repealed by Directive 2004/38. The purpose of this section is to update the content of the 1999 Communication in the light of the recent case-law of the Court and to clarify certain questions raised during the process of the implementation of the Directive. Freedom of movement for persons is one of the foundations of the EU. Consequently the provisions granting that freedom must be given a broad interpretation, whereas derogations from that principle must be interpreted strictly32. 3.1. Public policy and public security
Member States may restrict the freedom of movement of EU citizens on grounds of public policy or public security. Chapter VI of the Directive applies to any action taken on grounds of public policy or public security which affects the right of persons coming under the Directive to enter and reside freely in the host Member State under the same conditions as the nationals of that State33. Member States retain the freedom to determine the requirements of public policy and public security in accordance with their needs, which can vary from one Member State to another and from one period to another. However, when they do so in the context of the application of the Directive, they must interpret those requirements strictly34. It is crucial that Member States define clearly the protected interests of society, and make a clear distinction between public policy and public security. The latter cannot be extended to measures that should be covered by the former. Public security is generally interpreted to cover both internal and external security35 along the lines of preserving the integrity of the territory of a Member State and its institutions. Public policy is generally interpreted along the lines of preventing disturbance of social order. EU citizens may be expelled only for conduct punished by the law of the host Member State or with regard to which other genuine and effective measures intended to combat such conduct were taken, as confirmed by the case-law36 of the Court. In any case, failure to comply with the registration requirement is not of such a nature as to constitute in itself conduct threatening public policy and public security and cannot therefore by itself justify the expulsion of the person.37
31 32 33 34 35 36 37
COM(1999)372 Cases 139/85 Kempf (para 13) and C-33/07 Jipa (para 23) Cases 36/75 Rutili (paras 8-21) and 30/77 Bouchereau (paras 6-24) Cases 36/75 Rutili (para 27), 30/77 Bouchereau (para 33) and C-33/07 Jipa (para 23) Cases C-423/98 Albore (para 18 et seq.) and C-285/98 Kreil (para 15) Cases 115/81 Adoui and Cornuaille (paras 5-9) and C-268/99 Jany (para 61) Case 48/75 Royer (para 51).
Personal conduct and the threat
Restrictive measures may be taken only on a case-by-case basis where the personal conduct of an individual represents a genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat affecting one of the fundamental interests of the society of the host Member State38. Restrictive measures cannot be based solely on considerations pertaining to the protection of public policy or public security advanced by another Member State39. Community law precludes the adoption of restrictive measures on general preventive grounds40. Restrictive measures must be based on an actual threat and cannot be justified merely by a general risk41. Restrictive measures following a criminal conviction cannot be automatic and must take into account the personal conduct of the offender and the threat that it represents for the requirements of public policy42. Grounds extraneous to the personal conduct of an individual cannot be invoked. Automatic expulsions are not allowed under the Directive.43 Individuals can have their rights restricted only if their personal conduct represents a threat, i.e. indicates the likelihood of a serious prejudice to the requirements of public policy or public security. A threat that is only presumed is not genuine. The threat must be present. Past conduct may be taken into account only where there is a likelihood of reoffending44. The threat must exist at the moment when the restrictive measure is adopted by the national authorities or reviewed by the courts45. Suspension of sentence constitutes an important factor in the assessment of the threat as it suggests that the individual concerned no longer represents a real danger. Present membership of an organisation may be taken into account where the individual concerned participates in the activities of the organization and identifies with its aims or designs46. Member States do not have to criminalize or to ban the activities of an organisation to be in a position to restrict the rights under the Directive, as long as some administrative measures to counteract the activities of that organisation are in place. Past associations47 cannot, in general, constitute present threat. A previous criminal conviction can be taken into account, but only in so far as the circumstances which gave rise to that conviction are evidence of personal conduct constituting a present threat to the requirements of public policy48. The authorities must base their decision on an assessment of the future conduct of the individual concerned. The kind and number of previous convictions must form a significant element in this assessment and particular regard must be had to the seriousness and frequency of the crimes committed.
38 39 40 41
42 43 44 45 46 47 48
All criteria are cumulative. Cases C-33/07 Jipa (para 25) and C-503/03 Commission v Spain (para 62) Case 67/74 Bonsignore (paras 5-7) General prevention in specific circumstances, such as sport events, is covered in the 1999 Communication (cfr point 3.3). Cases C-348/96 Calfa (paras 17-27) and 67/74 Bonsignore (paras 5-7) Case C-408/03 Commission v Belgium (paras 68-72) Case 30/77 Bouchereau (paras 25-30) Cases C-482/01 and C-493/01 Orfanopoulos and Oliveri (para 82) Case 41/74 van Duyn (para 17 et seq.) Ibid Cases C-482/01 and 493/01 Orfanopoulos and Oliveri (paras 82 and 100) and C-50/06 Commission v Netherlands (paras 42-45)
While the danger of re-offending is of considerable importance, a remote possibility of new offences is not sufficient49. A. and I. have finished serving their two year sentence for robbery. The authorities assess if the personal conduct of the two sisters represents a threat, i.e. if it involves the likelihood of a new and serious prejudice to public policy. This was A.'s first conviction. She behaved well in prison. Since she left prison, she has found a job. The authorities find nothing in her behaviour that represents a genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat. As for I., this was already her fourth conviction. The seriousness of her crimes has grown over time. Her behaviour in prison was far from exemplary and her two requests to be released on parole were refused. In less than two weeks, she is caught planning another robbery. The authorities conclude that I.'s conduct is a threat to public policy. In certain circumstances, persistent petty criminality may represent a threat to public policy, despite the fact that any single crime/offence, taken individually, would be insufficient to represent a sufficiently serious threat as defined above. National authorities must show that the personal conduct of the individual concerned represents a threat to the requirements of public policy50. When assessing the existence of the threat to public policy in these cases, the authorities may in particular take into account the following factors: • the nature of the offences; • their frequency; • damage or harm caused. The existence of multiple convictions is not enough, in itself. 3.3. Proportionality assessment
Chapter VI of the Directive cannot be regarded as imposing a precondition to the acquisition and maintenance of a right of entry and residence, but as providing exclusively the possibility to restrict, where justified, the exercise of a right derived directly from the Treaty51. Once the authorities have established that the personal conduct of the individual represents a threat that is serious enough to warrant a restrictive measure, they must carry out a proportionality assessment to decide whether the person concerned can be denied entry or removed on grounds of public policy or public security. National authorities must identify protected interests. It is in the light of these interests that they must carry out an analysis of the characteristics of the threat. The following factors could be taken into account:
50 51
For example, the danger of re-offending may be considered greater in the case of drug dependency if there is a risk of further criminal offences committed in order to fund the dependency: AG Stix-Hackl in Joined cases C-482/01 and C-493/01 Orfanopoulos and Oliveri Case C-349/06 Polat (para 35) Case 321/87 Commission v Belgium (para 10)
• degree of social danger resulting from the presence of the person concerned on the territory of that Member State; • nature of the offending activities, their frequency, cumulative danger and damage caused; • time elapsed since acts committed and behaviour of the person concerned (NB: also good behaviour in prison and possible release on parole could be taken into account). The personal and family situation of the individual concerned must be assessed carefully with a view to establishing whether the envisaged measure is appropriate and does not go beyond what is strictly necessary to achieve the objective pursued, and whether there are less stringent measures to achieve that objective. The following factors, outlined in an indicative list in Article 28(1), should be taken into account52: • impact of expulsion on the economic, personal and family life of the individual (including on other family members who would have the right to remain in the host Member State); • the seriousness of the difficulties which the spouse/partner and any of their children risk facing in the country of origin of the person concerned; • strength of ties (relatives, visits, language skills) – or lack of ties – with the Member State of origin and with the host Member State (for example, the person concerned was born in the host Member State or lived there from an early age); • length of residence in the host Member State (the situation of a tourist is different from the situation of someone who has lived for many years in the host Member State); • age and state of health. 3.4. Increased protection against expulsion
EU citizens and their family members who are permanent residents (after five years) in the host Member State can be expelled only on serious grounds of public policy or public security. EU citizens residing for more than after ten years and children can be expelled only on imperative grounds of public security (not public policy). There must be a clear distinction between normal, 'serious' and 'imperative' grounds on which the expulsion can be taken. As a rule, Member States are not obliged to take time actually spent behind bars into account when calculating the duration of residence under Article 28 where no links with the host Member State are built. 3.5. Urgency
Under Article 30(3), the time allowed to leave the territory must be at least one month, save in duly substantiated cases of urgency. The justification of an urgent removal must be genuine
In relation to the fundamental rights, see the case-law of the ECtHR in cases Berrehab, Moustaquim, Beldjoudi, Boujlifa, El Boujaidi and Dalia.
and proportionate53. In assessing the need to reduce this time in cases of urgency, the authorities must take into account the impact of an immediate or urgent removal on the personal and family life of the person concerned (e.g. need to give notice at work, terminate a lease, need to arrange for personal belongings to be sent to the place of new residence, the education of children, etc.). Adopting an expulsion measure on imperative or serious grounds does not necessarily mean that there is urgency. The assessment of urgency must be clearly and separately substantiated. 3.6. Procedural safeguards
The person concerned must always be notified of any measure taken on grounds of public policy or public security, as required by Article 30. Decisions must be fully reasoned and list all the specific factual and legal grounds on which they are taken so that the person concerned may take effective steps to ensure his or her defence54 and national courts may review the case in accordance with the right to an effective remedy, which is a general principle of Community law reflected in Article 47 of the EU Charter. In this respect, forms may be used to notify the decisions but must always allow for a full justification of the grounds on which the decision was taken (just indicating one or more of several options by ticking a box is not acceptable). 4.
Community law cannot be relied in case of abuse55. Article 35 allows Member States to take effective and necessary measures to fight against abuse and fraud in areas falling within the material scope of Community law on free movement of persons by refusing, terminating or withdrawing any right conferred by the Directive in the case of abuse of rights or fraud, such as marriages of convenience. Any such measure must be proportionate and subject to the procedural safeguards provided for in the Directive56. Community law promotes the mobility of EU citizens and protects those who have made use of it57. There is no abuse where EU citizens and their family members obtain a right of residence under Community law in a Member State other than that of the EU citizen's nationality as they are benefiting from an advantage inherent in the exercise of the right of free movement protected by the Treaty58, regardless of the purpose of their move to that State59. By the same token, Community law protects EU citizens who return home after having exercised their free movement rights.
53 54 55 56 57 58 59
AG Stix-Hackl in case C-441/02 Commission v Germany Case 36/75 Rutili (paras 37-39) Cases 33/74 van Binsbergen (para 13), C-370/90 Singh (para 24) and C-212/97 Centros (paras 24-25) Case C-127/08 Metock (paras 74-75) Cases C-370/90 Singh, C-291/05 Eind and C-60/00 Carpenter Cases C-212/97 Centros (para 27) and C-147/03 Commission v Austria (paras 67-68) Cases C-109/01 Akrich (para 55) and C-1/05 Jia (para 31)
4.1. 4.1.1.
Concepts of abuse and fraud Fraud
For the purposes of the Directive, fraud may be defined as deliberate deception or contrivance made to obtain the right of free movement and residence under the Directive. In the context of the Directive, fraud is likely to be limited to forgery of documents or false representation of a material fact concerning the conditions attached to the right of residence. Persons who have been issued with a residence document only as a result of fraudulent conduct in respect of which they have been convicted, may have their rights under the Directive refused, terminated or withdrawn60. 4.1.2. Abuse
For the purposes of the Directive, abuse may be defined as an artificial conduct entered into solely with the purpose of obtaining the right of free movement and residence under Community law which, albeit formally observing of the conditions laid down by Community rules, does not comply with the purpose of those rules61. 4.2. Marriages of convenience
Recital 28 defines marriages of convenience for the purposes of the Directive as marriages contracted for the sole purpose of enjoying the right of free movement and residence under the Directive that someone would not have otherwise. A marriage cannot be considered as a marriage of convenience simply because it brings an immigration advantage, or indeed any other advantage. The quality of the relationship is immaterial to the application of Article 35. The definition of marriages of convenience can be extended by analogy to other forms of relationships contracted for the sole purpose of enjoying the right of free movement and residence, such as (registered) partnership of convenience, fake adoption or where an EU citizen declares to be a father of a third country child to convey nationality and a right of residence on the child and its mother, knowing that he is not its father and not willing to assume parental responsibilities. Measures taken by Member States to fight against marriages of convenience may not be such as to deter EU citizens and their family members from making use of their right to free movement or unduly encroach on their legitimate rights. They must not undermine the effectiveness of Community law or discriminate on grounds of nationality. When interpreting the notion of abuse in the context of the Directive, due attention must be given to the status of the EU citizen. In accordance with the principle of supremacy of Community law, the assessment of whether Community law was abused must be carried out in the framework of Community law, and not with regard to national migration laws. The Directive does not prevent Member States from investigating individual cases where there is a well-founded suspicion of abuse. However, Community law prohibits systematic checks62.
60 61 62
Cases C-285/95 Kol (para 29) and C-63/99 Gloszczuk (para 75) Cases C-110/99 Emsland-Stärke (para 52 et seq.) and C-212/97 Centros (para 25) The prohibition includes not only checks on all migrants, but also checks on whole classes of migrants (e.g. those from a given ethnic origin).
Member States may rely on previous analyses and experience showing a clear correlation between proven cases of abuse and certain characteristics of such cases. In order to avoid creating unnecessary burdens and obstacles, it is possible to identify a set of indicative criteria suggesting that there is unlikely to be an abuse of Community rights: • the third country spouse would have no problem obtaining a right of residence in his/her own capacity or has already lawfully resided in the EU citizen's Member State beforehand; • the couple was in a relationship for a long time; • the couple had a common domicile/household for a long time63; • the couple have already entered a serious long-term legal/financial commitment with shared responsibilities (mortgage to buy a home, etc); • the marriage has lasted for a long time. Member States may define a set of indicative criteria suggesting the possible intention to abuse the rights conferred by the Directive for the sole purpose of contravening national immigration laws. National authorities may in particular take into account the following factors: • the couple have never met before their marriage; • the couple are inconsistent about their respective personal details, about the circumstances of their first meeting, or about other important personal information concerning them; • the couple do not speak a language understood by both; • evidence of a sum of money or gifts handed over in order for the marriage to be contracted (with the exception of money or gifts given in the form of a dowry in cultures where this is common practice); • the past history of one or both of the spouses contains evidence of previous marriages of convenience or other forms of abuse and fraud to acquire a right of residence; • development of family life only after the expulsion order was adopted; • the couple divorces shortly after the third country national in question has acquired a right of residence. The above criteria should be considered possible triggers for investigation, without any automatic inferences from results or subsequent investigations. Member States may not rely on one sole attribute; due attention has to be given to all the circumstances of the individual case. The investigation may involve a separate interview with each of the two spouses.
Community law does not require third country family spouses to live with the EU citizen to qualify for a right of residence – case 267/83 Diatta (para 15 et seq.).
S., a third country national, was ordered to leave in one month as she had overstayed her tourist visa. After two weeks, she married O., an EU national who had just arrived to the host Member State. The authorities suspect that the marriage might have been concluded only to avoid expulsion. They contact the authorities in O.'s Member State and find out that after the wedding his family shop was finally able to pay a debt of 5000 EUR, which it had been unable to repay for two years. They invite the newly-weds for an interview, during which they find out that O. has meanwhile already left the host Member State to return home to his job, that the couple is not able to communicate in a common language and that they met for the first time one week before the marriage. There are strong indications that the couple may have married with the sole purpose of contravening national immigration laws. The burden of proof lies on the authorities of the Member States seeking to restrict rights under the Directive. The authorities must be able to build a convincing case while respecting all the material safeguards described in the previous section. On appeal, it is for the national courts to verify the existence of abuse in individual cases, evidence of which must be adduced in accordance with the rules of national law, provided that the effectiveness of Community law is not thereby undermined64. Investigations must be carried out in accordance with fundamental rights, in particular with Articles 8 (right to respect for private and family life) and 12 (right to marry) of the ECHR (Articles 7 and 9 of the EU Charter). On going investigation of suspected cases of marriages of convenience cannot justify derogation from the rights of third country family members under the Directive, such as the prohibition of the right to work, seizure of passport or dely of the issue of a residence card within six months from the date of application. These rights can be withdrawn at any time as a result of subsequent investigations. 4.3. Other forms of abuse
Abuse could also occur when EU citizens, unable to be joined by their third country family members in their Member State of origin because of the application of national immigration rules preventing it, move to another Member State with the sole purpose to evade, upon returning to their home Member State, the national law that frustrated their family reunification efforts, invoking their rights under Community law. The defining characteristics of the line between genuine and abusive use of Community law should be based on the assessment of whether the exercise of Community rights in a Member State from which the EU citizens and their family members return was genuine and effective. In such case, EU citizens and their families are protected by Community law on free movement of persons. This assessment can only be made on a case-by-case basis. If, in a concrete case of return, the use of Community rights was genuine and effective, the Member State of origin should not inquire into the personal motives that triggered the previous move. When necessary, Member States may define a set of indicative criteria to assess whether residence in the host Member State was genuine and effective. National authorities may in particular take into account the following factors:
Cases C-110/99 Emsland-Stärke (para 54) and C-215/03 Oulane (para 56)
• the circumstances under which the EU citizen concerned moved to the host Member State (previous unsuccessful attempts to acquire residence for a third country spouse under national law, job offer in the host Member State, capacity in which the EU citizen resides in the host Member State); • degree of effectiveness and genuineness of residence in the host Member State (envisaged and actual residence in the host Member State, efforts made to establish in the host Member State, including national registration formalities and securing accommodation, enrolling children at an educational establishment); • circumstances under which the EU citizen concerned moved back home (return immediately after marrying a third country national in another Member State). The above criteria should be considered possible triggers for investigation, without any automatic inferences from results or subsequent investigations. In assessing whether the exercise of the right to move and reside freely in another Member State of the EU was genuine and effective, national authorities may not rely on a sole attribute but must pay due attention to all the circumstances of the individual case. They must assess the conduct of persons concerned in the light of the objectives pursued by Community law and act on the basis of objective evidence65. J. returns home from another Member State with S., his third country spouse. S. unsuccessfuly attempted twice to acquire residence in J.'s Member State. J. continued to work home during his alleged residence in another Member State. The authorities contact the authorities of the host Member State and find out that J. returned home only after three weeks. The couple stayed in a tourist hotel and paid for the three weeks of accommodation in advance. Taking all of this into account, J. and S. do not benefit from the provisions of the Directive. It cannot be inferred that the residence in the host Member State is not genuine and effective only because an EU citizen maintains some ties to the home Member State, all the more if his status in the host country is unstable (e.g. a work contract of limited duration). The mere fact that a person consciously places himself in a situation conferring a right does not in itself constitute a sufficient basis for assuming that there is abuse66. All relevant considerations set out above on investigation, material and procedural safeguards, co-operation between Member States relating to marriages of convenience apply mutatis mutandis. 4.4. Measures and sanctions against abuse and fraud
Article 35 entitles Member States to adopt the necessary measures in cases of abuse of rights or fraud. These measures can be taken at any point of time and may entail: • the refusal to confer rights under Community law on free movement (e.g. to issue an entry visa or a residence card);
65 66
Case C-206/94 Brennet v Paletta (para 25) Case C-212/97 Centros (para 27)
• the termination or withdrawal of rights under Community law on free movement (e.g. the decision to terminate validity of a residence card and to expel the person concerned who acquired rights by abuse or fraud). Community law does not at present provide for any specific sanctions Member States may take in the framework of fight against abuse or fraud. Member States may lay down sanctions under civil (e.g. cancelling the effects of a proven marriage of convenience on the right of residence), administrative or criminal law (fine or imprisonment), provided these sanctions are effective, non-discriminatory and proportionate.


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Home > News > 2012 News Releases > State-Of-The-Art Neurosciences Center Opens At University Hospital
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Published on July 31, 2012
COLUMBIA, Mo. ― The new Missouri Neurosciences Center at University Hospital will offer patients with complex neurological disorders access to a state-of-the art diagnostic and treatment center.
The 18,119-square-foot new center, which opens this week at University Hospital, offers 28 private patient rooms, all equipped with automated hospital "smart room" technology.
N. Scott Litofsky, M.D., chief of the Division of Neurosurgery in the MU School of Medicine and director of neuro-oncology and radiosurgery at University of Missouri Health Care, noted that the center will be home to the region's largest team of physicians specializing in neurosurgery and neurology.
"University neurosurgeons are experts at procedures such as deep brain stimulation for the treatment of movement disorders, surgeries for the treatment of epilepsy and seizures, neurological oncology procedures for treating brain and spinal tumors, and surgical care for back pain and spine injuries," Litofsky said.
"With nationally recognized stroke and epilepsy programs, we wanted a facility that would offer our team, and our patients, an equally impressive clinical facility," said Pradeep Sahota, M.D., chair of the medical school's Department of Neurology and director of MU Health Care's sleep disorders program.
Each patient room features automated technology for collection of patient data such as heart rate and vital signs, and automatic uploading of the data into the electronic medical record, where it is accessible to the patient's team of caregivers. A bar code scanning system helps ensure the correct medication is provided at the right time, and in the right dose.
"The room really becomes part of the patient's care so the nurse can add that human touch," said Joanne Burns, chief information officer at MU Health Care. "The information is right there at the caregivers' fingertips so that they spend more time with their patients and less time working with equipment to get that data."
The new neurosciences center features four patient rooms specially equipped for epilepsy monitoring. When a patient in one of those rooms begins to have a seizure, multiple systems are instantly activated to collect data for diagnosis and treatment. The technology includes video and audio recording devices, and electroencephalography, or EEG.
"The room itself captures the data," Burns said. "This can be triggered by the patient, if he feels a seizure is starting, or by epilepsy monitoring technology, if the patient should fail to know that a seizure is about to occur."
In addition to the state-of-the-art technology, the Missouri Neurosciences Center was also designed with function and comfort in mind. The private patient rooms are spacious to allow room for a patient's family and friends. The rooms are equipped with a large-screen monitor that doubles as both a television and a vehicle for viewing patient data.
University physicians on the neurosciences team specialize in Alzheimer's disease and dementia, epilepsy and seizure surgery, movement disorders and deep brain stimulation, multiple sclerosis, neurological oncology surgery for brain and spinal tumors, neuromuscular diseases and peripheral nerve surgery, pediatric neurology and neurosurgery, sleep disorders, stroke and surgical or endovascular care of brain aneurysms and other vascular malformations, back pain and spinal surgery, and head and spinal trauma.
University of Missouri Health Care was the only hospital in Columbia or central Missouri recognized in July as "high performing" in neurology and neurosurgery, as well as "Most Connected" for being a leader in the implementation of electronic medical records, by U.S. News & World Report. The health system was also recently recognized for the second consecutive year as one of the nation's Most Wired health systems according the American Hospital Association's "Hospitals & Health Networks" magazine.
University Hospital's Missouri Epilepsy Program was designated a Level 4 epilepsy center in 2012 by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers. The hospital's Missouri Stroke Program received the Stroke Gold Plus Performance Achievement Award in 2011, the highest distinction possible from Get With The Guidelines®, a hospital-based quality improvement program developed by the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association.
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Collective insurance
Erasmus University Rotterdam has concluded group contracts with a number of insurers so that you can benefit from taking out policies on favourable terms.
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Health insurance abroad
If you work in a country other than the one of which you are a national, certain insurance arrangements may have to be made to cover your medical expenses.
Please contact your HR department for more information.


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With a collection of the best UK, European and International costume portfolios to choose from, you now have access in one place to all the wholesale fancy dress costumes you can think of! Fancy Dress Warehouse is proud to be priority distributors for Franco American Novelty, California Costume Collections and Orion Costumes.
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7th April 2016: Orion Costumes launches to the UK
We are happy to announce that Orion Costumes will be available to the UK from April ...


text:
As Amended by House Commettee
Session of 1998
House Concurrent Resolution No. 5037
By Representatives Beggs, Aurand, Ballou, Boston, Carmody, Compton,
Cox, Dahl, Dreher, Geringer, Gilmore, Glasscock, Horst, Humerick-
house, Hutchins, Jennison, Johnson, Phill Kline, Lane, Mason, Mays,
McCreary, Morrison, Myers, Neufeld, O'Connor, Osborne, Packer,
Palmer, Powell, Powers, Presta, Schwartz, Shallenburger, Shore,
Sloan, Spangler, Stone, Swenson, Tanner, Vickrey, Vining, Wagle and
16 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION memorializing the Congress of the
17 United States to enact legislation that will sunset the IRS Code by
18 December 31, 2000, and to develop and complete a replacement tax
19 code for the American people.
21 WHEREAS, The IRS Code is beyond repair; and
22 WHEREAS, The IRS Code is the core of the distrust of government
23 the American people feel; and
24 WHEREAS, The current tax code is seven million words, compared
25 to Lincoln's Gettysburg Address of 269 words, and the Declaration of
26 Independence of 1,337 words; and
27 WHEREAS, The IRS's ``simplest'' return, the EZForm 1040, has 33
28 pages of instructions, and the IRS Form 1040 has 76 pages of instructions;
29 and
30 WHEREAS, Individual taxpayers will spend 1.7 billion hours and
31 American business will spend 3.4 billion hours each year simply trying to
32 comply with the tax code--which is equivalent to a ``staff'' of three million
33 people working full time, year round, just on taxes; and
34 WHEREAS, Taxes are too high, but any steps to lower taxes by mod-
35 ifying the existing tax code would make it even longer and more confusing;
36 and
37 WHEREAS, This proposal embodies a prudent method and adequate
38 time for developing a new tax code: Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Kansas,
the Senate concurring therein:
That the legislature request of the Con-
41 gress of the United States enactment of legislation which will abolish the
42 IRS Code by December 31, 2000, and replace it with a new method of
43 taxation which in essence will:
HCR 5037--Am.
1 Lower taxes, to create job opportunities
2 Foster growth, by encouraging work and savings
3 Be fair, for all taxpayers
4 Be simple enough for all taxpayers to understand
5 Be neutral, allowing people, not government to make choices
6 Be visible, so people know the cost of government
7 Be stable, so people can plan for the future.
Be it further resolved:
That this resolution shall not be construed
to indicate the legislatures favor for the replacement of the federal
income tax with any federal sales tax or flat rate income tax system
which results in a shifting of the existing federal income tax burden
from one population segment to the average taxpayer;
Be it further resolved:
That the legislature request the several states
14 apply to Congress for enactment of this proposal; and
Be it further resolved:
That copies of this resolution, attesting to the
16 adoption of this resolution, be forwarded by the Chief Clerk of the House
17 of Representatives to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
18 House of Representatives of the United States, to each of the senators
19 and representatives from Kansas and to the legislatures of each of the
20 several states.


text: What's the proper way to make a feature request to have a runtime configuration option for the port ranges used? On Oct 20, 2011, at 2:55 PM, Ken Nielson wrote: > ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Ti Leggett" <leggett at mcs.anl.gov> >> To: "Torque Users Mailing List" <torqueusers at supercluster.org> >> Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2011 3:09:48 PM >> Subject: [torqueusers] Running torque with iptables >> >> We're rolling out locking down machines much more tightly using >> iptables after a security incident. I've read the documentation and >> I have tcp/udp 15001 and tcp 15004 open on the PBS server, I have >> tcp 15002, tcp/udp 15003 and udp 0-1023 opened on the PBS MOMs and I >> have udp 0-1023 on the submit hosts. However it seems the MOM >> superior is trying to talk back to the submit host on tcp ephemeral >> ports >1024. Is there any way to restrict the range of those ports >> it's trying to use so that I can open those up appropriately, or am >> I going to have to take the (undesired) route of opening everything >> up between the MOMs and submit hosts? > > The MOMs should only communicate with pbs_server and the other MOMs. I do not believe they communicate with the submit hosts. Could you tell us more about your setup? > > Regards > > Ken > _______________________________________________ > torqueusers mailing list > torqueusers at supercluster.org > http://www.supercluster.org/mailman/listinfo/torqueusers -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: signature.asc Type: application/pgp-signature Size: 163 bytes Desc: Message signed with OpenPGP using GPGMail Url : http://www.supercluster.org/pipermail/torqueusers/attachments/20111021/c4528df2/attachment.bin


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Many technological breakthroughs occurred in 2011. In your opinion, what was the biggest achievement?
"There's that service on the iPhone that just tells you where the nearest Taco Bell is. I think it's called Siri."Karen Agnew Glass Inspector
"Speaking as one of those people who can't open a kitchen cabinet without having several colanders fall on his head, that Chef Basket looks exciting."David Williams Wheel Lacer
"Have you seen that new bat-wing drone Iran has? So awesome!"Oren Kand Ring Stamper


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The following sources contain a variety of spectral data. These sources are NOT listed under each spectra type in this guide, but you should make a habit of checking these first!
This site is an index to spectral properties data accessible primarily to the UW-Madison community. Free online sources are also shown when applicable.
Browse the index of spectra types using the Guide Contents link on the top right of this page. You can also begin with the Standard Sources list on this page.
For assistance locating spectral data, see Tips for Locating Spectral Data below or contact email@example.com.


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We have now sold out at Willmott Fields in Wem. Please see our nearby Burlington Fields development in Shifnal for a stunning selection of 2, 3, 4 & 5 bedroom homes
Off Whitchurch Road - Wem - Shropshire - SY4 5AQ
Would you like to download a brochure or request a brochure by post?
Call us 01939550259
Artists Impression
Sold out
Students Myles Sadler, Chloe Wilkins and
Jordan Page with headteacher Liz Dakin and
Taylor Wimpey Sales Executive Kathryn Watton.
We gave £500 to The Thomas Adams School Fund, which helps to pay for everything from specialist revision materials and school trips to places ranging from London to Rome, to 'level the playing field' for all Thomas Adams' 1,360 pupils, aged 11 to 18.
The school's Business Manager, Stuart Boreham, says: "We're very grateful to Taylor Wimpey for this donation.
"The school was founded in 1650, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Fund went that far back as well. The Fund supports everyone at Thomas Adams to have the chance to access education more equally."
Anne Wallace, Regional Sales and Marketing Director for Taylor Wimpey, says: "As a housebuilder working in Wem, we are delighted to support a Fund aimed at the community in which we are building.
"The Thomas Adams School is a state school with a well-deserved reputation for providing an equal opportunity to all children, irrespective of their background."
Other money for the Fund comes from school fundraising events and a contribution from the Drapers' Company of the City of London, which has an historic tie to the school through the school's 17th century founder Thomas Adams, a former Lord Mayor of London and Master of the Company of Drapers.
The school, well-regarded by Ofsted, has a 365-year history in Wem, some of which is reflected in its historic Sixth Form College buildings. It is also one of only around 35 state schools in the country to offer boarding facilities, for pupils whose parents are working abroad.
We were delighted to donate £500 to the 1st Wem Scouts and Guides for a lockable notice board to be located outside their town HQ.
Left to right (back row): Faith Blood (aged 12), Tim Wilton-Morgan, Anne Keen from Taylor Wimpey. Front row: Megan Williams (aged 6) and Theo Blood (aged 9).
The idea is that the notice board will be visible to every arriving parent and every passer-by on Bowens Field in Wem.
"We had the same notice board for years and years and it's basically collapsed," explains Group Scout Leader Tim Wilton-Morgan.
"We're very grateful to Taylor Wimpey for the money to replace the notice board and it has been engraved with our name and our donor's name!"
Anne Wallace, Sales and Marketing Director for Taylor Wimpey Midlands, says: "As a housebuilder working in Wem, we are delighted to support a local group in the town in which we're building.
"The Scout movement has been going for just over a hundred years, and we're pleased to help a local Group which is working hard to keep the adventure going!"
Mr Wilton-Morgan says: "The Scout and Guide movement is currently growing across the UK, because, I think, it gets young people away from the computer and the TV and into something more adventurous."
He says there were about 100 children involved in 1st Wem's Scout, Cub and Beaver sections. "They learn how to look after themselves, to be more confident and self-reliant," he adds.
"It's a very worthwhile organisation, and children who like a bit of adventure – and most of them have never been camping – get a lot out of it."
Why not consider Part Exchanging your existing property for a brand new Taylor Wimpey home? With our Part Exchange scheme, you could move into a new Taylor Wimpey home without the hassle of selling your old one.
We'll buy your existing property at 100% of its market value. You'll avoid all the stress of putting your house on the market, managing and paying for estate agents, and worrying about house buying chains! Interested? Find out more about Part Exchange.
Terms and conditions apply to the Part Exchange scheme.
Easymover is available here, which means you could reserve a new Taylor Wimpey home at this development - even if you haven't sold your existing property.
And that's not all. With easymover, we'll make your house move as stress free as possible. We'll liaise with your estate agent on your behalf, we'll pay their fees and we'll manage the whole house selling process - making your life so much easier! Take a look at our easymover page for more information.
Terms and conditions apply to the Easymover scheme.
The Government backed Help to Buy scheme is available here. The scheme is open to both first time buyers and home movers alike, and means you'll need just 5% deposit to buy a new home.
With Help to Buy, the Government will lend you up to 20% of the value of your new build home via an equity loan. You will need to secure up to a 75% mortgage and put down a 5% deposit. You'll own 100% of your home from day one.
Help to Buy is also available in conjunction with our easymover scheme, which means we could help you sell your existing home and pay your estate agent fees. Find out more about how the Help to Buy scheme works.
This development is managed by the Midlands Taylor Wimpey regional office