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West Virginia government agencies have filed a nearly $1.8 million claim in the bankruptcy of Freedom Industries, seeking repayment of money they spent responding to Freedom's January chemical leak, which contaminated the drinking water for 300,000 residents in Charleston and counties surrounding Kanawha County.
Lawyers for the state filed claims on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Resources, various agencies with the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety, and the Lottery Commission.
The claims "cover costs incurred" by those agencies "as a result of the Elk River Spill for the protection of the safety and health of the citizens of West Virginia and visitors and travelers to this state," the filing says.
The largest single claim was for more than $940,000, filed on behalf of the DHHR. The agency said the amount is to cover costs for employee overtime, water, and meals and other supplies during the water crisis that followed the Jan. 9 leak at Freedom's Elk River chemical tank farm.
The DHHR also said it incurred costs, along with Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin's office, for the West Virginia Testing Assessment Project, a program to test the water supply and try to investigate the impact of the leak.
The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management at DMAPS said it had incurred expenses of nearly $300,000. The agency said it oversaw the "state-level emergency management of the water crisis" and "provided significant assistance" throughout the event.
The West Virginia National Guard cited expenses of more than $373,000, mostly for its help in collecting water samples.
The Lottery Commission said it lost a projected $93,000 in video lottery proceeds related to the temporary closure of the Mardi Gras Casino and Resort in Nitro.
Department of Environmental Protection officials, who are overseeing the cleanup of the Freedom site, filed a separate claim.
In that filing, DEP general counsel Kristin Boggs said Freedom remains under enforcement orders issued by the DEP and is obligated to continue remediation at the site, and that any obligations under DEP enforcement orders cannot be overridden by the bankruptcy court.
Kanawha County Commission officials filed a separate claim, saying they incurred costs of $260,000 for emergency response work during the water crisis.
The deadline for filing claims in Freedom's bankruptcy was Aug. 1.
Jim Lane, the court-appointed claims agent, said he could not yet provide a complete accounting of the number of claims or the amount of money involved in those claims.
Lane said that more than 3,500 claims were filed on paper — as opposed to electronically — on the day of the deadline, and that those are still being entered into the court's computer system.
In bankruptcy court, a "claim" is a right to payment, in this case from Freedom Industries, for any reason. The court will decide which claims are legitimate, and later, whatever funds are left in Freedom's coffers will be distributed among the claimants.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Ronald Pearson has said that, because Freedom is liquidating and there is little money available from the company, there will be only "pro rata" distribution, in which funds from the bankruptcy estate are doled out proportionally to creditors.
Reach Ken Ward Jr. at email@example.com, 304-348-1702 or follow @kenwardjr on Twitter.


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LOL I knew he had to have huge red flags. He is just way to good to not be on a roster without them. I would still add him to the roster tomorrow very low risk and great reward. He seemed like a gamer in college it may just be a case of competitiveness he is 25 if he gets his act together he should be a perinatal 6th man of the year type player if stops the BS.This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
But I literally cant think of a better target in trade or what not. He is free too pretty funny if you ask me that we need a scorer who can great his own shot and shots for others, there is one for us and we dont have to give up a pick or anything lol. CDR is better than Marshon Brooks IMO by a wide margin and anyone who we could possibly trade for. His work ethic has never been questioned and he plays hard he rebounds and plays defense, I just don't get it. If JR Smith's cancer personality can make a turn around so can CDR.
please sign him

subset: commoncrawl


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Declining milk consumption has been partly to blame for the economic difficulties facing the dairy industry.
Exactly, how did it come to this?
Forbes magazine is out with an article entitled, "How the milk industry went sour, and what every business can learn from it." To see the article, click here.
According to the article, the dairy industry has nobody to blame but itself.
Essentially, the article points out, the dairy industry has focused on cows and production efficiency instead of consumers.
The article cites the emergence of niche markets that fell into the laps of competing beverage manufacturers, along with the failure to come up with convenient packaging for on-the-go consumers.
The article says the industry should have defined itself as a "dairy-based nutrition provider" rather than a milk business.
"Other companies, such as United Parcel Services and IBM, successfully stepped back and defined what businesses they were in to create value-added services that built on their core products," the Forbes article said. "UPS is not just a package shipper; it's a logistics manager."
The article concludes by saying the industry needs to do "some serious soul-searching."
Dairy Herd Management has written about this problem for a number of years, including this recent editorial and this story from 1999.


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Topic: any opinions between 2 chemo protocols
i have been reading a lot of the posts tonight. wanted to see what everyone's opinion is on these two chemo protocols. gemzar and cisplatin or xeloda and oxiliplatin. better? worse? side effects? my sisters oncologist is saying he would recommend xeloda and oxiliplatin but said gemzar and cisplatin could also be used. he felt cisplatin has a bigger effect on the kidneys and the oxiliplatin would be more tolerable. i dont see too many people who have had the xeloda option here. it seems more that the gemzar/cisplatin is being used. my sister was on gemzar alone after her first resection so i think that is why the oncologist isnt using it again. was wondering what opinions others have concerning these chemo treatments.


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HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. Sears and Kmart have announced plans to launch Alphaline Entertainment powered by RoxioNow, a new digital service for customers seeking even faster access to the latest in home entertainment experiences. Through a multi-year agreement with Sonic Solutions, the Alphaline Entertainment platform will offer Sears and Kmart customers on-demand entertainment via a range of internet-connected devices including HDTVs, Blu-ray Disc players, computers and handheld technologies.
"With so many movies and endless amounts of TV content available, Alphaline Entertainment ensures our customers will have the ability to obtain the latest, high-quality entertainment virtually anywhere, anytime," said Karen Austin, president of home electronics for Sears Holdings. "This platform will enable Sears and Kmart to further enhance the services we offer our customers with the added ability to provide exciting digital video entertainment."
The Alphaline Entertainment platform will also provide customers with the ability to share content among all consumer electronic devices that have a broadband connection.
Sears and Kmart will work with Sonic Solutions to embed the Alphaline Entertainment services on a variety of devices from many manufacturers, letting customers enjoy content while at home or on their mobile devices. RoxioNow will provide the content delivery infrastructure, software, and technologies to power the offering, which will appear on consumer electronics devices sold through Sears and Kmart.


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Here's Steve McQueen at the peak of his powers in The Cincinnati Kid (1965), a film centering on a marathon, high stakes poker game set in the Depression-era 1930s, directed by Norman Jewison. It's not a great film by any means, but a solid period piece of 1960s genre work, with a powerhouse cast: McQueen, Edward G. Robinson, Ann-Margret, Karl Malden, Tuesday Weld, Joan Blondell, Rip Torn and veteran musician/actor Cab Calloway. As Kevin Hagopian notes, the script is by Ring Lardner Jr. and Terry Southern; it was Lardner's first major studio work since his 1947 blacklisting as one of The Hollywood Ten.
Sam Peckinpah was supposed to direct the film, but wanted to shoot it in black and white, among other things, and was forced out by producer Martin Ransohoff soon after shooting started, leaving it to Jewison to finish. It's a resolutely commercial film, but McQueen is riveting to watch, and as he always maintained, he's better at reacting than acting; Robinson, McQueen's chief opponent, more than holds his own against McQueen in all their scenes together — which really are the bulk of the picture — and handles most of the dialogue. Despite a certain predictability — even with its supposed "twist" finish — the film is better than average mainstream entertainment, and one of the best poker films ever made.
You can view a clip from the film here, or by clicking on the image above.


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Saw the trailer ... looks very "promising" if I may use the word. Cheadle is a great actor btw, very underrated, loved him in "Traffic" also.Originally Posted by LouisvilleLipThis quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
I wonder how they will portray the Belgian UN troops, I think 10 or 11 were murdered in one ambush after which they decided to leave the country. For tBelgium, Rwanda is what probably Somalia is for the US and Srebrenica is for my country, a trauma. Still "minor" things compared to the whidescale slaughter that took place though.


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ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - A man and his dog are safe after his 34-foot sailboat ran aground in the St. Augustine inlet early Thursday morning.
Shortly after midnight, Barry Lee's boat ended up on the shore. He said bad weather was to blame.
"This morning the weather started getting bad and I was aiming for St. Augustine to try to duck out of it," Lee said. "It's supposed to get worse tomorrow, get a squall line and a cold front tomorrow or Friday, trying to duck in here to get out of the weather."
Lee said his motor didn't have enough power to turn him around.
"I couldn't turn the motor to get enough RPMs to spin it, just started bouncing off the bottom, waves one right after another, knocked me all the way into shore," Lee said.Boater Jim Wilson happened to be out waking his dog around midnight when the boat was coming in. He said Lee was relieved to have help waiting on him at the shore, but was reasonably distraught.
"It's frightful, terrifying," Wilson said. "And I could see it on him, on his face, just his demeanor, not to mention the weather -- it's cold."
Lee's dog Maggie jumped off the boat as soon as it hit shore. Lee said she is doing OK.
The boat remained on the shore Thursday morning. Lee said he'll try to get the boat back in the water at high tide about 4 p.m. Thursday.
Copyright 2013 by News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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After 16 major league seasons, Kevin Millwood has decided to call it a career.
"I'm just ready to retire," Millwood, 38, told The Shelby (N.C.) Star, his hometown newspaper.
The veteran righthander, who made 28 starts for the Seattle Mariners in 2012, ends his career with a record of 169-152, a 4.11 ERA and 2,083 strikeouts.
Millwood began his big league tenure with the Atlanta Braves in 1997. He pitched six years for the Braves, making nine postseason appearances over four seasons and being named to the 1999 NL All-Star team.
He later pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, Colorado Rockies and Mariners. He pitched a no-hitter with the Phillies in 2003 and led the AL in ERA in 2005 as a member of the Indians.
In 2012, he went 6-12 with a 4.25 ERA and 107 strikeouts for Seattle.
"I feel like I can still throw it well and going out on a high note is a big deal," Millwood said. "I just felt it was time to be closer to home and to be around the kids more often."
During his final season, Millwood helped make history. On June 8, he pitched six no-hit innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers before being removed with a groin injury. Five Seattle relievers combined to preserve the no-hitter over the final three innings.
"It was a cool experience," Millwood said. "But it was bittersweet to not be able to finish it out.
"I'd rather have gone on and lost it (the no-hitter) late in the game than not be able to complete it. But it was a special moment for my team, my teammates and me."


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Identigene STD Test Collection Kit Validation Study
Recruitment status was: Recruiting
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
The overall goal of the present study is to provide evidence of concordant test results using the Identigene STD Test Collection Kit for self-collection and transport of specimens to a qualified testing laboratory. It is expected that this method will aid in detection of CT and NG and that offering a method of self-collection of a male urine or female vaginal swab specimen will encourage testing for CT and NG and improve the overall detection of reporting of these STDs by allowing persons who suspect they have the infection to be tested in a discrete and confidential manner. The reporting of CT and NG are underestimated and many subjects will not visit a clinic or obtain treatment if gone undetected. Thus, allowing a self-collection kit that is more convenient may result in improved reporting, identification of CT and NG positive individuals, and subsequent treatment to help prevent the spread of these diseases.
The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that the Identigene STD Test Collection Kit and labeled instructions for use instructions provide test results that are concordant (at least 95% or better) with test results obtained using the Gen-Probe APTIMA Combo 2 specimen collection and transport methods performed under the supervision of a healthcare provider. The laboratory technology and test method used for the IDTG-100.
|Device: STD Diagnostic Kit (Identigene)
|Phase 3
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: Single (Investigator)
Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
|Official Title:
|Identigene STD Test Collection Kit Validation Study
- Effectiveness of the Identigene STD Test Collection Kit in comparison to the Gen-Probe Aptima Combo 2 Assay [ Time Frame: 1 day ]Demonstration of the effectiveness of the Identigene STD Test Collection Kit based on the percentage of concordant positive and negative results as compared to the Gen-Probe APTIMA Combo 2 assay conducted at an STD clinic.
- Evaluation of the Identigene STD Test Collection Kit instructions. [ Time Frame: 1 day ]To determine if the instructions of the Identigene STD Test Collection Kit are adequate for proper specimen self-collection and specimen submission to the laboratory for processing.
|Estimated Enrollment:
|Study Start Date:
|November 2011
|Estimated Study Completion Date:
|June 2014
|Estimated Primary Completion Date:
|June 2014 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
Experimental: Identigene STD Test Kit Arm
Single-Arm trial where the group will complete the Identigene STD Test Kit at home and these results will be compared with the results from testing in the clinic with the Gen-Probe APTIMA kit. The subject will only be informed of the results from the approved test (Gen-Probe APTIMA) that is done in the clinic.
Device: STD Diagnostic Kit (Identigene)
The Identigene STD Test Collection Kit is an at-home kit that allows individuals to utilize the Gen-Probe technology to test for CT and NG in privacy and in a more convenient manner. The primary technology is the approved Gen-Probe APTIMA Combo 2 assay, which is repackaged into the Identigene kit for use by consumers. As such, the laboratory technology and testing method is identical to that of the Gen-Probe APTIMA Combo 2 assay, which has been cleared for in vitro diagnostic use.
Other Name: Identigene STD Test Collection Kit
Detailed Description:
This is a multicenter study involving asymptomatic and symptomatic subjects who are at risk or suspect possible exposure to CT and/or NG. Approximately five (5) clinics will participate in the study. The clinics selected will be located in diverse geographical regions in order to represent populations with both high and low incidences of CT and NG and to represent different extremes in climate. The initial phase of the study enrolled approximately 500 qualifying subjects. An interim analysis was performed to determine whether changes in the study protocol were necessary. Changes to the protocol were identified and are incorporated in this amendment (amendment 4) of the study protocol. Specifically, males in the study will still collect urine specimens whereas women will now self-collect a vaginal swab specimen. Study subjects will only undergo one clinic visit rather than two as indicated in prior versions of the study protocol. The proposed study phases outlined in this amendment of the study protocol will include at least 200 qualifying subjects with intermittent suspension of the study to allow data analysis. The present study will continue until 200 CT positive test results (approximately 100 male and 100 female) are obtained. Of these 200 positive results, approximately 50% will be from symptomatic subjects and 50% from asymptomatic subjects. Since the positivity rate is presumably lower for asymptomatic subjects, the ration of symptomatic to asymptomatic subject enrollment for each study phase will be determined by the sponsor and will be made known in writing to each study site.
It is expected that approximately 3,000 subjects will be required to meet the overall study objectives. It is anticipated that the total number of subjects enrolled for testing throughout the study will yield approximately 30 positive NG samples (approximately 15 males and 15 females) with no requirement for a specific ratio of symptomatic to asymptomatic subjects. Subjects who are at high risk of exposure or suspect exposure to CT or NG, but are not currently being treated, will be recruited for enrollment.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|14 Years and older (Child, Adult, Senior)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Symptomatic females or males, age 14 or older, who present at a participating clinic with symptoms consistent with Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection, or
- Asymptomatic females or males, age 14 or older, who present at a participating clinic and who suspect that they have CT and/or NG, or are considered at high risk of exposure (e.g., sexual partner that tests positive for CT, or NG, multiple sexual partners, ect.),
- Individuals who are capable of understanding and agree to fulfill the requirements of the protocol.
- Individuals who have signed the IRB approved informed consent form.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Individuals with physical or mental inability that, in the opinion of the investigator can interfere with the subject's ability to follow the Identigene STD Test Collection Kit instructions,
- Individuals who are currently being treated for CT or NG or who are currently receiving antibiotics or have received antibiotics within the last 28 days, and
- Individuals who are suspected of being victims of sexual abuse or nonconsensual contact of a sexual nature within the previous 6 months or who are part of an ongoing sexual abuse legal case.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01471392
|Contact: Michael Smith
|United States, Maryland
|John Hopkins University
|Baltimore, Maryland, United States
|Contact: Charlotte Gaydos, MD 410-614-0932 firstname.lastname@example.com
|Contact: Patricia Buist 410-614-0932 firstname.lastname@example.com
|Principal Investigator: Charlotte Gaydos, MD
|Study Director:
|Mike Smith
|Lifetree Clinical Research
|Study Chair:
|Lars Mouritsen, PhD
Additional Information:
|Responsible Party:
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01471392 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|November 10, 2011
|Last Updated:
|May 31, 2013
Keywords provided by Identigene:
STD Test
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


text:
'"I think in the past, we've underestimated this team," defenceman Francis Bouillon said. "We've gone into Buffalo thinking this team isn't that good and they've surprised us. They have a lot of skilled players and guys from Quebec like Daniel Briere and (Jean-Pierre) Dumont. These guys know their family and friends are watching back home and they always get up for the Canadiens."'
You are here: Home / SabresBeat / Habs wary of wounded Sabres


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North Dakota's governor has bitten back at a Minnesota lawmaker who compared his state's Depression-era Capitol building to an insurance office, calling the critic ignorant of classic architecture.
The Capitol in Bismarck was built during the 1930s with a plain concrete and stone exterior, ostensibly to keep costs down. — washingtonpost.com
Let us know what you think in the comment section below. View full entry
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Match your new floor with this 36" Brazilian Cherry Stair Tread
Treads are to be installed on top of the step.
A birthday cake without frosting?
Available as long as supplies last!!
Order now through our web site, visit your local store, or Call 1-800-HARDWOOD
Reviewed by 4 customers
Best Uses
Comments about Prefinished 36" Brazilian Cherry Tread:
Had it professional installed, a great transformation from carpet. I still need to paint the risers white to finish the look.
Best Uses
Comments about Prefinished 36" Brazilian Cherry Tread:
Replaced old, badly worn carpeted stairs. The new treads are simply stunning!
Best Uses
Comments about Prefinished 36" Brazilian Cherry Tread:
I didnt use this product as designed. I am finishing a basement and needed something for the gap between the wall and window and the stair treads were just the right depth. they made the perfect window sill
Best Uses
Comments about Prefinished 36" Brazilian Cherry Tread:
Installed in my home. For the most part, the product is good. A few risers needed jointing, no way around that. The risers also had the least color and grain consistency, but for Brazilian Cherry, overall it was good.
The finish on the treads was inconistent in a few cases, but these are NOT slippery, even in socks. I'm concerned the all of the finishes are too soft, but only time will tell.
Wood plank flooring was not machined as good as BR-111 but better that Mohawk. This is still very frustrating when some boards are wider than others, causing gaps.
Be sure to price match with large home centers.
Do you have questions about this product?
AnswerBox - Get answers from Staff Experts and real customers by clicking "Ask a question" or click here to ask our Customer Service Team
Q:Hi. My stairs have a wide turn to the left, and that tread is much wider (deeper?) than standard tread. Can you recommend anything for that tread? I see you have a number for custom orders, would that work? Thanks.
1 answer
A:Please call our Sales Dept. @ (800) 476-0007 for pricing and availability for this special order product. Thank you for your inquiry.
Q:Do you have any professionals in my area that can/will and have experiience in installing these? Northern DElaware 19707
1 answer
A:Please click here for installation service information - www.lumberliquidators.com/ll/customer-care/ProInstall?WT.ad=GLOBAL_HEADER_Install
Q:A previous question asked if the pre-finished Brazilian cherry stair treads matched Bellawood pre=-finished Brazilian cherry floor, and the answer is that "it would". My follow-on question to that is how do you match it? Do I send you a sample of the floor or do you use a piece of Bellawood prefinished Brazilian Cherry flooring to match it to? I ask because I am ready to replace the carpet on my stairs with Brazilian Cherry treads and am in the process of figuring out who I am going to buy the treads from.
1 answer
A:Brazilian Cherry flooring and treads are the same species. Being a natural material there can be variations in exact color but this is also apparent throughout the flooring and is not considered a defect. When ordering be sure that treads are the Brazilian Cherry (Jatoba).
Q:How thick is the tread? Is it 1 inch or 3/4 inch like the prefinished matching floor planks?
1 answer
A:The dimensions of this tread are 1" x 11 1/2" x 36".
Q:What is the witdh of this tread? Does the color match prefinished Bellwood Brazilian Cherry wood (picture indicates it does not)?
1 answer
A:The dimensions of this tread are 1" x 11 1/2" x 36" - this would be finished to match the flooring
Q:What is the finish on brazilian cherry treads ?
1 answer
A:UV cured water-based urethane w/ Aluminum Oxide.
Q:I need 6 feet of Brazilian Cherry flat wood threshold and a clear sealer. Please advise where I may find that on your site or send link. Thank you.
1 answer
A:I am sorry but we do not carry any flat thresholds. Perhaps you can modify our 6.5 linear ft. each SKU: 10003263
Q:are these thread to be placed on top of existing steps?
1 answer
A:These treads are designed to replace existing stair treads but sometimes are installed over existing stairs.
Q:Is the price for 1 (one) tread or is the price for a box of how many treads?
1 answer
A:This is the unit price for one tread.


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Fez and Dahntay need to play with the second unit.
Ash from Army of Darkness: Good...Bad...I'm the guy with the gun.
I like the wait on the whistle as jameer falls down in slow motion
Hibbert needs to get into better position.
Bull**** call
Yeah, no kidding: Where's Jeff when you need him? Probably eating some nachos, the *******!
That was a foul.
You have to remember that although short on talent, the majority of this Magic team has been here and beyond before many times. They understand how to play with playoff energy for whole games. We don't.
Big Baby is doing bad things to Roy.
He's not really, except that when he gets hot he can give you more points. Leandro is far from the main issue on the second unit though.
"Freedom is nothing else but a chance to be better." - Albert Camus
"Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well." - Voltaire
"Everyone's values are defined by what they will tolerate when it is done to others." - William Greider
Magic gettng away with murder and they can't miss from 3
We have even less control of the Magic. Who needs Dwight?
Hibbert be strong with the basketball! I love how we are getting outrebounded by a team with Ryan Anderson and Big Baby.
Indiana making Big Baby look like Dwight 2.0 SMH
I Bleed Blue
Does anyone still think we can win this series?
Crowd booing the Pacers??? ouch..
"We've got to be very clear about this. We don't want our players hanging around with murderers," said Larry Bird, Pacers president.
I'm almost done with this...
Here's to home court advantage!
i hate playing this team so so much
guard the 3 point line
Lol Baby Davis "I want a call"
Honestly, no.... It might be in the heat of the moment, but the same exact thing is happening here and it'll just keep happening.


text:
P. O. Box 86, Julesburg, CO 80737
The Society meets on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at the Julesburg Public Library. Special programs are often held on Saturdays.
The Society will do research using available County resources. A fee schedule is available from the Society. (Note: The County offices do not do records searches, so if you cannot do the research yourself, the Society is an available alternative.)
A Special Thanks to Rootsweb
for Hosting this Site.
© Copyright 1999-2015. All Rights Reserved.
Copyright Fundamentals for Genealogy


text:
Top prospect Sanchez could make debut out of bullpen
TORONTO -- The Blue Jays could be priming top prospect Aaron Sanchez for a big league promotion after the right-hander was moved from the starting rotation to the bullpen at Triple-A Buffalo.
The move suggests Sanchez, the club's No. 1 ranked prospect by MLB.com, could be in line to help the Blue Jays' struggling relief corps in the second half.
"We put him in the 'pen for a reason," said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons. "We'll get him used to it a little bit and see where it goes. We're watching the number of innings he's got this year … he might be able to help us out of the 'pen."
Sanchez, who was promoted from Double-A New Hampshire in mid-June, is 0-3 in seven appearances (six starts) with a 4.32 ERA over 33 1/3 innings since joining Buffalo.
He's experienced some control problems, having issued 57 walks over 99 1/3 innings in 21 appearances between Double-A and Triple-A this season.
Gibbons said Sanchez could likely make an impact at the Major League level.
"Why not?" he said. "He's got everything he needs. More than most guys have. He's got the arm most guys don't have."
Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos said earlier this month that it was conceivable Sanchez could be called up to help the Blue Jays in either a starting or relief role.
Jamie Ross is an associate reporter for MLB.com. Chris Toman is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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April showers don't just bring May flowers. They also slow corn planting.
The USDA's Crop Progress report, released on Monday, showed that producers across many states are now making up for lost time. The report indicated that 2 percent of the nation's corn has been planted.
The difference between this year and last is staggering. By this time in 2012, 16 percent of the country's corn crop was already in the ground.
Some states are making more progress than others. Texas, who started planting weeks ago, is now at 56 percent complete. This is on-par with the state's five-year average and 2 percentage points above their 2012 pace. North Carolina (28 percent) and Tennessee (11 percent) also lead the nation's top corn-producing states in planting.
Nine states — Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin ― have yet to report any progress.
Though rain and snow may have slowed corn planting, the moisture is welcome, especially in the western Corn Belt. Reuters reports that between 2 and 6 inches of rain is needed in Kansas to bring soil moisture up to normal, while another 6 to 10 inches is needed in Nebraska. The wet weather pattern is expected to linger.


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De Aza excited to join O's, pennant race
BALTIMORE -- The beginning of Alejandro De Aza's tenure with the Orioles didn't go quite as planned. The outfielder missed his flight from Chicago to Baltimore on Sunday, which meant he wouldn't be able to start as expected. In fact, the O's didn't even plan on activating him until Monday after he missed the first flight.
But about half an hour before the Orioles began an eventual 12-8 win against the Twins, the O's changed their mind. De Aza was added to the active roster and he arrived at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in the fourth inning. Baltimore opted not to use him -- manager Buck Showalter didn't make any offensive substitutions during the game -- so his debut will have to wait one more day.
"It's exciting," De Aza said. "And I'm glad to be here and I'm glad to be part of this team."
To make room for De Aza, the O's optioned relief pitcher T.J. McFarland to Class A Short-Season Aberdeen. McFarland can return on Tuesday once Aberdeen's season is complete and rosters have expanded to allow 40 players.
De Aza, who was acquired in a trade with the White Sox on Saturday, has a .276/.343/.404 line against right-handed pitchers this season, and the lefty has particularly good numbers against Minnesota, batting .340/.364/.528 in 14 games. He didn't have a chance to speak to Showalter during the game to get any more specific insight on his role in Baltimore.
"I'm just here to help the team win," De Aza said. "I can't describe what can I do. What I'm saying is I'm here to win."
De Aza's excited to join a first-place club and become teammates with a handful of players he knows, including Jonathan Schoop, Nelson Cruz and Ubaldo Jimenez.
He knows it's an honor that a team with World Series aspirations finds him useful, but it's bittersweet to leave Chicago, where he played for more than four seasons.
"It's great," De Aza said. "At the same time, I got to know a lot of people there, but this is the game. This is part of the business. One day you're here, another day you can be somewhere else."
Brittany Ghiroli is a reporter for MLB.com. Read her blog, Britt's Bird Watch, and follow her on Facebook and Twitter @britt_ghiroli. David Wilson is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Suns Trade: Steve Nash (S&T), something like $20m for 2 years
Receive: Darren Collison, Tyler Hansbrough, Pacers lotto protected future 1st
Grizzlies Trade: Mike Conley
Receive: Steve Nash
Pacers Trade: Darren Collison, Tyler Hansbrough, Lotto protected future 1st
Receive: Mike Conley
Why for:
Suns : If they can't add pieces around Nash, the best thing they could do is get value for him.
Grizzlies : With their cap situation there are no other ways of really upgrading their talent. Adding Nash next to Gay/Randolph/Gasol could turn them into true contenders.
Pacers : Get a defensive minded point guard who is still young and fits their young core of players.
Our new rotation:
George/Hill (or FA)
Why is Conley at least as good as an option as Nash?
Because Nash is 38 and would have a 2 year contract. This team+Nash would be huge, but would it really be good enough to beat the Heat and the Bulls? I don't know. What I do know is that after these 2 years we'd have nothing as Nash will retire.
With Conley, we get a good point guard who knows how to play defense, has shown he can be a starting point guard for a playoffs team, is young (will be 25 next season), and has a looong contract.


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Burton Beanie Pillow Cover
No longer available
- Overview
Rest up after a day of shredding pow with our cushy pillow cover. Taking its inspiration from a beanie, it displays the traditional Burton logo.
- 18" square
- Made of 100% acrylic.
- Yarn dyed for vibrant, lasting color.
- Reverses to a navy, blue and white stripe design.
- Zipper closure.
- Insert sold separately.
- Machine wash.
- Imported.
- Dimensions + Care
- Yarn-dyed fiber has incredibly rich color that holds its vibrancy over time.
- Machine wash in cold water; gentle cycle.
- Use only nonchlorine bleach, if needed.
- Tumble dry on low heat; remove promptly.
- Warm iron as needed.
- Shipping Info
This item will arrive in 3-5 business days. Please proceed to the Payment & Review page of Checkout for a precise delivery estimate.


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AT&T Saves $151 Million Through Cutting-Edge Energy Efficiency Efforts Over Three Years
2012 Sustainability Report highlights the collaborative efforts and diverse impact of sustainability initiatives across the company and in communities
Dallas, Texas, June 18, 2013
How much money can more than 14,300 energy-reducing projects save a company? In its 2012 Sustainability Report, AT&T reports those projects saved the company more than $151 million in annualized energy savings since 2010 and nearly 1.3 billion kilowatt hours (kWh), equivalent to the electricity use of 136,340 homes in one year. (TWEET THIS). In the report, AT&T reveals that it has also rolled out its energy score card program to 1,000 retail stores, achieved 11 megawatts of capacity of alternative energy and joined Rocky Mountain Institute's Portfolio Energy RetroFit Challenge – aimed at scaling energy efficiency.
These are a few of the milestones from one topic covered in the 2012 report, which highlights the diverse impact of AT&T's sustainability work across the company and in communities. For the first time, the report is shaped by compelling personal narratives from employees, and video testimonials from organizations that share AT&T's passion to improve communities. Their voices tell the stories of changes catalyzed by AT&T's investment in education, commitment to conserving our water supply and developing technology enabling more efficient transportation systems, as just a few examples.
Cheryl Henderson is an AT&T employee and an Army veteran who in this video talks about how she juggled work as a manager in AT&T services while serving our nation during the Hurricane Katrina aftermath. Namrita Kapur, with the Environmental Defense Fund talks about an approaching water crisis and how critical it is for companies, such as AT&T, to more efficiently manage water usage. Brent Wilkes with the League of United American Citizens (LULAC) discusses the importance of a diverse workforce in a company's future success. View nine additional videos that speak to the impact of AT&T's sustainability efforts HERE.
"With the help of our employees and organizations that share our vision, AT&T's sustainability commitment is growing in ways imagined and unimagined," said Charlene Lake, Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President, Public Affairs. "This year's report tells our sustainability story through the voices of people who work hard to address critical issues such as Texting While Driving, the high school dropout crisis, resource strain related to energy and water use, and diversity and inclusion. We are encouraged by our progress in 2012, and will continue our commitment to improving our world and empowering our customers to do the same."
Other highlights from this year's report include:
- Invested more than $43.6 million toward the planned $250 million commitment over five years to AT&T Aspire.
- Continued commitment to the 100,000 Jobs Mission, hiring nearly 1,000 veterans.
- Reached more than 1.3 million pledges through the "It Can Wait" no texting while driving campaign.
- Introduced Aspire Mentoring Academy, with the goal of providing 1 million hours of mentoring by our employees through the end of 2016.
- Deployed our 7,000th alternative fuel vehicle and announced that 10 percent of our corporate fleet of more than 71,000 vehicles is now comprised of alternative fuel models.
- Began collaboration with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) to determine best practices on reducing water use in facility cooling processes.
AT&T is committed to integrating sustainable business practices across its business and was recently ranked #1 on Corporate Responsibility Magazine's 13th Annual 100 Best Corporate Citizens List. AT&T was also included in the 2012 Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index. Visit www.att.com/csr to learn more about sustainability at AT&T.


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White Sox offense blossoms late to rally past Astros
Viciedo homers, Flowers drives in winner; Quintana fans eight over five
CHICAGO -- The final 66 games of the White Sox 2014 season probably aren't about playoff contention.
Not at 9 1/2 games out of the American League Central lead and chasing down five teams for the second AL Wild Card slot even after Friday's 3-2 victory over the Astros before 28,777 on Rat Pack Night at U.S. Cellular Field. The theme for this post All-Star Game competition centers on good things happening and moving into the 2015 phase of their ongoing reshaping.
And Friday's contest had plenty of those positives.
With the game tied at 2 in the seventh and Alejandro De Aza on second after a single and stolen base, Flowers stepped to the plate mired in an exhausting 12-for-117 slump. He had felt good over the last 10 games, although the results weren't there, and had coaxed an inning-extending walk in the fifth off of Houston starter Scott Feldman (4-7).
Flowers worked the count to 3-1 before ripping a sinker into left-center to score the game-winning run. As media gathered around his locker after the White Sox (46-51) improved to 10-7 in their last 17 games, a smiling Flowers produced, "It's nice to see you all back," as his opening line.
"It was good timing," Flowers said. "It was nice to kind of see a lot of work we've been doing pay dividends, especially in a situation like that."
"That's a big one to get it started," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura of Flowers' hit.
Houston (40-57) scored its two runs in the second inning off of Jose Quintana by virtue of singles from Matt Dominguez and Jon Singleton and Robbie Grossman's ground out. Sandwiched in between was an error by right fielder Dayan Viciedo on Singleton's line drive that allowed Dominguez to score and allowed Singleton to go to third.
Viciedo got those runs back in the sixth. With two outs and Jose Abreu on first, just three batters after Feldman took an Alexei Ramirez line drive off of his back side that turned into an out, Viciedo clubbed the first pitch for home run No. 12.
"You start seeing at-bats in the middle and later in the game that guys are grinding through it," Ventura said. "You are able to fight back and get those runs."
Through two innings, Quintana had thrown 55 pitches.
Ventura and Flowers credited the Astros for a good offensive approach, with Ventura adding that it seemed as if 50 of Quintana's pitches were fouled off. But Quintana stuck around through five innings and 106 pitches, striking out eight and fighting through his Major League-high 35th no-decision since 2012.
Quintana fought his delivery during his first start since July 10, but fought enough to give the White Sox a chance. The southpaw has allowed five earned runs over his last 27 2/3 innings.
"His pitches were good location, good spin, good movement," said Houston second baseman Jose Altuve of Quintana. "That was the key for him today. He's got really good stuff. Quintana threw a really, really good game; amazing."
During that second inning, the Astros put four men on base via three hits and one walk. They had one other baserunner over the other eight innings combined. Quintana, Daniel Webb (5-2), Ronald Belisario and Zach Putnam (second save) combined to strike out 14 and set down the final 22 in order.
Those 12 straight retired from a bullpen with a 5.87 ERA over the last six games stood as the most important development of all from Friday night.
"When you start getting pitching like that, you have a chance to win a lot of games," Ventura said.
Putnam believes the All-Star break came at a perfect time for the bullpen.
"Yeah, everybody was just dragging," Putnam said. "Some guys had physical stuff going on, other guys just kind of mental tiredness. The four days couldn't come at a better time. Everybody kind of got recharged and hit the ground running."
One game does not close to a run make. But it was a positive start for the White Sox in a second half that they hope is full of these uplifting developments.
"Get the second half here [off] on the right foot and get it going," Putnam said. "It was a good way to get back in the second half for sure and get some momentum going forward."
"Players feel refreshed and energized," Ventura said. "You are looking for good things to happen."
Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Merk's Works, and follow him on Twitter @scottmerkin. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Completely makeover a lackluster guitar with a gleaming glitter finish. Don't be intimidated to dismantle the pieces of a beater guitar and customize your instrument with a coat of paint. Add vivid, colorful shine with a gorgeous spray paint from Krylon called Glitter Blast. It is fully saturated sparkle. The paint dries into a pure glitter coating within 20 minutes. I've shared my instructions for a fool-proof finish on Make: Projects.
The wiring inside an electric guitar is fairly straightforward, but if you are nervous about taking the electronics apart, snap a photo with your cell phone to help you remember how to put all the components and pick-ups back together.
In an afternoon crafting you can bring a garage sale instrument from obscurity to the spotlight.
See the complete instructions (and find a printer friendly PDF) at Make: Projects. For more spray paint ideas, visit Projectsinacan.com.
How-To: Paint a Glitter Guitar


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Heifer's Peru Adventure
18 Nov 2012 at 14:42
Flor Isabel Calderon Sanchez spins yarn on a village lane in Marayhuaca.
With Kamryn
Press | FAQ | Terms of Agreement | Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2011 Flatter World Inc.
FLAT STANLEY® is a trademark of the Trust u/w/o Richard C. Brown f/b/o Duncan Brown. Used with permission. All rights reserved


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Infor Global Solutions
Job Posting
Infor is the world's third largest business software company. We develop and acquire proven software products that have rich, built-in functionality. Then we make them better. We invest resources into product innovation and enhancement. Our goal: To provide the best possible software experience and a lower total cost of ownership for our customers.
POSITION: Consulting Operations Business Analyst
Location: TBD
Travel: Infrequent
Posting Date: September 2012
This Business Analyst position reports to a Global Consulting Operations team whose charter is to formulate, implement and drive operational efficiency and excellence via policy/process documentation and system maintenance/enhancements. To contribute to this charter, the Business Analyst will be responsible for the design, development and deployment of business policy, process and system requirements spanning the entire lifecycle of a Consulting contract. This position involves close interaction with other organizations such as Local Consulting Operations and Project Management, Finance, Legal, AIT, etc. to drive all efforts to closure.
The Business Analyst is expected to gain a deep, hands-on understanding of the Operational functions and systems supported by the Global Consulting Operations team, and drive necessary solutions. Job duties are varied and complex, utilizing independent judgment and the ability to identify and recommend solutions. Attention to detail is critical. Ability to collect, organize, and mange tasks collaboratively is also critical. As a result, strong follow-through and relationship management skills strongly desired. Strong written and verbal communication skills are also required.
· Actively identify issues/gaps with current documentation and work with regional teams to determine global solutions.
· Develop and document new policies, processes and system requirements as mandated by Executive Management.
· Work with the Reporting & Control team to apply documented expectations/controls to business reporting to enforce monitoring and compliance of set guidelines.
· Manage change management activities when implementing new policies, processes and system changes.
· Become subject matter expert (SME) for systems used.
· Deliver training as needed for newly deployed policy/process/system requirements.
· Lead and/or participate in global projects, such as data migrations for Mergers and Acquisitions, User Acceptance Testing, system maintenance, etc.
· Bachelor's Degree in a business or technical discipline.
Required Skills:
· 3 or more years of demonstrated experience as a Business Analyst in Operations; preferably consulting for a business software company.
· Experience developing and documenting policies and procedures.
· Experience implementing/testing/supporting/training on systems, ideally SalesForce.com or Clarity.
· Excellent communication skills â€" one-to-one and one-to-many (e.g. training delivery).
· Excellent interpersonal skills in a multicultural environment essential.
· Ability to work autonomously but also be a team player and support team members.
· Ability to work to very tight project deadlines.
· Ability to communicate effectively in writing, verbally and as a presenter.
· Creative approach to problem solving and issue resolution.
· Self-motivated and self-managed with a high degree of analytical ability.
· Dedicated and hard-working.
|multiple, multiple
United States
|Web Site:
|641 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10011
United States
Support Infor Global Solutions, Inc. with Social Media services


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WASHINGTON -- Secretary of State John Kerry presented the Award for Corporate Excellence to the head of Plantronics on Wednesday, commending the Santa Cruz headset maker's corporate citizenship abroad.
Plantronics received the award for its environmental stewardship, innovative corporate culture and company achievements in Mexico where it employs about 2,200 people in a new state-of-the-art manufacturing and product development facility known as Plamex.
"The premium that Plantronics places on environmental stewardship alone probably would be enough to earn them the award of the ACE," said Kerry in presenting the award. Kerry noted the facility has the largest rooftop solar power generator in Latin America.
"But, it's what they do with their employees that really sets them apart," Kerry said. "Plantronics does not just value their associates, it invests in them in every way -- in their health, in their success and in their happiness."
In presenting the award, Kerry cited the company's unusually comprehensive employee initiatives that include preventative health care campaigns and services, subsidized vocational training, career development and traditional educational pathways and housing assistance.
The company "even helps its staff get married," Kerry said, noting Plantronics tradition of helping workers navigate a costly bureaucracy around getting married. Plantronics provides wedding invitations, photos and a group ceremony.
"Folks, that's a full service company," Kerry said. "If that isn't going above and beyond, I don't know. It's really no wonder the company's been named Best Place To Work in Mexico three years in a row."
Plantronics has a 42-year history making headset equipment in Tijuana, and in the last 15 years has earned a string of international and national accolades lauding Plamex.
"There are many remarkable things about Plantronics," Kannappan said. "But, it's really our people and our culture that set us apart."
Rep. Sam Farr, who attended the ceremony, said Plantronics has promoted the best of American business ideals around the world.
"This Central Coast business has shown that taking care of your employees and your community are the first steps in building a world-class company," Farr said in an email to the Sentinel.
Before the ceremony, Rosa Ruvalcaba who began with Plamex 18 years ago as a service center manager and was promoted to vice president of manufacturing about 18 months ago, said Plamex often receives corporate visitors, such as Toyota, Microsoft, Mattel and Panasonic, who want to see practices firsthand.
"The people are our jewel," Ruvalcaba said. "We allow creativity. Not a lot of companies allow people to share thoughts and ideas and implement new ideas. It's very different from other companies in Mexico.
The ACE honorees were selected this year from 43 nominations submitted by U.S. ambassadors. Plantronics was recognized in the new mid-size category. El Cajon-based Taylor Guitars was named in the small business category for its environmentally and socially responsible harvesting of rare ebony in Cameroon and Kentucky-based Fruit of the Loom won in the large company category for forging of a groundbreaking collective bargaining agreement with workers.
The state department has presented the award to two to three companies annually since 1999. It emphasizes "the important role U.S. businesses can play abroad to advance ethical practices and democratic values and to recognize exemplary conduct in their overseas operations."
Follow Sentinel correspondent Jennifer Pittman at Twitter.com/jenniferpittman


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Research Report: Harnessing the Power of Newer Media Platforms for More Effective Marketing, Third Edition Survey Results
November 7, 2011
This Research Report includes findings from an ANA survey which focuses on the use of newer media platforms such as search, social networks, podcasts, blogging, and more. Insights include marketers' usage of new media, spending, measurement/ROI, resource allocation, and integration with other elements of the communications mix.
Restricted Content
Access to this content item is restricted to:
- ANA Corporate Marketer Members
Please login below or create an account.
You may already be a member. Find out if your company is already an ANA member.


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Liam Hensworth, director Francis Lawrence, and Jennifer Lawrence on the set of Catching Fire (2013).
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, the second installment in the Hunger Games trilogy, opens this coming November, and for once, I am more interested in the sequel than in the original. The reason: Donald Sutherland is more front and center, and he was the best thing about the first film; as you will see in the trailer, he's joined by the always excellent Philip Seymour Hoffman, and the effortless manner in which these two superb actors play off each other is a delight to behold. Jennifer Lawrence is back, and just on the evidence presented here, seems much more assured in her role as Katniss Everdeen; Stanley Tucci and Woody Harrelson also return, so the cast is exceptionally strong. But the real difference here is that Francis Lawrence, an expert action director with a real edge of brutality in his visuals, is at the helm, and I think that the results will be much more interesting than the rather bland and uninvolving original, indifferently directed by Gary Ross. In any event, here's the first trailer; judge for yourself.
Click here, or on the image above, to see the first trailer for the film.


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Tampa, Fla. -- Applied Data Corporation (ADC), a provider of fresh item management (FIM), recipe management and scales management software to the grocery retail and food service industries, announces that Publix Super Markets, a 1,068 store chain headquartered in Lakeland, Fla., has selected InterScale, ADC's Scales Management Software system, for data transmission to and from the barcode labeling scales in their stores.
InterScale communicates with over fifty different types of barcode labeling scales, printers and kiosks, from a variety of manufacturers.
InterScale is a toolset within ADC's InterStore FIM software suite and works with the NutriGen Recipe Manager and the P-Cubed In-Store Food Production Manager to provide grocers with an integrated software solution to help increase efficiencies in their fresh departments.


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If new regulations on organ-sharing in Tennessee take effect in 2013, the Methodist Transplant Institute will be required to align with the Mid-South Transplant Foundation (MSTF), one of two Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) in Tennessee. Transplant centers in middle and east Tennessee will be aligned with the other OPO, Tennessee Donor Services (TDS). This will result in a significant decrease in organs available to Mid-South transplant patients. Here's why.
Donor Service Areas
Here's the breakdown of where organs recovered in Tennessee in 2011 came from.
260 - The number of transplants performed by the Methodist Transplant Institute
62 - The number of donors with organs recovered by the Mid-South Transplant Foundation (red shaded area)
220 - The number of donors with organs recovered by Tennessee Donor Services (blue shaded area)
MSTF's service area is simply too small to serve all the patients in our community who need transplants. This is why Methodist is advocating for MSTF to merge with TDS, creating a single OPO for the state of Tennessee. This would not be an unusual situation: in fact, it would just be catching up to the rest of the country. There are only 58 OPOs in the United States, which means that most states share organs using a single OPO.
The Mid-South Transplant Foundation is the fifth-smallest OPO in the country by volume. The Methodist Transplant Institute currently has the fourth-largest liver transplant program in the country. The scope of the Methodist program simply cannot be sustained if our access to organs is so drastically reduced.
Favor the Waiver
The Mid-South Transplant Foundation has expressed unwillingness to merge with Tennessee Donor Services, even though TDS is open to a merger. While we at Methodist believe that a merger is the best solution for patients throughout the state, our only other option is to align directly with TDS. This would retain access to about 75% of the organs currently being distributed in Tennessee, rather than restricting access to only 25% if we aligned with MSTF.
The Methodist Transplant Institute has applied for a waiver with the Centers for Medicare/Medicaid Services asking to align with TDS. Public support plays a huge role in whether that waiver application will be granted, so we need your help! Make your comment online before June 25.
Want to learn more? Visit www.methodisthealth.org/favorthewaiver to see facts vs. fiction, find sample letters of support, and learn more about why these changes are taking place.


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Solano benefits from Lucas' bad break
TAMPA, Fla. -- Some 24 hours earlier, Donovan Solano had been mired in disappointment, worrying about where he and his wife were going to live in New Orleans and how he was going to get his car there.
Friday night, with a newfound smile on his face, Solano was starting at shortstop for the Marlins against the Yankees.
"I was disappointed, I can't describe it," admitted Solano, who was cut by the Marlins and optioned to Triple-A New Orleans on Thursday morning then quickly recalled hours later after Ed Lucas, who had beaten Solano out for the utility infielder's job, was hit by a pitch Thursday afternoon and suffered a fracture to the back of his left hand.
"That was a crazy day for me," Solano said.
"Everybody feels bad for Ed," he continued. "Nobody wants a bad situation for a teammate."
Solano -- who was the Marlins' regular second baseman for most of last season, starting 92 games -- was hitting .313 with a .742 on-base plus slugging percentage this spring, heading into Friday night's game against the Yankees.
"I had a great spring -- that's why I felt so bad in the morning," Solano said. "I played my best baseball this spring. I didn't expect that [the demotion].
"When they called and told me, 'Come back,' I was excited. Everybody wants to be on the Opening Day team."
"He [Solano] can do a lot of things, too," said manager Mike Redmond, who had chosen Lucas over Solano because of his versatility. "Fortunately we have another player we can bring up to fill that gap.
"It's crazy, sometimes, how baseball works."
Jim Hawkins is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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|285 Summer Street
4th Floor
Boston, MA 02210
United States
|Full Time
|Engineering / Product Dev / Science
|APM Full Stack
|Full Stack Python Software Engineer SQL coding
|Web Site:
|285 Summer Street
4th Floor
Boston, MA 02210
United States
|AppNeta is revolutionizing IT Performance Management with the first cloud-delivered service for integrated, end-to-end visibility across networks and applications. AppNeta delivers an industry-first SaaS portfolio of End User Experience Monitoring services with broad, cross Application Performance visibility and unprecedented Network Performance Insight. AppNeta arms network and application engineers with the end-to-end visibility needed to know how users experience applications across the network. Try the AppNeta solutions today for free at www.appneta.com. Delivered from the cloud for extraordinary ease and affordability, AppNeta solutions assure the fastest time to resolution in the industry and superior end-user experience monitoring. Providing thousands of customers worldwide with unmatched performance management services, AppNeta helps you ensure exceptional end-user experience and the successful delivery of your business-critical applications.
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Yet the question remains. Where will the California High-Speed Rail Authority find the newly-budgeted $68.4 billion when it has only $9 billion in state bond funds and $3 billion in federal grants committed at this time? Does it make sense to move forward with less than 20 percent of the total needed to complete a high-speed rail system that right now opinion polls say would not win approval if placed on the ballot again.
Under new management led by Dan Richard, Gov. Jerry Brown's hand-picked board chair, the authority on April 2 laid out a business plan to support its new strategy of building the system through a "blended" design on the Peninsula, with high-speed trains sharing the two Caltrain tracks. The plan calls for early investment in the northern and southern portions and rather than building a "train to nowhere" in the Central Valley, a 300-mile segment would run from Merced through Bakersfield and Palmdale and on to the Fernando Valley. At a Fresno news conference, Mr. Richard said work could begin next year on the Valley stretch, although the state Legislature would have to approve issuing the bonds.
For Peninsula train-riders, the most significant news was the authority's earlier announcement that it would kick in about half of the $1.5 billion cost of electrifying Caltrain, funding that seemed unobtainable for the financially struggling San Francisco to San Jose and Gilroy commuter service. The offer was quickly accepted by the Bay Area's Metropolitan Transportation Commission and won support from Assembly members Jerry Hill and Rich Gordon. And it would be surprising if state Sen. Joe Simitian, who along with Mr. Gordon and Rep. Anna Eshoo was an early advocate of the "blended" two-track approach on the Peninsula, does not support the Caltrain upgrades.
However, the catch for any legislator who wants to support the segments in his or her district is that a vote based on the rail authority's support for Caltrain and L.A.'s Metrolink is virtually a vote to approve and fund the entire project, which could wind up putting the state even more deeply in debt. And at this point, no additional funding has been identified in the business plan.
As we have often said in this space, the high-speed rail project is a tantalizing bauble that could be a crown jewel for California. But the rail authority simply has not demonstrated where the funding will come from to build it and whether there will be enough riders to break even. Several studies have found major flaws in the estimated number of passengers projected to ride the trains.
The new business plan says, "Benefits will be delivered faster through the adoption of the blended approach and through investment in the bookends. Across the state, transportation systems will be improved and jobs will be created through the implementation of these improvements."
Richard calls the upgrades to existing rail services like Caltrain and those in Southern California "near term benefits" and that the authority will be building "a portion of the system that we will ultimately be using."
Few would argue that point, but regardless of the partial benefits promised, even at $68.4 billion this is a huge project with less than 15 percent of its needed funding. Legislators must not forget that point when they decide in the next few months whether to support the sale of the first round of bonds for the high-speed rail project.


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i've watched a bunch of episodes of raines on NBC.com
i think its an interesting concept. when i first heard the idea of the show i thought it was going to be a supernatural medium meets CSI meets joan of arcadia type thing. instead its just psychological (for those who haven't seen...the dead people he sees are just in his head and can't provide information he doesn't know). i forgot how much i liked jeff goldblum but i hope someone kills dov davidoff off quickly because there is no need for him written as he is. ultimately i enjoy the show, its not fantastic but it works and i hope NBC picks it up


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Chapstick Moisturizer Reviews
Absolutely Works!When I was in first grade, my lips were very chapped after a harsh winter. My parents bought me Chapstick. I recall sitting with my grandmother. There was such comfort in the feel that I just rubbed it over and over my lips until I had used half of the tube! I love the fact that it has SPF protection. Yes, it is waxy, but when you apply it you know it will remain. It simply works. It works ...read moreso well that it has become synonymous with lip balm--many of the women on this site refer to a balm as a "chapstick." That makes me smile. — 4 years, 4 months agoGigiSD | 1102 reviews
I LOVE this product.I have the vanilla-mint smelling one (I didn't know the Moisturizer came in different varieties), and absolutely love it. The smell is perfect and the texture is way better than the regular waxy ChapStick. Moisturizes well, good value, good length of wear. A fantastic product! — 8 years, 7 months agoLipglossandSpandex | 521 reviews
no!i dont like this product. its too thick and i have to reapply too often! and it cakes! — 6 years, 10 months agokenya | 504 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 0 of 1 people said helpful
Classicyou can't go wrong with this classic. It is waxier than some other balms, but does a nice job of hydrating the lips. — 5 years, 7 months agoTheLacqueredLady | 751 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 1 of 2 people said helpful
Cake Batter without the Calories!I picked up a Chapstick the other day when I saw that it came in Cake Batter! What?? That is just waaaay too good to pass up! I have tried the Original, Cherry, Peppermint and Spearmint. It's strange; even though they all are different flavors, they all almost taste the same; there is that "signature" Chapstick taste and feel. I like Chapstick; it has been around forever and is the "'ol reliable" ...read morebut there are so many other options out there nowadays, that it isn't my favorite. But it is always fun to just spend a $1 on a fun flavor that you may want to try; I just personally don't find it all that moisturizing or long lasting and it's a bit waxier than other options. Don't get me wrong, I still like it and it is fun to experiment, but there are some other that really "take the cake!" :) — 3 years agopixie_dust | 492 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 0 of 0 people said helpful
Pretty bad, actually.I recently moved into an area that is dryer than the place I used to live. Needless to say my lips are suffering. it doesn't help that it's winter. My lips are super dry, and many times, bloody (I know, gross). So I've tried all kinds of stuff to put on my lips. i bought Chapstick because everyone seems to like it and it was highly recommended. Not me. I did not have a good experience with it. No...read moret only it made my lips even drier, but it made them crack even more. I would apply, they would get dry and start peeling, and then I would have to reapply at least every hour. Do not really like it and i will not use again. — 4 years, 6 months agoyestfl | 239 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 0 of 2 people said helpful
GreatWonderful product. It helps moisturize my lips and keeps them soft. I love using this in the winter. — 6 years, 9 months agohleeee | 210 reviews
Soft LipsThis is a great chapstick product because it soothes your lips and takes away the dry feeling. This is great for refreshing your lips and making them feel moisturized all over. My lips felt softer and it lasts a long time throughout the day. — 7 years, 8 months agoStef42678 | 500 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 1 of 2 people said helpful
Love this stuffI love it so much, that I am wearing it at this moment. This is a great lip moisturizer, smells like vanilla, has SPF, and its affordable. I keep these everywhere! — 8 years, 5 months agodarkangel81 | 302 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 2 of 2 people said helpful
Review subjectBest of this brand! It's nice and moisturizing just like it says. If you keep it clean, the product will not cake. It's not too waxy either. — 6 years, 3 months agoeatinglipstick | 145 reviews
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My Reasons for Reporting This


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Maybe I Shoulda Been a Glib Macro Guy
One thing is for certain, if you asked the hedge funds what is the one reason why this market goes higher, they are going to say "the Fed."
And therein lies the real problem of this market. You either hate the Fed and think its bond-buying program is illegitimate and you are therefore betting against stocks all the time. Or you fear that the data will one day be so good that the Fed will stop its program....597 more words left in this article. To read them, just click below and try Real Money FREE for 14 days.
There's no substitute for a trading floor to get great ideas, so Jim Cramer created a better one at Real Money and blogs there exclusively. We then added legendary hedge fund manager, Doug Kass, with his exclusive Daily Diary and best investing ideas. Staffed with more than 4 dozen investing pros, money managers, journalists and analysts, Real Money Pro gives you a flood of opinions, analysis and actionable trading advice found nowhere else, and allows you to interact directly with each expert.
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Pet of the Week: "Boots"
November 20, 2012
Boots is thankful for life and for her good attitude in spite of being a specially abled dog. Probably from birth Boots learned that three good legs are good enough. Dare she hope that this Thanksgiving she might add a new home to her grateful list? Come see Boots at El Dorado County Animal Services, 530-573-7925. For spay-neuter assistance and other support, call the Lake Tahoe Humane Society and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at 530-542-2857.


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No Hidden Fees - No Credit Card Surcharges - Low Shipping Rates
Images shown may not be an exact representation of the actual product.You may contact us if you have questions about the exact specifications of this item.
The Colt M4 .22 looks and feels like an actual M4, creating one of the most exciting .22 caliber firearms available. Engineered from the ground up as a dedicated .22 rimfire, this AR style Colt features a 16.2-inch barrel, collapsible stock, flat-top receiver with detachable carry handle, CAR handguards, flash hider, A2 pistol grip, and 30-round magazine.
A tactical .22 rifle like this Colt is ideal for new shooters who are learning handling and operation. A gun like this Colt .22 M4 can have many uses-plinking, target practice and small-game hunting where allowed....all of which offer an economical shooting option.
Once we have a copy of their license, we can ship the gun to your local dealer, you then drop by their place, fill out the required paperwork/background check, and take the gun home. We can walk you thru the procedure and help you locate a qualified dealer- just call or email for more information.
Our customers generally find this process quite easy and we will help thru each step.
Express orders for items available to ship the same business day must be placed by 1 PM MST. Express orders received
after 1PM ready for immediate shipment will not be shipped until the following business day.
Note: Delivery times are approximate and although generally accurate are not guaranteed. FFL transfer issues may affect
delivery times.
Express shipping is only available in the continental US to non-PO Box addresses. AP/FPO addresses may add to the
delivery time.
Impact Guns is the gun shop for all your shooting needs. We offer a wide selection of firearms, including: handguns, shotguns, rifles, ammunition, rifle scopes and optics, as well as collectible machine guns and other NFA/Class 3 guns. Impact also services the needs of law enforcement and military with our wide variety of tactical weapons and accessories. Shop online through our 256-bit Secure Sockets Layer encrypted online gun store 24 hours a day!


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Women's Dresses are an important fashion-forward and stylish necessity for any girls' wardrobe and look great year round - especially for making a Back To School impression! Find the hottest brands and styles from Billabong, Roxy, Kirra, O'Neill and many great styles like maxi dresses, mini dresses, strapless, rompers, party dresses, day dresses and more that match your personality.
For cute summer dresses, the print says it all! Choose colorful tribal or floral designs, graphic styles inspired by the hottest designers, and of course stripes, which are always in vogue for any occasion. PacSun summer dresses can be found in many blends and materials featuring flattering cuts and details that will accentuate your figure and let you turn heads every day, every place you go.
From school to parties and clubs, and to the beach, summer dresses are versatile with unlimited options! PacSun offers dresses that are right for any occasion, and our prices can't be beat. Check out exclusives like our Kendall & Kylie collection, and dress it up or dress it down to make your own personal statement. The best selection of latest styles in womens dresses, maxi and midi dresses and cut-outs from Billabong, Kendall & Kylie, Kirra, O'Neill, Roxy and many more are at PacSun now at great prices!
Check your inbox for a welcome email from us.
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Don't miss out on a lower price on this hotel
Get an overview of this hotelUpscale resort on the beach, with 2 outdoor swimming pools
Popular property highlights
Nestled on the beach, this Wichit resort is 1.4 mi (2.3 km) from Khao Khad Views Tower and 2.3 mi (3.7 km) from Phuket Aquarium. Suan Luang Park and Khao Rang Hill View Point are also within 6 mi (10 km).
Resort Features
Catch some rays at the beach or spend the day relaxing at Crowne Plaza Phuket Panwa Beach's full-service spa. Then enjoy a meal at one of the resort's 2 restaurants.
Room Amenities
All 224 soundproofed rooms provide free WiFi, free wired Internet, and pillowtop beds. Comforts include Egyptian cotton sheets and pillow menus, and guests will also appreciate thoughtful touches like bathrobes and slippers.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!Opens in a new window
Crowne Plaza Phuket Panwa Beach
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
Spend the day at the beach and work on your tan with sun loungers (chaise longues) or relax in the shade with umbrellas. At Crowne Plaza Phuket Panwa Beach you can cool off in one of the 2 outdoor swimming pools and indulge in a pampering afternoon at the full-service spa.
Dining is available at one of the resort's 2 restaurants and guests can grab coffee at the coffee shop/café. The property also has a snack bar/deli. Guests can unwind with a drink at one of the resort's bars, which include a poolside bar and a bar/lounge. Wireless Internet access is complimentary. This Art Deco resort also offers a complimentary children's club, a children's pool, and a 24-hour fitness center. Onsite self parking is complimentary.
Crowne Plaza Phuket Panwa Beach has designated areas for smoking.
- 24-hour front desk
- Babysitting or childcare (surcharge)
- Children's club (free)
- Supervised childcare/activities (free)
- Airport transportation (surcharge)
- Total number of rooms - 224
- Number of floors - 5
- Babysitting or childcare
- Bar/lounge
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Business center
- Coffee shop or café
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Concierge services
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Elevator/lift
- Express check-in
- Express check-out
- 24-hour fitness facilities
- Full-service spa
- Shopping center shuttle (surcharge)
- Designated smoking areas (fines apply)
- Designated smoking areas
- Pool umbrellas
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Free WiFi
- Number of outdoor pools - 2
- Children's club
- Limo or Town Car service available
- Spa treatment room(s)
- Meeting rooms 3
- Multilingual staff
- Garden
- Rooftop terrace
- Poolside bar
- Porter/bellhop
- Luggage storage
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Snack bar/deli
- Year Built 2012
- Area shuttle (surcharge)
- Number of restaurants - 2
- Conference space size (feet) - 800
- Conference space size (meters) - 74
- Number of meeting rooms - 3
- Free self parking
- Beach umbrellas
- Beach sun loungers
- Pool sun loungers
- Beach towels
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
- Supervised childcare/activities
- Children's pool
- Wedding services
Family Friendly Amenities
- Family Hotel
- Outdoor pools
- Children's pool
- Supervised childcare/activities (free)
- Free Wi-Fi
- Soundproofed rooms
- Children's club (free)
- Snack bar/deli
- Babysitting or childcare (surcharge)
- Playground on site
- Refrigerator
- Cribs/infant beds (complimentary)
- DVD player
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi , Free wired Internet
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Free self parking
Room Amenities
- Premium TV channels
- DVD player
- Hypo-allergenic bedding available
- Furnished balcony or patio
- Air conditioning
- Soundproofed rooms
- Phone
- Refrigerator
- Minibar
- Coffee/tea maker
- Free bottled water
- Daily housekeeping
- Turndown service
- Designer toiletries
- Private bathroom
- Bathrobes
- Free toiletries
- Hair dryer
- In-room massage available
- Slippers
- Separate bathtub and shower
- Rainfall showerhead
- Iron/ironing board
- In-room safe
- Desk
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Digital TV service
- Free WiFi
- Free wired Internet
- iPod docking station
- Room service (24 hours)
- Egyptian-cotton sheets
- Individually furnished
- Individually decorated
- Pillowtop mattress
- Pillow menu
- Connecting/adjoining rooms available
- Free cribs/infant beds
- Rollaway/extra beds (surcharge)
Where to Eat
Buffet breakfasts are available for a surcharge and are served each morning between 7 AM and 10:30 AM.
Patio - This beachfront restaurant specializes in Mediterranean cuisine and serves lunch and dinner. Guests can order drinks at the bar and enjoy alfresco dining (weather permitting). Happy hour is offered.
Mosaic - This poolside restaurant specializes in international cuisine and serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. Guests can order drinks at the bar and enjoy alfresco dining (weather permitting). A children's menu is available.
Biscuit - Overlooking the garden, this coffee shop serves light fare only. Guests can enjoy alfresco dining (weather permitting).
24-hour room service is available.
Nearby Things to Do
2 outdoor swimming pools are on site along with a children's pool. Other recreational amenities include a 24-hour fitness center.
Children under 12 years old are not allowed in the swimming pool, fitness facility, or spa tub without adult supervision.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
- Snorkeling nearby
- Surfing/boogie boarding nearby
- Sailing nearby
- Scuba diving nearby
- Water skiing nearby
- Windsurfing nearby
- Segway rental/tour on site
- Bicycle rentals nearby
- Scooter/moped rentals nearby
- Kayaking on site
- Pilates classes on site
- Playground on site
- Rowing or canoeing on site
- Volleyball on site
- Yoga classes/instruction on site
Spa Services
Pawan Panwa Spa has 7 treatment rooms including rooms for couples and outdoor treatment areas. Services include massages, facials, body wraps, and body scrubs. A variety of treatment therapies are provided, including aromatherapy, hydrotherapy, and thalassotherapy. The spa is equipped with a spa tub and a steam room.
Children under 16 years old are not allowed in the spa without adult supervision. Guests under 12 years old are not allowed in the spa.
- Steam room in spa
- Number of treatment rooms 7
- Outdoor treatment areas
- Couples treatment rooms
- Manicures and pedicures
- Body wraps
- Body scrubs
- Aromatherapy treatments
- Thalassotherapy treatments
- Hydrotherapy treatments
- Spa tub in spa
- Massages
- Minimum age to access spa is 12
- Body treatments
- Facial treatments
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please note them at check-out when you book your room.
- Accessible bathroom
- In-room accessibility
- Roll-in shower
Hotel Policies
Check-in time starts at 2 PM
Check-in time ends at midnight
Special check-in instructions:
Check-out time is noon
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Kids stay free! Up to 2 children 12 years old and younger stay free when using existing bedding.
- Rollaway/extra beds are available for THB 1781.0 per night.
- Free cribs (infant beds)!
- Pets not allowed
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy.
- The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation.
- Deposit: THB 1000 per night
Optional extras
- Fee for buffet breakfast: THB 565 for adults and THB 283 for children (approximately)
- Airport shuttle fee: THB 1200 per vehicle (one way)
- Rollaway bed fee: THB 1781.0 per night
Hotel Name
- Phuket Panwa Beachfront Resort Wichit
- Crowne Plaza Phuket Panwa Beach Hotel Wichit
- Phuket Panwa Beachfront Wichit
- Phuket Panwa Beachfront
- Crowne Plaza Phuket Panwa Beach Wichit
We should mention
This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply). Guests must contact the property with arrival details 24 hours prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation. Reservations are required for massage services and spa treatments. Reservations can be made by contacting the resort prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation. Up to 2 children 12 years old and younger stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding. The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation.
Free 15 Minute Massage
Book a stay in a valid room category and receive a 15-minute massage upon arrival.
Must book a "Free Massage 15 Minutes and Late Check-Out: 2 PM" room category to qualify. Full details at check-in. Offer subject to availability. Offer is not valid with groups/conventions and may not be combined with other promotional offers. Other restrictions and blackout dates may apply.


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It's 10 a.m., time for your dairy's weekly staff meeting. Does your team step lively toward the regular meeting room, or do you and your employees mumble and groan with barely suppressed desire to eliminate these sessions altogether?
When not used effectively, team meetings are boring, non-productive ways to spend time. If you make meetings more dynamic, you'll see fruitful results.
Here are six ways to keep your meetings lively and essential.
1. Create an agenda.
Begin with a plan. Determine the meeting's purpose before bringing your team together. Then, write out an agenda that covers those topics in sequence. This will give you a clear plan of where the meeting is headed. You may or may not choose to share this agenda beforehand with your team. But make sure the facilitator (you or someone of your choosing) has a clear plan of where the meeting is headed. This helps you to be more organized and decisive. And it avoids the scenario of the meeting convening, but nobody knowing what to talk about.
It may not be necessary to create an agenda from scratch for every meeting; chances are, you'll need to discuss similar items for routine sessions. Just make sure you allow time for team member input and use this opportunity to regularly share any changes at the dairy that affect employees. Use tools like goal sheets and monthly farm reports to guide the discussion. Make sure you and attendees follow the ground rules (see the profit tip on page 16).
It's also important to have the right people at the meeting table, says Scott Wiley, veterinarian at Dairyland Veterinary Service in Casco, Wis., who participates in management meetings for dairies ranging from 450 to 1,900 cows. "By bringing together the right people, we are able to put together successful plans to address current areas of concern," he says.
When paid professionals such as veterinarians, nutritionists or lenders will be present, it is especially important to have a well-prepared agenda, suggests Richard Stup, branch manager for AgChoice Farm Credit in Lewisburg, Pa.
2. Pay attention to the little things.
It's the seemingly little things than can trip up a meeting's success. For example, make sure there's enough room for everyone. Are there enough chairs? Do team members need something to write on? Is the lighting and room temperature adequate? If the answer to any of these questions is "no," then fix the problem before your team meets again.
It's also a good idea to designate someone beforehand to take notes at the meeting. By doing it then, the person won't be put on the spot and made to feel uncomfortable. Again, these notes may or may not be shared with the group, but it's important to have a record of your discussions.
Meetings need to be well planned, which means paying attention to detail, says Gregorio Billikopf, University of California farm labor specialist.
3. Watch the clock.
It is the facilitator's responsibility to keep the meeting on time and on target, but allow sufficient time for each discussion. Obviously, this will depend on the nature of the topics.
Most experts suggest that a regular meeting with your farm team should last from 10 to 30 minutes, and generally not more than an hour. Be sure to leave time to answer questions from the team.
For other types of meetings, plan according to topic length. Some issues, like expansion plans, take longer to hash over than others. "I think it helps to alternate long and short topics," says Stup. If one topic drags on, but is followed by a quick topic, it can tend to pick up the pace of the meeting.
Trying to cover more than 10 topics in an hour is generally too ambitious. For meetings that last longer than an hour (try to keep these to a minimum), remember that people tend to lose focus after a while. If you must meet longer than an hour, allow breaks and include activities to re-energize people.
4. Turn ideas into action.
Discussions should always end with decisions, assignments or "next steps."
For example, a long discussion about changing milking procedures could end up with some assignments, says Stup. "If the discussion was not conclusive, then one or more team members might be assigned to do some research or make some contacts before the next meeting to help the team reach a decision."
If a conclusive decision was made, then follow-up steps should be planned. These include, When will the change happen? Who will revise the SOP? Who will re-train the milkers and when?
The key, he says, is to identify what steps need to be taken, who will take them, and by when. The point is to establish accountability with an individual.
But be sure that one or two individuals are not walking away from the meeting with all of the work to do, says Wiley. And make sure that the follow-up task, problem or issue is well understood and clearly defined so that it does not come up repeatedly.
"Any business that is not fully dealt with will tend to appear again and again until a concrete decision is made," says Billikopf. Manage meetings so that specific issues are discussed and solved.
Wiley has found that following up on areas of concern from a previous meeting at the next meeting helps make sure they are addressed. If the solution is not satisfactory, meeting participants help the individual responsible address it before the next meeting to prevent it from recurring.
5. Have fun.
Don't make meetings sheer drudgery. Add some levity when possible, but be sure to match activities to personalities, so all are comfortable.
Having some fun at the meetings makes people want to come and encourages creativity, Stup says. "I sometimes will bring some toys, like a foam ball, to toss around and lighten things up."
Also, make it comfortable for quieter individuals to speak up and participate. Keep things light and make sure nobody dominates the discussion. This goes a long way toward this goal. Do not allow unhelpful criticism or personal attacks to derail your meetings or your team.
6. Get feedback.
Before you wrap things up, ask your team members what they liked or didn't like about the meeting, says Billikopf. Did the meeting time and location work for everyone? Was the length too long or too short? What can be done to improve for the next session?
Also, note the effectiveness of the team at this time. "If team members do not work well together, or if an individual refuses to follow-up on tasks, the meetings should be discontinued until the right people can be assembled," concludes Wiley.


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Treasure HuntRiddles are little poems or phrases that pose a question that needs answering. Riddles frequently rhyme, but this is not a requirement.
The wind eased itself gently through Captain Sheba's hair as he pressed his eye against his spy glass. "Land! At last we are rich!" he shouted to his crew members. They anchored not very far away from the strange little island, rowed toward the shore and arrived safely. "Brethren, we've found the island. From the information we have so far, the treasure is hidden under one of these colored rocks on the shore and the rest of the rocks have a poisonous gas trapped beneath them. Alas, I can't afford to lose any of my crew members. If we could only decode the last part of these writings, we would know which rock the treasure is under. I will give ten percent of the find to anyone who is able to decode this last message!"
At the end of your power
At the beginning of eternity
Blessed is he who finds me
He who still exists after uncovering me
To enjoy my riches forever
My last is in mud somewhere wherever
That's all the writings say. There are four rocks. They are blue, red, white, and black respectively. Which one has the treasure hidden under it?
HintRead again; you can do it!
AnswerThe Red rock!
At the end of power is R.
At the beginning of eternity is E.
My last is in mud somewhere, so it has to be D.
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