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Can You Measure Social Media's ROI?
The platforms have proven their worth in many respects, but social media's return on investment remains unclear.
A few years ago when social media was entering the mainstream, a credit union director stood up at the end of a social media panel discussion and asked the panelists, "How will Facebook save my credit union?"
Since that time, social media participation has skyrocketed among credit unions. But that director's rhetorical question reflects a persistent skepticism about social media's contribution to the bottom line. And that skepticism continues to dampen some credit unions' social media enthusiasm.
On one side you have marketers extolling the virtues of social media, and on the other side you have chief financial officers (CFOs) asking hard questions about return on investment (ROI). this has created, at some credit unions, a social media stalemate.
There seem to be just as many social media success stories as there are skeptics.
Some credit unions have successfully used social media to improve brand awareness, amplify advocacy efforts, provide better member service, improve crisis communication, solicit feedback on new or proposed products, and bolster search engine optimization efforts.SIDEBAR:
Most credit unions' social media efforts are designed to increase loyalty levels among members, which increases member engagement, and that leads to increased profitability. But it's a circuitous route from social media to profitability, and therein lies the rub.
Measuring effectiveness
Most credit unions that don't pay to advertise on social media gauge their effectiveness on penetration and engagement metrics. These metrics can tell you whether or not members are seeing your message but they don't tell you whether or not they're acting on it.
Even when credit unions suggestively sell products through contextual posts—such as an article that discusses the pros and cons of a 15-year mortgage with links to loan rates and applications—conversion rates are murky at best.
And while "sales" traditionally has been a fourletter word in social media circles, some sales advocates view social media as a valuable, largely untapped opportunity. These proponents of sales tactics point to new tools that enable segmented marketing, lead generation, and prospect conversion.
Reaching a broader audience
Regardless of a credit union's strategy, it must broaden its social media audience to make a significant impact.
Nearly three-quarters (73%) of U.S. adults who go online were regularly using social media sites as of September 2013, according to Pew Research. Facebook remains the dominant platform, with 71% of all online adults—101 million daily users—taking part. Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and YouTube all have about 20% of online adults.
Some credit unions have developed sizable social media followings. But on the whole, credit unions have barely begun to connect with their own members, let alone the general public.
Financial institutions connect with an average of only 4.7% of their member/customer bases on Facebook, according to a recent study by the financial technology firm Shastic. As for Twitter, credit unions reach an audience equal to 0.8% of their aggregate memberships, reports thee Financial Brand. And of the twothirds of credit unions on Twitter, about 20% of their average of 400 followers are inactive.
"The most important component for any ROI measurement is audience growth," says John Riordan of DAYTA Marketing, a social media firm that partners with the Minnesota Credit Union Network to maintain credit unions' social platforms.
The most successful grassroots growth strategies revolve around creating engagement among members, nonmembers, and even credit union employees. Royal Credit Union in Eau Claire, Wis., with $1.3 billion in assets, placed 11th nationally among medium-size businesses in the Business Journal's Social Madness contest last summer.
To earn that ranking, Andrea Finn, digital marketing specialist at Royal, created instructional videos to teach employees and directors how to use social media and recruited staff to spread the credit union's message through their accounts.
To maximize eficiency, your social media strategies must align with your credit union's broader marketing and business plans. "We can be a million different things to a million different people, but what are we known for? And how can we get this message to them?" asks Kenny DeShields, social media specialist at $724 million asset Vantage Credit Union in St. Louis.
NEXT: Enhancing engagement
Enhancing engagement
Royal's Facebook following has increased fivefold to nearly 5,000 in the 15 months since Finn became its first full-time social media specialist. Despite that sudden influx of followers, she hasn't seen any erosion of member-engagement levels, and she has used only 0.3% of Royal's overall marketing budget.
"A lot of people were hesitant at first," says Finn, "but when they saw the consistency of our message and that we were there for them, that changed quickly."
Other credit unions report similar success stories. In only six months, DeShields generated substantial audience growth by using robust content and input from "Tweet-up Tuesdays"—brainstorming sessions between social media specialists at area credit unions.
Meanwhile, Vice President of Marketing Lynne O'Leary and Social Media Specialist Richard Murdocco have created a sizable following for $4.9 billion asset Teachers Federal Credit Union, Hauppauge, N.Y. The credit union's social media channels have a quirky blend of themes, memes, localized contests, and stunts, including a faux credit card belonging to Darth Vader that shows up on the credit union's Instagram page at local events and retail outlets.
CUNA Mutual Group social media managers Michael Ogden and Holly Fearing have noticed a considerable uptick in credit unions outsourcing their social media duties or hiring full-time staff.
"Credit unions frequently ask about what they can gain from social media," says Fearing. "I would encourage credit unions to think in terms of the opportunities they're missing by not engaging with social media."
Social media experts offer this advice to credit unions trying to grow their audiences and increase member-engagement levels:
Develop a voice. The most effective posts carry a personal touch, a clear point of view, and an underlying message. Prove there's a person behind the machine. "You can tell in a second when it's a 'canned' response," O'Leary of Teachers Federal says.
Focus on the "social." Run contests. Salute other area businesses on their achievements to broadcast to their audiences. Talk about the topic of the day. "I'm communicating with our members about what's relevant to them," Royal's Finn says. "If we're in the midst of a huge snowstorm and people can't get to work, I'm going to talk about that because that's what they're experiencing. At that moment, our loan sale is not their top priority."
Be consistent and frequent. With the help of social media scheduling tools, Finn has posted content every day (except one) since she started, including weekends.
Facilitate internal communication. Constantly engage staff in other departments. Vantage's DeShields meets every Monday with his supervisor, design team, and a communications specialist to discuss the week's agenda. He has a department meeting every two weeks, and a big-picture planning session every month.
Constantly re-evaluate your efforts. Use metrics such as Google Analytics and Facebook Insights to determine when and where people see your messages, and adapt your posting habits accordingly. Observe which types of messages resonate with your members and which fall at.
Involve your colleagues. Your staff should be your credit union's best social media ambassadors. When they share content, your reach expands exponentially, and in a more authentic manner than an organizational post. Staff should share their knowledge on specific subjects and share the responsibility of creating content.
"That was a big barrier at the beginning," recalls Royal's Finn. "I can't drive two hours to take a picture [Royal CU has 25 branches], so I rely on my colleagues for help. Fortunately, our staff is highly engaged."
A case for sales
James Robert Lay, CEO of CU Grow, no longer thinks of "sales" through social media as inappropriate. "If you're not selling on social media, then get the heck off it," he proclaims.
Lay's epiphany came a few years ago during a social media presentation at a credit union planning session, when one of the directors said, "We just need loans."
He now believes credit unions can migrate their traditional business development strategies to the digital realm by pairing data analysis with social media to nurture interest among members who need—or soon will need—credit union products and services.
"Social and content marketing is all about helping people," Lay says. "We can deliver highly personalized messages regardless of where a consumer is in the digital buying cycle."
Shastic's Calcubot—a Facebook mortgage and auto financing tool that updates a credit union's loan rates daily—is one early success story reflecting social media's ability to generate actionable loan prospects.
About three-quarters of Calcubot users make one or more loan estimates, and 8% connect to an online loan application page at Calcubot's more than 60 credit union clients, according to Shastic founder Joseariel Gomez.
"We identified new and used vehicle loans with balances totaling $887,043 as a result of members applying through Calcubot," says George Balchev, manager of digital channels at $8.1 billion asset Alliant Credit Union in Chicago.
Credit unions must also consider paying to promote content, especially since Facebook's recent algorithm adjustments greatly diminished the exposure of business page posts among followers.
Because of social media's ability to target a specific audience, credit unions can get a significantly better return on social media ads than they do with traditional online mass marketing efforts, according to James Pond, a principal at James and Matthew + Company.
Credit unions will continue to debate social media's ROI as it evolves. As the debate continues, it's important to put the role of social media into perspective.
"People sometimes forget there are many marketing channels; social media is just one tool in your tool kit," says Lisa Totaro, marketing manager for Sunmark Federal Credit Union, Latham, N.Y. "Compared to other marketing channels, it's still pretty cheap."
ADAM MERTZ is Credit Union Magazine's senior editor. Contact him at 608-231-4342 or @AdamMertzCUNA.


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Elaborate Email Hoax Causes Company's Shares to Drop
Yesterday, the shares of a security services company plummeted after a fake press release statement claimed that it had overstated its profits.
In the mid-afternoon, fraudsters sent journalists a statement about G4S, claiming that the FTSE 100 company would need to revise its financial statements for 2013 and the first half of 2014.
The hoax reported that upwards of £400 million had been recorded in disagreement with standard accounting principles.
It also stated that the company had fired its CFO and accepted the resignation of its general counsel.
The fake email came with a link to a detailed website, which was an exact replica of the company's actual site. The hoax website's account has since been suspended.
"Cyber criminals are well-versed in building copycat websites that look identical to the authentic versions," commented Haydn Simpson, Head of Brand Protection at NetNames. "It is not just banks that suffer from fraud or luxury goods brands that suffer from counterfeiting online. All brands are vulnerable to exploitation."
Although some quickly realized that the PR statement was a fake, other journalists began sharing the bogus news on Twitter, causing the company's shares to drop.
The stock was trading at 268.9p at the time when the statement was sent. A half hour later, it had dropped to 266.3p before beginning to rise again after the company confirmed the statement was fraudulent.
"We have been made aware of a fraudulent website and news release purporting to be from G4S which has been released to members of the media this afternoon," the company said on its website. "The website and the announcement contain wholly inaccurate information."
The identities of the fraudsters are currently not known, though early reports suggest that the hoax website is registered to an account in the Netherlands.
Regardless, the incident further highlights the need for companies to remain vigilant concerning internet activity that can lead to brand damage, said Simpson.
"Companies must evaluate their online strategy on an ongoing basis and ensure that they remain protected. Brands need to understand the online environment and have the capacity to detect and enforce on fake sites using their brands before issues like this come to public attention."

subset: commoncrawl


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More exciting information to follow but, for now, the photograph above and the description below encompass all you need to know.
Fill My Little World is about the thoughts that erupt from my brain from time to time. I like to share insights into the world I see when I shut my eyes, the feelings I experience when something affects my soul and ideas I posit to myself or which are inspired by others.
This blog started out as a natural progression from LiveJournal around eight or nine years ago, and then four years ago I deleted all of the stuff I'd written on there, presumably because it was too embarrassing and emotional, and I started afresh. Posts were sporadic and non-committal until mid-2012 when I fell ill and found myself with a lot of time and a lack of focus. I began to document one good thing every day and it kicked off from there.
I'm taking part in a few projects which may be of interest to you, namely 52 Lists and the 2014 Blogger Challenge, which are hosted by other bloggers and are usually contributed to weekly or fortnightly.
Other things you can expect to find here are chats about trips I've taken and photos of any aesthetically pleasing food I've eaten.
Things I quite like but may not talk about on here as much as I would like to include gender equality, the No More Page 3 campaign, yoga, pilates and my attachment to word games.
Things I quite like and definitely do talk about on a frequent basis include my cat, how healing I find the London Grammar album, mint tea and dreams/thoughts I've had which make no sense and lots of sense all at the same time.
I treat this as my personal, on-line scrapbook and I'm thrilled that you have chosen to follow my adventures too.


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|Extreme gigantomastia in pregnancy: case report-my experience with two cases in last 5 years.
MedLine Citation:
|PMID: 20978777 Owner: NLM Status: In-Data-Review
|We present an extreme case of gigantomastia in pregnancy during the second gemelar pregnancy of a 30-year-old woman. Her first pregnancy was 8 years ago, was also gemelar and she delivered with caesarean section. From the beginning of her current pregnancy, the patient noted steady growth of both of her breasts that reached enormous dimensions at the end of the pregnancy. This kind of breast changes did not occur during her first pregnancy. The patient also suffered from myasthenia gravis that was in remission during this pregnancy, without any therapy. The patient was in the 38 weeks of gestation, and a delivery with caesarean section was performed in line with the reduction of her breasts. The main reasons that led me to perform these two interventions as one act were the fact that puerperal mastitis could develop on these enormous breasts, further the small regression of these huge breasts during the bromocriptine treatment, as well as the intention to avoid other operative traumas, considering possibility of exacerbation of myasthenia gravis. I had already performed bilateral reduction mammaplasty with free areola-nipple graft, when a tissue with total weight of 20 kg (2 × 10 kg) was removed. The patient had an excellent post-operation recovery course.
|Borce Antevski; Oliver Jovkovski; Vanja Filipovski; Saso Banev
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Publication Detail:
|Type: Journal Article Date: 2010-10-27
Journal Detail:
|Title: Archives of gynecology and obstetrics Volume: 284 ISSN: 1432-0711 ISO Abbreviation: Arch. Gynecol. Obstet. Publication Date: 2011 Sep
Date Detail:
|Created Date: 2011-08-12 Completed Date: - Revised Date: -
Medline Journal Info:
|Nlm Unique ID: 8710213 Medline TA: Arch Gynecol Obstet Country: Germany
Other Details:
|Languages: eng Pagination: 575-8 Citation Subset: IM
|Clinic for Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Clinical Center, University of "Ss. Cyrill and Methodiuos" Skopje, "Vodnjanska bb", 1000, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, email@example.com.
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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I never used to be much of a purse/bag person. Occasionally I would wear a small cross-body bag, or a cute wristlet. Now that I have gotten older I take my purse/tote everywhere. The following lists are what I carry in my bag, and recommend every woman carry them too!
Wallet: Duh, right! Of course you need this to carry your money, change, credit cards, and of course your I.D. to enjoy some lovely alcoholic beverages after a hard day at work. This is the one I use because it isn't too big, but still carries all my essentials.
Pepper Spray: I carry this in my bag because since I am a waitress, I often leave work late at night and have to walk across the parking lot in the dark. Thankfully, I have never had to use it, but I have it on my keychain along with my keys just in case.
Any and all kinds of chapstick: I use EOS chapstick, Blistex chapstick and the regular Chapstick brand, partly because I am indecisive about my chapstick and because my lips get crackin' hardcore in the winter. It is always nice to keep your lips healthy and moisturized.
Hand sanitizer // Lotion: The germaphobe in me definitely comes in right before I go out to lunch, after I pump gas at the gas station, and literally everywhere in between. Having hand sanitizer in your bag is essential, in my opinion, especially in the winter. I also have a mini size of Bath and Body Works lotion in my bag as well.
Mini deodorant // hair spray: I never believed in having deodorant in my bag because I always believed it to be unnecessary. But since I have become a waitress and work almost ten hours a day, running back and forth between tables, having a backup deodorant is nice to have. Hair spray is also nice to keep in your bag when you have both a casual and professional night out, to keep your hair looking elegant and in place.
Gum // Mints: It's always nice to have fresh breath! Or, sometimes I forget to pack my lunch for when I am on break in between classes on campus. Sometimes chewing on some gum subsides my hunger until I am able to get some real food into my stomach.
Tide To Go Stick // Mini Clorox Wipes: Working at an Italian restaurant, I have made having tomato sauce on a shirt a fashion statement. However, most guests don't want their waitress greeting them with a shirt full of tomato sauce stains. The Tide To Go Stick takes out the stain in a matter of minutes. I know that having clorox wipes in my purse really makes it seem as though I am a hardcore germaphobe, but they really do come in handy. One day I spilled a to go carton of Cajun pasta in my car, and the clorox wipes helped maintain the mess until I got home!
Lipstick // Compact Mirror: I don't carry a full size lipstick, but a small travel one that comes in handy when I need to touch up my lipstick. And, of course the compact mirror comes in handy for any and all makeup needs you may have while on the go.
Pain medication // GUM Toothpicks: I have always made sure that I had pain medicine in case of an abrupt stomachache or headache, especially when I knew I would be on the go all day. I always have GUM toothpicks in my purse as well, especially when I go out to eat just in case something were to get stuck between my teeth.
* Happy purse filling! I hope you fill your purse with these great necessities. What items do you put in your purse?


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I like to cook healthily. I like my kids to eat vegetables, and unfortunately- it takes the most time to prepare.
So Sunday's have become sushi/summer roll nights.
I decided to put my Skillshare course on knife handling to good use. I'll post my video. I really actually enjoyed taking this 12min course. Check it out. Plus thousands of videos that teach a huge variety of things. I'm part of their affiliate program.
Here is a clip of me and Tali prepping our veggies.
It's hard to find sushi grade fish near to where I live, and while we all love raw fish, my sushi nights have become vegetarian. I throw in some wierd stuff!!! And somehow it always tastes good. Tonight's menu had cooked sweet potato and raw beets. I also grated a daikon radish for a bit of a kick. The kids mainly ate cucumber and avocado. Except for Sara. She likes to be brave and experiment. And of course she loved it!
This is all my prepared add-ins.
Plated sushi. Someone got to my nicely presented plate on the left… before I could snap a pic
Sushi with peppers and beets, avocado and sweet potato. Really yummy.
And this is the option I should have ONLY eaten from. But I didn't. It's not terrible – but would have been better without. Anyway. This no rice option was delicious too. And the cones on the sides were stuffed with veggies. And pickled ginger and a dash of spicy sauce.


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This Paper Planetarium is a unique, easy Space craft for Preschoolers on up. Hang it in a window and the glitter glue stars will sparkle!
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Here's what you'll need...
• Construction paper, black and colored
• Glitter glue
• Scissors
• Large paint brush
• Wax paper
Here's how you make it...
1. Cut out circles in different sizes and different colors.
2. Cut a piece of wax paper about 12" long (make it longer if you'll be framing it with a paper bigger than the standard 81/2" X 11"). With a large paint brush, paint on glitter glue all over the wax paper and then place your planets on top of the glue.
3. Cut a frame from a black piece of construction paper (standard 81/2" X 11"). The border in the picture is 1" thick. Place on top of the wax paper to frame your solar system, and trim around the edge.
Click here to find more Space Crafts like the Paper Planetarium


text: STYLE Oscars Fashion: Lupita Nyong'o Sparkles in a Fred Leighton Headband 5:27 PM PST 3/2/2014 by Stephanie Chan FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME AP Images "Lupita + Cinderella = Lupitarella," said the actress' stylist Micaela Erlanger, who added, "[The headband] was the icing to this gown." 12 Years A Slave star Lupita Nyong'o dazzled on the red carpet in a powder-blue Prada gown, but the real crowning glory of her look was a Fred Leighton diamond-and-gold headband -- a fitting choice for the actress who has been ruling the awards season red carpet. Nyong'o also nabbed Saturday's Independent Spirit Award for best supporting actress and is a frontrunner in the same category at the Oscars. PHOTOS: Oscars 2014: The Red-Carpet Arrivals "Lupita + Cinderella = Lupitarella," said the actress' stylist Micaela Erlanger, who is responsible for the starlet's showstopping looks this season, including Nyong'o's red, caped Ralph Lauren ensemble at the Golden Globes in January. "[The headband] was the icing to this gown, adding a touch of sparkle. It completed the look perfectly." The headband already has spawned its own Twitter account, @lupitasheadband. We're head over heels for this look. FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Stephanie Chan email@example.com stephmchan


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"The Free State landscape gladdens my heart, no matter what my mood. When I am here I feel that nothing can shut me in, that my thoughts can roam as far as the horizons." Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom
The Free State landscape is characterized by vast, level, open spaces but in the South-Eastern corner of the province, the flat plains share the earth with hills and mountains, and towering sandstone cliffs. At sunrise and sunset, shades of gold and ochre are cast upon these cliffs, bathing them in a golden light. This is where Golden Gate Highlands National Park gets its name from.
On a recent road trip from Lesotho to Johannesburg, I spent two nights in the park with my family. The scenic drive from Clarens took us just 20 minutes, and we were in the park soon enough. Owned by SANParks (South African National Parks), Golden Gate Highlands National Park is nestled in the foothills of the Maluti Mountains. The park celebrated its 50th birthday, a few years ago. It is renowned for its natural splendour, a photographers dream.
We drove around for a while, admiring the breath-taking scenery, imposing cliffs, expansive grasslands, and forested ravines. The park was basking in its winter glory, but it is a beauty in all seasons. On the Oribi Loop, we found a path leading to the vulture hide, perched at one of the highest points in the park with incredible views. The hide is one of the best places to see the Cape Vulture and the endangered Bearded Vulture. Black-bearded jackals are often seen here too. We drove up the mountain, parked our car and took a walk to the hide, where we spent some time. The vultures did not grace us with their presence however, although we did see some old carcasses and a swift eagle flying overhead.
Basutho Cultural Village
We then drove to our home for the night, the Basutho Cultural Village. The village is a recreation of an 18th century Basutho village, with beautiful settings and decorations. Below the tourist attraction is the accommodation, which consists of clusters of neat self-catering rondawels (round huts) set high in the mountains. We had 2 rondawels for our family. They were clean and comfortable with either twin or double beds, en-suite bathrooms with showers, a fully equipped kitchenette and some armchairs. It was quiet and peaceful, with no TV to disturb the serenity, and the only sounds being that of the howling wind outside. The kids loved the open spaces and my husband and I loved the panoramic views.
After making ourselves comfortable, we set off on a tour of the village. First, we had to get permission from the chief. He graciously invited us in to his Lekhotla (the gathering place for men), through his emissary and we proceeded through the village with our local tour guide, who explained the culture, symbolism and rituals in each section we visited. The village is a living museum with reconstructions of traditional homesteads from the 1700s to the present. We met the chief's first and second wives, and the Ngaka (Traditional Healer), and saw their houses too. It was a unique experience and one that I'd highly recommend for a glimpse into traditional Basutho life.
Golden Gate Hotel and Chalets
The next day, after exploring more of our surroundings and visiting the vulture hide again, we headed for the Golden Gate Hotel and Chalets. The hotel is located in a stunning setting, facing the iconic Brandwag Rock. Behind it are more rocks and cliffs, standing like sentinels. The hotel's entrance lobby and coffee lounge were elegant public areas that drew the guests in like moths to a flame. Everybody around me looked happy and relaxed as they sipped on their milkshakes, hot chocolates and coffees while cold winds raged outside.
We stayed in a 4-sleeper chalet. It had a bedroom with a double bed, and another open-plan bedroom with a dining area and a kitchen. There were electric blankets and panel heaters to keep us warm. The full-length glass sliding doors provided an amazing view of the golden mountains and rocks, and I found it hard to tear myself away from them. The kids, on the other hand made themselves comfortable in no time and ran up and down to the main lounge in the hotel, having fun.
The park has several hiking trails and nature trails, some leaving from the hotel, but we didn't have enough time to do them. It is also home to many species of plains game. Unfortunately, the cold seemed to have deterred them from roaming around and we didn't see much wildlife -except for some wildebeest in the distance – although we did see a fair amount of cattle.
Golden Gate Highlands National Park is one of South Africa's gems. Sadly, too many South Africans have not been there yet. It is possible to drive from one end of the park to the other in an hour if you're in a hurry – although I'd recommend doing it at a more leisurely pace and staying over for a more intimate encounter with nature. With no dangerous predators around, it makes a great family getaway.
For more information , visit Golden Gate Highlands National Park or book here.
Disclosure: 7


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19, basementcast, episode 19, firestorm armada, Miniatures, table top games, the episode that must not be named, the truth, trapped, Wargaming, warhammer, Warhammer 40k, warmachine
This week Gene and Dan talk about things they have been doing throughout the week and talk about some big rumors in the Warhammer 40K world. Listen and enjoy.
Warning: Trapped in the BasementCast is intended for a "mature" audience. And by mature, we mean no chilluns. Seriously, it's vulgar as fuck.
Feel free to provide feedback or give suggestions for future shows and contact us here


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This Footage Shows A Tiny, Terrifying Creature Wandering The Streets…What Is It?
Less than a month ago, a security camera in Diyarbakir, Turkey, caught a strange entity haunting an empty street.
Some have described it as an alien, others say it's a shapeshifter…or even a ghost. There are those who think it's just a plastic bag or a balloon, and many think the video is entirely fake.
Whatever it is, the blurriness of the CCTV footage only makes the bizarre shape's movements even more baffling.
Either way, it's really creeping me out.
Another idea I'm just throwing out there…Turkey should really spring for security cameras that shoot in HD or just generally upgrade their '90s equipment.
Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/turkey-creature/
Comments are closed.


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Most site owners and businesses have a clear idea about which pages on their website are most profitable. If you have a website but you don't know this then it is the high time that you should start to find it. There is another way through which you can make your top performing pages more profitable by giving themhigh visibility on your website. Lets' find out how:
(1) You should move your top content on the higher up in the site structure- While doing auditing of a site's analytic, we have often come across such pages that are generating conversions but aren't as prominent as they could be in the website structure. These pages get more visitors from organic search. This is a big opportunity and even though when these pages are doing well, we know that they can work more better if they will be exposed higher up to the website structure. By doing this, it will be easy for your top content to come in the reach of both users and engines.
(2) Start exposing your top content on those pages which have most visits- The another way through which you can generate high revenue from your top content is that you should expose/feature it on the pages that attract high traffic on your website. By doing this, you will get more chance to come in front of more eyes, more often, which can help in increasing visits and conversions on those pages. You can find out the most viewed pages in google analytic by going to content overview and the click on the 'view full report' link which is there on the lower right. Then you should sort it by 'unique page views'.
(3) Take steps to add contextual links to the top content on relevant pages- Internal linking is quite an effective method but however it is underused by SEO. When it comes to gaining high visibility, adding internal links can play an effective role in getting more exposure for your top content assets and thus help in getting high profitability. The main purpose of doing this effectively is to ensure that you have placed those links on the right content and in the proper context.


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If you ask any company about the safety and security of their customers' digital data, they will almost certainly explain how important this security is to the company.
Much of this digital data is collected for the purpose of email marketing, and while email marketing has proven quite effective for reaching new customers and keeping them coming back, storing all of the customers' email addresses and other personal digital data often poses a huge threat to the security of the data.
So how can you, the business owner or operator seeking to make the most effective use of email marketing, ensure that the personal digital data of your customers stays nice and safe? In this article, we'll explore five proven methods for keeping data safe, especially when your business relies on it!
Photo Credit: pdpics.com
Know the Risks Associated with Email Marketing
Despite its incredible effectiveness, email marketing can be risky. The risk extends beyond just the cost of the email-marketing campaign. The campaign only works if customers trust your business enough to give you some of their personal data. This data alone is worth a lot to your marketing department, as it allows you insights into patterns of customer behavior and the opportunity to influence their decisions.
However, it is this same valuable data that proves so risky to your business. That's because this data represents the trust that your customers have in the company, so to disrespect or neglect the security of the customers' personal data is to disrespect or neglect the very trust of your customers. That's why it's so important to perform a risk assessment before undertaking any email-marketing campaign.
Stop Outsourcing Your Email Marketing
Most of the breaches in security that we've seen in email marketing security have been from large marketing firms who handle email-marketing campaigns on behalf of other businesses. These breaches are seen much less often at the business level, where businesses are internally managing their own email-marketing campaigns.
Most businesses outsource their email-marketing campaigns in the first place because it is a cheaper alternative to hiring a qualified email-marketing specialist. However, based on the patterns of digital data breaches from these big marketing firms, it's definitely less risky to keep all of your email marketing in-house. Rather than hire a whole new specialist for the job, though, you might consider bringing in a specialist to host a seminar or training session with the marketing team that you already have on staff.
Use a VPN
One of the best ways to ensure that customer data isn't taken from your business's network is to secure the entire network with a Virtual Private Network (VPN). This way, the data is encrypted, so that even if it is somehow intercepted, it will be of no use to the thief. Using a VPN is the next level of digital data security; it adds an extra layer of protection through encryption.
When choosing a VPN for the protection of your customers' digital data, you should be sure to choose the proper VPN. VPNs are usually offered as a monthly subscription, and while their prices can range from free to not-so-cheap, they are definitely one of the most cost-effective solutions to the email marketing security risk.
Be Extremely Careful About Who Sees Customer Data
If your goal is to keep customers' digital data safe, then one of the best ways to do that is to treat this data like a juicy secret. By strictly limiting the people who have access to customers' digital data, you are taking a huge step in making your records more secure.
As crazy as it might sound, training materials for new employees are one of the most common places to find leaked customer data. Often, when preparing training materials, no one thinks to delete or black out seemingly insignificant numbers or tidbits of information. However, even these little breaches add up! Be sure to check all of the documents that your employees see, from training materials and examples to memos and circulatory letters, which might contain valuable customer information.
Ask Your IT Department for a data security system Audit
Most businesses these days, no matter how large or small, have a functioning Information Technologies department. One of the easiest and most surefire ways to see if your business has a hole in their data security system is to ask members of the IT department, those that are most qualified to break and enter into the system, to try to do just that.
This method allows you to get direct feedback from members of your own team, and it gives you an accurate and first-hand knowledge of any possible gaps in your data security system. Assigning periodic and systematic audits of your data security system by your IT department can not only mitigate any issues that you may be experiencing with data security, but can also prevent any future breaches in your digital data security system.
How does your company protect customer data? Have your methods been effective? If so, we'd love to hear about it in the comments section below!
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|Archived February 20, 2019
USGS Looks at Moloka'i's Coral Reefs
In mid-April, a team of scientists from several USGS offices visited Moloka'i as part of a new investigation into the condition of the reefs along the south coast of the island. According to Mike Field (Menlo Park and Monterey Bay Office), chief scientist for the project, "The coral reefs along the south coast of Moloka'i are richly diverse and are the most extensive in the Hawaiian Islands. They are a valuable resource to the people of Hawai'i, and we are making efforts to map the reef and evaluate its health." Pat Chavez (Flagstaff) is guiding the remote-sensing aspect of the project and was on hand with specially processed aerial photographs for use in reconnaissance ground control.
Of particular interest to the team is the amount of muddy sediment delivered to the reef by erosion and runoff. Large amounts of mud can affect the health and growth of corals, which in turn can affect the health and abundance of fish and crustaceans on the reef. Mike Bothner and Peter Gill (Woods Hole) took core samples from sites along the south coast to help characterize the history of sediment runoff. Layers of mud and sand in the cores, especially from those samples taken in the ancient fishponds (which have been trapping mud for decades), will be analyzed to provide insight about the recent history of sediment runoff.
Mike Field and Hank Chezar (Menlo Park) collected aerial video footage and photographs of the entire south coast to help get an overview of the shoreline and to look for runoff plumes. With the help of Susan Cochran (Monterey Bay Office), they also took underwater video footage and photos for the purpose of mapping the coral reefs. Future studies will include researchers from the University of Hawai'i and the WRD office in Honolulu.
The team was encouraged by the favorable reception they received from the community. Local residents expressed their excitement about the project in various ways. From discussions resulting in valuable insights, to a mention in the local high-school newsletter, their hospitality and enthusiasm was endless.
in this issue: Western Region Benthic Habitat Project
Moloka'i Coral Reefs
George's Bank Moorings: Photo Essay
cover story:
|Archived February 20, 2019


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what we're reading, week of 6/1
von VPNHaus | 04.06.2009 |Highlights
Andrew Hay…
Response to "Defense in the Deep End"
Justin Foster lays out his selection of technology in a large-scale hypothetical situation. Among other options, he selected firewalls to be deployed across the board (perimeter, desktops, laptops and servers). Andrew Hay responded Justin's post and points out that people will need to connect to business for quick tasks, and that VPNs are not going away because these tasks will require VPN solutions.
Endpoint Security.info…
Second Hand Hard Drive with Missile Defense Data
Researchers from the University of Glamorgan in Scotland are doing a five-year study aimed to show the dangers of poor hard drive and device data-wiping and disposal practices (this study is still on-going). During their research, they purchased second-hand computers, and found the hard drives contained details of test-launch procedures for a U.S. defense missile. To read more about this check out Dark Reading and the BBCs articles.
Around the Blogosphere…
Last Friday, President Obama announced he is creating the position of cyber security coordinator to oversee "a new comprehensive approach to securing America's digital infrastructure". In conjunction with Obama's announcement, the White House today released its Cyberspace Policy Review. Here are two opinions on the announcement.
Security Fix | The Washington Post
Obama: Cyber Security is a National Security Priority
Brian Krebs gives readers a thorough report on the President's announcement. Good read to catch up on the announcement.
Schneier on Security
Obama's Cybersecurity Speech
While Bruce believes the President is in the right direction with security, he does raise some insightful points about the plan—such as education, security decisions and coordination.


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One unsurprising casualty of last decade's financial crisis was the sudden end to several independent proposals for small scale business jets; all of a sudden there simply wasn't a big enough market to support a host of new players in what is an incredibly expensive start-up. Here are six dead jets from the last decade: the ATG Javelin ('an Indy car racer for the sky' that was more of a fighter plane for businessmen than a jet), the Epic Victory Very Light Jet (VLJ), the design of which might survive in someone else's hands, the PiperJet PA-47, the Adam A700 and the Eclipse 400. A few players are still clinging on, such as the Spectrum S-40 Freedom, the Diamond D-JET and the Cirrus Vision SF50 / possibly related, Confessions of a Flight Attendant, a weblog.
'Artifacts from the first 2000 years of computing at the Computer History Museum' / Vintage Technology Obsessions has some fun things, such as this look at a piece of Juvenile Cold War Space Fiction and a maintenance manual for the massive Convair B-36 Peacemaker heavy bomber / The Wende Museum Saves Communist Design, Steven Heller on a repository of Cold War artefacts / Magpile on C+A, the trade magazine of the Cement Concrete and Aggregates Australia / images from the Secret Cinema series currently running in London and elsewhere.
The Human Rights Skyscraper in Beijing, a tongue-in-cheek dig at Chinese property rights (recently in the news yet again, although the story is always the same). This time the proposal riffs on SITE's Highrise of Homes proposal from 1981, which crops up every now and again as inspiration, such as in the proposed Shelf Hotel by 3Gatti Architecture Studio (at Bing Bang Pouf) / Kottke discovers the delights of Russian dashcam videos. These have become something of an internet cottage industry, carefully cut compilations, updated monthly, drawn from a huge pool of private recordings, all of which must be uploaded, presumably for insurance purposes. Update: Dash-Cams: Russia's Last Hope for Civility and Survival on the Road, also via Kottke.


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August 14, 2013
Called Harvest Caye, the new destination -- comprising two adjoining islands -- will have an "eco-friendly" focus, according to a release from the company, which will spend $50 million on the project. It will include a floating pier, island village with raised-platform structures, a marina, a lagoon for water sports and a beach. The line also plans a transportation hub to run shore excursions to the mainland. The project could be completed by 2015, pending necessary approvals, company spokeswoman AnneMarie Mathews said.
The purchase marks Norwegian's revamped attempt to build a port in Belize. In June, the Belize government turned down a proposal to build a cruise ship terminal on Crawl Caye because of the possible environmental impact, according to TravelPulse.
Harvest Caye had already been approved for resort development, the company noted. According to Norwegian's news release, Belize's Prime Minister Dean Barrow said the country wanted to "decentralize cruise tourism" from Belize City -- which receives as many as nine ships a week during peak season -- to reduce overcrowding.
In the memorandum of understanding with the Belize government, Norwegian agreed to adhere to the country's environmental standards, employ locals during construction and create a hiring program for Belizeans who want to work on its ships. Once Harvest Caye opens, those people will have preference for staff positions, the company said.
Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Kevin Sheehan said the line expects to "bring four times as many guests to Belize" once Harvest Caye is complete. "In our quest to continuously look for new and exciting destinations for our guests, we plan to develop a cruise destination focused on sustainable design and eco-friendly principles that will retain the natural beauty and local culture of this tropical paradise," he said.
--by Chris Gray Faust, Destinations Editor


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Christopher Klein, Managing Director and Head of Global Business Intelligence
The Guy Carpenter Bermuda Reinsurance Composite posted an aggregate net loss of USD6.6 billion for full-year 2008. This represents a precipitous drop from 2007's net gain of USD8.6 billion. Again, unrealized losses were the primary source of the problem. Eight of the 18 companies in the composite would have reported net profits if not for them. The composite's aggregate return on equity (ROE) fell to -7.9 percent.
Again, underwriting was not the problem last year. Fifteen of the 18 companies in the Bermuda Reinsurance Composite posted underwriting gains. Nonetheless, insured losses from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike — particularly because of Bermuda's relatively high property-catastrophe exposure — caused the composite's earnings as a whole to fall 70 percent.
Both realized and unrealized investment losses impaired the Bermuda Reinsurance Composite's 2008 earnings. A small realized investment loss of USD200 million swelled to USD4 billion in 2008. Unrealized losses grew from USD100 million in 2007 to USD5.9 billion last year.
Read Shareholders' Funds Down 15% for Bermuda Reinsurance Composite >>
To have insights delivered directly to your inbox, register for e-mail updates.
Christopher Klein, Managing Director and Head of Global Business Intelligence


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Strip Abrasives from QuickWood
The QuickStrip Abrasives System is a revolutionary product in which only the worn part of the system gets replaced. A track in the brush backing accepts the sand paper strip; these strips are then replaced only when worn out. The brush lasts four to six times longer and is only replaced as needed. The QuickStrip Abrasives System is the most cost effective system available when compared to other systems that require the simultaneous changing of both the brush and abrasives each time replacement is required. Multiple grits and cut widths are available to fit many different application requirements. The QuickStrip system is also available in a double-sided configuration. Different abrasive grits can be placed on either side of a brush strip facing in opposite directions. This means you can change from raw wood sanding to sealer sanding with only the push of button. This makes QuickStrip abrasive system not only cost effective but time efficient as well!
The QuickStrip Hub System components are made of durable aluminum alloys and come with a lifetime warranty. The hubs are custom cut to length and universal adapters are available to fit many industry standard motor shafts. The QuickStrip Abrasives System is adaptable to a number of machines, other than just that of QuickWood machines.
QuickWood Abrasives and Hubs
The QuickStrip System can be used with any spindle. You do not have to own a QuickWood machine to use it. Just give us a call and tell us what size you require and we will take it from there!


text: Subscribe Archive 2019 November (3) September (1) August (2) July (2) January (1) 2018 November (1) August (2) June (1) March (1) 2017 August (2) July (1) May (1) January (1) 2016 October (1) July (1) April (1) March (1) February (3) January (1) 2015 December (1) November (2) September (2) Monthly Archives: March 2018 « Older posts Equine Cushing's Disease (PPID) – What is it, and how does it affect my horse's diet? Friday, November 22, 2019 by Dr. Nettie Liburt Equine Cushing's Disease, also known as pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is one of the two most common endocrine disorders diagnosed in horses. The other is Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS). While PPID and EMS are completely separate conditions, nutritionists often make similar feeding recommendations for both situations. First, let's define each condition. Alphabet Soup – What is PPID and EMS? PPID is a condition in which the pars intermedia – the center lobe of the pituitary gland located at the base of the brain – grows abnormally. This results in the overproduction of the hormone ACTH (adrenocorticotropin hormone). In turn, ACTH stimulates the release of cortisol from the adrenal glands, resulting in an abnormally high concentration of the hormone over time. Chronically high concentrations of cortisol in the blood can lead to issues such as atypical fat deposits, long hair coat (even in the summer time), suppression of the immune system and insulin dysregulation. Cortisol is a steroid hormone, and long-term exposure to steroid hormones can predispose a horse to EMS. When it comes to EMS, the primary concern is with insulin (a hormone) and glucose (sugar). The body keeps tight control of the amount of glucose in the blood. When glucose concentration rises, insulin provides a signal to store extra glucose in muscles and the liver. When a meal is consumed, insulin is secreted from the pancreas in response to sugars and starches in the food. With EMS, an abnormally high concentration of insulin is needed to control the amount of glucose circulating in the blood. Chronically high concentrations of insulin, such as that seen with EMS, are known to cause laminitis. Additionally, a very high concentration of glucose in the blood over time can impair the small blood vessels in the body, which can cause problems with wound healing, vision, circulation and more. EMS can affect any horse of any age or breed, whether the horse is overweight or not. A horse can have either PPID or EMS, and in some cases both. However, just because a horse has PPID does not mean he also has EMS, and vice versa. Horses diagnosed with PPID are certainly at risk for also developing EMS, but it doesn't necessarily occur in every case. This is why testing by a veterinarian is so important. From a nutritionist's point of view, the feeding recommendations will be very similar for both conditions. Nutrition for the PPID (and EMS) Horse When it comes to nutrition for the PPID or EMS horse, the goal is to control the amount of soluble carbohydrates in the diet. Soluble carbohydrates include starches and sugars, compared to non-soluble carbohydrates which are sources of fiber. (For this discussion, limiting carbohydrates refers to soluble carbohydrates.) But what constitutes a so-called low-carb diet? While science is still working on the exact answer, there are guidelines nutritionists use. Here at BUCKEYE™ Nutrition and the WALTHAM® Equine Studies Group, we use the latest scientific research to develop nutrition plans for all horses, including those diagnosed with PPID and/or EMS. For general example, we suggest less than 20% starch and sugars in the total diet, with even lower recommendations (10-12%) for horses and ponies with a history of laminitis. Evaluation of the entire diet is essential, with particular attention paid to the source of forage and any supplemental concentrates fed on a daily basis. For horses that have PPID and are underweight, we typically recommend adding a fat source for additional calories and weight gain. Fat will not exacerbate glucose and insulin. Exercise may need to be modified to help preserve some energy for improving body condition. By contrast, the goal for overweight horses is to achieve weight loss without sacrificing essential vitamins, minerals and protein. Exercise is also a key factor in facilitating weight loss and maintaining muscle tone. A program can be designed for horses of all ability and soundness levels. For horses at maintenance, the focus would be on existing forage, ensuring limited carbohydrates and a controlled exercise program if the horse is sound enough to handle it. At the end of the day, each horse is an individual and should be fed as such. Dietary recommendations should be based on a horse's health status, activity level and forage source among other factors. At BUCKEYE Nutrition, you can reach out to our equine nutritionists, all of whom have advanced graduate degrees concentrating in equine nutrition, about the needs of your horse. We're here to help make the world a better place for horses, so don't hesitate to ask us! By: Dr. Nettie Liburt|Tagged:Nutrition, laminitis, equine nutrition, horse nutrition, horse diet, Equine Cushing's Disease, PPID, pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction|Leave comment How Much Does A Horse Eat? Friday, November 22, 2019 by Dr. Nettie Liburt There's nothing like the excitement of a new horse or one's first horse. One of the most important things to consider is that horse's diet. But where to begin? We receive many calls from horse owners who are overwhelmed, confused and downright frustrated about what to do when trying to determine what — and how much — to feed their equine companions. One size does not fit all, and each horse's individual needs must be considered. However, there are a few basics you should know so you can head in the right direction. How much can a horse consume? Typically, a horse consumes 1.5-2.5% of his body weight in food per day. Say, for example, you have a horse that weighs 1,100 pounds. The math is simple (I promise!): 1100 x 1.5% = 16.5 lb of food/day 1100 x 2.0% = 22 lb of food/day 1100 x 2.5% = 27.5 lb of food/day Horses with trouble maintaining weight may need closer to 2.5% of their body weight in food per day, whereas easy keepers (and certainly most ponies) will probably fare well with 1.5-2% of their body weight in food per day. When it comes to calories, an individual horses' needs vary widely. Think again about the 1,100-pound horse in light work, who is ridden three to four times per week for a total of about three hours. That horse needs approximately 20,000 kilocalories (what we think of as Calories) per day! By comparison, a 440-pound pony needs closer to 8,000 kilocalories*. Most horse owners don't count calories in equine diets. For the most part, they don't have to if good quality forage (hay and/or grass) and concentrate feed, when necessary, are provided. Forage First Horses evolved eating frequent, small forage meals throughout the day, and thus evolved on a forage-based diet. Always begin with forage. When starting with a new diet, try to get some of the hay a horse has been eating from wherever the horse is coming from. Remember, all hay is not the same. Just like when changing concentrates, bringing new hay into the diet should also be done gradually. (Yes, even when you order your next load of hay, or travel to a horse show!) If the horse easily maintains weight, use the above body weight guide to weigh out an appropriate amount of hay and provide a ration balancer such as GRO 'N WIN™ or Senior Balancer. Ration balancers will ensure nutrient needs are met, regardless of what may be missing in the hay, without providing extra calories. Horses that can't maintain weight on hay alone may need a grain concentrate, such as EQ8™, CADENCE™ Ultra or SAFE 'N EASY™ Senior, to help supply enough calories. Guidelines on how much concentrate to feed are provided by the manufacturer, based on the horse's ideal body weight. Remember to feed the horse based on the weight you want him to be. BUCKEYE Nutrition carefully crafts feeding directions based on the concentration of nutrients and calories of each product — we've done the hard work for you. Our nutritionists all have advanced graduate degrees in equine nutrition, and can help guide your through feeding recommendations based on your horse's needs. Reach out to our equine nutritionists today. *National Research Council. 2007. Nutrient Requirements of Horses, 6th Edition. National Academies Press, Washington, DC. By: Dr. Nettie Liburt|Tagged:Nutrition, horse feed, horse nutrition, forage, horse diet|Leave comment Nutrition Nuggets: When to Consider a Complete Horse Feed Wednesday, November 20, 2019 by BUCKEYE™ Nutrition In this month's featured Nutrition Nugget, find out if you should consider a complete feed for your horse. A complete feed contains all the nutrition your horse needs in a concentrated form and is specially formulated with high fiber and appropriate levels of vitamins and minerals. In the video, Dr. Nettie Liburt, Senior Equine Nutrition Manager at BUCKEYE Nutrition and Mars Horsecare US, discusses what a complete feed is and why your horse could need it in their diet. She also addresses what is not considered a complete feed. Watch the video below to learn more. If you're looking for a complete feed for your horse, try SAFE 'N EASY Complete pelleted feed from BUCKEYE™ Nutrition. By: BUCKEYE™ Nutrition|Tagged:Nutrition, horse feed, horse nutrition, safe feed, nutrition nuggets, complete feed|Leave comment Probiotics May Help Support Digestive System of Horses Thursday, September 12, 2019 by Buckeye Nutrition Reproduction, performance, schedule changes, travel — all can affect a horse's delicate digestive system. If gut health is an issue for your horse, or if your horse experiences regular stress, adding a probiotic may help support digestion. What do probiotics do for your horse? Increasingly, research shows the importance of the microbiome (population of microbes in the gut) to overall health. Life stressors can disrupt the microbiome, which is where probiotics may have benefits for both humans and horses. "Colic, lack of appetite and a decline in performance are potential problems resulting from digestive issues," says Dr. Nettie Liburt, PAS Senior Equine Nutrition Manager, Mars Horsecare US. "A consistent diet with the support of probiotics may be useful in reducing the effects of stress on the digestive system." What are probiotics? The World Health Organization defines probiotics as live microorganisms that when administered at adequate concentrations confer a health benefit on the host. You may have heard them referred to as "good bacteria" or "good bugs." Another name for probiotics is direct fed microbials (DFMs). DFMs are intended to provide live colonies of lactic acid-producing bacteria (LAB), typically found in the intestines of healthy animals1. LAB produce vitamins, enzymes and volatile fatty acids (used in energy production), all of which may aid digestion, provide nutritional value and promote gastrointestinal (GI) health1. "Common species of LAB include Lactobacilli and Enterococcus, which are added to BUCKEYE™ Nutrition EQ8™ products," says Dr. Liburt. These species of bacteria are found in healthy equine microbiomes and are believed to help reduce or exclude the growth of potential pathogens. Application is important Probiotics are only useful if they're still active once the horse consumes the feed. They're heat sensitive, so they need to be added to a feed after processing. BUCKEYE Nutrition uses trademarked technology to apply probiotics. This process ensures even distribution of live probiotics in the feed, so they remain protected to be beneficially active in the horse's digestive system. "Our probiotic application technology separates us from other companies," says Amber Krotky, MS, PAS, Quality and Product Development Manager, Mars Horsecare US Inc. "It's our proprietary method of guaranteeing proper application and delivery of live probiotics." At BUCKEYE Nutrition, we formulate all our feeds based on current scientific research and knowledge of equine nutrition. If you're looking for a horse feed to support optimal digestion, EQ8™ Gut Health Multi-Textured Feed or EQ8™ Senior Gut Health Multi-Textured Feed might be your answer. References 1. National Research Council. 2007. Nutrient Requirements of Horses, 6th Ed. National Academies Press, Washington, DC. By: Buckeye Nutrition|Tagged:horse, buckeye nutrition, equine, horses, horse feed, equine nutrition, horse nutrition, horse diet, digestive health, probiotics|Leave comment The best ways to feed a senior horse with dental issues Friday, August 30, 2019 by BUCKEYE™ Nutrition As your horse ages, he can experience dental issues. This can affect what and how they eat and could contribute to a loss of body condition. We'll discuss signs of dental trouble and give you some suggestions for various feeding choices to help your senior horse's health and performance. Dental issues in senior horses Periodontal disease often accompanies advancing age. A horse may experience tooth loss, or existing molars may become so worn that the horse can no longer chew properly. This makes it difficult to chew long-stemmed hay. Have you noticed your horse's body condition score decreasing, or are you finding semi-chewed hay (called "quids") around the feeding area? Your horse is most likely struggling with dental issues and may not be consuming as much feed as you think he is. According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners, other signs of dental trouble include dropping feed, eating with the head tilted to the side, abnormal swellings around the cheek teeth, nasal discharge from one side, foul-smelling breath, or fussiness in response to the bridle or when asked to work. A horse of any age may experience dental problems, but seniors are especially prone. No matter how old your horse is, a "senior" diet program that facilitates proper food intake can be implemented. This may involve a complete change in feed or simply making a few adjustments in the existing feed program, depending on the individual situation. Feeding options for senior horses If your horse is maintaining weight and body condition regardless of dental concerns, it is possible that no changes need to be made just because he reaches a certain age. However, if the horse consumes little or no grain concentrate or is on a forage-only diet and is maintaining condition, consider feeding them a low-calorie ration balancer. Ration balancers provide vitamins, minerals and protein at low feeding rates to ensure a horse receives all the necessary nutrients they need – even the ones potentially missing from forage or fiber alternatives. Forage Alternatives and Complete Feeds The most important part of feeding a horse with dental issues is ensuring proper intake of the fiber they need, even if they can't consume hay. Fiber is essential for digestive health, and providing forage for the horse with dental problems can be accomplished with alternative forage sources if necessary. Chopped hay, soaked hay cubes or pellets, and soaked beet pulp are all excellent options. In addition, a complete feed – such as SAFE 'N EASY Complete, which comes in pellet form – is designed to provide all of the fiber and nutrients a horse needs as their sole diet. SAFE 'N EASY Complete may be soaked to ease consumption and increase water intake. A daily ration of complete feed should be spread out into multiple small meals throughout the day. For example, a 1,000-pound horse may need 20 to 25 pounds of a complete feed every day. Feeding 4 to 5 pounds of SAFE 'N EASY Complete every 3 to 4 hours will help extend the time it takes the horse to consume his daily ration, while making every effort to mimic natural grazing behavior by spreading meals out over time. Feed Form If necessary, feed a commercial grain concentrate that is extruded like SAFE 'N EASY Senior. Extruded feeds quickly soak and soften, and they are easy to chew and digest, especially if a horse is missing teeth. Adding warm water to feed concentrates and alternative fiber sources also make it easier for horses to chew. The addition of water can help reduce the risk of choking and decrease the amount of feed dropped. If possible, continue to encourage normal grazing behavior by giving your horse access to pasture and hay, which will help promote hindgut health. Slowly transition the horse's feed If you decide to change your horse's feed, make sure you slowly introduce new feed. Gradually decrease the amount of the old feed, while increasing the amount of new feed. It should take at least 10 to 14 days to transition to 100% of the new feed. If your horse has a sensitive digestive system, this process could take a few weeks to a month. The more time you can take to transition to the new feed, the better the transition will be for your horse. The practice of slow transition also includes hay – when a new batch of hay arrives, slowly mix it in with existing hay so the horse's gut has time to adjust to the new forage source. Feed suggestions for senior horses Good management and supportive nutrition will help your horse thrive and feel his best. Feed him the highest quality, safest feed available. Make dental care part of your horse's routine wellness program in partnership with your veterinarian, and work with BUCKEYE Nutritionists to ensure a diet best suited to your horse's individual needs. Buckeye Nutrition offers a variety of feed and supplements for senior horses and ponies that are made in a 100% medication-free mill from ingredients that meet the highest quality standards. By: BUCKEYE™ Nutrition|Tagged:horse, buckeye nutrition, senior, equine, horses, horse feed, horse nutrition, horse diet|Leave comment Got nutrients? Why you should add a ration balancer to your horse's diet Tuesday, August 13, 2019 by BUCKEYE™ Nutrition Adding a ration balancer to your horse's diet helps them get essential nutrients that may be missing from their forage. It's also great for easy keepers that require limited calories. Ration balancers help ensure a well-rounded diet, important for growth, performance, reproduction and more. You might assume your horse is getting all the nutrients they need on a forage-only diet. But are they really? Forages vary in nutrient quality, and stored hay loses vitamin E within a few weeks. A ration balancer can help fill in the nutritional gaps. What is a ration balancer? Ration balancers are a nutrient-dense horse feed that often come in a pelleted form and have a low feeding rate. They provide protein, essential amino acids, minerals and vitamins that the horse might not be getting enough of in their usual diet. Think of a ration balancer as a multivitamin. If you're concerned that this highly nutritious feed will add a lot of calories to your horse's diet – and therefore cause weight gain – don't fret. Ration balancers aren't high in starch, sugar or fat, so they won't add significant calories. Some people also question the "high" amount of protein in ration balancers. Coming in at about 25-35% crude protein, that's a lot more than the 10-16% in standard feed. However, the nutrient-dense ration balancers have a lower feeding rate. Since you're feeding less to your horse, it adds up to about the same (or sometimes even a little less) amount of protein they would get from feeding the recommended amount of a standard 12% crude protein feed. GRO 'N WIN™, the original ration balancer, has 32% crude protein. It can complement a diet consisting of grass or grass-legume mixed forage for horses of all life stages. To complement a diet that is 75% or more alfalfa, BUCKEYE™ Nutrition offers GRO 'N WIN™ Alfa. Senior Balancer has the same high-quality nutrition as GRO 'N WIN™, with added MSM (to support joint health) and yeast culture (to support healthy digestion). What's missing from your horse's forage-only diet? As we said before, forages can vary in nutrient quality and quantity. In a perfect scenario, pasture would provide all the daily nutrients a horse requires. But factors such as Poor growing conditions like drought or flooding, and seasonal changes can affect what the horse is consuming. When you start supplementing pasture with hay, you may not be supplying adequate nutrients. As soon as hay is harvested, it begins to lose vitamins and continues to do so the older it gets. Adding a ration balancer to a horse's forage-only diet can help provide the vitamins, minerals and amino acids they need. How to add a ration balancer to your horse's diet There are a few ways you can incorporate ration balancers into your horse's diet any time of the year. Since the balancer needs to be fed with forage, hay or pasture, you can combine it with a feed that has good quality forage or supplement a commercial concentrate feed plus forage. It's best to divide the recommended daily amount of a ration balancer in at least two daily feedings. This practice will help your horse maximize nutrient absorption throughout the day. A ration balancer can be good for horses who need limited starches and sugars in their diet, like horses who suffer from polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) or other forms not related to sugar/starch; horses who suffer from PPID or Equine Cushing's Syndrome; and insulin-dysregulating horses. A ration balancer can also help limit potassium for horses with hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP) when fed with a forage low in potassium concentration. When looking for the best ration balancer for horses, make sure you get one that is made with pure, safe ingredients. At BUCKEYE Nutrition™, we use 100% traceable ingredients and produce our feeds in a single, medication-free facility. By: BUCKEYE™ Nutrition|Tagged:horse, buckeye nutrition, equine, horses, horse feed, horse nutrition, horse diet, ration balancer|Leave comment Extrusion and Extruded Feed: What's the benefit? Tuesday, July 16, 2019 by Dr. Nettie Liburt Have you ever stopped to think about how your horse's feed is actually cooked? At BUCKEYE™ Nutrition, it's our job to think of things like this every day. When we asked our customers what they'd like in a feed designed for senior horses, one of the common comments was that it was easy to chew. So we went to work! How can we make a horse feed that maximizes ease of chewing? Simple – we can extrude it! Fortunately, our mill in Dalton, OH has extrusion capability, which gives us amazing flexibility in our manufacturing processes. The result is our new SAFE 'N EASY Senior. Extrusion has long been used in pet food manufacturing, but has also recently become utilized for equine feed. If you're now wondering what extrusion actually is, read on! In your own kitchen, you may have a pressure cooker. Pressure cooking is essentially what the process of extrusion is. Ingredients are ground and conditioned with steam, then cooked for a short period of time under high temperature and pressure. The mixture is then forced through a die, which determines the size and shape of the final product. The extrusion process helps to break down the structures of starches (and, depending on temperature, proteins), resulting in a "gelatinization" of starch (Dunnett, 2013). Extrusion appears to improve starch digestion in the small intestine (Vervuert, et al. 2008), lessening the likelihood that starch reaches the hindgut. Protein in extruded grains also appears to have higher digestibility compared to ground or pelleted grains (Rosenfeld and Austo 2009). All of this means that an extruded product is essentially "pre-digested," so that the horse can absorb starches and proteins a more efficiently. Extrusion also makes it easier to manufacture high fat feeds, which is beneficial for hard keepers. Moisture of the final product is typically low, helping to prolong shelf life and prevent mold, and are typically low in dust (Dunnett 2013). In addition, horses tend to consume extruded feeds slower than pellets or textured feed (Ely, et al. 2019), helping to lower the risk of digestive upset. What you may not know about an extruded nugget is that it is less dense than other forms of feed (pellets or textured, for example). That means that if you fill a cup with pellets, and you fill the same cup with extruded feed, they will not weigh the same. The extruded feed will weigh less. That is one reason why it is so important to weigh your horse's feed, and not just go by cups or scoops. Because extruded feeds are less dense then other feed forms, they will fall apart in the horse's mouth easier. Adding water to an extruded feed, like our new SAFE 'N EASY Senior, will result in an oatmeal-like consistency within about 3 minutes. For the horse with poor teeth or lack of chewing ability, feeding this type of soup or mash is an excellent option for calorie and nutrient consumption with a reduced risk of digestive upset. As a bonus, soaking feed helps increase water intake, and that's always a good thing! Extrusion has many benefits for horses of all ages, from helping to maintain weight to improved digestibility. Please contact us with your feeding questions, we'll be happy to help with your nutritional concerns! References Dunnett, C. 2013. Ration evaluation and formulation. In: Equine Applied and Clinical Nutrition. Geor, R.J., Harris, P.A and Coenen, M., Eds. Saunders Elsevier, London. pp. 405-424. Ely, K., Harris, P., Kaufman, K., Liburt, N., Krotky, A., McIntosh, B. 2019. Digestibility and postprandial response according to processing method and meal time of day. JEVS. 76:67. Rosenfeld, I. and Austo, D. 2009. Digestion of cereals in the equine gastrointestinal tract measured by the mobile bag technique on caecally cannulated horses. Animal Feed Sci Tech. 150(3-4):249-258. Vervuert, I., Voigt, K., Hollands, T., Cuddeford, D., Coenen, M. 2008. Effects of processing barley on its digestion by horses. Veterinary Record. 162: 684-688. By: Dr. Nettie Liburt|Tagged:horse, senior, horses, horse feed, single mill, horse nutrition, med free, geriatric, traceable ingredients, pure ingredients, extruded, extrusion|Leave comment When is a horse considered a "senior"? Tuesday, July 16, 2019 by Dr. Nettie Liburt When it comes to seniors, one of the most commonly asked questions is, "At what age is my horse a senior?" The answer, of course, depends on the horse. Horses, like people, age as individuals, and there is no hard and fast rule about when a horse is officially a senior citizen. The National Research Council (2007) suggests that while 20 years is an estimate of what is considered old age, there is considerable individual variation. A combination of chronological age (age in years) and physiological characteristics are best used for determining whether a horse is a senior (NRC 2007). However, many horses have some signs of aging around 20 years. Some of those changes may be visible, such as grey hair around the face or loss of muscle tone, while others may not be so obvious, such as hormonal changes or changes in the immune system. As horses age, they typically fall into one of four categories: Young at Heart – generally healthy Aged with a tendency to gain weight/obese Aged with a tendency to lose weight/underweight Geriatric – other health problems involved Still, one may notice that it is harder for a horse to work or compete at a certain level than it used to be. It may take longer to warm up for work, and it's harder to cool down afterwards. Aging is usually associated with changes in strength, body composition and general physiological function, but how much of these changes occur is very much dependent on the individual (Ralston and Harris, 2013). We do know that older horses have a harder time regulating body temperature (McKeever, et al., 2010), and are more easily affected by extreme temperatures (hot or cold). Exercise capacity decreased, recovery time increases (Betros et al., 2002) and there is a natural change in the endocrine system (Malinowski et al., 2006) that can be mitigated to some extent by maintaining a light training program (Liburt et al., 2014). Recent research has also suggested that a decrease in microbial diversity in the hindgut may occur as a result of age (Dougal et al., 2014). Again, some of these changes are easily observable while others are not. We love our seniors, no doubt. The 2015 USDA APHIS survey put the population of horses over the age of 20 years at 11.5% of the equine population, up from 7.4% in 1998. We know more about how horses age, and how to better care for them. One of the most important things we can do as guardians of our animals is to know what is normal and what is not. Note changes, work with a veterinarian to maintain regular healthcare, and adjust exercise regimens as necessary (according to ability and ambient temperature). Diet need not change unless there is a reason, for example, weight gain/loss or endocrine disease. I'll leave you with this recommendation: Know Your Horse! Keep track of weight, changes in behavior, movement and attitude. Maintain open lines of communication with your veterinarian, and of course your friendly BUCKEYE™ Nutrition professional nutritionists! We're here to guide your horse's nutrition through every stage of life, so ask us when you need help. The old adage, "Use it or lose it" holds very true for horses as well as their human caretakers – having a job, even if low level, helps keep the body moving, and the mind stimulated. Make accommodations for any changes a horse experiences, but don't count them out just because the years add up! References: Betros, C.L., McKeever, K.H., Kearns, CF., Malinowski, K. 2002. Effects of ageing and training on maximal heart rate and VO2max. Equine Veterinary Journal. 34(S34):100-105. Dougal, K., de la Guente, G., Harris, P.A., Girdwood, S.E., Pinloche, E., Geor, R.J., Ninelsen, B.D., Schott, H.C., Elzinga, S., Newbold, C.J. 2014. Characterisation of the faecal bacterial community in adult and elderly horses fed a high fibre, high oil or high starch diet using 454 pyrosequencing. PLoS One 9(20:e87424. Liburt, N.R., McKeever, K.H., Malinowski, K., Smarsh, D.N., Geor, R.J. 2013. Response of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis to stimulation tests before and after exercise training in old and young Standardbred mares. Journal of Animal Science. 91(11):5208-5219. Malinowski, K., Shock, E.J., Rochelle, P., Kearns, C.R., Guirnalda, P.D., McKeever, K.H. 2006. Plasma beta-endorphin, cortisol and immune responses to acute exercise are altered by age and exercise training in horses. Equine Veterinary Journal Suppl. 36:267-273. McKeever, K.H., Eaton, T.L., Geiser, S., Kearns, C.F., Lehnhard, R.A. 2010. Age related decreases in thermoregulation and cardiovascular function in horses. Equine Veterinary Journal. Nov (38):220-227. National Research Council (NRC). 2007. Unique aspects of equine nutrition. In: Nutrient Requirements of Horses, 6th Ed. National Academies Press, Washington, DC. pp. 235-267. Ralston, S. and Harris, P. 2013. Nutritional consideration for aged horses. In: Equine Applied and Clinical Nutrition. Geor, R.J., Harris, P.A and Coenen, M., Eds. Saunders Elsevier, London. pp. 289 -303. By: Dr. Nettie Liburt|Tagged:horse, senior, horses, horse feed, horse nutrition, geriatric, aged|Leave comment Nutrition Nuggets-Gastric Ulcers Sunday, January 20, 2019 by Dr. Nettie Liburt Let's start 2019 off on the right foot with Nutrition Nuggets! Our own Dr. Nettie Liburt explains all about gastric ulcers, and how nutrition plays a role in managing the risks for ulcers. By: Dr. Nettie Liburt|Tagged:horse, buckeye nutrition, equine, horses, horse feed, gastric ulcers, equine nutrition, pony, single mill, horse nutrition, nutrition nuggets, med free, ulcers|Leave comment Nutrition Nuggets-Bran Mashes Wednesday, November 28, 2018 by Dr. Nettie Liburt Do you feed your horse or pony a warm bran mash on cold winter days? Our Senior Nutrition Manager, Dr. Nettie Liburt, explains why feeding bran mashes in the cold, winter months might not be beneficial to your horse's digestive system and overall diet. By: Dr. Nettie Liburt|Tagged:horse, buckeye nutrition, equine, horses, horse feed, equine nutrition, equine feed, pony, single mill, horse nutrition, nutrition nuggets, med free, equine dedicated, bran mashes, winter|Leave comment « Older posts


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You know what that means. The Super Bowl Inquisitor is back!
Like the guy in the movie Say Anything..who only comes out of hiding once per year dressed in a chicken suit, the SBI makes his annual contribution to my blog…sans the chicken suit, however.
As is his custom, the SBI has some intriguing questions regarding this year's ultimate NFL game. Will the New York Giants win their 11th consecutive game away from Giants Stadium? Or will the New England Patriots become the first 19-0 team in NFL history?
Here goes!!
Q: If I had told you in September that a Manning would be in the Super Bowl, would you have ever guessed it would be Eli and not Peyton?
A: That would be the equivalent of asking which Hanks brother would win an Oscar this year and someone answering "Jim".
Q: Quarterback Tom Brady: He's the NFL MVP, leader of an 18-0 team, makes millions of dollars per year and is dating super model Gisele Bundchen. How good does this guy have it?
A: Right now, Brady could go to a garage sale and buy one of those "Dogs Playing Poker" paintings only to find out there's a Van Gogh masterpiece underneath.
Q: The majority of NFL fans outside of New England are going to be rooting vociferously for the Giants. Why do you think that is?
A: Because NFL fans don't like to see any team other than their own have enormous success. Those same people probably vote Democrat, too.
Q: So does that mean you'll be rooting for the Patriots?
A: Absolutely! If New England wins, we no longer have to endure that smug collection of 1972 Miami Dolphins popping champagne corks every year when the last unbeaten team loses for the first time. And it also means I can tell my Dad (huge 49ers fan; Patriots hater) that Tom Brady won four Super Bowl titles in less time than it took Joe Montana.
Q: Do you believe the rumors that Giants coach Tom Coughlin has taken a "kinder, gentler" approach with his team this season?
A: Yeah, the same thing was probably said about General George S. Patton during the 1943 invasion of Sicily…..right before he slapped one of his soldiers. Let's hope for kicker Lawrence Tynes' sake that he doesn't miss a key field goal again this week.
Q: Can you imagine how Tynes must have felt when he had to face a frostbitten Coughlin after missing two field goals in the NFC championship game?
A: Hey, the "meaner, gruffer" Coughlin would have made the native Scot wear a kilt when attempting his next kick.
Q: Is there anything that will entice you to watch musician Tom Petty perform during the big halftime extravaganza?
A: Only if he's with the rest of his Traveling Wilburys band mates.
Q: Uh, you do realize that two members of that band are now deceased, don't you?
A: So? They propped up Keith Richards two years ago when the Rolling Stones were the halftime entertainment.
Q: What's a good thing to eat while watching the big game?
A: As an NFL fan it is not only my right to consume foods which will make me an asset in chemical warfare, but it's also my responsibility.
Q: I got a riddle for ya. Can you name the only US President who was actually a duck?
A: Yeah, yeah, I heard that one when I was a teenager. The answer is Mallard Fillmore. What, are you running out of football questions?
Q: OK, here's the finale. The Patriots are a 12-point favorite to beat the Giants. Who is your pick to win Super Bowl XLII?
Overall postseason record:
Straight up: 6-4


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Mo., K.C. Reach Desegregation-Subsidy Accord
Missouri would end its roughly $100 million annual subsidy of Kansas City's school-desegregation efforts by the turn of the century under an agreement reached last week.
The settlement between the state and the school district would bring to a close years of hostility in a case that has produced the nation's costliest effort to undo the effects of a separate educational system for blacks and whites.
But because the agreement requires court approval and is opposed by the plaintiffs in the case, it by no means heralds an end to nearly 20 years of litigation over integrating the city's schools.
In signing the pact, the district vowed to back the state's bid to be released from a federal court order that has required the state to pour about $1 billion into district desegregation efforts since 1985.
The state, in turn, pledged to pay the district $314 million over the next three years in exchange for freedom from further financial obligations after 1998-99. Missouri officials also promised to support a scaled-down desegregation plan that the district plans to ask U.S. District Court Judge Russell G. Clark to approve at a hearing June 3.
"This is a historic day for the state and the Kansas City school district," state Attorney General Jeremiah W. Nixon said last week. "For the first time they have agreed to an end for state payments for desegregation. We have agreed to three years and out."
Bankruptcy Predicted
Mr. Nixon and district representatives said they hoped to win support for the agreement from the families of schoolchildren who brought the case in 1977, as well as the Kansas City Federation of Teachers, which entered the case as a plaintiff in 1986.
But Arthur A. Benson II, the lawyer for the plaintiff schoolchildren, denounced the agreement and said he would oppose it in court. "It's a sure prescription for bankruptcy of the district," he said.
And Kathy Reed, the president of the union, which represents Kansas City's 3,000 teachers, said its members had concerns about the pact. But she said its members would reserve judgment while negotiations with the district over its revised desegregation plan continue.
"The difficulty is that there is nothing we can see that will provide for funding after that three-year period," Ms. Reed said. "There is a lot of potential for grief for us."
The state's hopes of eliminating the desegregation subsidy were given a boost last June by a decision in the U.S. Supreme Court. The court held that a lower-court judge overstepped his authority by requiring costly measures to attract white suburban students to district schools. (See Education Week, June 21, 1995.)
Encouraged by the high court ruling, the state asked Judge Clark last month to have the district declared unitary, or free of the vestiges of racial segregation. (See Education Week, May 8, 1996.)
The negotiations that led to last week's agreement began after that filing.
New Funding Sought
If the agreement is approved, the state will let the district decide when to seek release from court supervision by being declared unitary. Representatives for the district said it does not intend to seek that status in the near future.
Kansas City Superintendent Larry G. Ramsey said the 37,000-student district agreed to the accord in part to minimize the risk and expense of continued litigation. He said it would also give school officials a three-year window to come up with other funding sources.
"Obviously, if this is approved, we have to begin to develop a strategy immediately," Mr. Ramsey said.
This year, a third of the district's $330 million budget comes from state desegregation funds. Under the agreement, the state would provide the district with $110 million for the fiscal year starting in July, then scale back to $105 million in 1997-98 and $99 million in 1998-99.
Ms. Reed said the district needed to mount an intensive public relations campaign to increase city taxpayers' willingness to support the public schools.
But Mr. Benson said he doubted the district would secure the new revenue sources it is seeking. The result, he said, would be a drastic erosion in the impressive array of programs made possible by the court orders and the improved student achievement that has accompanied them.
"If this agreement is implemented, the programs that have made those achievements possible will come to a screeching halt," Mr. Benson said. "And middle-class parents, white and black alike, who have been attracted to the schools over these past 11 years will take their children out in months."
Vol. 15, Issue 36
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I am a child…small, dependent, vulnerable, but full of
wonder and curiosity about myself and God's world.
I am a child of God…..help me to know him.
I am eager to learn so show me the wonders of God each day.
I want to feel secure so provide for me those things
I need so I will develop trust.
I am full of imagination….give me opportunities
to explore, create, and pretend.
I want to be a friend to all, so show me how
to care and celebrate our differences.
I believe in the magic of life….nurture it in me as it may be the
beginning of a thought that will benefit all people
I believe in YOU….my nurturer, my caregiver… my "Caretaker of Wonder"!
Here I am Lord!


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News and Information
Not able to get out to our 'WITH not AGAINST" seminars on Restorative practices? Anne Martin of Shalem Mental Health Network, and Owen Webb have both graciously allowed us to share their presentation slides from their presentations.
December 7 - Owen Webb February 22 - Anne Martin
Covenant Connection Newsletter Sample
At our schools we partner with parents to nurture our students by delivering top quality Christian education. Regular communication is very important to making this partnership work well. Click on the link to see a sample of our weekly newsletter that goes out each Monday to every family. The current version is here.
Prayer Minder - Prayer is very important to us. Our quarterly PrayerMinder provides a wonderful opportunity to have our support community keep the activities of our schools in their prayers, and helps people stay current with what is happening in our schools. The Prayer Minder bookmark is distributed to supporters, churches, and families of NACE.
NACE Notes
We love to celebrate the great work and learning that takes place at our schools. That's why, four times a year, we create NACE Notes. It is packed with information about what our students have been up to, student work, and ongoing initiatives at our schools.
Fall, 2017 - Instructional Excellence
Winter, 2018 - Culture and Character
Spring, 2018 - Relationships
Our school newsletters and other publications are viewable with Adobe Reader. A free viewing program. If you don't have it please download your copy. It's quick and easy to use.
We are a 'Nut Aware' School due to the life-threatening allergies of some of our students. To assist you, we have developed a suggested safe snack list.
TRIP stands for Tuition Reduction Incentive Program
Once you have registered with the program you may purchase vouchers or gift cards from our wide variety of suppliers. You pay face value for these cards, so if you pay $25, you receive a card or voucher worth $25. There is no cost to you! These orders are filled by the school which purchases in large volume and receives a percentage discount. We split the discount in two ways - a portion goes to our Bursary program, and the balance goes towards reducing your tuition for the following year. Check out the order form for more details and to see what a great selection of stores and suppliers have signed on to our program.
All Forms are available at the Main Cairn site.
Ongoing Fundraising
MABEL LABELS All your orders can be placed online through the NACE Mabel Label's website.