Director - Danbury Library

<b>Director - </b><b><b><span style="color: #48286d;">Danbury Library</span></b></b>. The City of Danbury will not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of sex, race, color, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions, national origin, ancestry, age, veteran status, or disability, except where it is a bona fide occupational qualification. We encourage African Americans, women, Hispanics, and other minorities who meet the minimum qualifications to apply. General Statement Of Duties:The Library Director’s primary responsibility is to develop and maintain an outstanding public library and to encourage as many community residents as possible to take full advantage of its resources. This must be done in accordance with the best principles of modern professional librarianship. The Library Director is ultimately responsible for every phase of library operations. Duties And Responsibilities: Works with the Board of Directors, creates library policy, which includes present aims and long-range goals; implements policy by devising effective procedures. Suggests policy revisions of policy statement to Board of Directors when advisable. Responsible for fiscal management of library. Prepares annual budget request; is alert to possible outside grants; prepares application for annual State Library grant; submits interim fiscal reports and recommendations. Responsible for development of library staff. Assesses personnel needs, establishes adequate job descriptions; in cooperation with Civil Service, recruits, interviews and recommends new personnel. Plans orientation and in-service training sessions as needed to develop an efficient, service-oriented staff. Reviews employee evaluation reports of principal librarians in accordance with City procedures. Responsible for seeing that the library and its services are adequately publicized, and for encouraging development of meaningful, appropriate programs for citizens of all ages. Supervises development of the library’s research and recreational materials, including books, films, magazines, phonograph records, which reflect the needs and interests of the community. Final authority for addition or deletion of materials from the library’s collection. Responsible for the performance of all service departments and technical departments of the library. Serves as the library’s liaison and representative at national, state and local levels. Attends professional library conventions; participates actively in state and regional library planning; attends local functions and meetings, such as civic and service groups, and seeks ways for the library to cooperate with responsible organizations. Responsible for maintenance of an attractive, functional library facility. Supervises physical arrangement of furniture, layout of offices, distribution of supplies, custodial building maintenance and lawn. Responsible for building security. Continually reviews national and state standards for public libraries and familiarizes the Board and the City administration with the library’s progress toward meeting them. Devises a realistic timetable for meeting standards which includes those applying to staff, book collection, collections of other materials, hours of opening, physical facilities, financial support and public services. Minimum Qualifications And Requirements: Knowledge/Abilities/Skills: Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of modern public library administration; ability to plan, develop and coordinate an effective library staff; ability to anticipate and plan financial needs; must have at least 3 years experience with establishing budgets and grant process; ability to prepare written and oral reports of library plans and services; experience with computerized circulation and reference systems required; must be intelligent, well-read and well-informed; must have sufficient personal poise and skill to represent the library effectively at all levels; must have sufficient knowledge to be able to supervise, assess, and, if necessary, perform every professional task assigned to others. Education and Training: Graduation from an accredited college or university, plus one year of training in an accredited graduate library school, Master’s Degree in Library Science. At least six year’s successful experience in the library profession, at least four of which shall have been as chief administrator in a public library serving not less than 10,000 people or an assistant chief administrator in a public library serving not less than 40,000 people. Application Submission: Applications are available at the Human Resources Dept., 155 Deer Hill Ave., Danbury, CT 06810 or at <a _fcksavedurl="http://www.danbury-ct.gov" href="http://www.danbury-ct.gov/" target="_blank">www.danbury-ct.gov</a>. The application must be completed in its entirety. Omissions, false, misleading or inaccurate information will result in rejection of the application. Please contact the Human Resources/Civil Service Department at (203) 797-4598 or <a _fcksavedurl="mailto:humanresources@ci.danbury.ct.us" href="mailto:humanresources@ci.danbury.ct.us">humanresources@ci.danbury.ct.us</a> if you need assistance or if you have any general questions.

Director - Danbury Library

Director - Danbury Library . The City of Danbury will not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of sex, race, color, sexual orie...

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Doctors Brace for Health Law’s Surge of Ailing Patients - Bloomberg

<base href="data:"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><p style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><a href="http://www.holycrosshealth.org/aspen-hill-location" title="Open Web Site" rel="external" density="full" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">Holy Cross Hospital's</a> health center in Aspen Hill, <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/maryland/" density="full" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">Maryland</a>, is bracing for more business.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The center treats the uninsured, and has been busy since it opened in 2012 with a waiting list of more than 400 people at its clinic. Now, as a result of the U.S. Affordable Care Act, it's mulling adding staff and hours in anticipation of next year's rush of newly-insured patients, many with chronic medical conditions that have gone untreated for years.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Poorly controlled diabetes can cause stroke, <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/kidney-failure/" density="sparse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">kidney failure</a> and blindness. Undiagnosed cancer can translate into complex end-of-life care, and untreated high <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/blood-pressure/" density="full" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">blood pressure</a> can lead to heart attacks. In effect, the 2010 <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/the-prognosis-for-obamacare/" title="Open Web Site" rel="external" density="full" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">health law</a>'s biggest promise becomes its most formidable challenge: unprecedented access to care for a needy population when the nation is already grappling with overtaxed emergency rooms and a shortage of physicians.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">"When you're getting people that haven't had insurance, they have significant health issues," said Kevin Sexton, president and chief executive officer of Holy Cross Health, in a telephone interview. "A lot of people need these services."</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">About 25 million Americans are expected to gain coverage under the health law, commonly known as Obamacare. Starting Oct. 1, as many as 7 million uninsured Americans will begin shopping for private plans through government-run exchanges, with many people eligible to have their premiums subsidized by taxpayers. On Jan. 1, Medicaid programs for low-income people will be expanded in about half the U.S. states.</p><h2 style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">Strained System</h2><p style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The increase in newly insured patients arrives at a time when the nation has 15,230 fewer primary-care doctors than it needs, according to an Aug. 28 assessment by the <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/u.s.-department-of-health/" density="sparse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">U.S. Department of Health</a> and Human Services. And emergency rooms report being strained with visits that have risen at twice the rate of <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/population-growth/" density="full" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">population growth</a>.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">"It's like we're handing out bus tickets and the bus is already full," said Perry Pugno, vice president for medical education at the <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/0678068D:US" class="web_ticker" title="Get Quote" density="full" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">American Academy of Family Physicians</a>, by telephone. "The shortfall of primary-care access is not an insignificant problem, and it's going to get worse."</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Almost half of all uninsured, non-elderly adults had a chronic condition, based on a 2005 <a href="http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/411161_uninsured_americans.pdf" title="Open Web Site" rel="external" density="full" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">report</a> by the <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/urban-institute/" density="full" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">Urban Institute</a> and the <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/university-of-maryland/" density="full" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">University of Maryland</a>. One in six with hypertension reported no visits to health professionals in a year.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Most who come to Holy Cross's health center now lack insurance, and have lived for years with serious ailments, according to Elise Riley, the center's medical director. "It's frustrating to see diseases that could have been prevented," she said in an interview in her office.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">More demand may lead to months-long waits to see doctors, delays in finding specialists, and strains on hospitals and outpatient clinics, others said.</p><h2 style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">Patient Access</h2><p style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Ensuring patient access is critical to the Affordable Care Act's success: if the newly insured swamp the medical system, it could hand critics pushing to derail the law another argument to fray public support. Sara Rosenbaum, a health-law professor at George <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/washington/" density="sparse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">Washington</a> University in Washington, said she doesn't believe it's going to happen.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">"It's going to be a slow ramp up," Rosenbaum said in a telephone interview. "It's not like seven million people will get insurance at once. They're not going to all come racing in the door."</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">While that number of new patients can be debated, the status of those who do come in the door is not.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Patients who have had gaps in health insurance were more likely to have not gone to a doctor when sick or to have skipped getting prescriptions, according to an April 2013 report by the Commonwealth Fund, a New York-based foundation that works for health-care access. The uninsured were less likely to be up-to-date on recommended cholesterol, blood pressure, colon cancer screenings and mammograms.</p><h2 style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">Massachusetts Overhaul</h2><p style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Massachusetts pioneered health reform in 2006 when it enacted near universal coverage under then governor <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/mitt-romney/" density="sparse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">Mitt Romney</a>. Community health centers and hospitals that care for a larger share of lower-income residents saw a 12 percent jump in patient volume from 2009 to 2010, with almost 100,000 more visits to safety net hospitals during that time, according to a 2012 <a href="http://kaiserfamilyfoundation.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/8311.pdf" title="Open Web Site" rel="external" density="full" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">report</a> by the <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/kaiser-family-foundation/" density="full" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">Kaiser Family Foundation</a>.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">David Longworth, chairman of the Medicine Institute at <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/ohio/" density="full" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">Ohio</a>'s <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/cleveland-clinic/" density="full" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">Cleveland Clinic</a>, was working in Massachusetts when the state passed near universal health coverage.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">"Practices closed and patients would wait for eight to nine months to get in," Longworth said by telephone. "We overwhelmed the primary care health system."</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">In cities such as Lawrence, Massachusetts, a former textile city that has long been home to a large immigrant community, doctors have coped with rising volume.</p><h2 style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">Patient Surplus</h2><p style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The <a href="http://lawrencefmr.org/site/" title="Open Web Site" rel="external" density="full" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">Lawrence Family Medicine Residency</a>, which provides primary care and other medical services to a largely low-income patient population, saw an uptick in patients, said Joseph Gravel, chief medical officer and residency program director.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">"When you look at the experience in <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/massachusetts/" density="sparse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">Massachusetts</a>, it's going to be bumpy" when Obamacare rolls out, Gravel said in a telephone interview.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The percentage of family doctors in the state accepting new patients has dropped 19 percent in the past seven years and the percentage of internists accepting new patients has fallen 21 percent over nine years, according to a July report by the Massachusetts Medical Society, an advocacy group for patients and physicians. Only about half of family doctors were accepting new patients this year.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The Cleveland Clinic predicts as many as 90,000 new patients in northeast Ohio if everyone signs up for coverage. The health system is working to ramp up its primary care practices in anticipation.</p><h2 style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">Exciting Challenge</h2><p style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">At Grady Health System in Atlanta, more patients are expected, especially at its six outpatient centers. San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center in <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/california/" density="sparse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">California</a> has some expanded hours its 19 primary care centers. The centers are located in the hospital and out in the community.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">"We anticipate an increase in primary care and specialty," Chief Executive Officer Sue Currin said.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">On a recent Friday morning at the Holy Cross clinic in Aspen Hill, Riley donned a white coat and prepared to see patients. While there may be more patients under reform, Riley said an increase in business will be welcome.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 17px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; position: static; z-index: auto; ">"I've very excited," Riley said. "I've been dealing with uninsured patients for a long time. If they get coverage, we can prevent a lot of problems."</p></div><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2013-09-23/doctors-brace-for-health-law-s-surge-of-ailing-patients.html">http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2013-09-23/doctors-brace-for-health-law-s-surge-of-ailing-patients.html</a><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>

Doctors Brace for Health Law’s Surge of Ailing Patients - Bloomberg

Holy Cross Hospital's  health center in Aspen Hill,  Maryland , is bracing for more business. The center treats the uninsured, and has b...

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Belviq representing at the AAFP Medical Convension

My friend, and fellow belviq patient, Mark Benjamin is working the AAFP Medical Convension and took some pictures of the booth representing Belviq.  He said as of 10:00 am checkin, the Belviq booth had 12 visitors, and Qysmia had 1.  Now THAT's representing!!!!<br /><br />Great job reporting in Mark.  <br /><br />Here are some pictures.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP7tJzwDIVfGXn8Sac_abq_c-fwKtTCbcsgTkgSPCZ11xSaM2avouPiE7tW2s4lR8JjEftgXXsviHToEaftYdgWuOh3h0-1hOR_-cTmCARST5yhtNm8hjZVley1-_zSB2p4JZH1KOdjeU/s1600/belviq+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP7tJzwDIVfGXn8Sac_abq_c-fwKtTCbcsgTkgSPCZ11xSaM2avouPiE7tW2s4lR8JjEftgXXsviHToEaftYdgWuOh3h0-1hOR_-cTmCARST5yhtNm8hjZVley1-_zSB2p4JZH1KOdjeU/s320/belviq+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXDjU-TSquuY768QI6jzu-UXisnHEqMZNr8c3hB7FoCPrVbLxOxFcbjhPdi4bn6jRFXqLSQ0yyOtpmehr51X7HfM5zg5abRnrmOwrz_Ylo8MxDyotiATbpaaIj0wpb-X6MEbJzw6_U3E/s1600/belviq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXDjU-TSquuY768QI6jzu-UXisnHEqMZNr8c3hB7FoCPrVbLxOxFcbjhPdi4bn6jRFXqLSQ0yyOtpmehr51X7HfM5zg5abRnrmOwrz_Ylo8MxDyotiATbpaaIj0wpb-X6MEbJzw6_U3E/s320/belviq.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVuhzv4ta0M62fAXVh5duC0-14_9ACTUJ3kPt9tf192ZSdPdTt_uDPnvwdOPAQGE7IWY7TP9o4JZM8T-N01Pv5nfStknidcYcMULbq1NQYoWK2hv3ITcDARANugxQCQafCyc37IUjBQc/s1600/belviq2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVuhzv4ta0M62fAXVh5duC0-14_9ACTUJ3kPt9tf192ZSdPdTt_uDPnvwdOPAQGE7IWY7TP9o4JZM8T-N01Pv5nfStknidcYcMULbq1NQYoWK2hv3ITcDARANugxQCQafCyc37IUjBQc/s320/belviq2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>

Belviq representing at the AAFP Medical Convension

My friend, and fellow belviq patient, Mark Benjamin is working the AAFP Medical Convension and took some pictures of the booth representing ...

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Another Teamster organizing victory in Georgia!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLnCTua0ctBeA4E4AFOjkm-ObYcXFGHOq5IPGtXbgYX2fh5o_I4qOBeMFxQ7tDNvYtojZuzOTwsMiXAheox9uEUBfYnC2w3Bb-ipsQ0CNpJmQoT8bYugzCwvJMoeZ9pWfe8LMw4nZ60mi/s1600/victory.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLnCTua0ctBeA4E4AFOjkm-ObYcXFGHOq5IPGtXbgYX2fh5o_I4qOBeMFxQ7tDNvYtojZuzOTwsMiXAheox9uEUBfYnC2w3Bb-ipsQ0CNpJmQoT8bYugzCwvJMoeZ9pWfe8LMw4nZ60mi/s200/victory.jpeg" width="132" /></a></div>Please give a warm welcome to our 50 new brothers and sisters who work as warehouse workers for Americold in McDonough, Ga. They recently voted overwhelmingly to join Teamsters Local 528 in Atlanta.<br /><br />Though there are about 50 workers in the bargaining unit, many temporary workers will become full time, so the bargaining unit is expected to grow to 80 to 90 workers.<br /><br />Don Toney, president of Teamsters Local 528 in Atlanta, explained why they joined our union:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">We represent Americold workers at four other locations, so the McDonough workers saw the great job we do for their co-workers in other areas.</blockquote>The McDonough workers are also seeking fair pay. Johnny Edwards, a Teamsters Local 528 business agent, said Americald workers already represented receive much higher wages:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">They are also seeking a seniority system, protection of rights, improved benefits and respect and dignity in the workplace.</blockquote>Americold is the largest provider of temperature-controlled warehousing and distribution services in the United States. The company has more than 6,000 associates in 100 warehouse locations. Teamsters represent more than 1,000 Americold workers nationwide.<br /><br /><br />

organizing victory warehouse workers Another Teamster organizing victory in Georgia!

Please give a warm welcome to our 50 new brothers and sisters who work as warehouse workers for Americold in McDonough, Ga. They recently vo...

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Private prison rap sheet: Violence, abuse, death

Teamsters are fighting private prison companies that try to take over the government's job of punishing inmates -- and do it for obscene profit. In Florida, for example, <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2012/02/make-or-break-fl-prison-privatization.html" rel="nofollow">Teamsters from Local 2011 persuaded lawmakers</a> that it was a very bad idea to turn a third of the state's prisons over to Boca Raton-based GEO Group. Yesterday, <a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/teamsters-private-prison-quotas-rob-taxpayers" rel="nofollow">Teamsters denounced private prison companies</a> that negotiate contracts linking inmate population to profit. The union represents 30,000 correctional officers.<br /><br />Our friends at the <a href="http://prwatch.org/" rel="nofollow">Center for Media and Democracy</a> -- the ones who exposed <a href="http://alecexposed.org/" rel="nofollow">ALEC</a>, the corporate dating service for lawmakers -- are now exposing the predatory corporations that are trying to take over our government. They're doing a 12-part series at "<a href="http://outsourcingamericaexposed.org/">OutsourcingAmericaExposed.org</a>" in which they're outing the worst corporate outsources. Today CMD reveals the horrors of prisons run by GEO Group.<br /><br />Among their findings:<br /><ul><li>CEO George C. Zoley's compensation was an eye-popping $22,315,704 from 2008-2012, almost all paid for by U.S. taxpayers;</li><li><a href="http://www.privateci.org/private_pics/GEO_suit2.pdf">Hundreds of lawsuits</a> have been filed against GEO Group, many of which were settled before trial. The suits range from allegation of inmate death and abuse, excessive force, medical neglect as well as allegations of employment discrimination;</li><li>An audit by the state of Texas found in 1999 that GEO Group (then known as Wackenhut) barely kept the minimum number of guards required in its contract to run a jail in Travis County. The company was fined $625,000 for chronic staffing shortages; </li><li>GEO Group was sued by inmates at East Mississippi Correctional Facility for "barbaric and horrific conditions." The facility, designated for special needs and psychiatric problems, denies patients the most rudimentary mental health services and many committed suicide; </li><li>GEO Group settled a <a href="http://www.splcenter.org/sites/default/files/downloads/case/cb_v_walnut_grove_complaint.pdf" rel="nofollow">lawsuit</a> that charged its Walnut Grove Correctional Facility (WGYCF) juvenile prison in Mississippi perpetuated violence and corruption. A <a href="http://www.splcenter.org/sites/default/files/downloads/case/walnutgroveDOJ.pdf" rel="nofollow">U.S. Department of Justice investigation</a> found 'deliberate indifference’ in failing to protect youths from harm in seven major areas, including sexual misconduct between guards and inmates and use of excessive force by guards;</li></ul><br />Horrified yet? If not, read the whole thing <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/09/12255/violence-abuse-and-death-profit-prisons-geo-group-rap-sheet" rel="nofollow">here</a>.

ALEC exposed private prisons Private prison rap sheet: Violence, abuse, death

Teamsters are fighting private prison companies that try to take over the government's job of punishing inmates -- and do it for obscene...

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The Best Way To Quickly And Effortlessly Cut A Hundred Calories From Your Diet

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Albert Gorman</div><br /><br /> <div class='uawarticle'>Chances are you are probably very sick of having to check out the calorie content on every individual food that you think about consuming and every single drink you are thinking of drinking. Don't worry: we totally get the feeling. Monitoring calories is certainly no fun. You will be happy to learn, though, that it does not have to be the big problem that it might have started to be for you. Here's the real truth: there are all kinds of ways that you can cut out 100's of calories from your diet devoid of having to do all sorts of calculations to get there. Keep reading to figure out exactly how to do it.<br /> <br /> One of the least difficult ways to cut out a hundred unhealthy calories is to stop drinking everything but water. Water features zero calories and keeps you hydrated. There are all types of calories in soda pops and juices and coffee and having them can often make you feel much more thirsty. Espresso and soda especially are genuinely bad for packing on 100's of calories in just a few minutes. Carefully consider that shot of flavoring you add to your morning coffee cup. Actually one ounce can add quite a few calories to the coffee. Perhaps you should skip the coffee altogether and drink water instead to help your calorie count drop an insane amount.<br /> <br /> Don't use butter to season your vegetables; implement herbs, seasonings and lemon juice. The flavour will be out of this world and you will not have the calories associated with the butter you are familiar with. Furthermore - this helps you lower your risk of developing high bad cholesterol levels and having those calories accumulated as fat for later on.<br /> <br /> Tacos might well be your very favorite food ever but they are often chock full of calories that are dreadful for you. Fortunately, though, you will not have to stop enjoying them. Just create them in healthy ways. Use corn tortillas rather than flour and you can easily remove a hundred calories. You can drop even more calories by using just the leanest cuts of meat or consuming only vegan or all-vegetable tacos.<br /> <br /> Are you presently still ingesting the skin on your roasted chicken? Never do that! Sure it tastes good but it is packed to the brim with calories. It is okay to leave the skin upon the meat while it is grilling as this can help you season and spice the meat properly as well as ensure that the flavor really may get sealed in but after the cooking activity is complete you should certainly take the skin off. This can make your eating routine all the much better.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The sincere and easy truth is that with just some basic changes to your food prep, you can chop hundreds of calories from your eating routine every single day. Only using light whole wheat bread instead of regular white bread can decrease a hundred calories from a person's diet. Water as an alternative for soda, coffee or juices drops hundreds of calories each day. Perhaps the very best thing concerning these tips is that they will not require the sacrifice of personal taste to help you attain superior health.<br /> <br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawresource'><br /> <div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawlinks'>If you are looking to strengthen your calorie burning, products like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aufzgwJMnL4">Garcinia Extra</a> are becoming popular these days.</div><br /> </div><br />

The Best Way To Quickly And Effortlessly Cut A Hundred Calories From Your Diet

By Albert Gorman Chances are you are probably very sick of having to check out the calorie content on every individual food that you thi...

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Teamsters fight Wegmans' pension grab

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajc-7Euh2zD_FOgi1H2gk3tdbGyUURkybL2afDHMoxhTEiIvyee5y8zYuASGVwk92F6RYqHNzxS1iEwFYVopcUnV-etRGxweUHZClPgm8lD8flnHkiO-mjwkVL9rQEgtT4i0DA2tSoaj0/s1600/wegmans2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajc-7Euh2zD_FOgi1H2gk3tdbGyUURkybL2afDHMoxhTEiIvyee5y8zYuASGVwk92F6RYqHNzxS1iEwFYVopcUnV-etRGxweUHZClPgm8lD8flnHkiO-mjwkVL9rQEgtT4i0DA2tSoaj0/s320/wegmans2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wegmans Teamsters at a recent informational picket.</td></tr></tbody></table>For more than 15 years, Wegmans grocery stores have been ranked as one of the best places to work in America.<br /><br />Until now.<br /><br />Although the chain made over $6.6 billion in sales last year, it is trying to cut costs on the backs of workers.<br /><br />Rochester, N.Y., stores are threatening to take away secure retirement plans for <a href="http://www.teamsterslocal118.org/" rel="nofollow">Teamsters Local 118</a> delivery and warehouse workers by replacing it with a Wegmans 401(k) plan.<br /><br />Other Wegmans workers already on the plan are urging members to stay away. Said Kevin McIntosh, Teamsters Local 118 business agent:  <br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">They’re telling us to keep fighting because they know they can’t survive on the company’s plan.</blockquote>Having a good company retirement plan is more important now than ever before.  As company pension plans have disappeared, <a href="http://www.alternet.org/economy/401k-revolution-and-inequality">almost half of American households cannot afford to set aside any money for their retirement</a>.<br /><br />A better outcome than that is not likely if Teamsters are switched to Wegmans 401(k) plan.<br /><br />Not only is the company trying to take away the hope of a good retirement for workers, but management retaliated against members who spoke out against the switch.<br /><br />On behalf of members at Wegmans, Local 118 filed for an unfair labor practice charge on Monday and is practicing picketing outside company headquarters. Said McIntosh: <br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">We want to send a strong message to Wegmans that our members are committed to protecting quality jobs in our community and will not tolerate threats and intimidation on the part of the company. We will not stand by while Wegmans attempts to undercut the standards our members have worked hard to build for decades.</blockquote>If you think workers deserve a better future, like them on their Facebook page and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WegmansTeamsters">send a message of support to our brothers and sisters at Wegmans</a>.<br /><br />

pensions Wegmans Teamsters fight Wegmans' pension grab

Wegmans Teamsters at a recent informational picket. For more than 15 years, Wegmans grocery stores have been ranked as one of the best place...

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Chili pot is going

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgeSRqv1vc9_M8q7YZcKeLx9LTlrbfR-ybrHuRbtJ9v5WPmG68znbeKNNo_cGDP_4VFVXgk9_H6j_-bK5_MjzNzV_f6Qjg91kOIlzId0Z0ESkeOQLzVqVyFAlZHDXJPrvvHlTlFxTmFlmD/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgeSRqv1vc9_M8q7YZcKeLx9LTlrbfR-ybrHuRbtJ9v5WPmG68znbeKNNo_cGDP_4VFVXgk9_H6j_-bK5_MjzNzV_f6Qjg91kOIlzId0Z0ESkeOQLzVqVyFAlZHDXJPrvvHlTlFxTmFlmD/s400/9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Chili pot is going and noodles cooking for a macaroni and cheese casserole, enough to share with a neighbor.</div><br />Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell

Chili pot is going

Chili pot is going and noodles cooking for a macaroni and cheese casserole, enough to share with a neighbor. Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell

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Signs of fall

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXI-dVfzLU0df16FPk7EHjB4zlJCvl5r6M6GNRPJ4dmxnf4J4rKSvIB0BB5OKbfAM3qWm3dko2Dkvjc51y2lESaSbCB5bTc4kB4NSNoKBa4Y4KWv8tLFuH-2eFDAbXDCGOvb-WeXRvVh9/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXI-dVfzLU0df16FPk7EHjB4zlJCvl5r6M6GNRPJ4dmxnf4J4rKSvIB0BB5OKbfAM3qWm3dko2Dkvjc51y2lESaSbCB5bTc4kB4NSNoKBa4Y4KWv8tLFuH-2eFDAbXDCGOvb-WeXRvVh9/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> SWAC Husband has been busy. He cut down a huge 60-foot dead locust tree in the back yard and then sawed it in lengths, split it, let it season out, hauled it, and now is getting ready to stack it. This is one pile ... there's two more like it of oak, maple, and ash that will need to be stacked.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISxIzWf5qKpKNIz-G8p3ELxd0obM5oNX4pDxc7WEuCV6_s_iUn0PbAKVPL9pRBErf9FZTsGS8OFzChtCdHxHAg-GqBTwNV5CZeFIjj4YgzEqSM1Dr5r6xJqSHkoqAzTznC93W_FUxI7t2/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISxIzWf5qKpKNIz-G8p3ELxd0obM5oNX4pDxc7WEuCV6_s_iUn0PbAKVPL9pRBErf9FZTsGS8OFzChtCdHxHAg-GqBTwNV5CZeFIjj4YgzEqSM1Dr5r6xJqSHkoqAzTznC93W_FUxI7t2/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Time to rake!</div><br /><i>Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />September 25, 2013</i>

fall in Shenandoah Valley firewood Signs of fall

 SWAC Husband has been busy. He cut down a huge 60-foot dead locust tree in the back yard and then sawed it in lengths, split it, let it sea...

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Today's Teamster News 09.26.13

(UPDATES with items about federal contract worker pay)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/hoffa-calls-cruz-right-wing-extremists-stop-aca-misrepresentations" rel="nofollow">Hoffa Calls On Cruz, Right-Wing Extremists To Stop ACA Misrepresentations</a>  teamster.org   ...Here's an official statement by Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa...<br /><a href="http://www.teamstersjc25.com/news/2013/092313_L330_SeniorFlexonicsContract.html" rel="nofollow">Hundreds of Manufacturing Workers Ratify First Teamster Contract</a>  Joint Council 25   ...Approximately 340 manufacturing employees at Senior Flexonics ratified their first contract with Teamsters Local 330 by a 3-to-1 margin...<br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/teamsters-private-prison-quotas-rob-taxpayers" rel="nofollow">Teamsters: Private Prison Quotas Rob Taxpayers</a>  teamster.org   ...The Teamsters Union is denouncing the findings of a new study revealing that private prison management firms have contracts that directly link profits to inmate capacity. The Teamsters Union represents 30,000 correctional officers in 20 states across the country...<br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/audio/download/91870/Leslie%20Marshall%20Interviews%20Louis%20Malizia%209-23.mp3">Teamsters Capital Strategies Speaks Out On Wage Disparity</a>  The Leslie Marshall Show ...A proposed rule for the Security and Exchange Commission would shed light on the ratio of media worker pay versus that of a company’s CEO...<br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/sites/teamster.org/files/BASIS_TLA_October_2013.pdf" rel="nofollow">BASIS TLA Scheduled October 7-11</a>  teamster.org   ...The IBT Training and Development Department will conduct a Teamsters Leadership Academy for new local union business agents, October 7-11, 2013, at the union's headquarters in Washington, D.C...<br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/sites/teamster.org/files/8613OfficeManagersTLA2013.pdf" rel="nofollow">Organizational Skills for Office Managers Scheduled for November 6-8</a>  teamster.org   ...The IBT Training and Development Department will conduct a TLA for Teamster Office Managers and key administrative staff, November 6-8, 2013, at the union's headquarters in Washington, D.C...<br /><a href="http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/09/25/2677071/federal-contracts-send-billions-of-dollars-to-ceos-but-pay-workers-a-poverty-wage/" rel="nofollow">Federal Contracts Send Billions Of Dollars To CEOs But Pay Workers A Poverty Wage </a> ThinkProgress   ...The contracting practices that make the federal government the largest low-wage employer in the country are also paying top corporate executives nearly $24 billion per year according to new research from the think tank Demos...<br /><a href="http://www.salon.com/2013/09/24/federal_workers_to_strike_march_on_white_house_wednesday/" rel="nofollow">Federal workers to strike, march on White House Wednesday</a>  Salon   ...Cleaning and concessions workers in federal buildings will protest their taxpayer-funded poverty jobs...<br /><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/09/how-bad-data-warped-everything-we-thought-we-knew-about-the-jobs-recovery/279923/" rel="nofollow">How Bad Data Warped Everything We Thought We Knew About the Jobs Recovery</a>  The Atlantic   ... the jobs report's real margin of error has been about as big as the average jobs report itself the past few years...<br /><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-25/wal-mart-cutting-orders-as-unsold-merchandise-piles-up.html" rel="nofollow">Wal-Mart Cutting Orders as Unsold Merchandise Piles Up</a>  Bloomberg News   ...<a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/WMT:US" rel="nofollow">Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT)</a> is cutting orders it places with suppliers this quarter and next to address rising inventories the company flagged in last month’s earnings report...<br /><a href="http://www.tradereform.org/2013/09/steelmakers-rally-china/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=steelmakers-rally-china" rel="nofollow">Steelmakers rally against China</a>  Pittsburgh Business Times   ...Steel manufacturers in the U.S. have been filing complaints with U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission against a number of countries, including China, charging that unregulated imports are causing material injury to the domestic steel industry...<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/25/austerity-measures-push-greek-universities-collapse" rel="nofollow">Austerity measures push Greek universities to point of collapse </a> The Guardian   ...Internationally mandated austerity measures have pushed universities in Greece to the point of collapse with many of the debt-stricken country's pre-eminent higher education institutions being forced to suspend operations...<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/25/revealed-qatars-world-cup-slaves" rel="nofollow">Revealed: Qatar's World Cup 'slaves'</a>  The Guardian   ...thousands of Nepalese, who make up the single largest group of labourers in Qatar, face exploitation and abuses that amount to modern-day slavery, as defined by the International Labour Organisation, during a building binge paving the way for 2022...<br /><a href="http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Union-to-Protest-Staffing-Levels-at-Iowa-Prisons-225166992.html" rel="nofollow">Union to Protest Staffing Levels at Iowa Prisons</a>  Associated Press   ...The union that represents correctional officers at Iowa prisons is planning an informational picket to raise awareness about what it calls dangerously low staffing levels...<br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/24/cfpb-sallie-mae_n_3985330.html?utm_hp_ref=business&ir=Business" rel="nofollow">CFPB Takes Aim At Sallie Mae For Student Loan Servicing</a>  Huffington Post   ...A federal consumer regulator has taken aim at the Department of Education’s preferred companies for servicing the agency’s $1 trillion in student loans, highlighting potentially poor customer service and raising the specter of increased government scrutiny...<br /><a href="http://wallstreetonparade.com/2013/09/is-president-obama-in-denial-about-the-national-threat-wall-street-poses/" rel="nofollow">Is President Obama In Denial About the National Threat Wall Street Poses</a> (opinion)  Wall Street on Parade   ...This is not a banking system – this is an institutionalized, legalized, mechanized, wealth transfer system bearing the imprimatur of the President of the United States and the U.S. Congress through their refusal to take the simple measure that can stop the looting in its tracks – the restoration of the Glass-Steagall Act...<br /><a href="http://www.alternet.org/speakeasy/chaunceydevega/republican-vote-cut-food-stamps-really-decision-kill-useless-eaters" rel="nofollow">The Republican Vote to Cut Food Stamps is Really a Decision to Kill the "Useless Eaters"</a> (opinion)  AlterNet   ...15 million Americans were “food insecure” in the United States during 2012. The Great Recession has increased the number of Americans who do not have sufficient food by 30 percent. The fastest growing group of people who need some assistance is the elderly...<br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/companies-beefing-up-their-political-spending-disclosures/2013/09/24/3531a21c-252b-11e3-b3e9-d97fb087acd6_story.html" rel="nofollow">Some public companies are divulging more details about their political contributions</a>  Washington Post   ...Some of the nation’s largest publicly traded companies are divulging more details about their political contributions, in part to ward off lawsuits and mounting <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/shareholders-press-companies-to-disclose-more-about-political-spending/2013/05/17/ed1392e4-bf34-11e2-97d4-a479289a31f9_story.html" rel="nofollow">pressure from shareholders</a>, who increasingly have thrust the issue before boards of directors...<br /><a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/clout/chi-city-workers-protest-emanuel-over-contract-talks-20130924,0,4852310.story" rel="nofollow">City workers protest Emanuel over contract talks</a>  Chicago Tribune   ...Scores of union workers protested outside city buildings during lunch Tuesday, taking aim at Mayor Rahm Emanuel for what they contend is an attempt to retroactively freeze their wages after privatizing hundreds of jobs in the past couple of years...<br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/25/opinion/exposing-the-pay-gap.html?ref=opinion&_r=2&" rel="nofollow">Exposing The Pay Gap</a>  New York Times   ...Of all the provisions in the vast and complex Dodd-Frank financial reform law, one of the most far-reaching is also the most direct and easily understood. It requires public companies to compute and disclose the ratio of a chief executive’s pay to that of a typical employee...<br /><a href="http://www.joc.com/trucking-logistics/truckload-freight/hire-trucking-tonnage-index-rose-august_20130924.html" rel="nofollow">For-Hire Trucking Tonnage Index Rose in August</a>  Journal of Commerce   ...The American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Trucking Tonnage Index <a href="http://www.truckline.com/article.aspx?uid=2e2962bf-df21-4db2-8104-968a80ebb93a" rel="nofollow">increased</a> 1.4 percent in August from July, to 126.9, after <a href="http://www.joc.com/trucking-logistics/truckload-freight/hire-trucking-tonnage-index-slipped-july_20130821.html" rel="nofollow">slipping</a> 0.6 percent in July...<br /><a href="http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/how-new-job-application-form-could-save-hundreds-californians-returning-prison" rel="nofollow">How A New Job Application Form Could Save Hundreds Of Californians From Returning To Prison</a>  Think Progress    ...In an attempt to cut down on employment discrimination against felons and reduce recidivism rates, a bill waiting for California Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature would <a href="http://blogs.sacbee.com/the_state_worker/2013/09/bill-banning-felony-question-on-job-apps-goes-to-jerry-brown-box-bill-to-jerry-brown.html" rel="nofollow">remove a question</a> on local and state job applications asking applicants about their criminal record...

Today's Teamster News 09.26.13

(UPDATES with items about federal contract worker pay) Hoffa Calls On Cruz, Right-Wing Extremists To Stop ACA Misrepresentations   teamster....

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Daily Education and Technology News for Schools 09/26/2013

<ul class="diigo-linkroll"> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thingm/blink1-the-usb-rgb-led">blink(1), the USB RGB LED by ThingM — Kickstarter</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">Cool little light that can show various colors to indicate things that have happened. This was funded on kickstarter and I noticed it being added to ifttt.com as a channel. So, for example, if you have a big download and want to be notified when it is done - or if you want to be notified when a certain person (Grandma) logs into skype but you don't want to have to log in or look at the screen - this USB RGB light will light in the color you wish. There are so many cool applications for this as we move into the "internet of things." </p> <p class="diigo-tags"> <span>tags:</span> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/productivity">productivity</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/internet_of_things">internet_of_things</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="https://500px.com/upgrade">500px / Upgrade</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">A popular website for uploading your best photos and selling them is 500px. You can upload 20 pictures for free a week and have your personal store selling your photos. This is a money maker for those students who are photography buffs. </p> <p class="diigo-tags"> <span>tags:</span> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/entrepreneurship">entrepreneurship</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/photography">photography</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/edu_trends">edu_trends</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://www.edudemic.com/screencasting-apps/">10 Powerful Screencasting Apps For Mobile Devices</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">Screencasting (sharing your screen, often accompanied by narration) is an essential skill for all of us - especially if we teach. Here are 10 resources - one which may work on your mobile.</p> <p class="diigo-tags"> <span>tags:</span> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/screencasting">screencasting</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/flipclass">flipclass</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://thejournal.com/articles/2013/09/25/discovery-brings-stem-curriculum-professional-development-to-girls-inc.-program.aspx">Discovery Brings STEM Curriculum, Professional Development to Girls Inc. Program</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">Excited to see Discovery work with an incredible nonprofit, Girls Inc to bring STEM to girls. Now THIS Is something with a lot of potential. Girls INc is a great organization that I worked with here in Albany (yes, back in the 90 - has been a while) but I was always impressed with their programs. Excited to watch this develop.</p> <p class="diigo-tags"> <span>tags:</span> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/stem">stem</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/discovery">discovery</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/girls">girls</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2013/9/25/dual-ownership-of-ip-a-win-win-policy.html">Dual ownership of IP - a win-win policy?</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">This post from Doug Johnson NAILS the IP issues that K12 teachers have. I hope that all administrators and teachers who develop anything online work together and look at this discussion because we must take action NOW with clarity as to who owns what when a teacher develops a course. Now, K12 schools claim ALL rights - this is not good as it discourages sharing and dissemination of best practices. But colleges give professors all rights - which means if the prof leaves so does the curriculum. I agree with Doug Johnson that we need something in between.</p> <p class="diigo-tags"> <span>tags:</span> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/ip">ip</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/ownership">ownership</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/policy">policy</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/tumblr">tumblr</a></p> </li> </ul><p class="diigo-ps">Posted from <a href='https://www.diigo.com'>Diigo</a>. The rest of my favorite links are <a href='https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher'>here</a>.</p>

Daily Education and Technology News for Schools 09/26/2013

blink(1), the USB RGB LED by ThingM — Kickstarter Cool little light that can show various colors to ...

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Clothes Bank

<span style="font-size: large;">We are doing a big clean up and clear out before the TV crew comes on Saturday to film the house.</span><br /><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I brought 2 large sacks of clothes to the ISPCC clothes bank in Blanchardstown.  Some clothes banks collect clothes to sell in their charity shops (thrift stores).  However I think this clothes bank sells on the clothes to recycling companies in order to raise funds for the ISPCC (Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children).</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">What do you do with clothes when you are finished with them?</span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EKBF0KU82SNwBlxchsczSUDIRFRMGkJ9dy0HSfsWbI8IkGPNP7VfQz4M1RzyEk3O9-PPhxpsxBHsQwczkOhGuWXv7xUOlXwzg44RJz82EaHRJULLlYrbmC4q6DTyiNoNPmryoHeW5_sn/s640/blogger-image-1496267990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EKBF0KU82SNwBlxchsczSUDIRFRMGkJ9dy0HSfsWbI8IkGPNP7VfQz4M1RzyEk3O9-PPhxpsxBHsQwczkOhGuWXv7xUOlXwzg44RJz82EaHRJULLlYrbmC4q6DTyiNoNPmryoHeW5_sn/s640/blogger-image-1496267990.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZnmLarWkdxzpmgN7apE7GgnuGJGQvvU7Q-zF0m9h_gvrQWrkNm8lfwZK-4lMjdtUKvLHPJEBewq5JF6DemvF23jT5-5LS2HWqZdOl4nIza9p7sE6Tbfo0MUz-dTh_Fuyf32xLlGOPimqS/s640/blogger-image--1260857765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZnmLarWkdxzpmgN7apE7GgnuGJGQvvU7Q-zF0m9h_gvrQWrkNm8lfwZK-4lMjdtUKvLHPJEBewq5JF6DemvF23jT5-5LS2HWqZdOl4nIza9p7sE6Tbfo0MUz-dTh_Fuyf32xLlGOPimqS/s640/blogger-image--1260857765.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /></div>

Clothes Bank

We are doing a big clean up and clear out before the TV crew comes on Saturday to film the house. I brought 2 large sacks of clothes to the ...

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Fall Is In The Air

Damnit.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZRz93RSs5nBzZskFrZVcO7_eJAfmDgGDUgTc6UAMuT9uuhVVVJ_a1QmyOwqLgD70AU-ltIVTEf91JgXG-URydFbE_uXknTAcmT3fbIuNc6kpLG1bkHEpCHrpbQoZEwLqL77rU0gdE-pN/s1600/11343.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZRz93RSs5nBzZskFrZVcO7_eJAfmDgGDUgTc6UAMuT9uuhVVVJ_a1QmyOwqLgD70AU-ltIVTEf91JgXG-URydFbE_uXknTAcmT3fbIuNc6kpLG1bkHEpCHrpbQoZEwLqL77rU0gdE-pN/s640/11343.jpg" /></a>

Fall Is In The Air

Damnit.

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TWO TOP BARRIERS TO SHARING THE GOOD NEWS

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Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Calibri;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here’s a paradox for you. I believe (that doesn’t mean I opine, that I think this is probably right – it means this s a conviction on which I base my life, this the basket in which I place my existential chips) – I believe evangelism is the most important thing we are on this earth to do. But I don’t worry much about the church folks who are against evangelism, hate the word, and oppose all our efforts to do it. The reason I don’t mind them is that those folks are often the best evangelists; while the ones who claim to support evangelism are actually gatekeepers excluding people from the church. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I want to name the major obstacles to evangelism, the barriers to doing the first thing Jesus told his disciples to do, proclaim the good news. People opposed to evangelism are not the problem. We have far larger obstacles.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are plenty of good methods for evangelism, effective, proven methods. But churches use them only a little if at all. They don’t use them because the congregations are not spiritually evangelistic. Even if the staff used the proven methods, they wouldn’t work unless the congregation is authentically evangelistic. So the barriers to evangelism are really spiritual issues inside each congregation. These barriers are killers for many congregations, but only minor problems in others. It’s a matter of degree and we can work on the degree.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">THE WRONG MOTIVATION.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The biggest barrier to evangelism is the wrong motivation, which results in something that pretends to be evangelism but is actually just a sales pitch. It comes from this: “I just wish we could get some more people in the church.” “I wish we had more young families.” “What we need is more children in the church so we can have a Sunday School.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Those natural and common attitudes – I hear those things said in our churches all the time! – are poison to evangelism. Why? Because they aspire to lasso poor innocent people who are minding their own business, reading the newspaper on Sunday morning while eating bagels and drinking coffee, and drag them into our churches to meet our needs. We need them to prop up our institution, which we are afraid is going to die out from under us. So we solicit people to join us to meet our needs. In other words, we want to use them for our own ends. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">People are pretty smart. They don’t like being used. And they can smell manipulation. If we are after pledge units, a treasurer, or someone to chair building and grounds, then secular folks will run the other way and rightly so. That is not evangelism. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Evangelism is possible only if two things come together. And if they come together evangelism is inevitable. First, we have to have Jesus in our hearts. We symbolize that in the Eucharist when the people who will administer the sacrament receiving it first .We cannot give what we have not first received. If we don’t have a genuine relationship with God the Son who cares for us, redeems us, and shows us the path to joy, then we have nothing to offer anyone else. If we don’t have a relationship with Jesus that makes us want to share him with others, then we are dead in the water. So the starting point is our own spirituality, our own discovery of mercy and blessing. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Second, we have to have the other person in our hearts. If we don’t care about the well being of the other person, then we won’t share our spiritual treasure with them. We will be trying to get something from them instead. But when we have the other person in our hearts and we have Jesus in our hearts, they can’t help but meet.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I had the privilege of addressing the House of Bishops this month about several things going on in Nevada, including our stewardship and evangelism. This is part of what I said:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“A few years ago I was visiting congregations. I asked them, ‘What is the mission here?’ .The most common answer by far was ‘survival.’ That is a self-defeating mission if ever there was one. Jesus said, ‘He who seeks to save his life will lose it.’ That seemed to be true for congregations who were trying to survive.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are other things we could be concerned about. Our suicide rate is double the national average. Our death rate from alcoholic liver disease is 1.7 times the national average.  We lead the nation in women killed in domestic violence. Las Vegas has more sexually trafficked minors than Bangkok. Our high school graduation rate is the worst in the nation. Some of us have begun to wonder if perhaps Jesus cares about those things. And if Jesus cares, maybe it’s our business to care too. That would be a different sense of mission . . .. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The final piece of the shift that I am beginning to see is Evangelism. There are two challenges. One is our methodology. The other is our motivation. As long as Evangelism is about our survival or vitality, it is self-serving, not Christ-serving. We are working to take the focus off a nostalgic wish that we had more young families. Instead, we hope to ask who are our neighbors and what do they need? Why are they committing suicide, drinking themselves to death, killing their spouses, dropping out of middle school? And what can we do about it?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus may not be all they need. But Jesus is the first thing they need.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are hoping for an authentic Evangelism that shares the love of Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">mediated by an accepting supportive faith community.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The motivation leads inexorably to the plan. We invite the people we care about into a community that will heal them with the love of Jesus. That will include one part God talk to nine parts godly action. But it will include both.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">NOT OUR SORT DEAR<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Episcopal congregations are not noted for being welcoming. There is a reason they call us “the frozen chosen.” But we actually do a decent job of welcoming, even inviting, people who are like us. “Like us” means different things in different congregations. But the dynamic is the same. If new people visiting a congregation are, in whatever way the congregation feels (often unconsciously) is important, the newcomers will feel welcome and “fit right in.” But newcomers who are different are not recognized.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of our congregations has complained to me for years that they have no young adults. They are in fact an aging congregation. But I have never, not once, been to a service there that did not include young adults. I have generally not seen anyone acknowledge their presence. We sometimes seem to be downright blind and deaf to the presence of folks who are different. Congregations that claim to want children in general are sometimes hostile to families who actually dare to bring children to church – especially if the children are the wrong color.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It isn’t just the church. It’s human nature. They even have a term for it in marketing, “the congruity heuristic.” It means “birds of a feather flock together.” It is human nature. To do evangelism we have to overcome human nature with Christ nature. We have to drop the criteria that St. Paul would call “merely human” for another common criteria, our common brokenness and need for Jesus. In an AA meeting, there will be all sorts of people who differ in every way, but they all struggle with addiction. Christians all struggle with sin, mortality, and being cut off from others. We find forgiveness, life, and communion in Jesus mediated by a caring, supportive community. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This takes a constant intentionality. It takes alertness. Our limited efforts to publicize our churches tend to be aimed at people like ourselves. I even hear churches say they are focused on attracting people who are already Episcopalians. Episcopalians who are not in church probably don’t want to be. They have probably been effectively inoculated against the gospel. What about all those people who don’t know Jesus from Spiderman? Nevada is full of genuinely lost, alienated, lonely, despairing people – who just don’t fit our demographic. They are our mission field. They are the sheep of our pasture, the people God has placed in our hand. They are the ones who need what we have. And if we truly have it, we cannot help but share it. If we are not compelled to share it, then we don’t’ have it. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Obviously, we overcome these barriers often enough to celebrate. I have seen some real openness to others, some real sharing of Christ, and some willingness to see the congregational make up change in many of our parishes. I celebrate that. We all should celebrate it. But the obstacles are always there and always need to be remembered so we can keep our witness to the good news of God in Christ Jesus strong, authentic, and transformative. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><!--EndFragment-->

TWO TOP BARRIERS TO SHARING THE GOOD NEWS

Here’s a paradox for you. I believe (that doesn’t mean I opine, that I think this is probably right – it means this s a conviction on ...

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