It looks like the Insane Clown Posse is getting in on the protest marches, as the group and their Juggalo followers – who were named a “loosely organized hybrid gang” by the FBI in 2011, which has since seen an ongoing lawsuit over what the group sees as slander – are set to join forces on Washington D.C. National Mall on September 16th.According to a website that has been launched for the event, “Over the past five years, our legal team has heard testimonies and reports from Juggalos all over the nation who have lost custody of their children, been fired from jobs, denied access into the armed forces, and the most common consequence — being officially labeled as a gang member by law enforcement agencies for wearing Juggalo related clothing or brandishing one or more Juggalo tattoos.”The website goes on to say, “This is the day that we are asking every single Juggalo to join us in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., to make a collective statement from the Juggalo Family to the world about what we are and what we are not,” the group said on a website launched for the march. “We must collectively show them that we truly are a family that is united by a shared love of music and fellowship.”The march will be followed by a free concert, with performances by ICP themselves, Vanilla Ice, 2 Live Crew, and more. There is a testimonial page on the site, with many fairly alarming stories that breach basic privacy and civil rights. read more
Anna Mason | The Observer Four panelists discuss gender discrimination in the workforce at a panel in the Welsh Parlor of the Haggar College Center on Tuesday.Clay said race is also a factor to consider when studying gender issues.“Currently, women make about 78.6% of what a man makes, however that’s just for white women,” Clay said. “It’s estimated that by 2059 white women will catch up to their male counterparts, however black women will not catch up until 2124 and hispanic women until 2233.”Clay offered three suggestions for combating the gender pay gap: new legislation, both at the state and national level, employer-led initiatives and societal solutions.“There is no one perfect solution,” she said. “We need to work internationalization into the conversation and it is only by better understanding each other that we will attain a solution that is better for all.” Professor Jim Rogers of Saint Mary’s’ business and economics department said higher education can also give women valuable tools for the job market.“The first step is education,” Rogers said. “Education requires assertion and women often see themselves as the supplicants. They think they need to beg for jobs, and we need to erase that idea.” Rogers said being assertive in the interview process is also important.“Getting the interview is everything,” Rogers said. “If you can get in the door, get in that door. You are a commodity and you need to show those companies how you can make them money, because that is what they value. Don’t wait for the door to open, break down the door. You’re a warrior now, be that warrior and you’ll have a much better chance at defeating the corporate monster.”Several steps can be taken to make one’s resume more competitive, Rogers said.“Put your photo on the resume,” he said. “If you interview with them and they can connect your face with the one on the resume, it makes a human connection that cannot be denied.”The next speaker was Jeanine Gozdecki, a partner with the Barnes & Thornburg Law Firm. Gozdecki noted several ways women can build confidence in the working world, citing statistics from “The Confidence Code,” a women’s self-help book by author Katty Kay and Claire Shipman. “Women tend to only apply for promotions if they have 100% of the required qualifications, while men feel comfortable applying if they only meet 60% of the requirements,” she said. Gozdecki connected these statistics to personal experience, saying learning to strike a healthy balance between one’s work and one’s personal life is a valuable skill to adopt early on.“Women need to build confidence through practicing it and taking risks,” she said. “I personally tried to get ahead by coming into work early and sacrificing my personal life. I thought that the world would reward me. However, there were others who worked less but were smarter in their negotiations. I missed opportunities and I didn’t trust my own worth.” When Gozdecki got her first job, there was little legislation to protect women against gender inequality in their work, she said.“When I graduated from college, sexual harassment wasn’t even against the law,” she said. “Title VII prohibited gender discrimination, the equal pay act demanded equal work for equal pay and Title IX helped protect the rights of individuals, but in many cases these laws were not respected or followed through by companies. It changed the laws, but not the culture.” Gozdecki said recent strides in gender equality help combat gender discrimination, however.“The Harvard Bias Test helps increase the idea of self-awareness and helps people to recognize the way they make decisions based on appearance,” she said. “The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, signed into law by President Obama, has also helped close some of the loopholes of Title VII and makes sure that people receive equal pay for equal work.”More than anything else, when applying for a job, it is important to know oneself, Gozdecki said.“You need to know the skill set you have and know the range that companies are willing to pay for someone like you,” she said. “You are allowed to talk about your salary with other people and to negotiate for higher pay. Good corporate citizenship should focus on the job and how to best achieve a balance between good pay and good work.”The final panelist was Stacie Jeffirs, director of Saint Mary’s’ Career Crossings Office. Jeffirs said graduates should be conscientious of what their day-to-day expenses are, and use this to help them make an informed decision about their first jobs.“You need to know what your anticipated budget will be — bills, food costs and maybe some put aside for savings,” Jeffirs said. “This will help you figure out what salary you’ll need and if the range of what the company offers is at or lower than what you need to make. It’s okay to try and negotiate up or to walk away if it doesn’t work out.”The best time for negotiations is after a job has been offered but before it has been accepted, Jeffirs said.“Always do extensive research and have prepared responses when talking about pay, and know what your skill set is worth,” Jeffirs said. “The Bureau of Labor Statistics has information by city and state on salary, and there are multiple sources out there that can be used to figure out pay. After you’ve been accepted by a company, you have the most negotiating power. You know they want you and you know what you’ll need to succeed. Come to them with exact numbers, but be reasonable about it. The process often goes back and forth. It’s also important to negotiate in person or on the phone. This adds a personal layer to the process.”What is most important is that students feel comfortable in their negotiations, Jeffirs said.“Know that it’s okay to walk away from a negotiation if it’s not what you want or need,” she said. “Do not feel bad about it. You should get what you ask for and deserve.” Gozdecki closed the discussion by offering additional suggestions for young college graduates looking for their first jobs.“There are three main steps to getting, keeping and being promoted within a job,” Gozdecki said. “Research — come armed with information. Rehearse — write and rewrite what you are going to say, and practice it. Talk to yourself as you’re running on the treadmill or driving in the car. And finally, respect. Respect the process and respect others. Read the company policy and know what everyone gets. To be a good employee, you need to show up on time and have a good attitude. It doesn’t matter what school you went to. When you show up, work on being a good employee and a good person.” Tags: business, equal pay, pay gap, Sexual Harrassment, women in the workplace A panel titled “How to Navigate Equal Pay as a College Grad,” which explored ways how young female professionals can combat gender inequality in the workplace, was presented in Saint Mary’s Haggar Parlor on Tuesday night.The panel featured four speakers, with senior political science and gender and women’s studies major Zoie Clay beginning the discussion. Clay, who conducted her senior comprehensive research on pay discrepancies between men and women, said gender discrimination is still a pervasive issue in the working world.“It’s 2019 and we’re still dealing with unequal pay between genders,” she said. “There have been feminist waves throughout history that demanded equal pay, however even today, there are still major discrepancies.” read more
VERMONT BUTTER AND CHEESE COMPANY WINS 5 AWARDS AT WORLD CHEESE COMPETITIONWebsterville, VT – October 2, 2008 – Vermont Butter and Cheese Company, wins 5 awards at the World Cheese Awards held in Dublin Ireland. The winners include Vermont Chevre, Vermont Fresh Crottin, Vermont Creamy Goat Cheese, Vermont Quark and our Signature Aged Cheese Bijou.”The company is honored to receive world-wide recognition” said company co-founder Allison Hooper. “Winning awards for goat cheese across the ocean is a big deal. The competition can be fierce” The company’s cheeses also won coveted awards earlier in the summer at the American Cheese Society’s Competition in Chicago as well as the “Outstanding Product Line” at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York.The company will celebrate its 25th anniversary next year. Partner, Bob Reese said,”This award is a great milestone for us as we are about to celebrate our 25th year in business. It really validates not only our product line but parallels the evolution of American- made cheeses in the United States.”About Vermont Butter and Cheese Company:Vermont Butter and Cheese Company, located in Websterville, VT, is dedicated to crafting artisanal dairy products in the European style through a vital link of local Vermont farms. The company supports a network of more than 20 family-owned farms, providing milk that meets the highest standards of purity, and is a proud contributor to the health of local agriculture. read more
The third annual Top Chef of the Champlain Valley, an Iron Chef Experience will be held at UVM’s Davis Center Aug 10, 2009 at 6pm to benefit the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging’s Meals on Wheels and Case Management programs. Watch as Sam Palmisano of Pulcinella’s defends his title against Robert Barral of Cafe Provence and JJ Vezina of the Windjammer Restaurant and Upper Deck Pub. Enjoy appetizers from some of the areas top chefs. Farrell Distributing and Woodchuck Draft Cider will be holding a wine, beer and draft cider tasting.Silent Auction items include weekend getaways including a spa getaway at the Stowe Mountain Lodge, a tasting dinner at Stowe Mountain Lodge’s Solstice Restaurant, a catered 3 course meal delivered to your family of 4 by Melissa Pasanen using recipes from her cookbook “Cooking with Shelburne Farms, a chance to join Seven Days Suzanne Podhaizer as she reviews a local restaurant, restaurant gift certificates, cooking lessons, gourmet food products, autographed celebrity cookbooks and much more. For more information or to purchase tickets online please click on the link below.http://www.cvaa.org/involved_topchef_09.shtml(link is external)Tickets are $35 and they are going fast. For more information call 865-0360. Please feel free to forward this on. The Top Chef helps CVAA be able to deliver nearly 225,000 Meals on Wheels each year to homebound seniors in the Champlain Valley. read more
DBS Bank becomes second Singapore lender to stop new coal plant financing FacebookTwitterLinkedInEmailPrint分享The Business Times:DBS Bank has decided to cease financing new coal-fired power plants in any market, after honouring existing commitments, the second Singapore bank to do so. South-east Asia’s largest bank is also stepping up financing of renewable energy projects.DBS’ latest move is an about-turn from an earlier policy of financing new coal power plants with strict emissions controls, citing the need for a transition period in some parts of Asia, and comes after OCBC Bank said the financing of Vietnam coal power plants will be its last.In a statement on Thursday, DBS said in February 2018, it issued a statement on its approach towards financing coal-fired power plants (CFPP) and thermal coal mining.“We have since been monitoring market developments and have also had regular dialogue with stakeholders about the role DBS should play in supporting sustainable development,” it said. “Specifically, we noted the World Energy Outlook 2018, released in November 2018 by the International Energy Agency (IEA), which outlines a Sustainable Development Scenario (SDS) for energy. We also studied the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) SR15 when it came out in October 2018.”Both reports are unequivocal in the need to urgently tackle climate change, said DBS. However, the reports also confirmed that in some parts of Asia, there will need to be a transition period. This is reflected in the forecast coal-fired power capacities in the IEA report and the comment in SR15 that in most 1.5-degree consistent pathways, investments in unabated coal generation is projected to halt only by 2030.“Given these considerations, we have decided to cease financing new CFPP in any market regardless of the efficiency of technologies used, after honouring our existing commitments,” said DBS. “The last of these existing commitments is likely to be completed by 2021. This aligns our financing policy for CFPP with a trajectory that is more ambitious than the SDS and the pathways described in IPCC SR15.More: DBS to cease financing of new coal power plants read more
Sign up for our COVID-19 newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest coronavirus news throughout New York A voter casts her ballot at Massapequa High School.Fewer voters than last Election Day are expected to turnout to choose their next Nassau County executive, legislators there and in Suffolk, as well as Long Island town-level races and referendum Tuesday.Little to no lines were reported at polling stations in Islip, Oyster Bay and North Hempstead towns. But voters had to wait to cast their ballots in other places, like the City of Glen Cove, where the mayoral and city council races prompted increased local voter turnout.“There’s no relaxing, this campaign isn’t about relaxing,” Democrat Tom Suozzi said after casting his vote as he tries to get his old job back from Republican Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano. “I tried that back in 2009. It didn’t work too well. I am working full speed until the last minute.”All 19 seats of the Nassau legislature are up, as are their 18 counterparts in Suffolk, where three county-wide elected officials—district attorney, treasurer and sheriff—are running unopposed.Aside from the Mangano-Suozzi rematch, former Howard Wietzman, a Democrat, is seeking a comeback against Nassau Comptroller George Maragos, the Republican who unseated him four years ago.Republican Howard Sturim is challenging Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice, a Democrat, as she seeks a fourth term, and Democrat Laura Gillen is hoping to unseat Republican Nassau Clerk Maureen O’Connell.Also on ballots are eight town supervisor races—including all three in Nassau and five in Suffolk, where two on the East End are uncontested.Voters across New York State will additionally decide a half dozen referendums while Suffolk voters have also have up to two local propositions on the ballot.The state referendums ask whether voters want to allow up to seven non-Indian gambling casinos, increase retirement ages for judges from 70 to 80, allow municipalities to continue borrowing beyond debit limits for sewage systems, add civil service credits for disabled veterans, allow a mine to expand in Adirondack Park and settle a land dispute there.Proposition 7 in Suffolk will allow the county to transfer development rights it owns to fire, ambulance, police and library districts so they can expand while Southampton town voters will decide if an East Quogue homeowner can donate land in exchange for keeping part of property that was supposed to be preserved but was mistakenly developed.Voters leaving the polls were enthusiastic despite the lighter turnout that is typical of the year after a presidential election.“People have fought for the right to vote and I think it’s important,” Anthony LoMonaco said outside Islip High School. “We should try to be heard and if we forfeit that right then shame on us.”Debbie McVey, who also cast her vote in Islip, disapproved of some of the pre-Election Day shenanigans, saying: “What’s gone on with zealous volunteers pulling signs up is disgraceful.”Back in Glen Cove, 30-year-old Meridith Eaton bucked the trend in the city, Suozzi’s hometown, and cast her vote for Mangano. “I feel that he will lead us in the better direction,” she said.In other election districts, turnout was brisk as of mid-day Tuesday.“I think the weather helped,” said election inspector Dorothy Walsh, a Democratic committee woman at Laurel Avenue School polling place in Northport. “I think it’s as busy as it is for a presidential election. We haven’t stopped.”Voters appeared split on their support for Huntington Town Supervisor Frank Petrone, a 20-year incumbent Democrat who’s fighting to keep his seat against Eugene Cook, a Republican town councilman.“I’m registered as a Republican but I haven’t voted Republican since Reagan,” Russell Gomes of Northport said with a smile. “Anything that I see relating to the Tea Party goes right in the garbage without even looking at it. And this year I was heavily inundated with the cards in the mailing and they became overwhelming and I just kind of threw those away too because I pretty much know whom I’m going for.”Anthony Sforza, another Northport resident and a registered Republican, said he was voting for Eugene Cook. “I think Frank Petrone has been there too long,” he said.Joyce Sullivan, also of Northport, neither revealed her leanings nor made up her mind about the gambling initiative, the most controversial resolution on the ballot.“I vote every time,” she said. “It’s my duty. Maybe if we all voted it would be a better country!”Polls close at 9 p.m. read more
Public relations is more than just managing the flow of information between a credit union and its stakeholders. It’s a communication process that analyzes public opinion, engages and informs key audiences, builds mutually beneficial relationships, and brings vital information back into an organization for analysis and action. It creates a real, measurable impact on the achievement of a company’s strategic objectives.As the banking environment becomes more competitive and forms of communication continue to evolve, it’s critical to develop new and more engaging ways to keep your credit union in the forefront. Below are five key points to keep in mind when developing PR initiatives for your credit union. This will not only improve your perception to members but also assist you in building awareness of your credit union’s products and services.1. Do Your ResearchLet’s face it—people talk. Whether it’s good or bad, it’s much easier to reach members if you’re already aware of what they’re saying about you. Member satisfaction surveys have proven to be valuable for organizations attempting to improve market share. In fact, in today’s technology-driven world, people expect to be asked their opinion. According to Survey Gizmo, survey response rates can soar past 85 percent when the respondent population is motivated and the survey is well executed. continue reading » 1SHARESShareShareSharePrintMailGooglePinterestDiggRedditStumbleuponDeliciousBufferTumblr read more
3SHARESShareShareSharePrintMailGooglePinterestDiggRedditStumbleuponDeliciousBufferTumblr Even across many industries, professional service websites (i.e. law offices, doctors, etc.) typically have the same architecture, design, and messaging.We encounter a lot of sites like these on Website Throwdown.They all look the same, sound the same, make the same mistakes, and usually we end up giving the same advice.If you’re reading this, your organization is likely in one of these industries with a cookie cutter website of what is being said and shown by the other players in your space, but guess what? For the most part, that’s OK.Prospects who are looking for a company like yours will expect to see the same types of services on your website as well as your competitors. continue reading » read more
Credit unions today recognize that their existing data is a goldmine of opportunity for growth, but many face organizational or architectural roadblocks to moving from data to analysis to insight. A recent Capgemini study found that the top three reasons data wasn’t being put to good use were that data was siloed or inaccessible, that it took too long to analyze data sets, and that financial institutions had a shortage of skilled personnel to analyze data. So, how can your credit union take better advantage of its existing data? Here’s one all-in-one solution: invest in a modern enterprise business analytics solution with self-serve capabilities and an interface that is easy for business users to manipulate. By analyzing data precisely when you need insights and cutting out the analyst or IT middleman, your teams will design products more intelligently, identify the right offer for each member segment to market more effectively, and close the deal more reliably. With the right toolset in their hands, your staff across multiple departments can become much more productive and transform into true “growth hackers” for their respective lines of business and for your credit union as a whole. Let’s see how easy-to-use, accessible analytics fuels the energy of everyday heroes.LendingGrowth hackers in a lending department don’t just rely on renewals and brand loyalty to bring in new loans. Using their access to business analytics, they can probe information like ACH data for patterns that indicate loans at other financial institutions, then dig a bit deeper. How much is the member paying biweekly or monthly to the other institution? How long has the payment been going on? Armed with this information, lenders can work with marketing to create campaigns that anticipate a renewed mortgage or new car loan, and get offers into member inboxes in a timely fashion. Members appreciate the personalized attention to their upcoming needs, and the credit union grows share of wallet – a true win/win solution.MarketingCredit union growth owes a lot to successful marketing, and successful marketing relies heavily on data. At a growth-minded credit union, marketers aren’t satisfied with sending one-size-fits-all product offers to their member base – they are always looking for ways to make their offers more timely, relevant, and targeted. Marketers with access to business analytics don’t have to wait for IT to pull segmentation lists for campaigns. They can analyze demographic data, product data, and responses to previous campaigns to build their lists. And post-campaign, they have the tools to determine ROI and make adjustments for next time. SalesFor a credit union sales team, hacking growth means keeping an eagle eye on the sales funnel to keep the leads flowing and make sure they get closed in good time. Using business analytics, this team can detect and resolve bottlenecks in the funnel, and observe and respond to patterns in the way opportunities flow through the sales process.They can also identify and reward top sales performers, and figure out who might need a bit of additional coaching to contribute more effectively to credit union growth. And they can review channel data to figure out which channels are selling most effectively, so they can push the warmest leads to these channels and close more business. FinanceAt data-driven credit unions, the CFO uses business analytics on a daily basis to keep tabs on how the organization is functioning, and to make projections about how to help it grow. Unlike CFOs at less technologically adept institutions, she doesn’t have to manually pull and collate data from multiple systems, or wait on several other teams battling with spreadsheets, so she has more time to put her financial acumen to work. Outside of the reporting process, an executive dashboard that gives at-a-glance data about channel efficacy, branch sales rates, and other business-critical metrics keeps her updated in real time, and contributes to more informed decision making at leadership team meetings, on everything from staffing levels to new product launches. Turbocharge Your Growth by Mining Your Existing DataThe truth is, you already have the data your organization needs to grow rapidly. Unfortunately, chances are good your credit union isn’t making use of this data effectively – we often see credit unions only analyzing and acting on a subset of the data that is available, or dealing with processes that are so manual and cumbersome that most departments aren’t getting timely access to the insights that would help them drive growth. Self-serve business analytics can eliminate these headaches and help your organization compete effectively. To get started with business analytics, you’ll want to build a business case based on a data gap analysis, working department by department to identify where actionable insights could build efficiency and profitability. From there, it’s a matter of selecting the right tool and starting with low-hanging fruit, so your team can experience the benefits of being a data-driven organization right from the start. You’ll experience benefits like reduced costs, increased operational efficiency, and yes, rapid growth. What are you waiting for? 30SHARESShareShareSharePrintMailGooglePinterestDiggRedditStumbleuponDeliciousBufferTumblr,Olga Zakharenkava Olga Zakharenkava is the VP, Demand Marketing at Doxim, a leading provider of cloud-based customer engagement solutions for credit unions and wealth management firms. Find out more at www.doxim.com Web: www.doxim.com Details read more
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