PRSA About to Launch an MBA Program in Communications Essays

PRSA About to Launch an MBA Program in Communications Essays PRSA About to Launch an MBA Program in Communications Essay PRSA About to Launch an MBA Program in Communications Essay While MBA programs got large boost for the past few years, PRSA has launched a new MBA program in communications. Graduate students and professionals are focusing on getting MBA degree in order to make an upgrade in their knowledge and careers. There are many accredited MBA programs available through all business schools which offer many fields for specialization. Now the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) wants a piece of this pie offering a strategic communication MBA program. This comes after a year since PRSA teams reported they are working with few business schools for offering MBA initiative. Back then, it was said that PRSA has made a partnership deal with 5 schools of business for this initiative. These schools will incorporate public relations MBA training in its programs. PRSA has even announced these schools at an awards event in NYC. These schools are: Dartmouth College – Tuck School of Business Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management Quinnipiac University – School of Business University of Maryland – Robert H. Smith Business School University of Texas – College of Business Administration The main purpose for this project is for the business schools to include reputation and communication management program in its curricula. Alongside these schools, it’s expected some other business schools to offer the program during 2014-2015 academic year. These schools are: Syracuse University – Whitman School of Management Syracuse University – SI Newhouse School of Public Communications University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business Ohio State University – Fisher College of Business This MBA program in communications by PRSA represents a multi-year hard effort to introduce the strategic communication importance in these MBA programs. This initiative will give all MBA candidates better appreciation of the strategic value of businesses’ public relations. It will help them get the proper knowledge and apply it to be better leaders for their organizations on longer term. Many surveys have shown that communication strategy and reputation management are equally important skills for succeeding in your business field. Building this MBA program in communications will become a key element in these programs. It will bring significant contribution to the public relation practices and contribute to other business practices. Greater appreciation and better understanding of the public relations will help all practitioners get more frequent and easier involvement in crucial business decisions. The program itself will give business leaders the proper reputation and preparation they need in order to confront with modern-day business crises and challenges. This PRSA MBA program in communications includes very flexible full-semester which covers several key areas such as: Internal and external corporate communications Investor relations Integrated marketing communications Corporate social responsibility Crisis communications Government relations From the close collaboration with the business schools that will offer this program, PRSA has announced very flexible syllabus that offers the course in three formats. These formats are divided as: full semester, seminar and mini-mester. You can visit the official webpage for this initiative and get more details about it.

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Nutrition and Global Health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Nutrition and Global Health - Essay Example â€Å"More than 30% of children† around the globe are â€Å"underweight† or are not attaining their ideal growth rates (128). It is estimated that around 5.5 million children die every year because of malnutrition (128). In addition, millions of women, who bear and take care of children, also suffer from malnutrition and particularly, many poor women are â€Å"underweight† (135). At present, women and children are suffering from different illnesses, such as anemia and infections, with many also dying from these diseases, because of lack of proper nutrition. Lack of access to the right food, vitamins, and minerals at the entire development stages of women and children is a main problem for poor countries. The main nutritional issues for women and children are malnutrition and high morbidity, due to poor nutrition. Women also suffer from maternal morbidity and mortality. For instance, there are 530,000 maternal deaths per year (152). These women often lack the proper nutrition needed for their bodies, as well as their fetuses. As also mentioned, millions of children are underweight and die from malnutrition, especially in Asia and Africa. Some of the nutrition challenges are proving to people that they can improve their nutrition by enhancing their knowledge about what they eat, how they cook their food, and how they should eat them (142). Vitamin and mineral supplementation should also be widely applied, because it can be a cost-efficient way of dealing with malnutrition (142). Food fortification, such as iodizing salt, will also be crucial. Supplementation and food fortification, however, are not always easy to achieve. The governments should be dedicated to small and large measures that can enhance their nations nutritional status. They need help from non-profit organizations to achieve the necessary nutritional levels for their women and children. Without

Tourism Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Tourism Development - Essay Example Different languages are spoken. Municipalities also register an inevitable growth and they have to provide transportable roads lighting the roads, similarly and should be committed to provide amenities of international standard to tourism and also for its sustenance. Keeping this aspect in mind the government has to take care of the tourism activities and support all the states of the country. The role of the government is very vast in the case of the tourism since no other private or the third part has the rights or the authority to involve itself into the tourism. Tourism can be developed only when government takes care of the national heritage and the tourist spots. The tourists who visit the country will have faith and will come again only when government takes care of the tourists. Tourism is actually a bilateral and diplomatic relationship between the countries. Tourism can bring success and good future to the country and the role of the government is extensively needed both by the tourists and the people depending on tourists. Large number of tourists bring large foreign currency to the country and there by leveling the import and export. Tourism represents a single economy. Because of tourism there is conspicuous change with the social life industries. One shall meat and come across different rest of different nationals represent at one place. Different sets of different nationals represent diversified cultures; different languages are spoken at one and the same place, and at one and the same time. They come to know each other from a closer proximity. The intimacies develop; relationships pave way for greater understanding. The social pavilion of life is set to rolling. Broader outlook develop into more knowledgeable and understanding environment. There will be a great impact on the urban sociology patterns of life. This can be done only when the government initiates the tourism and takes complete responsibility and responsibility. The world becomes a small place respectively inevitable economical growth, a pleasant knowledge based environment. The world is no bigger, thoughts of seeing the world; the globe on a huge unknown has become so small so much can be felt immensely. T third world, joyous frivolous, sensible, knowledgeable, cultured by urban socialites will cherish. The development may fold big colonies. A lot of big industries and big companies will enter into the market to cater to the needs of the conglomeration. The development shall develop many folds. The economy of the country, government organizations and private sectors will make a rudimental change. Mainly the cities will develop into a small globe with multi faced development in industries and corporate. May be the chief architect of the tourism is to take enormous pairs to create and design the super structure of the third world. Tourism has its own effects on every aspects of technology. Tourism has changed the way urban socialist use to link and express their thoughts. Of course wealth is also acting as a catalyst for the change in the thinking and living of the urban

Comparing and contrasting the presentation Essay Example for Free

Comparing and contrasting the presentation Essay Comparing and contrasting power in Hawk Roosting and Human Interest The effects of power seem to be largely psychological in both poems. In Human interest the damage coursed by love and jealousy drives the man to kill his lover , to show power not only to himself but to his girlfriend. Later on in the poem we see the man in his prison cell questioning his motive behind his sudden outburst of rage; whereas in Hawk Roosting the hawk believes there’s no need for other predator’s existence as nature is ‘all’ his and ‘no arguments can assert’ his right to his power to kill. In Hawk Roosting the hawk has no restrictions in life and does as he pleases as he see’s himself as an all mighty being. But in Human Interest the man has a spur of the moment action that has a long-lasting effect, both on the dead girlfriend and on him in terms of a prison sentence. The effect of power on the hawk causes him to become arrogant and this making the pointlessness in other animals while the effect of power on man drives them insane and blind to those around us. The hawk wishes to ‘keep things like this’ and although we know this is about the hawk wanting to keep himself above all the rest he will eventually crumble and fall just as nature intended. The hawk abuses his power by killing those smaller then him to increase his status in the food chain. The effects of power leave contrasting images of a grief-stricken man left in a secluded room and the arrogance of roaming free, though both eventually are seen as murderers in life and will be nothing more.

Artificial Fish: AUVs Designed to Model Animals :: Autonomous Undersea Vehicles Fish Essays

Artificial Fish: AUVs Designed to Model Animals Humans venture beneath the ocean's surface to collect resources, conduct research, engage in warfare, and perform countless other tasks. The need for increasingly specialized technology to accomplish these tasks has prompted the development of many different designs of submersibles, varying from manned nuclear submarines to Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) dragged behind surface ships, to untethered Autonomous Undersea Vehicles (AUVs) (Blidberg 1). This last design, the AUV, has received special attention in recent years as humans explore greater and greater depths. As its name suggests, the AUV functions independently, without intervention from a human operator. It carries its own power source (traditionally a battery), and receives all its commands from an onboard computer, thus involving some degree of artificial intelligence. This computer serves to direct the robotic submersible in performing a pre-defined task. Because its movement is not restricted by a cable connec ting it to a mother ship, the AUV is ideal for operating in hazardous areas and at great depths. Current and proposed activities for AUVs include undersea exploration, scientific sampling of physical oceanic conditions (such as salinity level and temperature), laying and inspection of gas lines and cables, searching for downed aircraft, and mine reconnaissance (Canfield, Hylands). A key aspect of common AUV design, however, prevents this list of activities from expanding and limit the current potential of AUV performance. Due to the inefficiency of propulsion and power systems, AUVs are highly unstable in any turbulent water, are limited to short missions, can carry only small payloads, and have little maneuvering control at low speeds (MIT, Canfield). In the most unfavorable of conditions, AUVs may not even be able to reach their intended destinations while traveling at slow speeds, despite the use of slow speed guidance systems (Healey 335). Small rotary propellers plagued with low efficiency and lagged response times typically power AUVs (MIT). Furthermore, batteries often require 70% of the hull space (MIT). Closely tied to efficiency of propulsion systems is the hydrodynamic shape of the submersible's hull. While hull designs have improved over time, they do not compare to the hydrodynamic efficiency of fish and aquatic mammal shapes. As Jeff Walker, a biology professor at the University of Southern Maine, stated, "It's a lofty goal for a human-made vehicle to achieve the performance of a fish" (qtd.

Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 17

September 8, 1864 She is not who she seems. Should I be surprised? Terrified? Hurt? It's as if everything I know, everything I've been taught, everything I've believed in my past seventeen years is wrong. I can still feel where she kissed me, where her fingers grasped my hands. I still yearn for her, and yet the voice of reason is screaming in my ears: You cannot love a vampire! If I had one of her daisies, I could pluck the leaves and let the flower choose for me. I love her †¦ I love her not †¦ I †¦ I love her. I do. No matter the consequences. Is this what following your heart is? I wish there was a map or a compass to help me find my way. But she has my heart, and that above all else is my North Star †¦ and that will have to be enough. After I slipped away from the carriage house back to my own chambers, I somehow managed to sleep for a few hours. When I awoke, I wondered if everything was all a dream. But then I shifted my head on the pillow and saw a neat puddle of dried, crimson blood and touched my fingers to my throat. I felt a wound there, and though it didn't hurt, it brought back the very real incidents of the previous evening. I felt exhausted and confused and exalted all at once. My limbs were enervated, my brain abuzz. It was as if I had a fever, but inside I felt a sort of calm I'd never felt before. I dressed for the day, taking extra care to wash the wound with a damp cloth and bandage it, then buttoned my linen shirt as high as it would go. I glanced at my reflection in the mirror. I tried to see if there was anything different, if there was some glint in my eye that acknowledged my newfound worldliness. But my face looked just as it had yesterday. I crept down the back stairs toward the study. Father's schedule was like clockwork, and he always spent the mornings surveying and visiting the fields with Robert. Once I closed myself in the cool, dark room, I ran my fingers along the leather-bound spines on each shelf, feeling comforted by their smoothness. I just hoped that somewhere, in the stacks and shelves of books on every subject, there would be a volume that would answer some of my questions. I remembered Katherine reading The Mysteries of Mystic Falls and noticed the volume was no longer in the study, or at least not in plain view. I walked aimlessly from shelf to shelf, for the first time feeling overwhelmed by the number of books in Father's study. Where could I possibly find information on vampires? Father had volumes of plays, fiction, atlases, and two full shelves of Bibles, some in English, some in Italian, and some in Latin. I traced my hands against the gilt- lettered, leather spines of each book, hoping that somehow I'd find something. Finally, my fingertips landed on a thin, tattered volume with Demonios written in flaking silver on the spine. Demonio †¦ demon †¦ This was what I was looking for. I opened the book, but it was written in an ancient Italian dialect that I couldn't make heads nor tails of, despite my extensive tutoring in Latin and Italian. Still, I carried the book with me to the club chair and settled in. Trying to decipher the book was an action I could understand, something easier than trying to eat breakfast while pretending everything was normal. I ran my fingers along the words, reading out loud as if I were a schoolboy, making sure I didn't miss a mention of the word vampiro. Finally, I found it, but the sentences surrounding it were nothing but gibberish to me. I sighed in frustration. Just then, the door to the study creaked open. â€Å"Who's there?† I called loudly. â€Å"Stefan!† My father's ruddy face registered surprise. â€Å"I was looking for you.† â€Å"Oh?† I asked, my hand flying to my neck, as if Father could see the bandage beneath the fabric. But all I felt was the smooth linen of my shirt. My secret was safe. Father looked at me strangely. He walked toward me, taking the book off my lap. â€Å"Y and I ou think alike,† he said, a strange smile curving onto his face. â€Å"We do?† My heart fluttered in my chest like a hummingbird's wings, and I was sure Father could hear my breath catching in short, shallow gasps in my throat. I felt sure he could read my thoughts, sure he knew about Katherine and me. And if he knew about Katherine, he'd kill her and †¦ I couldn't bear to think of the rest. Father smiled again. â€Å"We do. I know you took our conversation about vampires to heart, and I appreciate you taking this scourge seriously. Of course, I know you have your own motivations in avenging the death of your young Rosalyn,† Father said, making the sign of the cross over his chest. I stared at a thin spot on the Oriental rug, where the fabric was so faded, I could see the stained wooden floor below. I couldn't look up at Father and let my face betray my secret, betray Katherine's secret. â€Å"Be assured, son, that Rosalyn did not die in vain. She died for Mystic Falls, and she will be remembered as we rid our town of this curse. And you, of course, will be an integral part of the plan.† Father gestured toward the book I still held. â€Å"Unlike your good-for-nothing brother. What good is all his new military knowledge if he can't put it to use to defend his family, his land?† Father asked rhetorically. â€Å"Just today he went off on a ride with some of his soldier friends. Even after I told him I expected him here this morning to accompany us to our meeting at Jonathan's house.† But I wasn't paying attention anymore. All I cared about was that he didn't know about Katherine. My breathing slowed. â€Å"There wasn't very much information that I could understand in this book. I don't think it's very useful,† I said, as if all I'd been doing this morning was indulging in a scholarly interest in vampires. â€Å"That's just as well,† Father said dismissively, as he carelessly placed the book back on the shelf. â€Å"I feel that together we have a good store of knowledge.† â€Å"Together?† I parroted. Father waved his hand impatiently. â€Å"Y and I ou Father waved his hand impatiently. â€Å"Y and I ou and the Founders. We've set up a council to deal with this. We're heading to a meeting right now. Y ou're coming.† â€Å"I am?† I asked. Father glanced at me in annoyance. I knew I sounded like a simpleton, but there was simply too much information swimming in my mind to even begin to understand it all. â€Å"Y And I'm taking Cordelia as well. She has es. a good knowledge of herbs and demons. The meeting is at Jonathan Gilbert's house.† Father nodded, as if the subject was closed. I nodded as well, even though I was surprised. Jonathan Gilbert was a university teacher and sometimes inventor who Father not so privately called a crackpot. But now Father said his name with reverence. For the thousandth time that day, I realized this truly was a different world. â€Å"Alfred is hitching up the carriage, but I will drive it. Do not tell anyone where we're going. I've already sworn Cordelia to secrecy,† Father said as he strode out of the room. After a second, I followed him, but not before I slipped Demonios into my back pocket. I sat next to Father in the front seat of the carriage, while Cordelia sat in the back, hidden from sight lest she arouse suspicion. It was strange to be out in the morning, especially without a footman to drive us, and I caught the curious stares of Mr. Vickery as we passed by the Blue Ridge Estate next door. I waved, until I felt Father's hand on my arm, a subtle warning not to attract attention to ourselves. Father began talking once we entered the barren stretch of dirt road that separated the plantation road from town. â€Å"I don't understand your brother. Do you? What man doesn't respect his father? If I didn't know better, I'd think he was consorting with one of them,† Father said, spitting on the dirt road. â€Å"Why would you think that?† I asked uncomfortably, a trickle of sweat running down my spine. I ran my finger beneath my collar, recoiling when I felt the gauze bandage of my neck. It was damp, but from sweat or blood I could not tell. My thoughts were a tangle. Was I betraying Katherine by attending this meeting? Was I betraying Father by keeping Katherine's secret? Who was evil or good? Nothing seemed clear. â€Å"I think that because they have that kind of power,† Father said, using the whip on Blaze as if to prove the point. Blaze whinnied before shifting into a fast trot. I looked back at Cordelia, but she was impassively staring straight ahead. â€Å"They can take over a mind before a man realizes anything is amiss. They compel them to submit fully to their charms and whims. Just a glance can make a man do whatever a vampire desires. And by the time a man does know he's being controlled, it's too late.† â€Å"Really?† I asked skeptically. I thought back to last night. Had Katherine done that to me? But no. Even when I was frightened, I'd been myself. And all my feelings had been mine. Maybe vampires could do that, but Katherine certainly hadn't done it to me. Father chuckled. â€Å"Well, not all the time. One hopes that a man is strong enough to withstand that type of influence. And I certainly have raised my sons to be strong. Still, I wonder what could possibly have gotten into Damon's head.† â€Å"I'm sure he's fine,† I said, suddenly very nervous at the idea that Damon might have figured out Katherine's secret. â€Å"I think he's simply not sure what he wants.† â€Å"I don't care what he wants,† Father said. â€Å"What he needs to remember is that he's my son and I will not be disobeyed. These are dangerous times, much more so than Damon realizes. And he needs to understand that if he is not with us, people might construe that his sympathies lie elsewhere.† â€Å"I think he just doesn't believe in vampires,† I said, a sick feeling forming in the pit of my stomach. â€Å"Shhh!† Father whispered, waving his hand toward me to quiet me down. The horses were clip-clopping into town, just past the saloon, where Jeremiah Black was already nearly passed out by the door, a half bottle of whiskey at his feet. Somehow, I didn't think Jeremiah Black was listening or even seeing what was going on, but I nodded, pleased that the silence gave me a chance to sort through my thoughts. I glanced over to my right, where Pearl and her daughter were sitting on the iron bench outside the apothecary, fanning themselves. I waved to them, but, seeing Father's warning glance, thought better about calling out to say hello. I closed my mouth and sat silently until we reached the other end of town, where Jonathan Gilbert lived in an ill-kept mansion that had once belonged to his father. Father often made fun of the fact that the house was falling apart, but today he said nothing as Alfred opened the door of the carriage. â€Å"Cordelia,† Father called tersely, allowing her to walk up the rickety steps of the Gilbert mansion first as we followed suit. Before we could ring the bell, Jonathan himself opened the door. â€Å"Good to see you, Giuseppe, Stefan. And you must be Cordelia. I've heard much about your knowledge of native herbs,† he said, offering his hand to her. Jonathan led us through the labyrinthine hallways and toward a tiny door next to the grand staircase. Jonathan opened it and gestured for us to head inside. We took turns ducking down to enter a tunnel that was about ten feet long, with a flimsy ladder at the other end. Wordlessly we climbed the ladder and emerged into a tiny, windowless space that immediately made me feel claustrophobic. Two candles burned in tarnished candleholders on a water-stained table, and as my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I could make out Honoria Fells sitting gingerly on a rocker in the corner. Mayor Lockwood and Sheriff Forbes shared an old wooden bench. â€Å"Gentlemen,† Honoria said, standing up and welcoming us as if we were just stopping in for tea. â€Å"And I'm afraid I haven't made your acquaintance, Mrs†¦.† Honoria glanced suspiciously at Cordelia. â€Å"Cordelia,† Cordelia murmured, glancing from one face to another, as if this was the last place she wanted to be. My father coughed uncomfortably. â€Å"She treated Stefan during his spells after his †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"After his fiancï ¿ ½e got her throat ripped out?† Mayor Lockwood said gruffly. â€Å"Mayor!† Honoria said, clapping her hand to her mouth. As Jonathan ducked back out into the hall, I settled on a straight-backed chair as far away from the group as possible. I felt out of place, though probably not as out of place as Cordelia, who was now awkwardly sitting on a wooden chair next to Honoria's rocker. â€Å"Now, then!† Jonathan Gilbert said, coming back to the room, his arms laden with tools and papers and objects I couldn't even begin to identify. He sat on a moth-eaten velvet armchair at the head of the table and looked around. â€Å"Let's begin.† â€Å"Fire,† Father said simply. A shiver of fear ran up my spine. Fire was how Katherine's parents had perished. Was that because they were vampires, too? Had Katherine been the only one to escape? â€Å"Fire?† Mayor Lockwood repeated. â€Å"It's been recorded, many times in Italy, that fire kills them, as does beheading or a stake in the heart. And, of course, there are herbs that can protect us.† Father nodded to Cordelia. â€Å"Vervain,† Cordelia confirmed. â€Å"Vervain,† Honoria said dreamily. â€Å"How pretty.† Cordelia snorted. â€Å"It ain't nothing but a herb. But if you wear it, then you have protection from the devil. Some say it can also work a bit to nurse those who've been around them back to health. But it's poison to them devils you call vampires.† â€Å"I want some!† Honoria said greedily, holding out her hand eagerly. â€Å"I don't have any with me,† Cordelia said. â€Å"Y don't?† Father looked at her sharply. ou â€Å"It's all gone from the garden. I used it for Mr. Stefan's remedies; then when I went to pick it this morning, it was all gone. Was probably the children who took it,† Cordelia said indignantly, but she glanced straight at me. I looked away, reassuring myself that if she had known about Katherine's true nature, she would have told my father by now. â€Å"Well, then, where do I get some?† Honoria asked. â€Å"It's probably right under your nose,† Cordelia said. â€Å"What?† asked Honoria sharply, as if she'd been insulted. â€Å"It grows everywhere. Except our garden,† Cordelia said darkly. â€Å"Well,† Father said, glancing at the two women, anxious to diffuse the situation. â€Å"After this meeting, Cordelia may escort Miss Honoria to her garden to find vervain.† â€Å"Now, wait just a damn minute,† Mayor Lockwood said, pounding his beefy fist on the table. â€Å"Y lost me at the woman talk. Y mean to ou ou tell me that if I wear a lilac sprig, then the demons will leave me alone?† He snorted. â€Å"Vervain, not lilac,† Cordelia explained. â€Å"It keeps evil away.† â€Å"Y es,† Father said sagely. â€Å"And everyone in town must wear it. See to it, Mayor Lockwood. That way, not only will our citizens be protected, but anyone who does not wear it will be exposed as a vampire and can then be burned,† Father said, his voice so smooth and matter-of-fact that it took every ounce of self-control for me not to stand up, rush down the shaky ladder, find Katherine, and run away with her. But if I did that, and if Katherine was as dangerous as the Founders thought †¦ I felt like a trapped animal, unable to find any escape. Was I trapped with the enemy right now, or was the enemy back at Veritas? I knew that, beneath my shirt collar, the wound on my neck was beginning to ooze specks of blood, and it would only be a matter of time before they soaked through the fabric and stood out as a visible reminder of my betrayal. Mayor Lockwood shifted uneasily, causing the chair to creak. I jumped. â€Å"Now, if the herb works, that's one thing. But we're in the middle of a war. We've got a lot of Confederate government officials passing through Mystic Falls on their way to Richmond, and if word gets out that instead of aiding the cause we're fighting storybook creatures with flowers †¦Ã¢â‚¬  He shook his head. â€Å"We cannot issue an edict that everyone wear vervain.† â€Å"Oh, really? Then how do we know you're not a vampire?† Father demanded. â€Å"Father!† I interjected. Someone had to bring a voice of reason into the discussion. â€Å"Mayor Lockwood is right. We need to think calmly. Rationally.† â€Å"Y son has a good head on his shoulders,† our Mayor Lockwood said grudgingly. â€Å"A better head than yours,† Father mumbled. â€Å"Well †¦ we can discuss vervain later. Honoria, you'll be in charge of making sure that we have a ready supply, and we can strongly encourage those we love to wear it. But for now, I want to discuss other ways we can find the vampires that walk among us,† Jonathan Gilbert said excitedly, unfolding large sheets of paper onto the table. Mayor Lockwood put his bifocals on his nose and peered at the papers, which had complicated mechanical drawings on them. â€Å"This here looks like a compass,† Mayor Lockwood said finally, pointing to a complicated drawing. â€Å"It is! But instead of finding north, it finds vampires,† Jonathan said, barely containing his excitement. â€Å"I'm working on the prototype. It just needs a bit more fine-tuning. It's able to detect blood. The blood of others,† he said meaningfully. â€Å"Can I see that, Mr. Jonathan?† Cordelia asked. Jonathan looked up, surprised, but handed her the papers. She shook her head. â€Å"No,† she said. â€Å"The prototype.† â€Å"Oh, ah, well, it's very rough,† Jonathan said as he fumbled in his back pocket and pulled out a shiny metal object that looked more like a child's trinket than a tool for finding victims. Cordelia turned the compass slowly in her hands. â€Å"It works?† â€Å"Well †¦Ã¢â‚¬ Ã¢â‚¬â€œJonathan shrugged–â€Å"it will work.† â€Å"Here's what I propose,† Father said, leaning back on his chair. â€Å"We arm ourselves with vervain. We work day and night to get the compass to work. And we make a plan. We set up a siege, and by month's end our town will be clear.† Father crossed his arms in satisfaction. One by one, every member of the group, including Cordelia, nodded their heads. I shifted on the wooden chair, holding my hand against my neck. The attic was hot and sticky, and flies were buzzing in the rafters, as if it were the middle of July rather than the middle of September. I desperately needed a glass of water, and I felt like the room was going to collapse in on me. I needed to see Katherine again, to remind myself that she wasn't a monster. My breathing became shallow, and I felt that if I stayed here, I would say something I didn't mean. â€Å"I think I'm feeling faint,† I heard myself say, even though the words rang false even to my ears. Father looked at me sharply. I could tell he didn't believe me, but Honoria clucked out sympathetic noises. Father cleared his throat. â€Å"I'll see my boy out,† he announced to the room before following me down the rickety ladder. â€Å"Stefan,† Father said, grabbing my shoulder just as I opened the door that would lead back to a world I understood. â€Å"What?† I gasped. â€Å"Remember. Not a word of this to anyone. Even Damon. Not until he comes to his senses. Except I think his senses may be taken with our Katherine,† Father muttered, half to himself as he let go of my arm. I stiffened at the mention of Katherine's name, but when I turned around, Father's back was toward me as he headed into the house. I walked back through town, wishing I'd ridden Mezzanotte instead of coming in the carriage. Now I had no choice but to walk home. I turned to my left, deciding to cut through the forest. I simply couldn't interact with any more humans today.

Independent Auditors’ Management Letter Essay

To the Honorable Board of County Commissioners of Lee County, Florida: We have audited the financial statements of the governmental activities, the business-type activities, each major fund, and the aggregate remaining fund information of Lee County, Florida (the â€Å"County†) as of and for the year ended September 30, 2011, and have issued our report thereon dated March 8, 2012. We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America; the standards applicable to financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards, issued by the Comptroller General of the United States; and OMB Circular A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments, and NonProfit Organizations. We have issued our Independent Auditors’ Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting and on Compliance and Other Matters Based on an Audit of Financial Statements Performed in Accordance with Government Auditing Standards, Independent Auditorsà ¢â‚¬â„¢ Report on Compliance with Requirements that Could Have a Direct and Material Effect on Each Major Federal Awards Program and State Financial Assistance Project and on Internal Control Over Compliance, and Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs. Disclosures in those reports and schedule, which are dated March 8, 2012, should be considered in conjunction with this management letter. Additionally, our audit was conducted in accordance with Chapter 10.550, Rules of the Auditor General, which governs the conduct of local governmental entity audits performed in the State of Florida. This letter includes the following information, which is not included in the aforementioned auditors’ reports or schedule. Section 10.554(1)(i)1., Rules of the Auditor General, requires that we determine whether or not corrective actions have been taken to address findings and recommendations made in the preceding annual financial audit report. There were no findings and recommendations made in the preceding annual financial audit report with respect to the Board of County Commissioners (the â€Å"Board†). With respect to the Clerk of the Circuit Court, Property Appraiser, Sheriff, Supervisor of Elections, and Tax Collector (collectively the â€Å"County agencies†), reference to whether corrective actions have been taken is provided in separate management letters for each County agency. Section 10.554(1)(i)2., Rules of the Auditor General, requires our audit to include a review of the provisions of Section 218.415, Florida Statutes, regarding the investment of public funds. In connection with our audit of the financial statements of the County, nothing came to our attention that would cause us to believe that the County was in noncompliance with Section 218.415 regarding the investment of public funds. Section 10.554(1)(i)3., Rules of the Auditor General, requires that we address in the management letter any recommendations to improve financial management. In connection with our audit of the Board, we did not have any such findings. Reference to such matters is provided in separ ate letters for each County agency, where applicable. Section 10.554(1)(i)4., Rules of the Auditor General, requires that we address violations of provisions of contracts or grant agreements, or abuse, that have occurred, or are likely to have occurred, that have an effect on the financial statements that is less than material but more than inconsequential. In connection with our audit, we did not have any findings other than those reported in the Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs. Section 10.554(1)(i)5., Rules of the Auditor General, provides that the auditor may, based on professional judgment, report the following matters that have an inconsequential effect on financial statements, considering both quantitative and qualitative factors: (1) violations of provisions of contracts or grant agreements, fraud, illegal acts, or abuse, and (2) deficiencies in internal control that are not significant deficiencies. Reference to such matters is provided in Appendix A for the Board. We did not audit the responses to our recommendations, which are also provided in Appendix A, and, accordingly, we express no opinion on them. Reference to such matters is provided in separate management letters for each County agency, where applicable. Section 10.554(1)(i)6., Rules of the Auditor General, requires that the name or official title and legal authority for the primary government and each component unit of the reporting entity be disclosed in the management letter, unless disclosed in the notes to the financial statements. Such disclosure is included in the notes to the financial statements. Section 10.554(1)(i)7.a., Rules of the Auditor General, requires a statement be included as to whether or not the local governmental entity has met one or more of the conditions described in Section 218.503(1), Florida Statutes, and identification of the specific condition(s) met. In connection with our audit of the financial statements of the County, the results of our tests did not indicate the County met any of the specified conditions of a financial emergency contained in Section 218.503(1). However, our audit does not provide a legal determination on the County’s compliance with this requirement. Section 10.554(1)(i)7.b., Rules of the Auditor General, requires that we determine whether the annual financial report for the County for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011, filed with the Florida Department of Financial Services pursuant to Section 218.32(1)(a), Florida Statutes, is in agreement with the annual financial audit report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011. Our comparison of the financial report filed with the Florida Department of Financial Services to the County’s 2011 audited financial statements resulted in no material differences. Pursuant to Sections 10.554(1)(i)7.c. and 10.556(7), Rules of the Auditor General, we applied financial condition assessment procedures as of September 30, 2011. It is management’s responsibility to monitor the County’s financial condition, and our financial condition assessment was based in part on representations made by management and the review of financial information provided by same. This letter is intended solely for the information and use of management, the Board of County Commissioners of Lee County, Florida, the Florida Auditor General and applicable federal and state agencies, and is not intended to be and should not be used by anyone other than these specified parties. Orlando, Florida March 8, 2012 LEE COUNTY, FLORIDA Appendix A – Management Letter Comments For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011 Observation 2011-A Statement of Condition: The Clerk’s Finance and Records Department periodically reviews construction in progress with the County departments to determine which projects should be capitalized and depreciated. However, we noted during our audit that the governmental activities construction in progress balance at September 30, 2011 included certain projects that had been completed or abandoned before year-end. Criteria: Construction in progress projects should be reclassified to depreciable assets once substantially completed and available for service. If the County determines a project is no longer viable, the construction in progress should be expensed. Effect of condition: Construction in progress for governmental activities in the amount of $8,061,000 was not reclassified as depreciable assets at September 30, 2011, and related depreciation expen se and accumulated depreciation were not recorded. In addition, the County expensed $1,242,000 of construction in progress for a project that was abandoned. Cause of condition: The process in place for notification of when construction in progress is substantially complete and available for service or when projects are no longer viable, was not sufficient to identify such projects for proper recording. Recommendation: We recommend that County departments be more diligent in reviewing the status of construction in progress and notify the Clerk’s Finance and Records Department when projects are substantially complete and available for service or when they determine a project should be abandoned. Management’s response: We have asked our external auditors to provide instruction to the Board’s fiscal personnel on this matter, including the importance of capitalizing or writing off construction in progress in a timely manner. Observation 2011-B Statement of Condition: The cost of interest related to borrowings on construction in progress had not been sufficiently capitalized prior to audit review. Criteria: Accounting principles state that interest shall be capitalized for assets in enterprise funds that are constructed for the enterprise’s own use if the effect of expensing such interest is material. Effect of condition: Capitalized interest cost related to construction in progress was recalculated and recorded in the amount of approximately $1 million. Cause of condition: The calculation of capitalized interest had not included all construction in progress on which interest was to be capitalized. Recommendation: We recommend that the Clerk’s Finance and Records Department review construction in progress annually and determine the amount of interest that should be capitalized. Management’s response: The issue was related to accruing interest for construction in progress based on the total amount of construction in progress rather than the amount that was capitalized in the current year. This has been corrected. LEE COUNTY, FLORIDA Appendix A – Management Letter Comments For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011 Observation 2011-C Statement of Condition: During our testing of cash management compliance for the Emergency Operations Center State grant, it was noted that $138,000 of expenditures, out of $849,000 in total, were not requested for reimbursement in the annual reimbursement request. Criteria: Reimbursements requests should include all expenditures for which the County has disbursed payment to vendors for the specific time period. Effect of Condition: Reimbursement for certain invoices was not requested and the County did not receive all of the monies to which it was entitled in a timely manner, which could result in cash flow issues for the program. Cause of Condition: The County did not reconcile the reimbursement request to the accounting records. Recommendation: We recommend that management establish a process to reconcile to the accounting records when preparing reimbursement requests. Management’s Response: Future requests for reimbursement will be made in the same year that they were expended. Observation 2011-D Statement of Condition: The County’s practice has been to write off uncollectable EMS receivables as bad debt expenditures. Criteria: Discounts and allowances in revenue-related governmental fund accounts should be recorded as revenue reductions, rather than as bad debt expenditures. Effect of Condition: EMS revenues and bad debt expenditures were overstated by $6,106,000. This also created a financial statement budget variance because bad debt expenditures have been recorded but not budgeted. Cause of Condition: The long-standing County practice has been to record all uncollectable receivables as bad debt expenditures. Recommendation: We recommend that management modify accounting practices to reduce revenue for uncollectable revenue-related governmental fund accounts receivable. Management’s Response: We will look at this issue in the upcoming fiscal year and handle it appropriately.

“The Fly” Katherine Mansfield Essay Example

â€Å"The Fly† Katherine Mansfield Essay Example â€Å"The Fly† Katherine Mansfield Paper â€Å"The Fly† Katherine Mansfield Paper â€Å"The Fly†   Ã‚  Analysis Death is something most people would want to avoid. Mankind has always been and will continue to be victims of this tragic event. In the short story â€Å"The Fly,† Katherine Mansfield explores many different themes. Such themes center on the struggles that death of loved ones presents to a person’s life. The death of a loved one is not easy to cope with. It may cause one to be trapped by grief, wanting to fight life, and being unable to heal with time. The close relationship that a father may share with his son can bring a man’s mind to war if he were to lose his only son. The author paints this picture of agony and distress through the life of the Boss in this story. Throughout the story there are many deaths first with the boss’s son then with the fly. I believe that the author was trying to show that the concept of death is inevitable, but there are ways to cope with it. You either find the strength to move on or you can sit and let your life pass you by. The Boss from â€Å"The Fly† reminds me of those that are afflicted by death. The Boss has tortured himself out of a life that could have been good. The Boss’s son was dead, but it is not a reason to forget about the good things in life. The Boss should have realized that suppressing his pain would never bring his son back. Instead the Boss has gone into great lengths to change the environment he was in. But he did not take into consideration that to create a new future he would have to effectively deal with his past. Another theme of â€Å"The Fly† would have to be not being able to move on. The song â€Å"It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye To yesterday† by Boys2Men reflects solely on how difficult it is to move on after a tragic event. But there is no need to dwell on the past, because dwelling in the past brings no change to the future. If the Boss took the time to move on from that tragic incident in his life he would have been able to visit his son’s grave. He would not be having mental meltdowns just by hearing about his son’s grave. Just by hearing the words â€Å"†¦visited sons grave† from Mr. Woodifield the Boss’ brain basically shuts down, so he asked his office manager not to let anyone in to see him for half an hour. All he was able to think about for the rest of that day was the loss of his child, his only son, who was supposed to gain control of his company, the son who was going to continue his legacy. When I think of fathers I also think of sons. There is never a man who wishes to have only daughters. They would always want to have a son. Sons are the gateway to the next generation carrying on the name tradition. Sons are the ones who will be taking over things when the father is no longer there and with his son gone the Boss was feeling a crippling amount of loss. His first and only son was gone, closing the gate for future generations, the end of a legacy. The Boss felt that his reason for living was lost with the death of his son. He was now a shell of the man that once thought that life was full and had meaning. Fighting with his life, the Boss does not realize he is in a standstill just like the fly in the story that is fighting with life (the ink) to make it. As in the famous quote when life gives you lemons you make lemonade, the Boss should use this concept by turning a bad situation into a good one. In life there are no do overs, once the time has passed it is gone forever. The Boss may have felt like sending death a letter. Explaining the reasons why his son should not have been taken away. The Boss needed to open up his eyes and look within himself to see if he was satisfied with the life he was living. Furthermore, time does not always heal all wounds. There is a saying that states â€Å"time changes things, but you actually have to change things yourself. † I feel like that is true especially when I hear the quote â€Å"time heals all wounds. † I feel that there is a catch. You cannot just sit around then suddenly and miraculously all your pain is gone. You have to work to get your wounds sealed. The Boss felt that if he just ignored the wounds and pretended as if they were not there he would be better in no time at all, because there would not be anything to heal. But he is just overestimating his imagination because the wounds will always be beneath the surface. Even if he does not show his pain it will always be buried deep inside. The Boss did not realize that he was slowing down his healing process by ignoring what was in his face. Another theme would be not giving up. When there is an obstacle in your path that keeps knocking you down. Just get up and try again because there is always a way around it. Do not ever let that obstacle rule your life but vice versa. For example the fly, in the story no matter how many times it was covered in ink. It got back up and cleaned itself off even until its last breath. The fly basically went down fighting it did not let the ink get to his will to live, until it had no other choice but to give up. This is an example the Boss should take and use in his own life. People die every day, he just has to see that there is more to life than just to live. He needs to find something positive to keep him going, rather than dwelling on the thought of losing his only child. Before it was for his son, now it can be for himself or his family and friends. The story can also be read as a confirmation of the brutal horrors of World War I. A representation of the generation that sent its sons to their death beds in a cruel war. The Boss as well as Mr. Woodifield had a son in the war, and it seems that they both lost their sons in that same war, just as many others. Because of the way Mr. Woodifield spoke of the grave site it seemed to have been made to hold fallen soldiers of that war. It shows that war can affect people in many ways. Mr. Woodifield can talk about his son freely. While the Boss cannot even stand to see anything that would remind him of the loss of his son’s presence let alone hear his name. All in all there are many different themes in â€Å"The Fly† by Katherine Mansfield. Like how death is a part of life that we cannot get rid of. When life gets difficult sometimes it is hard to move on. Especially when it comes to losing someone you have a special bond with. It also explains how fathers and sons develop a close relationship with one another. How you cannot fight with life because it does not appear to have what you want, that time is not always the sole healer of all wounds, and the brutal horrors of war. Above all life is what you make of it, you either takes it or you leave it.

Become a Marketable Medical Transcriptionist

Become a Marketable Medical Transcriptionist Whether you’re just starting along the path to a career in medical transcription or are looking to sharpen your skills, you need to be in top of your game at all times. Here are a few ways you can thrive in this important position. You will likely have to learn how to generate your own clients.  Always be in the lookout for opportunities to network. Keep your name active in industry forums and maintain consistent relationships with industry professionals: teachers from your certification program, former classmates and colleagues, and anyone you’ve worked for in the past. You want to remain fresh in the minds of people who might be looking to hire someone.Organization is key, especially because many positions will require that you work from home and maintain your own schedule. First, set up a professional space for yourself–make sure it’s clean, quiet, and equipped with the latest gear. You will definitely need a sturdy set of headphones and a quality sou nd card for your computer. Then, set up (and stick to!) an administration plan that works for you–paper or electronic files are fine, so long as you keep meticulous track of your assignments, due dates, and invoices.Finally, grow and hone your skills regularly. Practice is key to success, especially on real-life medical dictations. In this profession, time is money and efficiency is vital.Aim to stay at the top of your game in all professional and personal avenues and you’ll be primed to become a sought-after and marketable medical transcriptionist!5 Ways to Maximize Your Effectiveness as a Medical TranscriptionistRead More at www.careerstep.com

Executive Remuneration in Australian Companies Research Paper

Executive Remuneration in Australian Companies - Research Paper Example Thus the Australian Government policy goals mainly depend on the remuneration practice, especially the engagement and voting activities of the companies. However this research proposal would demonstrate the shareholders' interest on developing an effective executive remuneration regime for directors and executives and identify an effective remuneration regime in Australia which is needed for development and transparency of the remuneration process and practice in a causal contingency framework of convergence/divergence. Theoretical and conceptual frameworks on executive remuneration for directors of Australian companies and executives have been developed over the years to support efficiency hypothesis which invariably borders on the need to increase value of the firm in conformance with critical success factors. According to Chartered Secretaries Australia (CSA), directors and executive remuneration levels and structure have often been influenced by the existence of a variety of factors like community and political concerns, rules and regulations, code of practice and guidelines, market exchange rules and accounting standards. Under the section 9 of the Corporation Act defines remuneration of executive as "remuneration if and only if the benefit, were it received by a director of the corporation, would be remuneration of the director for the purposes of an accounting standard that deals with disclosure in companies' financial reports of information about directors' remuneration" (Australian Corpora tion & Securities Legislation, 2009). The remuneration to all the executives in an organization can be explained as the aggregate or sum of the payments receiving by all the executives including Directors, CEO, and Managers from a company or a corporation. Thus it consists of the normal payments to the executives such as basic salary, all incentives, bonus, shares and any other benefits such as allowances. Executive remuneration is a very important element of corporate governance and the level of benefits are determining by the board of directors. The determination of the level of the income of all these key individuals in accompany is a complex process to the

Engagement of Students in the learning process Essay

Engagement of Students in the learning process - Essay Example The research concludes that all these factors play a major role in determining a student’s achievement in school. Introduction All educational institutions have the aim of promoting students achievement. There are different factors that positively or negatively affect the achievement of students. These factors can be either, social, economic, environmental or political. In students’ achievement, different individuals have to pull forces to ensure that there is success in the process. These individuals include, teachers, parents and students. This paper analyses the positive effects of different factors that affect students’ achievement. A student’s achievement is influenced by several factors such as class size, family, motivation, teacher’s attitudes, a school’s culture and gender and therefore teachers should put these factors into perspective when teaching. Individual factors that affect students’ achievement Engagement of Students in the learning process Gross (2009) states that engagement of students in the process of learning is vital in ensuring achievement. Students can engage in the learning process through submission of assignments and agreeing to teachers instructions. Another form of students’ engagement in the learning process can be seen through class attendance. A teacher acts as a guide towards students’ engagement in class. ... Teachers who ensure effective engagement of the students experience less problems in managing their classes. Students’ interests can be boosted through application of different resources that interest students (Gross, 2009). Role of motivation to students’ achievement Motivation of students has always led to high achievement among learners. There are two major types of motivation that help to promote achievement in students. These are extrinsic motivation and intrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation mainly involves a student’s drive or desire towards learning. Intrinsic motivation helps a student in defining the importance of achieving highly academically. This type of motivation mainly depends on a student’s goal. There are those students who work hard in their schoolwork with an aim of having a good career in future. The students will therefore put efforts towards achievement of this goal. Another type of motivation is the extrinsic motivation. This ty pe of motivation comes from the external environment of the learners. Individuals who promote this type of motivation can be teachers, parents and other students. A teacher can promote extrinsic motivation in a learner by constantly reinforcing good character. Reinforcement can be done through offering incentives like sweets, books or pens (Gross, 2009). A teacher can motivate students who perform well by offering them gifts to ensure that they maintain their performance. Poor performers on the other hand, can be encouraged to perform well by constantly complementing them whenever they make an improvement. Teachers’ effectiveness towards students’ achievement Students’ performance can be used to assess teachers’