Capital Missions Company (CMC): Investing for a Sustainable World ...

Capital Missions Company (?CMC?) creates innovation networks of investors, business leaders, philanthropists and local green leaders to catalyze a globally sustainable economy. It was one of the first ?B? Corporations, operating ?to benefit society? and it uses biomimicry, operating as nature does. In doing so, over a 20-year period CMC has developed an innovation methodology, the ?KINS? (Key Initiator Network Strategy) Networks of high social impact.

The company has moved billions of dollars into social investing, not to mention other benefits. Since it was formed in 1991, it has seen its members invest more than $121 million in more than 200 socially-responsible ventures, with follow-on capital of $2.2 billion.

CMC has served as the founding organizer for 15 KINS Innovation Networks, including leaders for social investment companies, women in finance, institutional investors, women angel investors, solar investors, Nigerian village women, African-American business owners, families with wealth of over $100 million, and women business owners. For example, one network formed by CMC is the Investors? Circle, whose mission is to support early-stage, private companies that drive the transition to a sustainable economy. Another network, formed in 1982, is the Committee of 200, pre-eminent businesswomen who collectively control more than $100 billion annually in revenues.

Source: http://www.fouryearsgo.org/2012/09/03/business-stories/capital-missions-company-cmc-investing-for-a-sustainable-world-2/

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Most Sought after Business Consulting Services. - CareCrunch ...

The business world has dramatically changed over the century and it is no longer the old business community as we know the item. Nowadays, you can make business from anything, as in anything by any means.

Hobbies and even caprices are now able to generate income for any individual. And business consulting isn?t any different.

In business consulting, you just have to visit where your passion in addition to expertise lie and you?re positive to give sound and reliable business counsel. But if you are still baffled to what to do or how to start because you might have some areas of expertise and you want to be sure which is the greatest choice, here are some of the very popular and in requirement business consulting services.

1. Computer consulting.

This is one in the, if not the topmost, in demand business consulting service because lots of high-ranking executive officers aren?t very adept with personal computer technology.

It is usually younger generation who have your knack and strong curiosity about following and learning brand new trends and updates in the high maintenance world of computer technology.

So, more often than not necessarily, executives leave the nitty-gritty involving high-tech computing to personal computer consultants. They?d rather not be bothered or wasting the time, learning the ever-changing in addition to dynamic computer world so one of these think it the best option to just hire somebody expert for the field.

2. Business Starts.

This is another successful for young and neophyte entrepreneurs. The world?s young urban professionals are turning out to be business entrepreneurs these days to weeks.

More and more youth are realizing that earning and making it big is in starting off their own business and not just relying on their regular monthly salary.

This young generation is oftentimes over eager in starting a company that they make big mistakes. This is where small business consultants enter the photo.

Consultants who are experienced in turning a small company endeavor into an cash flow generating machine, helping the new businessperson learn everything about running a business.

3. Human Resources.

This department is the key division of every company however the most assumed. Human resources department plays a really crucial role in each and every company. It is the heart from the company.

The happiness and well-being of employees lie in good management on the labor force. There are companies that do not even have this specific department. Well, at least not in the real essence of your profession anyway.

Most companies only have administrative department and that is totally different from human resource management. So what executives accomplish is hire human resources expert every so often to sort out HOURS related problems. Sometimes, this is even improve results as the for the short term hired Human Relations consultant offers objective and unprejudiced analysis of the labor relations problem.

4. Project Management Consulting.

This one is in addition fast-becoming famous with corporations that creates several projects on a regular basis. From time to time, they hire interim officers to head a specific project and retain them before the project team can already remain true and run independent.

5. Business Communications Consultant.

This consultancy covers both written and oral marketing communications, as well as suitable etiquette and practices associated with communications.

Majority of every company?s workforce isn?t going to communicate well, especially in the universal language-English. And they find it even harder to set communications in writing.

Jazz music composition would be the work of knowledgeable musicians using the skills to write, and create one of the very most memorable masterpieces. Moreover, Jazz music Composition is really a course included in universities and colleges who deem it a worthy be subject to study. Composing Jazz music requires the idea of constructing chords which have been altered or substitute that may fit within the suggestions of composition.

Meaning, experimentation is fine so long as you know how to easily fit into the musical shocks in the piece in a manner to never disrupt the flow. It is mandatory to maintain the essence of Jazz music an element of you when creating, and keep all views to restrict creativity through your mind. The aim of Jazz music composition should be to create what you feel about any subject into the sound of your respective musical work. To find your way to the making of Jazz music composition it is best to learn the skills connected with basic theory in headsets training, notes on various instruments, key signatures, scales, chords, intervals, counterpoint, harmony, melody, music terminology, clefs, meters and time signatures, transposing of various musical instruments, and music reading.

Source: http://answers.carecrunch.com/?p=173720&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=most-sought-after-business-consulting-services

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How gene profiling in emphysema is helping to find a cure

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death in the United States and is thought to affect almost three million people in the UK. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Genome Medicine has identified genes whose activity is altered with increasing lung damage and, using a database of drug effects on gene activity (the Connectivity Map), finds that the compound Gly-His-Lys (GHK) affects the activity of these genes. When tested on human cells from lungs damaged by emphysema, GHK was able to restore normal gene activity and repair cell function.

The strongest cause of COPD is smoking, and at least 25% of smokers will develop this disease. Tobacco smoke and other irritants cause oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, which over time results in emphysema, the destruction of lung alveolar cells. Without these cells, the lungs are not able to efficiently exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide, leaving the patient continuously short of breath and with low levels of oxygen in their blood.

In a ground breaking, multi-centre, study funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH), researchers used cells taken from lungs donated by patients undergoing double lung transplant, whose own lungs were irrevocably damaged by COPD. Profiling of these samples showed that 127 genes had changes in activity that was associated with worsening disease severity within the lung. As would be expected from the nature of the disease, several genes associated with inflammation, such as the genes involved in signalling to B-cells (the immune system cells which make antibodies), showed increased activity.

In contrast genes involved in maintaining cellular structure and normal cellular function, along with the growth factors TGF? and VEGF, were down-regulated and showed decreased activity. This included genes which control the ability of the cells to stick together (cell adhesion), produce the protein matrix which normally surrounds the cells, and which promote the normal association between lung cells and blood vessels.

Dr Avrum Spira and Dr Marc Lenburg, who co-led this study from the Boston University School of Medicine, explained, "When we searched the Connectivity Map database, which is essentially a compendium of experiments that measure the effect of therapeutic compounds on every gene in the genome, we found that how genes were affected by the compound GHK, a drug known since the 1970s, was the complete opposite of what we had seen in the cells damaged by emphysema."

Dr Joshua Campbell explained, "What got us especially excited was that previous studies had shown that GHK could accelerate wound repair when applied to the skin. This made us think that GHK could have potential drug's as a therapy for COPD."

Prof James Hogg, from the University of British Columbia continued, "When we tested GHK on cells from the damaged lungs of smokers with COPD, we saw an improvement in the structure of their actin cytoskeleton and in cell adhesion, especially to collagen. GHK also restored the ability of cells to reorganise themselves to repair wounds and construct the contractile filaments essential for alveolar function."

GHK is a natural peptide found in human plasma, but the amount present decreases with age. While more testing needs to be done on its effects in COPD, these early results are very promising. Therapeutic studies with GHK in animal models of COPD are now underway with the ultimate goal of moving this compound into clinical trials. As more gene activity signatures are discovered, this method of matching drug to disease may provide a rapid method for discovering potential uses for existing drugs and compounds.

###

BioMed Central: http://www.biomedcentral.com

Thanks to BioMed Central for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/123152/How_gene_profiling_in_emphysema_is_helping_to_find_a_cure

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Big Bend Youth Rodeo kicks off Saturday - Alpine Daily Planet

West Texas Food Bank

2101 FM 1703 Alpine, TX 79830 www.WTXfoodbank.org/ Mission: to address the critical issue of hunger in the West Texas area by securing donations of surplus foods and grocery products for distribution through a network of charitable organizations dedicated to feeding the hungry covering 45,000 square miles in 22 West Texas counties. Contact: Lulu L?pez, 432-837-1580; mlopez@feedingamerica.org

Tierra Grande Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists

PO Box 133 Alpine, TX, 79831 Contact: Ellen Weinacht, 432-294-2421; ellen@rionet.coop

Sunshine House

205 E. Sul Ross Alpine, TX 79830 Mission: to provide fellowship and meals for senior citizens of the Alpine area. Volunteer Opportunities: Meals on Wheels Contact: Laurel Schuelke, 432-837-5402; laurel.sunshine@att.net; sunshinehouse@sbcglobal.net

San Vicente Independent School District

Mission: to educate the whole child while providing a safe and nurturing environment that promotes a passion for lifelong learning, respect for self and others, and an appreciation for individual differences. PO Box 195 Big Bend National Park, TX 79843 http://svisd.com/ Contact: (432) 477-2220

Saluvida

PO Box 819 Marfa, TX 79843 Contact: Genevieve Basham, 432-729-4572

Salvation Army

Volunteer opportunities during Red Kettle Days, every weekend between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Please contact for other times. Contact: Liz Hightower, 432-294-4321; office@fbcalpine.com

Rotary Club of Marfa

301 S. Highland Marfa, TX 79843 http://marfarotary.blogspot.com/; www.rotary.org Mission: to serve the Marfa community. Contact: Jon Johnson, 432-729-4344

Rotary Club of Alpine

www.rotary.org Mission: to provide service to others, promote high ethical standards and advance understanding, goodwill and peace through its fellowship of business, professional and community leaders. 801 N. Bird? Alpine, TX 79830 Contact: Lou Pauls, 432-837-3356; lucasawtx@sbcglobal.net

Relay for Life

PO Box 1666 Alpine, TX 79831 Contact: Dot Leavitt, 837-2472; Shirley Eoff, 837-51890

Presidio Public Library

1200 E. O'Rielly St.; P.O Box 2440 Presidio, TX 79845-2440 Contact: Carmen Elguez?bal, 432- 229-3317; Carmen_el@yahoo.com

Permian Basin Community Centers

401 E. Illinois Midland, TX 79701 www.pbmhmr.com/Index.htm Mission: to provide supports, resources, and opportunities to enable people with mental illness, mental retardation, or chemical dependency to live satisfying, responsible, and productive lives to the fullest extent of their abilities. Brewster, Jeff Davis, Presidio counties Contact: 800-542-4005; webmaster@pbmhmr.com

Overland Trail Museum

Fort St. and 3rd St. Fort Davis, TX 79734 Mission: to provide historical records, pictures items of historical interest relating to Jeff Davis County, culture and physical history of Fort Davis and the Big Bend area. Contact: Bob Miles, 432-426-2467; Daisy McCutcheon, 432-426-2011

The Nature Conservancy (Davis Mountains Preserve)

PO Box 2092 Fort Davis, TX 79734 http://www.nature.org/ Mission: to protect vital habitats in Texas and around the world. Contact: Chris Pipes, 432-426-2390; cpipes@tnc.org

Native Plant Society of Texas, Big Bend chapter

HC65 Box 28-G Alpine, TX 79830 http://npsot.org/ Mission: to preserve our state's rich heritage for future generations. NPSOT is a non-profit organization run by volunteers who work to promote native plant appreciation, research, and conservation Contact: Pollyanne Melton, 432-364-2577; melton@bigbend.net

Museum of the Big Bend

Box C-101 Sul Ross State University Campus Alpine, TX 79832 http://www.sulross.edu/museum/index.html Mission: to collect, preserve, exhibit and interpret the materials that relate to the prehistory and history of the Big Bend of Texas and northern Mexico, with an awareness of the region?s cultural?diversity. Contact: Liz Jackson, 432-837-8143, ejackson@sulross.edu

McDonald Observatory

82 Mt. Locke Rd. McDonald Observatory, TX 79734 http://nexus.as.utexas.edu/ Contact: 432-426-4263

Marfa Public Radio

111 S. Highland Ave.; PO Box 867 Marfa TX 79843 info@marfapublicradio.org; www.marfapublicradio.org Mission: to provide radio that unites the community and promotes cultural enrichment through presentation and focus on the importance of art, education, quality of life and the local economy. Volunteer Opportunities: Music filing, loading, audio editing, clerical duties, and potential on-air hosting of news programs. Station Director: Tom Michael, 432-386-0601; tom@marfapublicradio.org Programming & Production Manager: Rachel Lindley, 432-729-4578; rachel@marfapublicradio.org

Marfa Public Library

PO Box U Marfa, TX 79843 http://www.marfapubliclibrary.org/cgi-bin/index.pl?action=main Contact: Gloria Applegate,;432-729-4631; gloria@marfapubliclibrary.org

Marfa Lions Club

PO Box 296 Marfa, TX 79842

Marfa Chamber of Commerce

207 N. Highland Ave.; PO Box 635 Marfa, TX 79843 www.marfacc.com/; info@marfacc.com Contact: 432-729-4942; 800-650-9696

Marathon Rural Health Clinic

PO Box 145 Marathon, TX 79842

Marathon Public Library

106 N. 3rd St.; PO Box 177 Marathon, TX 79842 Contact: Carol Townsend, 432-386-4136; marathonlib@yahoo.com

Marathon Chamber of Commerce

PO Box 431 Marathon, TX 79842 www.marathontexas.com/index.htm Mission: to provide creative leadership for appropriate economic development in Marathon and the Big Bend area. Contact: tel. 432-386-4516; sconemaker@hotmail.com

Lions Club of Fort Davis

PO Box 114 Fort Davis, TX 79734 Mission: to empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions clubs. (Local focus is to provide financial assistance for eyeglass exams and glasses to our community and scholarships to local high school graduates). Contact: Don Sheffield, 432-426-3759; dw_sheffield@mztv.net

Lions Club of Alpine

PO Box 274 Alpine, TX 79831 http://lionwap.org/eclub/sites/alpinetx/ Mission: empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions clubs. Contact: Dave Rogers, 432-837-3375; drogers@wtnb.com

Kiwanis Club of Alpine

PO Box 982 Alpine, TX 79830 Mission: to focus on the needs of ordinary people and children to create extraordinary life-changing moments. Contact: David Martin, dmartin@sulross.edu.

Jeff Davis County Library

100 Jefferson Sq.; PO Box 1054 Fort Davis, TX 79734 Contact: 432-426-3802

Jeff Davis County Child Welfare Board

Fort Davis, TX 79734 Contact: Barbara Medley, 432-426-3561, barbarajmedley@att.net

Helping Hand Thrift & Gift Shop

510 State St. Fort Davis, TX 79734 Mission: a retail store representing Grand Companions Humane Society, which receives 100% of its proceeds Contact: Carrie Branum, 432-426-3724

Grand Companions Humane Society

PO Box 1156 Ft. Davis, TX 79734 www.grandcompanions.org Mission: always reaching for the best journey home for homeless pets Contact: Laura Langham, 432-426-3724; laura@grandcompanions.org

Girl Scouts of the Permian Basin

Camp Mitre Peak? PO Box 2098? Fort Davis, TX 79734 Contact: 432-364-2201; campmitrepeak@gspb.org

Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest

5217 N. Dixie Odessa, TX 79762 www.zia.org/ Contact: 432-550-2688 ext. 320

General Federation of Women's Clubs

509 E. Harriet Alpine, TX 79830 Contact: Amanda Smith, 432-837-9890; once_and_again@sbcglobal.net

Frontier CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)

PO Box 1232 Alpine, TX 79831 www.texascasa.org; www.frontiercasa.org Mission: to provide assistance for an abused or neglected child by providing factual information to the court on behalf of a child in the CPS legal process. Director: Ronnie Harris, 432-837-7448; frontiercasa@hotmail.com Volunteer Coordinator: Suzanne Bailey, 432-837-7448; frontiercasa@hotmail.com

Friends of the Marfa Public Library

PO Drawer U Marfa, TX 79843 www.friendsofmarfalibrary.org/cgi-bin/index.pl?action=main Mission: to serve Marfa through the continuous support and contributions of the entire community. Contact: Evelyn Luciani, 432-729-4631; eluciani@sbcglobal.net

Friends of the Marathon Public Library

106 N. 3rd St.; PO Box 177 Marathon, TX 79842 Contact: Carol Townsend, 432-386-4136; marathonlib@yahoo.com

Friends of the Jeff Davis County Library

PO Box 425 Fort Davis, TX 79734 http://www.friendsjdcl.org Mission: to make Jeff Davis County Library an increasingly important asset by encouraging greater public awareness, use, and support of the library and by assisting the librarian and staff in improving services and facilities. Contact: Cyndee Barnes, 432-426-3671; cyndeebarnes@yahoo.com

Friends of the Alpine Public Library

203 N. 7th St Alpine, TX 79830 Mission: to work to provide and strengthen library services and support a varied menu of programs for the citizens of our area, consistent with the goals and objectives of the Alpine Public Library and its Board of Directors. Contact: Don Wetterauer, suelos@sbcglobal.net; 432-837-3272

Friends of Fort Davis National Historic Site

PO Box 1023 Fort Davis, TX 79734 http://www.ffdnhs.org/ Mission: to support the National Park Service in its efforts to preserve, restore, interpret and publicize Fort Davis National Historic Site. Contact: 432-426-3224 x 20; info@ffdnhs.org

Fort Davis National Historic Site

PO Box 1379 Fort Davis, TX 79734 Contact: John Morlock, 432-426-3224

Fort Davis Independent School District

400 Buckeye; PO Box 1339 Fort Davis, TX 79734 www.fdisd.com/ Contact: Sup. Larry Butler, 432-426-4440; www.fdisd.com

Fort Davis Chamber of Commerce

4 Memorial Square; PO Box 378 Ft. Davis, TX 79734 www.fortdavis.com/; info@fortdavis.com Contact: 432-426-3978; 800-524-3015

Food Pantry of Marfa

PO Box 819 Marfa, TX 79843 Contact: Genevieve Basham, 432-729-4572

Food Pantry of Jeff Davis County

PO Box 244 Ft. Davis, TX 79734 Mission: to provide supplemental food distributed for qualified clients of Jeff Davis County and emergency food and school supplies Contact: Tex Harrison, 432-249-1820; tex@mztv.net

Food Pantry of Alpine, Inc.

PO Box 1366 Alpine, TX 79831 info@foodpantryofalpine.org Mission: to establish a community-supported food pantry which coordinates a monthly distribution of food at no cost to those in need regardless of race or creed. President: Greg Schwab, 432-386-3400; gschwab@sulross.edu

D?j? Vu Thrift Store Family Crisis Center of the Big Bend Friends of the Family Crisis Center of the Big Bend

PO Box 1470 Alpine, TX 79831 Mission: to strengthen communities by empowering individuals. Volunteer Opportunities: D?j? Vu Thrift Store (proceeds benefit Family Crisis Center) Contact: Executive Director: Lovika De Koninck, 432-837-7254; lovika@msn.com Business Administrator: Webbie Carvajal, 432-837-7254; webbie@sbcglobal.net Friends president: Dona Ward, 837-2225, dblevins@farmersagent.com

Children?s Advocacy Center of the Big Bend

1002 E. Nations Alpine, TX 79830 www.cactx.org/local/display/28 Mission: to reduce the trauma of children who are victims of sexual abuse and/or serious physical abuse in Brewster, Jeff Davis, Presidio, and Terrell Counties and to increase the likelihood of convicting the perpetrator through the cooperation of law enforcement, child protective services, prosecution, mental health, and medical personnel. Contact: Shanna Sullivan, 432-837-1515; cacbb@sbcglobal.net

Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center & Botanical Gardens (formerly CDRI)

Box 905 Ft. Davis, TX 79734 https://cdri.org/index.html Mission: to promote public awareness, appreciation, and concern for the natural diversity of the Chihuahuan Desert region through research and education. Director: Cathy Hoyt, 432-364-2499; choyt@cdri.org Contact: Cynthia Mcalister, cmcalister@cdri.org

Busy Bee Quilters

205 E. Sul Ross Alpine, TX 79830 Contact: Laurel Schuelke, 432-837-5402

Buffalo Trail Council of the Boy Scouts of America

1101 W. Texas Ave. Midland, TX 79701 www.BuffalotrailBSA.org/; info@buffalotrailbsa.org Mission: to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Alpine contact: Don Wetterauer, suelos@sbcglobal.net; 432-837-3272

Brewster County Tourism Council

PO Box 479 Alpine, TX 79831 www.visitbigbend.com Mission: to promote visitation to Brewster County. Primary volunteer opportunity is for people to staff an area information booth at Texas State Fair each year beginning the last Friday in September and running for 24 days straight. Volunteers usually work 4?5 days, and the Council pays their travel expenses, lodging, and meals. Contact: 432-837-3915; info@visitbigbend.com

Brewster County

PO Box 1630 Alpine, TX 79831 Contact: Judge Val Beard, 432-837-2412; val.beard@county.brewster.tx.us

Boys & Girls Club of Fort Davis

Mission: to provide after-school and summer youth programs. PO Box 1054; 100 Memorial Square Fort Davis, TX 79734 Contact: 432-426-3802; director_bgcfd@yahoo.com

Big Bend Regional Medical Center

2600 N. Highway 118 Alpine, TX 79830 www.bigbendhealthcare.com/Pages/home.aspx Contact: Mary Clare Spear, 432-837-3447; Mary_Clare_Spear@chs.net

Big Bend National Park

PO Box 129 Big Bend National Park, TX 79834 Contact: Natasha Moore, 432-477-2251; Natasha_Moore@nps.gov

Big Bend Arts Council

106 W. Sul Ross Ave., Suite D Alpine, TX 79830 www.bigbendartscouncil.net/; www.bbacgallery.com/index.html Mission: to provide a forum for supporting and promoting the arts in the Big Bend region. Contact: admin@bigbendartscouncil.net

Big Bend Amateur Radio Club

1402 N. 5th St Alpine, TX 79830 Purpose: to establish a benevolent, eleemosynary, nonprofit organization of members, and to render public service through amateur radio, and to gather and disseminate information concerning amateur radio operation. Meetings 2nd Tuesday 7:00 pm, West Texas National Bank Contact: Jim Fowler, 432-386-3041; wa5roe@juno.com

American Cancer Society

PO Box 1666 Alpine, TX 79830 Volunteer Opportunities: Relay for Life yearly fund-raiser. Contact: Shirley Eoff, 432-837-5190; sleoff@gmail.com

Alpine Valley Care Center

1003 Loop Rd. Alpine, TX 79830 Contact: 432-837-3343

Alpine Recycles/Keep Alpine Beautiful

100 N. 13th St. Alpine, TX 79830 Mission: to educate and engage citizens to take responsibility for improving their community environment. Contact: Martha Latta, 432-294-3183; info@alpinerecycles.org

Alpine Public Library

203 N. 7th Alpine, TX 79830 www.alpinepubliclibrary.org/; alpinepl@sbcglobal.net Mission: to connect our diverse community with information resources to promote reading and lifelong learning. Contact: Paige Delaney, 432-837-2621; alpinepl@sbcglobal.net

Alpine Independent School District

704 Sul Ross Ave. Alpine, TX 79830 www.alpine.esc18.net/ Mission: to provide our children with learning experiences to be responsible, productive and successful citizens of an ever changing world. Contact: Marsha Roach, 432-837-7700

Alpine Humane Society

PO Box 1464 Alpine, TX 79831 www.ci.alpine.tx.us/humanesociety.html Mission: to shelter homeless and abused animals, operate a progressive adoption program, investigate abuse cases, and encourage the spay/neutering of animals in order to control overpopulation. Contact: George Bradley, gbradley1938@gmail.com

Alpine Chamber of Commerce

106 N. 3rd St Alpine TX, 79830 www.vistorcenter.alpinetexas.com Mission: to promote, develop, and unite the business community in and around the Alpine area to accomplish economic growth. Contact: J.R. Smith, 432-837-2326; visitalpine@alpinetx.com

Alpine Ambassadors

PO Box 1341 Alpine, TX 79831 Purpose: to support and promote the Alpine community and its businesses, provide ribbon cuttings for new and existing businesses, support business activities as called upon, act as hosts for various community activities and act as good will ambassadors for the Big Bend Region of West Texas Contact: Mary Jane Morgan, 837-5739; mjmorgan@mztv.net

Aliviane, Inc.

500 W. Avenue H, Ste. 115 Alpine TX 79830 Mission: to provide a comprehensive and integrated continuum of high quality behavioral health interventions, treatment, and education services Contact: Nadine Mata, 432-837-3215; nmata@aliviane.org

Pilot Club of Alpine

PO Box 1404 Alpine, TX 79831 Mission: to provide volunteer community service that contributes to the quality of life in the Big Bend Region Volunteer Opportunities: Meals on Wheels, Family Crisis Center, Alpine Public Library, Sunshine House, Lifeline Contact: Liz Jackson; 837-8143; ejackson@sulross.edu

Source: http://alpinedailyplanet.typepad.com/alpine-daily-planet/2012/08/big-bend-youth-rodeo-kicks-off-saturday.html

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Work related bullying kept a corporate secret - Stuff

OPINION: It's been described as one of our best-kept corporate secrets. But workplace bullying has been at the forefront of people's minds of late following some high profile incidences.

The NZ Herald exposed last week that the Auckland Council has paid substantial compensation to staff who were allegedly bullied by a senior manager, an Auckland Burger King employee claimed last month she was punched by a senior staff member, and earlier this year Housing ceo Katrina Bach received a warning after allegedly swearing and manhandling an employee.

There have been calls from academics for a new regulatory framework. While employers who allow bullying to continue unchecked may be failing in their legal obligations under the Health & Safety Act and the Employment Relations Act,? the ERA doesn't contain a definition of workplace bullying nor is it direct grounds for taking a personal greivance claim.

However Victoria University law professor Gordon Anderson thinks both the Employment Court and the Authority have taken bullying seriously, going by cases taken in recent years.

Safeguard's latest health and safety newsletter published the outcome of an Employment Relations Authority determination which it said helped clarify the issue. The ERA dismissed a claim by the Port of Gisborne's former marine operations manager that his sacking for bullying and failure to follow safety policy was unjustified. The authority said the definition of workplace bullying might be personal or supervisory/managerial harassment, characterised by repeated and persistent offensive, abusive, intimidating, malicious, or insulting behaviour such that the recipient suffers detrimental effects to their feeling of safety, well being and general enjoyment of the work environment. (Some may find the latter an oxymoron,of course).

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has clear guidelines on workplace bullying and what redress you can seek if being bullied. The list of examples of bullying include: spreading malacious rumours or insulting someone, physical intimidation, overbearing supervision or overloading someone with work, and using abusive and humilitating language.

In my view? we don't need new laws; rather it's about changing attitudes.

Equal Employment Opportunities Trust chairman Michael Barnett agrees, saying more regulation would only make things worse and businesses need less, not more compliance.

What is needed is for those at the top to take the issue seriously and ensure the rules they have on workplace bullying are enforced. After all, bullying is bad for business leading to poor performance, increased absenteeism, low morale, and loss of company reputation.

Barnett reckons there are a couple of good company exemplars - Air New Zealand and the Northland District Health Board, where new employees are inducted at the start in the company's core values. Managers are told what behaviours are acceptable and what are not.

These two companies also have good processes in place, Barnett says, so that people who have been bullied can talk without fear of reprisal. This is particularly important given global research showing workplace bullying is most often done by managers rather than peers.

Mind you, peers can be vicious. In a Canadian case a bus driver committed suicide due to harassment from his so-called workmates. The driver, who'd worked for the company for more than 20 years, was hassled simply because he looked similar to someone who had raped a woman. His bosses ordered him to take time off when he became stressed about the bullying but the problem instantly resumed when he returned to work. Taunts included him being asked 'who are you going to rape next' and 'what is it like raping a woman?'. Attitudes to workplace bullying are in much the same position as sexual harassment was two or three decades ago, reckons Anderson.? Society and the courts were initially slow to recognise and deal with the issue but that changed gradually over time. There would be few people now who think even veiled sexual innuendoes are okay at work, let alone a pat on the bum from your boss.

While some practitioners note an increase in bullying claims from workers who's poor performance has come under scrutiny by their manager, all allegations deserve to be treated seriously.

Surely the best option is to foster a company culture that respects workers and their differences.

- ? Fairfax NZ News

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/opinion-analysis/7589033/Work-related-bullying-kept-a-corporate-secret

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Up to 10,000 Yosemite visitors at risk of virus

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) ? Up to 10,000 people who were guests in certain lodging cabins at Yosemite National Park might have been exposed to a deadly mouse-borne virus, park officials confirmed Friday as rangers handled a slew of calls from frightened visitors.

Park concessionaire Delaware North Co. sent letters and emails this week to nearly 3,000 people who reserved the insulated "Signature" cabins between June and August, warning them that they might have been exposed.

The cabins hold up to four people, and park spokesman Scott Gediman said Friday that means up to 7,000 more visitors might have been exposed to the virus that so far has killed two people and sickened four others.

Meanwhile, more than 1,000 calls a day are coming into Yosemite's new hantavirus hotline as visitors frightened about the growing outbreak of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome call seeking answers.

"We're reaching out and they are reaching out to us, and we are trying in every way shape and form to be transparent and forthright," he said. "We want to tell people this is what we know. The most important thing is the safety of park visitors and employees."

On Thursday, the California Department of Public Health confirmed that a total of six people have contracted the disease at Yosemite, up from four suspected cases earlier in the week.

Alerts sent to state and county public health agencies, as well as local doctors and hospitals, have turned up other suspected cases that have not yet been confirmed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Additional suspected cases are being investigated from multiple health jurisdictions," the CDC said in an advisory issued to health care providers.

The illness that begins as flu-like symptoms can take six weeks to incubate before rapid acute respiratory and organ failure.

There is no cure, and anyone exhibiting the symptoms must be hospitalized. More than 36 percent of people who contract the rare illness will die from it.

All of the victims confirmed so far stayed in the high-end, insulated "Signature" tent cabins in the park's historic Curry Village section between mid-June and early July.

Park officials worked quickly to disinfect all 400 of the Curry Village cabins when the outbreak first was detected earlier this month. When the outbreak was narrowed to the 91 double-walled insulated cabins, the California Department of Public Health ordered them shut down Tuesday.

Park officials said the double-walled design of those particular cabins made it easy for mice to nest between the walls. The disease is carried in the feces, urine and saliva of deer mice and other rodents and carried on airborne aerosol particles and dust.

As the busy Labor Day weekend launches and word about the outbreak spread, some guests were cancelling lodging reservations at the park. But Gediman says others on waiting lists for hard-to-get accommodations are snapping them up.

The hantavirus outbreak occurred despite park officials' efforts to step up protections.

A 2010 report from the state health department warned park officials that rodent inspection efforts should be increased after a visitor to the Tuolumne Meadows area of the park fell ill.

The report revealed 18 percent of mice trapped for testing at various locations around the park were positive for hantavirus.

"Inspections for rodent infestations and appropriate exclusion efforts, particularly for buildings where people sleep, should be enhanced," it said.

The park's new hantavirus policy, enacted April 25, was designed to provide a safe place, "free from recognized hazards that may cause serious physical harm or death."

The 91 insulated, high-end canvas cabins in the century-old Curry Village are new to the park. They were constructed in 2009 to replace some that had been closed or damaged after parts of Curry Village, which sits below the 3,000-foot Glacier Point promontory, were determined to be in a rock-fall hazard zone.

Upon taking them apart for cleaning, park employees found evidence of mouse nests in the insulation.

The deer mice most prone to carrying the virus can squeeze through holes just one-quarter-inch in diameter. They are distinguished from solid-colored house mice by their white bellies and gray and brown bodies.

In 2011, half of the 24 U.S. hantavirus cases ended in death. But since 1993, when the virus first was identified, the average death rate is 36 percent, according to the CDC.

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The Yosemite hotline number is 209-372-0822. It's staffed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time.

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Jason Dearen reported from San Francisco.

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Reach Tracie Cone on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TConeAP

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/10-000-yosemite-visitors-risk-virus-224708826.html

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Photos: Highlights from the RNC

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney joined by Republican vice presidential nominee, Rep. Paul Ryan, waves to delegates after speaking at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney joined by Republican vice presidential nominee, Rep. Paul Ryan, waves to delegates after speaking at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/photos/republican-national-convention-1346077831-slideshow/

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