Rapid Refund And Dealing With The IRS

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Rapid Refund And Dealing With The IRS

A couple years ago the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ran a story about Rapid Refunds entitled Poor Workers Got Fast Cash at High Prices. I was really shaken by the following.

"Nearly $2 billion in tax credits earmarked for low-income workers instead went to businesses that offer high-interest loans against pending tax refunds [Rapid Refund], according to a new study by the Brookings Institution and the Progressive Policy Institute.... Fees on those loans amount to annual percentage rates of 67% to 774%, according to a recent report by the Consumer Federation of America and the National Consumer Law Center."

Rapid Refund

Another name for Rapid Refund is Refund Anticipation Loans or RAL. Assuming you are using a Rapid Refund tax-preparing agency, It is very standard to be asked if you want a Rapid Refund. So automatic is this pattern that the rest of the sentence is often not even needed included- just simply, "Rapid Refund?"

I know I have heard it. This was just before I politely said, "Thanks, but no thanks." There is no discussion on the cost of the Rapid Refund, what the Rapid Refund interest rate is, or even the fact that you could get the same money without a Rapid Refund in as little as 9 days. You don't even see the Truth In Lending statement until after signing the agreement. It is all so automatic.... And oh so lucrative.

I read someplace that a former H&R Block employee reported that folks would come in at the end of December or first week of January with nothing but their last pay stub. Forget the W-2. That's too slow. Just "Gotta get that Rapid Refund." What's wrong with this picture?

Worse Than Loan Sharking

A while ago I wrote an article called Worse Than Loan Sharking. The introductory paragraphs said:

"Loan-sharking" equates to usury, which is charging interest above an established legal rate. "Pay Advance", "Check Advance", "Deferred Deposit" or any other label like it is lower than loan-sharking. It is a legal, multi-billion dollar industry that you don't want to get lured into....

As a young GI in Korea years ago, I remember none of us had much money. Gambling and "other pastimes" took the little we had before month's end. But there were always the "friendly", black-market loan sharks offering 50% interest loans. Guess who was always 5 feet away from the pay station on pay day?"

There is little difference in stories between the article above and Rapid Refund articles such as this or in "Rapid Refund Scam" at the site Eat the State. In this latter article, a report about one company said:

"Thus a taxpayer with a $600 refund would pay about $75 in finance charges, plus $50 in tax prep fees (for the simplest return) just to get a check for only $475 nine days sooner. The annualized interest rate would be about 450%!"

Here is a thought: What happens if IRS disallows deductions and your refund is reduced? You still owe the loan plus interest. But now you are even further in the hole because your RAL is less than anticipated.

Where Is The Benefit To RAL?

The IRS will usually send out refund checks in an average of 21-45 days. If you need the money sooner, electronic filing should get your refund check to you in less than 21 days. If you choose to have your refund deposited directly into your bank account, it can be done in 8 days or possibly less.

Consumer Federation of America once had a comment about Rapid Refund that I always felt appropriate. They said: "Don't spend your money to borrow your money to have it a week or two faster."

Black Market Opportunities

In preparing this article I did a key word search on "check advance". I stumbled upon a great title called, "Job Opportunities in the Black Market". In it was the following:

"Sadly, the only industry that makes credit card companies look friendly is the pawn-shops and check cashing services industry. Just like lottery tickets (tax for the poor), these businesses thrive in economically repressed areas."

It would seem Rapid Refund operations fit right in.

Dealing With The IRS

On occasion you may have to deal with the IRS. It may be as simple as a notice that you did not sign your tax form or maybe more complicated as with an audit. In any case some ground rules should first be established within your own mind.

1. IRS folks are people also. Some are motivated and some are not. Some are sharper than others. Some have more experience than others. On any given day some will be in a good mood and some will not. IRS deals with millions of phone calls and letters annually. They often must deal with antiquated computers and angry consumers. Most are their to do a good job and assisting you as best they can to meet your tax burden is part of their job.

Though still subject to error, the IRS is methodical. Sometimes this translates into what the consumer sees as slow. But the IRS is definitely methodical and will eventually right any wrongs.

Therefore the first two cardinal rules when dealing with the IRS are:

a. Regardless of the reason to be in contact, treat the IRS as people. Give them the same dignity and respect you deserve and that anyone else deserves.

b. File on time.... even if you do not have the money. This puts you on a much firmer basis than contacting them when you have not even filed. You might be interested to know that the IRS has six years from the due date of the unfilled to file criminal charges against you.

2. If you cannot pay your taxes, you can request a payment plan for up to 36 months. You will pay interest but far less than paying by most credit cards. The collection arm of the IRS that you will deal with in repayment is the Automatic Collection System (ACS). You should be contacting them before they contact you. But do not ignore a letter or contact from the ACS and be likeable when dealing with them. It is definitely to your advantage! When requesting payments insure you have your assets and liability and suggested repayment plan in mind or it will be a waste of everyone's time.

The tax audit time limit is 3 years from the original filing unless you have underestimated your tax liability by more than 25%. In this case it is 6 years. Audits are usually conducted because of an irregularity on your return such as excessive expenses for your income, excessive improper deductions or exemptions or a specifically targeted group by the IRS. There is also the chance of random selection.

The IRS has a very long reach and can check records from numerous sources such as employers, relatives, former spouses, friends, government agencies, financial institutions, etc. Therefore, do not lie but at the same time do not volunteer information. And always, always, always, abide by the rule above.... treat the IRS as people. Give them the same dignity and respect you deserve and that anyone else deserves.

Some time after the audit you will receive the results by mail. You have the option of appealing the audit, which could take up to a year to hear. Meanwhile any additional tax burden will accrue interest. An appeals officer of the IRS will hear your appeal. You will present your facts as to why you feel the audit is in error. If this appeal fails you can either fight the findings in tax court or negotiate a settlement.

3. Key Terms - Often times knowing what to ask for can be half the battle in talking to the IRS. Here are a few key terms which may help.

Penalty Abatement -. Abatement is the elimination or reduction of tax penalties and can be for any reason. In order to apply for penalty abatement, write a letter to the local IRS service center with justifiable reasons why your tax burden is not correct or the reasons surrounding your need for abatement. Send a second letter if there is no response within 60 days.

Tax Liens and Levies - are two methods of tax claim enforcement by the IRS. A tax lien is filed at the local county recorder so that you cannot sell your home or even borrow against it without first paying the lien. The lien statute of limitations is 10 years. As bad as a tax lien is, it is nothing compared to a tax levy. A levy is seizure of your property other than wages (which is garnishment). The property can then be sold within 45 days. Certain properties such as some furniture, tools, etc. is exempt from levy.

Offer In Compromise (OIC) - An Offer in Compromise is essentially a negotiation or settlement for less than what is owed. In the case of an OIC it may be wise to utilize a tax professional as there is much to be gained in doing this correctly. The key is to offer more than what the IRS would get from a levy. Part of the OIC also is how much you could pay the IRS monthly over the next 5 years.

Bankruptcy and Tax Court - There is one other point often times misunderstood about taxes. Tax burden on occasion can be discharged under chapter 7 bankruptcy. If the filing occurred on time but 2 years before the bankruptcy, the tax debt is over 3 years old, and the debtor is not a tax protestor, discharge may be possible. However tax liens cannot be so discharged. If you file and IRS has placed a lien against your property, though the debt is technically discharged, the lien will continue.

The final tax option after an audit and an attempted OIC is Tax Court. Half of all cases appearing in tax court result in lowering the tax burden. On the other hand interest accrues while waiting for the entire process to take place. Tax court is applied for at your local IRS service center and like any other dealing with the IRS requires form to be filled out.

Program Types for Volunteering for Different Causes

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Program Types for Volunteering for Different Causes

Volunteering in simple words can be defined as the activity or practice to improve or promote human quality of life. These days, the volunteer services are also getting used by the individuals for several purposes like skill development, making contacts for employment, fun and lots more.

Different forms of volunteering are there and are performed by a group of people. Certain groups of volunteers are known to be skilled in specific field like medicines, emergency rescue, education and others are known to serve on as needed basis.

The rest part of this article will deal with the program types meant for volunteering.

Community development

The kind of volunteer services which are meant to work to improve infrastructure and services like sanitation, water, permanent shelter, electricity, schools, reliable roads, etc, in any area is called as community development services. This development program is meant to provide items and services which are essential for the development.

Community development projects are all about focusing on community survival as well as community improvement.

Environment & wildlife

The services which are directed to environmental management is called as volunteer services for environment and wildlife. A diverse range of activities are counted under the services which include environmental monitoring, re-vegetation, weed removal and several other ecological restoration related processes. Educating the people for natural environment is also counted under the same activity. And volunteer services in this regard are focused on preserving biological diversity.

Skills development

Volunteering in which persons are specifically trained to develop skills in a particular area is called as skills development. Skills development is considered different from to traditional volunteering where it is required to offer specific training. And said kinds of services are valued as per the market value of the time.

Schools or education

Another kind of services which volunteering experts have been offering is for schools. It has been observed that a number of advantages are there for volunteers in schools and benefits are not limited to school, volunteer and student. Schools receive various benefits along with educational success is improved and encouraged as well.

Apart from these, there are several other kinds of programs for volunteering like learn abroad, virtual & micro volunteer services and much more. There are one more services type called as volunteering in developing countries which has been becoming common these days. Thus, one can select among any of the above discussed program type to be a volunteer.

Princess Diana Charity Work Has Not Been Forgotten

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Princess Diana Charity Work Has Not Been Forgotten

From the moment that it was announce that she would be marrying Charles, the Prince of Wales, Diana found herself in the limelight by becoming part of the Royal Family. During the years from her engagement to Charles until her untimely death in a car accident, Diana managed to win many fans and admirers.
Her loss was sorely mourned by people around the world who felt as though they had lost a treasured friend. Even though more than tens years has passed since her death, Diana still has an influence and impact through the Princess Diana charity work programs.

When Lady Diana Spencer married Charles, the heir to the throne of Britain, in 1981, her life was forever changed in ways that she surely had never even imagined. It was in 1987 that voluntary charity work seemed to take on a more important role to her.

It was at that time that Diana participated in the opening of a hospital ward that was dedicated to AIDS patients. People from around the globe were in shock when they saw that she chose not to wear protective clothing because the common belief, at that time, was that AIDS could be spread by casual contact.

In a way, the Princess Diana charity work that she later became recognized and acclaimed for was launched on that occasion. Even though many were unsure of the appropriateness of the Princess being so closely involved with an AIDS charity, including the Queen herself and the royal advisors, in a sense the debate seemed to make her even more resolute in supporting the AIDS work, as well as other charity volunteer work programs.

Soon enough, it was not only the AIDS hospital volunteer work that gained from Princess Diana's awareness and ministrations. Diana became the royal patron of no less than seventy different volunteer charity agencies and in short order had a packed schedule to try keep up with all of them. At first, the needs of babies and child welfare received most of her attention, but it was not long before Princess Diana took on many other dimensions as she discovered other opportunities for volunteer work London and through the British Empire.

After the AIDS cause, the volunteer charity organization that Diana became most closely aligned with was a group called Birthright and she soon became a patron of the group. Birthright is an organization that functions as the appeal department of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The mission of Birthright is to do significant amounts of fundraising to support research of the common problems of unborn children, including occurrences such as stillbirths, infant deaths and the complications of infertility.

Princess Diana's tireless work on the behalf of numerous voluntary charity organizations helped to throw a spotlight on many of the issues that were being addressed by international volunteer work programs and was instrumental in helping to encourage people around the globe to donate of their time, skills, effort, and money to good causes. Princess Diana did much more than just raise funds for various charities; she compassionately served those in need and inspired countless people to follow her lead.

"There is something quite moving about the way she talks with patients. Not only is she concerned about their problems, but they know she is. She understands the joy of having a baby and the anguish if something goes wrong. She felt very lucky and privileged to have had two healthy children, says Vivienne Parry, one of the group's national organizers.

Princess Diana had a strong determination to help charities that had been rejected by others, and her efforts extended to charity work overseas as well. Touched by the awful effects of leprosy, Diana became a patron of the Leprosy Mission. She was admired for the way that she not only shook the hands of those with leprosy but also would sit with them on their beds and visit with them like an old friend.

Through the brief years of her life, the Princess Diana charity work that she engaged in clearly demonstrated to others that there was no need to be apprehensive about working with the victims of various illnesses and diseases. Princess Diana lived a full and compassionate life that was influential and encouraging to millions and her dedicated charity work will not be forgotten.

Visit Mike Selvon portal to learn more about princess Diana charity work. Your feedback is much appreciated at our charity events blog where a free gift awaits you.

Planning Your Gap Year - Choosing a Spanish Language School Between High School and College

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Planning Your Gap Year - Choosing a Spanish Language School Between High School and College

One of the single smartest moves graduating high school students can have is to take full advantage of the gap year. Between high school and college, these students most likely want to have an amazing experience traveling and seeing the world. More and more graduating seniors are choosing to study abroad during their gap year to make it productive and to gain something that will look good on a resume or college application. Spanish immersion programs are particularly popular during the gap year in that students can have an exciting travel experience and learn Spanish abroad simultaneously. Students also have the opportunity to live in a different country for a series of months immersing themselves in a different cultural environment.

The gap year is a very common concept in Europe. It is beginning to catch on in the States as well. Once you understand the core principle behind the idea, it makes a great deal of sense. The theory is that a gap year, the year between high school and college, should be spent getting some real world experience in hopes of becoming a more well-rounded and informed individual. This type of experience will help students become more than just book smart. Many people are putting this gap year concept to work by teaching English in Korea or learning a language in a foreign country.

The idea to learn Spanish abroad in South America is recommended for three main reasons. The first major reason is that there will soon be more Spanish speakers in the United States than just about anywhere in the world. Only Mexico is projected to stay ahead of the United States in terms of the number of native Spanish speakers. This means that learning Spanish is now becoming something of a necessity. The second major reason many experts recommend the idea of learning Spanish in South America is that while you will most definitely be experiencing a new culture, the culture shock will be less severe than other options such as volunteering in Africa, for example. Additionally, with a Spanish language school immersion program you learn much faster than you would have in standard classes. Native speakers, who you will be interacting with on a daily basis, will help you become most comfortable with the language faster. The final reason that it makes sense to head to South America to learn Spanish abroad is that often students credits will transfer to their university. This could potentially save the costs of a semester of tuition.

When you are looking for a gap year program it is a good idea to find a reputable organization that will give you the best instruction along with cultural enrichment as well. Some Spanish immersion programs have specific gap year programs. For example, you can take a four- month program that includes course work in Argentina, Chile and Peru and month of volunteer work as well. Look for a Spanish immersion program with small classes. A high teacher to student ratio provides each student with a more intensive learning experience. If you can find this sort of environment with 4-7 students per class, it will undoubtedly give you more of a dinner table experience rather than that of a large informal class.

Another item to look for in your Spanish immersion program is one that draws a wide range of international students. By doing so, students can become friends with people from different cultural backgrounds. Levi McFarland from Kentucky recently studied Spanish abroad in Buenos Aires. He stated, The classes are arranged so that you meet many interesting people from all over the world, while also offering a fun, challenging environment in which to improve your Spanish. The teachers really care for their classes, and manage to make each day an absorbing experience.

Here is an example of one Spanish immersion program gap year program to give you an idea of the wide array of experiences it provides. Students start their studies in Santiago, Chile, which is Chiles most modern city. In Santiago, of course, students can go snowboarding in the gorgeous Andres Mountains, or head west for a beach trip on the Pacific. The second leg of the Gap Year program then ventures to Argentina, which also includes kayaking in the Tigre river delta, before the final stop of Peru. While in Lima, students can visit the famous Incan ruins in Machu Picchu as well as surfing and festivals of native culture. The final month of the program concludes with volunteer work in Lima, Peru. Projects in Lima could range from working with local orphanages to working on environmental projects.

Gap Year Spanish immersion programs generally begin in mid-August and run until mid-December and are surprisingly inexpensive overall. The rough costs, even with airfare and housing, are still less than half of what a semester at a private college might run. Many students are having a once in a lifetime experience as they learn Spanish abroad and volunteer in South America.

Planning Fun Activities for Kids

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Planning Fun Activities for Kids

When you are planning fun activities for kids you have to maintain a balance between fun and instruction while maintaining your sanity. That can be a feat, but it is doable.

With a little forethought, preparation and tenacity, you can come up with some fantastic activities that will have your kids scrambling back to their parents recounting the events of the day with excitement and joy. What can be better for a teacher to hear than for a student to exclaim, "Guess what I learned in school today!"

1.Make it Interactive. Kids like things that are interactive. They like activities that "talk back" to them. This is an important point to keep in mind when you are planning activities for your classroom.

If you are just standing in front of the class lecturing your heart out, you may not be making the impact you would like, a least not the impact you could make.

Engage your students. Ask questions, encourage discussion and debate, get them involved in the process and you will see a whole new world of learning opening up.

2.Keep it Hands On. If they can touch it, taste it, smell it and hear it, they are much more likely to learn it. Plan hands on activities that allow children to experience the lessons first hand.

Activities that engage their senses, get them moving and get them involved will keep them occupied longer and help them remember the lessons more readily.

3.Be Age Appropriate. Teenagers are probably not going to be interested in climbing all over a firetruck, but they might enjoy visiting a museum where they can handle fossils. Think about the age of the children you are teaching and plan activities that are appropriate for that age group.

Coloring seems to appeal to kids of all ages, so there are some activities that are universal. When in doubt, talk with your kids and really listen to what they like, what excites them and what they find intellectually stimulating.

4.Stay Within Your Means. If you have a room full of preschoolers and you are thinking of going to a museum, you are going to need help! Know what you can and can not do.

If you are planning an activity that will have your kids moving around, you may have trouble controlling the situation if you try to go it alone. When in doubt, get some help.

Ask parents to volunteer. But if you go beyond your means, you will be stressed out and no one is likely to have much fun and they certainly won't be much learning going on!

5.Have Fun! This is the main thing to remember when you are planning fun activities for kids. Kids like to have fun! Plan activities that they will enjoy, that are interesting and creative.

If you are just standing there yammering away, you won't make as much of an impact as you would if you created an activity that engaged their senses, involved them and was fun.

Learning can be fun and when you put effort into planning activities for kids in the classroom, you can teach, have fun and maybe even learn a few things yourself. After all, even algebra can be fun when you are playing math baseball!

Philanthropy at Work 4 Careers That Improve the Lives of Others

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Philanthropy at Work 4 Careers That Improve the Lives of Others

People choose careers for various reasons, from making a lot of money to fulfilling a childhood dream. If you dream of a career that improves the lives of others, here are four great ones to consider.

Teacher
Teachers have the unique ability to touch the lives of children when they are at their most impressionable. Ask anyone who has risen above less-than-ideal circumstances to achieve great things how he was able to do it, and at some point during his explanation he invariably will point to a great teacher he had along the way. If teaching is a career that interests you, consider applying for the education program at a reputable school. If you really want to make a difference, look into a program such as Teach for America. They place promising young teachers in America's most disadvantaged schools, and in exchange for taking this assignment, you get some or all of your student loans forgiven!

Social Worker
Social work is one of the best fields to get into if your goal is to improve the lives of others. The field is very broad, which means it offers plenty of options, but its most important tenets span its entire gamut. Social work is a career built on advocating for the disadvantaged, improving outcomes for society's most vulnerable members, and intervening when necessary in crises and problematic situations. Many college and universities offer degrees in social work; a psychology degree also can lead to a career as a social worker. If you like to work at your own pace, you can even earn a psychology degree online.

Attorney
Attorneys have somewhat of a bad rap in society, and that is unfortunate. For every ambulance-chasing degenerate out there, there are at least ten attorneys who got into the profession out of a desire to help others. These lawyers advocate for viable causes, defend the innocent, and do countless hours of pro bono (volunteer) work. Law school is more competitive than ever, so it's important to start planning for a law career early. Look into a pre-law degree at a top rated school and study hard.

Police Officer
Even though police officers also tend to get the short end of the stick as far as perception goes, the fact remains that the majority of police offers chose that career to help, not hurt, the citizens of their communities. They know that they will be the first summoned to the scene when someone is in distress, and they revel in being in that position. Education and training requirements for police officers vary based on state and municipality, but having a bachelor's in criminal justice never hurts.

By choosing the right career, anyone can infuse their life with the fulfilling purpose of helping others. If this describes what you are looking for, consider training for one of the careers above.

Peace Corps

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Peace Corps

Since 1960s, voluntary work has become common especially in developing countries. Among the sectors in which volunteers work include business and community development, medical work, construction and education. One of the greatest volunteer organizations in history is The . The website defines it as "an independent U.S. government agency that provides trained Volunteers for countries requesting assistance around the world", (Peacecorps.gov 1). Peters (5), on the other hand, defines The as "an organization of volunteers from the United States that promotes world peace and friendship." The organization's mission as outlined in Peacecorps.gov (1) includes helping countries with interest in meeting their training needs, help people from other countries to understand Americans well and Americans to understand people from other countries as well. Peters (5) summarizes this mission as follows: "To promote world peace and friendship by helping people in developing countries help themselves."

Conclusively, The can be defined as a U.S government agency that sends trained Volunteers to serve in other developing countries with the aim of promoting development, peace and understanding in the world. The Volunteers achieve this by teaching people in the host country about the American lifestyle and values. This enables the people to understand Americans better. At the same time, the Volunteers learn the lifestyle and values of the host people and teach these values American people when they return home (Peters 5). In this way, mutual understanding and peace is achieved.

The idea of forming the agency dates back to the night of October 14, 1960. This was a period of a cold war and people across the world were living in fear of a possible war. The then Senator, John F. Kennedy, however, had a desire for world peace. Kennedy was contesting for presidency in the United States of America. In one of his campaigns in the night of 14th at the University of Michigan, he challenged the University students about their willingness to promote peace all over the world by volunteering to serve in developing countries (Peacecorps.gov 1).

The students were enthusiastic and felt that they were capable, so they embraced the idea (Searles 2). More than 1000 students signed a petition that day supporting the formation of such a Volunteer organization. This encouraged Kennedy because he knew that there were people who were sharing his thoughts. The idea of forming The was therefore conceived (Peters 6).

J.F. Kennedy became the thirty Fifth president of the United States in 1961. He then began to make plans of realizing his dream of promoting world peace and understanding. Two Congress Men; Hubert Humphrey and Henry Reuss suggested the idea of forming The . The U.S. President, Kennedy, liked the idea and backed it. On 1st March, 1961, the U.S. government then implemented the idea and The was founded on that date (Peters 5). The first Director of The , Retired Sargent Shriver, was appointed in the same year .

Most people all over the world term the formation of The as one of the greatest contributions the United States has ever made in the world. During his presidency between 1961 and 1963, John F. Kennedy's goal was to provide help to people in other countries and to promote peace all over the world. This is the reason why he pioneered the establishment of The in 1961 (Suen 4). However, critics have viewed the historic event of the formation of The with a different feeling.

It is a fact that, at the dawn of the decade in 1960s, the whole of the United States of America was extremely successful. This is because it had not been affected by the Second World War. Apart from the little conflict with Korea, "the previous decade had been a period of unparalleled prosperity." (Searles 1). The young generation had absolute faith in the government, and they felt enthusiastic and talented. As Searles (1) puts it, "With hindsight one can see obvious and great flaws in this picture of life in the United States." There was a minority who had been reduced socially, economically and legally. This was a significant population which had suffered the effects of the Great Depression and the Cold War. Scholars have criticized America as having enjoyed a prosperous society in the history of the world, but they had exchanged their morals for easy office jobs .

According to Hoffman (1), despite the fact that America "...had attained overwhelming economic, military, and political power in the preceding two decades...," this power sometimes made them feel guilty. George Washington had warned the U.S. before to stay out of conflict with Europe and other nations. However, by 1960 America had become dominant as a result of the Cold war (Hoffman 2). They must have thought that the best way to keep this power was to show the world how generous America was; hence they introduced The . As Hoffman (5) puts it, "...desirous of, but uncomfortable with power, the nation is driven to find ways of convincing itself that its power is beneficial."

Ghanaians were the first people to receive The Volunteers in 1961. Later in the decade, more Americans had embraced the activities of the agency. The year 1966 saw 15000 volunteers serving overseas, the highest number in the organization's history. In 1971, the U.S. government under President Richard Nixon created a new federal volunteer organization named ACTION. The became part of this agency. The , however, regained independence from ACTION in 1979 through President Jimmy Carter (Peters 17). By 1974, The had sent volunteers to 69 countries around the world (Peters 21). By 2003, this figure had risen to 135. The total number of volunteers and trainees since 1961 had then risen to 165000 (Peters 5).

Almost a half of The Volunteers, especially in Africa, are teachers. One serious problem that volunteers experienced is the language problem. In Africa, for example, students are only familiar with British English. These students could struggle to understand the American teachers. This forced the volunteer teachers to learn to speak slowly and with a British flavor in order for students to get them .

To make it worse, in some countries, English is only the second language; and most people do not understand or speak it. The volunteers thus have to learn native languages in order to communicate with the host people. This consumes a lot of time and can sometimes be discouraging ( Volunteers 8).

Another problem, especially for teachers, is the shortage of teaching materials. Sometimes this forces the volunteers to use their own resources to fund in case the situation is urgent ( Volunteers 9). Finally, sometimes there may be a conflict in culture and communication styles. As Storti and Bennhold-Samaan (80) records in their Cross-cultural Workbook, the American style may be more open compared to that of other cultures. This is likely to cause misunderstanding between the volunteer and residents of the host country. The local people sometimes face a problem in absorbing American culture which some volunteers may perform unconsciously.

It is now more than 51 years since The started. The success that it has accomplished across the world makes it one of the greatest agencies in history. The greatest reward that volunteers experience is the satisfaction of helping the needy. It can be concluded that the organization has served and is still serving its goal of creating world peace and understanding, besides promoting development in the developing countries.

Pat Tillman's Example

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Pat Tillman's Example

It wasn't of the magnitude of 9/11, but the news stunned the nation just the same. Pat Tillman was dead. The man who personified the "can do" spirit of America, the ultimate volunteer, had fallen in battle. His courage and willingness to stand on his convictions for the benefit of this country mirrored the example set by the founding fathers. Like them, he walked away from personal fortune and fame, risking his life when he did not have to, pushed on by the dictates of a patriot's heart. No price could have kept him from what he perceived to be his duty; no cost could have persuaded him to reconsider.

Working hard to achieve personal readiness for combat, he pushed himself relentlessly, as he had done in the National Football League. His arduous training complete, he arrived on the battlefield a distinguished Army Ranger and became the darling of the American public. Collectively, perhaps without even realizing it, Americans channeled their zeal and support for the war effort through this one towering volunteer. Tillman had become the Audie Murphy of our day, capturing the hearts of most Americans.

Now he was gone. If that was not enough, we were to learn that he fell, not at the hands of terrorists or insurgents, but rather from accidental friendly fire. The delay of this news and the apparent attempt to cover up the circumstances of his death, led to public indignation and an understandable response of outrage from his family. That notwithstanding, Tillman's wonderful example of selflessness should not be diminished in the minds of Americans, especially Christian Americans.

What set him apart from the other great men and women of our armed services was his willingness to subordinate himself when he was on top of the world. By his own admission he felt he owed a debt to society and he willingly volunteered to pay it. Although sadly, Tillman himself claimed to be an atheist, we Christians would do well to emulate his altruistic and sacrificial spirit.

There are many similarities between Tillman's situation and that of the believer. In Christ, we also are on top of the world, figuratively speaking. Romans 8:37 (kjv) reminds us that "we are more than conquerors through him that loved us". Additionally, we too have a debt to society; to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to them. We too must subordinate ourselves, assuming the role of soldier and servant in order to accomplish our mission and win the battle.

Moreover, like Tillman, we are volunteers, or at least we should be. Of course we have a mandate from the Lord to "go and teach all nations"; I won't argue that. Clearly, Jesus was not asking for volunteers. The reality is however, that many Christians do not go, because they chose not to. God allows us to exercise our free will and we are free to disobey.

Could God force us to obey? Of course he couldbut he doesn't. God does not want us to be mindless drones without conviction. He wants us to willingly and purposely obey him. He desires for us to voluntarily submit to his will and to carry out the great commission to evangelize.

While we can do nothing more for Pat Tillman than to celebrate his service to America, he can do much for us by the example he set. Christians need to catch hold of his selfless zeal and surrender themselves to the work of the Lord. The Lord loves a willing heart.

Orphanage Volunteer Tips

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Orphanage Volunteer Tips

Worldwide Helpers is an online volunteer network that helps connect non profits around the world with volunteers who want to help out on a variety of projects. Their online projects database is searchable by country, location, assignment duration and cost. They also offer ratings for many of the projects which are provided by previous participants. For example, the site lists projects like the Hohoe Charity school in Ghana which serves as a boarding school for orphans and poor children.

This school is seeking volunteers for teaching assistant positions to assist Ghanaian teachers on an ongoing basis. Participants will help to educate about 180 students between the ages of 4 to 14 years old. The school provides for all needs of the children and uses volunteers to help add enrichment to the children's lives and teach them English conversation skills.

Another great place to find international orphanage volunteering opportunities online is the International Volunteer HQ website (IVHQ). This organization offers volunteer programs starting from as low as $180 in developing countries around the world. They place over 3,000 volunteers per year in a variety of programs overseas, and the organization is adding new programs in Russia, Argentina and Sri Lanka next year.

IVHQ projects are the perfect choice for those who are traveling abroad on a gap year, taking a volunteer holiday or looking for meaningful volunteer work in the developing world. Projects range in length from a single day to 6 months, and are provided via local partner organizations which helps ensure that volunteers are working on projects where they can do the most good.

Orphanage volunteers are needed in many different countries, and their work is appreciated by the children whose lives they touch. Organizations like United Planet offer programs which combine volunteer work with language learning, excursions, cultural activities and Cultural Awareness programs to provide volunteers with a satisfying experience in exchange for their valuable community service work.

Orphanage volunteers have the opportunity to help vulnerable children around the world by providing for their basic needs and helping to educate them for a brighter future as well. United Planet offers long term opportunities for orphanage volunteers in a variety of countries which can last for 6 months to 1 year. They also offer many short term opportunities for periods of 1 to 12 weeks with start dates year round.

Many Christian missions also operate orphanages in developing and developed countries which provide orphanage volunteer opportunities. For example, the Alabama Baptist Children's Homes operate campuses in Mobile and Decatur which provide housing for children. Similarly, the Albuquerque Christian Children's Home in New Mexico provides housing for orphans as well as children who have no support from their parents and need security, guidance and protection.

This school helps kids to attend school and church to provide them with a stable foundation to become responsible adults. Another children's ranch in Benson, Arizona is in need of house parents and construction workers to help the orphanage build a school and expand their facilities. The Alpha Christian Children's Home in Perry, Kansas is also recruiting volunteers in the areas of construction, teaching, and more.

Online Marketing May Not Be Enough

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Online Marketing May Not Be Enough

Depending on the type of business you own it may be time to change the way it is being marketed. While online marketing can bring global business, there are times when traditional marketing will give you the best results. Many business owners see network marketing as another term for multilevel sales schemes, however many have had success with network marketing.

For internet businesses, network marketing is part of their success strategy. Some businesses have found additional success by going back to traditional marketing techniques such as face-to-face meetings with potential customers. Not everyone who conducts business with your company will be comfortable doing business with someone they don't know. Whether in a business or social setting good old-fashioned handshaking can do a lot to improve your image as a business owner.

Becoming an active member of your local Chamber of Commerce can provide networking opportunities for just about any business and by being a member, those you meet may be able to help steer business in your direction. They may not be able to use your services, but they probably know someone else who needs you. Additionally, most members of Chambers of Commerce have a policy of dealing only with chamber members.

If you are not comfortable in a setting with other business owners, there are plenty of other organizations that you can join such as church organizations and social clubs. While business may not be high on their list of priorities for meeting discussions, when you are introduced as a new member, make sure everyone know where you work and what you do.

You can also offer your expertise as a volunteer "expert" in your field. Offer to speak to business groups concerning your line of expertise. While you may not think you have anything to offer, most people that are not in your line of work will find even limited knowledge on a particular subject interesting and welcome if you can offer tips on how to get things done. For example, if you are a landscaper, conduct a meeting offering tips on how to get rid of crabgrass without using harsh, toxic chemicals to make their yard safe for children and pets.

Don't discount advertising handouts either. Letter openers are still welcome in businesses and handing them out with your company information can remind someone of your presence every time they open an envelope. T-shirts can also be an added bonus for most companies, although using them as handouts can get expensive. Just be careful about who you give t-shirts to when they have your company logo on them. They may make your business look bad if they get arrested with your company logo and name across their chest.

Nonprofit Fundraising - Get Paid with Recurring Payments

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Nonprofit Fundraising - Get Paid with Recurring Payments

Benevolence, good will and philanthropy are honorable principles to adhere to and run by, but when bills start amassing, a nonprofit or charitable organization will not be excused from payment despite its inherent noble ideals and objectives. To make certain that all expenses will be paid - to ensure that its programs and services will remain in operation indefinitely - any nonprofit and/or charitable group must raise revenues on a consistent basis. Indeed, fundraising is so important that organizations often contract with professional fundraising firms to best determine how to continuously fill their coffers.

In Post-September 11th America, the task of obtaining financial support has grown increasingly more difficult. As our economy remains in flux - as so many of our citizens continue to experience personal money woes - the act of providing largesse itself becomes jeopardized.

Moreover, when tragedy strikes (e.g., act of terrorism on 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, etc.), so much of the charity shifts to "ground zero organizations" or others providing direct relief; other nonprofits and charities are affected and receive less support. Resources have never been equitably distributed, and it behooves any agency to set itself apart as perhaps the "most worthy" - at least the charity of choice in a donor's mind. (It is a sad reality that organizations relying on public donations do compete with one another for scarce resources.)

Consequently, nonprofit and charitable organizations need to be business-savvy to maximize funds. Marketing must be pursued to increase income as prospective donors may learn of the group through a variety of sources: media, telemarketing, special events, and direct mail may be coordinated and utilized to "spread the word." From these efforts, people pledge and give financial assistance, building a donor base.

However, it is interesting to note that most donors give a one-time payment and that usually represents a lifetime contribution. Some organizations do not even call donors back at a later juncture to ask for more money, eliminating good prospects and additional revenue. Indeed, it is imperative for an organization to establish regular dialogue with former donors. However, what is not apparent and regularly practiced is to design a pledge program where individuals may contribute on a consistent basis (e.g., every month).

Regular donations may be received with a preauthorized payment as individuals authorize the organization to deduct money from their bank accounts at certain time intervals. For example, an individual can specify that he/she wants to give $100 every month, to be deducted automatically. The funds will be transferred from the donor's account to the organization's account, typically via an electronic fund transfer. In the aforementioned example, the organization will have collected $1,200 at the end of the year.

The monthly pledge program (the time frame can be altered) offers a multitude of advantages. The following list gives eight great reasons why a nonprofit and/or charity should implement it as soon as possible:

1. Explosive income potential - Simply ask and you may receive. Donors may very well contribute if a direct request is made. Instead of only receiving a one-time payment, an organization may, for example, receive 12 payments per year. Moreover, donors are likely to give more if their total donation can be subdivided over the course of the year.

2. Convenience - New donors are attracted by the ease of making donations. They do not have to sign and forward a check but just merely provide authorization for automatic deductions.

3. Better rapport - The connection between the organization and donor grows closer over time. Donors feel that they have an even more "personal stake" in the organization's welfare, and are more apt to volunteer time to participate in special events and other fundraising activities.

4. Increases retention rate - Donors are more likely to stay with the program. Long-term value studies reveal that those on preauthorized payments will be contributing to the organization long-term, many until their death. One person contributing $100/month for twenty years can result in $24,000 for the nonprofit and/or charitable group!

5. Reliable source of revenue - The organization is guaranteed income every month, which can cover a variety of monthly expenses (e.g., electric bills, telephone costs, etc.). The agency can budget its cash flow accordingly.

6. Savings - Administrative costs are dramatically reduced as there is much less paperwork. One person in the agency can easily oversee and manage a recurring payment plan.

7. Claiming Share of Resources - An organization that wishes to stake its claim to limited resources and financial reserves must make certain that individuals join its preauthorized payments plan, rather than one for a competitor. If donors participate in another agency's recurring payment plan, they may not be willing or able to join your program's plan.

8. Simplicity - It is very easy to establish a preauthorized plan arrangement. A donor fills out a simple form stipulating that he/she authorizes a transfer of money to an organization on a monthly basis. An electronic fund transfer then takes place with the assistance of a payment processing company.

In light of the numerous advantages of a recurring payment plan, the operative question does not center on whether a nonprofit or charity should adopt it, but "Why have they not done so thus far?" Any organization that is in the business of fundraising (which applies to all nonprofit and charitable groups) must avail itself to preauthorized payments and pledge to do so with expedience!

Copyright 2006 William Hamilton

Neuroliminal - A New Tool for Solving Brain Problems

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Neuroliminal - A New Tool for Solving Brain Problems

Theres a new kid on the "mental dis'ease" block. I invented it, and named it Neuroliminal Training" (NT). Its simple to use and costs a small fraction of the cost of clinical Neurofeedback (AKA EEG Biofeedback & HEG biofeedback).

Neurofeedback has been well proved to be the most effective brain training for virtually every mental or brain problem. (The FDA doesnt allow the word therapy to be used in this context - they keep insisting that only MDs can cure with drug therapy". This is in spite of the proved fact that this (and other trainings) can and do take away the same symptoms that result in an even better cure than that done by dangerous drugs.

The FDA protects the chemical and drug companies - not the public it is supposed to do.)

For almost 40 years, EEG Biofeedback has proved to be the most effective training tool known for such problems as:

ADD/ADHD/Autism
Depression/Anxiety/PTSD
Insomnia
Epilepsy
Schizophrenia
Addictions
Fibromyalgia/CFS

When combined with HEG Biofeedback, the results for Autism, Stroke Recovery, and Brain Damage are considerably mproved.
(Many of the more serious ADD/ADHD cases are closer to the Autism area and misdiagnosed).

Such a biofeedback combination (called Neurofeedback) is now used by many clinicians for all the above. The only real drawback is cost. The EEG and HEG electronic machines are expensive, and clinicians charge from a low of $75 up to $250 per half hour session. Typical number of sessions for ADD/ADHD is 40-60.

(Some Autism cases have required up to 200 sessions for good improvement.) The same (or more) holds true for HEG BF added. While this therapy is definitely the best, it is also completely out of the range of mid and low income families. Their only economical choice is Ritalin and other dangerous drugs, as Neurofeedback is not usually covered by insurance.

What does EEG Biofeedback actually do?

In actual practice its absurdly simple. Brain waves are obtained by contact sensors, amplified a million or so times, then filtered to separate out various bands, and these bands are used to train the client in various ways to raise the amplitude of one small band, and lower the amplitude of another.

The hard part is the electronics and the computer used. Otherwise its just a matter of connecting the sensors, explaining what to do, and the clinician oversees a few sessions, and then leaves the client with the machinery.

Few clinicians even to begin to understand the electronics, nor do they have to. Its so simple that I started a company (BHT Inc) in 2000 to lease such machinery for home use.

This cut the price drastically (cutting out the doctor time), and proved to be just as good as the average clinician insofar as results are concerned. My company (Biofeedback Home Training Inc) and I stopped doing this back in March, 2005 as I considered that leasing or selling such expensive machines is immoral when I can sell this Neuroliminal system for a small fraction of even that lowered cost.)

EEG Biofeedback isnt exactly rocket science, although the amplification and filtering does come from this era of science. Using the audio signals obtained as above, we can drive different visual displays.

Originally, the audio signal was hooked up to an averaging voltmeter, and the client used the conscious mind to keep trying to raise this output voltage. Later, it became a computer display that was a circle or square that the client kept trying to increase in size. Still later, it was used to drive game like displays, making it a bit more fun. (The voltmeter and the circle/square displays are pretty boring, and motivation is harder.)

The actual brain wave band mostly involved in mental/brain problems seems to be a small band just above the Alpha brain wave. It was named Sensory Motion Response (SMR). It seems that most mental/brain problems originate in this wave band of 12-14 Hertz. Raising this amplitude seems to solve most of the mental/brain problems outlined above. (My original theory (stated in 2000) is that raising SMR somehow changes the brain/body response to various allergens that cause such symptoms or diseases. This has been shown in volunteer testing to be the case in all probability.)

Why this is so, we dont know. The unconscious mind is still largely unknown and undiscovered territory. Like many other phenomena - while we dont know how it works exactly - we do know how to use it. Hypnosis, and, for that matter, even electricity are examples of such!.)

HEG biofeedback is a relative newcomer. It uses infrared sensors to determine the actual blood flow in the brain. The same principle of feedback is used to consciously try to increase this blood flow. This has proved to be very effective when combined with EEG biofeedback in cases of Autism, Stroke Recovery, and Brain Damage cases. Of course, it can also help in all other brain problems where poor blood flow may occur undetected. The same cost factors as EEG Biofeedback obtain here.

In most cases, HEG training seems to only increase frontal brain blood flow. I believe that in cases where blood flow is lowered as a result of a stroke or brain damage, increasing the blood flow in this particular area would be more efficient. By letting the unconscious mind decide where to increase this blood flow, the Neuroliminal training may very well be superior to HEG BF. The unconscious mind knows much more what needs to be fixed than the conscious mind.

So what is Neuroliminal, and how does it work?

Instead of using the conscious mind to gradually train the unconscious to modify the amplitude of various brain waves, Neuroliminal therapy trains the unconscious mind in a very direct form. It uses subliminal messages while the client sleeps, or works, or relaxes. This accomplishes the same brain wave training as Neurofeedback.

The original volunteer testing (raising the SMR brain wave only) used 40 plus persons, and over 20 persons completed the four week test. A second similar test showed very good results, and showed that this training is analogous to EEG Biofeedback, with each night sleep roughly equivalent to one half hour session.

The results for insomnia and several cases of depression were all very good. ADD/ADHD results were also better than expected.

Neither NT nor NRF are "fast" working therapies in general. It takes time to change brain waves.

(The result summaries of all volunteer tests are shown at: http://DrBate.com/Ref/SubliminalSynopsis.html)

Since NASA research in attention/concentration improvement showed clearly that lowering the Theta brain wave increased attention, a further set of over 40 volunteers were tested in the fall of 2005, primarily for ADD/ADHD. This test both raised the SMR brain wave, and lowered the Theta brain wave.

The results in this test were excellent, with 23 subjects finishing a minimum of 4-5 weeks (most actually completing the full 8-10 weeks. All the 23 either solved their brain problems (mostly ADD/ADHD or depression), or were still improving. Two autistic cases had greatly improved, and both were continuing to use the CD audio.

In August/September 2006, I started a new volunteer test program of 8 weeks. This audio incorporated both the EEG Biofeedback routine of raising SMR and lowering Theta, but also included a brain blood flow set of instructions. This test concluded in early 2007. The results were beyond expectations.

The only two epileptic persons in this test have been free of seizures for at least a week. Both have had almost daily seizures for years, and both have allergic reactions to drugs.

Of the Autism cases, and a few severe ADHD cases, all have improved better than expected from previous testing. All of the volunteer parents elected to keep the test materials instead of getting a $100 refund.

Previous testing of ADD/ADHD/Autism cases showed that the greatest improvement in symptoms usually comes AFTER the first 3-4weeks, and here, it seems to be coming even faster.)

Dr Bate has a Patent Pending on this usage of subliminal messaging used to change brain wave amplitudes and increase brain blood flow.

Navigating the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax Are You Exempt

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Navigating the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax Are You Exempt

As one of the most the most heavily taxed industries out there, truck drivers and trucking companies are always looking for a place to cut expenses, and one place to look is the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax. Depending on the group you belong to or what type of vehicle you drive, there may be an exemption for which you are qualified. Let's have a look at the criteria.

What is the HVUT?

First off, if you're new to the game, the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax is an annual fee paid by large vehicles that frequently use public highways. It is paid by those operating a vehicle of 55,000 pounds or more, and the money goes towards road maintenance, engineering projects, safety programs, law enforcement, and a variety of other uses that benefit the highway system.

So it's fair to say that the tax does society a lot of good. But that doesn't mean a businessman wants to pay if it's not their legal obligation. It seems taxes aren't quite as certain as death, and there are many groups that receive special treatment from the government and are completely exempt from this specific tax.

Government Vehicles

This includes the government itself. All vehicles operated by the government, whether they are local governments, state governments, including The District of Columbia, are exempt. Even Native American tribal governments fall under this exemption. This is to allow the government to keep functioning properly and provide for society as a whole. Freedom from taxes helps to keep our society functioning.

Our Good Samaritans

Other groups that are exempt from the tax are exempt simply because they function in a way that keeps American citizens safe and sound. This includes the American Red Cross, but it also includes non-profit volunteer fire departments and rescue vehicles, such as ambulances.

Public Transportation

And the government wants to keep it as cheap as possible to provide public transportation, which in the long run keeps our roads from deteriorating as quickly because it means fewer vehicles on the road. So another exemption is provided for transportation authorities who provide the infrastructure for public transportation in our cities, states, and across the country.

Vehicle Usage

The next thing you can look at after the groups that you belong to is what kind of vehicle you drive and what it is used for. For instance, even commercial vehicles can be exempt, as long as they drive less than 5,000 miles per year, and agriculture vehicles enjoy even more leniency, receiving exemption if they travel less than 7,500 miles every year.

In addition, if a vehicle is not typically considered a highway vehiclelike heavy machinery, for example, they may not have to pay the tax. Last but not least, vehicles used to collect blood can usually be exempt, as long as they fall under the federal guidelines for an exempt-recognized organization.

Even if you are exempt from the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax, please realize that you may still have to file the proper forms with the Internal Revenue Service or at least get in touch with the local IRS office to claim your status, and you can be penalized if you fail to comply, so don't immediately assume you don't have to file.

Natural Alternative Treatments for Dealing With Depression, Anxiety and Insomnia

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Natural Alternative Treatments for Dealing With Depression, Anxiety and Insomnia

Prescription Anti-Depressants, Tranquillizers and Sleeping Tablets are regularly prescribed by doctors to treat anything from bereavement to postnatal depression. While there are many responsible and caring doctors out there, there are also many who over prescribe. This may sometimes be due to lack of time, lack of adequate training in emotional problems and mood disorders or sometimes just pure indifference towards the patient's problems! Sad, but unfortunately true!

In my opinion, the above drugs should only be used as a very last resort to treat depression, anxiety, or insomnia which is severe and chronic, i.e. when the person's day to day functioning is badly affected and where the problem is not responsive to any other forms of treatment. Many times, however, prescription drugs are the first line of treatment and this often becomes an obstacle in the patient's road to health and empowerment. In the extreme, it can lead to addiction and more problems than the patient started out with.

As for prescription sleeping tablets, the majority are addictive if used for longer than two weeks. After a while, more and stronger medication is needed, as the body gets "used" to the drug and "forgets" how to go to sleep by itself. This sets up a cycle of insomnia and dependence which is very difficult to break - and which would have been entirely avoidable if the health practitioner had spent some time listening to the patient and helping him or her to overcome problems, rather than resorting to prescription drugs.

The good news is that there are usually many healthier alternatives which really work well. They are not always the "quick fix', but most are a more permanent and certainly healthier alternative, leaving YOU in control!

Here are a few:

Exercise

I know, I know - you've heard this before and it IS hard to start! But if every client followed this advice, I would go out of business! Regular exercise helps you to feel healthier, increases the production of natural "feel good" chemicals in the body, boosts self-esteem and significantly reduces the symptoms of depression, stress and anxiety. It also helps those struggling to lose weight or fight addictions. The keyword is "regular"! At least half an hour of brisk exercise three times a week. Daily is better if you are trying to beat depression. Walk, swim, jog, dance, do aerobics, whatever - so long as it results in a bit of sweat and an increased heart rate. Believe it or not - if you persevere, you will begin to enjoy it!

Social Support

When you are depressed, you usually isolate yourself and avoid company. Mixing with people is not always what you feel like doing, but loneliness is one of the major causes of depression. Get out there and join the world! You may hate it at first, but do it anyway! It will ultimately help to uplift your spirits and you will not feel so alone. If you don't have a social circle, join one! Volunteer organizations, mothers' groups, churches, sports clubs, hobbies and crafts are all good ideas. Be creative! Try out different alternatives until you find something that you like. Don't give up!

See the Discussion Forum Notice Boards for free support groups and topics of Inspiration. Join an online support group or start one of your own.

Talk About It

This is the most effective way of relieving depression and anxiety. Share your problems and "externalize" them, rather than bottling them up. You will be amazed at how relieved you feel and how you are able to begin to get things into perspective.

Speak to friends, family or to a professional person like a licensed counselor. Writing about your feelings is also therapeutic, so keep a journal, write a book or consult a professional.

Do Nice Things For Yourself

Nurture and spoil yourself. You deserve it too! So have a bubble bath, buy that special something you've been wanting, play your favorite music and SING, have an aromatherapy massage or relax and soak in your bathtub after adding a few drops of soothing lavender oil to the water. - and do it because YOU ARE SPECIAL!

Learn how to say 'No' to others when it is appropriate and 'Yes' to yourself when you need it. If you tell yourself "I don't have enough time to do that for myself', ask whether you would make the time if it was someone else's need. You will probably find that, while you have the time to see to the needs of others, you have 'no time' for yourself! Turn this around and see to your needs too. They are just as important! Don't be a martyr and deny yourself and then resent other people for not caring about you!

Diet

No, not the starvation kind! Enjoy your food and eat healthily. Some foods help to fight depression and anxiety. A carbohydrate rich diet helps the body produce serotonin - the 'feelgood' chemical. Special serotonin foods are oats, whole wheat, bananas and other carbohydrate rich foods. Make sure you are having a full supplement of Vitamin B, magnesium, zinc and iron - a deficiency in any of these can lead to depression and anxiety-type symptoms and insomnia.

Natural Alternatives

There are many natural alternatives to prescription antidepressants, anxiolytics, and sleeping tablets. Research suggests that Hypericum perforatum (also known as St. Johns Wort) is as effective, but has far fewer side effects, than many of the commonly used prescription antidepressants. Passiflora, Melissa, and Lavender are other natural remedies to soothe the symptoms of anxiety and stress as well as depression and, in sufficient dosage, may also help to induce sleep.

Learn to Relax or Meditate

Relaxation techniques and meditation are easy to learn and are so effective in relieving stress, anxiety, and depression that I wonder why they are not routinely prescribed or even taught as a life skill at school!

Understand Your Symptoms

Why are you feeling depressed? What is bothering you? What needs to change to help you to feel better? Is it something in your present, or are there unresolved issues in your past or in your childhood that you still need to deal with and which are affecting your life and your relationships?

Are your anxiety symptoms realistic or do they subconsciously mask other issues in your life which need dealing with like low self esteem, relationship problems or problems from your childhood?

Symptoms of depression and anxiety are very troublesome, but they are also an 'early warning' signal from your body that something is not right and needs to change. Listen to your body and work on your problems to prevent further ill health.

Feelgood Tip

Here's a private game to play, guaranteed to warm your heart! See how many people you can get to return a smile! Without looking loony, make eye contact, smile and greet each person you meet or pass (as long as it's not in a dark alley!). Count how many return your smile. Not only does it feel good to have people smile at you, the facial muscles involved in smiling send messages to the brain, causing an increase in production of natural feelgood brain chemicals! Try it - you'll be surprised!

Mini Marketing Action Plans

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Mini Marketing Action Plans

Most small business owners do not have marketing plans. This means that their marketing tends to be inconsistent, ineffective and inefficient.

Some service professionals do have marketing plans for their business, but fail to actually put it into practice. This really isn't much better than having no plan!

The secret to consistently marketing your services and products is to have what I call a "Marketing Action Plan". A plan saves you time and money, brings in more prospects and clients, helps you keep customers, and helps you run a successful and profitable business.

As soon as someone mentions anything with the word "plan" in it, business owners usually cringe and most run for the hills! Marketing action plans do not have to be laborious and minutely detailed. In fact, if it's too complicated, none of us will follow it.

Creating a marketing action plan and putting it into practice daily does require some thinking, time and commitment. However, it doesn't have to be the overwhelming task that many business owners fear.

I strongly believe that the way to tackle anything that appears to be too big and unwieldy is to break it down into smaller steps or chunks. The same applies to a marketing action plan - break it down into individual mini marketing action plans.

Marketing encompasses several different areas and corresponding activities - each of which can have a mini marketing plan built around it. Examples of areas are: publicity, public speaking, publishing articles, referral, joint venture, direct mail, promotional, advertising, internet (website, ezine, blog), automated email communication, networking, social media, and so on.

Each of these marketing areas can be looked at as a mini plan - with action-oriented steps and activities for you to follow.

Here's a simple and quick process to create your marketing action plan, by completing several mini plans:

1. take a blank piece of paper and draw a line down the center

2. write "Marketing Areas" on the left hand side

3. write "Action Steps" on the right hand side

4. list the marketing areas you want to focus on down the left column - leaving a few lines between each one

5. in the right column write your overall goal for each category

6. list each action step needed to achieve your marketing goals

7. put dates against each action step

8. transfer these dates into your Outlook, PDA or wall calendar

9. put the completed marketing action plan somewhere visible and DO IT!

To give you a better idea, below is an example of a couple mini marketing action plans:

Marketing Category: Publicity

Goal: send out a monthly press release

Action Steps:

* identify online press release services

* identify online and offline publications/newspapers that appeal to my target group

* find out the necessary contact information of publications

* figure out newsworthy stories or business events (product or service launch, new location, special event, etc.) and write a press release

* submit one press release each month using online and offline avenues

* keep track of whether or not your press releases are run

Marketing Category: Networking

Goal: attend a weekly networking event

Action Steps:

* choose a couple groups or associations that appeal to your target market

* look into ways that you can be a part of these networking groups: volunteer on board, host meetings, help out with newsletter, attend monthly breakfast meetings, etc.

* identify key contacts in each group and develop strong connections with them

* send out at least one thank you card to someone you meet at each meeting/event

* schedule time in your schedule after each networking event to do any follow up phone calls, send out materials and put contact details into your prospect database (or get your Virtual Assistant to do it)

The next steps would be to assign dates for completion for each marketing action step and transfer these into whatever system you use to keep track of your to-do lists and daily/weekly activities.

Start with about 4 - 6 mini marketing action plans and once you've got these up and running smoothly, then start adding additional marketing activities one at a time. Or you can also make each mini plan more comprehensive by adding additional goals.

For example, your internet mini marketing plan could consist of several goals like: do 2 blog postings each week, create and build a subscription list for an online ezine, add 4 new articles to your website monthly, and so on.

Remember, the idea is to do your marketing consistently and easily - so make sure you keep the number of mini plans manageable and be sure to take action on the steps you've identified. This is the only way that you'll continue to get new and returning clients on an ongoing basis, and ensure success and sales.

Milestone Birthday Gifts for Men

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Milestone Birthday Gifts for Men

Yesterday, a friend asked me to help come up with unique gift ideas for her husband's upcoming "milestone" birthday.

Now, I have to say that finding the right birthday gift for the important men in my life has always been a challenge for me.

This seemed like the perfect opportunity to get a head start on birthday planning for this year, by pulling together a list of unique gift suggestions that will hopefully help her, myself and anyone else who struggles with the same dilemma.

As I looked through recent catalogs and mailers, everything I saw was either technological products that they already had or items that did not meet the high standard of being a "milestone" birthday gift.

That's when I decided that maybe these special presents should be unforgettable experiences, instead of another product that comes in a beautifully wrapped box.

Finding several options in a reasonable price range, here are the "" that I came up with:

* Driving

1 day guided motorcycle tour - @ $69
Urban Segway tour - @ $80
Exotic car driving (Ferrari, Lamborghini or Porsche) - @ $100
NASCAR ride-along - @ $100/ 3 laps
Drive a NASCAR - @ $300
3 day self-drive motorcycle tour - @ $400

* Flying

Flying lesson - @ $100/ hr
Hang gliding or paragliding - @ $120
Scenic plane ride or a bi-plane ride - @ $120
Helicopter tour - @ $130
Fighter pilot for a day - @ $200
Hot air balloon ride - @ $200
Tandem skydiving - @ $200/ first jump

* Food & Beverage

Brewery tour & tasting - @ $8 (at Brooklyn Brewery, named by Forbes as one of "America's Top Breweries")
Napa Valley winery tour & tasting - @ $33 (at Castello di Amorosa, pictured above)
Urban walking food tour - @ $60
Urban pub crawl tour - @ $80
Urban walking wine tour - @ $80

* Land

National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum tour - @ $20
Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum Hall Pass - @ $40
Golf lesson with a PGA Pro - @ $100
Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show with George Strait, Martina McBride and Randy Rogers Band ticket - @ $140
Wine country cycling tour - @ $140
Dog sled tour - @ $175
Play with heavy equipment (excavators and bulldozers) - @ $200
Adult fencing lessons - @ $220
Guided hunt (duck, deer, turkey, dove) - @ $750

* Water

Scenic cruise - @ $50
Kayak or Paddle tour - @ $60
Sailing cruise - @ $60
Whitewater rafting - @ $70
Lunch or Dinner Cruise - @ $75
Sailing lesson - @ $100
Rowing lesson - @ $150
Scuba diving certification - @ $350
Bay fishing trip - @ $450

Just search these phrases on the internet and see what is available in your area.

Here's to another Inspired Minute!

Mileage Log Sheet - Automate It and Save Time and Money

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Mileage Log Sheet - Automate It and Save Time and Money

No matter where you choose to get your mileage log sheet, be sure you don't forget to use it. There are many reasons why we need to keep track of our mileage, but there are also many things that keep us from remembering to write it down. Keeping your log sheet in your vehicle will help you to remember to write down the important information you need for your records.

A rubber band and your sun visor may be all you need to keep you log sheet where you can remember it. When you remember that you have a mileage log sheet it is easy to right down the mileage, date, event or job and you have all the information you need. Maybe you have a log book in your vehicle which reminds you to enter your mileage. No matter how you remember it is important to remember to enter the information on your log sheet.

Most people have to keep track for business purposes, and now it has never been easier to do. Taking the time to fill out your mileage log sheet takes less of your time than trying to find the last piece of paper you wrote the last numbers on. No longer do you have to take time at the end of the week to remember where you started or where you ended on this trip or that, it will already be finished. You will already have it all at your fingertips on your log sheet.

Maybe you were like most people who choose not to keep track of their mileage for time the spend volunteering at their favorite charity. Now there is a no mess way to keep the records you need to help you at tax time. Your mileage log sheet can be kept in your vehicle so that whenever you drive to your favorite charity or someone else in the family drives to their favorite charity so that record keeping is at your fingertips. Logging your miles on a log sheet not only allow you to know your mileage but also allow you to keep it organized.

Once your log sheet is filled out it is easy to copy to give to your employer or put it in a log book to give to your tax preparer no matter how you save them your mileage log sheet can save you time and money.

If you are a person who has trouble remembering to keep track of your mileage, you are in luck!

Digital technology has come to the rescue with a simple new "gizmo" called a digital mileage log. The device is smaller than a pack of cigarettes so it can be moved from one vehicle to another in case you use different cars for business.

Plus it's a snap to use! You simply plug it into your car's cigarette lighter an turn it on at the beginning of your trip. The unit then uses GPS (Global Positioning System) technology to record your car's initial position.

When your trip is over, digital tool records your ending position and transmits the data to the manufacturer's website where you can login at a later date to add notes if necessary or download your mileage log report.

Let's face is, recording a manual mileage is a pain, no two ways about it. If you have a lot of mileage to record it makes sense to automate the process and replace your manual mileage log sheet forever.

Mental Well-Being Strategies - 10 Methods to Improve Mental faculties Wellness

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Mental Well-Being Strategies - 10 Methods to Improve Mental faculties Wellness

Enhancing cognitive wellbeing can safeguard you from dementia along with other associated diseases, increase your storage, and sharpen your intellectual competencies. Listed below are professional-endorsed mind wellness tactics that may strengthen your brain functions:

1. Exercise your mental faculties. Mental faculties matches and certain work outs linked to cognitive functions help in generating new associations in between the unique elements with the human brain. Among what experts phone "nuerobic" workout routines incorporate solving puzzles and brainteasers, utilizing your non-dominant hand to brush your teeth or comb your hair, brain mapping, eating blindfolded or showering along with your eyes closed.

2. Restrict alcohol intake. Authorities say alcohol lowers your mental volume. Inside a analyze performed at Wellesley Higher education in Massachusetts, they discovered out that heavy drinking shrinks the mind. (Heavy drinking was defined as drinking over 14 drinks for each full week, moderate as 8 to 14 periods every 1 week, and very low as not as much than 7 drinks for every 7 days).

3. Consider a thing new. 1 way on how to promote mental health would be to keep your mind active. It slows down mental deterioration given that you're allowing it to operate. Taking Spanish or French classes, memorizing poetry, and finding out a whole new musical instrument are a number of advised techniques to maintain the storage sharp as you age.

4. Dance tango. Physical activity is one with the methods which will promote growth of new mental cells. It also can minimize the risk of developing Alzheimer's illness given that boogie requires methods that strengthen mental connections.

5. Sleep. It can be a means of resting the mental, energizing it, and permitting it to procedure information. It is going to also enable to sleep and wake up at typical schedules.

6. Volunteer. Investigation exhibits that this reduced your anxiety amounts and raises your mental functioning, as demonstrated within a review conducted between Excellent Samaritans. Additionally, it adds to someone's properly-currently being, all round wellbeing, and communication expertise. Volunteering also promotes brain wellness by raising your self-esteem and raising your emotions of self-efficacy.

7. Socialize with individuals. As considered one of mental wellness strategies, talking with other individuals increases somebody's reminiscence and cognitive skills. Visiting a friend is in fact comparable with solving a crossword puzzle since it can be proven to boost intellectual efficiency exact same as collaborating in intellectual actions.

8. Range routines and integrate unique routines into your life. Challenge the body and human brain mainly because it's confirmed to create them healthier and more powerful. For instance, as an alternative to relying on your own common routines to promote the well-being of your mental, contain unique activities into your life. Cultivate a interest. Take your child hiking. Change from yoga exercise class to cardio category.

9. Consume food that improve human brain wellness. Nutritious meals advertise total system well being.

Precise food are healthier for the mental, which involve pink cabbage, balanced fats, tomatoes, ginger, and egg yolks.

10. Choose foods which might be rich in Omega-several fatty acids, considering that Omega-three will help in correct functioning of the mind. Berries, beans, legumes, fish, and avocados are wealthy sources of mental well being nutrients. Use supplementation to aid these meals in maintaining the wellness of the human brain. Fish oil supplements are rich in Omega-3 and therefore are recommended for mental faculties wellness by physicians and nutritionists.

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Medical Alert Enabling Seniors to Connect Instantly to Caregivers

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Medical Alert Enabling Seniors to Connect Instantly to Caregivers

To fully appreciate the efficiency of a medical alert system in the context of complementing the work of caregivers, let us consider an actual real-world case. Madelyn is a subscriber to one of the leading medical alert system companies. She is 60, with narcolepsy, and lives alone at her own home in California. One day, she decides to change the light bulb in her kitchen. As there is no one else to do the job, and because it is supposedly a simple job of unscrewing the old bulb and replacing it with a new one, she gets up on the short ladder and begins removing the old bulb. At one point, however, the table slightly moves and Madelyn loses her balance and she ends up on the floor, writhing in pain, her hips probably shattered. The phone is on the other side of the house, and if not for the medical alert device shes wearing around her neck, Madelyns situation could have been worse. She presses the panic button, contact is made with the medical alert systems response center, and within minutes one of Madelyns registered responders (whose numbers she registered with her medical alert device) arrive to give her assistance as they waited for the ambulances arrival. And while Madelyn subsequently endures months of hospitalization (her age and the location of the bone fracture made her condition complicated), it is obvious that things could have been a lot worse if not for the timely response of the medical alert systems monitoring center.

Now, the abovementioned story is not a fairytaleit is actually based on a case file from a medical alert system provider. The lesson here is simple: a medical alert system is designed to allow further flexibility for caregivers. In fact, it smoothly complementsand even extendsthe duties of a caregiver in order to give the senior the best care possible.

Most medical alert systems can be programmed to register the numbers of the persons that you want to be notified first in the event of an emergency. Most people register the neighbors that they trust, while others register relatives, or their grown children if they happen to live nearby. While notifying next of kin or caregivers, the response center will also send the necessary medical help from the medical facility that is located nearest the patients address. The whole system is set up with emphasis on efficiency and speed: in a few minutes, barring other mishaps, able hands are arriving to help.

Seniors can connect much faster to caregivers in an emergency with a medical alert, thanks to the devices single push-button action: there is nothing to confuse the senior wearing the device because there are no other options. You just press it. Also, the wearer does not have to worry about pressing the button by mistake when they dont even need medical help, the response center understands that such harmless mistakes can occur and, after all, it is better to be mistaken than to be sorry about failing to respond quickly to a real issue. In fact, most medical alert companies want you to test the device periodically by pressing the button and making sure you are comfortable using the system.

The medical alert systems design is so simple. That is why you will never find a medical alert system accompanied with pages and pages of how-to guides. The medical alert system itself is pretty much direct to the point: the package contains nothing but the wearable medical alert device and the base unit.

In the end, a medical alert system provides so many benefits and advantages to both the senior and the caregiver that there is hardly any argument against using it. To top it off, the monthly service fee is very reasonable, especially when one considers that the monitoring service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Indeed, ordering a medical alert is one of the best proactive decisions a caregiver can make to bring back quality to a seniors life.

Mechanic Apprentice Resume Building

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Mechanic Apprentice Resume Building

Building Your Apprentice Mechanic Resume
A critical and significant part of job hunting is having a well written and prepared resume. This isn't something you want to put off for last minute. You'll want to take a day or two to work through your resume making sure you do not make silly punctuation blunders and that you summarize your prior achievements completely.

Your resume does all the talking for you before you even meet with the hiring manager. In order for it to be effective, you will need to set aside the time to make it so. You want to ensure that people get a excellent perception of you when reading your resume.

Why don't we check out what should be included in your resume.
Begin with your name on top center of the page. Below that add your home address, telephone number and current email address. Make your name somewhat larger than the other lettering. Don't exaggerate though, that looks unprofessional.

Your resume should be divided into four unique portions:

Heading (The simple portion and already discussed above)
Education/Recognitions
Work Expertise
Skills

Education:
Under education you should naturally list your school. In the event you attended university or college then don't include your high school education. If you do not have advanced schooling at this point then list your high school. Ensure that you add your concentration and GPA (considering you have satisfactory grades). Below that include any awards such as "Deans List" or "Honor Student". It's also sensible to list various classes you took in school that relate to the field you wish to work in, in this instance, car repairs.

Work Experience:
Your third portion is work knowledge. The most beneficial scenario for this section is to possess some sort of expertise in car maintenance. This may not be the case for many individuals entering the field so in that case list any job you may have had in the past. Make sure to include several bullet points about each position you have held in the past. Always write what you were in charge of and clarify how your actions helped the business. If you're able to give hard figures to quantify your contributions then you will definitely jump out.

Skills:
The last section within your resume is usually the skills section. This ought to be about 3 or 4 lines long towards the end of the resume. You dont want to spend a lot of space on this section. Include here such things as volunteer work, hobbies and any software skills you could have.

How many pages am I aiming for?
It is common practice to keep your resume no longer than a single full-page. If you decide to drag out your information to the second page than you will lose most of the readers.

Keep your font to size 10 at the very least. You don't need people to strain their eyes when attempting to read your resume. Do not attempt to squeeze more details than essential on the page.
Make sure you stay within reasonable margins when building your resume. Don't make them inch on the sides because it seems like your words might flow off the page. Keep at the very least an inch on each side to be sure your resume looks clean and planned out.

Points to keep in mind

Your resume does the talking for you, invest time into so that it stands out
Make sure you can talk about everything that is on your resume
Don't lie on your resume!
You resume should be no longer than one page!

One last point, don't be afraid to invest some money in professional resume paper!
It is not that expensive and it gives your resume a very professional look. Resume paper is quite a bit thicker and much more substantial when held in hand.
After a little bit of effort and the correct tools, you won't be ashamed of your resume and you'll proudly hand it to possible employers.