Recent Articles
-
VA’s Adaptive Sports Grant Program awards millions
Roy Phillips Civil & GovernmentThe Department of Veterans Affairs recently announced that it has awarded $14.8 million in grants for adaptive sports in 2019. The funds were distributed to organizations that support adaptive sports programs for disabled veterans and current service members who are disabled. 126 organizations and 11,000 veterans are expected to benefit from the grants. The grants were made, primarily to veterans service organizations, municipalities, and community-based groups.
-
A vital component to hosting impactful church events
Deborah Ike Religious CommunityHosting events can be a great way to minister to and serve people through your church. However, events can take a significant toll on your budget, staff, and volunteers. Fortunately, it is possible to reap the benefits of hosting events without the extra stress or expense. How do you do it? Plan in advance. In fact, I recommend a year out. No, I’m not saying you need to create a detailed to-do list a year ahead, but at least decide which events your church will host for the year.
-
Groupthink: A danger to healthcare innovation
Keith Carlson Medical & Allied HealthcareIn the healthcare universe, we follow orders and policies and procedures because that is part and parcel of our clinical world’s rules. However, doing what you’re told can come at a price if you violate your own moral code and personal values or the orders have potential to cause harm to a patient. It can also feel the antithesis of evidence-based practice when you’re told to do something a certain way because "that’s the way we’ve always done it."
-
Making the board meeting work
Robert C. Harris Association ManagementAssociation success requires a partnership between the chief elected officer (president or chair of the board) and the chief staff officer (executive director or CEO). This pairing can make or break good governance. Both persons have a lot at stake. Each brings different knowledge and perspectives to the boardroom, where most of the work is done. The elected president is eager to lead. The executive director brings the needed experiences, including meeting management and organizational knowledge.
-
Enhancing early learning and care work through playful professional practice
Glory Ressler EducationWe all recognize the genuine joy of engaging with children in play; this is what motivated many of us to work in early care and education in the first place. Sadly, I have noticed that playfulness rarely makes an appearance in our adult interactions. This is understandable, given the high levels of engagement, professionalism and work ethic demonstrated in our field. We understand the importance and impact of what we do and, therefore, take our work seriously. However, I have personally witnessed the negative impacts of too much seriousness and not enough play.
-
Where to see fall bird migrations
Dave G. Houser Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementJust the mention of wildlife migrations brings to mind the frenzied scene of millions of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles racing across the Serengeti plains of Africa. It is a grand spectacle to be sure, but every fall certain areas of the U.S. play host to mass migrations of similar scale and excitement as billions of birds take wing on their way to southern wintering grounds — in flocks that are often large enough to darken the sky. For those who would like to get in on the action, here are six major stopover spots across the United States where you can see birds as they make their way to warmer climes.
-
Moving away from timed tests
Brian Stack EducationIn a recent Education Week article, Alden S. Blodget asked why we as educators believe that speed reflects intelligence. Blodget reported an alarming upward trend he observed over three decades during his tenure as an assistant head of school: students’ parents pushing for extended test time accommodations — for both school tests and standardized tests. He would receive diagnoses from families looking to get extended time added to their child’s education plan, and he wasn’t always convinced these were accurate. Blodget’s observations led him to a startling realization.
-
How to stop being a stressed-out, compulsive micromanager
Simma Lieberman Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementDo you find yourself hovering over your employees to make sure the task, project or job gets done right? If you have to hover and micromanage, then you either have the wrong employee or don’t trust anyone but yourself. If the latter is the case, then do it all yourself. See how that works for you. Micromanaging and trying to control every action of an employee, colleague or a family member is exhausting. Do you really have the energy? Don’t you need to use your time better?
-
Bison on the mountain
Chester Moore Jr. Recreation & LeisureThe unmistakable silhouette of a bull bison caught my attention. Enshrouded in a rainy mist, the curving horns, broad shoulders and massive hump were a perfect picture of nature’s strength. Seeing bison at Yellowstone National Park was not surprising. After all, it is the epicenter of their remaining wild range. Seeing one near a mountain’s peak at an elevation of nearly 10,000 feet, however, was not expected.
-
Enamel: The body part that lasts a lifetime and doesn’t wear out
Tammy Hinojos Oral & Dental HealthcareTooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body. But, until recently, no one knew how it managed to last an entire lifetime. The authors of a recent study concluded that enamel's secret lies in the imperfect alignment of crystals. With help from researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of Pittsburgh, the research team, led by Dr. Pupa Gilbert, took a close and detailed look at the structure of tooth enamel. The team of scientists published the results of their study in the journal Nature Communications. Here’s the gist of what they found.