Recent Articles
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Dealing with negativity on social media — and in life
Mashaal Ryan Mental HealthcareNo one truly wants to deal with negativity. But that doesn't change the fact that negativity is everywhere, especially with social media connecting people more than ever before. When you see a negative comment, review, post, text message, email or any other type of communication, science tells us that it actually does damage our brain. The toxic energy that comes from others can create an adverse reaction in our consciousness. So, what do we do?
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Risky business: The trade war and American farmers
Seth Sandronsky Food & BeverageChinese authorities recently announced an end to U.S. agricultural imports following President Trump’s threat to hike tariffs by 10% on $300 billion on Chinese imports, effective Sept. 1. That is bad news for U.S. farmers. What follows is a look at what some industry groups and politicians are doing and saying in response to the situation. "This trade war with China needs to come to an end. It is doing a lot of damage now and we are concerned about the long term," said Gary Wertish, the elected president of the Minnesota Farmers Union.
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VA disability compensation claims: Avoiding the pitfalls
Roy Phillips Civil & GovernmentIf you're considering filing a claim with the VA, you should know that there are good three reasons why you should do it. The first is that, if you were injured while in the military, you should have your medical problems determined to be "Service Connected." The second reason to file a claim is that guaranteed income greatly increases your credit worthiness. It could make the difference between getting a home loan or not. The third reason is that increased numbers of claims lead to an increased budget for the VA, which translates to better care for vets. Before you file, please consider the following.
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How to include all staff members in financial stewardship
Deborah Ike Religious CommunityTalking about financial budgets isn't exactly everyone’s favorite subject. When it comes to your church, however, it's a discussion to engage in with more than just top leaders of your congregation. Depending on how your church is structured, department or ministry leaders might have some involvement in the annual budgeting process. You may also have a finance committee consisting of church elders who are involved as well. As you begin planning for your next annual budget, here are some ways to get employees engaged in the budgeting process.
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Do grades matter?
Brian Stack EducationLast month, ASCD released a series of articles on grading reform where both teachers and researchers identified key considerations for assessments that "fairly gauge and report students' learning" with the rise of the "no-grades classroom," one where the traditional A-F system is replaced by teachers by one with methods that encourage students to take charge of their learning progress. As a professional community, we need to move to a model where we grade students on what they learn, not what they earn.
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What about Bob? My influences for a career in associations
Robert C. Harris Association Management"What about Bob?" is a movie title often cited when I am introduced to audiences. The typical introduction is a paragraph with a few career highlights. This article describes the pathways that have influenced my association career. Entry into association management was like many others — by accident. My college major had nothing to do with nonprofit work. A job in Washington, D.C., was interesting. I moved from Florida without questioning the unique aspects of membership organizations. The impact of associations never crossed my mind, nor did the importance of 1.5 million nonprofits in America.
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Providing students opportunities to self-regulate
Savanna Flakes EducationOur students have a lot going on inside and outside of school. Our students might be undergoing trauma, stress, and anxiety. To support the social and emotional well-being of our students, we must teach and provide space for students to learn how to self-regulate. The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) defines self-regulation as, "the ability to successfully regulate one's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in different situations — effectively managing stress, controlling impulses, and motivating oneself." Our goal is to normalize stress, anxiety, frustration, and the overall idea that, "It is OK to not be OK."
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Touring America’s musical instrument makers
Dave G. Houser Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementAmerica’s musical instrument industry is humming right along. It netted $6.2 billion in revenues in 2018, with a profit of $341 million, according to IBISWorld, a Los Angeles-based marketing research firm. A number of instrument makers across the country, including several of the world’s leading guitar and piano manufacturers, invite interested music aficionados to tour their factories and workshops. Here are eight such manufacturers.
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New Hampshire’s North Woods provide rare relaxation
Steve and Diane Owens Recreation & LeisureThe North Woods area of New Hampshire is such a distinctively relaxing American region. It reminded us of our travels through British Columbia. At the Moose River RV Park in Saint Johnsbury, Vermont, locals told us to be extra careful driving on New Hampshire Highway 3. "Be very watchful of moose on the highway," they said. The countryside with the meadows and wetlands is ideal for moose yet the only animal we saw was a squirrel crossing the road. Hardly a cause for an accident!
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What does the future of housing look like?
Jason Zimmerman Construction & Building MaterialsLarry Haines, the founder of Sunconomy, a company that produces 3-D-printed homes, and Dr. Robert Dietz, senior vice president and chief economist for the National Association of Home Builders, discussed the future of housing on Aug. 8 at the 2019 Sunbelt Builders Show™, hosted by the Texas Association of Builders, at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine. While giving separate presentations, both Haines and Dietz agreed that we are currently looking at a housing affordability crisis in the U.S.