Gender Inequality Are All Men The Same - 1357 Words

What it is to be a man A question that is often asked by many women is â€Å"are all men the same?† The answer is no. One position about what it is to be a man is that society often stereotypes all men as sex driven beings, this is partially because men under certain circumstances may feel a social pressure. While this is for the most part physically and psychologically accurate, many men over time grow and change their beliefs or feelings towards sex. A second position is that a man’s environment can affect who they are, and momentarily or in some cases, for an extended period of time can determine their level of â€Å"masculinity†. This can be either negative and positive depending on the situation. Almost every woman in her lifetime has heard†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Almost all of the men in our cohorts underwent a similar process of socialization centered upon a predatory script in adolescence as a legitimate phase of sexual experimentation† (375). As adolescence, men are all more likely to want sex based off of the pressure of wanting to assert their masculinity along with other biological reasons. As the men age some tend to change from predatory script to others, such as respectability or intimacy. Many men get married or have a serious relationship in their lifetime. These men usually either have â€Å"experienced monogamy, double standard, pure monogamy, or polyamory†. In the studies on men’s sexual experiences it said, â€Å"We do not find an automatic correspondence between similar life course patterns and the adoption of similar scripts† (Bertone 377). This information means, that even if men at one point in their life (their adolescence usually) may be sex obsessed, they will not always remain this way. Men are not all after one thing, and while some of them may have been sex driven at one point in their life, that does not mean they stayed that way. Men are stereotyped as â€Å"self oriented† while women are stereotyped as â€Å"other oriented.† The reason for this is that in most cases, the woman is assigned to take care of the children and other

The Common Types Of Bullying - 864 Words

â€Å"Are you turning to God and living by the principles of the Bible?† Do you think you really know what’s right from wrong? Think about the concept of these questions and how it is changing our society. We have several issue in our society today. Bullying is a big problem, mainly in kids and teens. Bullies need to learn to â€Å"love one another’, and for the bully not put all their anger on another because of certain situation are not going right. This issue is stressing our society and possibly reshaping our future. There are four common types of bullying. All these types can be spotted in many different places and ways. According to ERASEBULLYING.com, the types of bullying are physical, verbal, social and emotional, and cyber bullying. â€Å"Physical bullying is where there is physical contact involved; such as kicking, hitting, tripping, pinching, pushing, spitting, , or even damaging property.† â€Å"Verbal bullying includes name-calling, insults, teasing, intimidation, homophobic or racist remarks, and verbal abuse.† â€Å"Social or Emotional, or sometimes known as ‘relational bullying’, includes behavioral actions designed to harm the person’s reputation or cause humiliation. This type starts with lying and spreading rumors, humiliating the person, mocking the person, negative facial gestures or playing mean jokes.† These three types can can all be spotted at school, homes, public places, or even places that others cannot see or hear what is happening. The last type can beShow MoreRelatedThe Common Types Of Bullying1732 Words   |  7 PagesBullying involves repeated acts of anger and violent behavior. A child who grows into this infamous term known as a â€Å"bully†, result into preying on and threatening a victim who is weaker physically, mentally and emotionally. There are four common types of bullying. It is important for parents to understand which type of bullying is concerning their child so they can understand what is happening to them and what actions should be taken to help their child. The first type of bullying is physical bullyingRead MoreBullying Is The Most Common Type Of Violence1846 Words   |  8 PagesSchool bullying is a type of bullying in which occurs during the time period a child is in school. Bullying can be physical, verbal, or emotional. Some consider bullying to be purposeful attempts to control another person through verbal abuse - which can be in tone of voice or in content suc h as teasing or threats - exclusion, or physical bullying or violence, which the victim does not want. While some ties the feature of peer abuse and repeated activity into the definition of bullying, othersRead MoreBullying Is A Modern Threat Of The Security Of Many People Around The World1726 Words   |  7 Pagesin their life. Bullying can be so extreme that it can bring physical harm to some people. Bullying is a modern threat to the security of many people around the world. To figure out the personality of a bully we need to define types of bullying, causes of bullying, traits of bullies and possible cures of bullying. The first subject that needs clarification is the types of bullying. There are many different types of bullying in the modern world. There are four basic types of bullying; there is physicalRead MoreBullying Effects900 Words   |  4 PagesCauses and Effects of Bullying Every year, approximately 7 percent of students report to being bullied (â€Å"Physical†). Most people know bullying is wrong, but it continues to play a dominating role in the lives of adolescents. Whether the bullying was done by spreading rumors, calling someone names or through the Internet, there are many different causes of bullying, why it occurs, and how it effects the victim. The causes of bullying can influence how the bully decides to target a victim. VictimsRead MoreJust As The Hands Of A Clock Are Constantly Moving, Time1199 Words   |  5 Pagesthe one interaction has remained relatively the same throughout: bullying. Bullying, a negative interaction, has produced many statistics. In other words, bullying has made its mark in who the common bullies are, who are the typical victims of bullying, the repercussions of bullying, and ways in which bullying is linked to social and individual problems such as depression, anxiety, and violent tendencies. Common Links Across Bullying Societal context has provided an environment in which at some pointRead MoreBullying essay1029 Words   |  5 Pagesamount of bullying happening all the time. A community member heard about the severity of this case. She stepped in and volunteered to serve on and start an anti-bullying campaign at the middle school. Her program was based on the education of bullying. Bullying, what is bullying? It’s defined as the â€Å"Use of superior strength or influence to intimidate someone, typically to force him or her to do what one wants.† There are many types of bullying, Physical Bullying#, Verbal Bullying, Social BullyingRead MoreBullying Is The Rise Across The Nation1636 Words   |  7 PagesBullying is on the rise across the nation. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, 30 percent of students of students were bullied during the 2010-2011 school year. Whether verbal or physical, bullying has a negative effect on the victims. Students who are bullied often experience depression, loneliness, anxiety, and isolation. The common types of bullying in a school setting are physical and verbal. With the rise in the use of social media, cyberbullying has become a big problemRead MoreWhy Bullying Is Bad Or Bad?1391 Words   |  6 Pageslike having the power that bullying has on others. Not only does bullying affect many throughout the world, but there is many different types of bullying that affect many people. There are commonly four different types of bullying. These include physical bullying, in which is when one hits, punches, kicks, or pinches another person. Also there is verbal bullying, that is when any type of rude remark is made upon another. Another type of bullying is social bullying, in which it results to one tryingRead MorePersuasive Essay On Bullying1203 Words   |  5 Pagesfather had been jailed for hitting her† (Goad). Bullying has been a major problem in our society. The power of bullying can ruin someone’s life. Nothing good can ever come from bullying no matter how it happens. Bullying has been around for a long time, and it must come to an end. Bullying should be stopped because of the terrible and heartbreaking outcomes. To begin, the power of bullying is disgraceful land will always have a negative outcome. Bullying occurs when someone is repeatedly harmed by someoneRead MoreCyberbullying And The Technology And Educational Reform874 Words   |  4 PagesBullying has been going on for many years now, but recently there has been a change to how people bully one another; this change is called cyber bullying. This type of bullying is way more complex and difficult to prevent from happening, but by taking the right precautions you can stop this from happening or even prevent it from happening before it even starts. There are many different components to stopping it, but the two most key components are knowing the different types of cyberbullying and

Practicum Format free essay sample

Practicum II for degree in Bachelor of Science in Hotel amp; Restaurant Management Hotel amp; Restaurant Management Department College of International Hospitality Management De La Salle University – Dasmarinas Dasmarinas, Cavite Presented to: Name of the Practicum Coordinator Presented by: Complete Name of Students Date Submitted TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGES I. Introduction 3 Name and General Location 3 Ownership / Management 4 Facilities, number of rooms and type, functions rooms 5 Outstanding characteristic of the establishment 5 II. Discuss of findings / Analysis / Recommendation 6 Areas of concern Organizational structure 6 Operations systems and procedures 6 Facilities, equipment, etc. 6 Man power – scheduling work, method, styles of communication 6 Work atmosphere, inter – personal relation 6 Use of material resources 6 Strength Improvement Areas / weakness 6 Recommendations 7 Introduction Crown Regency is the name to trust when it comes to  Cebu city hotels. Establishing itself asan extraordinary hotelier, the Crown Regency name become synonymous with the word comfort. This tradition continued to exacting standards in  Crown Regency Residences  boast of unmatched accessibility with its strategic location along V. Rama Ave. Guadalupe, Cebu City. This places the hotel minutes away from the provincial capitol, historic Fuente Osmena and Guadalupe Church. Ambience is everything. Each of Crown Regency residences’ 167 guest rooms are designed to provide a homey ambience to ensure your utmost comfort. All our accommodations are fully air conditioned and are fitted with modern amenities such as coffee and tea – making facilities, 21† cable televisions, full baths, living and dining areas – everything you need to experience the best of Cebu. World class facilities and services Crown Regency and residences provides all the essentials for comfort. We’ve thought or every need a seasoned business or leisure traveler could want. Whether your looking for a night restful sleep, a day of sports, an afternoon of total relaxation or an evening of fabulous feasts, you’ll always find something at crown regency. Add in our special blend of authentic hospitality and you have the makings of a great day. Location map Ownership / management J. King and Sons Company incorporated is a privately owned company headquartered in Cebu City, Philippines. It operates luxury hotels in top business gateways and leisure destinations nationwide. The company portfolio includes new properties, registered historic land marks, exceptional convention hotels and a spa and lifestyle club. It also operates a laundry service provider. Drive – in hotels strategically located in key cities ationwide, condominium towers, and condominium hotel projects, indoor sports and fitness facility and soon more vacation destination in the island of boracay. J. King and sons incorporated operates national sales offices in Makati and Cebu City; it services clients in major destination in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao and employs around 1000 employees. The company still remains J. King and Sons Trading which was founded in the 1 950’s. another affiliated company is Yok Impex Incorporated, an import and export company based in Clark economic zone. J. King and Sons company inc. has also venture into health supplement business with VITA – C HEALTHS PRODUCTS INC. , a company engaged in the distribution of top quality and world class vitamin c sodium ascorbate with its eye on optimizing economic growth. J. Kimg and Sons is a major shareholder of this fast rising health supplement network company. Mission and Vision Our Mission Our mission is to be at the forefront of the hospitality and real estate industry in the country. We are determined to deliver quality products and services to exceed our clients’ satisfaction. We constantly achieve to reward them with superior experience and value for their money. Vision J. King and Sons company inc. sees itself as a globally recognized company that offers consistent products and services in key business and leisure destinations. Facilities, Number of Rooms and Type, Function Rooms Each room at the Crown Regency residences is designed to provide you with the utmost comfort. Following in the tradition of all crown regency accommodation, the Crown regency residences aims to amazed guest with its 167 well – appointed guest rooms. Each fully air – conditioned guest room is equipped with living and dining areas, full sized posture pedic beds, fully equipped modern kitchen with cookware and dinnerware, complete bath facilities in – room broadband internet access and 21† colored television with cable services and remote control, all designed to help you enjoy business or pleasure while in cebu. All Crown Regency Residences rooms have: * Air conditioning * Cable television * Full bath with bath tubs * Full sized beds * Refrigerator * Rates are inclusive of breakfast An accommodating business partner * Full service business center * Five function rooms with sound proof partitions are ideal for small gatherings. These are convertible into an elegant grand ballroom perfect for large volume functions. Delectably delightful dining options * Sarimanok coffee shop * Cassanova lounge and Sports bar * Fabulous Fifties cafe * Sun Court Pool and Bar * Courtyard Grill and restaurant First class facilities * Swimming pool * Game room and sports bar * Regency day spa * Music box family ktv Services to exceed your expectations Concierge * Housekeeping * Laundry and pressing services * Valet * 24 – hour room service * Transportation * Wake – up calls * Telephone operator * Baby sitting services * Foreign currency exchange FINDINGS /ANALYSIS/ RECOMMENDATIONS Department: Food and Beverage Food and beverage service is the serving of food made in the kitchen and drinks prepared in the bar for the customers or guest at food and beverage premises, which can be restaurants, bar, hotels, airlines, cruise ship, trains company, schools, colleges, hospitals, prison, takeaway, etc. Housekeeping House keeping services is the service provides by the hotel to their guest for the guest’s comfort and to maintain the cleanliness of the hotel. The housekeeping is the heart of the hotel. Front office Front office is the first place you will see when you entered in hotel facility. Every detail of hotel will be found in front office. And every complain or request of guest can be found in front office. Areas of concern Facilities and equipment Whether you’re a business or a leisure traveler, our facilities and services are sure to impress. A wide selection of sumptuous spreads, a state of the art fitness center, business centers and function rooms – these are only the few of the facilities we’ve made sure to include as integral parts of the crown regency tradition. And they all serve one purpose; to ensure your comfort and convenience. An accommodating business partner * Full service business center * Five function rooms with sound proof partitions are ideal for small gatherings. These are convertible into an elegant ballroom perfect for large volume functions. WI –FI hotspot is inside the function rooms only First – class facilities Crown Regency is equipped with numerous facilities as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. * Swimming pool * Game room and sports bar * Regency day spa * Music box family ktv Services to exceed your expectations * Concierge * Housekeeping * Laundry and pressing services * Valet * 24 – hour room service * Transportation * Wake – up calls * Telephone operator * Baby sitting services * Foreign currency exchange Internet connectivity The function rooms are WI – FI hotspot with minimal fee Recommendations I recommend this for the students who are looking for an establishment to take their practicum/OJT. I also recommend this for the people who are looking for the best hotel for their leisure and relaxation. Conclusion Crown Regency and Residences can provide an additional knowledge for the students to be well trained and well discipline when it comes to professionalism in work environment. The company teaches the student not only to be a professional but also they will learn and know what is the real world is, how to have a confidence is career they chose and to appreciate the art of being a hotelier whether it is in kitchen, in food and beverage, in housekeeping and in front office.

US Mexico Border Essays - MexicoUnited States Relations,

US Mexico Border June 22, 2000 "?Corranle, all? viene la migra!", translated into English, this means "Run, there comes immigration!" This is what illegal immigrants shout everyday when they are about to cross the Rio Grande in search for better lives. Unfortunately, not many get through alive because of the militarization that has developed on the U.S. border with Mexico. Operation Rio Grande continues a process put in motion over a century ago by the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo. It tries to erase the reality of a social geographical order that defies neat national divisions and impose a narrow notion of citizenship on people on both sides of the international boundary. In the process, the U.S., like all countries to varying degrees, elevates national citizenship to a position of primacy and lessens the inherent humanity of those on the wrong side of the social and territorial boundaries. Operation Rio Grande, launched in August 1997, in Brownsville, Texas, was a special multi-year operation designed to gain and maintain control of specific border areas through a combination of new technology and additional staffing. At the start of the operation, 69 Border Patrol agents were detailed to Brownsville to intensify existing enforcement effort. In September of that same year, the Border Patrol deployed special response teams to those ports-of-entry where increased numbers of fraudulent entry was expected. In the Fiscal Year of 1998, 260 new Border Patrol agents were added to the McAllen Sector and 205 to the Laredo Sector. An important feature of Operation Rio Grande has been the integration of a broad range of INS enforcement operations. Studies show that the crime rate in Brownsville alone dropped by more than 20% in 1998. (U.S. INS) The origins of the U.S. Mexico boundary are to be found in the imperial competition between Spain, France, and Britain for possessions in North America. Lack of agreement between the three imperial powers over the location of the boundaries separating their territories in North America led to disagreement between Mexico and an expansionist U.S. After Mexico gained its independence in 1821, many U.S. leaders argued for taking part or all of Mexico's territory. Numerous prominent U.S. politicians, driven by the ideology of Manifest Destiny, considered taking Mexico "a divine right." (Acuna, 1988) As tensions mounted between the U.S. and Mexico over Texas, the U.S. deliberately provoked Mexico by sending troops into territory claimed by Mexico in early 1846. Battles between U.S. and Mexican troops ensued, quickly resulting in full-scale war. The war raged on for two years, largely in favor of the U.S., and ended with the U.S. taking over Mexico City. On February 2, 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo was signed, and Mexico was forced to cede half of its territory to the U.S. Under the treaty's terms, the U.S. annexed a territory equivalent in size to that of Western Europe, and absorbed 100,000 Mexican citizens and 200,000 Native Americans living in the territory. (Herzog, 1990) The decades following the imposition of the new U.S. ? Mexico boundary saw widespread violence as U.S. authorities and non-State actors established their dominance. The Mexican Revolution and the accompanying socio-political turmoil between 1910, and 1920, caused great concern for U.S. authorities. Tension along the boundary with Mexico quickly subsided thereafter. (Griswold, 1990) Pacification did not mean control by the U.S. Migration between the U.S. and Mexico long preceded the imposition of the modern day boundary. Mexican migration to the U.S. was not really significant in scale or in geographical extent until the 20th Century. In 1942, the Bracero (Bra-zeh-roh) Program was implemented. It was a contract labor program in response to labor shortages brought about by the U.S. entry into World War II. (The Bracero Program, 1996) Furthermore, the INS practice of legalizing unauthorized migrants and turning them into braceros, or ?drying out the wetbacks,' increased unauthorized immigration from Mexico as the news spread that the easiest manner to obtain a bracero contract was to enter the U.S. illegally. When the U.S. Congress officially ended the program in 1964, the previously legal migratory flow simply went underground. As the 1970's approached, calls to enhance enforcement along the U.S. and Mexico boundary increased significantly. (The Bracero Program, 1996) From U.S. perspective, the modern U.S. ? Mexico border has always represented a line of control; one that contains the national body politic and that regulates the flow of goods and people from without. Needless to say, there has long been a huge gap between this territorial-state-centric ideal and the reality of a transnational world. That said, the U.S. has long made efforts, albeit inconsistent ones, to

Impact of Unhealthy Food Advertisements on Children free essay sample

Studies have shown that a trend toward junk food consumption has been increased among children in Pakistan, which is ultimately leading to childhood obesity. Our purpose of study is analyzing the impact of food advertisements on the children aged 8-13 years in terms of the food ads influence on their unhealthy food consumption and purchasing preference. The methodology we used was that firstly we had surveyed 10 well known primary schools of Multan, ten students were taken from each school thus our sample size(n=100)and they were asked to fill the questionnaires. Secondly we had also observed the buying behavior of the children at canteens. Thirdly, Parents and teachers were also interviewed they had the opinion that there is an impact of junk food ads on children eating preferences. Our results included that mostly children have no concept of fats which can be the reason for greater unhealthy food consumption in response to food ads among them. We will write a custom essay sample on Impact of Unhealthy Food Advertisements on Children or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The weak relationship exists between the number of hours the TV watched by the children and junk food consumption frequency. Moreover, mostly ads remembered by the children were of confectionaries and fast food outlets; suggesting that children are more attracted towards the junk food items because of the Junk food ads. Results also show parents have strong influence in stopping their children from consuming the junk foods but the relationship between the parental influence and the junk food consumption frequency found to be weak as children consume more food outside the home. The study was carried out with 8-13 years aged pupils (n =100) in ten primary schools in main areas of Multan. Thus, the generality of these findings to children from other demographics and cities is unclear. Moreover, only ten schools of the Multan were visited. Keywords: Children; Food advertisement; Junk food; Child obesity; Purchasing preferences Introduction The main course of our research relies on scratching out all the possible factors and variables that are used in food advertisements. Television is one of the strongest medium of advertisement due to its mass reach; it can influence not only the individual’s attitude, behavior, life style, exposure, eating pattern and other aspects of one’s life. Besides TV there are other medium including magazines, newspapers, radio, billboards etc to advertise the food products. Children of course are the most awful victims of advertisements. Its effects on the children are universal in nature. Food marketers are interested in children because of their spending power. They are more influenced by the advertisement and purchase the product. More hours they spend on watching TV, the more impact on their purchase. The companies that make junk food aggressively advertise their products. The junk food ads are mostly shown on the children TV programming as it promotes consumption. They specially use cartoon characters that are mostly admired by children. They also use musical backgrounds and color schemes that attract the children. Children diets are strongly influenced by the environment. They eat more food away from home, drinking soft drinks and snacking more frequently. The intake of fats, sugar and artificial flavors has increased. That is the major reason of increasing obesity among children and indicates an alarming situation. Children who watch excessive television may be the ones who do not participate in games and are consumers of fat and high energy snack foods. Commercials could be attributed as misleading. Excessive TV viewing brings laziness and idleness and thus creates childhood obesity. The findings come from research at Liverpool University which draws a clear link between the TV advertising of foods high in fat, sugar, salt and rising obesity. The findings put pressure to the parents to control their children diet as well as their TV viewing. The purpose of our study is (1) to identify the critical impact of food ads on children (2) to know the factors causing obesity (3) to statistically test the impact of factors on children. Literature review There are some studies showing children and adolescents are targeted by the food marketers as Story and Simon (2004) have studied that the food and beverages industries are aggressively targeting the adolescents and children. Children are focused more in food advertisements on media, even in school advertisements. Youth targeted marketing is also heavily influencing the children and adolescent, they emphasized that the food being advertised are fatty and sugary in nature (snack, Soft Drink). The reason behind targeting the youth is that they are seen as potential customers in future. So, the purpose of such food advertisements aimed at children is to influence brand awareness, brand preference, brand loyalty and food purchase among youth. There’s no doubt fun is mainly focused in the food advertisements targeted towards children to gain their attention as De Iulio (2010) has emphasized that in advertisements targeting the children, food products are thus linked to a fantasy world of entertainment specific to the child culture and, as has been more and more frequently the case, to the mass media child culture in order to attract the children to the foods advertised. This fun dimension for children based food advertisements is also being supported by Mathiot (2010) who has suggested that the child is perceived as being purely and simply attracted by the fun dimension of a product. The interviews with the parents on the subject of their children frequently hint at such representations, with remarks such as it’s fun, so they’re bound to like it when considering children’s eating habits there is a need to examine how designers construct the children’s world. Children have a reflexive attitude towards their eating practice. There is no doubt that more exposure to unhealthy food advertisements leads to increased junk food consumption especially among obese children as Halfords (2004) research indicates that the prevalence of obesity in childhood is increasing. Obese children did recognize a greater number of foods than non-food advertisements. The obese children also ate the least amount of the savoury low-fat packet food tested. The normal weight children still consumed the savory low-fat snack after viewing the non-food ads. Their data is consistent with the small number of studies specifically examining the relationship between viewing food advertisements and food choices and eating behavior in children. Exposure to advertisement for foods on TV can have an effect also on eating behavior, stimulating energy intake from a range of foods and exaggerating unhealthy choices among foods. Many studies have been conducted to find the connection between food advertisements and food choices of children as Haris, Bargh and Brown (2009) came up with the ypothesis that exposure to food advertising on T. V also contribute to obesity by triggering automatic snacking of available food. As the children, who saw food advertising ate 8. 8 gram more during the 14 minutes they watch TV in the experiment. It also caused in weight gain of almost 10 pounds per year. So the lack of significant moderating effect for any of the child characteristic measured suggests the considerable power of food advertising to consistently influence consumption across a highly diverse sample of children. TV viewing habits and food consumption are interlinked as Fiates (2008) has suggested a qualitative methodology to investigate TV viewing habits and food choices in a group of students. Results showed that TV viewing was indeed an important part of the children’s leisure hours, and that eating was a habit strongly associated with it. Aside from the media, schools are influential environments in children’s lives, and could serve as effective mediums in relaying information to promote modification of ‘‘bad’’ behaviors and adoption of new,’ healthier’’ ones. This study was of exploratory nature; results suggested that the qualitative approach generated valuable and interesting data that can be tested later on by other methods, such as a quantitative survey. Thus, increasing preferences of food brands being advertised along with consumption related family communication strongly influence the children’s food consumption as Buijzen, Schuuman ,Bomhof (2007) has suggested that children’s exposure to food advertising was significantly related to their consumption of advertised brands and energy product categories. Further, they found the relation between advertising exposure and overall food consumption only held in lower income. In addition, consumption-related family communication was an important moderator of the relation between advertising and the food consumption variable. Besides TV outdoor food advertisements and food outlets also play important role in triggering unhealthy food advertisements among children, as Walton, Pearce and Day (2009) have shown that impact of outdoor food advertisements and outdoor food outlets around schools have impact on promoting nutrition in schools. The outdoor food advertisements mostly promote the junk foods (snacks, fast foods). More exposure to outdoor food advertisements by school children on their routes more would be the strong influence on their buying behavior. Thus less outdoor food advertisements around school could be suggested for helping schools in promoting nutrition. Moreover, Stevenson (2007) indicated that there are many other interwoven factors influencing adolescents’ eating behavior, from personal and cognitive factors to peer, parental and media influences and furthermore, that these converge to constitute barriers to healthy eating. Thematic analysis identified four key factors as barriers to healthy eating. These factors were: physical and psychological reinforcement of eating behavior; perceptions of food and eating behavior; perceptions of contradictory food-related social pressures; and perceptions of the concept of healthy eating itself. Ways in which to address these societal level issues can be derived from an understanding of the dynamics of the problem itself. But parents do have strong influence on children’s eating habits as Guidetti, Cavazza (2008) have suggested that Parents’ repertory have an anchoring function in the formation of that of their children, not only in terms of imitation, but also in terms of influencing the direction of differentiation and innovation. Similarities and differences linking parents’ and children’s food repertories are not simply due to a shared culture, but are, at least in part, specifically attributable to the shared family environment. In this study they found that as children’s age increased, the negative overlap between their avoidances and parents’ preferences (limitation area) decreased, suggesting that children tended to accept a larger number of food items among those particularly loved by their parents, probably because they were acquiring ‘‘more adult-like’’ tastes. Along with that Dens, Pelsmacker and Eagle (2007) have suggested that parents express concern with their children’s eating habits and parental attitudes towards food advertising were negative. Attitude towards food advertising, the perception of the influence of advertising on children and the extent to which they understand its commercial intent are insignificant in determining parental restrictive mediation. For the promotion of healthy food practices among children Dixona, Scullya, Wakefield (2007) has suggested that advertisements for healthy foods on children’s TV may help to promote healthy eating among children. Children already knew healthy foods were better for them than junk foods, but they showed less favorable attitudes to healthy foods than junk foods. Changing the food advertising environment on children’s TV to one where nutritious foods are effectively promoted and junk foods are relatively unrepresented would help to normalize and reinforce healthy eating and could empower those with poor diets to recognize their eating behavior as unhealthy and seek to change it. In order to discourage unhealthy food practices, Atlantis (2008) indicated that Australian government sponsored TV advertisement (called ‘Get Moving’), promoting more physical activity and less sedentary behavior, on children’s choices, preferences, and ratings of liking for physical activities and sedentary behaviors. Likert scale was used to know the preferences of children. Even in India campaign against unhealthy food advertisements has been started as Vadehra (2010) has emphasized that the debate over advertising junk food to children is also raging in India. However, despite these negatives, advertising law has come a long way in India and increased awareness of the issues concerning advertising to children is improving the situation. Methods In analyzing the impact of food advertisements on the children, we adopted variety of methods. Questionnaires As children were targeted in our study, so children from the primary schools were studied in detail. Our sample size was hundred students. Ten students of age ranging from 8-13 years were taken from each school. In this way ten primary schools were visited where students were asked to fill the questionnaire. The questionnaire contained the closed ended questions regarding their access to Television, understanding towards advertisements, concept of fats, and influence of parents in their diets, impact of food advertisements on children purchasing preferences. Questionnaire was also designed to find sources of advertisements attractive to 8-13 year old children and to figure out the consumption of junk food items among children after being exposed to food advertisements. In short, such questionnaire was designed in a comprehensive manner and in a simple language to identify the effect of advertisements on the pattern of food consumption among children. They were also given some explanation to develop their understanding towards questions included in the questionnaire. Observation While apart from questionnaires, children were also observed during their mid break times and break off times in schools. Majority of them were found to purchase unhealthy foods like chocolates, biscuits, French fries and confectionaries (Toffees and Jellies). It was also observed that canteens were decorated with colorful poster advertisements of junk food items to gain the attention of the children. Such kind of advertisements was also found to be clustered around school locations. Such factors had contributed in promoting unhealthy food practices among children. Interviews Apart from the previously mentioned ways, we also consulted teachers from the primary schools. We asked some questions regarding the pattern of eating preferences among children. They also emphasized that majority of the children purchase junk foods in response to the food advertisements. Even, parents of eight to thirteen year old children in shopping malls were interviewed, while they were shopping. Some questions regarding the children’s food preferences were asked from them. Majority of the mothers came up with the opinion that children are not only attracted to aggressively marketed unhealthy food advertisements but also demand their parents to purchase them those unhealthy food being advertised. Some mothers also told that their children spent majority of their pocket money in purchasing the junk food items without their (mother’s) consent. This is the reason now they had reduced their pocket money. Small number of mothers agreed that they had strictly restricted their children from consuming junk food items and had provided them with homemade healthy foods.

What Makes Children Turn To Violence essays

What Makes Children Turn To Violence essays What Makes Children Turn to Violence? School violence is a tremendous problem facing todays youth. There are many factors that can contribute to violent actions in schools. Some are child abuse, violence in the home, poverty, easy access to guns, violence in television, and drug and alcohol abuse. The major cause of violence is none of the above, but harassment from others. Many people feel as if they need to result to violence as a result of these negative influences they have received from others as they were growing up. Some people claim that it is the parents responsibility to make sure that their children are disciplined, but that is not always the case. Those troubled children feel as if they need to release the bottled up emotions that they have felt, so violence towards others seems to be the only method of escape for them from the derogatory implications from others. In high school, many forms of harassment are noticed. Verbal Harassment is the one that is most common. It is a highly influential method of convincing others that they are inferior. People feel that they are less of a person just because of what other say to them. But these put-downs can be very effective in making someone feel terrible about themselves. The people who torment others are commonly referred to as bullies. They have a tendency to degrade others either by forms such as name calling, teasing, threatening, hitting, or stealing. Bullying is a major problem that has many negative effects on the wellbeing of students and on their right to learn in a safe environment. Bullying can also have negative lifelong consequences-both for students who bully and for their victims. Studies have established that approximately 15 percent of students are either bullied regularly or are initiators of bullying behavior. Direct bullying seems to increase through the elementary school y ...

A Vivid Rememberance of my chilhood Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

A Vivid Rememberance of my chilhood - Essay Example Starting school is a big step in a child’s life and is typically remembered and taken to adulthood. I can vividly recall my first day of school. My first day of school was an apprehensive and sad time in my life. Growing up in Ecuador, I was close with my mother and enjoyed being at home. Starting school was a big event for me sense I was very shy. Being shy makes starting school harder than it should be sense it is harder to make friends and socialize. A typical day at school for me was a lonely day. I was very opposite then my sister. My sister was outgoing and easily made friends. Unlike her, I struggled with friends. My shyness made it hard for me to make friends as I kept to myself. I can recall an exact memory as I was sitting in the classroom just before recess. My school was named Santa Mariana de Jesus. The school was a great school that taught discipline but allowed for fun. Recess was at the same time every day. Other kids could not wait for recess to begin but I dr eaded the thought. To me it made the day go by even slower. As the recess bell rang, children rushed outside with excitement. I walked slowly and sat off to the side alone and by myself. This was an everyday thing. My shyness pushed other kids away. Besides recess, almost every aspect of school was just as dreadful as the next.

International assignment training for Pakistan Term Paper

International assignment training for Pakistan - Term Paper Example It is not difficult to distinguish between the people of Pakistan from a large number of Americans. The reason is their different and unique cultures. Pakistani people have distinguishing dressing patterns, living style and traditions which are not present in the American culture. Pakistan is one of the biggest Islamic countries and hence, Islamic teachings are reflected in every way of their life (Abbott, 1968). In Pakistan, male children are given priority over the females. This discrimination among the children covers a vast area of their lives. Male members are given priority when it comes to the availability of education, financial support, dressing and entertainment stuff (like toys, games, Computers, cell phones etc.), food etc. Brothers, fathers and husbands are normally considered as the head of their families. Head of the family takes all important decisions about the house and lives of the family members. Pakistani children are taught to respect their elders and women are strictly directed to follow the decisions and respect the opinions of the head of their families. Religious strictness forces the Pakistani women to stay out of sight of male counterparts of the society (Bano, 1994). Men are supposed to help their families financially. They are given proper guidance since their childhood about their responsibilities to the family. It can be said that when Pakistani children grow up they are fully aware of the fact that it is their duty to support their family financially and morally. However, on the other hand, American people face less or no discrimination on the basis of gender as Shelly’s Frankenstein suggests in the portrayal of the monster’s desire to have an opposite sex companion. Children are given proper education, food, opportunities to grow confidence and are provided with the sense of independence. They are taught to distinguish between rights and wrongs of the society. Females are not forced to adopt and accept the decisio ns of their male counterparts. As they grow up and enter their teenage life, they start feeling and using their independence. However, they may misuse this freedom by adopting negative attitudes of the society. American teenagers are more likely to involve in alcohol misuse, drug addiction, smoking etc. Youngsters drink alcoholic beverages for fun and fashion purposes but afterward they get addicted to it. The exposure of alcohol and drinking to youngsters and young adults is evident in their literature as Hamlet’s refusal to kill his step father suggests when he was praying. His revenge wanted him to kill his father’s murderer when he was busy in negative or prohibited activities like drinking, sexual relationships and so on. These habits change their attitudes towards their family, friends, studies and responsibilities. They create a severe risk to their lives and future. However, once they enter their adulthood, normally they are not answerable to their elders unlik e Pakistanis. However, it always depends on the way they are brought up. There are no restrictions on the American women to keep themselves away or hidden from the male counterparts of the society. They have equal rights to employment, education, health facilities and career selection. American culture and laws are strict against

British Airways Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

British Airways - Essay Example The concept of organizations developing to global citizenship has been developed in the recent past to ensure that organizations have an input on the societies they are in. Usually, the main purpose of why an organization exists is to make profit for the shareholders. However, this is not all, organizations are obliged to take care of the people that sustain it in different aspects ion order to have a corporate social responsibility. Therefore, according to the World Economic Forum, corporate global citizenship refers to the adoption of real and lasting contributions by a corporate body to societies apart from making profits for the shareholders. The organization should be able to take care of the stakeholders at all levels, these includes the customers, the suppliers, the community in which they operate, aid organizations and governments. It is becoming clear that the act of corporate global citizenship is becoming a corporate norm. The organizations have been under intense pressure to comply with the community expectations ad at the same time remain profitable, the pressure may not be direct but it is evident. This concept has in the recent years shifted from the acts of philanthropy, public relations or legal compliance to become more of a corporate strategy with an aim of creating a corporate name for the organization driven by values. It is therefore necessary for companies to adhere to these provisions in order to maintain not only a corporate image but also a social image that demonstrates to the world that the organization has an input. A company that is a good global citizen should be capable of participating in community development as well as supporting the government through developments. (Nelson, 2005).. Such a company should be able to devote its resources in developing the community around them; this ca n be majorly done through initiation of projects and programs that facilitate development. Global Citizenship Policy of British Airways The airline has reached the community in several different ways. Firstly, they have developed a charitable affiliation called Flying Start that is a joint initiative with Comic Relief. The main purpose of the aid organization is to help children undergoing through hard times across the world. The organization has left a big mark in the lives of many children and their families all around the globe. The second initiative is the establishment of a Community Learning Centre, which was opened around 1999 and has seen more than seventy eight thousand people get training (British Airways 2012). The centre has focused on training the community on information and communication technology, environmental education, language trainings, and customer service among others. The airline has also been on the forefront in supporting charitable organizations both loca lly and internationally, so far they have reached out in support for over forty organizations. One major and recurring impact has been through Dream Flight, which takes seriously ill children and disabled from the United Kingdom for a vacation to Orlando, United States. There is support accorded to street children through a program called Railway Children, several children found in the streets and especially those who live on railway platforms in the United Kingdom have benefited. The airline goes beyond to take care of the wild life through the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust that takes care of orphaned wildlife in Kenya; the initiative has played a critical role in the conservation of elephants (British Airways 2012). British Airways has developed a number of partnerships with the community where they have an input in the development both within the United Kingdom and within other countries. The major areas that the airline has focused on include, in education and youth development , colleague engagements, conservation and emergencies. The staff is very instrumental in providing

Reliability And Validity Assessment

Reliability And Validity Assessment What forms of reliability and validity do Grogan et al. (2000) establish for their patient satisfaction questionnaire (PSQ) measure? Briefly (one paragraph each) review the forms established. 1) Grogan et al.s (2000) chose an internal reliability to check for the consistency or inconsistency of their inter-subscales.   They performed Cronbachs alpha analysis to measure the correlation of each subscales on the general satisfaction subscale. The results showed a high level of correlation coefficient, which range between .74-.95, indicating that the subscales are internally reliable. Using internal reliability (Cronbachs alpha) is efficient and most widely used, however, the expression of its result could only be in terms of consistency and inconsistency. Moreover, the Cronbachs alpha allows items to be discarded from the analysis just to get a better alpha value (Vehkalnti, 2004). Furthermore, the present result showed a strong alpha value of doctor subscale (.95), therefore, it is reasonable to exclude doctor subscale from the five-factor domain, since it is very similar to the general satisfaction subscale. 2) Grogan et al. (2000) chose an internal validity way of assessment (focusing on the inference from the cause and effect of a variable on another variable). Grogan et al. used a construct validity test by using the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), the Pearsons product moment correlation (PPMC), and the Analysis of Covariance (ANOVA). The CFA was used to identify the approximate closeness of the 40 items to fit on the appropriate factor of the five-factor model (doctors, nurses, access, appointments, and facilities), which was suggested to embody patients satisfaction. The result showed a low value of   measure and high value of non-normed fit index (NNFI), which indicated that the items were having a good fit with the five-factor model. The PPMC test was used to look at the correlation of the subscale on the general satisfaction subscale. The result showed a positive significant correlation, which means ANOVA was used to compare the five different subgroups (patients divided ac cording to age) on the 46-items satisfaction scores. The results showed a significant difference of age group, with a greater satisfaction of older patients on the service provision, than younger patients. Construct validity is widely use because its relevant and clear measurements, but the present study did not measure a low correlation scores of items to indicate that the items were irrelevant. Moreover, construct validity is also subjective (in terms of judging the items, where the researchers believe that the items measure what they suppose to measure). Also briefly review other forms that might be established and how this might be achieved. 1) Test-retest reliability might be another good way to test for reliability of items measurements. This can be done by giving the questionnaire to the same respondents (patients) at different occasions, preferably three months after the initial test (Kline, 1993). The correlation of scores between the two tests can be compared. If the correlation coefficient is high, this means that the questionnaire (the subscale items) are reliable and consistence. This can be done by analysing the Cronbachs alpha value, which needs to be greater than .70 to be reliable but not greater than 1 (preferably not greater than .95). Moreover, test-retest should not only be carried out to the patients who had full respondent rates but also to those who had partially respondent rates (17% of the patients), just to check the presence of any specific group of patients that might think the questionnaire was not reliable to them. 2) Alternate-form of reliability can be used to assess reliability of the items, which can be done by using a different wording for each of the items (but having the same meaning) to measure the patients satisfaction based on the five-factor dimensions. According to Litwin (1995), the items created should not be identical but similar to each other, and the test should be his should be given to the same patients at different times. The correlation between their scores will show the reliability of the measurement of the questionnaire. By looking at Cronbachs alpha, high correlation of the items indicates high consistency of measurement. 3) Interobserver reliability is a method that can be used to find how well the inter-subscale is (Litwin, 1995), which measures how the five-factor domains agree with the 46-items questionnaire, by allow the professionals from each domains (such as the doctors, nurse, people who responsible for the environment factor, people responsible for the access factor, and people who are responsible to provide the facilities) to answer the questionnaire to assess their own satisfaction of the service provision. The data can be analysed by using Pearsons correlation to find out the correlation coefficient of the items and the satisfaction. High correlation indicates higher reliability of the subscale. 4) External ways of assessing the validity would be good to mentioned, in which the inter-subscale can be generalized across different patients, places and times. This can be achieved by doing a sampling model and proximal similarity model approaches, in which the questionnaire is first distributed to a sample population, then to its nearby population, and lastly to the outside population. The analysis of scores from these populations can be done by using ANOVA, and the significant correlation can be revealed. If their correlation is significant (p 5) Criterion validity is a good way of analysing the researchs validity as poor criterion tests would lead to inefficient technique of measurement. It has two major forms: predictive validity and concurrent validity. The predictive validity can be applied to find out how well the service of general practitioners could predict the patients satisfaction in the future. This can be done by asking the five domain factors (doctors, nurses, etc) and the patients to fill in the questionnaire separately. Then, the scores will be calculated by factor analysis (CFA) to see if the domain factors fit with five-factor model and by the PPMC to see the correlation on satisfaction. If the domains score fits with the model and have high correlation coefficient, this could predict that the patients score would also be similar. In contrast, concurrent validity cannot be applied because it could not be compared to the gold-standard questionnaire of patients satisfaction as it was none. 6) Content validity can be addressed in terms of finding how adequate the items are to reflect its domain. This can be examined by using CFA, in which it is to find the proximate knowledge of the items adequacy (i.e. to know which specific five-factor domain was the item belongs to). 7) Method bias to measure the present of any biased items in the questionnaire. This can be done by using logistic regression. The items are considered to be biased if they have characteristics that only allow the respondent to give a certain answers, bias to the aim of the study. REFERENCES Carmines, E. G. Richard, A. Z. (1979). Reliability and validity assessment. London: Sage. Grogan, S., Conner, M., Norman, P., Porter, I. (2000). Validation of a questionnaire measuring patient satisfaction with general practitioner services. Quality in Health Care, 9, 210-215. Kane, T. M. (2001). Current concerns in validity theory. Journal of Educational Measurement, 38(4), 319-342. Kerlinger, F. N. (1986). Foundations of behavioural research. London: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Kline, P. (1986).   A handbook of test construction.   New York: Methuen. Kline, P. (1993). The handbook of psychological testing. New York: Routledge. Litwin, M. S. (1995). How to measure survey reliability and validity. London: Sage. Loewenthal, K. M. (2001). An introduction to psychological tests and scales. Hove: Psychology press . Rubin, H. R., Gandek, B., Rogers, W. H. (1993. Patients’ ratings of outpatient visits in different practice settings: Results from the medical outcomes study. Journal of the American Medical Association, 270, 835-840. Vehkalahti, K. (2000) Reliability of Measurement Scales. Retrived November 18, 2009, from  http://ethesis.helsinki.fi/julkaisut/val/tilas/vk/vehkalahti/

Brahma

TO Emerson, this is all the same. Moreover, the Spirit, essence Of â€Å"life,† cannot be killed. It is eternal, without beginning or end. Death is (as is killing) an illusion. This ignorance of the slayer and the slain come directly from the second chapter of the Baghdad Gait, a sacred Hindu text Emerson studied and admired. Check it out here. Emerson is saying (as Brahmas) that death is the same as life, and that killing someone is the same as not. They're all relative concepts. For example, say I killed someone.You may call me a murderer, then. However, what if killed someone to save an old woman being mugged? Then I'm a hero. Everything is circumstantial, and to Brahmas, it is all the same. Brahmas is in everything. Therefore, he's beyond such words as far, because far would be relative to a point. Brahmas is all points, so everything is equally close and equally far. There is always something infinitely bright in one of these points and always something infinitely dark. T herefore, again, these are relative and Brahmas has no interest in them.Brahmas is also timeless; to him, something too far into the past to remember is just occurring, and something in the future is also happening. There are a couple different ways of looking at this. Catholicism puts God in a similar situation, called ‘ ‘The Eternal NOW'; if you read mathematical mysticism (drawn from mathematics, Descartes. And eastern philosophy), you may consider this a seventh dimension, in which Brahmas (and to a degree Emerson and all of us, as since Brahmas touches all of us, we all are part of Brahmas) is part of all time but at the same time not part of any of it.A lot of this is pulling from an Davit Pedant idea called â€Å"Non-Self', something drawn upon by countless others (Emerson called it the â€Å"oversell†), n which everyone is part of a universal font of spiritual power, all times and peoples coexisting, drawing on each others energy. If Brahmas is everyone a nd everything, separation from everyone and everything would make ‘them† reckon you ill. He combines in â€Å"reckon ill† both â€Å"wishing for illness upon† as well as â€Å"reckon ill of mind† â€Å"Fly' here might mean the way one â€Å"flies† a flag, only Brahmas is conceived as a bird.Or â€Å"fly/' here might mean â€Å"flee,† and the â€Å"wings† may be chasing the person in flight. Brahmas (or the oversell) is what enables action to take place; without Brahmas and the interconnectivity of everyone's powers, we'd all be stones in the road. Brahmas is never pictured with a weapon, unlike most of if not all of the major Hindu gods. While Brahmas is strong, it is not in a physical sense, not in a RED SLAYER sort of sense. It's in passiveness, something both Emerson and his buddy Thoreau were big on.The sacred Seven is another title for the Spearfish, directly juxtaposed here with the strong gods that pine. These seven sage s, or risks, work under the guidance of the Brahmas. Though there are different lists with different names, a common one names them as follows: Boring, Atria, Angoras, Vistas, Pulsates, Phallus and Karat. The sacred seven could also refer to the Startups, or seven sacred cities. Hinduism said that, if one were to visit all seven within his lifetime, one escapes the life death cycle (Samara), attaining mimosa. Emerson was well versed in Hinduism.This also brings to mind the symbolism of numbers (known to Jews and Sabbaticals as geometric), saying that putting faith into numbers is in vain. If you find Brahmas (here, one may posit the name of whatever deity in which they believe), you're pretty much set, right? Then why would he say to turn his back on heaven? Consider this; why practice religion? To attain heaven, yes? To gain entrance to something better? But then, that would make practicing religion (something Emerson didn't much like, as Emerson condemned all institutions) for the self, and not for God.Instead, if you attempt to find God in your own way, then you are really doing it for God, not for your own salvation. For that reason, then, turn your back on heaven, and look for God. Only then will you be privy to Brahmas and his subtle ways. Greatly influenced by a sacred text of Hinduism, Kathy-Punished, â€Å"Brahmas† s a philosophical explication Of the universal spirit by that name. The poetic form of elegiac quatrain is used to represent the solemn nature of the subject. Throughout the poem, Brahmas appears as the only speaker, sustaining the continuity of the work.That the spirit is the only speaker signifies not only its absolute nature but also its sustaining power, upon which the existence of the entire universe-?metaphorically, the poem-?is based. The poem begins by examining the common-essentials view that the spirit ends with one's death. Even though the body may be destroyed, Brahmas, which resides in each individual as the fountain of life, never ceases to exist: â€Å"If the red slayer think he slays,/ Or if the slain think he is slain,' They know not well the subtle ways/ I keep. When the body is destroyed, the poet maintains, the spirit will appear again, likely in a different form. By employing the examples of both the slayer and the slain, the speaker is suggesting not only the prevalence of their view (that the spirit may not be eternal) but also the dichotomy that normally characterizes a person's perception. The psychotic recurs in the second stanza, in which opposite notions such as far and near, shadow and sunlight, vanishing and appearing, and shame and fame are juxtaposed.To the speaker, who unifies the universe, the seemingly unbridgeable differences between opposite concepts can be perfectly resolved; hence, the paradoxical statements. Abraham's great power is further described in the third stanza, where the spirit states that it comprehends yet transcends everything-?both â€Å"the doubter and th e doubt,† the subject and object, and matter and mind. In addition, the rhyme scheme befittingly enforces the spirit's interweaving power, yielding a sense of wonder based on unusual metrical symmetry.Different from the otherworldly spirit in Hinduism, however, the transcendental spirit represented by Brahmas in this poem leads the follower not to Heaven but to this world. By using the conjunction ‘t)UT† in the last stanza, Emerson prepares his reader for his MM,'n interpretation of the universal spirit. The concluding statement that justifies self-sufficient existence in this world, â€Å"But thou, meek lover of the good! / Find me, and turn thy back on heaven,† makes this poem characteristically Impression. â€Å"Brahmas† is a poem written by Ralph Wald Emerson. Brahmas† is â€Å"the Creator† in Hinduism. â€Å"Brahmins† in the line â€Å"l am the hymn the Brahmins sings. † is definitely not a coincidence that it has ;o me anings. One meaning is a socialite who has great power and the other meaning is a high priest in Hinduism. Basically, this poem is said by â€Å"Brahmas† to his people. He's saying that people sometimes forget him, but if you are good, you shouldn't. This poem is written as four stanzas with four lines in each. It is rhymed as ABA. It is written in pyrrhic-tetrameter (no stresses).

Meaning of life Essay

Philosophy is â€Å"the study of ideas about knowledge, truth, the nature and meaning of life, etc†¦; a particular set of ideas about knowledge, truth, and meaning of life; and a set of ideas about how to do something or how to live† (Philosophy, 2014, para. 1). Philosophy plays a huge role in all of our lives. Studding of philosophy influences our lives in many ways and has many purposes. Philosophy has five major branches metaphysis, epistemology, ethics, aesthetics, and logic. Each of these branches plays a role with culture to develop thoughts in human beings by wondering, a dynamic  process, the truth, and wisdom. â€Å"Philosophy is an attempt to reason clearly and critically about all areas of experience: science, religion, art, politics, and mortality† (What is Philosophy, Para, 1). The purpose of philosophy is to try to understand and evaluate our most basics, beliefs, values, and to integrate them into a coherent view of each of us and the world around us (What is Philosophy, 2014). Studying philosophy is important because it continues to play an important role in shaping the future of all human existence, Philosophy enhances personal growth,  professional opportunities, improves reading skill, critical thinking, communication, and helps in arguments by showing your philosophical knowledge (What is Philosophy, 2014). There are five major basic branches of philosophy. The branches are the metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, aesthetics, and logic. The metaphysics branch is the study of existence. For example, a few questions one might ask them self would be PHILOSOPHY 3 what else is out there, why I am here, and what is my purpose in life (Important of Philosophy, 2014). Epistemology branch is the study of knowledge. Individuals like to know as much as possible to help their selves understand what is going in life and around then. For example, a question one might ask their selves would be how I know about certain things. In philosophy, knowledge is looked at as factual senses, and not just guesses. People that are epistemology rather use statements and questions in factual form, such as, dogs are mammals (Important of Philosophy, 2014). Ethic branch is the study of actions. This is the branch of philosophy that helps the decision making in what is right and what is wrong; beliefs and values. An example of ethics is your conscious. On one side there is the devil telling you to do the wrong thing, and the angel on the other side telling to do the right thing. Many ethical people try to avoid judgment, but have high moral beliefs in specific things. Ethics also plays a role in religion and faith (Important of Philosophy, 2014). The Aesthetics branch (also known as politics) is the study of action. This is the branch that shoes what actions are permissible. An example, would be how politics work in the world. What laws should be made, and how they should come to be. Politics are the ethics that are applied to people based off what they are told to do or believe (Important of Philosophy, 2014). Finally, the last branch of philosophy is logic or esthetics. This is the study of art. The main question is what can life be like? This is the branch that allows mankind to see the world in an abstract way. According to Importance of Philosophy (2014) PHILOSOPHY 4 Esthetics is important because it delves into the reason why art has always existed, the burning need of mankind through the ages to see the world in a different, clear way it  further evaluates art by the standards of human life, and whether it accomplishes the job of satisfying man’s intellectual needs, or whether it tends to hurt or make worse those needs (Para. 3). Esthetics is bringing the emotion and idea together to make a decision (Important of Philosophy, 2014). Within all the branches there are arguments, these arguments helps in philosophy to create creative thinking and growth. We all have questions, and beliefs to the meaning of life, and we will continue to argue trough ethnic, logic, politics, and beliefs. Each of the five basic philosophy groups have to face basic arguments, These  arguments are structure of arguments, evaluating arguments, types of arguments, and informal fallacies (Chaffee, 2013). The structure of arguments includes: reason, reason, and conclusion. Evaluating arguments include truth of reason, validity of structure, and soundness of argument. There are two types of arguments deductive: conclusion follows necessarily from premises (reasons), and inductive: conclusion supported by premises to some degree. Finally, there are informal fallacies, these are unsound arguments that appeal to emotion and prejudice (Chaffee, 2013). Philosophy and culture interact to develop thought because there are so many different beliefs in the word. Philosophy is love and wisdom, while in culture there is so much hate. The more we talk about our beliefs, and talk out the way we each feel it creates creative thinking, and more open minds. For example, scientist see things one PHILOSOPHY 5 way, but when we are more philosophical it shows us that there are more than one answer to each question. Science believes in evolution, religions believe in god, while the rest of us are still trying to find the meaning of life. When it comes to me, I think ethics represents me the most. I believe in right and wrong, and I have faith. I believe that taking actions against wrong in the world is very important. In our culture, there is so much hate, and I am a very big advocate for equality. I fight for equality for all humans, and I also fight for the rights of animals. Philosophy is â€Å"the study of ideas about knowledge, truth, the nature, and meaning of life (Philosophy, 2014, para. 1). There are five major basic groups, and there will always be questions to create creative thinking, and open minds. Philosophy has  been around from the beginning of time, and will be around until the end of time. We will always want to know the meaning of life and why we exist. PHILOSOPHY 6 References: Chaffee, J. (2013). The philosopher’s way: Thinking Critically about Profound Ideas (1st Ed,). Pearson Education, INC. Importance of Philosophy. (2014). Retrieved from http://www. importanceofphilosophy. com/FiveBranchesMain. html Philosophy. (2014). Retrieved from http://www. merriam- webster. com/dictionary/philosophy What is Philosophy? (2014). Retrieved from http://www. etsu. edu/cas/philosophy/whatis. aspx.

Criminal Investigation Essays

Criminal Investigation Essays Criminal Investigation Essay Criminal Investigation Essay Midterm Essay CJ21-Criminal Investigation Professor Yocum September 28th, 2010 Throughout the years the type of crimes and amount of crimes committed has changed significantly and has played a major role in the American society. What is crime? As defined by Frank Schmalleger (2007) â€Å"crime is a conduct in violation of the criminal laws of a state, federal government or a local jurisdiction where there is no legally acceptable justification or excuse† (p. 7). Criminal investigators have the responsibility of pursuing new ways to create a safer environment for the community in which they serve by gathering and analyzing evidence found at a crime scene. It is very important to understand the methods, mindset and sources of information behind an investigators strategy towards the ultimate goal of a successful prosecution of an offender. What is the scientific method? The scientific method consists of six different aspects; first one needs to identify the problem through examination. Secondly, one should form a hypothesis about what has happened from what they may know about the victim or what they have been able to gather from witnesses. Thirdly, collect data through observation and experimenting by this I mean to search for relevancy of a suspect’s background and witness statements. Next we need to compare the hypothesis and data compiled by evaluating the evidence found. If the data supports the hypothesis then a search for additional evidence may be needed. Lastly, one should draw a conclusion based off of all the evidence found; if there is probable cause this then would justify an arrest. As a part of the scientific method, the method of inquiry consists of two general ideas; reconstructing the past and discovering or creating new knowledge, this is done through observation. Some questions may derive from that including who, what, where, when, why and how. By answering these questions it helps an investigator to identify a suspect of a crime. An investigator must maintain a certain mind-set to fully conduct an investigation; the optimal investigative mind-set provides foresight and perception to an investigator. The investigative mind-set is a doubt or uncertainty. On the other hand, the optimal mind-set of an investigative manifest is to â€Å"put beyond doubt or question† (www. dictionary. com). There are a number of sources of information available to assist criminal investigators in their efforts to prosecute an offender . However, there are three primary sources which take precedence, and these sources are people, physical evidence and records. As an investigator conducts his investigation he would learn that people retain a great value of information from what they see, hear or witness. For example, a bank robbery in which someone has witnessed, an investigator would obtain detailed information about what that person observed. Although it may sometimes be difficult to identify those who may have insight, it is the investigators responsibility to motivate an individual to divulge such information. On the other hand, physical evidence is an object which can be found at or near the scene of a crime. Physical evidence may not always be easily found, but more than likely without the suspects knowledge there is some form of evidence left behind. For example, at the scene of a murder, there may be no signs of a forced entry or weapon found at the scene and no apparent signs of a struggle. However, clenched in the hand of the victim are follicles of hair and with this physical evidence an investigator is almost certain to have collected the most important evidence of the crime. Another form of physical evidence is a record for example; a car can be connected to someone through establishing who it is registered to by communicating with the department of motor vehicles. In earlier years records were stored using only paper, but with the advances in technology records nowadays are stored electronically. Records can be obtained in several ways, but ultimately they all provide the information needed to conduct an investigation. A successful criminal investigator is one who is organized and understands the process in which to gather pertinent evidence needed to apprehend a suspect. Through specific methods, a firm mind-set and valuable sources of information this can prove to be effective. Although crime will never seize to exist through persistent efforts of criminal investigators and other law enforcement we can reduce the amount of crime committed on an everyday basis. References Osertburg, J. W. amp; Ward, R. H. (2007) Criminal Investigation, Fifth Edition: A Method for Reconstructing the Past. Schmalleger, F. (2007) Criminal Justice Today, Ninth Edition: An Introductory Text for the Twenty First Century. Manifest. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http:// www. dictionary. reference. com/browse/manifest

PreDarwinism Views essays

PreDarwinism Views essays Before November 24, 1859, many people simply believed that species were created by God in their present forms, or that it was possible for organic matter to be spawned from inorganic matter. However, Charles Darwin used these ideas to create his thesis, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. The first true theories on evolution arise during the classical Greek period. On a handful of Greek philosophers believed in the theory of evolution and natural selection. Unfortunately, the two philosophers who influenced western civilization the most, Plato and Aristotle, opposed any theory of evolution. Plato believed that there were two worlds, one real world, and one imperfect world that we perceive with our senses. Any variations in life were imperfect images of their ideal forms. However, Aristotle didnt believe in two worlds; instead, he believed in a scale of nature. Each life form was arranged on a type of ladder. It started at the bottom with the least complex organism and continued up to the most complex organism. Each organism had a pre-determined rung, which allowed no ability to move up, and no open spaces for a new organism to According to Neil Campbell in his book, Biology: Fourth Edition, Juedo-Christian culture fortified anti-evolution theories. (p. 400-401) The creationist-essentialist dogma that species were permanent and created for a specific purpose became deeply embedded in Western thought. Any person who dared to theorize or believe in theories about evolution were instantly labeled heretics. The medieval church saw evolution as saying that God did not exist, that we are not the supreme creation, and that humans could just However, in the later 1700s and early 1800s there was a scientific revolution taking place. People began to use scientifi ...

Pricing derivatives using Monte Carlo Techniques Essay

Pricing derivatives using Monte Carlo Techniques - Essay Example In practice generic Monte Carlo pricing engines face computational problems in the presence of discontinuous payoffs options, because of above stated time consumption limitation but also due to poor convergence with its finite difference estimates and brute force perturbation. Benhamou (2001)[3] following Fourni et al. (1999)[4] use Malliavin calculus to smoothen the simulation function. Benhamou(2001)[3] assumes that the functions are smooth enough to be able to perform the different computation following technical assumptions enunciated earlier, in particular the assumption regarding uniform ellipticity of the volatility operator, in Benhamou (2000-i)[5] (2000-ii)[6] and Fourni et al. (2001)[7]. Benhamou (2001)[3] further states when using finite difference approximation for the Greeks, with jumped price and taking the sensitivity issues into account, errors on numerical computation of the expectation via the Monte Carlo, and another one on the approximation of the derivative funct ion occur. Analysis ends up approximating the second order derivative of the payoff function .An approximation is obviously very inefficient for very discontinuous payoffs like for binary, range accrual, barrier and other type of digital options. To reduce this inefficiency, Broadie and Glasserman (1996)[8] suggested using the likelihood ratio method. Benhamou says," All Greeks can be written as the expected value of the payoff times a weight function and thee weight functions are independent from the payoff function implying that for a general pricing engine, such as Monte Carlo, using certain (numerical) criteria of smoothness, one can branch on the appropriate method. Because it is in a sense independent from the payoff function, the general implementation is simpler that the one of variance reduction technique that only apply to very specific payoff (like the use of control variate).Also no extra computation is required for other payoff function as long as the payoff is a functi on of the same points of the Brownian trajectory. This can be cached in memory to make it efficient Benhamou (2001).Thus Mallavian calculus promises savings in terms of computations, complexity, cache memory and in time though it may produce some noise. The formidable amount of literature exists which intends to suggest analytical pricing formulae for single asset American options. It includes Carr(1998)[9], Grant et al(1997)[10], Bunch and Johnson(2000)[11],Huang et al(1996)[12], Geske and Johnson(1984)[13] and Barone Adesi and Whaley(1987)[14].One can even refer to older constructs like the binomial model of Cox et al(1979)[15].Many of these constructs deploy elaborate mathematical tools, like recursive integration schemes or

Tips for Effective Oral Presentations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Tips for Effective Oral Presentations - Essay Example In this easy, some tips on how to make an effective presentation are discussed. The issue of stage fright, which is a major hindrance to making an effective oral presentation and how to manage it, is also discussed. At the end of this discussion, there should be clarity on how one can make an effective oral presentation. Keywords: Oral Presentation, Effective, Stage Fright Introduction When making an oral presentation, it is very important for one to be able to present thoughts and ideas effectively. Oral presentations are usually very popular in job interviews, and especially when one starts working (Gupta, 2008). So everyone is encouraged to practice oral presentation even before friends and family so as to perfect the skill before the very important time. Ones ability in this area can either make or break his or her career. This is because a person can be very hard working in the job he or she is doing, but if he or she does not have good skills in oral presentation, his or her gr owth will not be seen (Aquino, 2008). There are people who have a certain potential for communication, but this does not mean that they are good at oral presentation. The techniques involved would be very beneficial to such people, to sharpen up their skills more. Effective oral presentation skills make a person more popular among colleagues, for example, a manager who has good skills in oral presentation is likely to be popular among his juniors (Gupta, 2008). What is Oral Presentation? Most of the time, people tend to confuse oral communication with oral presentation, but the two are totally different. According to Gupta, â€Å"oral communication is an interactive process of sharing information† (2008, p. 91) with people. Oral presentation on the other hand refers to a proper way of transmitting messages to an audience. It is important to note that effective oral presentations are important for the growth of a company or organization one is working for, especially when the partners or donors of the funds are present. Characteristics of an Effective Oral Presentation Purposeful: When being composed, an oral presentation should be directed to a definite purpose and one that is clear, because it is aimed at conveying a message to the audience (Rizvi, 2005). Interactive: Any oral presentation should involve the speaker, as well as the audience (Rizvi, 2005). Formal: This is what differentiates oral presentation from other forms of presentations. As said earlier, it is usually emphasized during job interviews. Thus, it is usually used in formal situations. Audience Oriented: This means that the topic has to be dealt with from the perspective of the audience (Rizvi, 2005). Importance of an Effective Oral Presentation Employers usually put great emphasis on oral presentation skills, than in any other form of communication skills. Gupta asserts that an oral presentation has the potential to educate, inspire and persuade more effectively than any other individ ual mode of communication (2008). At some point in ones career, he or she may be asked to make a presentation, and this is the reason why most of the business people rank oral presentation skills as among the most important factors responsible for their success. A good oral presentation can work wonders for any person who is looking for lucrative job offer from a company he or she has dreamt of working with

Narration and description Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Narration and description - Essay Example My grandmother was a college professor with a doctoral degree in education, in addition to being a good cook, a relentless laundry woman, an intelligent consultant, a loving mother to an only child (my father), and the dotting granny at her best. I found her unusual and unpredictable since, despite her age, she manifested vigor and strength analogous to my mother. At one time I see her cooking and an instant she was dressed in flashy gold outfit ready for an evening party with members of her favorite civic organization. She wore extremely large earrings and fixed her hair high with the help of a hair spray. She was gregarious, highly sociable, cunning, intrusive and sometimes, impossible. She would give me and my brothers’ daily tasks to comply such as watering the plants, cleaning the yard, picking out withered leaves in the middle of our play time. She would demand to be taken to almost forgotten scheduled itineraries by my apprehensive father, with us crying siblings driving along. What I loved most about my grandmother was her genuine love for the family. She would go out of her way to prepare lavish dishes and buy special gifts for each of us to commemorate extraordinary days. She loves setting the dining table in intricate and elaborately designed table cloths and chooses the daintiest dishes, depending on the occasion. Christmas and New Year are the best holidays due to the diversity in foods prepared and the number of colorful and shiny gifts wrapped in ribbons of red, green and gold under the tree. She told me when I was grown up and she has immensely aged that what matters most in life is that we have identified what we want to pursue and that we have designed ways and means to fulfill our goals. Also, she told me to remain steadfast in our faith and to believe in the ethics of reciprocity: that of doing

Beauty Essay Example for Free

Beauty Essay Beauty is something that can be interpreted completely different from person to person. A famous quote that goes along with this perfectly is â€Å"beauty is in the eye of the beholder. † I think a person’s inner beauty should be taken into account when deciding whether or not a person is beautiful. Wikipedia’s definition of beauty is, â€Å"a characteristic of a person, animal, place, object, or idea that provides a perceptual experience of pleasure or satisfaction† while Oxford Dictionary states, â€Å"beauty is a combination of qualities, such as shape, color, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially sight. As you can see, inner beauty could be paired with Wiki’s definition and outer beauty could be paired with Oxfords. Of course, there is no way of telling which definition is more correct, but, for the majority of today’s society, outer beauty seems to be the primary focus. One example that proves just how important outer beauty is to society is the rise in beauty products and services that are around today. Surely, once the 21st century initiated, appearance definitely began to play a much bigger part in people’s lives. Interests in salons and day spas were rising generously, and surely, business was not hard to find. More than likely, most salons’ appointment books were filled, nail salon chairs were occupied, and an increase sales in beauty products all hit businesses with full force. Another illustration of our appearance obsessed society is seen in the surrounding woman and men. For instance, there are many events, even on a global scale, that support this shallow idea of exterior perfection, such as Beauty pageants; Miss America and Miss Universe are two of too many examples. These events are taken very seriously by a vast number of contestants who alter their body surgically, wear dentures, and add an, no doubt, unnatural amount of makeup and hair extensions. Furthermore, even more popular, exists pageants for young children with contestants of ages as low as a few months. With toddlers and infants being at their most influenced, getting done up in caked on make-up, eyelashes, spray tan, and fake teeth just isn’t something we should be backing. As you can see, it is time for people to focus more on things such as a person’s morality, personality, values, and intelligence rather than always infatuated with exterior. The main reason the word beauty has been used to describe external features rather than internal ones, so much more in the recent years, is the media. The media has evolved into something extremely influential, and the most clear message people recive from this, is what they are supposed to look like. For instance, magazines often create young girls who believe that thin as paper models seen in any magazine are what they are supposed to look like. Also, another component adding to the superficial terms people have are the celebrities that we idolize who are coached to not have even one single hair out of place; all those celebrity’s with perfect skin, hair, and body have been accomplices in the media’s outrageous spread shallow opinions. The outcome of the media’s bar being set so high is people all around doing whatever necessary to preserve their physical appearance regardless of the effect it has on their health or bank accounts. Everyone would be a lot happier if they drew their attention to the internal characteristics of a person, rather than all of the smoke and mirrors that is displayed on the surface. For example, someone who is the most kind-hearted, level headed, and selfless person could go through her whole life not having the opportunity to show others due to her presentation of a had exterior. Of course, although it can be hard for some, it’s never right to reject someone all because they don’t meet the unspoken of standards that most have set for themselves as well as the others. Helen Keller once said, â€Å"Beauty is not always seen but is felt in the heart. Helen was someone who was dealt a horrific hand yet still noticed and embraced the beauty in all of her experiences. To sum up, most of society goes without noticing, or simply doesn’t care, about any beauty that reaches deeper than the surface, which is very unfortunate. Many people become sick, depressed and some even die as a result of the pressure media and those greatly influenced by it puts on them. This world could be so much better, relationships could be so much stronger, and those who deserve it would be so much happier if the word â€Å"beauty† was interpreted as something deeper by the masses; one can only hope.

Causes of the Fenian Movement :: Essays Papers

Causes of the Fenian Movement Irish history is one that is filled with many successes, but heavily out weighted by tragedies and failures of all types. Beginning in the 1840’s, Ireland was faced with many occurrences that lead up to a movement that changed the history of Ireland’s nationalism. â€Å"Beginning with 1847, the potato blight left famine and death on every hand; emigration was excessive and disaffection wide spread yet the British government did little to relieve the deplorable conditions.† (Walker 2) One of the largest events of the time was the Fenian Movement. This movement was led by the people in order to take back what was theirs, their land and rights. While many occurrences might have contributed to the Fenian Movement, which was named after the legendary Gaelic hero, Finn Mac Cumhail (de Nie 215), the four large contributors were The Great Potato Famine; The Young Ireland Uprising; the Civil War; and Britain’s tightening oppression. In 1845, the main crop of the Irish was coming under attack. A blight that slowly killed the potatoes from the inside out, hit the country hard. With the devastation of the dying potatoes, much of the population was found to be in starving situations. Disease that already existed in the country, attacked those left weak by the starvation they were facing, and many died. The disaster of the Famine radicalized a generation of mainly catholic young men of modest social origin, some of whom eventually succeed in assembling an almost open and extremely widespread conspiracy to subvert British rule in Ireland (Gavin 471) This lead to the emigration of many to other countries in order to leave the diseased country. The Famine also caused many Irish to question the control that Britain had over their country. Britain granted no form of help to the devastated Irish population. Since potatoes were Ireland’s top export, the British decided to tax and bill for the potatoes that they never received. They also used religion as a tool to discourage the Irish. English Catholic’s prevalent concern: that Irish nationalism would supersede Catholicism in the hearts and minds of England’s Catholic population, which was predominantly composed of working-class Irish migrants†¦ Most Irish classified their Catholicism with nationalism while English Catholics considered themselves a refined Catholic minority in a vulgar Protestant land (Dye 358).

Sample Marketing Plan

Plan Outline * 1. 0 Executive Summary * 2. 0 Situation Analysis * 3. 0 Marketing Strategy * 4. 0 Marketing Mix * Pricing * Promotion * Advertising * Public Relations * Direct Marketing * Web Plan * Website Goals * Website Marketing Strategy * Development Requirements * Website Milestones * Implementation Schedule * Milestones * Funding Plan * Funding Strategy * Funding Process * Funding Account Plan * Funding Pipeline * 5. 0 Financials * 6. 0 Controls Executive Summary 1. 0 Executive Summary All4Sports is a tax-exempt not-for-profit organization that provides the community with a complete youth sports program. All4Sports offers participants from kindergarten to high school positive learning and team experiences along with the opportunity to create life-long memories. All4Sports continues to be the premier provider of youth sports experiences, and seeks to make this experience affordable and available for all interested participants. This is done through a series of successful undraising activities, the role of the fundraising Foundation, and a solid financial approach to managing these resources. All4Sports now serves more than 24,000 participants in seven sports throughout the Jackson County area with additional youth participating on an out-of-district basis. Ongoing efforts are in place to continue to improve the quality and integrity of the program. The success of these efforts has been documented through studies that confirm the positive perception of the program wi thin the Jackson County area. Major challenges face All4Sports for the future. These include the uncertainties brought on by property tax changes, facility and capital requirements, the impact of alternative programs, and volunteer training and educational needs, to name a few. The Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers continue to work toward providing a quality experience in the most effective and efficient manner possible with optimism for the future of this exceptional organization. Situation Analysis 2. 0 Situation Analysis The need for youth sports programs is validated and magnified by information that attributes long-term value to participants in these programs. Numerous studies document the direct value of youth participation in sports. These studies indicate a direct correlation demonstrating that involvement in sports results in reducing the potential to become involved in drugs, sex, crime, and gang-related behaviors. Research indicates the economic, social and personal value of â€Å"investing† in the lives of children in a positive and constructive manner avoids the social and penal system costs that may later result. To meet this need, All4Sports offers an experience that serves as a personal â€Å"sports reference† for participants throughout their lives. These important benefits continue to validate the All4Sports concept. 2. 1 Market Needs The initial reasons for All4Sports remain constant. School-sponsored sports programs are severely limited in terms of age and range of events. Based on a recent study, 59% of the people in the Jackson County area surveyed believe the public school system fails to meet their sports experience expectations. Driven by economics, most notably with the passage of state legislation limiting school funding, many sports programs have not survived increasing economic pressures on the public school system. Property tax modifications may further impede the public school system's ability to offer any more than the most basic classroom experiences. All4Sports seeks to serve all interested children from kindergarten through high school regardless of what the school they attend offers. There are absolutely no expectations regarding skill or experience, only the desire to participate. The All4Sports program is orchestrated to make this experience as accessible and affordable as possible to this audience. 2. 2 The Market All4Sports provides valuable team and social experiences for the increasing population of public, private, and home-schooled youth. All4Sports offers young people the opportunity to participate in a variety of team sports throughout the calendar year. Beginning in kindergarten, these experiences provide a source of recreation and simultaneously improve athletic skills, health and fitness as they offer experiences in teamwork, sportsmanship, fair play, cooperation and leadership. Increased self confidence is just one of the many intangible benefits this program offers. Market Analysis Market Analysis| | 2006| 2007| 2008| 2009| 2010| | Potential Customers| Growth| | | | | | CAGR| Public School Students| 6%| 1,947| 2,064| 2,188| 2,319| 2,458| 6. 00%| Private School Students| 9%| 388| 423| 461| 502| 547| 8. 97%| Home School Students| 17%| 107| 125| 146| 171| 200| 16. 93%| Total| 7. 03%| 2,442| 2,612| 2,795| 2,992| 3,205| 7. 03%| Market Analysis (Pie) 2. 2. 1 Market Demographics Market Ge ographics – All4Sports serves the Jackson County area with a total population in excess of 170,000 people. With a majority of participants from Medford, the program also has participation from surrounding communities, ncluding Central Point, Jacksonville, White City, and Ashland. Market Demographics – An estimated 45% of households in this area contain children under the age of 18. Each of these households averages 2. 1 children. Therefore, an estimated 39,000 children under the age of 18 are potential All4Sports participants. This number is determined annually from grade school enrollment within the areas served. Past data indicates that the highest level of participation occurs after Grade 2. Participation begins to drop in the middle school years, with a significant reduction in participation at Grade 9. A total of 59% of the participants are male and 41% female. Boys dominate football and girls dominate volleyball. These percentages constantly change due to trends in choice of sports, other alternatives offered in the market place, and other factors impacting participation and availability of these experiences. Market Psychographics – One of the most typical profiles of families interested in this type of program can be described by the following: * The parent/guardian works full-time in a traditional â€Å"8 to 5† schedule. * They have more than one child living at home. They are relatively active in their child's life, but feel they have limited time. * They value the physical and social experience their child receives more than actual sports and skill-development aspects of the experience. Market Behaviors – All4Sports continues to enjoy a positive perception within the community. Studies report solid support of the concept and purpose of the organization and an awareness of the problems inherent in a program that involves thousands of volunteers. Based on recently conducted research, more than 86% of the population in Jackson County area has some awareness of All4Sports. Most people report they are familiar with All4Sports through knowing a young person who has participated in an All4Sports program. Individual awareness levels are highest among adults in the 25-54 age range, and business owners and managers have a 93% awareness level. More than 82% of this group considers our program to have a positive influence on youth and a potential deterrent to violence and other anti-social behavior. This is one of the primary reasons people continue to support this program. Market Demographics Market Demographics| | | | | | Market Segments| Everyone gets to play! | Dominant Gender| Lead Sport| Multi-Programs| Out-of-Area| Public School Students| Be part of the competition! | Male 51%| Soccer| 0. 12| 0. 05| Private School Students| Join the team! | Male 54%| Basketball| 0. 28| 0. 08| Home School Students| Grade 1-12| Female 52%| Soccer| 0. 54| 0. 14| 2. 2. 2 Market Trends The significant market trends are as follows: * Diminishing financial support at all grade levels form public schools to facilitate sports activities for students. Increasing demands from children and their families to offer sports experiences at early ages, beginning at kindergarten. * Heightened awareness of the positive correlation with involvement in sports and reduced potential for involvement in violent activities. * Increasing interest from corporations to sponsor and support these types of community activities when they receive attribution for this involvement. Market Analysis (Trends) 2. 2. 3 Market Growth The program has experienced an average annual participation growth rate of 6% for the past five years. This is indicative of the growing needs of the market we serve. Based on school attendance projections, we expect to experience increased participation growth between 9% and 11% annually over the next three years. The most dramatic growth is expected in the soccer programs, which have an equal mix of boys and girls, with relatively static participation expected in most other sports. These trends are monitored, and to the degree possible, used to help predict future program demands. Market Analysis (C. A. G. R) 2. 3 The Company All4Sports is a tax-exempt, not-for-profit organization dedicated to presenting sports opportunities that are an integral part of each participant's learning experience. This is done with the belief that every child should be able to participate in the program of his or her choice regardless of race, religion, creed, gender, ability, or financial status. This spirit is fostered in an environment where everyone has a chance to play and learn, regardless of skill. All4Sports' long-term goal is to give its participants positive life-long memories of their youth sports experience. . 3. 1 Mission All4Sports is dedicated to providing all youth with the highest quality education and team experience through sports participation. Participants are treated with respect through the opportunity to experience growth in the areas of interacting with others, teamwork, sportsmanship, fair play, and skill development. The goal is to create a positive environment that fosters improved self-confidence a nd self-esteem through experiences in sports activities. 2. 3. 2 Service Offering The â€Å"All4Sports experience† is designed to offer the following to each participant:. Recreation through participation in organized team sports. * The opportunity to learn and experience a variety of sports. * A means to improve athletic skills. * A means to learn teamwork, sportsmanship, and fair play. * A source of fun and enjoyment to enrich their lives. * An opportunity to enhance their health and fitness. The parents and guardians of the participants also realize benefits. They are able to offer their children a positive, well-supervised experience as they learn the skills described above that does not necessarily require their time. 2. 3. 3 Positioning All4Sports offers a unique experience for children that want to to have an enjoyable sports experience. All youth between the ages of 5 and 18 can participate in one or more sports throughout the year. Their participation is not dependent upon their previous experience, skill level, or athletic ability. Everyone can play. The breadth, depth and overall quality of the sports experience we offer cannot be matched within our market. We work with parents and guardians to add to their child's sports experiences. All4Sports exists to create a cherished childhood memory for each participant. . 3. 4 SWOT Summary The following outlines the most significant strengths and weaknesses internal to All4Sports, and the opportunities and threats that exist in our environment. Our objective is to leverage our strengths to take advantage of the opportunities our market presents, develop those areas that are weaknesses, and devise contingency plans to address threats if those should become a reality. 2. 3. 4. 1 Strengths The following outlines key strengths of the organization: Program Reputation – All4Sports is considered to be the premier choice for youth sports related experiences. There is now a generation of participants that send their children to participate in the program. Donor Base – We have developed a stable and loyal donor base from both private and corporate sources. Facilities Relationships – We depend on access to athletic facilities including gyms, soccer fields, football fields, softball and baseball fields. Close relationships and reciprocal maintenance agreements with public and private schools and church facilities are an invaluable asset to the organization. The Internet – Our website, www. all4sports. om, promises to be a significant technological solution for All4Sports in the area of registration, communication, and information delivery. The website has demonstrated the ability to provide more extensive and current information at reduced costs. We can reduce the need for printed materials, voice mail communication equipment, and staff payroll time. It has also allowed us to reallocate volunteer hours to better serve ou r program. 2. 3. 4. 2 Weaknesses Capital Requirements – All4Sports continues to make impressive improvements in the management of financial resources. Additional funds are needed to maintain the quality of the experiences offered and meet future program demands. The Fundraising Foundation's strategy is to provide significant financial resources for All4Sports. The future depends on these resources in addition to revenues from participants and traditional fundraising events. Facilities – Our need for facilities is growing beyond what is now available. This is one of the most urgent challenges facing All4Sports. This essential component is threatened from several aspects. Increasing program needs, combined with recent restrictions and fees for the use of public school facilities, is an issue. Indoor facilities are virtually at capacity for basketball and volleyball games and tournaments. They are insufficient to support flexible and convenient practice schedules. Outdoor facilities are adequate, but the increasing demands of soccer presents concerns in this area as well. New and innovative alternatives must be explored and implemented to provide additional facilities to support the demands of the program. One alternative is to form â€Å"alliances† with public facilities to take on the management and maintenance of these facilities in exchange for scheduled use. Other potential options may include establishing relationships with private schools, churches and other institutions with available gym space. For example, successful experiences have occurred where All4Sports has taken the lead in the development and maintenance of outdoor fields on property owned by other not-for-profit organizations. Training and Education for Coaches and Officials – Individuals often have their first coaching experience with All4Sports. This presents the need to adequately train these individuals to enable them to better understand All4Sports' philosophy, their responsibilities, potential liability issues, and appropriate behavior with participants. A more positive experience for participants, coaches and officials with an increased awareness of responsibilities are some of the goals. The resource demands of this training effort are tremendous. Staff Challenges and Attrition – The All4Sports' staff experiences tremendous pressure due to workloads, dealing with parents, and addressing the issues of the program. These factors, combined with concerns regarding compensation, have resulted in undesirable turnover in important positions. 2. 3. 4. 3 Opportunities All4Sports competes for resources in a community with a high number of not-for-profit organizations per capita. Numerous organizations target personal and corporate dollars to augment other revenue sources. Based on this challenge, All4Sports must continue to demonstrate that it successfully offers a meaningful experience to participants, with short and long-term benefits, in a manner that effectively meets community needs. The following summarizes potential opportunities: Geographic Serving Area Issues – All4Sports continues to be a precedent-setting organization that attracts attention from surrounding communities. Decisions regarding the serving area will impact financial requirements and potentially open new revenue opportunities. This growth strategy must be managed and orchestrated in a manner that will add strength to the program. Soccer Interest – Soccer is the single fastest growing sport in terms of participation. With some participation trade-offs with boy's football, this increasing interest in soccer is the most predominant reason for program growth and has added a more even balance to gender participation. There is an increasing demand for indoor soccer programs. Program Expansion – Program expansion also requires consideration and evaluation. This may include adding sports to the current venue or looking at offering these sports to older age groups, potentially including adult sports programs. Community Education – All4Sports must continue to tell its story to the community it serves. This message is one that reinforces the philosophy and the purpose for its existence. A well-informed community may effectively ensure public facilities are available for use based on reasonable expectations placed on All4Sports. 2. 3. 4. 4 Threats The major challenges All4Sports currently face include the following:. Property Tax Changes – The impact of property tax modifications on the public school systems, their support of sports programs, and their willingness to provide their facilities for use by All4Sports has not been determined. The precise ramifications of this measure may not be known for months, but all potential outcomes must be considered as plans are made for the coming year. Alternative Programs – The increasing impact from other programs, ranging from organization-sponsored to club sports, poses a threat to a segment of All4Sports' market. These organizations target the highly skilled and committed players and coaches and are eroding the depth and breadth of All4Sports' participant and coach resources. Legal and Liability Issues – All4Sports continues to be exposed to liability issues in many aspects of the experience it provides. The potential concerns range from health and safety issues to various forms of verbal or physical abuse. In an increasingly litigious society, there is always potential for legal action. The â€Å"Elite/Advanced† Sports Dilemma – Providing competitive environments for athletes with higher skill levels who seek to be in an intentionally competitive arena is in question. The threat of not offering this option is that these athletes may be drawn away from All4Sports by alternative programs. Some of the most highly trained and experienced coaches can also be attracted to these other programs. This issue challenges some of All4Sports' most basic philosophies. 2. 4 Competition A number of other programs offer youth sports experiences. None of these programs offers the extensive range of experiences or infrastructure of All4Sports. Some programs do, however, offer specific attributes some participants and parents find attractive. This is particularly true for those who seek a higher level of competition and competitive screening of participants. 2. 4. 1 Direct Competition Direct competitors to All4Sports include: * Babe Ruth Baseball/American Legion Baseball Southern Oregon Volleyball * Rogue Valley Athletic Club Volleyball * AAU Basketball * YMCA Basketball * ASA Softball * Oregon Youth Soccer * AYSO Soccer * National Gymnastics Academy Other programs are also available through schools and other organizations. Although some variables are now in place, there are questions regarding the future of indoor soccer organizations. All4Sports possesses a commanding percentage of the total market share. This is based on the estimated number of participants compared to participation levels in other programs, both public and private. This share percentage drops in high school due to increased competition from other organizations as well as in-school programs offered through the public school system. Growth and Share Analysis Growth and Share| | | | | Competitor| Price| Growth Rate| Market Share| All4Sports| $85| 7%| 75%| Babe Ruth Baseball| $120| 3%| 2%| So. Oregon Volleyball| $150| 5%| 3%| AAU Basketball| $90| 4%| 5%| ASA Softball| $95| 2%| 5%| Oregon Youth Soccer| $110| 22%| 4%| AYSO Soccer| $105| 22%| 5%| | | | | Average| $107. 86| 9. 29%| 14. 14%| Total| $755. 00| 65. 00%| 99. 00%| Competitive Analysis Competitive Analysis| | | | | | | | #1| #2| #3| #4| #5| #6| Competitor| Babe Ruth Baseball| So. Ore. Volleyball| AAU Basketball| ASA Softball| Or. Youth Soccer| AYSO Soccer| | | | | | | | Product and/or Service| Babe Ruth Baseball| So. Ore. Volleyball| AAU Basketball| ASA Softball| Or. Youth Soccer| AYSO Soccer| Quality| 6| 7| 6| 5| 8| 8| Selection| 3| 3| 3| 3| 3| 3| Price| 7| 2| 7| 6| 8| 7| Scheduling| 6| 3| 8 | 9| 7| 6| | | | | | | | Location and Physical Appearance| Babe Ruth Baseball| So. Ore. Volleyball| AAU Basketball| ASA Softball| Or. Youth Soccer| AYSO Soccer| Facilities| 8| 4| 5| 6| 8| 4| Equipment| 4| 4| 6| 7| 5| 6| Coaching| 8| 5| 5| 9| 4| 5| Convenience Factors| 6| 6| 7| 8| 2| 8| Other| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| | | | | | | | Added Value Factors| Babe Ruth Baseball| So. Ore. Volleyball| AAU Basketball| ASA Softball| Or. Youth Soccer| AYSO Soccer| Parent/Guardian Communication| 2| 5| 5| 8| 5| 6| Experience| 4| 7| 7| 6| 3| 8| Expertise| 5| 6| 5| 6| 3| 9| Reputation| 6| 8| 7| 9| 5| 9| Image| 6| 6| 6| 9| 6| 6| Stability| 3| 5| 5| 6| 5| 6| Strategic Alliances| 2| 2| 2| 6| 8| 5| Other| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| | | | | | | | Other Marketing Activities| Babe Ruth Baseball| So. Ore. Volleyball| AAU Basketball| ASA Softball| Or. Youth Soccer| AYSO Soccer| Communications| 5| 5| 5| 5| 5| 5| Scholarships| 2| 8| 5| 4| 4| 6| Promotion| 2| 8| 2| 5| 4| 6| Facilitiy Relationships| 9| 5| 6| 9| 9| 5| Loyalty Components| 5| 5| 6| 8| 9| 9| Other| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| 0| Total| 99| 104| 108| 134| 111| 127| Competitor by Growth and Share 2. 4. 2 Indirect Competition In a broad sense, All4Sports competes with all other after-school and extracurricular programs that do not involve sports. School theater programs and local arts programs compete for attendance to their programs and funding from parents and other organizations. While All4Sports does not predict a change in popularity of sports and the percentage of students who participate in sports programs in comparison to arts programs, it is a possibility in the future that trends could favor these alternative programs. All4Sports continues to compete with these programs by offering a fun and fulfilling sports experience for everyone involved. Marketing Strategy 3. 0 Marketing Strategy All4Sports strives to be the premier provider of sports experiences for children in the areas served. Programs are in place to simultaneously serve the needs of out-of-district participants in a manner that is positive for these participants and enhances revenue streams for All4Sports with minimal additional costs. The marketing strategy attempts to successfully communicate the unique value the program offers participants. This strategy redirects the focus from the â€Å"cost† issue to the benefits that participants and their guardians experience from involvement in the program. The marketing strategy will continue to identify the needs of the market and communicate with this audience in the most effective and positive manner possible. Ongoing efforts continually attempt to understand how All4Sports can maintain the quality and integrity of the program within the finite financial resources of participants and the community of donors and supporters. This challenge is increasing. As costs continue to increase in a number of areas, the demands and expectations of the participants and their parents do as well. All4Sports is constantly working to improve the program through improvements and changes in its structure and implementation. Quality and efficiency are just two goals of these changes. The growth strategy is based on continued attention to the quality of the experience in conjunction with identifying opportunities to expand the participation of the programs where possible. Recent changes in key areas, such as the facilities used for events, present ominous challenges for all aspects of the program. 3. 1 Value Proposition All4Sports does much more than simply provide access to sports for children, it provides the significant benefits that are associated with children's involvement in sports programs. These benefits include reducing the likelihood of children becoming involved in drugs, crime and other illicit behavior. Research indicates the economic, social and personal value of â€Å"investing† in the lives of children in a positive and constructive manner avoids the social and penal system costs that may later result. To meet this need, All4Sports offers an experience that serves as a personal â€Å"sports reference† for participants throughout their lives. These important benefits continue to validate the All4Sports concept. 3. 2 Critical Issues Our strengths are impressive. Our weaknesses are identified and have potential solutions. All4Sports could be described as in a â€Å"speculative† situation. We are presented with numerous opportunities and also have threats that present a level of risk. However, we have a chance to experience large returns on our efforts if we can continue to capture the largest market share and are not negatively impacted by the alternative programs in our market. We are well positioned in the market. We have the ability to continue to offer the greatest value and we take advantage of our economies of scale. The critical issues include the following: * Continuing to offer programs that are perceived to be positive, enriching, and affordable compared to the alternatives in our area. Attract participants on a return basis throughout their kindergarten through their high-school years. * Be perceived by public, private, and home schooling providers as a valuable resource that complements the academic experiences they offer. 3. 3 Financial Objectives 1. Raise a minimum of $575,000 through non-participation fees from sources including donations, contributions , special events, gifts-in-kind, and grants. 2. Increase corporate donations and contributions to exceed 12% of the total revenues. 3. Accomplish our program goals within the allocated budget of $1,510,000. 3. Marketing Objectives The objective is to provide this valuable experience to as many children as possible in a positive and supportive manner. A positive, constructive and meaningful experience is the sought-after result of the All4Sports experience. This experience may assist individuals to better understand the necessary skills that life demands and empower them to realize the choices and options available to them. 1. Provide a positive experience to 27,500 youth through the current academic year and enable their parent/guardian to appreciate the value of this experience for their child. 2. Accomplish our program goals within the allocated budget of $1,510,000. 3. Expand the program to two new schools within our serving area by August, prior to the next academic year. 3. 5 Target Market Strategy The target market for All4Sports continues to be youth between the ages of 5 and 18 who have some interest in participating in competitive sports. This may be their first organized sports experience, and All4Sports strives to make it the most positive and successful experience possible. Another area of the target market focuses on addressing the growing interest and demands for outdoor and indoor soccer. . 6 Messaging The core message of All4Sports is one of value: All4Sports teaches children and families the value of physical fitness, sportsmanship, practice, and teamwork through sports and activities. All4Sports fine-tunes its message depending on the target market while keeping the core message intact. 3. 6. 1 Branding The All4Sports brand communicates our complete commitment to sports and to the children and families that are served by the organization. The brand embodies the values that we believe sports participation instills in children and also communicates to sponsors our communicates to supporting hose values in the community. The All4Sports brand is included on banners at all of our sporting events and on uniforms. This branding is used to remind parents and others at sporting events that the events are funded by All4Sports and that All4Sports is the predominant source for youth sports in the region. Target Market Messaging Target Market Messaging| | | Market Segments| Messaging| Public School Students| More options, more possibilities, more resources| Private School Students| Get out and play! | Home School Students| New friends, new opportunities| 3. 7 Strategy Pyramids All4Sports focuses on achieving success in these four basic areas with the resources available to our program: * Equal opportunity to participate, regardless of skill level. * A wholesome, positive, safe, and value-oriented atmosphere in which participants learn teamwork, sportsmanship and interactive skills. * An acceptable outlet for youthful energy. * A broad variety of sports experiences to further develop self-esteem and personal confidence. STRATEGY #1 Program Expansion Tactic #1-A School expansion * Program 1-A New school campaign * Program 1-B Jacksonville campaign Tactic #1-B â€Å"All4Soccer† * Program 2-A School presentations Program 2-B Free soccer clinics * Program 2-C Participation in high school regional soccer play-offs * Program 2-D Special needs scholarship program STRATEGY #2 Fundraising Tactic #2-A Corporate donor base * Program 1-A â€Å"Taking Care of Donors† Committee * Program 1-B Corporate contact program Tactic #2-B Special Events * Program 2-A Taste of Medford to add Spring event * Program 2-B Grant application program focus Marketing Mix 4. 0 Marketing Mix While All4Sports is a non-profit organization, we must continue to devote a portion of our budget to promotion to continue to ensure broad participation in the sporting programs that we offer. Strong participation ensures that All4Sports can create leagues in every sport so that good and varied competition can be offered. Strong participation also means that All4Sports can offer sporting programs to all skill levels across a broad spectrum of programs, ensuring that anyone who wants to participate can participate. The All4Sports marketing mix consists of a pricing strategy that fosters participation while adequately funding operations and a promotion strategy that ensures continued participation in our programs. 4. 1 Pricing All4Sports strives to minimize costs for all participants to ensure that everyone who wants to participate in sporting programs has an opportunity to do so. 4. 2 Promotion All4Sports' promotion strategy is a three-pronged approach of advertising, public relations and direct marketing. Because All4Sports has a limited marketing budget, All4Sports will take a more grass-routes approach and leverage PR and volunteers to assist with marketing to our target audiences. 4. 2. 1 Advertising All4Sports does not have a large advertising budget and will not be advertising in the TV or radio media. Instead, All4Sports will focus on more highly-targeted campaigns to reach students and parents where they are most: school. All4Sports will print flyers and brochures to be left at all area schools and will also provide them to school Physical Education instructors so that the brochures can be passed on to students. In addition, All4Sports will schedule demonstrations at area schools in cooperation with PE teachers to expose students to sports that they might not have seen before, such as lacrosse. Additional brand awareness and advertising will come in the form of banners at All4Sports' sporting events and logos on our team uniforms. This will ensure that any parents or students watching the events will know where to go to participate. Finally, All4Sports will run limited newspaper campaigns during the sign-up periods at the beginning of each sporting season to attract new participants. Advertising Milestones Milestones| | | | | | | Advertising| Start Date| End Date| Budget| Manager| Department| Brochure Design| 1/4/2006| 1/15/2006| $200| Eric| Design| Newspaper Ad Design| 1/15/2006| 1/30/2006| $200| Eric| Design| Printing| 9/5/2006| 12/1/2006| $2,500| Eric| Design| Newspaper Ad – Spring| 3/1/2006| 3/30/2006| $800| Cindy| Staff| Newspaper Ad – Summer| 5/1/2006| 5/30/2006| $800| Cindy| Staff| Newspaper Ad – Fall| 8/1/2006| 8/30/2006| $800| Cindy| Staff| Other| 12/1/2006| 12/1/2006| $0| N/A| N/A| Total Advertising Budget| | | $5,300| | | 4. 2. 2 Public Relations Leveraging local public relations resources is key to All4Sports' promotion strategy. All4Sports will alert local TV networks and newspapers to championship games and all-star athletes in the programs in the hopes of generating local coverage and student profiles. In addition, press releases will be issued announcing new programs and exceptional achievements by local athletes involved in All4Sports programs. PR Milestones Milestones| | | | | | | PR| Start Date| End Date| Budget| Manager| Department| New Programs Press Release| 3/15/2006| 1/15/2006| $80| Jan| Marketing| Winter Season Highlights Pitch| 3/1/2006| 3/30/2006| $0| Jan| Marketing| Other| 1/1/2006| 1/15/2006| $0| ABC| Department| Total PR Budget| | | $80| | | 4. 2. 3 Direct Marketing As new families move to the area, it is important that All4Sports establish contact so that parents and students are aware of the offerings available. To reach these families, All4Sports will use a direct marketing strategy of leaving leaflets and flyers in mailboxes and recruit volunteers to call families to describe the programs offered. Direct Marketing Milestones Milestones| | | | | | Direct Marketing| Start Date| End Date| Budget| Department| New Family Contact Program| 1/1/2006| 9/30/2006| $0| Marketing| Other| 1/1/2006| 1/15/2006| $0| Department| Total Direct Marketing Budget| | | $0| | 4. 3 Web Plan The All4Sports website will be an information hub and reduce the logistics required to sign-up students for programs during each season. While the investment to get the site up and running will be significant from a time perspective, it will pay off by reducing the number of phone calls to the All4Sports administrative office and it will reduce overall administrative costs by automating portions of the sign-up process. 4. 3. 1 Website Goals The All4Sports website has two goals: 1. To serve as an information hub for participants in the various programs. The site will be used to communicate practice times, game times and locations, and scores and other highlights from games. In addition, site users will be able to sign up for the All4Sports email newsletter to receive weekly updates of scores, program updates and general All4Sports announcements. 2. To reduce administrative costs by automating portions of the program sign-up process. The All4Sports web site will allow students and parents to sign-up for various programs. By collecting this information electronically, All4Sports will reduce the amount of double-data-entry and facilitate the process of managing a large number of applications. 4. 3. 2 Website Marketing Strategy All4Sports will communicate the existance of the web site in all printed material and on the automated phone system at the All4Sports office. 4. 3. 3 Development Requirements The All4Sports web site will be custom designed and developed to manage the unique needs of the organization. Some development time will be donated from a local web site design and development company in exchange for some marketing on the web site itself. Web development will be in two phases that correspond with the website goals: 1. Basic communication platform. This phase of web development will build the informational portion of the web site that will allow for easy posting of team schedules and game results. 2. Application submission platform. This second phase will develop the database and submission process that will allow participants to join sporting programs online and allow for the program coordinators to access those applications and process them. 4. 4 Implementation Schedule The following chart and table identify the key marketing programs. Dates and budgets are specified, and the â€Å"Chairpeople† are informed of the programs. We will track plan-vs. actual results for each of these programs and evaluate them at our quarterly Board of Directors meetings. If necessary, the programs will be revised if we discover they are not accomplishing the intended goal. Milestones | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4. 5 Funding Plan Outside funding is critical to All4Sports' future success. All4Sports will focus on corporate sponsors, local fundraising with parents, and government grants. All4Sports aims to raise 30% of funding from corporate sponsors, 30% from grants, and 40% from individuals in the community. 4. 5. 1 Funding Strategy Corporate fundraising and grant writing will be handled by All4Sports staff internally. All4Sports will target corporate sponsors and offer them individual sport sponsorship that could involve anything from purchasing uniforms and equipment to cash sponsorship for more general use within the All4Sports organization. Fundraising from individuals will be coordinated by internal stuff, but will rely heavily on volunteers to run fundraising events. Fundraising events will include standards such as bake sales and car washes. All4Sports will also directly solicit additional donations from parents in addition to basic membership fees. 4. 5. 2 Funding Process Corporate funding and grant writing meetings will occur once a month to review status, possible funding in the pipeline, and status of grant applications. Potential funding sources will be identified using the local chamber of commerce directory. We will contact them directly to seek sponsorship and will present to them the branding opportunities as well as the benefits that All4Sports provides to the community. Follow up calls will be scheduled 1 week and again 1 month after the initial meetings. Internally, we will schedule regular fund raising events for the community. These will usually occur at the beginning of each sports season and special events will be held to raise money for individual trips and events. Funding Account Plan | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Funding Pipeline | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Financials 5. 0 Financials All4Sports is committed to balancing its operating budget and operating on a solid financial foundation. These efforts are based on a mixture of fundraising, charitable gifting, tournaments, and fees. Just as revenues are tracked, internal expenses are closely monitored. The goal of All4Sports is to continue to provide a quality youth sports experience at an affordable cost. This is a tremendous challenge, due to the size of the program, unpredictable costs in areas such as facilities, and uncertainties in participant revenues. All4Sports is intentionally emphasizing the need to reduce reliance on fee-based revenues and look toward contributions from other sources, particularly businesses, to support the program. This approach will enable the program to realize the objective of keeping fees affordable while continuing to offer a quality program for all participants. All4Sports has an independent auditor's report conducted annually that includes financial statements and additional information. The following information is based on the prior two Independent Auditor's Reports. The following summarizes key facts regarding the financial status of All4Sports and its results from last year: * Revenues last year totaled $1,732,658. * A total of 65% of those revenues are from Participation Fees, Donations and Contributions, Special Events, and Gifts-in-Kind. * – Supervision Grants account for a combined 34%. * Expenses for last year were $366 over revenues. * â€Å"People-related† expenditures represent 47% of expenditures. * Non-program operations account for 9% of the total expenditures. . 1 Break-even Analysis Our break-even analysis is based on the ongoing overhead costs we incur to keep the doors of All4Sports open. Fixed costs including the building lease, payroll, utilities, and marketing costs are an estimated $10,250. This number level is due to our dependence on volunteers to run our program. Our assumptions on the average unit revenue are based on the aver age participant fee. The result of this analysis offers general insight regarding the number of average participants we must have involved in the program each month. Break-even Analysis . 2 Funding Forecast Monthly revenues for this calendar year will fluctuate based on the seasonality of the sports offered and the projected level of participation in each sport. The forecasted revenues range from a dramatic low of $16,535 in September as schools are getting started, to a high of $115,360 in November with the Fall Soccer, Tackle Football, and Volleyball seasons overlapping. Donor Drive – The Donor Drive effort depends on the commitment of key volunteers to raise funds through corporate and individual contributors throughout the area. This includes leveraging the resources of corporate sponsors and initiating an Adopt-A-School Scholarship Fund Sponsors program where businesses are partnered with specific schools. Sponsors and Donors are recognized in numerous ways for the valuable role they play in the organization. A Taste of Medford – All4Sports has created a culinary tradition with the fundraising event â€Å"A Taste of Medford. † Restaurants from throughout the area come together to offer a taste of their menu, and businesses and individuals pay admission to sample their cuisine throughout the evening. Since its inception, this highly publicized event has become an annual highlight and a financial success for more than a decade. This is due to continued public appeal, corporate sponsorships, and experienced volunteer leadership. Value Checks – Since 1993, All4Sports T-ball, baseball, and softball participants have sold these sought-after coupon books. The relationship with and support of numerous businesses throughout the area also provide an effective promotional medium for marketing efforts. Grants – All4Sports continues to identify grants on a national and local basis that complement the goals and efforts of the program. Grant sources have included the U. S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, Recreational Activities Valuing Education and Sports (RAVES), and the Willard Family Foundation. Work continues to expand the impact of the All4Sports Foundation. The recent adoption of by-laws further recognizes and empowers this entity. The Foundation will establish relationships with key individuals and organizations that desire to provide significant financial support to All4Sports on an ongoing basis. The long-term objective is to provide financial stability to support program quality and expansion and reduce dependence on program fees. Costs associated with facilities are just one example of the need for these resources in addition to the other revenue sources for the program. 5. 2. 1 Funding by Participant Fees The following summarizes the projected revenue from participant fees on a monthly basis for the upcoming year. Note the variance based on sports season and overlapping sports. Funding Breakdown by Participant Fees Monthly 5. 2. 2 Funding by Fundraising Events Our fundraising events are a critical component to our revenue base, particularly in relation to the â€Å"Taste of Oregon† and â€Å"Value checks† efforts. Funding Breakdown by Fundraising Events Monthly . 2. 3 Funding by Donations Donations from private and corporate sources are one of the most stable and predictable sources of income. Our objective is to increase corporate contributions. Gifts-in-kind offset program costs, such as when sports equipment is donated, and goods are also supplied for the various auction events held. Funding Breakdown by Donations Monthly 5. 3 Expense Forecast Our expense budget is based on maximizing the return from our marketing and promotion efforts. We must closely monitor this return to determine what events are generating the most revenue based on the actual dollar investment. Another resource we consider is the number of volunteer hours required, based on a â€Å"ceiling† of hours, that we have access to each year from our volunteer base. 5. 3. 1 Expense by Program Program expenses are contained due to volunteer hours. It is clear that All4Sports is a volunteer-driven organization. The work of volunteers is an integral part of All4Sports. For example, last year's programs consisted of 2,045 teams with an estimated 4,230 head and assistant coaches volunteering an estimated 300,000 hours. Based on a recent study by Anderson Research, All4Sports enjoys a positive perception among the coaches involved in the rogram. The number of teams and coaches is greater for next year and the perceptions are anticipated to be as positive. All4Sports could not survive without this invaluable and committed resource. Annual recognition programs, awards, and events are designed to acknowledge the irreplaceable roles these volunteers play. Expense Breakdown by Program M onthly 5. 3. 2 Expense by Administrative Administrative expenses are based on supporting our staff, along with temporary employees that are brought on to meet seasonal demands. Expense Breakdown by Administrative Monthly 5. 3. 3 Expense by Fundraising Fundraising expenses relate to costs incurred to identify, communicate, and receive donations from private and corporate donors. Expense Breakdown by Fundraising Monthly 5. 4 Contribution Margin Based on past performance, our fundraising efforts are realistic. We enjoyed a $20,000 surplus last year and hope to have a similar experience in the year ahead. The challenges will be to develop greater revenue streams from corporate sponsors and to become proportionately less dependent on participation fees. This is expected to offer a more stable source of revenue for the future and reduce the efforts to secure these funds. We expect our special-event fundraising activities and individual contributions to remain relatively constant as a percent of total revenues. The involvement of the Board of Directors and the formation of the foundation committee will be critical to our success in this area. Controls 6. 0 Controls The purpose of the All4Sports marketing plan is to serve as a guide to the staff, the Board of Directors, and the volunteers to continue to improve the organization and its ability to serve the youth of Jackson County. We must take action to accomplish our goals. Failing to implement even one of the programs could be devastating to our success. . 1 Implementation All4Sports will have weekly Milestones Meetings to review current milestone status, funding status, and status of the actual programs. For All4Sports, it's critical that there is a consistent focus on implementation in order to not only maintain strong programs, but to maintain strong relationships with funding sources. The followi ng Funding Source Lifetime Value table shows the long-term value of our average corporate funding sources which is testament to the need for focus on implementation of both funding milestones and program quality. . 2 Keys to Success * Expand into new areas within Jackson County that desire access to All4Sports activities. * Leverage the growth offered by the increasing interest in soccer in the Fall and Spring programs. * Identify additional facilities to support future growth and offer greater flexibility in scheduling. * Continue to develop the donor base and corporate contributions that add to the financial resources of the participant fees. 6. 3 Contingency Planning The following lists, in order of probability beginning with the highest potential for change that will impact this marketing plan, the future of All4Sports: * Major philosophy shift regarding the use of public and/or private school facilities. * The rapid growth of one of the alternative programs that significantly reduces our market share and our ability to operate one or more of our programs. * Legal action due to injury or negligence that causes severe financial damage to the organization. 6. 4 Market Research All4Sports will continue to monitor public school funding and private school ttendance to determine how to refocus promotion activities if necessary. From a funding perspective, All4Sports will monitor government grant availability and apply for new grants as they become available. 6. 5 CRM Plans In the case of All4Sports, there are two primary customers: program participants and funding sources. It is important to have a good CRM system in place to track these two groups. A ll4Sports will use the CRM system to track continued participation in programs and to contact students whose participation changes. For funding sources, the CRM system will be used to track the stages of donors in the funding process and ensure that donors are contacted on a regular basis and kept up-to-date with All4Sports programs. 6. 6 Marketing Organization All4Sports fundraising is run by Doug Johnston. Doug has 15 years of fundraising experience for nonprofit groups and has written numerous successful grants. Doug has two staff assistants who help manage the fundraising process. Marketing and promotion is run by June Gibbons. June is responsible for maintaining participation in All4Sports' programs and promoting the programs to new students and families.