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How to Work with GALs and Parenting Evaluators
Authored By: Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line
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- Spanish / Español
If you are involved in a divorce, paternity or non-parent custody case where the other parent does not agree with you, the court may appoint a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) or Parenting Evaluator. This publication contains tips to help you work successfully with the GAL. Publication #3106EN
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- Introduction
- How can I make a "good impression?"
- How can I address issues that may be important to the GAL or the judge?
- How do I get ready for the interview?
- What should I do after the interview?
If you are involved in a divorce, parentage (paternity) or nonparent custody case where the other parent disagrees with you, the judge may appoint a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) or Parenting Evaluator.
A GAL may be a lawyer, social worker, or psychologist, or community volunteer (Court Appointed Special Advocate or CASA). The judge may appoint a parenting evaluator instead of a GAL.
Whether the judge appoints a GAL or an evaluator will depend on:
the parents' financial resources
your county's lower-fee or free GAL/evaluation resources
specific issues in your case
Examples: The judge might appoint a Family Court Services social worker to your case as a parenting evaluator. The evaluator may also be a psychologist or psychiatrist in private practice.
GALs and private parenting evaluators generally charge hourly for their time. The judge may order one or both parties to pay those fees. If both parents are low-income, the court can order the county to pay for the GAL. Or you can file a motion for the judge to waive the GAL fee for you. Our Your Family Law Case: If You Cannot Afford the GAL Fee packet has forms and instructions.
A CASA GAL is a volunteer. The CASA program does not charge parties for that GAL's time.
Family Court Services charges a sliding-scale fee to both parents, depending on each parent's income.
No matter how/whether the GAL or evaluator is paid, a GAL's job is to represent or investigate your children's interests in the court case. The judge appoints a GAL to represent your child's best interests, and to advocate for those best interests to the court. The GAL should be served with all legal papers and hearing notices, and generally must appear at those hearings.
*The GAL does not represent you or the other parent.
A parenting evaluator does an investigation of each parent and the children to find out what is in the children's best interests and makes a recommendation to the court, but is less involved in the case. An evaluator does not actually represent your child's interests.
Both a GAL and a Parenting Evaluator will make recommendations about:
which parent should have custody
how much visitation the other parent should have
whether the judge should order either parent to do other things (such as drug treatment) in order to be able to spend time with the children
Use this publication if you already have a GAL or parenting evaluator assigned to your case. If you would like to know more about GALs and evaluators, including more about the differences between their roles, the rules that govern them, and how to get a GAL or an evaluator appointed to your case, read our publication called Guardian Ad Litems in Family Law Cases.
The GAL/Evaluator's investigation and report are very important. The judge will often follow their recommendations.
You may feel the investigation is intrusive. You may feel it is unfair for someone to evaluate your parenting skills at a time when your family is going through the trauma of separation (or domestic violence). You may feel the GAL/evaluator does not understand what it is like to have limited financial resources. The person on your case will not have time to get to know your family well. S/he must draw conclusions based on his/her own impression and the opinions of others.
Even so, taking part in the evaluation is very important, especially if you are representing yourself and/or cannot afford to hire experts to present evidence in your case. The GAL or parenting evaluator's report is a chance to get the judge to take seriously information important to you.
Every GAL and Evaluator is different. This publication suggests some general things you can do to better the chance of getting a good evaluation. It may be hard or impossible for you to follow all of these suggestions. Just being aware of these expectations can help you get ready for this experience. In the following section, "GAL" and "evaluator" mean whomever the judge has appointed to investigate the parenting situation in your case.
*GALs are "mandated reporters." State law requires GALs to report a family to law enforcement or CPS when the GAL believes a child in a family s/he is investigating has been abused or neglected.
How can I make a "good impression?"
Try to be on time. Be quick to respond. Keep your appointments. Be on time. If you must cancel, call the evaluator/GAL as soon as possible. Explain why you have to reschedule. Return calls and paperwork right away.
Put on a calm front. In the interview and during every call with the evaluator, try to be polite and calm. You may ask questions and disagree politely with your evaluator if you have to. Try not to lose your temper, even if you think the evaluator is rude to you. The GAL will not have much time to get to know you. S/he may form an opinion of you based on your conversations.
Do not "attack" or badmouth the other parent or others. Do let the GAL/evaluator know about the other parent's problems, especially those things that may cause (or have caused) harm to the children, such as domestic violence against you, or abuse of the children.
- Simply state your concerns about the other parent as calmly and reasonably as possible. Do not attack the other parent personally.
- Give the evaluator any written evidence you may have. Examples: police reports, Protection Orders, and so on.
- Give the evaluator names and current contact information for witnesses with direct knowledge about your strengths and the other parent's problems. Make sure these witnesses know the evaluator may contact them and will agree to talk about your situation.
- Collect written statements from your witnesses, if requested. Have your witnesses be cooperative with the GAL/evaluator.
Focus on what is good for the children. The evaluator/GAL's job is to find out what is in the children's best interests – not what is in yours or the other parent's best interest.
If you do not understand, ask. If you do not understand something in the evaluation process, ask for help. If there is a questionnaire you must fill out and you are having trouble, ask your community advocate, lawyer, friend or relative for help. If the evaluator tells you to do something, or asks you a question you do not understand, ask the evaluator to explain.
Have the right amount of contact with the GAL or evaluator: You may call him/her with questions or new information. Do not overwhelm the GAL by calling every day, or by stopping by his/her office without an appointment. The evaluator or GAL will take every contact with you into consideration when writing his/her report. Try to be respectful of the GAL's time. Then the GAL may be respectful of your time as well.
How can I address issues that may be important to the GAL or the judge?
Accept responsibility for your own problems. Admit your mistakes. You should usually admit any problems that you have up front. In most cases, the evaluator will find out about them anyway. (The other parent probably knows what they are!)
Take advantage of parenting resources. Get help for yourself. Often, the evaluator will recommend parenting classes for one or both parents. Get a head start. Sign up for classes on your own. Free or low-cost classes may be available. Ask the evaluator for suggestions. Many parents find that getting counseling for themselves and their children helps during a stressful family law case, especially if the children have witnessed domestic violence or have been abused. Ask your evaluator about organizations that provide counseling.
If you have a mental illness, work to stabilize your condition. Try to keep it stable. The fact of your mental illness does not automatically mean the judge will take your children away. You should try to keep your illness stable to show you will be able to provide consistent, safe parenting for your children. If you have prescriptions, take them regularly. Go to any counseling that an expert has recommended for you. If you have a doctor, counselor or advocate who can explain your illness to the evaluator and say good things about your stability and parenting skills, have that person contact the evaluator.
Try to keep stable housing if possible. If you move around a lot, it may look like you cannot offer the children a stable home. (Note: If you are moving to avoid domestic violence, tell the evaluator that.) Sometimes you must move due to financial or other problems. Do what you can to help the children cope with the move. Examples: take them to counseling. Get their teachers to help ready them for a new school.
Make sure your children are up-to-date on medical care. If you do not have health insurance, you may be able to get Medicaid for your children or subsidized health insurance. Apply at www.wahealthplanfinder.org.
If you can, try to take part in the children's school. Do what you can to get your child to school regularly and on time. Try to take part in the children's school events. Try to go on field trips or other events. Make sure you go to parent-teacher conferences. If you are limited English speaking, you have the right to ask the school to provide an interpreter so you may effectively go to teacher-parent conferences and other school events.
Be careful about new relationships. This might seem unreasonable. However, your life is under a microscope right now. Any problems your new boyfriend/girlfriend has will reflect on you, especially if it could somehow hurt the children.
Be consistent in visiting with the children. If the children do not live with you but you have visits with them, go to the visits consistently – even if they are supervised visits and you do not like that. Be on time for picking them up and dropping them off. Do not miss a visit unless you really have to. Supervised visits can be expensive. Try to find a way to pay for them. (Examples: gather resources. Borrow money from family. Ask for a child support credit, or try to find a neutral person to supervise who will not charge you for it.) This will show the children and the judge your concern for your children.
Do not deny the other parent court-ordered visitation without very good reason. If the children live with you and the other parent has court-ordered visits, let the other parent visit unless you have a very good reason that you have not told the judge before. If you must cancel a visit because of an emergency (example: the child is too sick to go), let the other parent know as soon as possible. Offer to arrange a make-up visit. If you cancel the other parent's visit because you believe the child will not be safe (example: the other parent smells as if s/he has been drinking when s/he shows up), try to change the visitation schedule or parenting plan legally. Make a motion in court, or try to get an emergency ex parte order allowing the change, as soon as possible. Do not take matters into your own hands if you can avoid it.
Follow the court orders. The judge may have ordered you to get a drug/alcohol evaluation, to go to parenting class, or get batterer's treatment. Do what the court orders as soon as possible, even if the other parent is not obeying the order. Be persistent. It might take several weeks to get an appointment. Even if you think you do not have the problem the other parent is claiming, get any evaluations the court order recommends. This can be frustrating, especially when the judge has ordered you to do many different things. However, if you have a problem, such as substance abuse, that the judge might think interferes with your parenting, an evaluation or treatment is your chance to address it before the judge makes a final custody decision. If you do not have the problem the judge has ordered evaluated, you can use the information you get from the evaluation to prove it.
*The court and GAL/evaluator expect you to obey its orders. They are likely to draw a negative conclusion about you if you do not.
Get Your Evidence Together:
Be active. Do not rely on the evaluator to gather information that helps you. Do what you can to get that information to the evaluator.
Gather witnesses. As soon as possible after you find out who the evaluator/GAL is, give the evaluator a written list of names, addresses and phone numbers of everyone with helpful information about you as a parent (or about the other parent's problems). These are your "witnesses." The best witnesses are "professionals" or "neutral" people such as teachers, counselors, doctors, daycare providers, landlords, and so on. Friends, neighbors and family are also helpful. Some evaluators will not contact witnesses who are not involved with you or your family professionally. Make sure you let your witnesses know the GAL or evaluator might be contacting them. Make sure this is okay with your witnesses. Explain to your witnesses that they must return the GAL/evaluator's phone calls right away. (The evaluator may not have the time to try to call multiple times.) If the evaluator does not contact a witness you think has important things to say, ask the witness to write a declaration, letter or statement that describes you as a parent, about the other parent's problems, or about the children. Give the evaluator the other parent or parent's lawyer each a copy. File the original with the court. Keep a copy with your records. Keep in mind: under the law, both parents may look at the evaluator's file. If you have a reason the other parent should not know a witness's name or address, you must blank out that information on the other party's copy of anything you send to the evaluator. An evaluator might overlook safety and confidentiality for you and others. You must bring these issues to the evaluator's attention.
Gather records. Gather as much written evidence as you can to show you are a good parent, or to support your claims about the other parent's abusive conduct or other problems. The evaluator will not do this for you! Keep in mind: the other parent and his/her lawyer will have access to all or most of the information you give the evaluator.
Some documents that can help prove the other parent's abusive conduct/substance abuse/violence:
criminal records
police reports
medical records (yours, even if you did not tell the doctor that the other parent caused the injuries; also the children's, if related to abuse)
sex offender treatment records for the other parent
protection orders, no-contact orders, including the petition for protection order and any declarations you used to get the order (even if the orders have expired)
protection orders or other family law records about the other parent abusing another spouse/partner or other children
pictures of you or the children with bruises or injuries
apology or hate letters the other parent wrote you
Some documents that can help regarding your parenting:
school attendance records and grades; daycare records showing you picked up or dropped off the children
medical records showing you took the children for medical care
certificates from parenting classes and so on
declarations from teachers, counselors, daycare providers, babysitters, coworkers, doctors, neighbors, friends, or relatives about your parenting skills
Help the evaluator understand you. Some evaluators have little experience with people who are different from them. If you are a refugee or immigrant, a person of color, or are culturally or religiously very different from the average white American, the evaluator may not understand your culture. If possible, look for someone from your community or church to speak with the evaluator and explain some of the cultural dynamics the evaluator may not understand.
*Example: It is common in your culture for parents to allow children to stay for extended periods with grandparents and other relatives. You could ask someone from your community to talk with the evaluator about that.
Professionals (such as community advocates or teachers) make the best witnesses, but even a neighbor or friend could help.
How do I get ready for the interview?
friend can contact the evaluator several days before the interview to ask for an interpreter for you. You should not have to pay for an ASL (sign language) interpreter. If you have trouble speaking English, you may need to pay for your language interpreter if you can afford it. (Interpreters charge between $25 and $70 per hour.) If the evaluator will not provide an interpreter, you may need to make a motion asking the judge to appoint a free interpreter during the interviews. The judge may not agree to pay for a language interpreter. If s/he refuses your request, contact the CLEAR line at 1-888-201-1014.
Appearance is important. The evaluator may want to interview you and the children at your home. Make sure it is clean. If the evaluator will see your car, clean it up too. The evaluator may check that the children have a bed to sleep in, toys and books, and clean clothes. This may seem invasive, but it is important in the evaluation process.
Watch your actions and your words. If the children are present, the evaluator will watch how you interact with them. Evaluators are frequently impressed by:
- discipline that focuses on setting limits, withholding privileges and not involving spanking
- speaking in a calm manner with no harsh words or threats
The children should not run wild around the house while you and the evaluator are talking. If you need to, take time out to discipline them. You need to be in charge. Evaluators also look to see if the children seem comfortable with you.
Do not coach the children. The evaluator will probably interview your children alone, if they are old enough. Never tell the children what to say if the evaluator questions them. Never give your children any detail about court proceedings or the parents' allegations against one another. Just let the children know it is okay to speak with the evaluator and that the evaluator might ask them some questions.
What should I do after the interview?
Keep in touch with the evaluator. Check in once every two weeks or so. Ask if the evaluator has had trouble contacting your witnesses and whether s/he got the information you sent.
Ask for a copy of the report. Sometimes the evaluator/GAL will not finish the report early. S/he will have it waiting for you when you go to your next court hearing. You can ask to get a copy of the report as far in advance of the next court hearing as possible. Offer to go pick it up if needed. The earlier you get the report, the more time you will have to prepare a response for the hearing and bring other evidence to court if needed.
If you receive the report before a hearing, try to respond in writing to any mistakes you believe the evaluator made. You will usually respond using a Declaration. Explain what you disagree with. Point out any discrepancies in the report. You must provide any written response to all parties, the GAL, and the court (including a "working papers" copy for the judge) before the hearing. The GAL must provide the report at least 60 days before trial.
For temporary family law orders hearings, the investigator often submits the Family Court Services report the day of the hearing. Ask the judge for more time to read the report if needed. If you feel you must explain or clarify anything in the report, explain that you must do that.
If the investigator submits your report with a motion or with papers before a hearing, be ready to point out whatever you think the report got wrong, or emphasize the recommendations you agree with. Until the judge has entered the report's recommendations in the form of an order, they are not official.
If you disagree with a negative GAL report, talk to a lawyer about what to do. Read our publication When you Disagree with a Guardian Ad Litem Report. If you are very low-income, call CLEAR at 1-888-201-1014 weekdays from 9:15 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. If you live in King County, call 211 for information and referral to an appropriate legal services provider Monday through Friday from 8:00 am – 6:00 pm.
This publication provides general information concerning your rights and responsibilities. It is not intended as a substitute for specific legal advice.
This information is current as of May 2016.
© 2016 Northwest Justice Project — 1-888-201-1014.
(Permission for copying and distribution granted to the Alliance for Equal Justice and to individuals for non-commercial purposes only.)


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The Cullman County Commission recently recognized Alabama Extension professionals for their outstanding service to the county's 4-H program. The county staff received the Crystal Clover, which recognizes it as a 4-H Centennial Youth Initiative County.
Alabama Extension Associate Director Dr. Paul Brown presented the award and medals of excellence to the 4-H Team.
"We established the Centennial Youth Initiative in 2014," Brown said. "We asked each county to put together a county 4-H team to develop a plan of work for the future that would get young people engaged as we move forward."
County Commissioner Garry Marchman presented a proclamation honoring Cullman County 4-H accomplishments.
"On behalf of the Cullman County Commission and as a former 4-H er, I want to express our appreciation for the efforts of the Cullman County Extension team in achieving CYI status. We deeply appreciate their commitment to the youth of Cullman County and look forward to the continued growth of the 4-H youth program," he said. More than 1,500 youth were involved in Cullman County programs last year.
In addition to the award of CYI county status, James Conway will be assigned as the full-time 4-H Club Foundation regional agent for Cullman County. The funding for this agent is provided by Alabama Extension and the 4-H Club Foundation.
"This new CYI status is going to allow us to increase our 4-H efforts in the county," said Tony Glover, county Extension coordinator. "We will be able to expand our 4-H programs to additional schools in the county and reach more youth."
Cullman County is one of 22 counties in Alabama designated as a CYI county.
The Centennial Youth Initiative (CYI) is committed to developing 4-H programs in Alabama to increase access so that more youth can participate in the program, and to enhance the learning experiences available to youth. The award is based on the following standards of excellence in Alabama 4-H programming:
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Are you ready for Thailand's first mid-year international jewelry fair? Get a rare opportunity to meet sellers and manufacturers from Thailand and beyond, enjoy zero import duty and experience the latest innovations, all under one roof! The Thailand Gem and Jewelry Trader's Association, with its extensive track record in holding world-class jewelry fairs will host the Thailand Gems & Jewelry Fair this coming June 15-18 in Bangkok, and here is why this event is not to be missed…
1. Zero import duty for all jewelry and zero VAT (Value-Added Tax) for rough stones. Trade your products at the Thailand Gems & Jewelry Fair while enjoying tax incentives.
2. Get the first look at high-quality, carefully crafted gold, silver, gemstones, diamonds and designer jewelry at reasonable prices.
3. Networking opportunities with buyers, sellers, manufacturers and those in the gems and jewelry industry in ASEAN and India, China, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and Australia who will be participating in the Thailand Gems & Jewelry Fair.
4. Experience the destination of jewelry shopping with our special zone "4 Jewelry Districts" where the streets of gold, silver, diamond and gemstones are brought to the fair in a spectacular fashion.
5. Explore innovation from our partner institutions and companies exhibiting the latest trend and technology in the gems and jewelry industry.
With great support from Thai government agencies, overseas and domestic associations and our long-time exhibitors, the Thailand Gems & Jewelry Fair 2017 will open a new chapter to gems and jewelry exhibition in Thailand. See you in June!


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Wall Art can be anything from picture frames to signs with sayings. Signs with your family name on them are no problem since we can use your own artwork or create artwork for your sign.
Photos are some of the designs that we have done so far. If your have something else in mind, let us know and we will design it for you. Shipping available and for local pick up. Thank you, PCM


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Hi there!
This is short information, how to join IRG Team:
1. Register on our site www.irg-world.com with the same name, that you are using in the game: http://irg-world.com/user/register
2. Read regulations of our site and current series:
3. Download, install and update app - IRG Tool: http://irg-world.com/download
(IRG Tool app is required to have it launched when driving on league servers)
4. Launch IRG Tool, select series, select rFactor 2 directory (standard folder is located in \Steam\steamapps\common\rFactor 2\), and download all needed components.
5. Install downloaded content in rFactor 2 launcher ("Content").
6. You can join our servers trough IRG Tool or search it in rFactor 2 launcher by name of our servers, which you can find on the right side of our site.
(Don't forget, that IRG Tool is necessary when you drive).
7. Test, practice and choose championship you want to compete in (you can drive in both series).
8. Join selected championship on our forum:
- IRG FORMULA 2018 - http://irg-world.com/thread/988
- IRG PCH 2019 - https://irg-world.pl/thread/1104
9. In case of ony questions, you can ask on our forum, shoutbox, TS3 or site:
Welcome in IRG World and have fun :)


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Zoned Out
It's been a bit of a shock to me, but I don't really know where I live.
Well, I do know where I live, but I haven't really given it the thought a gardener should.
So, for the last couple of weeks 'Stand' by R.E.M. has been spining around in my head while I wander around the garden.
Stand in the place where you live
Now face North
Think about direction
Wonder why you haven't before.
Now stand in the place where you work
Now face West
Think about the place where you live
Wonder why you haven't before.
The sense of being a little lost has been exacerbated by popping around to various gardening blogs where the resident gardener confidently declares that they live in zone 5b or Zone 2 or maybe in a tropical zone or an arid zone. They all seemed to speak a common language.
Well, that's ok I thought – I can go and look up my plant hardiness zone then post it to my page and look like I've got a clue too. But this time I've really bitten off more than I can chew!
As it turns out, there doesn't seem to be a shared language on plant zones in Australia, at least not in the same sense that gardeners in other parts of the world might be used to. Instead plant hardiness zones seem to be a subject of quite a bit of debate.
If you are confused check with the sun
Carry a compass to help you along
Your feet are going to be on the ground
Your head is there to move you around.
Here is one model, courtesy of the Australian National Botanic Gardens that attempts to develop a system that can be related to that of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map This Australian model would have my garden in zone 3 which approximates to zone 9 in the US system. So, if I'm reading the map right, similar conditions to parts of Texas, Arizona, Florida, Mexico and, probably not surprisingly, California. We certainly have frequent bushfires in common with that State.
But most Australian information does not seem to refer to a numeric system, and the most commonly used guide seems to be a climatic division of around five zones, based on temperature and humidity However, I'm guessing that those serious about their horticulture take into account a much broader range of measures. Anyway, from this measure I deduce that I live in a temperate zone.
I have also heard my area referred to as a 'Mediterranean' zone and I think this is more of an attempt to relate to plant hardiness for the area and give us some clues as to what might do well in the garden. So, plant things that do well in Spain, the South of France and parts of Italy.
Thanks to an earlier post By Nell-Jean at Secrets of a Seed Scatterer I had already done a little homework to try to figure out where in the world I am gardening.
So I do know that I am at Latitude 38 degrees South. This puts me roughly on a line with Rotorua in New Zealand and Los Angeles in Chile. At this latitude I am far enough South to completely miss the African land mass.
How Climate Change impacts all of this is also the subject of great debate. We certainly seem to be getting hotter, drier and more prone to drought and devastating fires. Maybe not so temperate for much longer if the heat stress that my birches are starting to show is any measure.
So stand.
Of course all the above is what I have been able to glean as a naive gardener just starting to dip her toe into all the knowledge that is out there. I am always happy to be corrected and educated by those with wiser heads 🙂
Speaking of which, as the week is drawing to an end (and I'm recovering from my stage fright) I'd like to warmly thank Jodi from Bloomingwriter for featuring my blog as part of her weekly focus on new bloggers. It was delightful to be the recipient of such thoughtfulness and sharing!


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David Walliams, Frank Lampard, Ricky Gervais – to you and me well known names from the celebrity world but to my 8 year old son, authors of some of his favourite children's books. Now you can add to the list of famouses-turned-author, funny man David Baddiel. In fact Baddiel has been writing for many years but has only ventured into children's fiction more recently. Already a huge fan myself I need no convincing of his humour and brilliance but as we know, kids are the harshest critics and so on this occasion I've delegated the task of reviewing 'AniMalcolm' (Baddiel's latest) to my own little bookwork, Spud.
At first he thought the book looked a bit big compared to his usual reads but inside the text and illustrations are well spaced out and make this an easy read for him- he flew through the pages chuckling away to himself! He really enjoyed it and especially loved the idea of the main character being turned into all the different animals and experiencing life from their point of view! Two big thumbs up from this little bookworm.
"I loved it when he was turned into different animals!" – Spud Brown, 8 years
Check out the trailer below!
Spud is a regular reader and found this book easy to enjoy. He's already asked if there are any more AniMalcolm books so it looks like we have another Baddiel fan in the family! It's aimed at 7-11yr olds which I would say is ideal.
This is a sponsored post. We were kindly send a copy 'AniMalcolm' in return for our honest review.


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STAND! For Families Free of Violence is the only provider of comprehensive family violence services in Contra Costa County. We work to end domestic violence and child abuse ...
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One of the largest permanent HO scale layouts in the United States. 1,800 square foot layout with over 4,500 feet of track. Founded in 1947, we operated out of a shed by ...
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Walnut Creek CA 94597


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Then last summer, during our morning walk, I noticed the path was littered with fruit gunk. Looking up in idle curiosity, I was stunned to discover that we had been walking under sour cherry trees every day for seven years and I had never even noticed. Sour cherries are my central member of the fruit category. We had cherry trees in our yard when I was growing up, and we went to great lengths to pick (and pit!) the cherries for mom to make pie. But sour cherries just don't exist in the stores, so I hadn't had them for years.
We went back with ladders and picked quarts and quarts of the things. Handy tip for extending your reach when picking: bend a coat hanger so you can reach out with the hook to pull the branches closer to you.
I scoured recipe books and the Internet to decide what to make (aside from pie). Somewhere in my researches I happened across this post by the Yarn Harlot. Had never heard of her. Had never heard of knitting blogs. But was charmed by the writing and found a lot of useful information about cherries among the comments.
Still, it was another six months until I took up knitting again, and it wasn't even really the Yarn Harlot's fault I did. But it was indirect peer pressure. All the cool kids at work were knitting, and it looked like a fabulous thing to do during meetings. Then it was time for Christmas travels, when handwork is absolutely mandatory, so I bought some...crochet supplies. Crochet just seemed easier to manage. Easy to pick up and put down, no octopus wrestling. And it's all true. Crochet is very pleasing to do. I just couldn't like the results.
So I dug out the knitting needles and the leftover yarn. And wow, the Internet has changed everything. Knitting is so much more fun now. Everything you could want to learn. All the patterns your heart could desire. And smart, funny, wise, passionate people to help you along the way.
Cherry Harlotty Sherbet
(adapted from 1-2-3 Sherbet, from Arlene J Achterberg of Janesville WI - the original recipe called from strawberries, which are also very tasty)
4 cups fresh cherries, rinsed and pitted (More on pitting in a later post - short answer is Norpro Deluxe Cherry Stoner and dress to mess.)
1 1/2 cups sugar (The original recipe calls for 2 cups, but that was too sweet for me. If you're using very tart cherries, you might want to increase the sugar a little - whatever tastes good to you.)
2 cups buttermilk (I keep dry buttermilk on hand for baking, and that works just fine.)
an indefinable something else (With the ingredients above, the recipe is fantastic, even better than with the strawberries. However, it is not perfect. Which is odd, since the strawberry sherbet was perfect. But each fruit must be measured against its own standards, and my standards for cherries are very high. Preliminary tests suggest that almond extract or Amaretto is probably the missing ingredient when using cherries. I am also thinking of experimenting with toasted almonds, ground very fine. Please send me the results of any of your experiments.)
- Blend ingredients until smooth (I used a blender, but a food processor would probably work, too). Freeze until firm. The cherry skins will probably not be completely pureed, but I think they add some nice, subtle contrast. (Other family members think they're icky - ah well, more sherbet for me.)
- After the sherbet is frozen, break into chunks. Mash with a bean masher. (That's probably the ideal implement. I expect a pastry cutter would work, too. Or you might even be able to omit this step if you're using a standing mixer for the next step.)
- Using an electric mixer, beat until smooth. Freeze again until firm. According to Ms. Achterberg, this step is important for muting the buttermilk taste. I like buttermilk, so that wasn't a worry, but I do think this step is important for the texture.


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Kong Stuff 'N' Snacks with Liver flavour are ideal treats, made with high quality, natural ingredients.
Tantalising treats that can be used at anytime, specially designed to fit your dog's Kong toy. Made with a delicious flavour that is irresistible for most dogs. Perfect for stuffing Kong Classic, Extreme, Genius or Wobbler.
Size: Small
* We don't sell food to non-UK addresses. If you order food & non-food lines these orders will be shipped separately. A delivery charge will still be applied.
** Includes N.Ireland, Scottish Highlands, UK Offshore Islands, Isle of Man, Scilly Isles
UK, Channel Islands, N Ireland, Highlands and Islands - Standard delivery arrives 2-3 days after dispatch or for heavy parcels Courier next day after dispatch Mon-Thu.
Europe - Royal Mail International Services or Courier arrives 7-10 days after dispatch.
Express delivery arrives 1-2 days after dispatch or for heavy parcels Courier 1-2 days after dispatch Mon-Thu. Saturday delivery is not available.
24hr MON-FRI DELIVERY:
Non-Food - Light parcels, delivered Tue-Fri, signature required or for heavy parcels Courier next day Mon-Thu delivery after dispatch^.
Food Mainland UK - If ordered before 12pm, next day courier delivery.
Food Other UK - Two day courier delivery service.
^ Please note - Items usually dispatched within 24 - 72 hours. This is to factor in weekends or stock needing to be ordered in the next day, this time is in addition to the courier service you select at checkout.
Payment & Security Information


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Project Cars For Sale
Looking for a "Fixer Upper" this is the place for you!.Read More
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As you look through our website and browse the sections you will see an organized facility with quality techniques being performed on many different types of vehicles. Many of the projects we build are for clients who keep their vehicle for the remainder of their life and pass it on to their family to enjoy it with the same passion!
When building your dream ride with this criteria every detail is accounted for. This type of client will be polishing their pride and joy for many years to come so we want them to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we provided the highest level workmanship. If you have any questions, please call us at 540-328-0567 and we will be happy to answer them.


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Don't be the person who misses out on the next Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler or CJ McCollum because you hadn't heard their name before. This is the type of fantasy impact Warren can have on your team this year. Before we get to the numbers, if he is somehow still available on your WW, stop reading and pick him up ASAP!!
Check out more comments by u/MyGreatestFantasy
Some facts about TJ:
- TJ is currently ranked 10th overall in 9CAT through 5 games (although 2 of these games went to OT)
- TJ Warren is 23 and going into his third year. This is a prime time for a breakout, if one is going to happen
- TJ is a critical building block for Pheonix and they are going to give him a TON of run this year (as they already have in the first 5 games)
- TJ leads the Suns in FGA/gm (17.8, up from 9.4 last year)
- TJ leads the Suns in scoring (22.4 pts/gm)
- TJ shot 40% from 3 last year on 2.4 attempts/gm
- TJ is shooting a ridiculous 50.9% from the field in his first 3 years
- These are not all easy baskets, he has an excellent mid range game
- Here are a couple highlight reels from this season (courtesy of /r/nba)
- TJ's scoring thus far is not a fluke. He's shooting right at his career average, he's just getting a lot more run
- TJ is a reluctant 3P shooter, but a capable one. If he starts adding more 3's to his game, he value improves even more.
- TJ is chipping in 1.8 steals/36 this year, up from 1.2/36 in 2015. This to me is the biggest question in his stat line so far.
- TJ is averaging half as many assists/36 this year than last. His assists could come up to around 2/gm, although this is less likely since he is scoring more this year
- TJ averages only 1.2 TO/36. Nasty
- TJ is a career 74.3% ft shooter, but is up to 86.4% on 4.4 FTA/gm this year.
- The Suns have continuously put the ball in TJ's hands at the end of games. He had 2 and-1's in the final minute of regulation last night, to bring the game to OT against Portland. Granted, Bledsoe hit the game-winner in OT
- Booker and Warren are the future of this franchise. They are both going to get theirs. So far, Warren has won out.
- Booker is still shooting 16 FGA/gm, he's just not hitting them. Booker's presence does not mean there's no room for Warren
- Warren has a much higher career eFG% than Booker (53.4% to Booker's 47.6%). Naturally, the Sun's want to get both of these stars-in-the-making a ton of shots.
- Booker was out one game, but even when Booker has played, TJ still gets plenty of run
- Warren along with Myles Turner, are front-runners for MIP and Warren is making a damn good case so far
- Warren and Booker will take turns dominating the scoring, with some Bledsoe and Knight thrown in the mix
- Warren will maintain top-30 production in 9CAT and maybe even higher (in case this wasn't clear, he's ranked 10th so far :) )
So why is this sustainable? TJ is not shooting out of his mind, he's just shooting his career average (actually a little below so far). Naturally, efficiency drops when volume increases, so a slight drop in fg% is not unexpected. I think he will still maintain > 50% fg on the year, because his jumper is that damn good.
Join the discussion over at r/FantasyBBall


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Zondervan EBooks Lighten Load
Information technology has taken consumers to a new level of convenience as the Bible and other books are converted to an electronic format. Last year Zondervan began marketing its New International Version Bible as an e-book — and it became the best-selling book of 2002 on the PDA platform.
And, to make e-books even more available to the public at large, Zondervan is partnering with netLibrary and OverDrive to make its e-books available to libraries across the country.
"The idea is to say that if you want to read one book but then decide to switch to another one, you don't have to be carrying two books around with you, but just a small portable device which holds all of them," said Mark Hunt, vice president and associate publisher for new media at Zondervan.
Hunt admitted that even he likes the feel of a hard-bound book in his hands and the look of a nice leather-bound library, but he feels that the new electronic offering will be suited for a special demographic consisting of two groups of people.
He sees one user group as being those who already own a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a desktop computer and who would use e-books because it's less expensive than buying the real thing. The second user group he sees as being from the professional fields, using e-books as a reference tool.
"I have a friend who is a doctor and he has the Physicians' Desk Reference in his Palm because it is normally a very bulky book, and this way he can just look something up and get right there, or bookmark things to be used often or come back to," said Hunt. "I have also seen pastors who purchase the book but then have purchased the e-book to locate quotes and information for the sermon, and he is able to cut and paste right into his sermon."
And this is one key advantage of the program, said Hunt: the ability to bookmark pages, search for keywords or specific pages, and print pages or copy quotes to use somewhere else.
With the recent controversy on sharing copies of digital music and the way it has hurt recording artists and studios, the e-book developers had to make sure the same thing wouldn't happen to authors and publishers.
To this end, suppliers are working to create a distribution system known as digital rights management (DRM) technology that ensures protection for copyrighted material while making it easy for consumers to buy and enjoy these forms of digital entertainment.
"We have developed a way to wrap the security around it so the books cannot be duplicated," said Hunt. "You are allowed to designate a few different places you can access the software — for instance your PC and your handheld device."
When looking for an e-book Hunt suggests going to www.ebooklocator.com, where a consumer can type in the name of a book and find the locations where the e-book can be purchased. To purchase the book, Hunt gave the example of going to Amazon.com. Once there, all a visitor needs to do is type in the name of a book and choose the e-book format. Once the book is purchased, there is a link to download the book or copy it to a PDA. This is also the time the buyer has the opportunity to register three destinations of his choice to view the book.
"Behind the scenes of the transaction, at the end, the site notifies digital rights management and DRM makes sure the consumer can register three devices, but makes it secure so you can't beam it to someone else's PDA," said Hunt.
Beyond the purchase of e-books by individuals is the partnership between Zondervan, OverDrive and netLibrary that will make it possible for libraries to offer Zondervan's e-books to patrons.
Security will lie within the software the two companies provide, which allows libraries to add e-books to their collections, check e-books out to patrons via the library's Web site and check them back in again automatically at the end of the loan period, said Hunt. In addition, the system allows each e-book copy to be loaned to only one person at a time, in the same way that a print book is loaned.
Zondervan, OverDrive and netLibrary are currently working to implement programs with libraries across the country. The nation's first digital collection will launch at the Cleveland Public Library this month and it will be the first of its kind to offer best-selling titles for nearly every type of PC, notebook, Tablet PC, Palm, Sony and Pocket PC PDA device.
"The initial list of books Zondervan is offering in the e-book format is a wide variety and we don't assume what the public wants, so we are publishing a wide variety and then we will see what takes off. So far we have Bibles, kids' books, technical textbooks and novels," said Hunt. "Some books are being published only in e-books. This is something that is slowly picking up. We now have 10 to 15 percent of our books in e-book format. We hope that the libraries see the value in this and I think it will catch on slowly."


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ABWA - Northern Black Hills Chapter, Spearfish, SD 57783
ABWA - Northern Black Hills Chapter, Spearfish, SD 57783
Since 1980 - being there for you!
Commitee Responsibilities
Education Committee
One of ABWA's beliefs is that education is the key to helping women advance in the business world. Because of this belief, thousands of women have benefited from the generous assistance of ABWA Chapters. Chapter scholarship funds are raised through a variety of fundraising efforts in order to further the careers of women both locally and nationally. The education committee strives to meet the chapter scholarship goals. The success of the chapter fundraising project(s) will determine the amounts and number of awards.
Committee Responsibilities:
Informs the membership of seminars, leadership opportunities and other educational services. Develops written chapter scholarship eligibility requirements and chapter guidelines for scholarships. The committee will offer and present recommendations to the membership.
Stephen Bufton Memorial Educational Fund (SBMEF)
This is a national scholarship fund of ABWA. Its objective is to help women achieve their business or professional goals through education. SBMEF is named in memory of Stephen Bufton, son of ABWA Founder Hilary A. Bufton Jr. and Ruth H. Bufton.
Membership Committee
Membership growth and retention are the primary responsibilities of this committee. New members help keep chapters healthy, innovative, dynamic and productive. New members bring diversity to the chapter, more helping hands, more potential contacts for programs and scholarships, and many other benefits. Without new members, a chapter is destined to decline and eventually deactivate.
Committee Responsibilities:
- Promotes membership Growth.
- Enrolls New Members
- Carry membership applications
- Submit all applications and accompanying remittances to National Headquarters.
- Be sure that all information on the applications is complete.
- Order name tag for new member.
- Let treasurer know that new member has paid national dues so local dues can be collected.
- Provide information about the new member to the Newsletter Committee.
- Friendship Program - Be sure any sponsorship information is included on applications to ensure that sponsoring member receives Friendship Credits.
- Coordinates two membership campaign events fall and spring.
- Maintains chapter membership strength by retaining existing members and the addition of new members.
- Invites national members, prospective members and inactive members to attend chapter meetings.
- Maintains an accurate chapter roster and reports all status, name and address changes to National Headquarters. (Remove a member's name from the chapter roster only for nonpayment of national or chapter dues or by her request.
- Assists the Vice President in performing her duties as chapter host.
- Schedules orientation sessions for all new affiliates
- Recognize member's chapter anniversaries and birthdates. Send get well and sympathy cards to chapter members.
- Friendship Program – Recognize members who meet the national requirements of sponsoring new members.
Program Committee
What are members' interests and needs? It's important to determine this in order to have good program planning.
Committee Responsibilities:
- Conduct a survey of members to determine which programs were interesting and meaningful.
- Plans, selects and schedules educational programs/speakers for chapter meetings and other special events as required.
- Check newspapers, radio and television announcements for special events and speakers scheduled for the community.
- Contact speaker bureaus or public relations departments of colleges, large companies, hospitals, law firms and government agencies.
- Consider community agencies and resources, libraries, or other organizations, civic leaders and local personalities.
- Keep up-to-date on local historical sites, art galleries, performing arts, museums and recreational attractions.
- Find out what business agency or individual is selling the products or services that interest members. This may include: store owners, personal shoppers, travel agents, airline representatives, jewelers, authors, fitness centers, florists, interior decorators, real estate agents, insurance agents, investment brokers, accountants, tax preparers, book stores and music centers.
- Ask members to present programs or training modules.
- Once a speaker has been selected, asks for a biographical sketch for news releases and introductions.
- Introduces guest speakers
- Sends thank you note to guest speakers.
- Plans the time, place, reservations, food and other special arrangements needed for meetings or events.
- Notifies all members of the date, time, and place of each chapter meeting and special event through Newsletter Committee.
Publicity Committee
Publicity is a toll to attract attention to your chapter. It's an opportunity to receive public recognition. And it's a way to get important media coverage for upcoming events. Publicity helps chapters attract new members, reinforce present membership, generate corporate support, gain financial support for scholarship funds and build ABWA awareness in the community.
The key to a successful publicity effort lies in getting your news to the right people with a plan in mind. Show that your chapter deserves member, community and corporate support. It's performing a special service for members, scholarship recipients and working women in your area...
Committee Responsibilities.
- Make the public aware of chapter activities and member achievements through direct mail, personal contact, brochures, fliers, news releases, exhibits, marquees, posters, bulletin boards, newsletters, feature stories, and advertising.
- Sends promotional information covering national, chapter and member achievements and chapter activities to all appropriate media.
- Forwards major publicity coverage to National Headquarters.
- Lists or files information about the chapter with sources for potential member contact in the community, such as the local chambers of commerce or public libraries.
Newsletter Committee
A newsletter is the most effective communication tool among members. The objective of a bulletin or newsletter is to be informative, interesting and attractive. It can also be a great public relations and recruitment tool for chapters.
Bulletin/newsletter serves a multitude of purposes. They
- Announce the time and place of the next meeting.
- Stimulate interest in upcoming speakers and chapter projects.
- Encourage attendance.
- Introduce new members.
- Recognize accomplishments of chapter members.
- Streamline meeting through printed minutes, reports, agendas, and other information that allow members to come prepared to vote.
- Make employers aware of employee activities.
- Serve as an important networking tool.
Committee Responsibilities:
- Publishes the chapter newsletter and distributes it to chapter membership in an economical manner.
- Mails one copy to the chapter's district vice president and one to National Headquarters.
- Knows the regulations and judging standards governing newsletter competition at spring conferences and national conventions.
Fundraising Committee
Many chapters plan one annual fundraising project that nets the chapter thousands of dollars. Successful chapters tap the community for participants, funds, services, underwriting and supplies. Managing these projects develops valuable leadership skills and takes the burden of continuous fundraising off members, their families and friends. Community supported fundraising projects require foresight, good organization and member support.
Committee Responsibilities:
- Plans fundraising projects.
- Sets goals, plans early and organizes well.
- Presents its recommendations for all fundraising projects to the chapter membership for a majority vote.
- Carries out approved fundraising projects.
- Keeps detailed records of the project. Evaluates results and makes a written report with suggestions for improvement.
- Reviews the national liability policy. Each chapter is covered and chapter presidents have complete information.
- Presents a detailed report to the chapter. Expresses appreciation at the meeting and in the newsletter to all members who helped.
- Sends prompt thank-yous to contributing individuals and businesses.
- Uses the registration list to develop a mailing list for future projects or prospective members.
- Celebrates success. Having fun is essential to fundraising.
Special Committees
Auditing Committee
The Auditing Committee is responsible for auditing the records of the treasurer. This activity takes place during the final month of a treasurer's term, whenever a vacancy occurs, or when otherwise deemed necessary by the executive board. This committee is appointed by the president prior to the July meeting and consists of two or more members. The treasurer works with the committee in providing the materials necessary for the audit, but doesn't serve as a member of the committee.
The Auditing Committee obtains the following records from the treasurer to prepare for the audit:
- Checkbook (and savings account passbook or other records of financial assets, if applicable) and current bank statements(s).
- All bank statements received during the audit period.
- Journals of cash receipts and disbursements.
- Monthly reports prepared for chapter records.
In conducting the audit, the committee:
- Balances the checkbook (and passbook/records, if applicable) to the last statements(s) received.
- Examines records for the audit period.
- Balances cash accounts.
- Resolves any discrepancies and returns records to the treasurer.
Once the audit is complete, the committee prepares and presents a report to the membership, which votes to accept the report at the next chapter meeting. A written copy of the report, signed by audit committee members, is given to the secretary to attach to the meeting minutes and retain with official chapter records.
Nomination Committee
A three-member Nomination Committee is elected by majority vote of the membership no later than March 31. With the exception of the chapter president, any member on the active chapter roster is eligible to serve on the committee. Responsibilities include selecting a slate of one or more eligible candidates for each of the chapter offices and reporting the slate of candidates at the election meeting.
Nomination Committee Procedures
- Reviews the eligibility requirements and duties for chapter officers.
- Evaluates qualifications of all suggested nominees.
- Verifies that each suggested nominee is eligible to serve.
- Prepares a slate of one or more candidates for each office to be filled. If more than one candidate is submitted for an office, care should be taken to obtain equally qualified candidates.
- Contacts each nominee explaining major responsibilities and obtains her permission to place her name on the ballot.
- Follows chapter instructions on publishing or not publishing the slate of officers. If the chapter voted to publish the slate of officers, it provides a written copy to the newsletter chairman for publication or by other written communication to all chapter members.
- Secures the following supplies necessary for the election:
- Slips of paper and pencils to be used in balloting.
- Ballots may be printed in advance. Names of all nominees are listed under the proper office heading and a blank space is provided for possible write-in votes. Directions for the proper method of marking should be printed on the ballot.
- Sheets of paper to be used to tally and record the teller's report.
- Receptacle for ballot collection.
- Read the slate of candidates at the May election meeting. Gives a written copy to the presiding officer, along with the election supplies listed above.
Woman of the Year
Annually, each ABWA chapter elects one of its members for this award. Selection is based on the member's achievement in her field, education, community activities, and participation in the Association.
The president appoints the Chapter Woman of the Year Committee at last three months before the election month.
Committee Responsibilities
- Confirms with the president the meeting date for the Chapter Woman of the Year election.
- Prepares a committee report including the nomination and selection process, eligibility requirements and judging standards, as well as the deadline for submitting candidate application forms.
- Gives a copy of the Woman of the Year application to Newsletter Committee to reproduce in newsletter.
- Gives a committee report at the monthly meeting:
- Explains the top ten eligibility requirements and judging standards, and the chapter responsibilities.
- Establishes and publicizes to the chapter a deadline date for submitting Chapter Woman of the Year candidate resumes.
- Collects candidate application forms that meet the deadline.
- Verifies with the chapter membership chairman that each candidate is a member in good standing nationally and locally, and has met all eligibility requirements previously specified by the chapter membership.
- Selects two to three judges and provides them with the judging standards specified by the chapter membership. They review candidate resumes and select the top three candidates. The scores given to candidates by the judges are not to be revealed. The member with the highest score becomes the Woman of the Year.
- Announces the candidates at the Chapter Woman of the Year election meeting. (It is helpful to print the candidates' resumes in the chapter bulletin/newsletter before the Chapter Woman of the Year election meeting).
- Reports the name of the Chapter Woman of the Year to National Headquarters. Advises secretary to report the Chapter Woman of the Year to National Headquarters on the Monthly Meeting Report.
- Gives news release information to the Publicity Committee so local media can be notified about the Chapter Woman of the Year election.
Business Associate of the Year
One highlight for many ABWA chapters is a special event where each member can express appreciation to her employer or colleagues by inviting them to an annual event. This special event also enables members to:
- Continue strengthening the importance and achievements of businesswomen today.
- Recognize business associates and employers for their encouragement and support of career development.
- Show pride in the firms with which members are associated and the occupational fields in which they work.
- Acquaint the business associate with the value of ABWA and strengthen that associate's support of the members' ABWA activities.
Each year the Northern Black Hills Chapter shall select a Business Associate of the Year. Members nominate individuals by writing about the person(s) they believe have supported them or shown interest in their growth in the business world. The president appoints the Business Associate of the Year committee.
Committee Responsibilities:
- Confirms with the president the meeting date for the Business Associate of the Year election.
- Prepares a committee report including the nomination and selection process, eligibility requirements and judging standards, as well as the deadline for submitting Business Associate nomination forms.
- Gives a copy of the Business Associate form to Newsletter Committee to reproduce in newsletter.
- Gives a committee report at the monthly meeting:
- Explains to chapter members the top nomination requirements and judging standards, and the chapter responsibilities.
- Establishes and publicizes to the chapter a deadline date for submitting Business Associate nominations...
- Collects nominations forms that meet the deadline.
- Obtains a panel of three non-member judges to select a Business Associate of the Year.
Shining Star Award
A recognition honor for a relatively new member that has shown a keen interest in promoting our local ABWA Chapter through participation, interest and attendance. All active members of the chapter, who have a year or less local membership, are listed on the ballot. The total membership present at the meeting will vote. The member receiving a majority of the votes is the recipient of the Shining Star Award.
The president appoints the Shining Star of the Year Committee at last three months before the election month.
Committee Responsibilities
- Confirms with the president the meeting date for the Shining Star election.
- Determines who is eligible
- Verifies with the chapter membership chairman that each candidate is a member in good standing nationally and locally, and has met all eligibility requirements previously specified by the chapter membership.
- Prepares a committee report including a list of members eligible, selection process, eligibility requirements and judging standards, as well as the deadline for submitting candidate application forms.
- Gives a copy of the eligible members to Newsletter Committee to reproduce in newsletter.
- Gives a committee report at the monthly meeting and explains to chapter members the eligibility requirements and judging standards, and the chapter responsibilities.
- Secures the following supplies necessary for the election:
- Slips of paper and pencils to be used in balloting.
- Ballots may be printed in advance. Names of all nominees are listed under the proper office heading and a blank space is provided for possible write-in votes. Directions for the proper method of marking should be printed on the ballot.
- Sheets of paper to be used to tally and record the teller's report.
- Receptacle for ballot collection.
- Reads the list of eligible nominees at the election meeting. Gives a written copy to the presiding officer, along with the election supplies listed above.
- Gives news release information to the Publicity Committee.


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Gluten-Free Yorkshire Pudding
Gluten-free baking can be frustrating. Trying to adapt favorite recipes from my gluten-filled glory days isn't always as straight forward as it ought to be. I won't lie. Sometimes it can be really daunting. Just when you think you've finally gotten it right, there you are, throwing away another absolute disaster! Occasionally though, something serendipitous happens- a hunch proves correct and you get it right on your first try.
I can't take all the credit, since my mom did the cooking this time, but that's exactly what happened when I was down south visiting my mother over the holidays. We spoke a few days before I flew down and she was going over the menu for Christmas dinner: prime rib and Yorkshire Pudding (a bread that is similar to a popover). It has always been a tradition to have that meal on Christmas or New Years Day and every year out would come my mother's Betty Crocker Cookbook with the crumbling spine, worn from wear, and I'd watch as she poured the batter over the drippings from the meat, and slide the Yorkshire Pudding into the oven. Like magic, the bread would begin to rise and bubble and brown. I'd hurry everyone to the dinner table so we could eat before the "pudding bread" deflated. But this year (my first Celiac holiday season) my mother announced that she would have roasted potatoes for me instead. I knew that it would be awful to sit around and watch everyone else dig in to one of my favorite treats, so I begged her to try a gluten-free one for me! There was no time for experimentation, so I told her to simply replace the wheat flour in the recipe with gluten-free all-purpose flour and see what happens. It was worth a shot, so she gave it a try.
I'm pleased to report that this Christmas I watched my very own gluten-free Yorkshire Pudding bubble up and brown beautifully right alongside the original recipe, and that it tasted amazing. In fact, when my family had gobbled up the original and moved onto the GF version, no one could even tell the difference.
The perfect accompaniment for your next roast beef: Yorkshire Pudding.
Category: Blog | Tags: Entertaining, holidays, quickbread 2 comments »


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This past week, I had the opportunity to dive into piles of fossils at the exhibit hall at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco. I was up to my neck in trilobites, coprolites, and polished coral. I figured many of these would be a little too easy for you, especially the coprolites (no offense), but I did find some really interesting and unique ones that might challenge your brain a bit.
So, for this week's Fossil Friday, I am going to put a little bee in your bonnet, because this fossil is definitely buzz worthy! Can you guess who this high flier was? Can you guess when it lived? Where it was found?
Don't be a fly on the wall for this one. Answer in the comments below. First one to get it wins bragging rights for the week.


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noun : one who eats foods grown locally whenever possible
If you call yourself a foodie, or you know one, you've probably heard of the locavore movement. Rather than moving food across continents to market, locavores prefer local networks to provide product to consumers. The result is often higher levels of customer satisfaction, a sustainable local economy, and a stronger community identity.
Kingston Creative believes in a locavore economy, not just for food, but for all services and products.
We've spent most of our careers working for giant overlord corporations, but now, our mission is to use that expertise to help small businesses, entrepreneurs and organizations achieve their goals.
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Our thoughts
Visiting Rhinebeck's 18 Most Instagrammed Places
As part of our series on the most-Instagrammed Places in the Hudson Valley, we present Rhinebeck: known as "a town in Dutchess County." It's been home to a range of characters … Read More
Visiting the Town of Esopus NY's 10 Most Instagrammed Places
When we think about the Town of Esopus, NY 5 Hs come to mind: Hikes, History, the Hudson, and Headless Horseman. We pulled down a year's worth of Instagram posts … Read More
The 11 Hudson Valley Hikes That Get Googled The Most
Some people have mythical, trusted sherpas who can relay all of the details of different Hudson Valley hikes to them. For everyone else, there's Google, which leads to Mike Todd … Read More


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I'll admit it – I am my biggest distraction and I'm usually the one who slows me down when I'm trying to be productive and get things done. Can you relate to this?
With so many things at our disposal today such as the latest and greatest technology devices, social media or the internet, getting things done can be challenging especially if you're a busy business owner or entrepreneur.
While some things may be out of our control, there are certainly a lot of things we can control so that we can be focused when it's time to do our highest value work.
As busy business owners, we want to ensure that we get our best work done when it's time to do work. Here are seven simple ways that have helped me stay focused, get out of my own way and finally get things done so that I can add value to others and make a difference in a positive way.
- Know your one-two combination. This simply means you must be clear on the two most important things. First is why you're doing what you're doing and second is what your outcome is for doing what you're doing. Without knowing your why and what, it is a lot easier to get distracted, lose focus and end up wasting valuable time. Knowing these two things should be really clear before we do anything.
- Stop chasing perfection. Perfection is really the enemy of good enough. So often, we avoid releasing a product or hesitate to admit that we've completed something because we fear what we've done isn't good enough or others may judge or criticise our work. The truth is perfection doesn't really exist because anything can be made better or done better.
Perfecting is really a process, not an end state. If we are constantly chasing perfection, we really have nothing completed so it is better to have something done, get feedback from others, then make the necessary adjustments as needed to make it better.
- Avoid the comparison bug. If you stop and think for a moment, when was the last time you compared yourself to someone else and came out exactly the same? The chances are, you thought you were either better or worse off than them. In either scenario, all you succeeded in doing is to create separation from the person you were comparing yourself to. If you do want to compare yourself to anything or anyone, compare yourself to who you were or where you were.
As an example, I once had a conversation with a previous client of mine who was having challenges with setting up something that he wanted to do online. He complained that he was getting really frustrated with learning a particular online program and felt that he had wasted up to six hours and made no progress. I asked him if he was further ahead now than he was before he had supposedly wasted six hours. He acknowledged that he was even if he had only created an account with that online program.
Therefore rather than getting frustrated and think we should be further ahead because others are, it is a lot better to compare ourselves to where we were and continue making progress.
- Prioritise your actions. If the things we need to do aren't prioritised, then it is highly likely we will be working on things that may not necessarily be the most important things we need to do. Prioritising things will help minimise distractions, allow us to focus on what's the best use of our time at any given moment. Prioritising can simply be doing just one thing each day that will move a project forward in a big way. Another option can be to create a to-do list.
- Schedule uninterrupted focus time. It is becoming more and more widely accepted that we are much more efficient if we work in blocks of focus time and then have short breaks rather than trying to work for a long period without a break.
As an example, I like to work for about 50 minutes then take a 10-minute break where I will drink some water, do some stretches or visit the restroom. Taking that short break allows me to refresh, renew and refocus on what I am trying to accomplish.
- Take care of yourself. Self-care is so important when it comes to getting things done. It means ensuring we have regular breaks, as mentioned in the previous point, drink plenty of water throughout the day, have regular meals and reduce any build-up of stress where possible. The amount of self-care we have will influence how much we get done and how much more fuel we have left so that we can repeat it all again either the next day or whenever we chose to work again.
- Tune into how you are feeling. Our emotions play a huge part in how much motivation or drive we have. If we aren't feeling good, chances are we'll be slow, inefficient or unproductive. If we do feel good, then we're more likely to do our best work. Therefore checking in to see how we are feeling and being able to release any stress or negative emotions is a key step in being able to get things done.
Getting things done really comes down to how we manage ourselves, our environment and our schedule. The key thing to recognise is that is all starts internally. Our internal mechanism will dictate how we conduct ourselves externally. These simple ideas should help you avoid slowing down and finally get those things done that are important to you.
Question: What is another idea that can help us be more productive and get things done?
You can leave a comment by clicking here.


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Trekking in Sikkim
- Home
- Trekking in India
- Trekking in Sikkiml
The heart and soul of adventure activities, Sikkim is undeniably the land of thrill and excitement. Accompanied by the vibrant culture and the sacred air of Buddhism, Sikkim is drenched in the mist of diversity that breaks barriers. The lofty green-cloaked hills and the cascading stream of white water invite avid travelers to witness unparalleled beauty and majesty. Amongst the most preferred adventure activities in the state, trekking wins the majority of the accolades. Looking at altitudes and difficulties in despise, the trekking routes in Sikkim often lead to the most exhilarating lifetime experiences.
A proud part of the Indian Himalaya, Sikkim offers some of the best trekking trails in the country. Adding meaning to adventure, the trails in Sikkim are reckoned to be quite challenging. The easy treks like Sikkim Darjeeling trek and Yuksom-Dzongri-Goecha La trek challenges trekkers enough with altitude greatly varying between 2000m to 4940m. A perfect combination of easy and rigorous climbs and glide downs keeps the trekkers alert and thrilled throughout the trek. The sight of diverse flora and wildlife make this experience even more intriguing with of course landscape creating continuous awe and interest for trekkers.
The unbridled adventure in Sikkim seems to grow with treks keeping an upper hand at the difficulty levels. There are two moderate treks namely, Singalila Ridge & Goecha La and Green Lake that beguile enthusiasts seeking great adventure holiday in Sikkim. The two treks, with average elevation ranging from 2500m to 4800m, offer incredible trekking experience in the Sikkim Himalaya. These treks give one an opportunity to witness some of the most exclusive wildlife and get a glimpse of the great Indian Himalaya.
Tougher treks in Sikkim Himalaya require enormous guts leading further to glory. The high altitude treks like Sikkim Kanchenjunga trek and Kanchenjunga Base Camp trek can be whimsy, challenging trekkers to push their limits and competing like any human will. With Mt. Kanchenjunga as a highlight and average altitude ranging from 3500m to 5000m above sea level, the two treks define trekking adventure at its best. The rhododendron and magnolia strewn trek path that overlook the snow-clad mountains offer respite to the trekkers while they trudge ceaselessly on the strenuous yet beautiful trails. Sikkim Kanchenjunga trek and Kanchenjunga Base Camp trek can indeed be reckoned as few of the most unforgettable trekking trails in India.


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Posted: Sep 22, 2018
Emmitsburg, Md. (September 22, 2018) - The Mount St. Mary's women's rugby team suffered their first loss of the season to Notre Dame College, 45-7, on Saturday. Graduate student Julie Crochet scored the only try of the match for the Mountaineers and freshman Maya Grassi converted the kick after. Freshman Ubaida Ahmed led the Mount in tackles on the day.
Notre Dame College 45, Mount St. Mary's 7
Echo Field | Emmitsburg, Md.
Mount St. Mary's 2-1 (2-1 NIRA), Notre Dame College 2-1 (2-1 NIRA)
- The Falcons scored the only four tries of the first half to open the match on a 26-0 run. Saher Hamdan touched the ball down twice in the first half to lead Notre Dame College. Alyssa Riedel succeeded on three of the four conversion kicks after the tries.
- Julie Crochet broke away from the Falcon defense early in the second half and scored the only try of the day for Mount St. Mary's. Maya Grassi converted the kick after to cut into the Notre Dame lead, 26-7.
- The Falcons answered the Mount's try by going on a 19-0 run to end the match. Notre Dame's tries were scored by Anna Benko, Marcaya Bailous, and Ilona Zaishliuk while Alyssa Riedel picked up two more conversion kicks.
- Seven different players combined to score 45 points for Notre Dame College in the win.
Mount St. Mary's will look to bounce back next Saturday, September 29 when they welcome the U.S. Naval Academy for a match at 12 PM.


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Why PA has no set-theoretical model
We can define the usual order relation `' in PA so that every instance of the Induction Axiom schema such as, say:
yields the PA theorem:
Now, if we interpret PA without relativisation in ZF in the sense indicated by Feferman [1] — i.e., numerals as finite ordinals, as , etc. — then (ii) always translates in ZF as a theorem:
However, (i) does not always translate similarly as a ZF-theorem (which is why PA and ZF can have no common model), since the following is not necessarily provable in ZF:
Example: Define as `'.
We conclude that we cannot appeal unrestrictedly to set-theoretical reasoning when studying the foundational framework of PA.
Reason: The language of PA has no constant that interprets in any model of PA as an arithmetical set of all natural numbers, and so the order relation `' and the concept of `terminating finitely' over the numerals of PA in any model of PA cannot be taken to correspond as logically equivalent to the order relation `' and the concept of `terminating finitely' over the ordinals in any putative model of Ordinal Arithmetic.
Moreover, the preceding sections show that it is the Axiom Schema of Finite Induction of PA that does not allow us to bypass this constraint by introducing an `actual' (or `completed') infinity disguised as an arbitrary constant—usually denoted by or —into either the language or a model of PA.
The standard Gödelian representation of Goodstein's Theorem is not provable in PA
Since is recursive—where denotes the term of the Goodstein ordinal sequence —by a standard representation theorem [2] due to Kurt Gödel [3], is representable in PA by some formula .
One formalisation of Goodstein's Theorem in PA would then be the assertion that PA proves .
However any such proof would yield an algorithm that, for any natural number , would provide evidence that holds for some natural number , where is the interpretation of under a sound interpretation of PA over .
Since it can be shown [4] that there can be no such algorithm, we conclude that this formalisation of Goodstein's Theorem cannot be proven in PA even if every Goodstein sequence were to terminate finitely over .
Return to 1: Solomon Feferman. 1992. What rests on what: The proof-theoretic analysis of mathematics. Invited lecture, 15th International Wittgenstein Symposium: Philosophy of Mathematics, held in Kirchberg/Wechsel, Austria, 16-23 August 1992. http://math.stanford.edu/~feferman/papers/whatrests.pdf
Return to 2: Elliott Mendelson. 1964. Introduction to Mathematical Logic. Van Norstrand, Princeton, p.131, Proposition 3.23.
Return to 3: Theorem VII in Kurt Gödel. 1931. On formally undecidable propositions of Principia Mathematica and related systems I. Translated by Elliott Mendelson. In M. Davis (ed.). 1965. The Undecidable. Raven Press, New York., p.29.
Return to 4: See this earlier post
Author's working archives & abstracts of investigations


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MOSCOW, 3 SEPTEMBER 2015. — PJSC Aeroflot (Moscow Exchange ticker: AFLT) announces the results of today's Board of Directors meeting, which was chaired by Kirill Androsov.
The Board of Directors considered participation in other organisations.
Following a comprehensive discussion, and taking into account the social tensions surrounding the passenger air transport market, the extremely difficult financial position of JSC Transaero and the results of discussions at an interagency meeting chaired by First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov regarding Transaero, the Board of Directors decided that it was necessary to involve Aeroflot Group in the restructuring of Transaero.
To achieve this, the Board has directed the Company's management to develop proposals regarding the following urgent measures:
• The transfer of operational management of Transaero to Aeroflot;
• Ensuring corporate control over the restructuring procedure.
In accordance with the Russian Federation Government's directive, which was received on 3 September 2015, the tender offer from shareholders of Transaero was considered. The offer consists of an offer to sell at least 75% plus one share of Transaero within 24 days from the date of the offer at a price of no more than one rouble for the tendered shares.
The Board of Directors approved a motion to create a working group comprising members of the Committees of the Board of Directors and the Company's management to hold negotiations regarding substantial restructuring of Transaero's debt.
The Board also approved the appointment of Sberbank of Russia as financial adviser to the Company on the restructuring.
«In the whole time I have served as Chairman of the Board of Aeroflot this is undoubtedly the most important and significant decision that we have taken, and one that will be of transformational significance for Aeroflot,» Kirill Androsov said. «This decision is fully in line with our strategy and should facilitate the achievement of the key indicators set out in Aeroflot Group's Strategy to carry 70 million passengers a year and be a top-five European and top-20 global airline by revenue and passenger numbers by 2025. I have no doubt that the experience, knowledge and competence of Aeroflot's CEO, Vitaly Saveliev, will be a key factor in our success in achieving these goals.»
The meeting also defined the personnel and appointed the heads of the three permanent committees of the Board. Vasily Sidorov will head the Audit Committee, Igor Kamenskoy the HR and Compensation Committee and Roman Pakhomov the Strategy Committee.
The Board considered the procedure for organising the work of the Board of Directors of PJSC Aeroflot, and approved the plan of work for July 2015 to June 2016 (key issues).
The Board of Directors reviewed progress on the development of Aeroflot Group's regional carriers and instructed the Company's management to carry out additional cost management measures across the Group by updating the approach to its multi-brand strategy. Having reviewed the status of optimisation initiatives implemented at JSC Orenair, the Board decided that PJSC Aeroflot should purchase additional shares to be issued by JSC Orenair. The size of PJSC Aeroflot's stake in the authorized capital of JSC Orenair will remain unchanged at 100%.
The Board of Directors reviewed the status of establishing a unified treasury for Aeroflot Group companies. The unified treasury of PJSC Aeroflot, its subsidiaries and affiliates was established in accordance with the timetable approved by the Federal Property Management Agency and Board of Directors of PJSC Aeroflot, and in accordance with all deadlines contained therein. The Company is implementing the Federal Property Agency's recommendations concerning the key functions of the financial management of the company (Financial Management), including the creation of a unified treasury.
The Board of Directors considered and approved a number of related-party transactions which were concluded for the proper functioning of Aeroflot Groups unified treasury. The transactions aim to minimise financial risks and operating expenses, while maximizing return on investments of the Group's financial resources.
The Board of Directors approved the new organizational structure of the PJSC Aeroflot and the composition of the Management Board. Nikolai Altukhov, an advisor to the Deputy Director General of PJSC Aeroflot, was approved as Deputy General Director of Sales and Property Affairs and appointed as a member of the Management Board. Dmitry Galkin is no longer a member of the Management Board. Additionally, the Board of Directors resolved to place PJSC Aeroflot's Innovative Development Group under the supervision of the Deputy General Director for Customer Relations.
Media enquiries
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About Aeroflot
Aeroflot is Russia's flagship carrier and one of the largest airline groups in Europe. In 2014, Aeroflot carried 23.6 million passengers (34.7 million passengers as Aeroflot Group including subsidiaries), a record for any Russian airline. A proud member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance, Aeroflot and its partners serve 1,057 destinations in 179 countries worldwide. Aeroflot operates one of the youngest fleets in the world, numbering 163 Airbus, Boeing and Sukhoi airliners. Aeroflot is among the global leaders in aviation safety. The company's European Community Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft (SAFA) Index, which is the main globally recognized safety parameter, is comparable to global peers. The first Russian carrier to enter the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) register, renewing its registration for the sixth time in 2015, Aeroflot has successfully passed the IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) and is fully ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004 compliant. In 2015 Aeroflot was named by SKYTRAX as the Best Airline in Eastern Europe for the fourth time. Find more at www.aeroflot.com.