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The Negative Elongation Factor Complex – a poorly understood multi-faceted transcript-processing complex
Byron Baron1,2*
1Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta.
2Department of Biochemistry and Functional Proteomics, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Japan.
Corresponding author, Email: email@example.com
With the advent of whole genome screens, promoter-proximal pausing of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) has been shown to play a much more significant role in eukaryotic systems than previously thought. This type of transcription inhibition is dependent on the binding of the Negative Elongation Factor (NELF) complex which is composed of four sub-units, presenting unique domains and consequently fulfilling different functions. Numerous questions still surround the mechanism by which NELF is recruited, stabilised and dissociated from the RNAPII complex. Furthermore, not much is known about which other transcription stages the NELF complex is involved in and through which sub-units it carries out such functions. Based on the current knowledge of the role of NELF in transcription pausing, it is hypothesised that different interaction partners are required to direct context-specific functions of the NELF complex. This review covers some of the known roles and contexts in which NELF acts in an attempt to identify key questions for future NELF-dependent transcriptional research.
Keywords:Transcription inhibition, Negative Elongation Factor complex, promoter-proximal pausing, transcription regulation model, transcription factors
- The Negative Elongation Factor (NELF) is a multi-subunit transcription elongation factor
- The great majority of human protein coding genes exhibit promoter-proximal pausing of RNA Polymerase II (RNAPII) as a result of NELF action
- NELF can only bind to a pre-formed 5,6-Dichloro-1-β-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB) Sensitivity-Inducing Factor (DSIF)/RNAPII complex
- NELF is involved in multiple mRNA processing steps during transcription by interacting with different factors
- Transcription factors e.g. GAGA factor can recruit proteins involved in promoter-proximal pausing of RNAPII
The NELF complex
The Negative Elongation Factor (NELF) complex, originally isolated through its suppression of transcription elongation, is a multi-subunit transcription elongation factor composed of four sub-units: NELF-A (66kDa), NELF-B (62kDa), NELF-C (60kDa) or NELF-D (59kDa), and NELF-E (46kDa) [1-4] . NELF induces a process called promoter-proximal pausing of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) [5-7] .
NELF-A is encoded by the WHSC2 gene, a candidate gene for Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome – characterised by a distinctive craniofacial phenotype, growth and mental retardation, seizures and cardiac abnormalities [3,8-10] . Interestingly, the N-terminal segment of NELF-A shows sequence similarity to the hepatitis delta antigen (HDAg), which binds to RNAPII and activates transcription elongation, indicating that NELF-A mediates the interaction between NELF and RNAPII [3,7] .
NELF-B (also known as cofactor of BRCA1 – COBRA) has been reported to physically interact with the product of breast/ovarian cancer susceptibility gene, BRCA1 and computer analysis has shown that this interaction occurs between a coiled-coil structure in NELF-B and a leucine zipper motif in NELF-E [1,11] . It has been shown that NELF-B inhibits the growth of oestrogen receptor α (ERα) positive breast cancer cells in vitro [12] and that NELF-B expression is reduced in several established breast cancer cell lines [13] . A study of a cohort of breast ductal carcinoma samples from patients with known clinical outcomes revealed that a low level of NELF-B mRNA is associated with metastatic breast cancer [14] . In a different context, mice homozygous for a mutation in NELF-B have an inner cell mass deficiency and die at the time of implantation, providing evidence as to the critical role of NELF-B in early mouse embryogenesis [15] .
NELF-C and NELF-D are the least studied of the NELF sub-units. It is known that they arise from a common mRNA species through the use of alternative start codons [1] and that they are highly similar in sequence to the Drosophila protein TH1, which as yet has no known function. However no other functional information has been reported in the literature.
The structure of NELF-E is characterised by an N-terminal leucine zipper motif, a central domain rich in arginine and aspartic acid (Arg-Asp or R-D) dipeptide repeats (the RD motif), and a C-terminal RNA recognition motif (RRM). RRMs, which typically encompass 80 to 90 amino acids with two highly conserved elements called RNP1 and RNP2, often bind to RNA in a sequence- or structure-specific manner [16,17] . The RRM of NELF-E is capable of binding to various nascent RNA transcripts synthesised by RNAPII, and in so doing, repressing transcription [4] .
Promoter-Proximal Pausing
In yeast, RNAPII is typically distributed roughly uniformly across transcription units, suggesting a context in which RNAPII is not regulated after transcription is initiated [18] . However, in higher eukaryotes, RNAPII-binding is concentrated near the Transcription Start Site (TSS) of many genes, implying the action of a control process referred to as promoter-proximal pausing.
Promoter-proximal pausing of RNAPII is a mechanism that finely controls the levels of gene expression, as opposed to, switching gene expression on and off. This is brought about by the physically binding of 5,6-Dichloro-1-β-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB) Sensitivity-Inducing Factor (DSIF) to RNAPII, without affecting the catalytic activity of the latter, but creating a scaffold for NELF to bind to this pre-formed RNAPII/DSIF complex [2,4,7] . Transcription inhibition of RNAPII is alleviated by the recruitment of chromatin-specific transcription elongation factor Facilitates Chromatin Transcription Complex (FACT), together with the protein kinase Positive Transcription Elongation Factor b (P-TEFb), which through its Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (Cdk9) sub-unit binds to and phosphorylates the C-terminal repeat domain (CTD) of RNAPII and DSIF. Upon phosphorylation, DSIF is converted from a negative to a positive regulator of transcription, NELF is removed and RNAPII can proceed to produce full-length transcripts (Fig. 1) [2,7,20-25] .
Figure 1 Initiation – The transcription factor complex (TF Complex) binds to the promoter, recruiting RNA Polymerase II (RNAPII) to the transcription start site (TSS). DSIF, composed of two sub-units (Spt4 and Spt5), then binds to RNAPII and a short RNA strand begins to form. Pausing – The negative elongation factor complex made up of the sub-units Nelf-A, Nelf-B, Nelf-C/D, Nelf-E (A, B, C/D, E) is recruited to the TSS and hypothesised to be stabilised by binding to the TF complex. The RNA strand formed binds to the RMM domain of Nelf-E, blocking the elongation process. Elongation – A stimulus brings about recruitment of P-TEFb (CyclinT and Cdk9), which phosphorylates RNAPII and DSIF causing the dissociation of the negative elongation factor complex (A, B, C/D, E) and allowing the extension of the RNA strand, forming a full transcript.
In Drosophila, promoter-proximal pausing of RNAPII is present in approximately 10% of genes in early embryos and 20% of genes in adult S2 cells [26,27] , acting as a checkpoint to regulate transcription [28,29] . Even more so, in human embryonic stem cells, approximately 75% of protein coding genes exhibit promoter-proximal pausing of RNAPII, while only about half of these genes produce detectable full-length transcripts [30] .
Biological significance of NELF
The importance of NELF and promoter-proximal pausing of RNAPII is evident in response to intracellular and extracellular stimuli e.g. heat shock, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and oestrogen [31,37] NELF localises with RNAPII just downstream of the TSS of heat shock genes when they are not induced, where it collaborates with DSIF to establish promoter-proximal pausing of RNAPII, by associating with nascent RNAs, 20–60 nucleotide long [6,38,39] . Upon heat shock, activating factors trigger the release of RNAPII from its paused state, and there is a rapid production of full-length transcripts from Heat Shock Protein (HSP) genes [6,38,39] . A loss of NELF however, does not affect the rate of heat shock gene induction but instead delays the time taken for HSP transcription to decrease down to basal levels after the heat shock stimulus has ceased, implying that the presence of NELF somehow facilitates the dissociation of the transcription factor Heat Shock Factor (HSF) [40] .
NELF activity is also important during development e.g. in early Drosophila development, mutant clones lacking NELF-A or NELF-E either stopped developing before the blastoderm stage (displaying abnormal nuclear morphology) or during germ-band retraction (exhibiting head defects and incomplete dorsal closure). However, it appears that abnormal NELF has no effect on segmentation genes (e.g. eve, fushi tarazu, and sloppy paired 1) at the blastoderm stage [41] . NELF has also been shown to play a critical role in the neuronal development of zebra fish embryos [42-44] .
Other contexts involving NELF regulation include the attenuation of transcription levels of oestrogen-responsive genes following stimulation [12] , the attenuation of transcription levels of the immediate-early genes and the transcription factor junB, both before and after induction [5] , as well as the activation of paused genes involved in the immune response pathways in Drosophila in response to an immune challenge [45] .
Another set of external and internal stimuli to which promoter-proximal pausing might be applicable, but has not been studied so far, is that involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The redox systems involving thioredoxin (TXN) and glutathione (GSH) are linked to the transcription of a multitude of genes through their redox effect on transcription factors [46] . When cells experience oxidative stress due to excessive ROS, the response has to be fast and well-co-ordinated and having primed gene transcripts, as observed for the HSP genes, appears to be quite plausible.
NELF and cancer
NELF has so far been implicated in some forms of gastrointestinal and breast cancers. In cancers of the upper digestive system, both NELF-B and NELF-E have been found to be overexpressed [47,48] . In certain breast cancers, NELF-B plays a critical role, as it binds both BRCA1 and ERα. The NELF complex is recruited to the ERα-responsive promoters by ERα through binding with NELF-B.This results in the NELF complex attenuating ERα-responsive gene activation and oestrogen-dependent proliferation of breast cancer cells.Recruitment of NELF to endogenous ERα-responsive promoters has been shown to be greatly stimulated upon oestrogen treatment [12] . Thus NELF can be affected by dysregulated BRCA1, which is a co-repressor of ERα [49-51] and in turn affect the ERα–oestrogen signalling pathway in breast cancer development [52-54] .
Role of NELF in other transcription steps
With the emergence of a transcription regulation model, in which the mRNA processing steps of capping, splicing, and poly-adenylation are inter-related and occur co-transcriptionally, rather than independently and sequentially [55] , NELF-induced promoter-proximal pausing of RNAPII is thought to provide the conditions for co-ordinating proper transcript processing [6,12,55-56] in a step called elongation checkpoint control [57,58] . As a consequence of the intercalation of mRNA processing steps, certain proteins may play a role in different steps as is the case of RNAPII through changes in its phosphorylation state during capping, splicing, and poly-adenylation [59] .
The involvement of NELF in multiple mRNA processing steps during transcription is supported by the report that NELF associates with almost 50% of the most highly expressed Drosophila genes, but paused RNAPII is only found is a sub-set of these genes, indicating that NELF does not only fulfil the role of repressor of gene expression [60] . This is achieved through interaction with different factors.
One protein which displays a similar functional-flexibility to NELF is the nuclear cap binding complex (CBC), which was originally found to bind to the 5' cap structure of maturing RNA and facilitates its export [61] . However, it also influences the rate of RNA backbone cleavage steps during splicing [61] and has an additional role in 3' end processing [55,62] . Another similar example of a multi-functional factor is Cleavage and Poly-adenylation Specificity Factor (CPSF) [55] . NELF appears to interact with certain factors related to the mRNA 5' cap, since NELF-mediated repression of transcription is released following the recruitment of capping enzyme to the elongation complex [63] .
On the other hand, NELF and CBC appear to function together in the 3' end processing of histone mRNAs, since the knock-down of either NELF or CBC leads to the accumulation of a poly-adenylated (poly-A) form of the mRNAs of replication-dependent histones. This is highly unusual, as replication-dependent histone mRNAs, unlike replication-independent histone mRNAs and other general mRNAs do not normally end in poly-A tails [64] . In this process, NELF has been shown to physically associate with histone gene loci and forms distinct intra-nuclear foci, which often overlap with Cajal bodies and cleavage bodies. NELF interacts with CBC, most likely through association with the histone stem-loop binding protein (SLBP), preventing the aberrant production of poly-adenylated histone mRNAs [65] .
NELF appears to be also involved in the elongation phase. In fact, NELF can associate with the oestrogen receptor as well as other nuclear receptors to attenuate the level of induction of target genes indicating that NELF may be actively recruited by DNA-binding proteins to the elongation complex [12,66] .
NELF and the resulting paused RNAPII have been implied in the maintenance of histone modifications typically associated with active transcription, while preventing the formation of repressive chromatin both by excluding nucleosomes from the promoter region and by maintaining patterns of histone modification that are conducive to activation [67] .
NELF interaction with transcription factors
In addition to the basic complex, both trans-acting factors and cis-acting elements control transcription elongation by RNAPII [68,69] . Transcription elongation factors such as transcription factor IIF (TFIIF), TFIIS and elongin interact with RNAPII to prevent its pausing or to reactivate it from a paused state, while cis-acting elements are mainly located on nascent RNA transcripts. Some RNA elements cause RNAPII to pause or arrest without the aid of protein factors by forming structures that destabilise RNAPII-DNA-RNA complexes [68,70] .
The activity of transcription factors to recruit proteins involved in promoter-proximal pausing of RNAPII is exemplified by the recruitment of P-TEFb to gene promoters by the transcription factors Myc and NF-κB [71,72] , in addition to the existence of other mechanisms involving indirect association with acetylated histones via the chromatin reader, bromodomain-containing protein 4 (Brd4) [34] , or association with a mediator kinase like cyclin-dependent protein kinase 8 (Cdk8) [73] .
The involvement of transcription factors in the promoter-proximal pausing of RNAPII by NELF (and DSIF) is best characterised in the association of GAGA factor with 39% of the Drosophila gene promoters that are bound by NELF [60] . Transcription control of the Drosophila HSP70 gene is one of the best studied [6,74] . Induction of the HSP70 gene after heat shock, relies on the binding of the transcription factors, GAGA factor and HSF, upstream of the core promoter region [75-77] . This mechanism involves the binding of GAGA factor before heat shock, which results in the pausing of primed RNAPII, and then following heat shock, HSF is induced into binding with the primed HSP70 promoter [36,75,76] . This leads to the recruitment of P-TEFb to the HSP70 promoter, which removes the NELF-mediated inhibition [33] . Interestingly, the HSF activation domain appears to be unable to activate transcription without the prior action of the GAGA factor [78] .
It has been proposed that during initiation the GAGA factor acts by recruiting TFIID, (and possibly the chromatin nuclear remodelling factor (NURF), and the histone chaperone FACT) and establishing a nucleosome-free region that allows access of the transcription machinery to the promoter [79-81] . The resultant promoter-proximal pausing of RNAPII following GAGA factor initiation is hypothesised to be a default outcome of the inability of this transcription factor to overcome the action of NELF, since it is not able to recruit P-TEFb to the RNAPII complex [60] .
In higher eukaryotes, it might be possible for transcription factors recognising a similar motif to fulfil such a role. One possible candidate might be the E26 Transformation-Specific (ETS) protein family, which is characterised by a DNA-binding winged-helix-turn-helix domain that binds to purine-rich sequences containing a 5'-GGAA/T-3' core motif [82,84] . ETS transcription factors act at specific promoters via protein-protein interactions, and as a result can function as either activators or repressors of transcription. Of this family, one of the members that might be of special interest is E4TF1-60, due to its ubiquitous presence, action on TATA-less promoters and unique characteristic of forming obligate heterodi- or tetramers with E4TF1-53 depending on the presence of single or tandem ETS consensus motifs within promoters [82-87] . One way this transcription factor obtains promoter specificity is through the positioning of single E4TF1-binding sites adjacent to the binding sites of other transcription factors such as Sp1 [88] . Post-translational modifications further modulate the transcriptional activity by affecting stability or binding strength (Baron, 2014b). Thus, such a transcription factor or the complexes it forms could either recruit or stabilise the NELF complex through interaction with one of the sub-units, enabling promoter-proximal pausing of a response-specific group of genes.
The available data suggests that the NELF complex is crucial in the priming of genes that respond to various stimuli through promoter-proximal pausing of RNAPII, which thus allows for a rapid response to changes in cellular conditions such as in the case of heat shock. This opens a whole new perspective into different groups of response genes and of particular interest is the oxidative-stress context since this might help provide insight into the response of cancers to increased intracellular ROS levels. However, as part of the transcription regulation model, NELF, like other transcription-related factors plays multiple roles and participates in multiple steps throughout the process of transcription. Each sub-unit has unique protein domains which can fulfil different functions in distinct stages of transcription. Moreover, NELF interacts with other factors, to specifically target such processes. As shown by GAGA factor in Drosophila, ubiquitous mammalian transcription factors such as ETS family transcription factors might be involved in the recruiting or stabilisation of the NELF complex during transcription suppression.
Multiple questions arise from the current knowledge on the NELF complex: Does the NELF-E RRM encode an important function other than RNA binding? How is the NELF complex recruited to the TSS of specific genes? To what extent do transcription factors control the initial association of the NELF complex with the elongation complex? Are transcription factors involved in promoter clearance of NELF in response to context-dependent signals/stimuli? Can oxidative stress lead to the release of NELF and initiation of transcription activation in a subset of genes? Is NELF regulation achieved by the association of one or more of the NELF sub-units with trans-acting factors or cis-acting RNA elements? With more focus on the interactions, domains and activities of the separate NELF sub-units, a better understanding of the roles of these proteins in the transcription process can be achieved. This has significance both academically and clinically as transcription control can be a therapeutic target for various cancers.
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- Izaurralde E, Lewis J, McGuigan C, Jankowska M, Darzynkiewicz E, et al. (1994). A nuclear cap binding protein complex involved in pre-mRNA splicing. Cell , 78(4): 657-668.
- Flaherty SM, Fortes P, Izaurralde E, Mattaj IW, Gilmartin GM (1997). Participation of the nuclear cap binding complex in pre-mRNA 3' processing. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A , 94(22): 11893-11898.
- Mandal SS, Chu C, Wada T, Handa H, Shatkin AJ, et al. (2004). Functional interactions of RNA-capping enzyme with factors that positively and negatively regulate promoter escape by RNA polymerase II. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A , 101(20): 7572-7577.
- Marzluff WF (2005). Metazoan replication-dependent histone mRNAs: a distinct set of RNA polymerase II transcripts. Curr Opin Cell Biol , 17(3): 274-280.
- Narita T, Yung TM, Yamamoto J, Tsuboi Y, Tanabe H, et al. (2007). NELF interacts with CBC and participates in 3' end processing of replication-dependent histone mRNAs. Mol Cell , 26(3): 349-365.
- Sun J, Blair AL, Aiyar SE, Li R (2007). Cofactor of BRCA1 modulates androgen-dependent transcription and alternative splicing. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol , 107(3-5): 131-9.
- Sun J, Li R (2010). Human negative elongation factor activates transcription and regulates alternative transcription initiation. J Biol Chem , 285(9): 6443-6452.
- Uptain SM, Kane CM, Chamberlin MJ (1997). Basic mechanisms of transcript elongation and its regulation. Annu Rev Biochem , 66: 117-172.
- Conaway JW, Shilatifard A, Dvir A, Conaway RC (2000). Control of elongation by RNA polymerase II. Trends Biochem Sci , 25(8): 375-380.
- Nudler E (1999). Transcription elongation: structural basis and mechanisms. J Mol Biol , 288(1): 1-12.
- Rahl PB, Lin CY, Seila AC, Flynn RA, McCuine S, et al. (2010). c-Myc regulates transcriptional pause release. Cell , 141(3): 432-445.
- Barboric M, Nissen RM, Kanazawa S, Jabrane-Ferrat N, Peterlin BM (2001). NF-kappaB binds P-TEFb to stimulate transcriptional elongation by RNA polymerase II. Mol Cell , 8(2): 327-337.
- Donner AJ, Ebmeier CC, Taatjes DJ, Espinosa JM (2010). CDK8 is a positive regulator of transcriptional elongation within the serum response network. Nat Struct Mol Biol , 17(2): 194-201.
- Wu CH, Lee C, Fan R, Smith MJ, Yamaguchi Y, et al. (2005). Molecular characterization of Drosophila NELF. Nucleic Acids Res , 33(4): 1269-1279.
- Lee H, Kraus KW, Wolfner MF, Lis JT (1992). DNA sequence requirements for generating paused polymerase at the start of hsp70. Genes Dev , 6(2): 284-295.
- Shopland LS, Hirayoshi K, Fernandes M, Lis JT (1995). HSF access to heat shock elements in vivo depends critically on promoter architecture defined by GAGA factor, TFIID, and RNA polymerase II binding sites. Genes Dev , 9(22): 2756-2769.
- Lis JT, Wu C. (1994). Transcriptional regulation of heat shock genes Conaway RC and Conaway JW (ed.), Transcription: mechanisms and regulation. Raven Press, Ltd., New York, NY, p. 459-475.
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- Giot L, Bader JS, Brouwer C, Chaudhuri A, Kuang B, et al. (2003). A protein interaction map of Drosophila melanogaster. Science , 302(5651): 1727-1736.
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Recently, our neighbors received a water bill insert full of the city's upcoming environmental event and recycling collection dates – but we made a mistake.
The late-summer electronics and Styrofoam collection is set for 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 25. The insert listed the wrong date. This collection will take place at the Department of Public Works, 150 S. Kendall St.
We apologize for the error, and hope to see you on Aug. 25. See the entire list of this year's event dates on the city's website, battlecreekmi.gov/environment. Under the Environmental Services tab on the left, click Important Dates.
The Aug. 25 collection is open to anyone living in Calhoun County, and will collect the following:
Any neighbor or business with a large quantity of materials should contact directly an electronics recycling company for proper disposal. This collection is for residential electronic waste only, and fees will apply for large quantities brought to this collection without proper notice.
All materials must be clean to be accepted at this event. We look forward to seeing you, and your recyclables!


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The revolution in technology has made life very easy. Today, it isn't mandatory for you to visit a physical pharmacy whenever you need to purchase pharmaceutical drugs such as Klonopin. It's possible to buy online while comfortably sitting in your office or home.
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It's commonly used in the prevention and/or treatment of seizures, akathisia (a movement disorder) and panic disorder. The tranquiller is classified under the benzodiazepine class. You can also use it as recreational drug.
It was first patented in 1964. In the United States of America, the drug has been used since 1975.
Doctors prescribe Klonopin to patients who suffer from one or more of the following medical conditions; seizures, anxiety disorders (e.g. panic disorder and social phobia) and muscle disorders such as restless leg syndrome, alcohol withdrawal syndrome, bruxism, spasticity, rapid eye movement as well as chronic and acute akathisia caused by neuroleptics.
You can also buy the drug if you have been diagnosed with mania, acute psychosis, sleep disorders or hypereklexia.
The pharmaceutical drug works by forming bonds with the benzodiazepine site of GABA receptors. This augments electric effects of GABA bonds with the neurons, thus causing an enhanced inflow of chloride ions inside the neurons. As a result, transmission of synaptic across the CNS (central nervous system) is effectively inhibited.
If you use cheap Klonopin, you may experience side effects such as drowsiness or motor impairment.
Improper use of the drug can cause confusion, cognitive impairments (hallucinations, anterograde amnesia and short term amnesia), irritability, impaired motor function (improper coordination and balance), aggression, loss of libido, psychomotor agitation and/ or lack of motivation.
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Disney 'Round the USA and Canada -- Saturday April 30, 2011
Deb Wills is off on another adventure -- this time starting at Disneyland in California, then cruising on the Disney Wonder to the Pacific Northwest and Canada (Vancouver), followed by the first Disney cruise to Alaska! She'll be sending photos via Twitter along the way (you can follow her @AllEarsDeb) as much as she is able to -- but for those of you who don't use Twitter, I'll (that's me, Deb Koma) will be reposting some of the photos here in her blog so you can follow the journey.
Here are some of the photos Deb posted on Saturday, April 30.
You can see these and all of the rest of the photos Deb is sending on her Twitpic.com account HERE.
Amazing redwoods! at Muir Woods
Heading over Golden Gate bridge on way to Muir Woods


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Archive for category Book Reviews
Amazon Thinks I'm a Pantheist
Posted by Allen White in Book Reviews on May 16, 2017
By Allen White
I am not a Pantheist, regardless of what Amazon thinks.
A lady called me a couple of years ago and asked if I was "Allen White." Naturally, I responded, "Yes." She went on to say how much she loved my book. At the time, I hadn't written a book. I explained my confusion. She then asked if I was the Allen White who wrote God Is All. I told her I was not, and we ended our conversation.
Now I was curious. Allen White the Theist (Monotheist, Trinitarian Allen White, to be exact) needed to see what Allen White the Pantheist was up to. I did a search and ordered a copy of God Is All, by Allen White (the Pantheist). It was a small, self-published paperback written by an Allen White from Kentucky. My family lived in Kentucky a few generations back, so who knows, maybe this was a distant cousin. If we traced the family tree back far enough, Pantheist Allen White would probably say we were also related to the tree itself.
I really didn't think much about Pantheist Allen White until last week. I discovered that Amazon had linked my book, Exponential Groups, to the author profile of one Pantheist Allen White. Great, now my potential audience thinks I'm forming groups with people and chairs and coffee tables as members. Churches will have "home groups" because the home is also a member of the group!
My publisher snapped into action and contacted Amazon ASAP. Theist Allen White's book was unplugged from Pantheist Allen White's author profile. Heresy was overted.
Maybe I should have published as "Rudolph," my first name and also the name of a certain reindeer. <Sigh>
If you're interested in Exponentials Groups: Unleashing Your Church's Potential by Theist Allen White, please check out the endorsements and reviews at exponentialgroupsbook.com.
My Interview with Doug Fields on Intentional Parenting
Posted by Allen White in Book Reviews on March 22, 2016
By Allen White
This is my interview with Doug Fields, the author of Intentional Parenting. Doug serves as the Executive Director of HomeWord's Center for Youth/Family at Azusa Pacific University, co-founder of downloadyouthministry.com, and the author of more than 50 books. He previously served on staff at Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, CA with Rick Warren, and South Coast Community Church (now Mariners Church). Doug is currently a Teaching Pastor at Mariners Church, Irvine, CA with Kenton Beshore.
Intentional Parenting is a resource for Couples, Small Groups, or Classes based on Doug's 10 Actions for parents as described in the video). The curriculum includes a DVD teaching video, an individual workbook, and a downloadable discussion guide. As of March 2016, we are looking for churches willing to pilot the Intentional Parenting curriculum with groups, classes, or groups of friends. Space is limited to the first 50 churches who register. For more information on the pilot: allenwhite/org/ip-pilot
Please forgive the recording. It did not come out quite as well as I had hoped, but the Doug's content is solid. So, maybe listen to this and not watch it!
If you are interested in joining the Intentional Parenting Pilot: https://allenwhite.org/ip-pilot
If you have any questions, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com
Why I Hate Joe Myers' Book
Posted by Allen White in Book Reviews, Small Group Strategy on April 16, 2015
By Allen White
This post is from the archives. Joseph Myers tells me this is the most popular review of his book on Amazon.com. He's sold over half a million books. I think I helped a little.
My family spends a week each year in a quaint old farmhouse with no television. "Quaint" and "TV" don't really fit. I always bring a variety of books just in case one of them ends up being a dud. This year I brought a John Grisham novel (it doesn't matter which one–they're all the same); In Love and War by James and Sybil Stockdale (Jim Collins just mentioned it one too many times); and The Search to Belong by Joseph Myers (which was on Carl George's nightstand).
Joe Myers' book was the first book of the week. I enjoyed his writing style, well, until I actually began to pay attention to what he was saying. Then, it just made me mad. In mid-paragraph I would stop reading to myself and begin to read the book aloud to my wife. "Listen to this guy: Joe Myers says, 'A church of small groups? Sounded like forced relational hell to me'" (page 10).
"Exactly," my wife responded.
"You, you can't say that. I'm the Small Groups Pastor. You can't say that." This was a matter of job security. The last thing I needed was bad P.R. from my co-leader and spouse.
I continued to read much like I watch Christian television or slow to see the wreckage of a car accident. With each page turn I anticipated that this guy would finally hang himself. What exactly was he getting at? What was his agenda? Did he envision the church as some sort of YMCA-like gathering place where belonging overshadowed belief?
The more I read, the more irritated I became. Jesus didn't commission us to go into the world and connect people. Yet, Joe Myers so much as invalidated "fully-devoted followers." What about Acts 2:42?!!
This book that I loved to hate gave me a key insight: Everyone in our congregation WAS already connected. Maybe not to each other, but they were all connected to somebody: a family, friends, co- workers, neighbors, and other church members. My job changed with one epiphany: I no longer needed to connect the unconnected. I just needed to invited folks to do a 6-week DVD-based Bible study with people they were already connected to. How simple is that?
I'm pleased to say that in our Fall campaign this year, just over 1/3 of our groups were formed exactly this way. Each week a group of friends, co- workers or neighbors are gathering in a home, a break room, even on a train and studying God's Word.
Thank you, Joe Myers for writing the book that I love to hate.
Community is Messy by Heather Zempel Pre-review
Posted by Allen White in Book Reviews on September 13, 2012
I've just started reading Community is Messy: The Perils and Promise of Small Group Ministry. I promised to have a review out about a week ago, but I'm finding I just can't rush through this book. It must be savored. Heather approaches the topic in such a unique way, I've decided to take my time and allow it to challenge my presuppositions of group life.
Right out the gate, Heather points out how the early church was a mess. We have the biblical evidence to prove it. Granted, they were new at this, but after 2,000 years, I don't know whether the church has improved so much. The only exception is we might be better at hiding or avoiding our messes.
For many pastors, mess equals failure. This book challenges that notion, in fact, mess might just equal progress.
Thank you, Heather, for writing this open and honest book on group life. I will continue to savor it and will have a review out in due time.
Small Groups with Purpose by Steve Gladen
Posted by Allen White in Book Reviews on August 16, 2011
Reviewed By Allen White
When you look at the success of groups at Saddleback Church, it would be easy, though cynical, to assume that you can only achieve that number of groups if they are an inch deep and a mile wide. After observing and participating in the ministry of Saddleback for the last 18 years, I have discovered that Saddleback is both deep and wide.
They cast a broad net to recruit small group H.O.S.T.s and to connect their members into groups. Today, Saddleback has over 3,500 small groups with more folks in groups than in their weekend services. This is due in large part to their small group champion, Rick Warren, the founding pastor of Saddleback Church. A God-given idea and Pastor Rick's influence produced 2,000 new group hosts in their first 40 Days of Purpose campaign. His influence is huge in connecting people into groups. But, connecting and sustaining are two different animals.
Steve Gladen in Small Groups with Purpose outlines a success story not just for retaining numbers, but for life transformation and leadership development. Having run many successful church-wide campaigns myself, I know that it's easy to create a spike in groups during a campaign, but helping those groups to continue is another animal. In this book, Steve Gladen outlines a powerful strategy for gaining and maintaining momentum.
Coaching and training are Saddleback's keys to effective group leaders. Steve presents a unique coaching strategy. Community Leaders, rather than coaches, serve 20-25 groups leaders. This system works due to a key insight: not every group leader needs the same level of coaching. By determining whether the group is new, growing, mature or stubborn, community leaders offer an appropriate level of care. This is good news for churches who have yet to develop a healthy coaching structure, in that, existing groups have learned how to get along good enough without a coach. New coaches can focus on new leaders, and essentially serve existing leaders by benign neglect.
In the book, Steve Gladen articulates a proven strategy for starting and sustaining new leaders. At Saddleback, H.O.S.T.s start with the experience of leading a group for six weeks, then they are introduced to training. After leading for a few weeks, the training is more meaningful to the new leaders and can be directly applied to their group. Churches often make the mistake of over-training before a leader even starts to lead. If the prospective leader can survive the training, then they can lead a group. In my opinion, over-training actually reflects more of the small group pastor's insecurity and need for control rather than adequately preparing members to lead. Community Leaders provide the help that new leaders need at Saddleback. Having someone in the new leader's life is far more significant than endless hours of training up front.
Another outstanding strength of Saddleback's training system is the intentional, on-going training pathway. Once leaders have completed Leadership Training 1, they receive care from their Community Leader and are offered on-going training that is appropriate to their skills and experience. The genius of this system is that all of the leaders start Leadership Training 2 with the third module, Health, then proceed to future modules based on their needs and experience as a leader. Custom, just-in-time training is key to serving new leaders and keeping their interest and participation in training. Cookie cutter, "one size fits all" training is a relic of the past. No small group pastor should blame their leaders for not attending training. If you're not scratching where they itch, it's on you.
Balancing the five biblical purposes produces healthy group members. While many churches develop groups that specialize in fellowship or Bible study, these types of groups focus on meeting the needs of the group members, but don't necessarily produce well-rounded disciples. Then, you wonder why groups are unwilling to help in starting new groups or won't reach out to others. It's all about them. Why do they need to create any discomfort for themselves?
The Health Assessment helps both groups and individuals to identify their strengths and growth areas. More importantly, the Health Plan helps them create appropriate next steps for their growth. Whether the members are ready to crawl, walk or run, growth is determined at their own place and pace. No one expects a baby to get up and start running. No one should expect a mature adult to revert to crawling either.
Balancing the five biblical purposes is key. While most groups and group members will be strong in fellowship and discipleship, they will more than likely be weak in worship, ministry and evangelism. Rather than creating a group of comfortable, Bible eggheads, balancing the purposes challenges the group to think beyond itself and to get everyone's gifts in the game of reaching out and serving others. Groups that grow inward will cease to grow both numerically and spiritually. The mere accumulation of knowledge is actually a waste of everyone's time if they don't seek to apply God's Word in practical ways and to support each other in the transition.
The best part of Small Groups with Purpose is that the model Steve Gladen presents is scalable. The system that helps Saddleback effectively care for thousands of groups and tens of thousands of group members will also help a church with a handful of groups and a few dozen members. In my work at Lifetogether and Purpose-Driven coaching hundreds of pastors across the country, I have seen these principles work in churches of all sizes, in all regions of North America, and in practically every Christian denomination. Whether your church has 40 members or 40,000, the principles offered in this book will help your church grow both numerically and spiritually.
Purchase your copy of Small Groups with Purpose here.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and Baker Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Related Books:
Connecting In Communities by Eddie Mosley
Posted by Allen White in Book Reviews, Leadership, Spiritual Growth on August 13, 2011
You'll have to wait until Tuesday, August 16, 2011 for the review of Steve Gladen's book, Small Groups with Purpose.
Win $600 in DVD Small Group Curriculum
Posted by Allen White in Book Reviews on July 20, 2011
The contest has now ended. Instructions were left to give context to the comments below. Thanks for entering. Congratulations to Dan Brubacher. His curriculum reject, "What's That? A Biblical Look at Infectious Skin Diseases" cracked me up.
My friends at only144.com are offering my readers a chance to win $600 in curriculum. Let's have fun with this. Create a title for a study that no one would ever publish. If you can make me laugh out loud, then one humorous reader will get the whole shebang. Here's what you will win:
How is your love life? Think it could or should be better? Married? Single? College Student? No other area of our life impacts our quality of life more than this one. It can lead us to the best of times and for many of us it has led to the worst of times.
The LoveLife Conference is a 6 hour investment into your present situation, your future and truly even your kids and grandkids. One of, if not the most important role we can play with our kids is giving them a happy and well-adjusted home, and that starts with a healthy marriage. An ounce of prevention is most certainly worth more than a pound of cure.
LoveLife features best-selling author, Pastor and International Christian Leader Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle. With The Bible, primarily the Old Testament book of Song of Solomon as Pastor Mark's guide, he will teach us with humor, candidness and grace, God's design for Love, Dating, Marriage and Sexuality.
Our LoveLife events are designed for anyone 16 years or older, both married and single. God's direct teaching on this subject will be convicting where needed, full of grace and forgiveness, and filled with tons of practical advice straight from the Giver of Love and Romance, God Himself.
Philippians by Matt Chandler
Join Matt Chandler, Teaching Pastor of The Village Church in Dallas, TX, as he walks us through this most intimate of all Paul's letters and paints a beautiful picture of what it is to be a mature Christian.
The story begins in Philippi where Paul introduces three individuals that were all enslaved by the kind of things that we often choose over the gospel: Lydia, the Business Executive, The Little Slave Girl, and The Hard Working Jailer
Their lives portray dysfunction and emptiness, but are totally transformed by the Gospel. True joy and Christ's love begin to live within them, giving them a life of purpose. In fact, Paul himself was enslaved and then by God's grace and mercy he could pen these popular and profound words: To Live is Christ and to Die is Gain. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Song of Solomon by Tommy Nelson
Used and loved throughout the world, the Song of Solomon series teaches the Biblical design for relationships. For both singles and married couples, this exegetical study follows Solomon's relationship from attraction to dating and courtship, marriage and intimacy to resolving conflict, keeping romance alive, and committing to the end. This 10th Anniversary Edition (released in 2005) updates Tommy Nelson's original study with updated teaching and added features.
Here's How to Enter and Win: (This Contest has Ended).
- Leave a comment below. Leave your humorous (but appropriate) never-published curriculum title below. (Comments on this blog are moderated, so don't worry if your comment doesn't appear immediately.)
- Tweet a link to this post. If you don't have a Twitter account, you can use Facebook. For example: Win $600 in Small Group studies just by being funny: http://wp.me/p1qrsD-gv #only144
Review: Connecting in Communities by Eddie Mosley
Posted by Allen White in Book Reviews, Small Group Strategy on April 19, 2011
By Allen White
Connecting in Communities is smart on many levels. Eddie Mosley gives us not just the 'what', but also the 'why' and 'how'. He is not a philosopher or a demagogue. He is a practitioner with a heart for God and a heart for people. You can tell that Eddie didn't write this book merely to sell books. He has a genuine passion for small groups and for helping other pastors and group directors.
First, Eddie shows how he has consulted with the best of the best in small group thinking and practice: Steve Gladen of Saddleback Church, Carl George, aka Small Group Yoda, Bill Donahue of Willow Creek, Bill Willits of North Point and many others. Why reinvent the wheel when you can build on the knowledge and experience of others? After carefully gleaning from these thought-leaders, Eddie does an even smarter thing — he adapts the best of these models to his church's mission and culture.
Too many pastors are looking for a silver bullet out there that will be the one-size-fits-all, homerun solution that will address every issue and help every person grow spiritually. That silver bullet doesn't exist. Eddie wisely integrates what works for others into what works for his church, LifePoint. In the book, we read about the host home strategy, the GroupLink strategy, the neighborhood strategy, the free market strategy among others. LifePoint has adjusted the strategies to fit the life of the church rather than adjusting the church to fit someone else's strategy. Too many pastors are prone to throwing out what is working for some and replacing it with what might or might not work at all. LifePoint adds to their success by implementing additional strategies for success. They are in favor of whatever works rather than whoever is right. This is the smartest thinking to come along in a long time.
What makes the book even better is that Eddie shares stories, positive and negative, from his own experience. He is not writing from an ivory tower. He's writing from the trenches. He lives where his reader lives. His humility in sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly of groups is refreshing and encouraging.
Connecting in Communities is the new primer for small group ministry. Whether you are just starting out in leading groups or you're in need of a course correction, this book will inspire and inform you of some of the best practices in small group ministry today. The only thing that might have made this book better is if it were mine. Not that I would have done a better job, I would just love to have the credit.
Get your copy of Connecting in Communities.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Related books:
Small Groups with Purpose by Steve Gladen
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink
Posted by Allen White in Book Reviews, Leadership on January 5, 2011
Employers can pay for an employee's time. They can pay for an employee's output. But, employers can't pay for an employee's best. The carrot and stick incentives of the last century no longer apply in the current workplace. According to Pink, extrinsic motivation and incentives have actually proven to be disincentives in many cases. So, how do you get the best out of people?
Pink focuses on three areas: Autonomy, Mastery and Purpose. Employees who are given control over their own projects and even the ability to create projects on their own are by far more productive and more engaged than employees who are given monetary incentives. The more employers attempt to control their employees, the less productive they become. The more autonomy given to employees, the more engaged and productive they become.
Money does matter, but it's not an adequate incentive for engagement. The role of money is simply that employers should pay their employees well enough that they don't have money worries. But, beyond that, in knowledge work, money proves to be a disincentive. Given the ability to improve their skills or make a significant contribution to the world, employees can more easily reach "flow" in their work. Work becomes more like play. Time passes without notice. Employees are fully involved in their work.
Many innovative employers like Google offer "20 percent time" to their workers. This is an opportunity for employees to work on whatever project they choose while on the clock. Gmail was created by a Google employee during 20 percent time.
Goal setting and performance reviews can be motivating or demotivating depending on how they are proposed. An extrinsic set of goals is rarely achieved with a smile on the employees face. Intrinsic goals, however, are far more easily achieved. In fact, engaged employees will set goals for themselves even if the boss isn't looking over their shoulder.
Pink offers a whole new take on human motivation. Employees are not Pavlov's dog waiting for the bell to ring. Human beings have a higher purpose that each is uniquely designed to fulfill. The sooner that employers can identify and engage the activities that their employers will jump out of bed for, the sooner employers will find the key to not only productivity, but also creativity.
This book is especially significant to non-profits and volunteer organizations that depend on unpaid workers. How do you keep volunteers from becoming weary in well-doing? Pink's findings are key to getting the best out of people.
To purchase a copy of Drive, CLICK HERE.
Review: Let Your Life Speak by Parker J. Palmer
Posted by Allen White in Book Reviews, Spiritual Growth on December 23, 2010
I grew interested in this book from the number of quotes that were included in Pete Scazzero's Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. For those of us who desire to know and fulfill our life's purpose, Palmer's book contains some rather interesting insights.
The book speaks to discovering things about yourself and your purpose or "way" through failures as much as successes. Closed doors speak as loudly as open doors. He also discusses a Quaker method of decision making where a group is gathered to question the seeker for three hours to determine his or her thoughts and motives regarding the decision. Palmer openly discusses his own self-discovery through depression.
Palmer offers a refreshing perspective. He is a member of the Religious Society of Friends or Quakers. For evangelical Christians, there may be some points of disagreement, yet there is much food for thought. While evangelicals may expect God's will to be revealed moving forward, Palmer takes in all aspects of one's being in determining God's will or way: emotional, intellectual, successes, failures and God's voice within.
I have just finished this short book, and I'm ready to read it again.
To purchase your copy of Let Your Life Speak, CLICK HERE.


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The next wave of standout Central Section girls' swimmers took center stage on a sunny Saturday afternoon at the Clovis Olympic Swim Complex.
Led by the dual title performances of sophomores Abby Samansky from Clovis West and Redwood's Megan Ridenour, underclassmen captured seven of the eight individual events during the girls portion of the 31st annual Clovis West Invitational swimming and diving meet.
Samansky provided the event's biggest highlight by breaking former Clovis West standout Mariah Tharp's seven-year-old meet record in the 50 free (23.84) with an All-American consideration 23.69 seconds. Golden Eagles' teammate Caitlyn Snyder also came in under the previous record in 23.83 while placing second.
"It feels awesome. I'm super stoked," said Samansky, who broke onto the scene last season as a freshman by placing second in the 50 free and 100 back at the Central Section Division I championships. "If you would have told me last year that I would be setting a record this year, I probably wouldn't have believed you.
"The support from my coaches and teammates and everything is amazing. I don't think I could ask for a better swim. I was so excited. I woke up this morning and I was ready to go. My start felt really nice and just everything else fell together perfectly."
Samansky followed that with another All-American consideration time of 50.70 while winning the 100 free, and then she went on to lead-off winning 200 free (1:37.75) and 400 free (3:38.83) relay teams for the girls team champion Golden Eagles.
If you would have told me last year that I would be setting a record this year, I probably wouldn't have believed you.
Clovis West sophomore Abby Samansky, who broke the Clovis West Invitational record in the girls 50-yard freestyle race.
Samansky produced 44 points individually and helped secure another 88 points on relays as Clovis West finished with 642 points. Clovis North was second with 355.
Ridenour won the 200 individual medley (2:12.56) and 100 breast (1:05.73) individually, and helped Redwood place third in the 400 free relay (3:45.71) and fourth in the 200 medley relay (1:53.97). Ridenour, who was second in the 100 breast and eighth in the 200 IM at the section D-I finals last season, also produced 44 points individually to lead the Ranger girls to a fifth place finish with 211 points.
"I did really well," Ridenour said. "I dropped a lot of time in the IM. I kind of think I found my own pattern in a way. For the past few weeks, I found my own kinda strategy to do. I, like, tried it out at this meet and it worked, so I think I'm going to stick with that strategy from now on."
Other underclassman winners included Clovis sophomore Averee Preble in the 200 free (1:52.30), Clovis West sophomore Hannah Lambert in the 100 butterfly (1:00.99) and Redwood freshman Alex Roberts in the 100 back (1:00.08). Buchanan's Stephanie Bartel, The Bee's reigning Girls Swimmer of the Year who was a double medalist at last year's state meet, won the other individual event, clocking a 5:07.63 in the 500 free.
For the boys, Clovis' Graham Hauss, Clovis West's Hunter Lane and Bellarmine Prep-San Jose's Nathan Yates were all double winners individually.
Hauss won the 200 free in 1:41.79 and the 100 free in a consideration All-American 46.32, while also leading the Cougars' 200 free (1:29.81) and 400 free (3:15.93) relays to third-place finishes.
"There was some really good races today" said Hauss, who was fifth in the 500 free, sixth in the 200 free and helped winning 200 free and 400 free relays at the state meet last year. "I'm really happy with where I'm at right now. I'm ready for Valley and ready to swim fast and break some records hopefully."
I'm really happy with where I'm at right now. I'm ready for Valley and ready to swim fast and break some records hopefully.
Clovis' Graham Hauss, who won the boys 200 free and 100 free at the Clovis West Invitational
Lane's wins came in the 200 IM (1:56.84) and the 100 breast (1:00.11), and he was a member of the Golden Eagles' third-place 200 medley relay team (1:42.87) and fourth place 400 free relay team (3:18.03).
"It was a great meet," Lane said. "There was a lot of competition. It's nice to see where we're all at."
Yates, a returning state qualifier, won the 100 fly (51.54) and the 100 back (53.09) to lead Bellarmine to the boys team title with 656 points.
Clovis North finished second with 471 points behind Michael Jia, who won the 50 free in 21.22 and powered two winning relays, swimming lead-off in the 200 free (127.78) and anchoring the 400 free (3:13.20).
Clovis West's Tom Schab also won individually, capturing the 500 free in 4:38.93.
Nick Giannandrea: 559-441-6103, @NickG_FB
200 medley relay: Clovis (Abby Mammen, Shelby Vidmar, Averee Preble, Jessica Burson) 1:51.94; Clovis North 1:53.78; Buchanan 1:53.95
200 free: Averee Preble, Clovis, 1:52.30; Kassidy Lemminn, Frontier, 1:52.98; Ariana Skeggs, Frontier, 1:53.81
200 IM: Megan Ridenour, Redwood, 2:12.56; Morgan Coddington, Kingsburg, 2:14.00; Myra Starkweather, Clovis west, 2:15.40
50 free: Abby Samansky, Clovis West, 23.69; Caitlyn Snyder, Clovis West, 23.83; Abigail Abshire, Wasco, 24.57
100 fly: Hannah Lambert, Clovis West, 1:00.99; Ariane Skeggs, Frontier, 1:01.42; Emily Mayer, Clovis West, 1:02.18
100 free: Abby Samansky, Clovis West, 50.70; Averee Preble, Clovis, 52.05; Kassidy Lemminn, Frontier, 52.80
500 free: Stephanie Bartel, Buchanan, 5:07.63; Jordan Gruce, Clovis West, 5:12.06; Hannah Lambert, Clovis West, 5:15.33
200 free relay: Clovis West (Abby Samansky, Jordan Gruce, Allyson Clague, Caitlyn Snyder) 1:37.75; Arroyo Grande 1:43.04; Sanger 1:43.69
100 back: Alex Roberts, Redwood, 1:00.08; Samantha Hazel, Arroyo Grande, 1:01.66; Ellie Schmidtke, Clovis East, 1:03.69
100 breast: Megan Ridenour, Redwood, 1:05.73; Caitlyn Snyder, Clovis West, 1:06.83; Shelby Vidmar, Clovis, 1:07.00
400 free relay: Clovis West (Abby Samansky, Jordan Gruce, Allyson Clague, Caitlyn Snyder) 3:38.83; Buchanan 3:42.70; Redwood 3:45.71
Team: Clovis West 642, Clovis North 355, Buchanan 248, Clovis 213, Redwood 211, Arroyo Grande 205, Paso Robles 149, Frontier 140, Sanger 127.5, Wasco 125
200 medley relay: Bellarmine (Gavin McGee, Jack McNamara, Christopher Roling, Max Saunders) 1:42.06; Buchanan 1:42.35; Clovis West 1:42.87
200 free: Graham Hauss, Clovis, 1:41.79; Ben Forbes, Clovis North, 1:42.93; Sean Mylan, Atascadero, 1:44.80
200 IM: Hunter Lane, Clovis West, 1:56.84; Alonso Escobedo, Hanford West, 1:57.47; Cole Fleming, Clovis North, 2:00.85
50 free: Michael Jia, Clovis North, 21.22; Tyler Cotton, Clovis West, 22.42; Emmanuel Ngbemeneh, Bellarmine, 22.37
100 fly: Nathan Yates, Bellarmine, 51.54; Theo Tuggle, Clovis North, 52.50; Ben Forbes, Clovis North, 53.72
100 free: Graham Hauss, Clovis, 46.32; Colin Rananal, Frontier, 47.66; Sean Mylan, Atascadero, 47.70
500 free: Tom Schab, Clovis West, 4:38.93; Thoe Tuggle, Clovis North, 4:40.19; Ryan Lewis, Bellarmine, 4:46.23
200 free relay: Clovis North (Michael Jia, Cole Fleming, Ethan DePry, Ben Forbes) 1:27.78; Bellarmine 1:28.92; Clovis 1:29.81
100 back: Nathan Yates, Bellarmine, 53.09; Tyler Cotton, Clovis West, 54.47; Timothy Chou, Bellarmine, 56.94
100 breast: Hunter Lane, Clovis West, 1:00.11; Ethan Depry, Clovis North, 1:01.17; Jack McNamara, Bellarmine, 1:01.50.
400 free relay: Clovis North (Thoe Tuggle, Cole Fleming, Ben Forbes, Michael Jia) 3:13.20; Bellarmine 3:13.79; Clovis 3:15.93
Team: Bellarmine 656, Clovis North 471, Clovis West 358, Buchanan 268, Clovis 206.5, Centennial 130.5, Hilmar 94, Paso Robles 75, Edison 74, Frontier 70


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A former Colac Otway Shire mayor has challenged the current shire mayor's move to overturn a decision of the council and bring back the mayoral chains without a council vote.
Helen Paatsch, who served as a councillor with the City of Colac and then with the Colac Otway Shire Council from 1992 until 2004, raised her concerns at the last council meeting about current mayor Joe McCracken's plans to start wearing the gold chains.
Mrs Paatsch, who served as Colac Otway mayor between 1999 and 2000, used question time to ask councillors if they realised "that the first council of the Colac Otway Shire voted in 1994 to do away with such trappings of office"?
Mayor Cr Joe McCracken used his Facebook page last month to announce he intended to start wearing the City of Colac mayoral chains to council meetings.
But after the Herald questioned his social media announcement, Cr McCracken issued a press release stating "I certainly don't intend to wear the mayoral chains at council meetings".
"But if it's appropriate, I'd like to pay tribute to our predecessors by wearing the mayoral chains at civic events," he said on the release.
But Cr McCracken failed to respond to whether the issue was discussed with councillors and therefore a decision of the council.
Mrs Paatsch said the City of Colac mayoral chains "were in use for only 34 years, from 1960 until 1994, and by only one of the three municipalities that merged to form the Colac Otway Shire".
"Mr Mayor, in paying tribute to councillors whose names are recorded on the City of Colac mayoral chains, how to you plan to pay tribute to trailblazers such as the late councillor shire president Betty Arundell, and to the many presidents of the shires of Colac and Otway in over a century of local government leadership?" she asked Cr McCracken at his first council meeting as mayor.
"And indeed Mr Mayor to those councillors who sit at this table with you today, and have held the office of mayor but whose office is not recorded on the mayoral chains of the former City of Colac.
"How do you square that with councillors Potter, Hart and Smith?" Mrs Paatsch said, referencing the three current councillors who have served as mayor.
For the full story see today's Colac Herald.


text: Grants Press Release March 2017: The College of Education at Rider University is pleased to announce that the National Writing Project@Rider University has been awarded a $15,000.00 grant funded by the US Department of Education to support an invitational literacy leadership institute for teachers and an outreach program for area youth writers. The funds will help support two innovative literacy programs during the summer of 2017 at Rider: · A blended invitational literacy institute for area K-12 teachers. Participants will meet on-site at the College of Education at Rider University from 7/10/17 – 7/13/17 with online follow up and support throughout the fall of 2017. Participants will have the opportunity to develop as writers as well as teachers of writers and have access to the most current research and pedagogy about literacy instruction. Daily guest speakers as well as interactive workshop experiences will inform this work. Participants will engage in deep study and leave with transformative practices to support youth and adolescent writers and their colleagues who work with these populations. Graduate course credit is available, but not required for participation. · A young writers camp from 7/10 – 7/13 & 7/17 – 7/20 that will allow rising 3rd through 8th graders to study the craft of writing in an interactive workshop setting. Children will have daily access to digital tools to expand their understanding of composing. The participants will be led by expert NWP@Rider teacher leaders. Additional program information can be found at www.nwprider.org. For more information about these programs along with registration details please contact Dr. Heather Casey at email@example.com


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Contact Us
Bookings & Enquiries
Do you have an enquiry, need more information, or want to get in touch? Please use the form below and let us know how we can assist.
What our patrons say
"We stayed in one of the Park View suites. Amazing view though the autumnal willows to the Avon River. Truly wonderful colours as the sun set. The Park suites have to be one of the best hotel rooms in Christchurch."
"Great room, great service,great food, very comfortable decor, bathroom roomy with all the amenities,great service from the moment we arrived."
"Beautiful place, excellent service, comfortable room, not far for the center and excellent assistance with the information. I will recommend all passenger to visit The George."


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Chatham celebrates summer - Hudson Catskill Newspapers: News
In the paper again this week!!! Glad it is just for hanging out playing guitar..... the reporter even mentions NEIL: 'Mike Pagnani organized the marching band with Scott Langley and was playing an accordion. Later, he was playing guitar with his son Cymon and Marilyn Miller to the tune of "Rockin' in a Free World," by Neil Young. "We are among a bunch of musicians who will show up on command," Pagnani said.'
Yes, when the music calls, we are there.....
"It's like a warning to me...... Stay still, Shakey, and you'll turn to rust and dust....... So I keep on moving" -Neil Young
Hi! I am Marilyn, a singer/songwriter in Hudson, NY. You have landed on my personal website/ blog/ calendar, and you will find here all kinds of things about my musical life. Look around! My blog is below, but over in the right column under 'Pages', you can see links to videos, show schedules, song lists and the other musical projects I am working on. I really hope you will consider getting to a show or even have me (and my friends) come and entertain you at your party or event. People enjoy having us play for them!
When the music calls, I *will* be there....
Thanks to WGXC and Tom Roe, I have this complete version of my song, Something We Can Do.
Enjoy it.
But even more.... talk to each other in love, forget hate.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
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Purotex Mattress Technology
Purotex technology is found in many of our products and we use it to ensure you can have an allergy-free night's sleep. Many people find dust mites in their household can quickly trigger allergic reactions. This is where Purotex comes in to save the day.
What is Purotex?
Purotex is a textile treatment that helps to fight against allergens. It is designed to stop dust mites in their tracks, as well as prevent other harmful bacteria from multiplying. These allergens are then unable to cause damage to the sufferer, potentially reducing the symptoms of allergic reactions.
Dust mites thrive in bedrooms and particularly on beds. With both moisture and heat radiating from the body when we are asleep, dust mites have the perfect envrionment to come out and play. Having an anti-allergy treatment like Purotex can keep the little blighters at bay and leave you having a peaceful night's sleep.
How does it work?
Purotex combines five completely natural bacterias that have been chosen for of their ability to keep house dust mite allergens at bay, along with various other types of allergen. The Purotex is then put into tiny capsules that are inserted into the fabric. The movement of your body on the fabric causes the capsules to be disturbed and the Purotex treatment can then get to work.
The bacteria within the treatment soak up any moisture and actively prevent allergens in their tracks. Bad bacteria and mould struggle to grow without warm, damp conditions - Purotex helps prevention by removing the dampness.
The Benefits of a Purotex Mattress
One of the key benefits of having your mattress woven with Purotex is the fact that is suitable for allergy sufferers. Nobody wants to go to bed with the snuffles so if your room has been given the anti-allergy treatment, you're more likely to have a good night's sleep.
With Purotex in your mattress, dust mites can are eliminated so you may find that the bed remains cleaner, is more hygienic and offers peace of mind to be able to relax when you go to bed. The bacteria in the product also consumes the droppings of the mites - which is actuallty the root cause of an allergic reaction to dust mites. By removing the allergens, you could instantly find yourself sleeping better.


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It was announced today that Michael Jackson's memorial service, which is being held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, will be streamed live tomorrow morning on Hulu.com.
You can view the proceedings at 9:30am PST, a half hour before the service begins at 10am PST. "Following the live-stream, Hulu will also offer on-demand access of the entire memorial service."
In other Hulu news, Disney and ABC have finally joined the "Hu" family and will now be offering content from ABC, ABC Family, Disney Channel, SOAPnet and more for online viewing. To kick things off, today you can watch Grey's Anatomy - and then, over the next two weeks, more ABC shows will become available. Scrubs, Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives are some of the shows that are specifically mentioned. We're not sure at this point, but we're guessing that you will be able to watch the Scrubs episodes that aired originally on NBC, since the entire series is owned by ABC Studios.
There was no mention of Lost however, and we're guessing that Hulu and ABC might be holding that one off until closer to the Season 6 premiere date in January 2010.


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Google announced yesterday that it will enter the domain name marketplace. With the release of over 1400 new top level domains, like .vote, .guru and .coffee, Google will be a competitor with companies also in the domain registration business that they formerly partnered with.
Domain-name registration has increased steadily over the years. According to the website nTLD Stats, 1.3 million new names have been registered already this year. Verisign, a domain research group, reported an increase of 7% from the end of 2012 to end of 2013.
Google Domains will be an invite only and is currently in beta testing mode. "Businesses will be able to search, find, purchase and transfer the best domain for their business — whether it's .com, .biz, .org, or any of the wide range of new domains that are being released to the Web," Google said in a blog post about the venture.
The new list of top level domains has caused some controversy. Earlier this week the French government "attacked new domain names – such as .vin and .wine – that it says could undermine international agreements to protect the use of geographical indicators like champagne and region-specific wine names."
At an ICANN meeting this week in London, 3,300 representatives met to discuss the consequences of the U.S. turning over control of the internet's DNS servers. Participants discussed the level of government control over the internet.
Despite the controversies at ICANN, most folks seem to be unaware of the new names flooding the market. A few domain names offer special features that could appeal to internet users and businesses. The new domain .trust, owned by the NCC Group, offers some level of security for customers who visit a .trust website.
Organizations will also have to show that their systems from websites to email servers comply with strict security standards. There will be regular security scanning while ISPs will as a minimum need to embrace anti-phishing standards such as DMARC to have any chance of being admitted to .trust.
Another domain, like .vote, seeks to resolve domain name disputes that arise among political candidates "Recently, we've seen high-profile politicians like Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich run up against time-consuming and costly domain name disputes."


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Jung-Lee Type Foundry is based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands started from a collaborative type project Jungka between Karel Martens and Jungmyung Lee.
Jungmyung Lee is an independent graphic/type designer whose work is extended to a project-based performance.
Programming: Ingo Valente
Drawing: Rudy Guedj
*Text of tester and specimen of Jungka is partially excerpted from 'Solar Anus' by Georges Bataille.
*Text of tester and specimen of Impact Nieuw is partially excerpted from a short autobiographical novel of Impact Nieuw, 'I'm Pat. Impact!', written by Charlie Clemoes.
Nieuwpoortkade 2a-117,
1055 RX Amsterdam


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Save your journeys, with our helpful Favourites tool
10 December 2014
The sounds of Christmas carols filled the air of Central station as the Simon Community Choir members Peter Gemmell, Jennifer Brown, Fiona McWilliams and Gareth Burnside treated Translink passengers to an evening of festive music. The charitable activity is the first of a number of special performances in Translink stations that will take place in the run up to Christmas.
To help spread Christmas cheer Translink has a host of travel deals and great savings available this Christmas to make your 'Life Better'; whether it's for shopping, entertainment or socialising with family and friends.
Full information on all the Christmas offers are available at www.translink.co.uk/christmas2014 or call 028 90 66 66 30.
For further information about the Simon Community visit www.simoncommunity.org
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text: Blog Search News and Updates All Categories Concrete Coloring Products Events and Training News and Updates Other Products Projects and Planning Ready Mix Repair and Maintenance Resurfacing and Overlays Stains and Dyes Solomon Colors Offers Innovative New Texturing Tools Spring 2018 2/15/2018 by Aaron Szerletich Brickform Concrete Dimensions Reusable Urethane Stencils Create New Design Opportunities for Concrete Contractors Read More New Director of Technical Services Named for Solomon Colors 2/13/2018 by Aaron Szerletich Chris Becker is named the new Director of Technical Services for Solomon Colors. He will lead the efforts around contractor support, training, demonstrations, and technical documentation. Read More StampApp Comes to Windows 9/28/2017 by Aaron Szerletich The Brickform StampApp is now available on Windows! Just visit www.stampapp.net for the free download. Read More Concrete Industry Steps Up For Houston 9/6/2017 by Aaron Szerletich Hurricane Harvey devastated the gulf coast, specifically impacting Houston, Texas. Thousands of people have been impacted. Large swaths of Houston flooded, displacing thousands of people. Dozens of people in the area have perished as a result of the storm and flooding. The gulf coast region is desperately in need of aid. Read More Rebate on Sealers Starts May 1st 5/1/2017 by Aaron Szerletich Starting May 1st, 2017 there is a rebate on Brickform Gem-Seal, Gem Cure & Seal, and Satin Seal. This rebate program runs until April 30th, 2018. For an entire year, you can save money on your sealers. Find the rebate sticker on the 5-gallon sealer pails, complete the form as directed, and send it in. Before too long, you'll receive a rebate check on your purchase. Read More MyConcreteContractor.com Offers New Listing Type 4/25/2017 by Aaron Szerletich As always, MyConcreteContractor.com has the free premium Professional Profiles. The Professional Profile is the best way to promote your business. Each Professional Profile effectively gives you a free website, with your own page, an "About" section, and a photo gallery. This is an excellent tool to promote your business because potential customers can see your work and read about you. Best of all, the Professional Profile is, and will remain, free. Read More RSS Feed


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Miracle Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of Gallatin, TN is now accepting applications for Service Technicians and Sales Professionals. Our business is growing, our dealership is expanding. It's time to add a few members to our family. Come join an enthusiastic team of professionals where you will be compensated well for your efforts. With a portfolio of benefits to offer you (Health, Vision, Dental, 401K, Vacation, etc.), the opportunity of growth within our company stretches to infinity. For opportunities in Service, please submit your resume' to email@example.com; For opportunities in Sales, please submit your resume' to email@example.com. You may also stop by our dealership at 1290 Nashville Pike, Gallatin, TN 37066 to complete an application. Come join our team at Miracle CDJR, and help us show the community the Miracle Advantage. 4/14/2017
Family Owned Dealership
You'll hear many dealerships saying they'll offer the best service and best prices, but our dealership delivers on these promises. Miracle Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram serves the greater Nashville area by being part of the community. When you come in to our dealership, you'll feel right at home. You'll never be turned off by pushy salespeople, because our team is here to actually help you. They'll answer your questions without pressuring you, so you can make the right decision for your family. If you're looking for a Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge or Ram we've got a huge selection including the Jeep Cherokee, Wrangler Unlimited, Dodge Dart, Charger, RAM 1500, and Chrysler 200, just to name a few.
When your car needs service, we give you trusted Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram repair and use original Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram parts. We know that sometimes you don't have the time to wait around while your car is being serviced, so we are happy to provide loaner cars.
Community Involvement
We know what it means to be an active member of the community and a family. We care about the Gallatin community because we live here, too.
Come in and See the Difference for Yourself
If you're in the market for a new Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep or Ram - whether you're looking to buy or to lease - stop in and see all vehicles we have to offer. Any one of our salespeople will be happy to answer your questions, make suggestions, or just let you look around. If you'd like to speak to the General Manager, just ask for Tim Galvin. Tim will be happy to talk to you to make sure you're happy with your car buying experience. Visit us today. We're at 1290 Nashville Pike in Gallatin.


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INDIANAPOLIS--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Innovative international travel insurance and specialty benefit management provider Seven Corners, Inc. announces today that James Capozzi has joined the company as business development director.
"We are thrilled to have James join the Seven Corners team"
Capozzi will focus on negotiating financially beneficial reimbursement arrangements with local hospitals, surgery centers, and ancillary facilities to provide a robust Provider Network for the Federal Bureau of Prisons. He brings more than a decade of contract development and management experience to this position, along with an expansive knowledge of the insurance industry. Capozzi's addition to Seven Corners follows a flurry of new C-suite and director-level hires in 2017.
Prior to joining Seven Corners' team, Capozzi served as director of network development and credentialing for LifePlans, Inc., a company that helps health and long-term care insurers manage risk. Prior to that, he worked for Correct Care Solutions where he directed hospital and specialty provider contract initiatives for state and federal correctional facilities.
"We are thrilled to have James join the Seven Corners team," said Justin Tysdal, co-founder and CEO of Seven Corners. "With his notable business development experience, we look forward to the new opportunities and growth James will bring to the company's portfolio and our contracts with the Federal Bureau of Prisons."
Seven Corners has administered health care for the Federal Bureau of Prisons for 11 years. During this time, the company has continually received superior ratings on annual performance reviews and currently manages 16 federal prisons across the United States.
For more information about Seven Corners, please visit SevenCorners.com. Seven Corners is a member of the US Travel Insurance Association (UStiA) and is an A+ rated Better Business Bureau accredited company. In addition, Seven Corners was recently named a finalist in the 12th annual Stevie Awards, recognized in the "Customer Service Team of the Year" category.
About Seven Corners, Inc.
Founded in 1993, Seven Corners, Inc. is an innovative and service focused international travel insurance and specialty benefit management company. Based in Carmel, Ind. and serving a global market, Seven Corners offers a wide variety of customized travel solutions to international travelers, agencies of the U.S. government, corporations, foreign governments and various types of insurance companies. For more information on its products, visit www.sevencorners.com.


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LinkedIn Success Story from Dave MendozaApril 30th, 2013 | by Jason Alba |
LinkedIn is obviously a great tool for professionals in transition. Here's the terrific story of Eric Pettit. He went from thinking he knew what he was doing in a job search (using job boards) to getting mentoring and having real, amazing results using LinkedIn.
Linkedin As Dream Job Catalyst: Eric Pettit's "How Personal Branding Enabled MY story"
Congrats to Eric, and thanks to Dave for sharing this on his blog