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Roundup 5-1-2015
Transportation – What You Are Likely to Really Get
There was an editorial in the Tribune regarding the Go Hillsborough process that provided some insight into what are likely the real thoughts among officials regarding the possible referendum and what you might get for your money.
Citizens in Tampa are, understandably, far more interested in mass transit than those in South Hillsborough, who want better roads.
In 2010, the transportation plan included a major rail proposal. It passed in Tampa but failed because of opposition in the unincorporated county. This time, there will be greater focus on county needs and on quick, economical ways of improving traffic, such as synchronizing lights.
Improving transit options still must be a priority. But it is unlikely rail will be the centerpiece. The initial focus is more likely to be on bus rapid transit and other economical means to serve people who don't want to be dependent on a car. Using CSX lines or modern streetcars may prove to be more effective and smarter economical strategies than a new rail line.
We still believe rail should be part of the community's future, but citizens have shown their wariness. Better to start with a less ambitious plan and build support.
First, we are not clear why the County can't start synchronizing lights now. (Just like why it could not plan or budget properly.)
Second, the above portion shows the confusion that still exists regarding what might be in the referendum. First, it says a new rail line will likely not be involved. It mentions BRT, but there is no real BRT in Tampa right now and Metro Rapid, while nice, has not spawned any urban development. Where will the BRT go? Will anyone ride it? Will it spur any development? How will it connect to anything else?
Then it discusses using CSX rails (presumable for rail transit), which would be a new rail line (though not a newly laid rail line) but still not connect downtown and Westshore and the airport. (And will CSX actually agree? And will the state provide the insurance or indemnity like it does for other areas?) And while changing the rolling stock on the streetcar is a good idea, if the problem is support in the County, it is not clear how even having a decent streetcar downtown will build support in the South County or Northwest County (which generally gets nothing in these plans) for rail since a streetcar will never get to them anyway – only full rail transit might.
Third, it is not clear that the reason the referendum failed was specifically the rail element. It was certainly a factor for some, but others just did not want to pay. Others did not trust local officials to deliver (because they haven't delivered before). And HART and County Commissioners' equivocation was not a source of confidence.
The fact is that if you read the editorial you get the distinct impression that basically the plan will be pave the county, add some buses, expand the streetcar a little, declare victory and go home (or to the next political position). That may provide some localized fixes to some localized issues, but it is not going to do anything regarding competition with a Charlotte, Denver, Phoenix or Portland (or even Orlando). Maybe that is the best that can be had given the political culture (and low wage economy) we have, but, if that is it, it really is not even a half measure.
Economic Development – Another Mystery?
The Business Journal is reporting the following:
A mystery company is looking for sites in Tampa Bay that could accommodate half a million square feet of office space and potentially bring thousands of jobs to the region.
Real estate sources, who asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the deal, said an economic development consultant representing the company has been in touch with brokers and developers throughout Tampa Bay. The consultant has visited the region and has engaged with the Tampa-Hillsborough Economic Development Corp.
Tampa Bay is one of several markets in the running for the deal, sources say, and the company is looking to make a decision within the next few months. The identity of the company and its industry aren't known.
So, no word on if, where (though sounds like they are looking at Hillsborough), what, who, etc. In other words, just wait and see.
Downtown/Channel District – Wither MOSI
As part of their aggressive push for their development, the Lightning owner's team has brought up moving MOSI:
Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik's development team has begun exploring the idea of moving the Museum of Science and Industry to Vinik's $1 billion development near Amalie Arena downtown.
"We're really at the very beginning of the conversation," MOSI interim president and CEO Molly Demeulenaere said Monday. "There are some very exciting things that could take place if MOSI had the opportunity to relocate to a more urban area, but you don't just pick up a $120 million infrastructure and move it."
There's no definite or decided plan to leave the museum's home near the University of South Florida on E Fowler Avenue.
Still, both parties are intrigued by the prospect that a move — facilitated by financial help from Vinik — could benefit everyone.
"This will be a vibrant district," said the Lightning's Tod Leiweke so, "Can we help them attract more visitors and more donors and give them a chance to dream?"
Yes, said Leiweke, who is CEO both of Vinik's hockey team and his downtown development company, Strategic Property Partners.
A downtown MOSI has been suggested by many of the experts SPP has consulted with, especially David Dixon and Jeff Speck, the well-known urban planners hired by Vinik to design a pedestrian-friendly, business, entertainment and residential district along downtown Tampa's waterfront.
Those planners talk about the need to attract families, kids and grandparents to the downtown project, not just millennials.
"Great districts feature great institutions," Leiweke said. "We've got two of those now in the Florida Aquarium and the Tampa Bay History Center, and folks outside our group have said that it would be fantastic if you can make something like (MOSI) happen.
"All we've done is raise our hand and say 'MOSI, this would be a great discussion for us to have,' " he said.
It is an interesting idea. MOSI's location has always struck us as oddly out of the way, especially as it creates no spin-off effect and that all the other museum type institutions were downtown. On the other hand, there is a question of how much it would cost to move, who would pay (we do not think the taxpayers should, though, in theory, if the present land can be sold to finance a move, we would be ok with that) and what exactly would be in the new location (IMAX?). Because none of that is clear, it is hard to say anything other than it is an interesting idea.
One odd thing in the coverage is this:
MOSI sits on 80 acres owned by the county that could be repurposed for a mix of commercial, residential and university uses. Maybe a corporate headquarters could anchor the new development or serve as "the center of a new innovation district," as County Administrator Mike Merrill put it.
This is a strange idea. The Lightning owner's development is trying to attract a headquarters and become an innovation district. It seems odd to move MOSI so that its old Fowler location would compete with the new downtown location. Not that there need be only one HQ location or innovation area, but still.
West Tampa – A CRA?
There has been news of ongoing public meetings regarding a West Tampa Community Redevelopment Areas.
In the 930-acre area north of Kennedy Boulevard and west of Armenia Avenue, almost half of the roughly 9,300 people living there make at or below the federal poverty level. The average family income in the area is $18,000, way below the $43,000 city average. The average home value of $121,000 lags well below home prices in other parts of the city.
Indeed. Which leads to the question of whether any plan will help those people or just gentrify the area. (Fixing up the area is fine, but those people also need help.)
The city's long-term plan to bring jobs and economic development to the area includes designating it as a community redevelopment area. It would also establish a tax increment financing district so it can set aside a portion of property taxes for street improvements, lighting and other projects in the area.
That plan advanced Monday as officials unveiled a draft redevelopment plan for the area. Highlights include more parks, plazas, bike trails and public art and the addition of sidewalks. It also raises the possibility of a west river trail along the Hillsborough River from Columbus Drive to Bayshore Boulevard.
To spur economic development, incentives would be offered for developers who build on vacant or polluted parcels. Incentives also could be introduced for homeowners who rehab their properties.
City officials also hope to lure employers back to Armenia and Howard avenues and bring more restaurants into the area.
"Main Street at one time was an important commercial spine," said Bob McDonaugh, Tampa's economic development administrator. "Over time, many of those businesses left. It would be nice to re-establish that and have community-based businesses there."
And all that is fine (especially the trail/riverwalk along the river) – we have no problem with it. The real questions are about actual implementation (will the City fix a few things then just settle?) and whether there is anything to help the people with the very low incomes, because this:
Some redevelopment is underway in the area, including the Jewish Community Center and Federation's $26 million project to convert the Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory into a new campus. The city also has approved a plan to renovate Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park.
Also underway is the Tampa Housing Authority's relocation of residents from public housing projects North Boulevard Homes and Mary Bethune Towers. In their place, a mix of commercial and residential buildings is planned that includes affordable and workforce housing.
That demolition will open up parts of the west bank of the Hillsborough River, land expected to be coveted by developers.
Does not seem to (maybe they could work at the restaurants). A park with a history walk is not a substitute for good incomes. And average income can be raised by replacing the present residents with people who make more money, but that does not really solve the problem. (And, as the Mayor has said, as goes West Tampa so goes South Tampa)
Moreover, fixing a few things is not a replacement for having a good plan and code and sticking to them. If the land is so desirable, there should be strong rules to make sure whatever is built it built properly for the long term interest of Tampa rather than just to have a ribbon cutting.
We get that lifting a community is a complicated task. Some of the ideas are good. Nothing wrong with them, but they do not really address the low income issues at all.
We will just have to see what the full plans are.
Port – Building
The Port is moving forward with some projects:
The Tampa Port Authority board voted Tuesday to move forward with the second phase of an $18 million project meant to lure back ships carrying fresh food to the port.
The container project will provide the newest and best way to get goods from this country to ports of call to the south and to bring in fresh food and get it shipped by rail or truck to the southeast and the Midwest, said Raul Alfonso, executive vice president and chief commercial officer for the port.
Eventually, this project will include a new refrigerated warehouse to hold goods until they are shipped out to various destinations across the country.
The work getting under way includes site work on 19 acres, building 17,500 linear feet of railroad to connect with CSX and relocating a road.
The project is funded by Port Tampa Bay with a matching grant from the Florida Department of Transportation.
Food coming into Port Tampa Bay was once a lucrative part of the business there. The port even had its own banana docks. But the last major importer of bananas weighed anchor and moved its operations to Gulfport, Mississippi, in 1997.
Combine the new rail loop with expansion of the Panama Canal and two new gantry cranes coming to the port to off-load containers and it could mean a lot more business for the port, Alfonso said.
"This project is not just about fruit," he said. "It is part of our container strategy to attract new business for the port. It will provide better solutions for importers and exporters." Eventually, he said, the port hopes to have the capability to move containers from a ship right on to rail cars, but that is something that will come as the port builds up more client ships bringing goods into Tampa.
More facilities are good, and we think building the infrastructure is a positive step. (Though the history of the fruit facility seems a little different in this article from 2009.) We also thought the Port was going to wait until it already had contracts in place.
In any event, just how much the facilities will increase business is not clear .
Downtown/The West Shore – Another Potential Project
Following news that the Tribune building may be sold to the Related group, there was news of another proposal for a nearby lot:
Altman Development of Boca Raton proposes to put the project just south of the triangular block that's home to Mise en Place and the Oxford Exchange.
The site is bordered by Grand Central Avenue on the north, W Cleveland Street on the south and S Magnolia and S Cedar avenues on the west and east. Currently, most of it is covered by parking and three small office buildings.
Developers say in plans filed at City Hall this week that the project's location will fill a need for multifamily housing near the university and downtown. As proposed, the project would include 236 one- or two-bedroom apartments and 36 efficiencies, which would need an estimated 458 parking spaces. Exterior drawings show stucco-finished buildings ranging from five to about seven floors.
Altman also proposes to build a 526-space garage — big enough to allow for agreements with other businesses to use some of the additional spaces. Entrances to the garage would be along Magnolia and Cedar avenues.
A public hearing on the proposal is expected to be scheduled for mid-August.
(Specifically, it is at 504 Grand Central.) Based on the article, nothing is going to happen for a while. In any event, from the handy Accela database, this is the site plan:
And these are the elevations:
(Note that the height is listed as 72 or so feet)
Nothing special, but we are fine with this kind of development (though it would be good if there were some retail, and it could be a little denser allowing for further development. Also, we are a bit concerned about all the proposed projects being able to find buyers/tenants, but so be it. Overall, it appears to be ok for the location.). One thing this clearly does show is that the City should not be settling for one story, sprawling development on Kennedy or anywhere nearby (nor should it allow large projects to have large surface parking lots). Clearly the market it supports better than that.
One other thing is that unfortunately, the University of Tampa has chosen to make the north side of Kennedy relatively isolated from the rest of the city by erecting a large wall with almost no gates. While it may make the campus more "campus like" it really isolates the University and does not help enliven that part of the City generally. It is an urban campus. It can and should be better integrated.
Downtown/Ybor – Selmon Greenway
The Selmon Greenway is about to open, from 83 degrees media:
A new paved path running below the elevated east-west toll road between the Tampa Riverwalk and 19th Street promises to be the beginning of the city's next exciting mobility project. The Selmon Greenway provides foot commuters a shaded path through the heart of downtown Tampa and will serve as a vital link between the downtown and Ybor City.
Locals can get their first official look at the Selmon Greenway in early May during Tampa's annual Jane's Walk event. Celebrated internationally in recognition of urbanist and activist Jane Jacobs, Jane's Walk will be held on May 2 and coincide with the Tampa RiverFest. Festivities begin at 11 a.m. at Joseph Frye Park, where the Tampa Riverwalk and Selmon Greenway intersect.
We are not sure how much is actually green because this is one of the pictures included in the article:
In any event, it is a fine idea to have a shaded path for people to get around. The only thing is we wish the Riverwalk (and any future Riverwalk and streetscaping) keeps in mind that this area is hot (and wet) and areas need shade much more than they need palm trees to make anything truly walkable.
Ybor City/Channel District – A Connection?
We have long wanted Ybor City and the Channel District to be connected. It is logical and it is necessary. Now:
A Tampa developer is laying the groundwork for a multifamily development between the Channel district and Ybor City.
Phillips Development & Realty LLC is seeking to rezone 1400 Channelside Drive, a 7.64-acre site owned by TECO Peoples Gas, for multifamily development.
You can see the lot here.
It is an intriguing location. The first thing you can see is that it is right between the streetcar (with a stop) and the CSX/Amtrak rail, near Union Station. The lot does not exactly connect to developments in Ybor or the Channel District, but it is close. There is a lot of potential for the any project on the lot if 1) it is built as a truly urban space and 2) it has roads going through it and interacts with its surroundings rather than being an isolated development. In other words, if it is a real urban development rather than a suburban development, even one masquerading as being urban, it could be cool. Notably: the developer's website shows a number of projects (here and here) that show that it has the ability to do go projects but also has many that are not so good. So they know how to do it right if they want to – the question is do they want to?
At this point, we cannot know what they want to do, but with the City's track record of settling, we are only cautiously optimistic.
Downtown – An Easy Answer
From 83 degrees media:
As plans for the final phase of the Tampa Riverwalk project and a park move forward, the City of Tampa is looking to install a couple of new public art pieces designed to attract local residents and visitors to enjoy the beautiful waterfront walkway along the Hillsborough River.
The first piece would grace the final segment of the Tampa Riverwalk itself; and the other is for the Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park located at 1001 N. Boulevard. The Riverwalk project has a projected budget of up to $200,000 and the park $400,000. The City of Tampa is open to all ideas and artists.
"I do not think there is any preconceived notion about what the art should be," Nigh says. "From the technical and practical side, it needs to be safe and appropriate for the environmental conditions. Conceptually, the art needs to be impactful, contribute to the overall space and place, as well as provide an engaging experience where residents and visitors want to be, return to, and recommend to others."
And that is all fine. On the other hand, the City could have put the World Trade Center steel that now graces the Bayshore median (where very few people appreciate – or even notice – it) in MacDill Park – which would be meaningful, "impactful," and contribute to the space and place. It is not art – it is a memorial – but it would be fitting and people would actually see and be able to contemplate it and MacDill's role in responding to the events which it memorializes. It is not too late. It should be moved.
Pasco – Same Old
When it was built, the Wiregrass shopping center was held out to be a modern walkable shopping area. It wasn't – it was a mall without a roof (or a/c or ever awnings in most places). It has a huge parking lot and no connection to anything around it (not to mention that outparcels were developed in the standard sprawling style.) This week, there was news that there will be more development around the center.
County planners already have met with officials from Forest City Enterprises to discuss the expansion. Preliminary plans call for another 200,000 square feet of retail fronting on State Road 56 with a 248-unit apartment complex behind the shopping center.
Abbas Hasan, planning director for Forest City, said the shopping center would likely be smaller because of the amount of wetlands on the property. It could include a specialty grocery store or movie theater, in addition to the shops and cafes already on the drawing board.
Well, it makes sense that the shopping center would get urbanized eventually – especially after people saw how nice the walkability of the original was absorbed. And then there is Pasco's much touted revised planning to develop in a new way base on lessons learned by from the sprawling, messy development that has come before.
"We're in the conceptual planning phase now," Kehoe said. "Our meeting with the county went really well. In the big picture, we hope to submit an overall site plan mid-year and hopefully start construction sometime next year."
Kehoe said the residential uses won't be mixed in with the retail, but it will be within walking distance.
"We have all these connectivity requirements," he said. "We're looking at doing a three or four-story suburban project. We feel like it's a submarket that needs luxury rental product."
Or maybe not.
Meanwhile, In the Rest of Florida
— Orlando Maglev
The Orlando maglev is apparently moving forward.
A few details have emerged about the planned $400 million Maglev passenger rail line connecting Orlando International Airport with the Orange County Convention Center.
EMMI LLC, the entity building the privately funded magnetic-levitation train system, is targeting July of this year to start construction along the 13.7-mile corridor between the airport and Orlando's International Drive corridor.
Though environmental and construction permits would first have to be secured, the company still expects to begin limited operations in 2016 with full operations beginning in 2017 — contingent on the completion of the airport's $215 million Intermodal Transportation Facility, which would house a Maglev platform.
Here's a look at some of the details included in those meeting minutes:
The plan would be to first build a circulator on I-Drive — connecting the convention center to several area hotels and Pointe Orlando on a slower-speed system — then build toward The Florida Mall and eventually to the airport.
The goal is to begin circulator operations in September 2016, after six months of testing. The full system to the airport would then debut about nine months later, though the entire system may all open at the same time, depending on various factors.
Train tickets on Maglev could cost about $16 one way from the airport to the convention center, and $6 one way for the circulator.
Full train capacity is 200 passengers, 80 in front and 120 in the back. About 3.1 million passengers are expected in the first year.
The train will be able to travel an estimated 500-1,000 trips per hour.
The system would tie into a 500-kilowatt transformer at the airport's intermodal station, and in the event of a power outage, would operate on solar power with two hours of battery-powered operations.
The columns that support the elevated rail system would be 30- to 40-feet high and about 60- to 100-feet apart.
We are not sure that is the best plan, but whatever. Orlando is moving forward (at least it seems so – the maglev idea has been around a while and never gotten done) with more "fixed guideway" (real fixed guideway) while we are still having talking shops about whether we should expand not even real BRT. And note the multimodal center at the airport.
— What A Billion Buys You
A billion dollar development proposed for Ft. Lauderdale has been scaled back because of local complaints.
After hearing concerns from residents, the developers of a $1 billion complex around the Galleria mall have scaled back their plans.
The original plan presented last fall by Galleria owner Keystone-Florida Property Holding Corp. outlined seven buildings with room for 1,600 luxury apartments or condos, 150 hotel rooms, retail and restaurant space. The tallest building was projected to rise 45 stories, the tallest in Fort Lauderdale.
Developers now have lowered the height and location of some proposed buildings — so that future occupants are not looking directly into houses' back yards and so buildings are not blocking neighbors' skyline views. The tallest building under the new proposal would be 38 stories high.
The number of residential units was reduced, too. Instead of 1,600 units, there would just be 1,250 to reduce density, according to the developer. The number of hotel rooms jumped from 150 to 163 rooms, and another commercial building was added to the blueprint.
The new price tag for the project: $750 million.
Developers are still emphasizing tree-lined streets, walkways and bike lanes that would transform the region into a community that's more walkable, safe and easy to get around.
Of course, the Lightning owner's project does not have similar opposition. However, it should be noted that, once again, as much as we like his plan, there are other major development proposals all over the country.
— Looks Like This Might Be Designed Right
And in the category of completely out of left field or Ocoee, whichever is a stranger place for it:
The Ocoee City Commission passed the preliminary site and subdivision plan for the City Center West Orange project at its regular meeting April 21.
This project involves a 54.74-acre plot that is along Maine Street, east of South Bluford Avenue, north of West Colonial Drive and partially adjoins Lake Bennet.
In the one parcel on the lake among four parcels on the property, 15.84-acre Parcel 2, developers from Park Development Corporation proposed a 2.4 million-square-foot mixed-use commercial, office and multi-family development accessible by Richmond Avenue and Ocoee Town Center Boulevard extending from South Bluford Avenue from the southwest. The other three parcels will be reserved for right-of-way, open space, stormwater abatement and potential future development on the northern side of Maine Street.
Development is scheduled for three phases, City Planner Mike Rumer said, with the City Center built around a six-floor parking garage.
"Phase 1 will consist of a parking garage wrapped with retail on the bottom floor, a hotel, office space, restaurant, commercial, retail," Rumer said. "Then above it will be a condominium apartment. There is a green roof atop the parking garage, which would be an amenity for the condominiums and hotel."
That green space includes plans for a pool and perhaps tennis courts, according to renderings. Office space, restaurants and possibly other commercial space will be on the second and third floors and connect to an office building. The condominiums and hotels would extend from floor four to floor nine, with restricted access to parking and elevator levels for permanent residents in particular, and the top three floors would overlook the green space, said Jean Amm, Park Development Corporation senior vice president.
The rendering looks like this:
We have no idea if this will actually be built or built like laid out in the article, but it is Ocoee. Tampa should take note. If it really wants to be walkable it should look at projects like this one. (Are you listening Westshore?)
Sam Spencer permalinkMay 1, 2015 12:40 PM
As a point of fact, there are existing CSX rail lines which would conceivably connect Downtown Tampa and the airport–or would at least come close to doing so.
See this map: http://tampabaytrains.com/TampaBayLinesCsxEraTrains.htm
The line into Drew Park stops at Hillsborough Avenue now, but extended into the Tampa International Airport property for many years.
And of course there are already train tracks into Downtown Tampa.
Westshore would be tougher, although that's where a streetcar or new track could perhaps be supplemented.
Commuter rail and rail transit systems throughout the country often share either rails or rights-of-way with the freight railroads. See Central Florida's SunRail and the West Palm Beach-Miami Tri-Rail systems as two examples.
CSX will sell its lines for the right price. That's what they always do.
However, we could always wait for Maglev. Just as we've been waiting on economically viable Maglev systems for the past 40 years (by the way, I predict that the Orlando Maglev system won't get built). And flying cars.
Sam Spencer permalinkMay 1, 2015 3:53 PM
Definitive statement? No. But I suggest that would be a poor negotiation strategy anyway.
It seems that Class 1 railroads are always interested in selling assets if the sales are accompanied by plums which benefit their core strategy of moving freight from Point A to Point B. Since the 1980s, CSX has sold 121 miles of their rail lines in Florida for commuter rail (providing, of course, that it kept the freight rights on these tracks).
Perhaps someone should just telephone CSX's Network Rationalization Department and ask for a price? http://www.csx.com/index.cfm/customers/non-freight-services/propertyreal-estate/short-line-leases-sales/


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The FAA to soon open the door to commercial use of unmanned aerial systems?
The FAA has for several years been developing a set of regulations governing the use of unmanned aeriel systems (UASs, or "drones"), but has repeatedly missed deadlines to finalize those rules. Current regulations allow consumer use of "model aircraft" under certain conditions, and it was recently announced that one of those conditions would be registration of the drone.
Current FAA rules do not allow commercial operation of UASs except by special license. Comprehensive regulation specifying conditions under which commerical UASs can operate beyond line-of-sight of their operators (or autonomously) would open a host of industry uses of UAVs in aerial reconnaisance, delivery, etc.
Will such regulation be finalized by the FAA by June 15, 2016?
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subset: commoncrawl


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Bureau of Meterology
Bush Walkers Weather Alert
for the Western and Central Plateau forecast districts
Issued at 4.09pm on Friday 11 July 2014.
Bushwalkers are advised that snow as low as 400 metres is expected during Saturday. These hazardous conditions are expected to occur in parts of the Western and Central Plateau forecast districts.
The next warning will be issued by 11pm Friday.


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Today's Reading: Acts 11:1-30
When you hear someone call himself or herself a Christian what comes to your mind? What beliefs, convictions, or lifestyles become visible across the screen of your thinking? How do you define what a Christian is? After the images and the defining, would you define yourself as a Christian?
Barnabas shows us a little of what a dynamic follower looks like – He always encourages.
In Acts Chapter 9 we meet up with Barnabas again. Paul the former Christian Killer was being shunned by the church, but Barnabas, the encourager, takes him by the hand and brings him to the leaders and says let me tell you about the change in my brother Paul. A true friend sees good in us that others can't. They encourage others by saying, "I believe in you"
In Acts chapter 11, news has come to the church leaders that revival has broken out in Antioch–people are becoming Christians. The Apostles know just who to send down there to encourage the new believers .
Barnabas works for the success of others. Paul had been out of the picture for about 9 years but Barnabas needed help in leading the new church at Antioch and he goes looking for Saul and he trains him to be a church leader. At the end of the year at Antioch the pair head out on a missionary journey. Barnabas trained Paul so well that he surpasses him in leadership, and Barnabas cheers him on.
As good friends, we need to be overjoyed when our help and support plays a part in the success of another. Ronald Reagan once said there's no limit to what we can accomplish if we don't care who gets the credit. We need to be friends who work for the success of others.
Do you want to study the Old Testament with me in 2018?
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France July 17, 1918
Dear Neice:-
I will now answer your welcome letter. I will say Francis that you write a fine letter for a girl your age. I expect you are enjoying your vacation now. And every thing is Lovely in Sunny California. I am glad to hear that your School has adopted some French children and that you take such an intrest in their welfare. The American People are doing some Great work. And France will never forget America's Aid which she has so freely given.
We are all hopeing for the day to come when the world will again be at peace and Safe for Free people to live in. I hope you are getting allong fine with your music. I would like to hear you pound off a few notes as music is something we dont hear much of over hear Except when a bunch of Soldiers get started off on, "Its a long way to Tipperrary" and "Hail Hail the gangs all here." And a few others That would make noise enough to jar down the Times Building, and make the Animals out at East Lake Park think they had lost there voices
Well Francis I guess This is about all I can write this time. Hope this finds you all well and Happy. With love I remain your uncle.
Robert E. Schalles
1st Amb Co.
American E F.
via New York


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Over 20 A Levels and 10 vocational options are currently offered in the Sixth Form.
Level 3 Courses
Most students in the Sixth Form are studying a combination of Level 3 courses. For the majority of students this will be one of the following pathways:
- 3 A levels + EPQ
- 2 A Levels + 1 BTEC + EPQ
- 2 BTECs + 1 A Level
- 3 BTECS or the CACHE Diploma in Childcare
In addition, GCSE Maths and English resit classes are compulsory if students have not achieved a Level 4 grade.
Level 2 Courses
For a number of reasons there will be students who do not get the required GCSE grades to study at Level 3. They can choose courses in Construction, Health and Social Care, Childcare, Public Services or Hairdressing. Students on Level 2 courses spend three days in school and two days in a work placement. Maths and English resit classes are compulsory if students have not achieved a Level 4 grade. Successful completion of Level 2 will enable you to progress to some of our Level 3 courses.
All Year 12 students will have enrichment studies on a Wednesday afternoon. Currently this means that students can choose from the following options that will enhance their studies and strengthen their CVs.
- Debating club
- Gold Arts Award
- Holiday Spanish
- Cookery Skills
- Young Enterprise
- Photography
- Sport activities
- Yoga
- Volunteering
- Work Experience
|Sixth Form Prospectus 2019-20
|18th Oct 2018
|Sixth Form Course Guide 2019-20
|18th Oct 2018


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Back to School Giveaway!
Its about that time of the year again… Back to school! Red and I know how exciting it can be to go back to school and wanted to do something a little special for you all. We had so much fun with our back to school giveaway last year, we wanted to do it again! We have some brand spankin new backpack designs fresh out of the oven for you all this year.
These backpacks are designed by your favorite gamer couple! We wanted to put a little more attention to detail this time around and add a little more love to the overall product. Covered with our sweet friends characters, this polyester backpack has official iHasCupquake branding. Quality checked, all seams are double stitched and reinforced with binding to withstand those heavy books. The front pouch contains 3 pencil pouches along with a larger pouch for a phone or calculator. Inside the main backpack you will find ample space and a separate pouch for tablets or laptops. With a lightly padded back and straps, this backpack was designed with comfort in mind.
These backpacks are not yet available in our store so we are giving YOU the chance to win one and it will be filled with an assortment of school supplies to kick start off a successful school year! Head over to the link below for all of the rules and how to enter. Good Luck!
P.S. Even if you don't win, the backpacks will be available to purchase in early September
iHasCupquake's Back to School Giveaway II!
Cupquake & Red


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I decided to go Vegan and wanted to share with you guys my plans and reasons behind it. Firstly before I continue I wanted to express that this is a decision I made on my own. Back In September of 2017 I challenged myself to a plant based diet for 30 days and the first thing I was asked was "did you watch What the Health?" And my answer was NO and it still is NO. Needless to say, my 30 day challenge was a success and it was not as difficult as I thought it would be. I did this to see how my body would react, specifically my stomach. I have serious digestive problems which causes stomach pain and discomfort that I've had for years. Not only did my stomach pain decrease, my skin was clearer, I was always in a good mood (well most of the time LOL), I lost 12lbs (this wasn't part of my plan) and I felt better than I did in years. So here I am a few months later willing to make it happen again.
People think that being a Vegan is expensive. It isn't that it's super expensive, it's more so you shop more because you are buying fresh fruits and veggies more often. The thing I've learned during my first challenge is buying meat substitutes is what makes your shopping trips more expensive. I didn't like a lot of the meat substitutes that I tried so those will be removed from my shopping list which will help reduce cost. I have a bad habit of just going to the market and buying whatever I see. This time around I will make a shopping list and actually follow it. This helps to stop me from buying unnecessary items that I forget all about. Also it helps me create a budget and stick to it.
The biggest key to being successful is planning ahead and meal prepping every week. I work during the week so Sunday's will be the best day to prep. I am a very boring eater most of the time so eating the same stuff for lunch isn't a problem for me and for dinner I will try and mix it up a little each night. I'd rather eat the same thing over and over than try something different and be disappointed. During the week I plan on coming up with lunch and dinner ideas for the following week to prepare myself. I think that planning and preparation are a big part of being successful in any type of diet you wish to follow. I find it very difficult trying to figure out what I'm going to eat when I cut certain products out of my diet if I don't prepare or prep. It makes it easier for me to just have whatever is available especially when I'm hungry when I don't have a plan in place.
Just to get an idea of what Vegans are eating, here is a list of my menu for week one. I may make a few adjustments throughout the week.
For breakfast I will just have fruit smoothies. I usually add spinach to my smoothies and this will usually hold me over until lunch. For lunch I will have Vegan chili over brown rice, I meal prepped this for 4 days so Friday I will wing it. For dinner I am having vegetable stir fry for the first half of the week and Veggie burgers with oven baked fries for the second half. I may only have fries one night and add a vegetable with my burger instead.
I will write a follow up post in a few months to share with you guys how everything is going. Feel free to comment and let me know how you maintain and manage your diets.
Meals for week one
Vegan Chili
Vegetable Stir Fry


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When I first created this website I said that I didn't want to ask Christians to read the Bible because that should already be a part of their lives. What I've learned since then is that it's a little naive of me to believe Christians are already doing something. The ministry is called "Christians Being Christians" and I don't want to leave out aspects of our faith just because I assume people are already doing them.
The challenge is to read your Bible this week. I'm not going to give you a time frame or an amount of words or chapters. That is totally up to you. Make a commitment and follow through. You can't do the stuff that Jesus said to do unless you know what he said to do. All I ask is that you do more than you did last week.
My advice for reading the Bible is to find a version that is easy to read and to study in context. If you are reading a letter in the New Testament, then try to figure out what type of people the writer was addressing. I used to take that for granted and it created a narcissistic view of the Bible. I thought everything that was written was somehow directly addressed to me. I wrote myself into the Bible. If this offends you then check your own view. I don't believe the letters were addressed to us, but God will still speak to us through their contents.
Don't get it twisted, I totally think that the Bible was inspired by God for today's believer. We are churches, just like the churches that the letters address. Nothing is new under the sun. Christians still deal with many of the same issues that believers of the first churches had. As Christians, we are asked to read the Bible knowing that if God shows you something that you don't want to get rid of in your life; you should let go of it as fast as possible. If he calls you to do something; you should run into it with every part of yourself. We need to be willing to die to ourseleves and have faith that he knows what he's doing.
One example that showed me the importance of context was when I read how Paul said to address sin in a church. In a letter to the Corinthians he says to remove someone from the church; to give them over to satan so they can repent. Then in another instance he writes to the Galations saying to gently restore those who have sinned.
Which is it? Cast out or restore them gently?
If I don't read with context in mind and I just google: "How does the Bible say to address sinners?", then I will end up with conflicting answers. I believe that God has given us the mind of Christ to hear him and know how to address situations and in some cases I think either answer is correct. (We could even look at the specific sin within each occurrence and create a new type of law about how to deal with each one, but that wouldn't be a good way to go either.) If I don't understand that Paul was writing letters to specific churches, then I'll just do whatever I have most recently read or whichever fits what I want. This is just one example, but there are tons more that require further study to actually understand. My point is that we need to read the Bible with an open mind and heart and continually look at everything from every angle before we come to a hard conclusion that we apply to every occasion.
Sorry, I know this is just the weekly challenge and I'm beginning to preach. I am just passionate about interpreting scripture with as much context and as few lenses as possible. The only perfect lens is the Holy Spirit, and he will help you learn if you let him.
Side note: Please don't get overwhelmed with context or history either. It's totally okay to read the Bible before you know it all. If you couldn't then no one would ever get to read it. Open it up and find the Truth for yourself!


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Didn't do much today. 99 Burpees and about a mile walk around the neighborhood with my wife and daughter. Not doing anything is tough for me. Being an active person in an active environment all day and having to sit still is a struggle.
More updates on the storm for friday night and saturday morning are saying a possible 6 plus inches for race time. A buddy of mine just ran the stone cat course and said the trails are still snow covered and contain many icy spots (must bring stabilizers!)
Speaking of winter running, saw a cool video on Anton Krupicka's site. Check it out when you have a chance. This guys seems really down to earth and is an unbelievable ultra runner. The link is on running times.com.


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Turkey is a fascinating country which combines both Eastern and Western ways of life. It is home to sunny coastal resorts, culturally intriguing cities and a wealth of ancient sites. Holidays here are mostly set around the beautiful shores of the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas.
The Antalya region is a popular choice. Often referred to as the Turkish Riviera, it offers attractive all-round resorts. Golfing is a major pastime, due to the region's ideal terrain and climate.
Bodrum and Izmir lie along the Aegean Coast and provide the perfect mix of family holidays, buzzing nightlife and sightseeing. The famous Roman ruins at Ephesus are an absolute must for history buffs.
The most astounding coastal areas in the country lie in the Dalaman region, or the Turquoise Coast, as it is known. Its tranquil lagoons are a dazzling blue and are best viewed from above – paragliding is very popular here.
Holidays in Turkey successfully combine all the comforts and facilities of a typical Mediterranean holiday resort with the traditional delights of this exotic country.
Flight time to Turkey: 4 hours 30 minutes
Time difference: +2 hours


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EA has confirmed to Pocket Gamer that there won't be a legacy version of FIFA 16 this season on the Vita or 3DS. Fair enough, since they haven't bothered properly updating the game since the original Vita FIFA Football title, but it looks like we won't get to kick it with the ladies of the Xbox One and PS4 edition.
But, what - it must have taken all of a day's work to update team database? And since the game is a permanent fixture in the physical and digital top five, it must shift a few copies over the course of the year,
Also a shame, as it would have been good to guide the exciting Championship promotees of Bournemouth and Watford past the hapless Chelsea defenders on the bus!


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Reading is one of the best ways to compliment you children's schoolwork at home. Not only does it help with the development of their English skills, spilling and grammar most children's books have a very useful moral. Here is a list of some of the best kids' books to keep them busy during the rainy spring break:
The Twits by Roald Dahl (1980)-
Most of Dahl's books appeal to young readers because of their crazy stories and fun illustrations by Quentin Blake. Mr and Mrs Twit are a pair of unlikely heroes they live together in their big brick house with no windows. Mr Twit's beard is full of gross bits of old food and Mrs Twit has a glass eye she uses to play pranks. The pranks the couple play serve as the plot of this story which result in a perfect victory for the good guys in this book.
Best quote- "If a person has ugly thoughts, it begins to show on the face. And when that person has ugly thoughts every day, every week, every year, the face gets uglier and uglier until you can hardly bear to look at it.
A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts it will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely."
This can teach children the importance of positivity and open-mindedness. Really emphasises that beauty is on the
Suitable for- 7-12, the language is simple and easy to understand. There are illustrations throughout!
The Cat and the Hat by Dr Seuss (1957)
Like the rest of the tale by Dr Seuss, The Cat in the Hat is a story which rhymes. This makes the text flow easily for young readers. Sam and Sally are alone in the house and are visited by a strange, cat in a tall, striped hat. The cat promises to do tricks to amuse the children but as they get wilder and wilder Sam and Sally begin to worry their mother will come home and get them in trouble. This book is engaging and illustrated throughout which makes it an easy text to take apart with your kids and look at themes of trust and stranger danger.
Best quote- "He should not be here.
He should not be about.
He should not be here
When your mother is out!"
Directed at the cat from the children's fish, this catchy little verse is good for reminding children that they ought to not talk to strangers if their mother is out.
Suitable for 1-8- read aloud this tale is almost a song so it is pleasant to listen to. It is also a good entry text from young readers independently.
The Lion the Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S Lewis (1950)
The story follow four English children who find a mythical world called Narnia at the back of their wardrobe. Narnia has been ruled by an evil white witch in constant winter for 100 years. Lewis's story is gripping and exciting for children as they follow the characters through this magic world meeting interesting creatures during their adventures. It deals with themes of family, dealing with betrayal and exploration. As well as dealing with the idea of good vs. evil.
Best Quote-
"And the dagger is to defend yourself at great need. For you also are not to be in the battle."
"Why, Sir," said Lucy. "I think – I don't know – but I think I could be brave enough"
Lucy- the youngest of the siblings- is told by Father Christmas she cannot fight in the final battle because she is a girl! Lucy believes she is brave enough to manage and does. By the end Lucy is known as Lucy the Valiant. Lucy is a joyful character in the text and her narrative helps children to understand courage and gender equality.
Suitable for- 8-12- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a long text and is part of a series. It requires an amount of concentration probably from a more mature child reader.
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne (2006)
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas takes a very serious backdrop and creates in the foreground a narrative for children. Set in Germany during World War 2 Bruno has to move to the outskirts of a concentration camp when his soldier father is promoted. Written for children the depiction of the Holocaust is appropriate for children. Bruno meets Shmuel who is imprisoned behind the fence and cannot see a reason for the segregation.
Best quote- "…Despite the mayhem that followed, Bruno found that he was still holding Shmuel's hand in his own and nothing in the world would have persuaded him to let go."
Bruno and Shmuel are connected and will support each other no matter what.
Suitable for 8-12- The text is relatively short and would be best partnered alongside studies of the wars and also racism and racial tension. Schmuel and Bruno connect and even look alike but they are told they are different. This text really opens up question about discrimination and racism.


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General location:
Nestled between sections of Pisgah National Forest, AS IF Center is central to many natural areas. The closest towns are Spruce Pine and Burnsville, even though our official address is Bakersville. We are about a 20 minute drive from Penland School of Crafts and an hour from Asheville.
Local food:
There is an Ingles grocery store 30 minutes away in Burnsville, and another Ingles the same distance in Spruce Pine. During most months of the year, there are several farmers markets that sell local organic produce, meat, dairy, and other items. From April through November we use a local CSA called Goldfinch Gardens and can pick up veggies for you if you order ahead (orders placed on Tuesdays, delivery on Fridays). If you have special dietary preferences, you can get almost anything you need in Asheville, an hour away – inquire for details if you need something special. There are several decent restaurants and coffee shops in the area such as Fox & the Fig, and DT's Blue Ridge Java in Spruce Pine; and Snap Dragon and Appalachian Java in Burnsville. The Coffee House at Penland School of Crafts is delightful, as well. If you are a resident artist or scientist during a time when Penland is in session, we will treat you to lunch at The Pines at Penland – you'll need to give us a few days' notice so we can reserve a spot for you.
Locally available art:
Penland School art supply store is a gorgeous 20 minute drive from AS IF Center (go, even if you don't need to). You can find fiber supplies at Yummi Yarns in Burnsville, and just down the road from AS IF you can get glass making supplies at Spruce Pine Batch. There are options nearby for sharing resources (and even studio space) with artists who work in glass, ceramics, metal, wood, textiles, printmaking, photography, and other media – with 400 artists in our area, including Burnt Mountain Pottery right next door – just ask ahead of time and we'll hook you up.
An hour away, Asheville offers great selection and reasonable prices at Cheap Joe's Art Stuff, natural dyes, woodworking supplies, and all kinds of neat stuff at Earth Guild, beads and supplies at Chevron Trading Company, textile supplies at House of Fabrics, clay supplies at Highwater Clays, and lots of other treasures. Sassy Jack's Stitchery in Weaverville has a wide selection of hand-dyed and specialty embroidery floss.
Locally available science:
Tal Galton at Snakeroot Ecotours is a knowledgeable guide who can teach you about the area's rich natural history. If you arrange in advance and schedule for just the right week, he may even be able to give you a tour of rare orchids or take you to see Blue Ghost fireflies. Dark skies in our area provide good conditions for stargazing, including at the nearby Bare Dark-Sky Observatory. The Museum of North Carolina Minerals on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Spruce Pine is a nice little science museum with a few field guides and supplies in their store. The Compleat Naturalist is in Asheville has a pretty good variety of tools for entomology, botany, geology, and general study of natural history. If you need a fume hood, autoclave, freezer space, incubator, or other science lab facilities, let us know and we can help you make arrangements with a nearby lab. Carolina Biological Supply is just three hours away. If you need to order something for your work and you think it might be something we'd be interested in at AS IF Center, let us know – we might order it to add to our supply list.
The headquarters for the nation's climate data are in Asheville at the NCEI. The Asheville Collider helps connect NOAA/NCEI climate scientists with nonprofits, business, and the general public, and hosts interesting science talks. The NC Arboretum and Asheville Botanical Garden teach about our remarkable Southern Appalachian flora. Scientists at the US Forest Service Southern Research Station work on entomology, fisheries, forestry, invasive species, effects of climate change, and other topics. If you'd like us to help you make a connection with some of these folks, just let us know.
Local towns:
Spruce Pine and Burnsville are small to medium sized towns each with a large grocery store (Ingles), a few restaurants, taverns, coffee shops, galleries, hardware stores, banks, thrift and antique stores, several libraries, medical services including a small hospital, etc. and can provide most basic services. The Penland Post Office is worth a trip and they offer unusual stamps for sale.


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ABM Advisor: The ABM Blog.
Category - Business and Accounting Software
What's next for the manufacturing industry?
The manufacturing industry is in the midst of a minor revitalisation, with new technologies and digital platforms being rolled out every quarter to help compensate for shrinking profit margins.In Australia, the sector recently hit its ninth continuous month of improvement; it now currently sits at 55 points, or 5 points above neutral, according to the Australian Industry Group. It has so far weathered the storm well in comparison to other waning markets, yet small- and medium-sized business owners will have to continue to improve their organisations moving forward to keep up with competitors.Digital revolutionTechnological upgrades are coming in every shape and form for the manufacturing industry. Robotics, the Internet of Things and 3D printing are all helping to save money on the front line - often replacing employees for more efficient machines.But it's the back-end of the businesses that need the most improvement, yet don't receive the same limelight. Increased costs for utilities and other key day-to-day tasks are expected to have a drastic affect on some organisations in the coming future, especially food manufacturers.Read Full Story
2 manufacturing and warehousing trends sweeping the industries
As we approach the middle of the year it's always a good strategy to reflect on the trends shaping the industry. Doing so can give you an idea of what competitors are doing and perhaps provides foresight that could prove advantageous for your business.The manufacturing industry is undergoing a massive upheaval in terms of technological integration, with many companies quickly adopting solutions that improve various aspects of day-to-day operations. The market is currently in an upward trend and it's clear that the innovative strategies being deployed aren't just for show - they have a tangible impact on small and medium-sized business' ability to turn a profit and manage a growing list of clients.Robotics and automation are earning praise for revolutionising the industry.With all of this in mind, here are a few things to keep your eye on as the year rounds out:1. Mechanical revolutionManual labour has its pros and cons. On the one hand, there are certain jobs that skilled technicians can accomplish that just wouldn't be possible for a robot. On the other hand, unexpected downtimes can result from injuries on the job, confusion among workers as to what needs to be done or anything else that commonly plagues productivity in warehouses.Due to the latter, it's expected that more small and medium-sized businesses in Australia adopt innovative technologies being deployed worldwide, Process Online reported. Automation, robotics and the Internet of Things (IoT) are leading the way as tools that owners can integrate on the warehouse floor in an effort to improve productivity across the board without sacrificing accuracy.Although they may have an expensive buy-in price, they're key to competing in a future reliant on big data. IoT especially has the benefit of providing valuable metrics that can find inefficiencies in operations and provide analysis that could potentially increase profits, according to Cerasis. Manufacturing and warehousing companies are relying on technology to lighten the load. 2. Transition away from manual processesThe other trend sweeping the industry is impacting the office, but its benefits extend to the warehouse floor. Small and medium-sized organisations are doing away with paper-based bookkeeping by integrating a business accounting software platform. Stuart Scotis, a consultant for Deloitte, told the source he expects this trend to continue in Australia."Technology as a whole is increasing its spend across industries in Australia, and further growth is expected," Scotis said. "2017 will see the continued movement to the consumption based models as CIOs continue to see the speed and flexibility together with the potential cost savings become increasingly attractive to a widening technology landscape."Business accounting software streamlines day-to-day tasks and modernises the company.But the digital revolution isn't reserved to accounting. Business management software is being seen as a necessary step for small and medium-sized companies to take if they want to compete with larger organisations in an increasingly competitive market, and bookkeeping is just one piece of the puzzle.For the large part, companies are building a digital ecosystem that encapsulates every day-to-day and long-term task. In this sense, accounting is only a small part of that grand idea. Business owners are adopting a platform that offers the ability to add on additional modules, like structured stock software or project invoicing. By moving all of this to the cloud, business owners are able to get rid of silos that hamper production. They improve efficiency across the board, which then allows them to transfer those cost-cutting measures into savings for clients - a trend in itself that PricewaterhouseCoopers expects to gain more traction as the market gets more competitive.Technology is certainly the underlying theme of 2017, and companies are already buying into these trends.Read Full Story
Food manufacturing industry ripe for technological innovation
For years the mining industry reigned supreme as a key cog in the Australian economy, but food production and manufacturing is set to take over.From production to distribution and everything in-between, small and medium-sized business owners in the sector are experiencing sustained growth. Some of that success can be attributed to technological innovations that have allowed many companies to streamline operations and cut costs.Taking stock of the marketThe Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index continues to trend upward with strong support from the food sub-sector, according to data from AI Group. The index currently sits at 59.2 and has experienced growth for the last seven consecutive months. Wayne Driver, managing director for SMC, told Food and Beverage Industry News that this expansion isn't just a blip on the radar.Robotics and automation are becoming more popular in food production."...With the mining boom over, the area that is growing is food and packaging," Driver said. "Food and packaging will continue to grow, because let's face it, we all have to eat and while Australia only has a small domestic market, the majority of OEMs in ANZ can only grow their businesses by exporting."As is the case with many industries, companies are looking for advantages over competitors to gain a financial edge. This has led a number of organisations to look into technology like robotics or artificial intelligence, according to Food Processing Technology news.A report from Infosys estimated the food manufacturing, production and distribution industries will be the most affected by the many technological revolutions being made. Companies quick to endorse and integrate artificial intelligence are expected to earn revenue increases of nearly 40 per cent by 2020, according to the study. But the innovations spawning increased growth don't necessarily belong solely to the warehouse floor. Small and medium-sized businesses are using software to streamline day-to-day operations. Streamline back-end operationsSmall and medium-sized companies around the world are quickly gravitating towards business management software because of its ability to automate certain manual functions. Roughly 65 per cent of organisations in the U.S., for example, already use accounting software to handle day-to-day financial transactions, Forbes reported. This practise likely extends to Australian companies as well.Business accounting software is becoming increasingly popular for a couple of reasons. The Forbes article estimated small business owners spend roughly four hours per day online managing their company - a significant amount of time. They can gain some of that back by automating tasks like bookkeeping, asset management and time sheet tracking.Business accounting software can automate bookkeeping without chance of error.With the right platform, owners can extend that technological innovation to other aspects of their business. Some business management softwares offer organisations the option to attach modules, which helps to integrate financial information with, say, structured stock software.The key to receiving any type of competitive advantage from adopting this strategy is to track all aspects of the operation within one digital platform. Otherwise, managers will have to log in and out to obtain data - this defeats the purpose of streamlining back-end operations, and could actually hurt productivity in the process.With the food manufacturing, production and distribution industries growing rapidly, leveraging digital technology will become vital to keeping up with the unprecedented rate of expansion. With that prosperity comes more orders, clients and employees to manage. Modern software can effortlessly link warehouse floor operations to bookkeeping, meaning it's never been easier for small and medium-sized businesses to handle whatever is thrown their way.There's no sign of slowed growth, as the last index contraction came nearly one year ago, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Read Full Story
Falling manufacturing employment makes technology more important
The recent growth in certain sectors of the manufacturing industry has come at an expense; employment is contracting.Over the past 17 years, the market has shed 130,000 jobs, according to The Australian. There are a number of reasons behind the fact that hiring has slowed, and the occurrence of the worldwide economic recession nearly a decade ago is certainly near the top of the list.Technology has helped sustain growth despite falling employment.The fact is, though, the manufacturing industry is incredibly strong right now. In April, the AI Group bumped it up to 59.2 on the Purchasing Manufacturers Index (PMI), where anything higher than 50 is considered good. This is partly because employers are leaning on technology and digitisation now more than ever, and they're finding it works.Hungry for knowledgeIt's clear the market is gaining more success with less staff. Companies are looking for innovative ways to improve not only the warehouse floor, but how the company is run as a whole, according to Marcel Bick, the business development manager at Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation."Companies that are highly innovative have been reaching out to us to partner with them to develop innovative technologies," Bick told Manufacturers' Monthly. "They either ask us to create a new product for them or improve on existing technologies to improve processes and ultimately maximise cost savings."With robotics and artificial intelligence dominating the headlines lately, some companies may not have picked up on the usefulness of business management software. Improving efficiency on the back-end of operations ultimately extends out to the day-to-day tasks, ensuring a cleaner and smoother running engine. Small businesses are gravitating towards database software to help automate back-end tasks. Where to improveFor small and medium-sized businesses, creating an entirely new product can be an arduous and expensive process, even if the financial benefits are valuable. These companies can really gain an edge and leverage their limited staff by investing in database software.Inventory levels, accounting and order management can all be improved upon by automating previously manual methods of said tasks. Speeding up these taxing aspects that are vital to the organisation gives managers more time to assess other areas of need that might require more attention, all while ensuring complete and utter accuracy.The upside of having a lean staff is that it takes little time to integrate small business management software - employers just have to take the first step. Contact an ABM representative today to find out more.Read Full Story
Growing companies quickly adopting business accounting software
Owners of small and medium-sized businesses seldom have easy decisions to make.Thoughts of expanding warehousing distribution operations or bringing on new employees certainly carry risk and are more difficult to put into action. When it comes to improving workflow efficiencies and accounting for a growing operation, digitising the back-end of your day-to-day operations is a no-brainer.Taking stock of the marketOne way to evaluate whether a business is on pace with its industry competitors is to look at early adoption rates of technology. Digitisation has spurned innovation in manufacturing worldwide, and companies that take advantage of it early on are likely to see improvements that provide a financial edge.14 per cent of Australian SMBs used accounting software in 2014.Australian small businesses are leading the pack when it comes to integrating business accounting software. Roughly 14 per cent were using the platform in 2014 to streamline bookkeeping, while just 11 per cent of global companies could say the same, according to The Australian. Another 46 per cent were actively looking into deploying the technology before the end of 2015.There are a number of reasons why organisations are trending towards automated accounting. Perhaps the most visible conclusion is that the Australian economy is in a period of sustained growth, which the Australian Business Economists expect to continue well into 2017, The Guardian reported. This means small businesses are invariably taking on larger workloads and hiring more employees. Scaling warehousing operations to meet that demand, all while managing bookkeeping manually, can potentially lead to clerical errors that could adversely impact the company's financial records. Efficiency improvements on the back-end extend throughout the warehouse. Evaluating your requirementsEach and every small and medium-sized business has its own needs. The most useful business accounting software will allow for total customisability through optional modifications. It needs to be able to take warehouse assets, client orders and other variables into account to really streamline the back-end of operations, Business Victoria reported.Simply put, there's no use in having separate structured stock software because it unnecessarily opens up the door to potential errors. Storing all business affairs under one platform also helps to make sure all staff members who will use the program are properly trained. If it's too complicated then mistakes can be made, which defeats the purpose of introducing the system, Business News Daily reported.Above all else, make sure to see the platform in action before you introduce it to your business. It has the potential to improve the company at a number of different levels, but not if you don't feel comfortable with it.Contact an ABM representative to schedule your demonstration today.Read Full Story
Building your accounting solution from the ground up
No two industries are exactly the same. While there isn't a lot of crossover between fields such as warehousing, online retail management and architecture, they all share one common thread. An intuitive accounting system can eliminate the time spent on repetitive processes and improve efficiency through automation.So what exactly does the Advanced Business Manager core accounting system offer?Over 60 per cent of managers believe they aren't doing a good job at meeting the needs of learning staff.The core accounting system frameworkBefore introducing any new piece of software into a business, it's imperative staff training be taken into account to avoid company downtime. Our core accounting system integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Office, providing a familiar user interface that will reduce the time spent getting accustomed to how the software works.How crucial is initial training though? According to SHIFT eLearning, over 60 per cent of managers believe they aren't doing a good job at meeting the needs of learning staff, resulting in early departures from staff within a business. If that statistic doesn't illustrate the benefits of training then the financial incentive surely will; the same report states that ineffective training costs businesses over $13.5 million each year.We also provide ongoing assistance through our expert support services across Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the United Kingdom. All our solutions providers have been through extensive training, so you can rest assured any problems will be addressed and resolved quickly and professionally. Staff training is vital to get the most out of new software. How does business intelligence software fit into my company? ABM offers add-on modules that can tailor our core accounting product to almost any industry. Just a few of the solutions that can be tailored to include:Wholesale and DistributionOnline Retail ManagementWarehousingConstructionImportingArchitectureConsultant EngineersThe open architecture of the system is designed to work in unison with third-party software. This allows for a highly customisable and specific business solution, and one that will fit effortlessly into your current accounting model.For example, our service management add-on allows companies that deliver solutions on-site to track personnel, automatically log client history and distribute billing and reporting. This add-on alone can benefit equipment servicing professionals, field engineers, tradespeople and more.From a data-based perspective, our business intelligence module allows for a top-down view and detailed analysis of business profitability. You can then use this information to identify strengths and weaknesses within your business model, and enact customer and staff performance reviews. With a strong focus on improving business efficiency and revenue, this add-on module is applicable across a wide range of industries.To learn more about ABM business management software, get in touch for a free demo today.Read Full Story
Increasing security through automated accounting software
The subject of internet security isn't one that many businesses like to approach unprepared. After all, everyone wants to feel that they are secure in how they conduct business, and provide this level of safety and trust to their customers.But as more businesses more to a digital format - online stores, interactive website customer service and email communications to clients - it's crucial that the information we send online be protected. So how can incorporating automated accounting software into your business help keep it safe at the same time? Businesses that integrate cybersecurity with digital strategies will be better poised to build trust into everything they do and transform faster.Increased security at a lower costFor many small businesses, allowing resources to be set aside for a dedicated IT team isn't really an option. However, two reports released by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) bring to light just how serious security is for businesses as they embrace a digital future. For small businesses with limited funds, moving to and off-site storage option that uses cloud technology can remove the stresses associated with storing data. Tom Puthiyamadam, PwC's Global Digital Services Leader, notes that digital business models addressing security are the key to success in a changing marketplace. "Businesses that integrate cybersecurity with digital strategies will be better poised to build trust into everything they do and transform faster," he said."Leading companies are integrating cybersecurity, privacy and digital ethics from the outset. And that enables them to better engage with existing customers and attract new ones. Many also see efficiencies in operations, business process and IT investments."Moving to the CloudIf you haven't already started looking at cloud technology for storage, it may be a little daunting to approach. So how does the cloud work, and why is it safer? Essentially, cloud storage is just information that is kept off-site and in a data centre. This could be anywhere; from someone's garage to a multi-location data fortress. It's important that businesses address cybersecurity. One way to explain cloud technology is to look at an email provider like Gmail. When you create a Gmail account, everything is stored online, but essentially it's kept on Google servers. When you receive an email or an attachment, it doesn't download directly onto your computer, it's instead stored in a data centre that you can access freely at any time. This saves you space in storage, while taking advantage of Google's excellent security. Of course, while there are a number of small cloud providers, large and trusted hosts - like Microsoft, Google and Facebook - are increasingly commonplace. According to the PwC report Moving forward with cybersecurity and privacy, 63 per cent of businesses say that they run IT operations in the cloud. But is this just because of security, or for another benefit to business? When you receive an email or an attachment, it doesn't download directly onto your computer, it's instead stored in a data centre that you can access freely at any time.Collaboration through automated work processesMoving to the cloud offers another benefit beyond security - it enables an organisation to communicate easily and instantaneously, allowing them to collaborate and share information automatically. This automation is at the heart of software like Advanced Business Manager, streamlining processes like timekeeping and customer relationship management so you can focus on the areas of your business that you need to. Business intelligence software combines the best parts of these two concerns - it removes the potential for human error, offering greater security and better insight into the information you gather. With PwC noting that 34 per cent of customer service and marketing functions are run from the cloud, you won't be alone...Read Full Story
Are you engaged with your customers enough?
Customer engagement is important in any business, but for utilities it can present a significant challenge. Perhaps it's that, as a society, we've taken clean water and abundant electricity for granted, to the point we're critical of our utility company for not offering the lowest prices or the same deal as a startup competitor.To address the need for increased transparency in how their business operates, many utilities have taken to social media to engage with customers.While this is sound advice for the majority of companies, how can you ensure you have all the information needed to face the public's questions? Below we'll examine a few steps you can take to engage successfully with your customers.By adding services such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram, you can create a total social profile that addresses many different customer bases at multiple levels.Talk to your customers, not at themA key part of engaging with customers in our current age is by taking the leap to social media. However, if this is your first time jumping into the online world to talk with your customers, there are a few key points to remember.One common mistake many make is dehumanising their business and responding with robotic and unsympathetic responses. Generally, customers will go online with their concerns. While you may get a few people wanting to congratulate you for the excellent service you provide, many people look at social media as a way to vent their frustrations, or gain the collective support of other customers when they have a problem.By addressing your customers as people, and responding to their concerns with empathy and sincerity, you can ensure that when your customers have an issue they don't abandon your business due to an impersonal or insufficient response.Spread yourself across social mediaMaybe you want to create a company Facebook page, and interact with your customers that way, or perhaps you think Twitter is an easier method of communicating with your clientele.The secret to success in this area is to not limit yourself to just one piece of social media. Thinking about your online presence as a whole can help illustrate this point; Facebook is excellent for responding to individual customers and sharing articles or thought leadership appropriate to your industry, but it's just the start of your online profile.By adding services such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram, you can create a total social profile that addresses many different customer bases at multiple levels. Twitter is great for providing instant, snappy updates on your service or something that needs to gain traction quickly, while if your business is visual-heavy you could even create an Instagram account to update your customers with enticing photos. Engaging with customers brings them closer to your business. By communicating with all levels of your customers, there's no risk of you alienating a single group or presenting an image that only appeals to one demographic.Some common mistakes to avoidIf this is your first time jumping into the world of social media for customer engagement and retention, you'll no doubt experience a few trip ups along the way. Although this is bound to happen at some point, we're grouped together the most common issues to help you get started in the right way.Some of the problems companies experience when entering social media are:Keeping it short-term: Successful social media engagement is a long distance run not a sprint.Don't flood your customers: People already chose your business for a reason, so bombarding them with pointless posts will do little to keep them engaged.Tackle the tough subjects: Don't avoid the tricky questions.Read Full Story
3 ways you can benefit from online retail management
If you've already entered the online shopping world, you'll know some of the trials and tribulations that accompany the process. In a world rapidly embracing the move to digital, an online version of your store is a logical choice. For many though, the move to online isn't accompanied by a team of marketers, accountants and social media professionals.As such, it can be difficult to juggle the responsibilities of an online store concurrently with an online presence, which is where online retail management software can help by removing some of the pressure to allow you to be focus on the areas of your business that need attention.Below are just three ways that freeing up resources through business accounting software will help you approach your online venture in a much smoother manner.Over 90 per cent of the public are turning to social media to help make buying decisions.Better sales managementimplementing automated accounting software into your business will greatly increase your ability to manage and track sales. Starting with our core accounting software, you can add a number of optional modules that can assist in managing your e-commerce project.The Advanced Business Manager Structured Stock module is designed for businesses that wish to track and organise their stock more efficiently. Featuring a flexible structure that allows for user-defined attributes, improving your sales through better recording means you'll always have full awareness of stock levels.More connection with your customersHaving greater control of your stock levels means you'll have more time to interact and reach out to your customers.This can be the deciding factor for many businesses moving online - maintaining a level of engagement with your customers that encourages them to keep coming back to your business is almost as important as having a popular product in the first place. Could your online store benefit from accounting software? If you don't see the importance of social media, then there are some troubling statistics you may want to see. According to Slant Marketing, Facebook accounts for 64 per cent of total social revenue. Even more telling, Magento reports that 93 per cent of the public are turning to social media to help make buying decisions.Analytics helps further the processHaving more time to reach out to your customers is only helpful if you've got something to say to them. The Business Intelligence module presents your business data in an entirely new way: Real-time reporting without delay.Analytics is also helping businesses predict trends in the marketplace, by identifying popular products, promotions and areas of your site your customers are more engaged with. If you want to discover the power of the software for yourself, get in touch today for a free demo.Read Full Story
Will data be the new business commodity?
Accounting software is the key to automation in business - and something you should definitely take note of. Technology isn't just making our lives easier and work more efficient, it's forcing an evolution in how we view customers, business and data altogether.Why is this exactly? There could be two significant contributors to the coming change - if it isn't already upon us - but many people have happily gone along with both for quite some time. The two factors are:Payment processing is a gargantuan industry - even the smallest fees placed on digital payment processing cause a staggering amount of revenue generation. Transaction cycles have changed from paper invoices and data entry to just digital - not many people are realising the true value of data, despite embracing the move away from physical paper processes.Let's take a closer look and explain why each is crucially important to managing future business operations.Read Full Story
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Associate, Operations
- Organization
- Humanity United
- Deadline for Applications
- 10/14/2015
- Where to Apply
- Please send your letter of inquiry and resume to Robyn Arville, Director of Human Resources at firstname.lastname@example.com
Title: Associate Department: Operations
Manager: Senior Liaison, Executive Office FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Location: San Francisco, CA
Humanity United is a foundation committed to building peace and advancing human freedom. We lead, support, and collaborate with a broad network of efforts, ideas, and organizations that share our vision of a world free of conflict and injustice.
Reporting to the Senior Liaison, Executive Office the Associate is primarily responsible for providing efficient support to improve the effectiveness of HU's institutional needs and activities. The Associate functions mainly as a floating team member of the organization and is responsible for providing real time administrative support across various activities and priority projects.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Increase organizational capacity by acting as organization-wide floater, working in collaboration with other staff members across Humanity United, as assigned
- Lend additional support to Executive Office, as needed, including production of board books, event logistics, legal matters, and other administrative duties
- Provide general administrative support to Head of Strategy, Learning and Impact, to include calendaring, filing, expense reports, etc.
- Provide administrative support to strategy Design Teams, as directed, including logistics, calendaring, and minutes
- Achieve/maintain proficiency and serve as internal resource for Kumu mapping
- Process Founder-suggested and CEO-initiated grants, as requested
- Support production of annual Expenditure Responsibility reports
- Provide administrative assistance relating to the activities of Humanity United Fellows, consultants and others as requested, including calendaring, expense reports, travel arrangements, event logistics and facilities-related support
- Perform other responsibilities, as necessary and/or assigned
- Bachelor's degree required, master's degree preferred
- Experience supporting senior personnel is required
- Prior work in a non-profit or philanthropic environment is highly desirable
- Must demonstrate excellent communication skills (verbal and written), resourcefulness, willingness to work on both routine administrative tasks and higher-order projects, sound judgment, and the ability to work in a fast paced, challenging environment
- Advanced knowledge of Apple-based hardware/software products
- Must be strong at multi-tasking, prioritizing, and have demonstrated expertise in proactively working on projects of wide scope and significant magnitude
- Experience successfully working on projects with international aspects
- Must demonstrate excellent interpersonal and collaborative skills to work successfully with a variety of individuals and cultures
- Must have experience working with high profile individuals and on high profile projects using appropriate sensitivity and confidentiality
- Must have outstanding attention to detail, accuracy and organization skills
- Must demonstrate high degree of flexibility and adaptability required or indicative of a startup, entrepreneurial or changing work environment
- Must be a creative and independent self-starter, while being a strong team player who acts with diplomacy at all times
- Must be resourceful and, once trained, able to work at a high level with little guidance
- Strong work ethic and impeccable professionalism are key job requirements
Other duties from time to time, as needed by institutional priorities.
Please send your letter of inquiry and resume to Robyn Arville, Director of Human Resources at firstname.lastname@example.com


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You never know how edgy an all-white outfit really is...until you try to wear one.
You know those times when you decide to wear a single article of white clothing and consequently spend the rest of the day worrying about spilling crumbs, coffee, tomato sauce etc. etc. etc. onto that item?
Well imagine that fear, magnified to the level of an outfit with
white clothing items.
Yup. It would be petrifying.
I've never worn an all-white outfit, myself, but I'm ready to try. And these Polyvore sets I created definitely gave me some inspiration.
The first would be great for a Spring lunch date. I like the idea of mixing textures for all-white outfits as a way to bring variety to the look. Here, chiffon lounge shorts contrast with a delicate, hand-beaded crop top.
The focus on this second look isn't so much on contrasting textures, but rather, contrasting styles. A cropped, lace-detail top and high-waisted slacks create a crisp, dressier foundation for the outfit. Dress it down with leather trainers (I'm obsessed with the Nike Air Force 1's) and a perforated messenger bag, for a sportier element.
I know the gem on the ring is grey, the nail polish is blue, and the frames on the sunnies are purple...so maybe this is a bit of a cheat, but I'm going to overlook that. After all, those accessories can easily be changed. You could do white almond-shaped acrylics, and an opal ring! Opal would actually be stunning, as the stone itself is mostly white, but there are flecks of color that reflect beautifully in the light.