The Art Of Effective Award design

Designing an award is not a particularly easy process; there are a lot more things to take into consideration than you might first think. Awards aren’t all trophies; some are certificates or plaques, have you thought about what format your award will be in? The materials you use? Whether it will be re-used next year or whether you will simply make a new one each year? As with any design process there are questions you have to ask yourself and the answers will help you to formulate a plan for your design.

What is the achievement for which you are rewarding the recipient? The purpose of the award itself will often dictate a large part of the award’s design. Things like the trophies and medals often have an engraving or shape that reflects on the activity, which is most commonly sport related. In such instances it becomes fairly easy to select the primary features of the design; races use medals because it provides a cost effective way of providing an award to multiple people, often engraved with their position and some information about the race. While a football trophy is usually larger and more decorative as it will be used as a display for the winning team for the next year or season, rather than a reminder of their accomplishment the way a medal is.

Understanding the different ways in which the awards will be interpreted helps to understand which form of award and design for the award would be most beneficial and suitable to your needs. When it comes to corporate awards a plaque or certificate are the most popular options, but small trophies can also be an excellent way of marking a considerable achievement, particularly within a larger company. While your budget will dictate a certain amount of the design you should always be sure not to select awards based solely on finding the lowest price.

The material you select can be an important part, as well as impacting rather heavily on the cost. For example; if you’re a big company with a big budget gold and silver awards are always appreciated, staff members will feel particularly important having been given such a pricey award, but who really has the budget for that these days? I will always recommend glass when it comes to plaques and trophies; technology today means that there is an awful lot we can do with glass and it is a relatively low cost material. If done right however, it can be used to produce a very professional and attractive design.

Particularly when it comes to corporate awards there are things you may want to include, because it is likely to be something that your employee will value and display for the rest of their working life and even into retirement. The reason for the award or name of the award should be present, this might be something simple such as ‘employee of the year’ or it might be something much more in depth and meaningful such as ‘awarded for demonstration of excellence in management and outstanding integrity as a person’; providing a reason for the award where it can be a constant reminder to that person will make them feel more accomplished and motivated, as well as making your employee look better in the eyes of anyone who sees their desk decoration.

Other things to include in a corporate award could be; the name of the recipient, the company name and logo (after all you want the employee to associate their accomplishment, and anyone else who sees it, with your company) and of course any additional information that you may feel would be of benefit to the general design of the award, such as who nominated the recipient, what their position in the company is or even just a decorative design. Naturally anything you choose to include is entirely your own decision and something you should think about carefully according to your own needs.

About the Author;
Kate Critchlow is a passionate young writer with a keen interest in business and corporate awards.

Planning Your Award Ceremony

 

 

When it comes to an award ceremony, regardless of the reason for it, you want to be sure that the purpose and meaning behind the occasion are demonstrated and fully celebrated. Awards are a popular way of boosting motivation, particularly within a professional environment, because (as we all know) the proper motivation can greatly boost performance. One of the most important factors is, as you would expect, the planning that goes into the ceremony.

Venue;

The first stage of proper awards ceremony planning is figuring out where to host it. There are a number of factors you will need to take into consideration, such as how important the event will be, how long it is likely to last, what the theme or level of professionalism there is likely to be and of course how many people you will have attending. Take into account the size of the venue, the proximity of the venue to your usual location (your business or organisation’s office) and what the venue actually offers. Popular venues such as hotels will often provide a selection of packages which will include catering and even some entertainment; these may be worth looking into if you want to save a little money.

Food & Drink;

Of course, if the venue you have selected do not have a catering option you’re going to have to arrange that. Take into account the number of options you’re going to have to provide and the number of people you’re going to be feeding; will there be served meals or an open access buffet? Will there be alcohol served or access to a bar on the venue property? Some venues prefer that you don’t provide alcohol with your catering so that they can make more money from selling drinks at their own bars, while others are happy enough for you to provide anything you like. Wine and champagne are often perfectly acceptable and set the theme very well for a mature, professional ceremony.

Staffing the Ceremony;

Who is dealing with the preparations? Have you decided on a host or will you be doing that yourself? Are there waiters on hand to serve food and drink or are you entrusting your staff not to turn it into a free-for-all? You’re going to need people who will greet your guests, people who will provide information and ensure that everything is running to schedule, people who will operate the bar or buffet if you have one, people who will serve the food and drink. You’re going to have to deal with just about everything if you aren’t using a venue that handle all of the work. From preparation to operating there will have to be people on hand to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Preparing the Materials;

Ceremonies these days usually come with presentations; photos, information, videos and so on. They provide a way of presenting the information in a way everyone can see and understand and offer a focal point for your ceremony. Who is going to prepare the PowerPoint presentation? What will be included in it? Where are they getting that information? Have you given them the pictures that you want included? Is someone going to manually change the slides during the presentation or are you just hoping you get your timing right? Have you run through it and checked that everything is there? Have you decided on seating arrangements during the ceremony? Do the people getting awards know they’re getting awards? Everything you need has to be prepared in advance and checked to ensure all of the materials are there.

Prepare the Awards;

Naturally, one of the most essential parts of your award ceremony, is ensuring that the awards are selected and prepared. Decide on the sorts of awards you’re going to give, take suggestions and ensure that the selection process for the winners is fair and carefully thought through. What are the qualifications for the awards? Why were the winners selected? What will you say about them once you have declared them the winner of the award? If you’ve ever watched any sort of awards ceremony you will understand what is expected; you name the award, you explain the characteristics of the winner and why they were selected for the award, then you call them up to collect it.

Acquire the Awards;

This is one of the most essential parts and should certainly not be forgotten. Buy the awards! You will have to decide whether the same award will be used each year, kept for a year and then returned to be awarded again (common with sports trophies), or whether it will be made specifically for that person to be kept and treasured by them forever (more common with things like retirement plaques) and of course deciding on this will impact on your decisions with regards to things like engraving the awards.

About the Author;

Kate Critchlow is a passionate young writer with a keen interest in business and corporate awards.

Strangers Kissing In 'First Kiss' Is A Beautiful Thing

What Happen when two strangers Kiss, Nothing........

 
 



                                                "First Kiss" directed by Tatia Pilieva

     

Students turning to prostitution to fund studies

Greater numbers of students in England are turning to prostitution to fund their education, the National Union of Students (NUS) claims.


The NUS also says students are turning to gambling and taking part in medical experiments to fund their studies.
It says increased living costs and fees, and cuts to the education maintenance allowance, play a part.
But the government says it offers students a "generous package" of financial support.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live's Breakfast programme, Estelle Hart, the NUS's national women's officer, said government cuts had put more pressure on students.
"Students are taking more dangerous measures," said Ms Hart.
"In an economic climate where there are very few jobs, where student support has been massively cut, people are taking more work in the informal economy, such as sex work.
"It's all dangerous unregulated work, simply so people can stay in education."
Helpline calls The English Collective of Prostitutes, which runs a helpline from its base in London, said the number of calls it receives from students had at least doubled in the past year.
Sarah Walker from the organisation has seen a steady increase in calls from students over the past 10 years, but said her group had received an unprecedented number of calls since the government's announcement that universities in England could charge tuition fees of up to £9,000 a year from 2012.
"They [ministers] know that the cuts they're making are driving women into things like sex work. It's a survival strategy so we would hold the government responsible for that."
Escort work It is not just university students who are turning to the adult industry to pay for their education.
Eighteen-year-old Clare - not her real name - turned to escorting during her A-levels when she found out her education maintenance allowance (EMA) was in danger of being cut.

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote

I couldn't see any other option”

Clare Student

"I couldn't go to college without EMA. My travel costs are £70 a month, without it I don't know what I'd have done. I didn't know who I could go to in college, and I didn't want to rely on my family."

"I began looking for jobs, but the hours were unsociable. A lot of my friends have gone on to shop work, and have ended up leaving college. I didn't want that to be me."
"I had a friend who'd been trying to get me to join his escort agency since I was 16. He was telling me stories about how much I could earn, how the hours would fit around me, that I could control who I saw, when I saw them and how often.
"It just sounded more desirable. I couldn't see any other option."
Clare, who has now left the adult industry to continue her studies, warns against working in the sex industry.
"I did this so I could go to college, go to university, for it to have a positive effect on the rest of my life.
"But I'm a different person to how I was when I started out. I've lost a lot of my confidence and I've lost trust in a lot of people.
"There are people you can talk to about it, and bursaries you can get. Find out all you can before taking such a large step, because I didn't."
Financial support A spokesman for the Department for Education said: "We are targeting £180m a year financial support at the most vulnerable 16- to 19-year-olds to help them continue their studies - with transitional funding for the students who were getting the top rate of EMA and part way through their studies.
"It is down to schools and colleges themselves to award bursaries to young people who need the most help. If students are really struggling financially, they need to speak directly to their tutors."
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills says the new reforms in higher education funding will make the system fairer, and students will receive more financial support and have lower monthly repayments.
The NUS also told BBC 5 live Breakfast it estimated about 20% of women working in lap dancing clubs were students.
Research from the University of Kingston published last year found that the number of university students who knew someone who had worked in the sex industry to fund their studies had gone up from 3% to 25% in 10 years.
Dr Ron Roberts, senior lecturer in psychology, led the survey of several hundred university students, which also found that 16% would consider working in the sex industry.
He described the results as "worrying".

Copyright @BBC WORLD.
Reposted By Random Thoughts
Jennifer 

Niagara Falls freezes again in sub-zero temperatures

US east coast wakes up to heavy snow as winter storm heads north

More Than 8 Million Poor Americans Uninsured Under New Health Care Law

The national health care law that went into effect yesterday will leave two-thirds of poor blacks and single mothers uninsured, as well as more than half of low-wage workers who do not have health coverage.

According to an analysis of census data by The New York Times, the law was originally intended to help such individuals, but they will be left out under the new program. More than eight million needy individuals will be left out because they live in Republican-controlled states that have declined to participate in an expansion of Medicaid, the medical insurance program to aid the poor. The federal government will pay for the expansion through 2016 and 90 percent of costs afterwards.

Such individuals are indigent but rendered ineligible for help. Many of those left uninsured are stuck between the proverbial rock and a hard place; individuals with slightly lower incomes than those who quality for federal subsidies with the new health exchange cannot qualify, and those who are poor enough to quality for Medicaid in its current form are left out. In its current form, Medicaid has income ceilings as low as $11 per day in certain states.

Many people who are trying to participate in the health insurance exchanges that went live this week are discovering that they are ineligible.

 By Jessica Michele Herring
Info : www.latinopost.com
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Six Helpful Tips for Reducing College Debt

Estimates put total U.S. student loan debt at around $1 trillion. With that kind of debt floating out there, it's important to figure out ways to try to reduce it. Here are six helpful tips for reducing college debt.

1)Don't borrow more than you need

Student lenders often offer you more than you need for tuition, and it's tempting to take the maximum amount, which you could use to cover living expenses or to have a little spending money. However, doing so increases your debt. If you stick to the minimum you need to cover tuition, it will reduce your debt.

2)Stick with a state school

Though you may have your heart set on a private school or a university in another state, you should stick with your in-state school unless you have a scholarship to reduce the cost or the private school offers a lucrative major that your in-state school doesn't.

3)Stick with federal loans

If you qualify for a federal student loan, you should take advantage. These loans typically have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment terms than private student loans. Federal loans also sometimes offer debt forgiveness if you go into certain jobs, such as teaching or medicine.

4)Make payments while in school

Though most student lenders defer repayment until you leave school, that doesn't mean the interest is deferred. If you can afford to make payments while you are in school, it will greatly reduce the amount of debt you have when you leave school.

5)Finish as quickly as possible

Very few students finish college in four years, but doing so can greatly reduce your student loan debt. One thing you definitely want to avoid is changing majors, which can easily add at least a year to your necessary schooling. Carefully select your major and use your adviser to make sure you don't take classes you don't need or that won't count toward your major.

6)Take advantage of consolidation

If you can get a lower interest rate on any of your loans, take advantage of it. For example, if you have both private and federal loans and you can consolidate the private loans into the federal ones to get a lower rate, you should do so.

Student loan debt is nearly possible to get rid of, even if you declare bankruptcy. If your student debt has damaged your credit score, you can use Lexington Law credit repair services to get it back in shape.

Guest Writer : Annabelle Smyth (Freelance Writer,International content writer)E-mail           : annabellesmyth@gmail.com

5 ways to improve business effectiveness

Today if you want to have your place in business world you have to be flexible and change the way you run your business to satisfy constantly changing market conditions, and following 5 tips will hopefully help you improve the way you manage your business and your time.

Intensify your marketing efforts. Keep in mind that while online marketing, SEO and social media are no doubt important, if you are running local business it would be mistake not to use standard marketing techniques like coupons, ads on local radio and in newspapers, participation in local fares and so on.

Launch business website. It’s hardly news for anyone, but in today’s reality you must have online representation if you want to stay competitive. Nowadays when more and more people make their decisions on whether to use certain service or not based on the company’s website, informative and convenient to navigate website or blog is a must for modern-day business. Keep in mind that a website is not only a way for customers to find you on the Internet and learn more about your services, it can also be a great way of maintaining customer relationship and get valuable feedback on your services.

Change the way you manage your projects. If you still use whiteboards while explaining your team their tasks and write emails to remind that the deadline is coming – it’s time for you to move on to more advanced project management. Use workflow software that will not only let you build up workflows on your own, but will also enable you assign tasks and track activities using your smartphone or tablet. Choosing flexible management software you will get fully customizable tool that will help you managing multiple projects at once. If you go with web-based management solution you will get an opportunity to work with distant teams without resorting to phone calls and confusing email threads. Modern-day management solutions provide excellent collaborative features that allow sharing files, starting discussions, leaving comments and cooperating on the tasks.

Start tracking tasks. With all kinds of gadgets that surround us tracking tasks became as easy as ever. Use Cloud task management software for making to-do lists, prioritizing tasks, setting up deadlines and notifications that will alert you so you won’t forget to make an important call or to send urgent request.

Never stop learning. Modern business keeps evolving and so should you. If you want to keep your clients and win new ones you have to be the ahead of the curve and know all about new products, new techniques and new services in your field.

Hope that some of these tips will help bringing your business to a completely new level.

What you might need for organizing effective working process

Whether you are working at the office or from home, there are certain things that have to be done so you could work productively without any distraction. Of course, everyone has their own requirements for a perfect working place, but today we are going to talk about the gadgets that might help you organize effective working process no matter whether you work at home or at a busy office.
With so many gadgets that surround us all these cords and cables on and behind our working desk can only be described as “unavoidable evil”. But man, when my phone’s battery is dying or I have to upload pictures from my camera and can’t find the right cord among a nest of wires of all kinds it’s driving me insane, proving the point that sometimes it’s the smallest things that are the most irritating. To be able to avoid cord chaos use cable organizers that keep all the cables in order, so you will easily find the one you need.

Charging your phone or Bluetooth headset in a big office can be quite a headache, because nowadays even children have multiple gadgets. But all the fights near available power outlets can be avoided with the help of USB charging stations with multiple outlets. These devices are not that expensive, and only several items per office can solve a problem of charging laptops, tablets and headphones.
Speaking of tablets. If you are one of those people who use them only when your desktop pc or laptop are unavailable, you clearly haven’t studied all the awesome management and task tracking opportunities tablets provide. With the help of specialized applications they can fully replace your organizers, so planning your days, meetings, phone calls and to-do lists will be so much easier. Plus, you will be able to set up notifications, so you definitely won’t forget about any important task.
In order to work efficiently you have to be able to call your clients and partners at any time, which can be problematic if you have issues with cell phone connection at your office. To deal with problem of dropped calls and weak signal you can install specialized mobile repeater that will amplify the signal and provide you with stable cell phone connection, which means you will always be available to your current and potential clients. If you are working in a big office the model that will suit you the best is AnyTone AT600. This particular amplifier covers up to 300 m2 and it is wireless, meaning that everyone who is in coverage zone can benefit from amplified signal.
Even if you are one of those people who think that working in chaos doesn’t distract you that much, make an experiment: try organizing your schedule, your working desk and make sure your internet is paid for and cell phone is fully charged. And you’ll see that working when everything’s at hand and easy to find is so much more productive and far less distracting.

When is it Time to Talk Rehab with a Family Member?

You might have noticed a family member drinking more than usual or losing a lot of weight because they don't eat. You might even know of a relative who is using drugs or is taking prescription pain relievers a little too often. Talking to a loved one about going to a rehab center is a very touchy subject. Most people who are addicted to something or are leading an unhealthy lifestyle might even deny that they have a problem, which makes talking to them all the more difficult. Whether a person has a drinking problem, eating disorder or drug issue, speaking with them in a gentle manner can help urge them to seek help.

Knowing when to talk to a relative about going to rehab is really the big question. Just because someone was just prescribed pain relievers does not mean that they are addicted to them. The same theory can be applied to someone who goes out every once in a while to a bar to drink not having a drinking problem. The best way to know when to talk to a family member about getting help for an addiction is by knowing that relative very well. You need to know when something is becoming more than just a habit or hobby.

If you notice that your relative is starting to spend more time indulging in their addiction and that it is getting in the way of their normal functioning, this is a red flag for them to seek help. An addiction can be harmful to someone's health and to their emotional well-being, so it is essential that you do speak with them before their problem gets worse. Try not to talk with a relative about having a problem if you don't know them very well or what they do on a daily basis. Just because you see them going to a bar for a drink does not mean that they are an alcoholic.

Knowing your relative well and knowing the extent of their addiction is key when understanding how and when to talk to them about going to a rehabilitation center. Be as gentle and sympathetic about the issue as possible and expect the person to deny that they have a problem. Discussing rehab options with a family member is a lot more productive than just telling someone that they need to get help and check themselves into rehab right away. Your loved one deserves good health and positive emotional well-being, but you cannot provide this to them if you are too blunt about their problems.

Author Bio: Annette Hazard wrote this along with Stanley Martinson. Annette is currently promoting http://www.freedomdrugrehab.com/therapeutic-training-routines-course/. She often writes about family issues and is a mother of one.

When Is It The Right Time To File For Bankruptcy?

Have you been dealing with financial issues over the past few years? If a job loss or an unexpected expense has drained your savings account and maxed out your credit cards, you may be wondering what you can do to deal with your debt. How do you know if now is the right time to file for bankruptcy?

Have You Tried Negotiating With Your Creditors?

The first thing that you do is attempt to negotiate a debt settlement. If approved, your debt will be slashed by as much as half. However, you will most likely need to pay the reduced balance when the settlement is approved. Therefore, it may not be a good option for you if you don't have any money in the bank.

Credit Counseling Could Be Right For You

Credit counseling services will work with your creditors to negotiate lower monthly debt payments. They will also help you make a budget as well as teach you other financial skills that you will need to help you stay out of debt. Do you need do you need credit repair? If so, a credit counselor can help you with that as well. In some states, you are required to meet with a credit counselor before filing for bankruptcy. Learn more about it at this link here.

What Is Your Current Credit Situation?

What is your current credit score? If it is below 600, your score could go up if you file for bankruptcy. This is because accounts that are severely past due or in collections will be considered as settled when the bankruptcy is approved.

Consider The Aftermath Of A Bankruptcy

To a lender, there is a strong link between filing for bankruptcy and the inability to pay your debts in the future. Make sure that you ready to deal with the consequences of your decision after you make it. It could be a year or more before you are able to get a loan at a reasonable interest rate. If you are thinking about buying a home, you won't be able to get a mortgage for as many as two years after the bankruptcy.

You have to think carefully before filing for bankruptcy. In many cases, it is an opportunity only to reorganize your debt. Therefore, you cannot assume that your debts will vanish after you have your filing approved. If you have good credit, your first move should be to work with your creditors instead of going with the nuclear option first.

Guest writer : Annabelle smyth

email   : Annabellesmyth@gmail.com

5 Healthy Habits that Can Transform into Addictions

We all work to develop healthy eating and life habits. We want to be the best people we can be, so we strive to develop habits that will help us become who we want to be. However, sometimes too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. Becoming obsessed with a healthy habit can lead to an unhealthy obsession or addiction. Here are 5 healthy habits that can transform into addictions.

Exercise Addiction

Exercise addiction is the compulsive need to workout. When a person exercises, the brain releases endorphins for a feeling of pleasure. A healthy exercise program will keep your heart pumping and give you strong muscles. An unhealthy and excessive one leads to feelings of anxiety and lack of self worth – classic landmarks of addictive behavior. If you miss events, work, or family time to work out, you might be addicted.

The Internet

The Internet has changed life for the better. People go online to shop, work, attend class and even socialize. Internet addiction disorder is the pathological use of computers. When going online becomes the only thing you do each day, consider yourself an addict. If you choose the internet over friends, family, school, and work, you might need to reevaluate and get help.

Do-It-Yourself

Getting satisfaction from working with your hands and saving money does create a sense of pleasure and reward. When the need to do-it-yourself reaches the point where you are unable to call for service or to hire a contractor, that is a problem. You might end up trying to rewire your house or do something beyond your skill level just to feed the addiction.

Weight Management

It is hard to see counting calories as a bad thing unless it starts to take over your life. A person addicted to managing their weight gets a feeling of euphoria when they see an eighth of a pound drop in their weight since breakfast. That type of dedication to weight management becomes an obsession that can lead to eating disorders and addictive behavior.

Time Management

Creating to-do lists will keep you on schedule during the day. There is nothing wrong with relying on a list system to stay on tract. When time management becomes the only priority, a pattern develops. The need to make lists to account for every minute of your time gives one a feeling of accomplishment that may lead to compulsion.

The human body has a natural reward system meant to help one create good habits. It is a practical approach to controlling behavior. The problem is the mind doesn’t always know the difference between healthy and excessive. A pattern of abuse leads to addiction whether the problem is drugs, alcohol or obsessive behavior.

Author Bio

This article was written by Dixie Somers. If you have found yourself addicted to weight management, exercise, or anything else, find more help at delrayrecoverycenter.com/addiction-recovery-guide/.

Time management as the key to successful life and career

Even though there are only 24 hours in a day and you will never be able to do every single one of your tasks no matter how hard you try, knowing some time management tips can really help if you want to learn how to use your time more efficiently. In the article we will talk about small time management secrets that will help you become more active and productive.

The first thing we are going to talk about is the importance of planning and prioritizing your tasks. Make a habit of planning tasks for the day beforehand and mark those that really are important. Don’t get distracted by the tasks that are easier, because in the end of the week you are going to have a bunch of important stuff that needs to be done no matter what and you are likely to spend your weekend trying desperately to complete them in time instead of having much needed with your family.

Benefit from time you have to spend waiting in line for an appointment or waiting for a client who is running late. Technologies have made it so much easier for us to work at any place any time, so instead of getting irritated over the time you have to sit and just wait you can go through reports, read something or make a plan for the next couple of days.

If you really want to become more productive you have to try to find out where you are wasting your time. For someone social media networks are like time sucking black holes, for others – long chats on the phone, and someone can’t imagine their evenings without an episode of a favorite series. Just pinpoint what exactly slows you down and try to move these activities to your weekends.

If it’s an option, always try to work in the least distracting location where you won’t be dragged into chitchats or gossips. Don’t check your email more often than once in a couple of hours, don’t check your Facebook or Twitter profiles and you’ll see that work is going so much faster.

For those who have a problem with getting started (and a lot of people do have this problem) there is one simple but effective trick – start your task and keep going for 20 minutes. Soon you’ll see that without “taking breaks” you can manage more tasks in a day.

While at work make sure you use every single opportunity to make your job as easy as possible. Use workflow management software for automating office processes and creating workflows without having to wait for the help from IT department. For managing and tracking your personal tasks and activities of your team you can use task management software that will help quickly create and assign tasks and control their execution without having to make phone calls or call in staff meetings.

Keeping to a plan for a day and applying time management tips to real life can be complicated at first, but if you follow this routine you are going to notice that you have started working more efficiently and have become more organized.