‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE THE DEBATES, when all thru’ the house,
Randi was stirring the Democratic candidates’ house.
The strike signs were hung ‘ron the country with care,
In hopes that Ms. Warren soon would be there.
The union agitators were all snug in their red,
While visions of new contracts danc’d in their heads.
And Bernie in his kerchief, and Joe in his shawl,
Had just settled in for a 40 minute long explanation of Medicare for all.
When out in the Free Speech zone there arose such a clatter,
The media sprang from impeachment coverage to see what was the matter.
Away to the cameras the journalists flew like a flash,
Turned on the microphones and called Dana Bash.
The moon on the park where protestors flow,
Gave a lustre of hope to the people made low.
When what to Ms. Klobuchar’s wondering eyes should appear,
But mighty charter school parents marching so near.
With zeal in their eyes, moving lively and quick,
I knew in a moment, Mayor Pete would be sick.
More rapid than unions the charter advocates came,
Senator Bennet took the time to tell them his name.
Now Castro! Now Gabbard! Now Steyer and Williamson!
All missed the chance to just try and listen-some.
To the podiums, to the comfy chairs, candidates all.
Now hustling, bustling and trampling all. (Read the rest and share!)
#WHATABOUTUS ? As we near the grand finale of the Holiday Season, it’s fitting, though frustrating, that parents and teachers and opportunity-loving people would have to travel to and through Los Angeles to demand that the Democratic candidates for president pay attention and give voice to the failing schools that they struggle to get themselves out of, asking #WHATABOUTUS ? Life saving choices, like education scholarships, charter schools, innovative micro-schools, home schools, blended and online learning all are available in some though too few places in this the greatest country on earth. And rather than help them grow these opportunities, the candidates are more interested in special interest money.
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Hi Jim,
Please feel free to use the below article as is. For an interview or comments from Steve Armstrong or Rich Baker please reach out and I will be happy to coordinate.
Ashley
Why Teaching Employees Your Company Financials Is A Winning Formula
In many businesses a wide gulf exists between ownership and the workforce, a disconnect that can leave employees feeling undervalued and wanting to leave.
The high cost of replacing them means it’s important to find ways to retain the best performers, and studies show that transparency and education from the top can be a solution, boosting employee engagement and motivation.
And one way to achieve that transparency is to open the company’s financial books to employees and teach them the business, says Rich Armstrong (www.greatgame.com), a business coach, president of The Great Game of Business Inc., and co-author with Steve Baker of GET IN THE GAME: How To Create Rapid Financial Results And Lasting Cultural Change.
“Too often in business, we fail to show the players on our own team the big picture – the overall score of the game,” Armstrong says. “We tend to try to manage from the sidelines, focusing on individual performance. Why not teach them what winning means in business?
“But opening the books may be the first time in the employees’ lives they feel they’re being treated as adults. This type of financial transparency builds trust and mutual respect. Teaching employees the business involves them in making a difference, so as a business leader, you need to get comfortable with opening things up.”
Many business owners are hesitant to open the books to their employees. One of their concerns is giving employees access to salary information, but that isn’t advisable, says Baker, who is vice president of The Great Game of Business.
“Opening your books does not mean sharing every detail,” Baker says. “On the other hand, if people see how much the company is making and that makes them want more, that’s what you want as a business owner.”
Armstrong and Baker break down how to open the books for employees and the benefits of doing so:
Bridge the gap between perception and reality. The perception among employees that the owner is focused on self wealth can be changed, Armstrong says, by teaching employees how hard it is for most companies to make money. “Many people would be surprised to know how little even large companies make in profit from every dollar of sales,” Armstrong says. “Research shows the median bottom line in companies in 212 industries across the U.S. is 6.5 cents on every dollar of sales. But the average employee thinks their company makes six times that.”
Break it down for them. “Once you show your team how hard it is to make money, sketch out a simplified income statement for your business, showing your revenue streams and all your expenses,” Baker says. “Draw a dollar bill and show them how little the company keeps out of every dollar.”
Bring the marketplace to your people. An owner can provide clearer perspective to the employees by sharing how and what other companies in the industry are doing. “Do your homework,” Armstrong says, “and find out about your competition. If your employees know how they stack up against the field, most will respond to your appeal to move the needle. Your transparency has made them feel valued.”
Make teaching financials interesting. “The strategy is to create a business of business people,” Baker says. “But remember, you’re trying to educate your people about your business, not create a bunch of CPAs. Share, teach and involve them in the numbers they can impact. Your people rarely need to know about debits and credits or how to do an adjusting entry. But they may very well need to know how production efficiency is calculated and why receivable days matter.
Teaching the business helps everybody begin to understand what they can do, both individually and as a team, to influence bottom line financial results.”
“The purpose of opening the books is to boost the employees’ confidence in understanding the numbers and in the company itself,” Armstrong says.
“Then and only then will they begin to make a connection to the numbers that measure their performance and talk intelligently about improving the business.”
About Rich Armstrong
Rich Armstrong (www.greatgame.com) is the president of The Great Game of Business Inc., and co-author, with Steve Baker, of GET IN THE GAME: How To Create Rapid Financial Results And Lasting Cultural Change. This book is the how-to application of Jack Stack’s 1992 bestseller, The Great Game of Business. Armstrong and Baker co-authored the update of Stack’s book in The Great Game of Business – 20th Anniversary Edition. Armstrong has nearly 30 years of experience in improving business performance and employee engagement through the practice of open-book management and employee ownership. He serves as a business coach and senior executive at SRC Holdings Corporation, one of America’s top 100 largest majority employee-owned companies. He’s also a board member for the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO).
About Steve Baker
Steve Baker (www.greatgame.com) is the vice president of The Great Game of Business Inc., and is a top-rated, sought-after speaker and coach on the subjects of open-book management, strategy, and execution, leadership, and employee engagement. Baker is a career marketing and branding professional and an award-winning artist.
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National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800.273.8255
Depression and grief are more difficult during the holidays. The Suicide Prevention Lifeline is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year - even on Christmas Day. If you are having suicidal thoughts or feel at an all time low please call them or head to your nearest emergency room.
Welcome Aloha's Newest Provider, Mason Stevens, LCSW
Mason earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work at Utah State University. Mason is proficient in mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Solution Focused Therapy. Mason’s goal is to work with patients to recognize and build on their strengths and use those strengths to develop balance and understanding in their lives. To learn more about Mason, click HERE!
Does your Health Insurance Change on Jan 1st?
If you have a new Mental Health Insurance Plan or your coverage has changed, please bring in your new insurance information on your next visit to avoid issues with your insurance company.
Aloha's Mission Statement
We are dedicated to providing families, children, and individuals find healthy solutions and lifestyles. Please do not hesitate to call us directly at any time if there is anything we can do to improve upon our service.
Dear Editor:
Please consider this historical and updated version of Americans' opinions of nuclear weapons by historian Dr. Lawrence Wittner. For PeaceVoice, thank you,
Tom Hastings
~~~~~~~~
Americans are ready for a different approach to nuclear weapons
by Lawrence Wittner
725 words
Although today’s public protests against nuclear weapons can’t compare to the major antinuclear upheavals of past decades, there are clear indications that most Americans reject the Trump administration’s nuclear weapons policies.
Since entering office in 2017, the Trump administration has withdrawn the United States from the nuclear agreement with Iran, scrapped the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with Russia, and apparently abandoned plans to renew the New START Treaty with Russia. After an overwhelming majority of the world’s nations agreed on a landmark UN Treaty on the Prohibitions of Nuclear Weapons in July 2017, the Trump administration quickly announced that it would never sign the treaty. The only nuclear arms control measure that the Trump administration has pursued―an agreement by North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program―appears to have collapsed, at least in part because the Trump administration badly mishandled the negotiations.
Moreover, the Trump administration has not only failed to follow the nuclear arms control and disarmament policies of its Democratic and Republican predecessors, but has plunged into a renewed nuclear arms race with other nations by championing a $1.7 trillion program to refurbish the entire U.S. nuclear weapons complex. Perhaps most alarming, it has again and again publicly threatened to initiate a nuclear war.
These policies are quite out of line with U.S. public opinion.
Polling Americans in July 2018 about Trump’s withdrawal of the United States from the Iran nuclear agreement, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs found that 66 percent of respondents preferred remaining within it. In February 2019, when the Chicago Council surveyed Americans about U.S. withdrawal from the INF Treaty, 54 percent opposed the action. Moreover, when Americans were presented with arguments for and against withdrawal, opposition to withdrawal rose to 66 percent.
The Center for International & Security Studies at the University of Maryland also reported overwhelming public support for nuclear arms control and disarmament agreements. Polling Americans in early 2019, the Center found that two-thirds of respondents (including a majority of Republicans) favored remaining within the INF Treaty, while eight out of ten respondents wanted the U.S. government to extend the New START Treaty. Indeed, more than eight out of ten U.S. respondents backed new nuclear arms control treaties with Russia—findings similar to those of the Chicago Council, which reported that 87 percent of American respondents to a poll in early 2019 wanted the United States and Russia to secure a further nuclear arms limitation agreement.
But just how much arms control and disarmament do Americans want? It might come as a shock to the many pundits in the mass media who have never mentioned the 2017 UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, but roughly half the U.S. population supports nuclear abolition along the lines of the treaty. According to a YouGov opinion surveydone in late September 2019, 49 percent of American respondents thought the United States should work with other nations to eliminate all nuclear weapons in the world. Only 32 percent disagreed, while 19 percent said they didn’t know.
When it comes to actual use of nuclear weapons, Americans are even clearer in their preferences. AYouGov/Huffington Post poll in August 2016 found that 67 percent of American respondents thought the U.S. government should never initiate a nuclear attack. In mid-2019, Zogby Analytics surveys of American respondents in key primary states also discovered very high levels of opposition to first use of nuclear weapons.
Not surprisingly, Donald Trump’s angry, impulsive behavior, coupled with his threats to launch nuclear attacks upon other nations, has left many Americans uneasy. This might help to explain why 68 percent of Americans surveyed in early 2019 by the Center for International & Security Studies backed congressional legislation requiring that a president, before ordering a nuclear attack upon another nation, consult with congress and secure a congressional declaration of war upon that nation. As the U.S. congress has not passed a declaration of war since 1941, this opinion, too, provides a substantial challenge to current U.S. nuclear policy.
There are other indications, as well, that the American public wants a new approach. In July 2019, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, at its 87th annual meeting, unanimously passed a resolution calling on all U.S. presidential candidates “to pledge U.S. global leadership in preventing nuclear war, returning to diplomacy, and negotiating the elimination of nuclear weapons.” Calling for negotiations to replace the INF Treaty and to extend or replace the New START Treaty, the resolution demanded that candidates support the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and renounce the option of first use of nuclear weapons.
Yet another sign of public discontent is the emerging Back from the Brink campaign, supported by numerous peace, environmental, religious, health, and other organizations. Endorsed by dozens of cities and towns across the country, it has also received the official backing of the state legislatures of California and Oregon, as well as of the New Jersey State Assembly and the Maine State Senate. The campaign calls on the U.S. government to “lead a global effort to prevent nuclear war” by: “renouncing the option of using nuclear weapons first”; “ending the sole, unchecked authority of any U.S. president to launch a nuclear attack”; “taking U.S. nuclear weapons off hair-trigger alert”; “cancelling the plan to replace its entire nuclear arsenal with enhanced weapons”; and “actively pursuing a verifiable agreement among nuclear-armed states to eliminate their nuclear arsenals.”
Looked at from the standpoint of most Americans and, indeed, survival in the nuclear age, this departure from the dangerous direction of U.S. nuclear policy makes a lot of sense. Looked at from the standpoint of candidates seeking election to national office, it would also make good politics.
—30—
Dr. Lawrence Wittner, syndicated by PeaceVoice, is Professor of History emeritus at SUNY/Albany. He is the author of Confronting the Bomb (Stanford University Press).
=================
*Attached contains the following:
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Brooke Scheffler
Public Information Officer
801.674.0132
Gov. Herbert announces Utah Department of Commerce Executive Director, Francine A. Giani is retiring after 35 years of esteemed public service to the State of Utah
SALT LAKE CITY (Dec. 20, 2019) – Gov. Gary R. Herbert announced today that Francine A. Giani, Executive Director of the Utah Department of Commerce, is retiring from her cabinet post after giving 35 years of prominent public service to the State of Utah. Giani led the Department through the administrations of five governors and held four different roles beginning with her career in state government when the late Gov. Norm Bangerter asked her to join his administration. With Francine Giani’s retirement, Gov. Herbert also announced today that Chris Parker has been appointed as the new Interim Executive Director to carry on the leadership that has kept Commerce on a steady course. His appointment is effective Jan. 17, 2020.
“Francine Giani is one of a kind. She has always been a firm but fair leader with an unwavering passion for protecting Utah consumers and keeping the playing field level for all businesses. She successfully steered the Department of Commerce in good and challenging times. I am forever grateful for her tireless dedication and leadership,” said Gov. Gary Herbert. “Francine had dedicated her life to serving the needs of Utahns and now we honor her, and her family by wishing them all the best in her next chapter.”
Giani began her storied career in state government when the late Gov. Norm Bangerter asked her to become his press secretary and policy advisor in 1984. After serving in Bangerter’s Administration, Francine Giani was appointed to lead the Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Consumer Protection by Gov. Bangerter in 1992 where she served for 14 years protecting Utah consumers. When Gov. Jon Huntsman took office he looked to Francine’s leadership to head the Utah Department of Commerce in July 2005. Giani’s dedication and tireless work ethic was front and center when Gov. Gary R. Herbert appointed Francine A. Giani as Interim Director of the Department of Alcohol and Beverage Control (DABC) in August 2011 in addition to her role at Commerce. During her tenure, Francine Giani implemented sweeping changes to employee practices and policies after legislative audits and internal investigations until June 2012.
In addition to her leadership role at Commerce, Francine Giani has been a steadfast consumer advocate who actively participates in public outreach to educate Utah citizens about fraud. Her public service was honored through following awards; Brigham Young University’s Romney Institute of Public Management ‘N. Dale Wright Distinguished Alumni Award’ in 2011 and Utah Business Magazine’s “30 Women to Watch” in 2012. She earned her Bachelors of Arts Degree from Hunter College in New York City and later received a Masters of Public Administration from the Romney Institute of Public Management at Brigham Young University where she currently serves on the George W. Romney Institute of Public Management Executive Advisory Board.
“As I told the governor in private this week, who would have thought that a kid from Queens, New York would have all the wonderful opportunities afforded to me to lead such a great career with the best team at the Department of Commerce. I am humbled and grateful to each of the governors who believed in me and gave me the chance to lead even when I didn’t think I was ready for the challenge. I am so proud of the talented employees at the Department of Commerce and the important work they do every day. My 35 years in state government have been an incredible ride and I will always cherish the people who believed in me and allowed me to serve our great state,” stated Francine A. Giani.
Chris Parker has been appointed by Gov. Herbert to serve as Interim Director of the Department of Commerce and will assume the role beginning on Jan. 17, 2020. Parker is currently serving as the Director of the Utah Division of Public Utilities and will maintain a dual role over the Division and the Department of Commerce in his new role as Interim Executive Director.
For more information about the Utah Department of Commerce, visit https://commerce.utah.gov/
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SUPPORTING TAX REFORM REFERENDUM NEW FOREFRONT EMPHASIS FOR THE UNITED UTAH PARTY
SALT LAKE CITY, UT-- The United Utah Party (UUP) will be redirecting it energies toward gathering signatures for the new tax referendum, sponsored by The People's Right (TPR), placing the UUP Unite 4 Term Limits Initiative on hold for now.
"We recognize that this tax bill is an urgent need that should be addressed sooner than later. That's why we've decided - for now - to suspend our efforts to gather signatures as part of the Unite 4 Term Limits initiative, and instead join our efforts to those working to get signatures for the tax referendum," Nils Bergeson, the Unite 4 Term Limits Director stated.
The UUP believes that the tax reform bill harms the poor and public education. However, the bill is particularly troubling as it was passed during a special legislative session, that did not include the public and a deliberative method involving ordinary citizens.
"The fact that it was done in a special session in December demonstrates that the legislators and the governor did not want public input. Nor did they pay attention to the input they got," Richard Davis, UUP Chairman commented.
"Public opinion surveys showed the public did not want a tax cut that hurt public education," Davis said. "Nor did they want a food tax. The legislature and the governor ignored us. The United Utah Party feels their act of betrayal to the public will need to be overturned."
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Hi James,
2020 is coming at us fast, and it's bringing a haul of exciting EdTech trends along with it. A new decade means new learning opportunities created to cater to the individual rather than a collective hive. There are more than one or two ways of learning — by not embracing all of the ways to teach, we risk leaving students behind in subjects they may need extra help in.
Michał Borkowski, CEO and Co-Founder of Brainly-- the world’s largest online learning platform with 150 million monthly users in 35 countries-- has his finger on the pulse of global education trends. He was selected to speak at Disrupt Berlin, the world’s leading authority in debuting revolutionary startups and technologies, this year and has some insightful predictions on the emerging trends 2020 will bring in EdTech.
Customized learning via AI
AI systems with customizable settings will allow students to learn based on their personal strengths and weaknesses. This stylized learning takes into account that not every student absorbs information in the same way. In turn, it helps teachers understand what each individual student needs, spend more time teaching new material, and receive higher classroom results.
Responsible technological integration
Students today are more fluent in technology than older generations. Integrating tech through digital resources, textbooks, game-style lessons, and interactive learning are efficient ways to captivate students and teach them responsible usage of technology.
Expansive peer-to-peer learning
Allowing students access to a platform where they can view different student's educational interpretations, and one specific perspective may help information click, is invaluable. These learning platforms break down barriers, encourage active learning anywhere, and cultivate a sense of community between students all over the world.
From STEM to STEAM
Science, technology, engineering, and math curriculums have been the major educational focus of the decade, but 2020 will see more integration of classical liberal arts into educational modules, turning STEM into STEAM. Incorporating the arts into a tech-based curriculum enables students to create important connections to the world and allows them to have a well-rounded education.
Options in learning environments
Who says learning has to take place in a classroom? Advancements in EdTech has provided new and exciting avenues where educators can experiment. Grade and high school level teachers are experimenting with webinars, online tutorials, and other forms of tech-based instruction to connect to students in environments where they are more inclined to learn.
=================
Hi James,
2020 is coming at us fast, and it's bringing a haul of exciting EdTech trends along with it. A new decade means new learning opportunities created to cater to the individual rather than a collective hive. There are more than one or two ways of learning — by not embracing all of the ways to teach, we risk leaving students behind in subjects they may need extra help in.
Michał Borkowski, CEO and Co-Founder of Brainly-- the world’s largest online learning platform with 150 million monthly users in 35 countries-- has his finger on the pulse of global education trends. He was selected to speak at Disrupt Berlin, the world’s leading authority in debuting revolutionary startups and technologies, this year and has some insightful predictions on the emerging trends 2020 will bring in EdTech.
Customized learning via AI
AI systems with customizable settings will allow students to learn based on their personal strengths and weaknesses. This stylized learning takes into account that not every student absorbs information in the same way. In turn, it helps teachers understand what each individual student needs, spend more time teaching new material, and receive higher classroom results.
Responsible technological integration
Students today are more fluent in technology than older generations. Integrating tech through digital resources, textbooks, game-style lessons, and interactive learning are efficient ways to captivate students and teach them responsible usage of technology.
Expansive peer-to-peer learning
Allowing students access to a platform where they can view different student's educational interpretations, and one specific perspective may help information click, is invaluable. These learning platforms break down barriers, encourage active learning anywhere, and cultivate a sense of community between students all over the world.
From STEM to STEAM
Science, technology, engineering, and math curriculums have been the major educational focus of the decade, but 2020 will see more integration of classical liberal arts into educational modules, turning STEM into STEAM. Incorporating the arts into a tech-based curriculum enables students to create important connections to the world and allows them to have a well-rounded education.
Options in learning environments
Who says learning has to take place in a classroom? Advancements in EdTech has provided new and exciting avenues where educators can experiment. Grade and high school level teachers are experimenting with webinars, online tutorials, and other forms of tech-based instruction to connect to students in environments where they are more inclined to learn.
=================
Hi James,
2020 is coming at us fast, and it's bringing a haul of exciting EdTech trends along with it. A new decade means new learning opportunities created to cater to the individual rather than a collective hive. There are more than one or two ways of learning — by not embracing all of the ways to teach, we risk leaving students behind in subjects they may need extra help in.
Michał Borkowski, CEO and Co-Founder of Brainly-- the world’s largest online learning platform with 150 million monthly users in 35 countries-- has his finger on the pulse of global education trends. He was selected to speak at Disrupt Berlin, the world’s leading authority in debuting revolutionary startups and technologies, this year and has some insightful predictions on the emerging trends 2020 will bring in EdTech.
Customized learning via AI
AI systems with customizable settings will allow students to learn based on their personal strengths and weaknesses. This stylized learning takes into account that not every student absorbs information in the same way. In turn, it helps teachers understand what each individual student needs, spend more time teaching new material, and receive higher classroom results.
Responsible technological integration
Students today are more fluent in technology than older generations. Integrating tech through digital resources, textbooks, game-style lessons, and interactive learning are efficient ways to captivate students and teach them responsible usage of technology.
Expansive peer-to-peer learning
Allowing students access to a platform where they can view different student's educational interpretations, and one specific perspective may help information click, is invaluable. These learning platforms break down barriers, encourage active learning anywhere, and cultivate a sense of community between students all over the world.
From STEM to STEAM
Science, technology, engineering, and math curriculums have been the major educational focus of the decade, but 2020 will see more integration of classical liberal arts into educational modules, turning STEM into STEAM. Incorporating the arts into a tech-based curriculum enables students to create important connections to the world and allows them to have a well-rounded education.
Options in learning environments
Who says learning has to take place in a classroom? Advancements in EdTech has provided new and exciting avenues where educators can experiment. Grade and high school level teachers are experimenting with webinars, online tutorials, and other forms of tech-based instruction to connect to students in environments where they are more inclined to learn.
