Student ambassadors market popular brands on campus [hat]
Flattered that a girl asked you to try out a new restaurant? Think again — she may have been paid to do so.
College campuses like Penn, a marketing mecca for brands that target the 18-to 24-year-old population, have become home to ambassadors for top brands, such as Red Bull, Microsoft and Verizon Wireless.
This fall, at least 10,000 college students are working on hundreds of campuses for various brands, according to a September New York Times article.
Campus Entertainment, the exclusive marketing agency for the National Association for Campus Activities, links big brand names with the big men and women on campus for mutual benefits.
Director of Business Development of Campus Activities Mark Giovino explained how to tap into the network of college students.
"As you look across the advertising spectrum as a whole, [college campuses] are a very challenging market," Giovino explained. To gain access to college students as well as their social networks, Campus Entertainment "looks for students with a finger on the pulse of what's going on" in hiring student promoters.
Campus Entertainment has facilitated the marketing efforts of mtvU - the college-geared branch of MTV Networks — among others on Penn's campus.
College senior Kelly Newman served as a brand ambassador for Vita Coco Coconut Water last year and said "it was a great marketing and product promotion experience."
College sophomore Lucie Read is a brand ambassador for Salute the Brave, a clothing company that donates hats to soldiers overseas for customer purchases.
Unlike Newman, Read does not receive monetary compensation for her work. She said it is her passion for the brand of Salute the Brave that serves as her motivation.
"I just really like the idea of the company," she explained. "It was a way for me to show my support and be patriotic myself."
Read uses word of mouth and Facebook to promote the brand.
Giovino concurred that word of mouth and peer-to-peer conversation are the best strategies for these ambassadors.
Newman was "in charge of coordinating events on campus for the product to sponsor, distributing free samples, promoting the brand and educating people about what it was."
Yet many students feel bombarded by the advertisements surrounding them on campus.
College junior Talia Goldberg said that she does not appreciate the constant notifications from brand ambassadors at Penn in certain circumstances.
"I am bothered by it when the people soliciting are clearly sending impersonal, generic, mass emails, which definitely happens," she said.
However, if Goldberg sees the solicitation as relevant to her and could potentially offer her a "cool opportunity," then she thinks it's a good idea.
Read said she has not been "extremely aggressive" about promoting sales. "I've made it an open option for people to buy or support, but I'm not offended at all if my friends don't buy it."
Giovino stressed that marketing approaches needed to be "authentic and real."
"As we look to recruit the ideal student promoter, that's the most important part: to know the brand, use the brand and have a passion for the brand, or it fails before it starts," he added.
College campuses like Penn, a marketing mecca for brands that target the 18-to 24-year-old population, have become home to ambassadors for top brands, such as Red Bull, Microsoft and Verizon Wireless.
This fall, at least 10,000 college students are working on hundreds of campuses for various brands, according to a September New York Times article.
Campus Entertainment, the exclusive marketing agency for the National Association for Campus Activities, links big brand names with the big men and women on campus for mutual benefits.
Director of Business Development of Campus Activities Mark Giovino explained how to tap into the network of college students.
"As you look across the advertising spectrum as a whole, [college campuses] are a very challenging market," Giovino explained. To gain access to college students as well as their social networks, Campus Entertainment "looks for students with a finger on the pulse of what's going on" in hiring student promoters.
Campus Entertainment has facilitated the marketing efforts of mtvU - the college-geared branch of MTV Networks — among others on Penn's campus.
College senior Kelly Newman served as a brand ambassador for Vita Coco Coconut Water last year and said "it was a great marketing and product promotion experience."
College sophomore Lucie Read is a brand ambassador for Salute the Brave, a clothing company that donates hats to soldiers overseas for customer purchases.
Unlike Newman, Read does not receive monetary compensation for her work. She said it is her passion for the brand of Salute the Brave that serves as her motivation.
"I just really like the idea of the company," she explained. "It was a way for me to show my support and be patriotic myself."
Read uses word of mouth and Facebook to promote the brand.
Giovino concurred that word of mouth and peer-to-peer conversation are the best strategies for these ambassadors.
Newman was "in charge of coordinating events on campus for the product to sponsor, distributing free samples, promoting the brand and educating people about what it was."
Yet many students feel bombarded by the advertisements surrounding them on campus.
College junior Talia Goldberg said that she does not appreciate the constant notifications from brand ambassadors at Penn in certain circumstances.
"I am bothered by it when the people soliciting are clearly sending impersonal, generic, mass emails, which definitely happens," she said.
However, if Goldberg sees the solicitation as relevant to her and could potentially offer her a "cool opportunity," then she thinks it's a good idea.
Read said she has not been "extremely aggressive" about promoting sales. "I've made it an open option for people to buy or support, but I'm not offended at all if my friends don't buy it."
Giovino stressed that marketing approaches needed to be "authentic and real."
"As we look to recruit the ideal student promoter, that's the most important part: to know the brand, use the brand and have a passion for the brand, or it fails before it starts," he added.
Active Argyle BIA swings into action [hat]
Since a one-time $50,000 start-up grant from city council in May, the Argyle Business Improvement Association has been active in the east London neighbourhood.
With further financial support from the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities, they have set up a new website, an office at 1815 Dundas Street and have hired two new staff members to help with public relations and administration.
They had a summer student in the office recently too and executive director Nancy McSloy, who approached city council to get the association off the ground initially, said the association has been a successful networking tool for east end businesses so far.
"The businesses are really responding to what we're doing," said McSloy, adding over 50 businesses are participating in networking events hosted by the association. "We're working on membership and we're really happy with the partnerships we're creating, not just with businesses, but the community in general."
The association hasn't been afraid of raising their voices to local politicians either. They are one of the main proponents behind an idea to add surveillance cameras on Dundas Street, an issue still being considered at city hall.
"The businesses are very much on board," McSloy said. "It's more of a preventative maintenance."
The cameras would target crime hotspots the association has noticed on Dundas Street between Highbury Avenue and Carlyle Drive.
"When you have drugs or prostitution, they normally gather in places … anywhere there's a phone booth, maybe a bar, a coffee shop or even a variety store where they can go in and out quickly," said Rose Martin, a staff member with the association, adding it's about finding areas cameras will help prevent crime.
In an effort to promote local business and spruce up streetscapes, the association is borrowing an idea from Dorchester and considering banners featuring area businesses that can be seen from the road.
"They are very personal," Martin said. "And that's what we wanted to do here, make it more personal."
Right now the business association is in the midst of some charity work in east London too, recently launching their first Cold Hands/Warm Hearts drive. They are encouraging Londoners to donate winter mitts, hats and scarves to decorate a Christmas tree in their office. After December 21, the clothing will be donated to Keeping Kids Warm, a start-up local charity that knits and delivers the winter items to kids in London who would otherwise not have any this season.
Donations can be made at the association's office between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
"We're already off to a good start," said McSloy. "Especially in the schools, there're a lot of kids that probably go to school without mittens."
And approaching its one-year anniversary in the spring, becoming an official business improvement area in London will be on the table — but that's not the main goal, according to McSloy.
"The end goal is to keep doing what we're doing," she said. "Keep creating partnerships, strengthening and building bridges."
With further financial support from the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities, they have set up a new website, an office at 1815 Dundas Street and have hired two new staff members to help with public relations and administration.
They had a summer student in the office recently too and executive director Nancy McSloy, who approached city council to get the association off the ground initially, said the association has been a successful networking tool for east end businesses so far.
"The businesses are really responding to what we're doing," said McSloy, adding over 50 businesses are participating in networking events hosted by the association. "We're working on membership and we're really happy with the partnerships we're creating, not just with businesses, but the community in general."
The association hasn't been afraid of raising their voices to local politicians either. They are one of the main proponents behind an idea to add surveillance cameras on Dundas Street, an issue still being considered at city hall.
"The businesses are very much on board," McSloy said. "It's more of a preventative maintenance."
The cameras would target crime hotspots the association has noticed on Dundas Street between Highbury Avenue and Carlyle Drive.
"When you have drugs or prostitution, they normally gather in places … anywhere there's a phone booth, maybe a bar, a coffee shop or even a variety store where they can go in and out quickly," said Rose Martin, a staff member with the association, adding it's about finding areas cameras will help prevent crime.
In an effort to promote local business and spruce up streetscapes, the association is borrowing an idea from Dorchester and considering banners featuring area businesses that can be seen from the road.
"They are very personal," Martin said. "And that's what we wanted to do here, make it more personal."
Right now the business association is in the midst of some charity work in east London too, recently launching their first Cold Hands/Warm Hearts drive. They are encouraging Londoners to donate winter mitts, hats and scarves to decorate a Christmas tree in their office. After December 21, the clothing will be donated to Keeping Kids Warm, a start-up local charity that knits and delivers the winter items to kids in London who would otherwise not have any this season.
Donations can be made at the association's office between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
"We're already off to a good start," said McSloy. "Especially in the schools, there're a lot of kids that probably go to school without mittens."
And approaching its one-year anniversary in the spring, becoming an official business improvement area in London will be on the table — but that's not the main goal, according to McSloy.
"The end goal is to keep doing what we're doing," she said. "Keep creating partnerships, strengthening and building bridges."
Flesher family will flip switch on Christmas light display Friday [hat]
With a circuit that now includes five electrical meters, 7,000 feet of electrical wiring, hundreds of extension cords and more than 2 million lights, Flesher family members will jump-start Christmas season when they open their annual light display to the public this week.
The Fleshers have created the lavish display at their eastern Bonita Springs farm for most of the past 25 years.
It is a family labor of love that this year started with infrastructure work in September and will culminate when the lights go on and the first visitor arrives Friday evening.
"If we get the word out, I'm hoping for 75,000 to 100,000 visitors," said Chuck Flesher, who was finishing off the display Monday with his mother Margaret, his daughter Roxanne, and his teenage grandsons Mark and Steven.
The Fleshers have placed hundreds of inflatable Christmas figures, lighted deer, a Christmas train, a moving doll carousel, a Nativity scene and countless lights across two acres of the farm, which sits on Bonita Grande Drive just north of Bonita Beach Road.
The farm's garage and outbuildings are replete with electric trains, Christmas trees, shiny ornaments, vintage moving toys and Christmas dolls.
The family's horses will be decked in Santa hats, and each will have a stall adorned with a Christmas stocking.
A dozen volunteers will direct visitors who park in an improvised lot that can hold 500 cars, Flesher said.
"It does get a little bigger each year," he said. "I think we're one of the biggest displays in Southwest Florida that hasn't gone commercial. We don't want to do that, we want to keep it fun."
Chuck Flesher took over the project after the death of his father, Charlie, in 1999, and illness of older brother, Bud, who now lives in Georgia.
Charlie and Bud Flesher created the first display in 1986.
Chuck Flesher said he started mostly from scratch after a three-year hiatus ended in 2009, which has allowed him to count the lights as he buys more strings each year.
Flesher places most of the electrical lines and lights but lets daughter Roxanne check and replace the bulbs.
"I don't mind the work, but I don't have the patience to check the lights," he said. "When they all come on and they all stay on, I'm happy as a peacock."Margaret Flesher said that despite initial reluctance, reinstituting the yearly display has been a blessing for her.
"My favorite part is standing in front of the garage, greeting the people who come," she said. "I get lots and lots of hugs."
A decorated table with spiral notebooks that serve as guest books also greets visitors. Slots in the table allow the guests to donate to local charitable causes.
"Some people sign in and give money, some don't want to do either," said Chuck Flesher. "It's OK either way, we just want them to come."
This year, proceeds will benefit an Optimist Club scholarship program and a Lehigh Acres teen.
Notebooks from years past list guests from as far away as Germany and Italy. Guests also write short comments on the display.
Although the Fleshers haven't counted all the names in their guest books, they enjoy reading the comments.
"Some of the visitors have been here as kids and have then brought their kids and on down the line," said Margaret Flesher. "It's become a real tradition."
The Fleshers have created the lavish display at their eastern Bonita Springs farm for most of the past 25 years.
It is a family labor of love that this year started with infrastructure work in September and will culminate when the lights go on and the first visitor arrives Friday evening.
"If we get the word out, I'm hoping for 75,000 to 100,000 visitors," said Chuck Flesher, who was finishing off the display Monday with his mother Margaret, his daughter Roxanne, and his teenage grandsons Mark and Steven.
The Fleshers have placed hundreds of inflatable Christmas figures, lighted deer, a Christmas train, a moving doll carousel, a Nativity scene and countless lights across two acres of the farm, which sits on Bonita Grande Drive just north of Bonita Beach Road.
The farm's garage and outbuildings are replete with electric trains, Christmas trees, shiny ornaments, vintage moving toys and Christmas dolls.
The family's horses will be decked in Santa hats, and each will have a stall adorned with a Christmas stocking.
A dozen volunteers will direct visitors who park in an improvised lot that can hold 500 cars, Flesher said.
"It does get a little bigger each year," he said. "I think we're one of the biggest displays in Southwest Florida that hasn't gone commercial. We don't want to do that, we want to keep it fun."
Chuck Flesher took over the project after the death of his father, Charlie, in 1999, and illness of older brother, Bud, who now lives in Georgia.
Charlie and Bud Flesher created the first display in 1986.
Chuck Flesher said he started mostly from scratch after a three-year hiatus ended in 2009, which has allowed him to count the lights as he buys more strings each year.
Flesher places most of the electrical lines and lights but lets daughter Roxanne check and replace the bulbs.
"I don't mind the work, but I don't have the patience to check the lights," he said. "When they all come on and they all stay on, I'm happy as a peacock."Margaret Flesher said that despite initial reluctance, reinstituting the yearly display has been a blessing for her.
"My favorite part is standing in front of the garage, greeting the people who come," she said. "I get lots and lots of hugs."
A decorated table with spiral notebooks that serve as guest books also greets visitors. Slots in the table allow the guests to donate to local charitable causes.
"Some people sign in and give money, some don't want to do either," said Chuck Flesher. "It's OK either way, we just want them to come."
This year, proceeds will benefit an Optimist Club scholarship program and a Lehigh Acres teen.
Notebooks from years past list guests from as far away as Germany and Italy. Guests also write short comments on the display.
Although the Fleshers haven't counted all the names in their guest books, they enjoy reading the comments.
"Some of the visitors have been here as kids and have then brought their kids and on down the line," said Margaret Flesher. "It's become a real tradition."
Former Liebermann's space has a new retail occupant [hat]
After months of sitting vacant, a new women's boutique is setting up shop in the former Liebermann's building downtown.
My Sista's, a boutique featuring everything from shoes and handbags to clothing and jewelry, opens Friday at 113 S. Washington Square and hopes to revive retail in the downtown area, said owner Tina Robinson. It targets the "career woman" and the woman "who likes to look good," she said. The store features original pieces by eight local women, including Robinson.
"I think it will work for a large array of ages and different tastes," she said. "That's kind of the goal is to have things for everyone."
Robinson, 42, had been looking for a space to start a business where she could sell her one-of-a-kind jewelry. She already had a lease drawn up for a space in Lansing Mall when she saw the for lease sign in the window of the former store downtown. Robinson, who studied interior design at Lansing Community College, had always been attracted to the space because of the famous interior design by George Nelson. At first, she dismissed the possibility of leasing it, thinking it would be too expensive, but something convinced her to call.
"There was no way that I ever would have thought that this was where I was meant to be," Robinson said. "It just worked out."
My Sista's opens for Black Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and will kick off its grand opening week on Tuesday. The store will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with a grand opening gala on Friday from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.
My Sista's, a boutique featuring everything from shoes and handbags to clothing and jewelry, opens Friday at 113 S. Washington Square and hopes to revive retail in the downtown area, said owner Tina Robinson. It targets the "career woman" and the woman "who likes to look good," she said. The store features original pieces by eight local women, including Robinson.
"I think it will work for a large array of ages and different tastes," she said. "That's kind of the goal is to have things for everyone."
Robinson, 42, had been looking for a space to start a business where she could sell her one-of-a-kind jewelry. She already had a lease drawn up for a space in Lansing Mall when she saw the for lease sign in the window of the former store downtown. Robinson, who studied interior design at Lansing Community College, had always been attracted to the space because of the famous interior design by George Nelson. At first, she dismissed the possibility of leasing it, thinking it would be too expensive, but something convinced her to call.
"There was no way that I ever would have thought that this was where I was meant to be," Robinson said. "It just worked out."
My Sista's opens for Black Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and will kick off its grand opening week on Tuesday. The store will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with a grand opening gala on Friday from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Atlantic Ave. Truck Sting Discussed at Precinct Meeting [hat]
Over the years, one of the most common complaints of people who live near Atlantic Avenue in Boerum Hill is that large, often oversized trucks speed, create excessive noise, make illegal turns and generally flout traffic regulations.
It was shown at the most recent meeting of the 84th Precinct Community Council on Tuesday night that these rogue trucks are still a cause for concern. Speaking for the precinct, Lt. Timothy Wilson talked about the results of a recent sting operation targeting trucks on the avenue.
The operation, he said, yielded one summons, 26 moving violations and one arrest, involving a driver with a revoked license. Trucking violations, said Leslie Lewis, president of the community council, are punishable by much more substantial fines than the typical fines handed out to car owners.
Lewis added that these stings are somewhat infrequent because they involve a substantial amount of planning between the NYPD and the state Department of Transportation, whose agents take part in the operation. Agents also use special scales to measure the weight of trucks.
During the meeting, Deputy Inspector Mark DiPaolo, the precinct's commanding officer, also took questions from the audience and spoke about crime trends in the precinct.
Although crime overall has gone down, he said, one disturbing trend is the fact that there have been several thefts of tires and wheels from cars in the past month. These crimes are usually done by a team of two or three criminals, including a lookout. Often, they go from place to place in a rugged vehicle like a Range Rover.
The criminals have sophisticated equipment that can remove tires and rims in a minute.
The following day, the unsuspecting motorist goes to his car and finds that it's propped up on milk crates. In one case, he said, one of these criminals removed a tire and rolled it down a hill, where another member of the gang caught it and put it into a vehicle.
As usual, Lewis and DiPaolo honored a "cop of the month." This month's honoree was Police Officer Ywoeh Alrubyai, who was investigating a female thief who was wanted for stealing women's handbags from unsuspecting customers in stores around the Fulton Mall.
After one robbery, Officer Alrubyai went to several stores to speak to managers and customers. At one store, a manager and a customer gave him a description and said she had just been there. Accompanied by the two witnesses, he started canvassing the area and noticed a woman who fit the description. As they approached, she quickly put a handbag she was carrying under a nearby car.
Alrubyai was able to retrieve the handbag, which was soon linked to a larceny victim. Later, he discovered that she had another bag, which also had been stolen. It turned out that the suspect had a record of more than 85 arrests. DiPaolo praised Officer Alrubyai for "being able to get a career criminal off the streets."
The meeting also contained a brief debate between several Atlantic Avenue business owners and DiPaolo about the frequency of foot patrols on that busy street, and a "thank you" from a community resident whose house had been burglarized while she was sleeping. Police later arrested a suspect in the burglary.
It was shown at the most recent meeting of the 84th Precinct Community Council on Tuesday night that these rogue trucks are still a cause for concern. Speaking for the precinct, Lt. Timothy Wilson talked about the results of a recent sting operation targeting trucks on the avenue.
The operation, he said, yielded one summons, 26 moving violations and one arrest, involving a driver with a revoked license. Trucking violations, said Leslie Lewis, president of the community council, are punishable by much more substantial fines than the typical fines handed out to car owners.
Lewis added that these stings are somewhat infrequent because they involve a substantial amount of planning between the NYPD and the state Department of Transportation, whose agents take part in the operation. Agents also use special scales to measure the weight of trucks.
During the meeting, Deputy Inspector Mark DiPaolo, the precinct's commanding officer, also took questions from the audience and spoke about crime trends in the precinct.
Although crime overall has gone down, he said, one disturbing trend is the fact that there have been several thefts of tires and wheels from cars in the past month. These crimes are usually done by a team of two or three criminals, including a lookout. Often, they go from place to place in a rugged vehicle like a Range Rover.
The criminals have sophisticated equipment that can remove tires and rims in a minute.
The following day, the unsuspecting motorist goes to his car and finds that it's propped up on milk crates. In one case, he said, one of these criminals removed a tire and rolled it down a hill, where another member of the gang caught it and put it into a vehicle.
As usual, Lewis and DiPaolo honored a "cop of the month." This month's honoree was Police Officer Ywoeh Alrubyai, who was investigating a female thief who was wanted for stealing women's handbags from unsuspecting customers in stores around the Fulton Mall.
After one robbery, Officer Alrubyai went to several stores to speak to managers and customers. At one store, a manager and a customer gave him a description and said she had just been there. Accompanied by the two witnesses, he started canvassing the area and noticed a woman who fit the description. As they approached, she quickly put a handbag she was carrying under a nearby car.
Alrubyai was able to retrieve the handbag, which was soon linked to a larceny victim. Later, he discovered that she had another bag, which also had been stolen. It turned out that the suspect had a record of more than 85 arrests. DiPaolo praised Officer Alrubyai for "being able to get a career criminal off the streets."
The meeting also contained a brief debate between several Atlantic Avenue business owners and DiPaolo about the frequency of foot patrols on that busy street, and a "thank you" from a community resident whose house had been burglarized while she was sleeping. Police later arrested a suspect in the burglary.
Missoula's latest fun run raises arthritis awareness [hat]
It was only fitting that the inaugural Jingle Bell Run/Walk in Missoula took place on a Sunday morning that awoke to a fresh blanket of snow and the city's first real winter weather.
The newest addition to the ever-growing list of local fun runs kicked off what will be an annual affair to benefit the Arthritis Foundation.
Wearing Santa hats, holiday-themed socks and bells that jingled, about a hundred runners took off from Caras Park and toured up and down the Clark Fork River.
Leading the pack was 9-year-old Luke Heaphy, who has battled rheumatoid arthritis since he was 18 months old.
Staying fit and moving is the best medicine of all for this debilitating disease said the young athlete, who runs regularly to stay fit so he can play competitive basketball and football.
Although he wakes up feeling sore and achy every morning, the sooner he gets moving, the better he feels.
Heaphy said he just wished other people understood how movement and exercise are critical to people's health and well-being.
As the run's honoree, Heaphy said he wants to inspire others, and young people in particular, to get active and stay that way.
His advice for staying active during the winter?
"Find a way to keep exercising and not just sit down and watch TV inside," Heaphy said. "The snow is fun. Don't fight snow - get out and play in it.
"And when it's really cold outside, our family goes to the Peak Fitness Center a lot and we go swimming."
Arthritis is the nation's leading cause of disability, said Scott Weaver, the Seattle-based spokesperson for the Arthritis Foundation's western regional office.
"We are excited to have the inaugural run in Missoula, which is the only Jingle Bell run in Montana right now," Weaver said. "This is the first of 11 runs that will be held over the next four weeks through our western region, which includes Washington, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, Alaska, Montana, Oregon and Utah.
"The races will bring together over 25,000 people and will raise over $1.2 million that will be used for to support arthritis research, arthritis educational programs, community programs and camps."
Tim Leonhardt, a runner from Bozeman, was pleased with the happy coincidence that his son's swim meet was in Missoula and that there was also a race with a cause that was near and dear to the family's heart.
"I just happened to see the race advertised in the newspaper, and I like to run and my son, Alex, has juvenile arthritis," Leonhardt said. "It seemed like it was good cause and a good reason to sign up, so here I am.
"I'm doing this in support of him."
Like Heaphy's family, the Leonhardts stay active year-round. Running in the winter can be a challenge, but Leonhardt has learned a few rules of the cold-weather road: Dress like it is 20 degrees warmer than the thermometer says, because you will warm up quickly, and don't underestimate the value of a good headband or gloves.
Dressed in a festive, red sequined mini skirt and red-and-white stockings, Denise Graef said she was happy to lace up her running shoes and support the Jingle Bell cause.
"I have had rheumatoid arthritis since I was 21 years old, and I know how hard it is to live with," said Graef, who is now 49. "When I read about the kids who have this, and when I meet them, I know that they don't have the tools to deal with this like we do as adults.
"This is about the kids, so I am here and I am so thankful I can do it. Because I can do it, I feel compelled to do it."
When Graef was first diagnosed and learning to live with the disease, it would take her 15 minutes to walk from the bedroom to the kitchen each morning.
With such achy, painful joints, Graef could hardly move. But with help and with personal resolve, she kept moving, putting one foot in front of the other.
In time, she picked up running, and soon she'll take a test for her black belt in tae kwan do.
Conquering arthritis is a daily, sometimes hourly battle. New medications help, but attitude is everything.
"Really, it's about perseverance and the resolve to keep moving," Graef said. "I am here to help that little boy who is being honored here today, and to help their family."
More than 200,000 people in Montana suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, said Carrie Strike, Jingle Bell Run/Walk director and spokesperson for the Arthritis Foundation in Montana.
"This year we are honoring Luke Heaphy and his family," she said. "We are working to dispel the myth that only people of a certain age get arthritis.
"Kids get arthritis, too."
The newest addition to the ever-growing list of local fun runs kicked off what will be an annual affair to benefit the Arthritis Foundation.
Wearing Santa hats, holiday-themed socks and bells that jingled, about a hundred runners took off from Caras Park and toured up and down the Clark Fork River.
Leading the pack was 9-year-old Luke Heaphy, who has battled rheumatoid arthritis since he was 18 months old.
Staying fit and moving is the best medicine of all for this debilitating disease said the young athlete, who runs regularly to stay fit so he can play competitive basketball and football.
Although he wakes up feeling sore and achy every morning, the sooner he gets moving, the better he feels.
Heaphy said he just wished other people understood how movement and exercise are critical to people's health and well-being.
As the run's honoree, Heaphy said he wants to inspire others, and young people in particular, to get active and stay that way.
His advice for staying active during the winter?
"Find a way to keep exercising and not just sit down and watch TV inside," Heaphy said. "The snow is fun. Don't fight snow - get out and play in it.
"And when it's really cold outside, our family goes to the Peak Fitness Center a lot and we go swimming."
Arthritis is the nation's leading cause of disability, said Scott Weaver, the Seattle-based spokesperson for the Arthritis Foundation's western regional office.
"We are excited to have the inaugural run in Missoula, which is the only Jingle Bell run in Montana right now," Weaver said. "This is the first of 11 runs that will be held over the next four weeks through our western region, which includes Washington, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, Alaska, Montana, Oregon and Utah.
"The races will bring together over 25,000 people and will raise over $1.2 million that will be used for to support arthritis research, arthritis educational programs, community programs and camps."
Tim Leonhardt, a runner from Bozeman, was pleased with the happy coincidence that his son's swim meet was in Missoula and that there was also a race with a cause that was near and dear to the family's heart.
"I just happened to see the race advertised in the newspaper, and I like to run and my son, Alex, has juvenile arthritis," Leonhardt said. "It seemed like it was good cause and a good reason to sign up, so here I am.
"I'm doing this in support of him."
Like Heaphy's family, the Leonhardts stay active year-round. Running in the winter can be a challenge, but Leonhardt has learned a few rules of the cold-weather road: Dress like it is 20 degrees warmer than the thermometer says, because you will warm up quickly, and don't underestimate the value of a good headband or gloves.
Dressed in a festive, red sequined mini skirt and red-and-white stockings, Denise Graef said she was happy to lace up her running shoes and support the Jingle Bell cause.
"I have had rheumatoid arthritis since I was 21 years old, and I know how hard it is to live with," said Graef, who is now 49. "When I read about the kids who have this, and when I meet them, I know that they don't have the tools to deal with this like we do as adults.
"This is about the kids, so I am here and I am so thankful I can do it. Because I can do it, I feel compelled to do it."
When Graef was first diagnosed and learning to live with the disease, it would take her 15 minutes to walk from the bedroom to the kitchen each morning.
With such achy, painful joints, Graef could hardly move. But with help and with personal resolve, she kept moving, putting one foot in front of the other.
In time, she picked up running, and soon she'll take a test for her black belt in tae kwan do.
Conquering arthritis is a daily, sometimes hourly battle. New medications help, but attitude is everything.
"Really, it's about perseverance and the resolve to keep moving," Graef said. "I am here to help that little boy who is being honored here today, and to help their family."
More than 200,000 people in Montana suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, said Carrie Strike, Jingle Bell Run/Walk director and spokesperson for the Arthritis Foundation in Montana.
"This year we are honoring Luke Heaphy and his family," she said. "We are working to dispel the myth that only people of a certain age get arthritis.
"Kids get arthritis, too."
The MUHC chief's business deal [hat]
The executive director of the McGill University Health Centre, Dr. Arthur Porter, has a truly impressive résumé and has been a familiar face to Montrealers since he assumed the high-profile post seven years ago.
But "international man of mystery" is a side of him that was little-known until this week, when the tale of a business deal involving Porter and a shadowy international lobbyist came to light. It had nothing to do with the MUHC, but it raised troubling questions about the propriety of Porter engaging in such activity while holding one of his numerous sideline posts: as chief overseer of Canada's spy agency.
In June last year, Porter was appointed chairman of the Security and Intelligence Review Committee, a five-member body that oversees the activities of the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service and examines complaints against it. As such, the committee has access to all of CSIS's highly classified information.
The deal in question is one into which Porter entered shortly before his CSIS appointment. The National Post reported that he paid $200,000 to one Ari Ben-Menashe to broker a $120-million grant from Russia to Porter's native Sierra Leone for infrastructure development in the small country in western Africa. The work was to be carried out by a firm in which Porter had a personal interest.
It is commendable that Porter would try to do good works for the country of his birth, which has a troubled history of war, poverty and corruption. Ben-Menashe, however, could be seen as an unlikely partner for the enterprise. The businessman and lobbyist, now based in Montreal, was charged in the U.S. in 1989 with illegally attempting to sell military transport airplanes to Iran, though was later acquitted. He has also worked as a consultant to Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe.
As it turned out, the deal went sour. The Russian money never came through and Porter got his $200,000 back. But word of the deal is raising questions because of Porter's sensitive post overseeing CSIS. Porter says there was nothing untoward about the arrangement, but it is unclear whether he divulged his dealings in the matter prior to his SIRC appointment by the prime minister.
The Post also revealed that one of the numerous hats Porter wears is that of "Ambassador Plenipotentiary" for the Republic of Sierra Leone. This title normally carries the authority to represent the country's head of state, though Porter says that in his case it is merely honorific and that he is essentially a goodwill ambassador for the country. Nevertheless, it was in that capacity that he offered the post of honorary consul for Sierra Leone in Canada to Senator David Angus, who is also the chairman of the MUHC and, as such, Porter's boss. Angus wisely declined the offer because he felt it would conflict with his senatorial duties.
There may well have been nothing amiss in Porter's dealings with Ben-Menashe, apart from failing to run a sufficiently thorough background check on him. (Porter told the National Post: "I didn't check [Ben-Menashe] out, obviously, as thoroughly as I should have.")
But one wonders how Porter manages to fit his numerous outside activities into what must be a demanding job overseeing MUHC operations, its 12,000-person workforce and the construction of its new Glen Yards hospital. Apart from his CSIS sideline and work on behalf of Sierra Leone, Porter also devotes time to a cancer centre he founded in the Bahamas a few years ago, and holds a number of corporate directorships.
But "international man of mystery" is a side of him that was little-known until this week, when the tale of a business deal involving Porter and a shadowy international lobbyist came to light. It had nothing to do with the MUHC, but it raised troubling questions about the propriety of Porter engaging in such activity while holding one of his numerous sideline posts: as chief overseer of Canada's spy agency.
In June last year, Porter was appointed chairman of the Security and Intelligence Review Committee, a five-member body that oversees the activities of the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service and examines complaints against it. As such, the committee has access to all of CSIS's highly classified information.
The deal in question is one into which Porter entered shortly before his CSIS appointment. The National Post reported that he paid $200,000 to one Ari Ben-Menashe to broker a $120-million grant from Russia to Porter's native Sierra Leone for infrastructure development in the small country in western Africa. The work was to be carried out by a firm in which Porter had a personal interest.
It is commendable that Porter would try to do good works for the country of his birth, which has a troubled history of war, poverty and corruption. Ben-Menashe, however, could be seen as an unlikely partner for the enterprise. The businessman and lobbyist, now based in Montreal, was charged in the U.S. in 1989 with illegally attempting to sell military transport airplanes to Iran, though was later acquitted. He has also worked as a consultant to Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe.
As it turned out, the deal went sour. The Russian money never came through and Porter got his $200,000 back. But word of the deal is raising questions because of Porter's sensitive post overseeing CSIS. Porter says there was nothing untoward about the arrangement, but it is unclear whether he divulged his dealings in the matter prior to his SIRC appointment by the prime minister.
The Post also revealed that one of the numerous hats Porter wears is that of "Ambassador Plenipotentiary" for the Republic of Sierra Leone. This title normally carries the authority to represent the country's head of state, though Porter says that in his case it is merely honorific and that he is essentially a goodwill ambassador for the country. Nevertheless, it was in that capacity that he offered the post of honorary consul for Sierra Leone in Canada to Senator David Angus, who is also the chairman of the MUHC and, as such, Porter's boss. Angus wisely declined the offer because he felt it would conflict with his senatorial duties.
There may well have been nothing amiss in Porter's dealings with Ben-Menashe, apart from failing to run a sufficiently thorough background check on him. (Porter told the National Post: "I didn't check [Ben-Menashe] out, obviously, as thoroughly as I should have.")
But one wonders how Porter manages to fit his numerous outside activities into what must be a demanding job overseeing MUHC operations, its 12,000-person workforce and the construction of its new Glen Yards hospital. Apart from his CSIS sideline and work on behalf of Sierra Leone, Porter also devotes time to a cancer centre he founded in the Bahamas a few years ago, and holds a number of corporate directorships.
Oscar de la Renta to receive Artistry of Fashion Award [hat]
The Couture Council of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) will honor Oscar de la Renta with its 2012 Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion on Wednesday September 12, 2012 at a benefit luncheon at the David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center, New York City. As has become the tradition, this luncheon heralds the arrival of Fall Fashion Week.
Dr. Valerie Steele, director and chief curator of The Museum at FIT, announced, "Oscar de la Renta is a true fashion superstar who has long served as one of the greatest ambassadors of American style. His clothes, which draw on the heritage of Spain and the French haute couture, as well as on the dynamism of contemporary New York high fashion, convey a sense of luxury and drama that have earned him acclaim throughout the world."
FIT president, Dr. Joyce F. Brown, noted, "We are so pleased to honor this great American designer, who, through his timeless and elegant designs, is a legend to all those who love fashion. Oscar de la Renta is an inspiration, not only to students of fashion, including FIT's talented students, but to his fellow designers as well."
"I am honored to receive this award from the Couture Council of The Museum at FIT," said Mr. de la Renta. "It is an extraordinary acknowledgement celebrating artistry in fashion, a craft that defines my work as a designer and drives our industry as a whole. FIT is an institution dedicated to the future of fashion. I greatly admire their work and am happy to be a part their efforts."
Born in the Dominican Republic, Oscar de la Renta left at the age of eighteen to study painting at the Academy of San Fernando in Madrid. While living in Spain, he became interested in design and began sketching for leading Spanish fashion houses, which led to an apprenticeship with Spain's renowned couturier, Cristóbal Balenciaga. Later, he left Spain to join Antonio Castillo as a couture assistant at the house of Lanvin in Paris. Mr. de la Renta came to New York in 1963 to design the couture collection for Elizabeth Arden and in 1965 began his signature ready-to-wear label. When he was appointed as designer to the French couture house of Pierre Balmain in 1992, it was the first time that an American had been chosen for such a prestigious position at the heart of the haute couture.
Today, the company also produces a bridal collection, a fragrance line, a home collection, and a complete range of accessories, including handbags, shoes and jewelry. In 2008, Oscar de la Renta opened its first international stores in Athens and Madrid, and has continued its expansion with the opening of Dubai in 2009.
Mr. de la Renta was chosen to receive The Couture Council Artistry of Fashion Award by the Couture Council Advisory Committee, an independent group consisting of curators, editors, and retailers. Members include Pamela Golbin, curator of the Musée de la Mode; Akiko Fukai, director and chief curator of the Kyoto Costume Institute; Caroline Milbank, independent curator and author; Glenda Bailey, editor-in-chief of Harpers Bazaar; Hamish Bowles, European editor-at-large of Vogue; Ken Downing, fashion director of Neiman Marcus; Linda Fargo, senior vice president of Bergdorf Goodman; Nicole Fishcelis, vice president and fashion director at Macy's; and many distinguished others. Dr. Steele serves as chair.
Oscar de la Renta is one of the leading design houses in the world. The company has seen an influx of great young talent, as it continues to grow and expand as a global brand. De la Renta has also brought in many of his own family members to help build continuity and a foundation for the label’s future success. His son-in-law Alex Bolen operates as Chief Executive Officer, step-daughter Eliza Bolen serves as Vice President of Licensing, and his son Moises de la Renta works in the Design Studio.
Dr. Valerie Steele, director and chief curator of The Museum at FIT, announced, "Oscar de la Renta is a true fashion superstar who has long served as one of the greatest ambassadors of American style. His clothes, which draw on the heritage of Spain and the French haute couture, as well as on the dynamism of contemporary New York high fashion, convey a sense of luxury and drama that have earned him acclaim throughout the world."
FIT president, Dr. Joyce F. Brown, noted, "We are so pleased to honor this great American designer, who, through his timeless and elegant designs, is a legend to all those who love fashion. Oscar de la Renta is an inspiration, not only to students of fashion, including FIT's talented students, but to his fellow designers as well."
"I am honored to receive this award from the Couture Council of The Museum at FIT," said Mr. de la Renta. "It is an extraordinary acknowledgement celebrating artistry in fashion, a craft that defines my work as a designer and drives our industry as a whole. FIT is an institution dedicated to the future of fashion. I greatly admire their work and am happy to be a part their efforts."
Born in the Dominican Republic, Oscar de la Renta left at the age of eighteen to study painting at the Academy of San Fernando in Madrid. While living in Spain, he became interested in design and began sketching for leading Spanish fashion houses, which led to an apprenticeship with Spain's renowned couturier, Cristóbal Balenciaga. Later, he left Spain to join Antonio Castillo as a couture assistant at the house of Lanvin in Paris. Mr. de la Renta came to New York in 1963 to design the couture collection for Elizabeth Arden and in 1965 began his signature ready-to-wear label. When he was appointed as designer to the French couture house of Pierre Balmain in 1992, it was the first time that an American had been chosen for such a prestigious position at the heart of the haute couture.
Today, the company also produces a bridal collection, a fragrance line, a home collection, and a complete range of accessories, including handbags, shoes and jewelry. In 2008, Oscar de la Renta opened its first international stores in Athens and Madrid, and has continued its expansion with the opening of Dubai in 2009.
Mr. de la Renta was chosen to receive The Couture Council Artistry of Fashion Award by the Couture Council Advisory Committee, an independent group consisting of curators, editors, and retailers. Members include Pamela Golbin, curator of the Musée de la Mode; Akiko Fukai, director and chief curator of the Kyoto Costume Institute; Caroline Milbank, independent curator and author; Glenda Bailey, editor-in-chief of Harpers Bazaar; Hamish Bowles, European editor-at-large of Vogue; Ken Downing, fashion director of Neiman Marcus; Linda Fargo, senior vice president of Bergdorf Goodman; Nicole Fishcelis, vice president and fashion director at Macy's; and many distinguished others. Dr. Steele serves as chair.
Oscar de la Renta is one of the leading design houses in the world. The company has seen an influx of great young talent, as it continues to grow and expand as a global brand. De la Renta has also brought in many of his own family members to help build continuity and a foundation for the label’s future success. His son-in-law Alex Bolen operates as Chief Executive Officer, step-daughter Eliza Bolen serves as Vice President of Licensing, and his son Moises de la Renta works in the Design Studio.
fashion red bull winter hats to you [hat]
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In 1920, Ehrhardt Koch basically PAC established a new organization, known as In the Company of the indoor Koch. for acquisition of 14 elements, through the grass in upstate New Buffalo You will be able to do. During use of the snapback fitted hats company re-named and fresh trend within 19 twenty-two. Throughout 1932, the company made the original version on the tops of trucks hockey. Later, he was accredited separately for you to supply all caps over the Cleveland Indians professional football staff. It turned out that the group of baseball that was provided in its entirety with t hat Throughout nineteen 40, acquired fresh Mania trucks decorated covers a lot of qualified football hats. Next, he started getting a brutal competitors not any other brands.
In the late 40′s, is entirely new and Development mostly developed an excellent way for the management unit dimensions. With the end of 1954, these dallas snapback people mix the design of Brooklyn to renew the form with the color, along with the new name for this particular string from 59FIFTY. Through 1965, less difficult soccer league comes to 15 major groups hats soccer leagues. Brand-new trend has designed the complete initial drawing a line under the cap in 1969. With the end of 1974, is entirely new and Development, dedicated to twenty hats significant groups-24 Hockey category. At first in 1980 in the twentieth century, the new madness can not be limited to providing the team covers about twenty-three major league clubs, as well as large orders were given from the road through universities, neighborhood businesses groups around the world of baseball along with golf equipment.
News; Solli's Return Gives Boost to Offense [hat]
The ever-reliable defensive hold away from Carlos Mendes permitted the brand ny red-colored Bulls to sustain the Los Angeles Galaxy to only just one goal in Sunday’s sequence opener at red-colored Bull Arena. Now, since the clubs mind Cheap MLB Hats back again for that residence Depot center in Carson, CA for that last go with inside the Conference Semifinals, mentor Hans Backe is on the way to be looking at ideal back again Jan Gunnar Solli to include some fire for that red-colored Bulls’ offense.
“[He’s] certainly much more of an attacking fullback,” Backe said. “That can possibly help us within our attacking game.”
Solli was forced to sit out Sunday’s go with at at red-colored Bull Arena ideal after receiving a Cheap New Era Hats straight red-colored card inside the Wild Card go with in opposition to FC Dallas. certainly not pleased with possessing to pass up time, Solli hopes his hold out will help create large troubles for ny once they consider for the Galaxy inside the next and last leg inside the Conference Semifinals, Thursday at 11pm ET on ESPN2.
“They managed to near right down our ideal facet only a tiny tad much greater than possibly i experienced been hoping,” Solli said, “but now it is a producer new go with and hopefully I can can be found and help Dane only a tiny tad inside the offensive factors and possibly the go with opens up.”
Although Solli finished the common time period not possessing picking up a goal, his 7 assistsCheap NFL Hats and ability to create contributes significantly for that red-colored Bulls' offense. telephone call for proof? glance no even more than Dane Richards’ goal in opposition to the Philadelphia Union. Solli’s cross developed the opportunity, just one that was at first ruled an own-goal but later on rescinded and credited to Richards.
Even when he’s pondering goal, like he was in opposition to the Galaxy on Oct. 4, Solli’s purpose on net prospects to good troubles for New York. in the celebration you view highlights from that match, you will uncover Solli’s try at sending residence a header away a corner was thwarted over the Galaxy, however the rebound chance was prime for Luke Rodgers to bury the loose ball. not possessing placing the header on goal, who understands what arrives inside the hold out that permitted Rodgers to positioned up the tally.
“[He’s] certainly much more of an attacking fullback,” Backe said. “That can possibly help us within our attacking game.”
Solli was forced to sit out Sunday’s go with at at red-colored Bull Arena ideal after receiving a Cheap New Era Hats straight red-colored card inside the Wild Card go with in opposition to FC Dallas. certainly not pleased with possessing to pass up time, Solli hopes his hold out will help create large troubles for ny once they consider for the Galaxy inside the next and last leg inside the Conference Semifinals, Thursday at 11pm ET on ESPN2.
“They managed to near right down our ideal facet only a tiny tad much greater than possibly i experienced been hoping,” Solli said, “but now it is a producer new go with and hopefully I can can be found and help Dane only a tiny tad inside the offensive factors and possibly the go with opens up.”
Although Solli finished the common time period not possessing picking up a goal, his 7 assistsCheap NFL Hats and ability to create contributes significantly for that red-colored Bulls' offense. telephone call for proof? glance no even more than Dane Richards’ goal in opposition to the Philadelphia Union. Solli’s cross developed the opportunity, just one that was at first ruled an own-goal but later on rescinded and credited to Richards.
Even when he’s pondering goal, like he was in opposition to the Galaxy on Oct. 4, Solli’s purpose on net prospects to good troubles for New York. in the celebration you view highlights from that match, you will uncover Solli’s try at sending residence a header away a corner was thwarted over the Galaxy, however the rebound chance was prime for Luke Rodgers to bury the loose ball. not possessing placing the header on goal, who understands what arrives inside the hold out that permitted Rodgers to positioned up the tally.
