forward
to family members, friends and colleagues who might like to receive this news update.
Families also face a tough decision when to take away the keys.
possible.
of a 13-year-old girl caring for her mother with Alzheimer's.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion
of brain health. Learn more at
www.alz.org/.
here.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Taking away the keys is a difficult choice
Monday, May 12, 2008
six red hot tips to get your articles read
There are many people who dread having to write papers or articles. Many
just feel like it seems to be too much work and it all just goes to waste
when no one reads it. To some people, reading articles seems like work
especially if the article is boring and very bland.
Well, articles are supposed to be read, that's their purpose to impart your
message and information. If it is not read then it is a waste of time and
effort.
But all the same, articles have to be written to be read. It's just a matter
of making them good. Making a good article doesn't have to be strenuous and
straining. There are just some points needed to be reminded of, and some
guides to follow.
Once you get the hang of it, writing articles could be fun, as well as
profitable for you and your site.
Of course, writing articles must be about something you know about, that's
why if you own a site, you probably are knowledgeable about that certain
topic and theme. When you write about it, you wont have a hard time because
you already know what it is and what it's about. It's just a matter of
making your articles creative and interesting.
To make sure that your articles get read and are enjoyed, here are six red
hot tips to get your articles read. These tips will make your articles
readable and interesting.
1) Use short paragraphs. When the paragraph are very long, the words get
jumbled in the mind of the reader just looking at it can get quite confusing
and too much of a hard work to read. The reader will just quickly disregard
the paragraph and move on to much easier reading articles that are good to
look at as well as read. Paragraphs can be a single sentence, sometimes even
a single word!
2) Make use of numbers or bullets. As each point is stressed out, numbers
and bullets can quickly make the point easy to remember and digest. As each
point, tip, guide or method is started with a bullet or point, readers will
know that this is where the tips start and getting stressed. Format you
bullets and numbers with indentations so that your4 article wont look like a
single block of square paragraphs. Add a little bit of flair and pizzazz to
your articles shape.
3) Use Sub-headings to sub-divide your paragraphs in the page. Doing this
will break each point into sections but still would be incorporated into one
whole article. It would also be easy for the reader to move on from one
point to another; the transition would be smooth and easy. You will never
lose your readers attention as well as the point and direction to where the
article is pointing.
4) Provide a good attention-grabbing title or header. If your title can
entice a persons curiosity you're already halfway in getting a person to
read your article. Use statements and questions that utilize keywords that
people are looking for. Provide titles or headers that describe your
articles content but should also be short and concise.
Use titles like, Tips on making her want you more, or How to make her swoon
and blush .You could also use titles that can command people, for example,
Make her yours in six easy Ways. These types of titles reach out to a
persons emotions and makes them interested.
5) Keep them interested from the start to the finish. From your opening
paragraph, use real life situations that can be adopted by the reader. Use
good descriptions and metaphors to drive in your point, just don't over do
it. Driving your examples with graphic metaphors and similes would make it
easy for them to imagine what you are talking about. Making the experience
pleasurable and enjoyable for them.
6) Utilize figures when necessary and not just ordinary and insipid
statements. Using specific facts and figures can heighten your article
because it makes it authoritative. But do not make it too formal, it should
be light and easy in them and flow. Like a friendly teacher having a little
chat with an eager student.
Well there you have 6 ways to get articles read and send more traffic to
your website or blog. For other ways to send targeted traffic to your sites
please visit: http://TrafficTransformer.com
(This article can be used on your own blog or website just make sure to
include a reference to this page or MarkFlavinBlog.com)
New, Push-Button Technology Builds Your List Automatically!
Make Money StartingMinutes from Right Now!
http://tinyurl.com/38486q
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Harmony Café
Harmony
Café
Harmony Café an evening of music, coffee, tea and desserts continues our
monthly Music and Open Mic Night series May 9 Friday 7pm at His Dream
Center, 205 Baltic St in Nags Head with featured artist Jim Kelly. Jim has
shared his music with GEM participants and our GEM family and his easy down
home county style combined with gospel and a little bit of Rock and roll is
a crowd pleaser. Join us for dessert and coffee and some great music.
Our April café with headliner Kim Kalman was well attended and the musicians
commented how great it was to be actually listened to by the audience. Guest
appearances by Ellen Berg, Capt Rick, Nick Hodgen and Angelo Sonnesso
offered a variety of musical styles to the evening.
Coffee, supplied by Southern Bean owner Eric Gardner, and delicious homemade
treats (supplied by Lions Club and GEM members) will be available for a $5
donation. Games such as checkers and dominos will be available. Thanks to
generous business owners and club members we have some wonderful raffle
items.
This coffee house is the second of our monthly series, held on the 2nd
Friday of the month. Those interested in signing up for the open mic may
call Angelo at 202-1190 to reserve a time slot for the evening. Walk-ins are
welcome.
Proceeds from harmony Café will support the Nags Head Lions Club in their
projects providing services for children and adults with visual problems and
GEM's programs supporting Dare County citizens with dementia and their care
givers.
For more information about the GEM Coffee House call Gail Sonnesso at
252-480-3354.
Nags Head Lions Club
Angelo Sonnesso
252-202-1190
Angelo@angelomuisc.com
GEM Adult Day Services Inc.
Gail Sonnesso
252-480-3354
gemdayservices.org
Angelo Sonnesso M.A. M.S.
Social Worker for the Blind
Harmony Café.doc press release 4 28 08.doc
Harmony Café
Date: Friday May 9th
Time: 7 -9pm
Place: His Dream Center 205 S. Baltic St.
Nags Head NC
Contact: Gail Sonnesso 252-480-3354
Thank you ,
Gail E Sonnesso M.S.
Executive Director
GEM Adult Day Services Inc.
Where group Respite is therapeutic for both our participants, and their
families.
(252) 480-3354
http://www.gemdayservices.org
Friday, April 25, 2008
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION MUST ACCOMMODATE BLIND
BENEFICIARIES Colleagues,
go
out to all of your press release outlets immediately , ASAP!! It should
go out to newspapers, radio
stations, and tv stations in your area exactly as it is written, no
editing, no changes. This is a huge announcement and a major ruling that
benefits nearly all blind people in the United States and another victory
for ACB!! I'll send it in Word to anyone who wishes it when I get it.
Julia Epstein, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund, (510)
644-2555 (x. 241), jepstein@dredf.org
wondie.russell@hellerehrman.com Ron Milliman, American Council of the
Blind, rmilliman@insightbb.com
BENEFICIARIES
William Alsup of the US District Court for the Northern District of
California ruled that the US Social Security Administration (SSA) must
accommodate the real and legitimate needs of people with visual
impairments who receive benefits from SSA. The agency is required
under the Rehabilitation Act and the due process clause, the ruling
states, to provide communications in formats that are accessible to
these beneficiaries.
federal
court in 2005 by the American Council of the Blind and a group of
individuals who are blind or have visual impairments filed a class action
lawsuit against SSA, alleging that the agency fails to provide the most
basic accommodations to its blind and visually impaired applicants and
beneficiaries. To this day, the SSA communicates with blind and visually
impaired applicants and beneficiaries in standard 12 point font print that
they cannot read, and is unwilling to provide meaningful communication in
alternative formats such as Braille, audio, large font or electronic text.
"In the 21st century there is no reasonable explanation or excuse for the
SSA to continue to ignore the needs and rights of the blind population,
and
we are committed to bringing about the necessary changes," explained
Wondie
Russell of Heller Ehrman LLP, an attorney for plaintiffs. "This decision
has now set us on the path to securing reasonable accommodations."
the jurisdiction of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
which requires bars discrimination on the basis of disability in
federal programs, including removing communication barriers by
providing "auxiliary aids" that allow persons with disabilities an
equal opportunity to participate. "The callousness of SSA's adamant
insistence that sending notices that our clients cannot read was not
lost on the judge," said Arlene Mayerson, Directing Attorney for
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), and an attorney
for plaintiffs. "It is amazing that something that is clear to
anyone, that sending a standard print notice to a blind individual
denies due process, would end up in federal court."
is long past time that the Social Security Administration - which
assists tens of thousands of blind and visually impaired persons - is
held to account for its stubborn unwillingness to adhere to a statute
that is 35 years old.
There is no excuse in this day and age of easy access to printers with the
capability for producing large type, and braille printers for SSA to
violate the Rehabilitation Act and I applaud this ruling."
SSA's failure to give them effective notice of its actions. "Imagine
receiving a phone call from the bank that your checks are bouncing and
fees are mounting," suggests American Council of the Blind Executive
Director Melanie Brunson.
and Defense Fund, Heller Ehrman LLP, the Oregon Advocacy Center, and
the National Senior Citizens Law Center.
Accessible Online Credit Reports
- Braille and other formats also to be made available - ATLANTA, CHICAGO and COSTA MESA, Calif., April 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The nation's three major consumer credit reporting companies today unveiled a comprehensive program to provide improved access to important credit information for people who are blind or visually impaired. The initiative, crafted with the American Council of the Blind, its California affiliate and several individual members of the blind community, will help protect the credit information of individuals who cannot read a standard print credit report. Under the plan announced today, Equifax , Experian , and TransUnion have begun working to make online credit reports and related information accessible through their jointly operated website, AnnualCreditReport.com, the official site to help consumers obtain free credit reports. Accessible credit reports for people with visual impairments will be available online by October 31 of this year. By the end of the year, the companies will also make credit reports available in Braille and other formats at no charge to qualified individuals who cannot access print information. "We are thrilled with the commitment of Equifax, Experian and TransUnion to provide credit information in accessible formats," said Melanie Brunson, Executive Director of the American Council of the Blind in Washington, D.C. "The initiative being announced today will help people with visual impairments fight identity theft by independently monitoring and reviewing their credit reports as all members of the public should." "By creating AnnualCreditReport.com, Equifax and the other two nationwide credit reporting companies gave consumers easy access to their credit information and this latest initiative is yet another example of how, as an industry, we are extending this access to consumers with visual impairments," said Dann Adams, President, Equifax U.S. Consumer Information Solutions. "Experian has a long history of providing quality credit products and services to consumers and we were excited by the opportunity to improve access for consumers with visual impairments to these important tools," said Kerry Williams, group president, Credit Services & Decision Analytics, Experian Americas. "TransUnion is very pleased to be a part of this important effort that will help empower visually impaired consumers to manage their own credit health," said Mark Marinko, president of Consumer Services at TransUnion. Web Site Access Today's initiative includes a commitment to design online credit reports and related web pages in accordance with guidelines issued by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) ( http://www.w3.org/wai ). The guidelines, which do not affect the content or look and feel of a Web site, ensure that Web sites are accessible to persons with visual disabilities. The guidelines are of particular benefit to blind computer users who use screen reader or magnification technology on their computers and who rely on a keyboard instead of a mouse. "Web site accessibility is of great importance to both the blind community and to people with disabilities generally," said ACB Board member, and CCB President, Jeff Thom, a blind lawyer in Sacramento, California. "We applaud the leadership role taken by all the credit reporting companies in committing to address the accessibility of AnnualCreditReport.com and online credit reports, helping to protect the financial security of a wide range of online consumers." "We truly appreciate the credit reporting companies' willingness to engage in discussions with us to find a solution to the problem of inaccessible credit reports," said Paul Parravano, a blind M.I.T. employee in Cambridge, Massachusetts, who was involved in the discussions. "Today's announcement, reached as a result of the collaborative process, is an important milestone in the blind community's quest for independent control over their financial information." About American Council of the Blind (ACB) and California Council of the Blind (CCB) American Council of the Blind is a national consumer-based advocacy organization working on behalf of blind and visually impaired Americans throughout the country, with members organized through seventy state and special interest affiliates. California Council of the Blind is the California affiliate of the ACB, and is a statewide membership organization, with 40 local chapters and statewide special interest associations. ACB and CCB are dedicated to improving the quality of life, equality of opportunity and independence of all people who have visual impairments. Their members and affiliated organizations have a long history of commitment to the advancement of policies and programs which will enhance independence for people who are blind and visually impaired. More information about ACB and CCB can be found by visiting http://www.acb.org/ and http://www.ccbnet.org/ ABOUT EQUIFAX Equifax ( http://www.equifax.com/
) empowers businesses and consumers with information they can trust. A global leader in information solutions, employment and income verification and human resources business process outsourcing services, we leverage one of the largest sources of consumer and commercial data, along with advanced analytics and proprietary technology, to create customized insights that enrich both the performance of businesses and the lives of consumers. Customers have trusted Equifax for over 100 years to deliver innovative solutions with the highest integrity and reliability. Businesses -- large and small -- rely on us for consumer and business credit intelligence, portfolio management, fraud detection, decisioning technology, marketing tools, HR/payroll services, and much more. We empower individual consumers to manage their personal credit information, protect their identity and maximize their financial well-being. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Equifax Inc. employs approximately 7,000 people in 14 countries throughout North America, Latin America and Europe. Equifax is a member of Standard & Poor's (S&P)
500(R) Index. Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol EFX. ABOUT EXPERIAN
Experian(R) is a global leader in providing information, analytical and marketing services to organizations and consumers to help manage the risk and reward of commercial and financial decisions. Combining its unique information tools and deep understanding of individuals, markets and economies, Experian partners with organizations around the world to establish and strengthen customer relationships and provide their businesses with competitive advantage. For consumers, Experian delivers critical information that enables them to make financial and purchasing decisions with greater control and confidence. Clients include organizations from financial services, retail and catalog, telecommunications, utilities, media, insurance, automotive, leisure, e-commerce, manufacturing, property and government sectors. Experian Group Limited is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. It has corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, and operational headquarters in Costa Mesa, Calif., and Nottingham, UK. Experian employs approximately 15,500 people in 36 countries worldwide, supporting clients in more than 65 countries. Annual sales are in excess of $3.8 billion. For more information, visit the Group's Web site on http://www.experiangroup.com/ . ABOUT TRANSUNION As a global leader in credit and information management, TransUnion creates advantages for millions of people around the world by gathering, analyzing and delivering information. For businesses, TransUnion helps improve efficiency, manage risk, reduce costs and increase revenue by delivering comprehensive data and advanced analytics and decisioning. For consumers, TransUnion provides the tools, resources and education to help manage their credit health and achieve their financial goals. Through these and other efforts, TransUnion is working to build stronger economies worldwide. Founded in 1968 and headquartered in Chicago, TransUnion employs more than 3100 employees in 25 countries on five continents. http://www.transunion.com/
Monday, April 14, 2008
please share this info about long term services and supports
Navigating the MAZE of Long Term Services and Supports
Date: Monday April 21, 2008
Time: from 9 – 4pm
Where: His Dream Center in Nags Head
Contact: Gail Sonnesso, GEM Adult Day Services, Inc at 480-3354
Want some FREE legal advice?
Join Jean- Louise Dixon of Dixon and Dixon of Hatteras and Susan Harman-Scott of Kellogg and Evans as these Attorneys help to give us a better understanding of what we need to be aware of as we face aging in today’s world. Please join us on Monday April 21 Other topics will include what has changed with living wills and health care powers of attorney.
Terry Cullen’s, District Manager, Social Security & Medicare will offer information about these services and how they are changing.
Are you considering Long Term Care insurance! Learn more about it from Amy Riggs, RN, CLTC Broker of Long Term Care Health Insurance with Genworth Financial.
Carrie Hinton, and Keri Hazelton will tell us about the services available offered by the North Carolina Division of Services for the Blind.
We will be having an interactive panel discussion from 3-4pm and you have your own questions answered by the panel.
The conference costs $10 and that covers lunch by Kelly’s Restaurant, Space is still available.
Gail E Sonnesso M.S.
Executive Director
GEM Adult Day Services Inc.
Where group Respite is therapeutic for both our participants, and their families.
(252) 480-3354
