text:
Spring is in the air and I am reminded that for many people this is the time for 'spring cleaning.' While in my mom's household this meant putting away winter clothes, blankets, etc. and cleaning out the shed to make room for a lot of winter related items. Note we didn't have a garage so we had this shed to store things in.
For businesses this is a good time to clean out the cob webs in their thinking and business processes. I am sure most you know that Peter Drucker, the renown business management guru, included 'innovation' as one of the top items that businesses need to continuously focus on to stay ahead of their competition.' Let this spring be the time when you decide to energize your employees and organization to consider how you can introduce innovation to your processes, your products and services, your culture, your marketing, etc. Remember the insightful words of a former manager of mine, "If you are standing still, you are falling behind.'
I am very excited about a new column we have added this month - The Washington Report by Montserrat Miller. Each month Montserrat will offer her insights on the 'what is happening' in Washington that impacts the background screening industry. Be sure to read this timely column.
This month we bring back the International Screener Spotlight to feature Scott Vanek, President, SJV & Associates. The firm has boldly entered the international marketplace to broaden their service offerings to their clients. See SJV & Associate's' ad with the International Legal Challenge Question.
This will be the last month that Pam Devata, Seyfarth Shaw LLP provides the content for the U.S. Legal Challenge Column and I want to thank her for a great job in providing this valuable service to our readers. Starting next month Larry Henry, Rhodes Hieronymus Jones Tucker and Gable, will be providing the content for the U.S. Legal Challenge Column.
While we wait for the official Berg Report on the NAPBS Conference Denver let me simply say "it was awesome." NAPBS announced that this was the largest attended conference ever. I also want to give a big 'shout out' to all of the international members who traveled to join us at the conference and its official Europe has become the newest International Chapter of NAPBS. Welcome aboard to our European colleagues.
For the first time we are going to produce a Special Directory for Background Screening Firms (CRAs) which will exclusively include Platinum Members of PreemploymentDirectory.com. We are going to publish this Special Directory in June just in time for the SHRM Annual Conference. Become a Platinum Member now to make sure you are included in this historic directory that will receive wide distribution. To help make the decision easy we are offering a Conference Special to CRAs who want to become Platinum Members. All firms that sign up for Platinum Membership before May 6th will receive a 20% discount on their listing in the Special Directory and on a Diamond Sponsorship in PreemploymentDirectory.com. This is discount will save you up to $200.00.
Take care until next month and stay safe.
PS –Derkmahoibikaisis hello in Eskimo-Aleut languages spoken in Canada
Volume 7, Edition 3, March 2011
BACKGROUND SCREENING NEWS
Workforce's 2011 Hot List - Background and Screening Providers
Depending on the measure used Lexus Nexus and HireRight were ranked at the top of the list. Lexus Nexus was tops for number of individuals screened and HireRight was number one for number of corporate clients.
Rounding out the top five for number of individual screened were TalentWise, First Advantage, HireRight and Acxiom while Lexus Nexus, ADP, First Advantage and TalentWise round out the top ranked firms for number of clients.
To see the full rankings click here
Acxiom CEO Resigns
March 30, 2011 - The chief executive officer and president of Little Rock-based Acxiom Corporation has resigned and the company's chief financial officer has said he intends to resign, officials said. CEO John A. Meyer resigned effective Monday and CFO Christopher W. Wolf informed the company he will leave in the second quarter, according to a statement issued.
News of the resignations came on the same day Acxiom said it expects a loss on net earnings for the fourth quarter and possibly the fiscal year. Jerry D. Gramaglia, a member of Acxiom's board, will serve as interim CEO. "No doubt Acxiom is a stronger company because of John's effort. We thank him and wish him well," Gramaglia said during a conference call Wednesday morning, adding later that he would work closely with company leaders to "move decisively to ensure we continue Acxiom's momentum during my interim service."
To read more click here
National Sexual Harassment Registry
The eBossWatch National Sexual Harassment Registry is a database and search tool for conducting searches to obtain publicly available information about people who have been accused of sexual harassment in the workplace.
The mission of the National Sexual Harassment Registry is to help put an end to sexual harassment by enabling people to better evaluate potential employers and by sending a strong message to those intending to harass their employees or coworkers that they will be publicly held accountable and will suffer serious consequences for their abusive actions.
Seven Percent of Players from Top 25 College Football Teams Have Criminal Records
A six-month joint investigation by Sports Illustrated (SI) and CBS News that ran criminal background checks on nearly 3,000 players from the Top 25 ranked college football teams revealed that 7 percent of the players checked had criminal records. Only two of the schools performed background checks of their own.The investigation ran background checks on 2,837 players - each player on the preseason rosters of Sports Illustrated's Top 25 ranked college football teams of 2010 at courthouses and law enforcement agencies in 17 states, and also through several online databases that tracked criminal records.The number of players with criminal pasts uncovered by the SI/CBS News investigation seems to imply that little investigating is done by college coaches into the backgrounds of players before offering them scholarships.
Accredibase Report 2011 Reveals 48% Increase In Fake Universities
The 2011 annual Accredibase™ report into diploma and accreditation mill activity has revealed an astounding 48% increase worldwide in the number of known diploma and accreditation mills in the past year alone. As the Internet is the primary home for these bogus education and accreditation providers, little action is taken to stop them from helping unscrupulous candidates deceive unsuspecting employers. This year's Accredibase™ report examines the current status of the diploma mill situation and considers what can be done to protect the public and businesses.
According to the 2011 report, the USA remains the world's fake college capital. This year has seen a 20% increase in known diploma mills in the US, with the number rising from 810 to 1,008. While more than 40% percent of the diploma mills operate in California, Hawaii, Washington and Florida, the report reveals that District of Columbia has seen the sharpest increase among US states with 74%, rising from 19 to 33 mills over the past year.
Verifile's proprietary database of diploma and accreditation mills, Accredibase™, keeps track of the credential fraud industry. Verifile'sAccredibase™ has identified approximately 5000 suspect educational institutions and accreditors, including 2,615 known bogus education and accreditation providers. In addition to the huge number of confirmed mills known to Accredibase™, new suspect institutions are discovered on a daily basis - more than 2,000 are currently under investigation by Accredibase™ for inclusion in the database.
For further information or to read the Accredibase™ report for 2011, please visit www.accredibase.com
Draft "Commercial Privacy Bill of Rights Act of 2011" Published
Update 3-24-11: We have learned that Senator Kerry's office has circulated to selected parties a new version of the draft privacy bill amending the version that is the subject of this blog entry, but has not publicly shared it. When it is distributed publicly, we will report on any changes.
At last week's Senate Commerce Committee hearing on privacy, Senator John Kerry (D-MA) announced that he will be introducing privacy legislation in this session of Congress. A draft of the Kerry legislation, which also currently lists Senator John McCain (R-AZ) as a co-sponsor, has been circulating around Washington and was published by the BNA Electronic Commerce & Law Reporter. We share a copy of the draft "Commercial Privacy Bill of Rights Act of 2011" here .
City Council of Philadelphia Considers Restrictions On Employers' Ability To Inquire About Criminal Convictions
On February 17, 2011, Philadelphia City Council Member Donna Reed Miller introduced a bill which would amend the Philadelphia law "Regulation of Businesses, Trades and Professions," by adding a chapter entitled, "Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards." The proposed bill (bill number 110110) differs from existing Pennsylvania law on the use of criminal history information for potential employees and U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Guidance in several ways. Perhaps the most significant change to employment procedures if the bill were to be enacted would be the prohibition on employers from making "any inquiry about the criminal record of an applicant" until after a conditional offer of employment is made. This provision presumably would prohibit employers from asking about prior criminal convictions on employment applications, which many employers currently ask as a check box question.
At present time this bill is being held in committee and no vote on the measure has been scheduled.
Welcome to the U.S. Legal Challenge Question!
As the background screening industry continues to get more competitive the firms that will ultimately succeed will be those that create competitive advantage through their people by offering continuous learning opportunities to heightened their knowledge and capabilities. We believe that having employees that are very knowledgeable about the legal landscape of background screening is essential to continued success.
We are grateful to Pam Devata, Seyfarth Shaw LLP for providing the expertise for this valuable endeavor. For information regarding the answers to the Legal Challenge Questions, please contact Pamela Devata at Seyfarth Shaw LLP at pdevata@seyfarth.com or 312-460-5000 or visit www.seyfarth.com.
Please choose your answer by clicking on it:
Businesses are allowed to require applicants to pay for background checks as a condition of being hired
a- All states except CA and NY allow this
b- This is illegal in all 50 states
c- A company can only require applicants to pay for background checks after an offer has been made
d- None of the above
LEGAL ISSUES (continuted)
Investigative Report Prepared In Response To Employee's Allegations of Discrimination Held Not A "Consumer Report" Under The FCRA
Facts: Plaintiff claimed that an investigative report conducted and prepared by a third party non-employer constituted a consumer report and was performed without the certification of her employer as required by the FCRA. Plaintiff further claimed that she requested a copy of the report and Defendants failed to provide her with a copy. Defendant moved to dismiss Plaintiff's FCRA claims for failure to state a claim on the grounds that the investigative report was excluded from the definition of consumer report under § 1681a(d)(2). The Court found that the investigative report complained of was not a consumer report and therefore all of Plaintiff's FCRA claims were dismissed except for her claim against her employer for its failure to provide a summary of the report.
Court Dismisses Portion of Plaintiffs' Discrimination Class Action Over Credit Checks For Lack of Standing
Challenges are on the increase over the use of credit checks by employers. One of the first private party class actions of this ilk - entitled Appolon, et al. v. University of Miami, Case No. 1:01-CV-24166 (S.D. Fla.) - asserts claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, alleging disparate impact discrimination against African-Americans and Latinos due to the employer's use of credit information in hiring decisions.
In the first substantive ruling in Appolon, the Court issued a ruling on March 14, 2001 [ link to ruling], granting the employer's motion to dismiss, and significantly limiting the scope of the lawsuit.
At the same time, the Court declined to dismiss the Amended Complaint brought relative to Plaintiff Appolon. The Court concluded that the alleged class theory was viable in stating a cause of action that Defendant's practice disparately impacts applicants for employment. Id. at 12. For this reason, the Court determined that it would revisit the sufficiency of the case theory when determining whether class certification was proper under Rule 23.
While this initial ruling favored the defense on procedural grounds, the battle is now drawn on the viability of the credit check class theory. Given the current legal landscape regarding these types of claims, this case warrants keeping a close eye out for new developments in this area of the law.
First Group Affiliates Pay $4.3M Settlement
Thousands of workers and job applicants for two subsidiaries of Cincinnati-based First Group America are eligible to share in $4.3 million from the settlement of federal Fair Credit Report Act claims against the company.
The proposed settlement approved Wednesday by federal Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer in Chicago stems from a national class-action against sister companies First Transit, which employs mass-transit drivers, and First Student, which provides school bus drivers.
The suit accused the companies of obtaining criminal background checks about drivers and job applicants without their written authorization and in some cases denying them jobs without providing them a copy of their criminal background report in violation of the federal law.
First Student transports 6 million students on 60,000 school buses in North America, including those attending Cincinnati Public Schools.
ClearStar Logistics Announces Open Integration to Shared Confidence, New Non-Profit Volunteer Background Screening Program
ClearStar Logistics, a leading background screening industry services provider, today announced open integration to Shared Confidence, its new non-profit volunteer background screening program. Integration to Shared Confidence services is available to any background screening company on any technology platform.
Two newly available products will help nonprofits address these challenges. The Volunteer National Criminal Screen with Social Security Number (SSN) Trace delivers an address and alias history based on the volunteer's provided name. The provided name is then screened with a ClearStar Logistics National Criminal Database check - a database consisting of more than 400 million records from county courts, state Departments of Corrections, Administrative Offices of the Courts, and sex offender registries.
The Volunteer National Criminal with SSN Trace and Alias provides a more comprehensive version of the Volunteer National Criminal with SSN Trace and includes a National Criminal Database check of all alias names returned in the SSN Trace.
"Shared Confidence combines several high-quality services into a single product, specifically designed and priced so our background screening partners can efficiently deliver a superior product to their non-profit customers at the best price possible."
For more information, please visit www.ClearStarLogistics.net
ANNOUCEMENTS (contnued)
HR Integrations and ClearStar Create Strategic Partnership
HR Integrations, the leading integrations network and exchange for the human resource (HR) market, and ClearStar announced a strategic partnership. This partnership connects the growing network of applicant tracking systems (ATS) and human resource information systems (HRIS) on the HR Integrations HRNX platform with ClearStar's background screening technology clients through a single HR-XML integration. "ClearStar's forward thinking technology combined with HR Integrations product leadership and integration network will provide ClearStar clients the ability to rapidly integrate with leading ATS and HRIS platforms," said Paul Mladineo, President of HR Integrations.
HR Integrations connects ATS and HRIS software platforms with HR service providers through the innovative HRNX Exchange, creating one HR services marketplace on the desktops of HR managers and recruiters. "Part of our commitment to ClearStar technology clients is to maximize their service delivery options," stated Vince Pascarella, President of ClearStar. "This partnership with HR Integrations not only provides our clients with seamless connections to the unprecedented list of ATS and HRIS providers in the HRNX Exchange, but it also enables a shorter time to market at a lower cost for our valued clients and their employer-customers for these types of high-value systems integrations."
To read more visit ClearStar.net
One Site! Many Suppliers!
Looking for the Top Suppliers in the Industry? Need to find a new Supplier?
Visit our VENDOR SHOWCASE which features suppliers to the Background Screening Industry.
New! Winter 2011 Directory of Suppliers Now Available - Click Here!
ADP Employment Report: Solid Job Growth Gathers Steam
Private-sector employment increased by 217,000 from January to February on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the latest ADP National Employment Report released today. The estimated change of employment from December 2010 to January 2011 was revised up to 189,000 from the previously reported increase of 187,000. This month's ADP National Employment Report suggests continued solid growth of nonfarm private employment early in 2011. The average gain from December through February (217,000) is well above the average gain over the prior six months (63,000).
To the full report click here:
The Conference Board Employment Trends Index™ (ETI)
The Conference Board Employment Trends Index™ (ETI) increased in February for the fifth consecutive month. The index now stands at 101.7, up from January's revised figure of 100.1. The index is up over 8 percent from a year ago.
Says Gad Levanon, Associate Director, Macroeconomic Research at The Conference Board: "In the past half year, the economy has been adding, on average, about 110,000 jobs per month. The strong growth in the Employment Trends Index suggests that the pickup in jobs may accelerate in the next couple of quarters. However, with a shrinking government, a stagnant construction sector, and a manufacturing recovery that has only a small impact on overall employment, overall job growth will still be modest."
To read the full report click here:
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Public Record Update
By Mike Sankey, March, 2011
Motor Vehicle: AAMVA Code Dictionary (ACD) Revised
Several new driving record conviction codes may soon be appearing on out-of state record convictions. The American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) is the copyright holder and publisher of the AAMVA Code Dictionary (ACD). The ACD Code System is used to exchange conviction and withdrawal information between the states' driver licensing authorities. In February 2011, the AAMVA released Version 4.0.0 of the ACD Manual. The changes are effective August 1, 2011. The changes in 4.0.0 include the addition of three new codes, corrections from the previous Version, and revisions to certain Appendices.
With the permission of AAMVA, a copy of the ACD Codes with descriptions and abbreviates appears in the printed and online versions of the MVR Access and Decoder Digest. The product also includes the driving record conviction tables for each state. See www.mvrdecoder.com . For more information about AAMVA see www.aamva.org
Reprinted with permission of BRB Publications, Inc.
To read the full article click here:
Checkster's Reference Check 2.0 Capitalizes on Social Networks Collective Intelligence To Emerge As A New Standard For Recruiting Assessments
With so many candidates available, organizations are seeking the best ways to assess the high volume of job applicants. By leveraging the connectivity of social networking, Reference Check 2.0 has emerged as a new standard to effectively assess candidates. "Social networks have transformed the mainstream communications," says Yves Lermusi, CEO of Checkster, the leading provider of talent assessment that leverages collective intelligence. "Business processes are following those transformations and benefiting by leveraging digital connections to enable employers to assess employees."
"When determining the best fit for a job, social networks are a potent option ," said John Younger, CEO of Accolo. "As a leading recruitment process outsourcer, with hundreds of customers and supporting thousands of jobs, we were fortunate to partner early with Checkster, whose Reference Check 2.0 provides us the flexibility and power to be extremely efficient while getting in-depth, tailored candidate assessments." Younger adds that the flexibility of the Checkster platform allows Accolo to easily perform a tailored assessment for each candidate with Reference Check 2.0 and online peer rating to provide their customers with vetted candidates.
For more information visit www.checkster.com
Screening With Meaning
According to some experts, it's only been in the last 18 months to 24 months that a more widespread use of the technique known as tandem mass spectrometry or quantitative clinical urine analysis has come into play to determine whether an injured worker is taking the drugs they've been prescribed, and not coupling them with illicit drugs, or not taking them at all and instead selling medications on the street.
For Bob Steggert, the Bethesda, Md.-based vice president of casualty claims, for Marriott International Inc., the information his claims department has been able to gather from drug testing has shown him beyond any reasonable doubt that many workers who are prescribed medications aren't taking them properly, if at all. Marriott rolled out the use of high-level urine analysis nationwide in 2010, according to Steggert, and he says some of the statistics produced by such testing are very much worth noting.
According to the quarterly magazine Physician Pain News, published by the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, 80 percent of all narcotic medications consumed globally are consumed in the United States. And that's in a country the population of which comprises only 4.5 percent of the world's population.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING (continued)
Proposed Federal Bill Supports Pill Mill Databases
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Sarasota, Fl) introduced "The Pill Mill Crackdown Act of 2011" which is intended to curb prescription drug abuse and eliminate pain clinics that illegally dispense narcotic pain medications It also triples the fines for pill mill operators from $1 million to $3 million, and possible federal prison sentences from 10 years to 20. It would also make drugs like Vicodin and Lortab more difficult to prescribe or obtain by reclassifying them as Schedule II drugs. "Something needs to be done," said Rep. John Mica (R-Winter Park). "Florida seems to be spiraling out of control. We've been cited for being one of the worst states for prescription drug abuse. It's a very serious problem." The bill would also support state prescription drug monitoring databases, which have become a source of contention in his home state. Although over 30 states already have such databases in place, Florida does not.
To read more click here:
THE WASHINGTON REPORT BY MONTSERRAT MILLER
Montserrat Miller is a Partner with the law firm Arnall Golden Gregory, LLP and is based in Washington, DC. Ms. Miller's practice focuses on privacy and immigration compliance, as well as representation before Congress and federal regulatory agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Department of Homeland Security.
You can contact Monterrat at Montserrat.Miller@AGG.com or visit http://www.agg.com/Contents/Home.aspx
Hello and welcome to the first edition of The Washington Report! I'm pleased to be a part of The Background Buzz and look forward to sharing with you news and my thoughts about what is happening in the Nation's Capitol.
What is capturing my attention this month can't be fully explored in one column, but I will at least start the dialogue. The issue of the month is hiring. It seems folks in Washington don't appreciate the value of credit reports and criminal background checks used for employee hiring and retention.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is scrutinizing both. As a part of its push to address barriers to employment, they have held a series of meetings on point. This includes an October 2010 meeting on the use of credit reports in employment screening and a February 2011 meeting looking at barriers the unemployed face when seeking employment due to their unemployment status. Next up for the EEOC is a meeting looking at the use of criminal records in employment screening. Word is that the EEOC may be revisiting its earlier guidance from the late 80s on the use of arrest and conviction records in employment decisions. It is possible such a meeting could take place in May.
To read the full report click here
2011 Marketing Portfolios for:
Background Screening (CRAs) Firms
International Background Screening Firms
Suppliers to the Background Screening Industry
We Specialize in Promoting the Products and Services of businesses in the Background Screening Industry.
Click on the specific Marketing Portfolio above that fits your business.
We invite you to pull up a chair, grab your latte and take a break while you join us for this month's issue of The Background Bistro. This week's guest is Reid Rodriquez
How Long have you been in the background screening industry and what led you to join the industry?
I've been in the background screening industry for over 9 years now. We were actually in the insurance industry when we were asked by some background screening clients to help them get access to a greater number of states. This led us to where we are today.
If you could meet any one regardless of whether the person is alive or not who would you want to meet and why?
There are many individuals that I would love to meet, but the one that stands out the most is Siddhārtha Gautama (Buddha). His teachings provide insight into our lack of awareness, which may be a stumbling block that interferes with our spiritual, vocational and relational growth.
What is an accomplishment that you are especially proud of?
Despite my business success, my four boys are my proudest accomplishment. Even though our family continuously transforms due to age, circumstances and challenges, sharing my existence with my boys is the most fulfilling, frustrating, dynamic and divinely real experience to which I can attest.
What is important about your company that it is important for people to know?
Our company came from very humble beginnings and continues to be a completely customer driven organization. We feel we owe our pre-employment customers for making us who we are today and will continue to help them be a competitive part of the overall market place.
If you had a Crystal Ball and could look into the future what do you see happening in the background screening industry 10 years from now?
Over the next 10 years, our background screening industry will grow in influence and recognition sufficient to enable us to start hosting NAPBS's 2021 annual conference abroad, in Spain, Italy, China, Chile, and/or Brazil.
Reid can be contacted at reid@softechinternational.com or visit www.softechinternational.com for more information
Softech International, inc.
Title: COO
College Name:
· Florida Computer and Business
High School Name:
· Coral Park Senior
Birth City:
Family Portrait:
Wife's Name:
· Nadiuska Ramirez
Children's Names:
· Austin-Reid
· Daniel-Reid
· Evan-Reid
· Christopher-Reid
Entertainment Interest:
· Marc Anthony
Favorite Sport Team:
· Indian, Spicy
Favorite Vacation:
· Spain
Why Favorite:
· Food
· Sites
· Language
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Selamat Datang* (Welcome) to the
International Legal Challenge Question!
*Selamat Datang is welcome in Malaysian
INTERNATIONAL LEGAL CHALLENGE QUESTION
Most industries and firms now compete in a global marketplace which is continuing to increase the need for background checks for new hires that will reside in another country or that are being hired from another country. Commensurate with this growth in background checks is the need to understand the myriad of data protection, privacy, human rights and local laws that govern the practice of conducting background checks. To help background screening firms around the world to further enhance their knowledge we have launched this International Legal Challenge.
We are grateful to Brian Arbetter a Partner with the global law firm of Baker & McKenzie LLP for providing the question and answer to the questions in the International Legal Challenge. Brian is based out of the Firm's Chicago and San Diego offices. His practice focuses on international law issues, with particular emphasis on labor and employment, as well as workplace privacy. For information regarding the answers to the International Legal Challenge questions, please contact Brian at brian.arbetter@bakermckenzie.com.
Please Choose One of the Following Answer in Response to the Question
Under the new Malaysian Personal Data Protection Act, which of the following is a true statement?
A. Personal data on an individual may be freely transferred outside of Malaysia.
B. Personal data on an individual may be transferred outside of Malaysia, but only if the data subject has given consent.
C. Personal data on an individual may be transferred outside of Malaysia, even if consent by the data subject has not been given.
D. Personal data on an individual may never be transferred outside of Malaysia.
For information on sponsoring The International Legal Challenge Question please Click Here
Europe Background Screening Firms Form NAPBS International Chapter
The European Steering Committee representing background screening firms in Europe submitted their application to form an international chapter of NAPBS shortly before the recent NAPBS Annual Conference. The NAPBS Board approved the application at the conference which means NAPBS now has two international chapters including APAC and Europe. The Canadian Steering Committee reported that they will be submitting their application soon. Also Nadine Lecomte, VP Preemployment Solutions - HR, Garda, has been appointed as Chair, Canadian Steering Committee.
Much work remains to be done to put the international alliance together and we are looking for people with knowledge and interest to assist us in this endeavor. To contribute your expertise contact Bob Capwell at rcapwell@ebiinc.com or Barry Nixon at wbnixon@PreemploymentDirectory.com.
Controversial Device Popular Although Accuracy Is Questioned
Public and private agencies are using a "truth verification" device that has been discredited by numerous authorities as a tool to screen hundreds of job applicants in B.C. The tests are being administered by ITV Consulting Inc., a Victoria firm that licenses the Canadian rights to the Computerized Voice Stress Analyzer (CVSA) from a U.S. company. As stated on ITV's website, the device "measures small frequency modulations in the voice. These inaudible variations, when detected, measured and displayed, accurately determine the truthfulness of each statement elicited from a test subject."
ITV claims the device can definitively tell whether a person is lying: "The finished session is evaluated by the computer, rendering its findings of 'deception' or 'no deception,' removing any possibility of examiner error, as well as providing a completely objective examination," it states on its website. The firm recommends the device be used in conjunction with "the expert interrogation techniques used and taught by ITV." "Used in this manner, clinical studies show the accuracy score of our product to be 98 per cent with no inconclusives," it states.
This is an impressive statement. If true, the CVSA is the holy grail of lie detectors. However, there is little scientific evidence to support this claim, and much to repudiate it.
Privacy Czar To Probe Use Of Police Database
Information and Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Denham announced Friday that her office will examine the issue of employers using the PRIME-BC police database to perform background checks on job applicants. Denham's office said it has been looking into employment-related criminal-record checks for several months and now will investigate concerns voiced by the BC Civil Liberties Association about the Police Records Information Management Environment database, used to record interactions with police including those with people who report crimes.The BCCLA said earlier this week it was disturbing that the names of as many as 85 per cent of adult residents in B.C. are included in the database.
Google, Internet Companies Face Too Many Privacy Rules, U.S. Official Says
U.S. Internet companies may be hampered by a multiplicity of data protection rules in Europe and beyond that are "potential barriers to the free flow of information," a U.S. official said. Daniel Weitzner, an Internet policy official in the U.S. Commerce Department, said regulators don't always recognize companies' efforts to set basic data protection standards that are adequate to stem abuses of privacy. "It's awfully difficult to adapt privacy practices for a hundred or more different" jurisdictions, Weitzner told reporters in Brussels the day after a meeting with Viviane Reding, the European Union's justice commissioner. "That is a substantial barrier today." Planned changes to data protection rules in both regions "seem to be quite convergent," she said. "Our cooperation has a good chance to be the first step towards the development and promotion of international legal standards," Reding said.
Reding Outlines Data Privacy Plans For Companies In Europe
European commissioner for justice, fundamental rights and citizenship, Viviane Reding, who is currently preparing the new laws , warned that the EU would not hesitate to take action against non-EU companies that broke local laws on data collection and retention. "Stakeholders at a recent public consultation on data protection asked me to make clear that our data protection rules also apply to data retention. Storage of data is already included in the broad definition of 'processing' but the general public is unaware that processing includes storing/retention." Reding explained that EU law would be based on four central principles.
French Data Protection Authority Simplifies Formalities For Non-EU Companies Using Data Processors
In a decision published on 2 March 2011, the French data protection authority (the "CNIL") announced a simplification of the formalities regarding data processing in France done on behalf of non-EU entities. In consideration of the development of such services in the fields of human resources or client and prospect management, the CNIL, using its regulatory powers for data protection formalities in France, has decided to exempt non-EU companies using service providers located in France to process their human resources and/or their client and prospects data from the completion of formalities. In such cases, the appointment of a local representative is therefore no longer required either.
The full text of this exemption (exemption #15) can be found here (in French).
Association of National Exchanges Members of India (ANMI) Joins National Skills Registry
Association of National Exchanges Members of India (ANMI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NSDL Database Management Limited (NDML) to join National Skills Registry (NSR). National Skills Registry (NSR) is a NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Service Companies) initiative to develop a robust and credible information repository about all professionals working in the IT/ITes Industry in India.
Currently NSR has more than 8.5 lakh registered professionals. There are also 100 Subscriber companies comprising 60- 65% of the employee strength in the IT / ITeS industry. ANMI believes that such security best practices adopted by IT/ITes industry should be adopted by financial services industry and as a premier body of members of stock exchanges, it has taken lead to implement this initiative for broking industry.
https://nationalskillsregistry.com/pdf/ANMIPressRelease.pdf
Spain's Parliament Modifies DPA Penalty Authority As DPA's Enforcement Efforts Scrutinized
Spain has a new penalty regime for violations of privacy, with many minimum and maximum fines lowered. This is viewed as a business-friendly development at a time when the Spanish Data Protection Agency ("SPDA" or "Agency") has earned a reputation as one of the more enforcement-oriented DPAs in the EU, and when one of its high-visibility enforcement efforts is under scrutiny. This new regime entered into force on 6 March 2011 and is applicable to all data controllers and data processors processing personal data under the Spanish laws. The new law also specifies that in setting fines, the DPA may take into account the volume of the business of the offender, the relationship between the activity of the offender and the processing of personal data, or the measures implemented by the offender in order to avoid or solve the breach.
The reform is intended to give the Spanish Data Protection Agency flexibility to better adapt fines to the circumstances of the breach and the offender.
The UK Remains Europe's Bogus University Capital
The UK remains Europe's bogus university capital with 57% percent of European diploma mills claiming to operate from its shores . This year has seen a 25% increase in known diploma mills in the UK, with the number rising from 271 to 339, whilst in Europe as a whole the total number has risen from 454 to 593, an increase of 31%.
Country Number % Change
The International Screener Spotlight Column
Scott Vanek
My experience as a former law enforcement officer and business executive for a high-end security and communication systems firm prompted me to start this company in 1998. I've always been interested in the Criminal Justice and Security fields and starting this business was a natural transition for me.
I have been very fortunate to have such devoted clients and wonderful peers to work with. I truly enjoy the relationship building part of the business, it is definitely the most rewarding.
Any unusual stories or unique challenges you've encountered in setting up your international products and services?
While interviewing researchers for Eastern Europe and Southwestern Asia, we are continually running into firms that would provide "unofficial access" to police records through a friend, brother-in-law, or some other arrangement of that type. It has been both discouraging and entertaining to hear the different ways this type of illegal access is described to make it sound legitimate. Of course, one of the main purposes of our entry into the international field was to be able to disclose exactly what the source of our record information is. Needless to say, our coverage in that area of the world just hasn't happened yet!
If you could meet anyone, past or present, who would you like to meet and why?
I would have enjoyed the opportunity to meet former President's Ronald Reagan and Abraham Lincoln. Both of them had the strength and integrity to stand up for things they believed in…Democracy and the end of slavery.
What is important about your company that you want people in the industry to know?
My company culture is very important to me. We employ a very diverse group of people. I believe that you will only be as successful as the people you surround yourself with.
And our diversity allows us to continually think outside the box.
Changes, changes and more changes. Technology is going to increase, so businesses better prepare to adapt and make changes necessary to sustain longevity in this industry.
I also believe the economy will grow again and produce more opportunities for this industry. It's just not as easy as it used to be, so you have to listen to your clients and competitors better.
Scott can be contacted at Scott@sjvassoc.com or visit www.sjvassoc.com
Title: President
Company Name: SJV & Associates
Year Founded: 1998
Headquarter Location:
Public Records Retrieval Firm – Domestic & International
Geographies Served:
Favorite Foods:
Italian FoodStuffed Peppers
Mountain Biking, Hiking, Basketball
Favorite Musical Group or Artist:
Any 80's music
Favorite Sport Team(s):
Spending time with my family
Location: Anywhere in Colorado
Why Favorite: My family and I love the outdoors. You cannot beat Colorado in the summer.
INTERNATIONAL: PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS AND ASSOCATION CONFERENCES
World Federation of People Management Associations: www.wfpma.org/default.asp
Chartered Institute for Professional Development: http://www.cipd.co.uk/training/EMPUDP/about.htm
Business Forums International: http://www.bfi.co.uk/news.asp
Symposium Events: http://www.symposium-events.co.uk
Featured Course:
Document Verification for non-UK National Employees Workshop - London - May 2011
( Click Here to View full list of 2011 Events ) - Updated Monthly
ADVERTISERS IN THIS EDITION
Background Screening Jobs
Visit the Job Board for the Employment and Tenant Screening Industry. Here you will find resumes of people with industry experience and employers seeking applicants with experience in Employment and Tenant Screening and related businesses.
www.backgroundscreeningjobs.com
NEW PLATINUM MEMBERS
UPCOMING CONFERENCES, COURSES & EVENTS
2011 Events (Click Here to View full list of 2011 Events)
SHRM State Conferences, visit http://www.shrm.org/Conferences/StateAffilliateConferences/Pages/default.aspx
Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association (DATIA), 2011 Training Course Schedule, visit
http://datia.org
SAPAA Training Institute Learning Events, http://www.sapaa.com/
CUPA-HR Conferences: http://www.cupahr.org/newsroom/news_template.asp?id=5445
World Federation of People Management Associations, Events, www.wfpma.org/default.asp
The Background Buzz is a service of http://www.preemploymentdirectory.com, the premier listing of Preemployment Background Screening companies on the Internet for employers to search for a firm to meet their preemployment background checking needs. The Background Buzz is published by the National Institute for the Prevention of Workplace Violence, Inc. All logos highlighted in 'New Featured Clients' and 'Advertisers in this edition' are the sole property of the companies named and copyright protected by the respectively named company. Please direct questions, feedback or request to be added to or deleted from our distribution list to wbnixon@aol.com.
Disclaimer Statement: All information presented is for information purposes only and is not intended to provide professional or legal advise regarding actions to take in any situation. Advertisements are presented for information and marketing purposes only and the National Institute for Prevention of Workplace Violence, Inc. makes no representations for any products or services that are promoted and accepts no responsibility for any actions or consequences that occur as a result of any purchases from advertisers.


text:
Peninsula man hit with virus
Officials investigating his contacts in Jefferson, Clallam counties
by Rob Ollikainen
Sunday, March 8, 2020 10:00am
NewsClallam CountyCoronavirusJefferson County
Dr. Allison Berry Unthank, Clallam County health officer
The Peninsula Daily News site has lifted the paywall on this developing story to provide readers with critical information. To support vital reporting such as this, please consider a digital subscription.
The North Olympic Peninsula has now had its first confirmed case of COVID-19 and health officials in Jefferson and Clallam counties are investigating if the Jefferson County man sickened with the virus has exposed others.
No others cases had been confirmed in either county as of Saturday.
The Jefferson County man, who is in his 60s, contracted COVID-19 during a recent trip to visit a family member in Kirkland, where community-level transmission is occurring, health officials said Friday. The patient was treated at a Seattle-area hospital, which was unidentified, and now is recovering in his Jefferson County home, they said.
Both Dr. Tom Locke, Jefferson County health officer, and Dr. Allison Berry Unthank, Clallam County health officer, said the man had spent time in Jefferson and Clallam counties during early infectious stages of his illness.
Locke said Friday there is no evidence of community-level transmission of COVID-19 on the Peninsula.
"We have a clear link to Kirkland, so this Jefferson County resident was exposed to an ill person in King County," he said.
Locke said he was unsure where the man lives in Jefferson County or if anyone lives with him.
Health officials in both counties are investigating the man's contacts over the past 14 days.
Locke said that the Jefferson County Public Health Department did not now have firm numbers on how many people are being notified, nor how many may need to be tested.
"We have not found any public exposures with this person," Unthank told about 40 first responders, health care workers and other Clallam County officials during a Friday briefing at the county emergency operations center (EOC) in Port Angeles that opened last week to aid in coordinating response.
"We are continuing to trace individual contacts, and they will be contacted by our office."
Eleven Clallam County patients had been tested for COVID-19 as of Saturday, she said. Three of those tests were negative and eight were pending, Unthank said in a telephone interview.
"We do suspect that there is transmission of this virus in low levels locally that we aren't able to pick up because of the shortage of testing ability," Unthank said.
"We do not see any evidence of asymptomatic spread of this virus," she said in her second emergency briefing Friday.
As of Saturday, 16 people in Washington state had died of the virus. Confirmed cases number 102, according to The Seattle Times.
Most of those who catch the virus have mild common cold-like symptoms or may have no signs of illness at all, health officials said.
About 20 percent of those who contract COVID-19 have more severe influenza-like illness with fever, cough and shortness of breath. Of those, some will develop severe illness requiring hospitalization. Elderly people with chronic illnesses are most at risk.
A logistics chain has been established at the EOC to provide personal protective equipment to health care providers and first responders who come into contact with ill patients.
"We're continuing with that long-range planning, which is going to be very important and vital as time goes on," said Ron Cameron, Clallam County undersheriff and emergency management director.
Masks are not recommended for the general public.
"We really just recommend planning, not panicking," Unthank said.
"If you have a worker who you're worried about who's sick, I recommend send them home, and clean off the area that they've been in.
"Other than that, you don't need to close a workplace because someone was sneezing or coughing there," Unthank added, "and certainly not because someone who is asymptomatic knows someone in Kirkland."
Testing capacity for coronavirus remained "quite limited" as of Friday, Unthank said.
"The state has received testing kits," Unthank said.
"There's a lot more than kits that goes into testing. You need someone who can swab that patient. You need someone to bring that test to a central location where it can get properly packaged in a safe way so it won't endanger people, and then you need to ship it to the University of Washington, and then they need people to staff it and run those tests.
"We do not have enough of any of those things," Unthank added.
"So if you're hearing that 'We have a whole pile of test kits, why aren't we testing?' The problem is people. We don't have the people to run the tests."
Locke said that the situation is rapidly improving.
"Probably by next week they'll be caught up, so anyone we want to test, we can send a sample to Seattle and we can get the results and hopefully in 24 to 48 hours," he said Friday.
Clallam County public health was testing only hospitalized patients with severe infections of an otherwise unknown origin.
"We're not (testing) at nursing facilities, but we hope to get there by next week," Unthank said Friday.
Meanwhile, Clallam County heath officials were looking for private laboratories to send samples to be tested for COVID-19.
"Basically the fastest person wins," Unthank said. "They're all running the same kind of test, so they're all equally accurate."
The Clallam County samples were being collected at Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles, Unthank said.
The hospital was operating normally Friday, OMC spokeswoman Bobby Beeman said.
Forks Community Hospital had no patients that required testing, Unthank said.
Health officials said they were not recommending that events be canceled or that schools be closed.
"The reason that we're not canceling public events like King County is is because they have much, much, much more virus than we do," Unthank said.
"There certainly could become a point in the future where we would recommend that. But right now, we're not there."
Guidelines are available at www.jeffersoncountypublichealth.org, www.clallam.net and www.doh.wa.gov.
A Jefferson Healthcare nurse consult line is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at 360-344-3094.
A Clallam County COVID-19 hotline is available at 360-417-2430.
For the latest updates on COVID-19 on the Peninsula, visit www.peninsuladailynews.com/tag/coronavirus.
"Our hope is that if we do this well enough, we won't have to experience something as bad as what King County has," Unthank said.
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at [email protected].
Jefferson County Reporter Ken Parks contributed to this story.
Pence walks fine line on coronavirus response
Forty-three percent of Jefferson ballots returned

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


2. When do I have to pay my taxes?
Taxes become due on November 1 and are delinquent if not paid by December 31. Penalties are applied monthly to taxes paid after December 31.
3. When does the City Council meet? Can anyone attend the meeting?
1. Can I charter a plane at the Cameron Airport?
Yes. Contact the Airport Manager at (816) 632-2423 for details and information.
2. Are flying lessons given at the airport?
Yes. Contact the Airport Manager at (816) 632-2423 for information and pricing.
You are allowed no more than four companion animals over six months in age. This can be a combination of dogs, cats or pot bellied pigs. All pets must be vaccinated for rabies by a licensed veterinarian and registered with the City of Cameron when they reach six months of age.
Pet tags are due by January 31st of each year. The cost of each tag is $15 unless the pet is spayed or neutered, and then the cost is $10. Proof of spay/neuter must be verified by a licensed veterinarian.
There will be a $5 late fee starting in February of each year. Replacement tags are $2 per tag.
Yes, your dog must be properly restrained by a leash, fenced property or by monitored tethering.
3. Do service dogs need to be registered with the City?
Yes. Service dogs must be registered with the City of Cameron and must be included in the four animal limit.
4. What do I do if I think my animal has been picked up by the City?
You can contact Animal Control by calling either the police department non emergency number or by calling city hall 632-2177. If your animal has been impounded there is a $25 pick up fee and a kennel fee of $10 per day.
Yes, your dog can be tethered outside under certain conditions. A) An adult must be home. B) the dog cannot be tethered between the hours of 10pm and 6am. C) The dog must be attached to the tether by a leather or nylon collar or harness. No choke collars or pinch collars. The collar must be the circumference of the animal's neck plus one inch. D) tether must be designed for dogs,--No log chains. E) Tether must be at least 12 ft long, unbroken and free of tangles F) tether must be placed where the dog cannot be in danger of being strangled or hanged. G) placement of tether much be in an area free of debris and obstacles. H) tethered dog must be able to reach water, shelter and dry ground. I) tethered animal must not be out in extreme weather such as heat greater than 90 degrees Fahrenheit, freezing temperatures of 32 degrees Fahrenheit or less, tornados, hail or rain. J) each dog must be tethered in separate areas so as not to be entangled. K) Any tethering system shall not allow the dog to reach within six (6) feet of the public right-of-way, public access to the structure, the sidewalk to the structure or any door that may be accessed by the public or emergency services or neighboring property lines.
You do not have to live within the city limits of Cameron to enjoy the dog park. You will, however, need to get a dog park license. The license is $10 per year with the year beginning in January. You must bring proof that your dog was vaccinated against parvo/distemper and kennel cough (bordatella) and have a current rabies shot given by a licensed veterinarian to city hall. Residents of Cameron must have a city dog tag to obtain a dog park tag.
7. Does the City allow exotic animals?
No. The City prohibits big cats, bears, wolves, coyotes, raccoons, skunks, foxes, poisonous reptiles, and monkeys in the City limits.
8. Are Pit Bulls allowed in Cameron?
You are allowed no more than four companion animals over six months in age. This can be a combination of cats, dogs or pot bellied pigs. All cats must be vaccinated for rabies by a licensed veterinarian and registered with the City of Cameron when they reach six months of age.
Cat tags are due by January 31st of each year. The cost of each tag is $15 unless the cat is spayed or neutered, and then the cost is $10. Proof of spay/neuter must be verified by a licensed veterinarian.
It is prohibited to allow your cat to run at large within the city limits of Cameron. When outdoors, each cat must properly restrained by leash, fenced property and or monitored tethering to prevent the animal from violating the at large ordinance.
1. When does the Cameron Municipal Band play? Is there a charge?
The Cameron Municipal Band gives free concerts in McCorkle Park at the Thomas J Price Pavilion each Thursday at 8:00 pm from Memorial Day through the 1st week of August.
1. Is a building permit needed for remodeling?
A building permit is required if electrical, plumbing, foundations, roofing, additions, or structural components are affected. A permit is not required for cosmetic improvements like paint and wallpaper.
2. Do I need a permit to tear down a building?
Yes. A refundable deposit must be made and all utilities must be removed and/or capped. Upon completion of all inspections and approvals, the deposit will be returned.
3. Can I build an accessory building?
Accessory buildings may only be built in rear yards and must be at least five feet from the property lines. Other regulations also apply.
1. May I plant flowers or bushes at my family member's grave?
No. No plantings or fencing is allowed in the cemeteries by lot owners. The Cemetery Sexton may plant trees to harmonize with the general landscaping.
2. How many burials are allowed in a space?
One traditional burial or four cremation burials may be interred in a space.
3. How can I contribute to the Cameron cemeteries?
Contributions should be made out to the City of Cameron and forwarded to the City Clerk. Contributions are a necessary funding component for maintaining the cemeteries.
1. How can I get a copy of a document from the City?
Make a request for Information to the City Clerk. The City Clerk will respond to the request within three business days. There may be charges incurred for the cost of copies and/or research fees.
2. Do I need a license for my business?
Yes. All businesses must have a business license whether they're in a commercial district or in a home. Some business types are restricted in certain zoning districts.
3. Does the City have a local purchase preference policy?
Yes. The City enjoys buying locally, which is consistent with its fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers. The City offers local vendors a two to five percent benefit.
1. Can I park in the grass in my front yard?
No. Parking surfaces must be all-weather (gravel surface minimum). Front yard parking is allowed only on a driveway leading to a garage.
2. Can I store an unlicensed car outside?
No. Unlicensed or inoperative vehicles may be parked no more than 48 hours on public property and no more than 72 hours on private property.
3. My neighbor's yard has not been mowed in a while. How tall can the grass get before the City takes notice?
1. What type of businesses can be operated from my home?
Allowable occupations include home offices, tailoring, tutoring, telephone sales, arts and crafts, and daycare. No merchandise may be displayed or sold on-sight. A business license is required.
2. What are the rules on garage sales?
3. Can I place signs in my front yard?
Yes. Two yard signs are allowed having no more than six square feet each. The maximum height is 15-foot. Signs must be on private property and not in the rights of way or on utility poles.
1. My trees are growing into my power lines. Will the City come and trim them?
Yes. Contact the Electric Department at (816) 632-2177 and they will inspect your problem and schedule time to maintain the power lines.
2. My power went out in the middle of the night. Who do I call to report my outage?
Contact the Water Plant at (816) 632-2844 for electric or water problems outside normal business hours. The Water Plant is staffed 24 hours a day.
3. My alley is really dark. Can I get the City to install a dusk to dawn light?
Yes. Contact City Hall at (816) 632-2177 for information on security lights. A charge for this service will appear on your monthly utility bill.
Do not call for help from your home. Go to a neighbor's and call the Fire Department at (816) 632-2345 or leave the residence and use your cell phone. Using your home phone could ignite gasses and cause an explosion.
Clinton and DeKalb County voters may register to vote at Cameron City Hall.
2. Can I charter a plane at the Cameron Airport?
3. What do I do if I think my animal has been picked up by the City?
Contact City Hall (816) 632-2177 or the Police Department non-emergency number (816) 632-6521 and they will contact animal control to find out if your animal has been picked up.
4. How can i get a copy of a document from the City?
1. How much does it cost to get a library card?
City of Cameron residents may obtain a library card at no charge but they must show proof of residency. Non-residents may obtain a card for $15 per year per family.
2. Can I use the computers at the Library to write a paper for school?
Yes. The Cameron Library has nine computers for public use featuring internet and word processing.
3. Does the Library offer programs to pre-school children to inspire reading?
Yes. The Library offers a Storytime program for preschool children as well as a summer program for older kids. Contact the Library at (816) 632-2311 for schedule and details.
Court is regularly scheduled for the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 6:30 pm.
Prepayable offenses may be paid prior to the scheduled court appearance. The court will not accept personal checks prior to court. Cash, checks, or money orders will be accepted for payments.
1. How late are the Cameron parks open?
Generally, parks close at 11:00 pm unless otherwise posted. The skate park closes at sunset. Lighted ball fields and tennis courts may be used later.
2. Can I reserve a shelter house for an event I am planning?
Yes. Use the facilities module on the website and submit your information and payment of $5.00 per hour and $5 processing fee. If you do not have a way to pay online for use of the facilities, contact City Hall and make your payment directly to the City of Cameron.
3. I know that skateboards are not allowed downtown on Third Street or in McCorkle Park. Where are they allowed?
For pedestrian safety, skateboards are prohibited in certain areas. Cameron recently built a skate park at Burlington and West Second Street to provide a venue for skateboarding and BMX bike riding.
9-1-1 is only for emergency situations. An emergency exists if life or property is in danger right now. Do not use 9-1-1 to report an incident in the past or a non-serious medical condition. For a non-emergency, call (816) 632-6521.
2. Can I get a copy of my police report?
Copies may be available for a minimal fee from the Records Department which is open Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm. A signed request for records form is requested but not mandatory and is available on the Records Department page of this website. Each request for records must be evaluated for availability. Copy and research fees may be applicable.
3. I am getting harassing phone calls, what can I do?
You must contact your phone service provider and have a trace put on your phone. Results of the trace can be used as evidence of harassment at a later date.
If you are involved in a private property accident, simply exchange the basic needed information (name, telephone number, insurance company) with the other party involved. If someone is injured due to the private property accident or if the other party involved in the accident does not remain on scene to exchange information then contact the Cameron Police Department at (816) 632-6521.
5. How do I file / make a police report?
You can make a police report by stopping by the Cameron Police Department, contacting us at (816) 632-6521, or certain types of incident reports can be made remotely. Visit the 'Online Reporting' page for more information.
6. How do I pay for a ticket?
If you received a ticket or citation from a Cameron Police Officer, you may pay the ticket at the Court Clerk's office inside City Hall at 205 North Main, Cameron, MO. If you have questions for the Court Clerk contact (816) 632-2177.
7. What number do I call to contact the Police Department if I do not have an emergency?
If you need to contact the Police Department and do not have an emergency, call (816)632-6521.
8. How do I check to see if I have a warrant out for my arrest?
To find out if a warrant has been issued for your arrest, come to the Cameron Police Department with a valid photo ID. Warrant information can not be given over the telephone.
1. Who is responsible for repairing a broken sidewalk?
The property owner adjoining the public sidewalk is responsible for its upkeep and repair. The City may split the cost for repair with the property owners during certain seasons.
2. The alley behind my house gets a lot of use. Will they City pave my alley?
The City will maintain existing public alleys whether paved or gravel. The cost to upgrade to pavement must be borne by the adjoining landowners. All new alleys must be paved and have curb and gutter.
1. What is the snow removal policy?
During snowstorms and ice storms, no parking is allowed on emergency snow routes (which have signs posted). Avoid parking on streets so plows can clear them.
2. Do I need a permit to build a driveway?
Yes. You must get a right of way permit, which is free of charge. The portion of the driveway in the right of way must be six-inch reinforced concrete. The remainder of your drive can be gravel, asphalt, or concrete.
3. How can I get curb and gutter on my street?
The City may share construction costs with property owners. Usually, the entire block must be involved for a project to be approved. Contact Public Works for an application. This program is limited to available funding.
1. Does Cameron have a recycling program?
Yes. Curbside recycling pick-up occurs every week on your regular trash day. Recycle bins may be purchased at City Hall and are necessary to participate.
2. What do I do with large items like furniture or televisions?
The City has an agreement with R&W Container for large item pick-up for City of Cameron customers. Simply contact R&W Container directly at (816) 632-3590 to arrange the pickup for a small fee. Construction materials do not qualify for the large item pick-up.
3. What should I do with my old Christmas tree?
The City offers a Christmas tree collection site near City Hall for a few weeks after the holidays. Do not burn the trees or leave them for trash collection.
1. Can I install a septic tank?
You may install a septic tank only if you have 20 acres or more and the City sewer is not available. Private sewage treatment systems are discouraged.
2. What do I do if I have water backing up in my basement?
Contact your plumber and the City immediately. Call City Hall at (816) 632-2177 during business hours or the Water Plant at (816) 632-2844 after hours.
1. What do I do if I see a lot of water running down the street or sidewalk?
2. Can I connect my downspout to the sanitary sewer?
No. Downspouts, sump pumps, foundation drains, and other stormwater collections must drain to daylight or to the City stormwater system. Only sinks, tubs, washers, and toilets may be connected to the sanitary sewer system.
3. Will the City extend water or sewer to my property?
It is the developer or property owner's responsibility to extend utilities, streets and infrastructure. Cost sharing may be possible with neighboring property owners.


text:
Dental Health Unit and Regional Cleft Unit
Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9WL
Hospital Parking (Royal Manchester Children's Hospital)
Getting To (Dental Health Unit and Regional Cleft Unit)
Outside Access (Royal Manchester Children's Hospital Main Entrance)
Opening Times (Dental Health Unit and Regional Cleft Unit)
Entrance (Dental Health Unit and Regional Cleft Unit)
Waiting Room / Area (Regional Cleft Unit)
Consultation / Treatment Room (Audiology Suite)
Consultation / Treatment Room (Dental Surgery)
Consultation / Treatment Room (Dental X-Ray)
Consultation / Treatment Room (Speech and Language Therapy)
Accessible Toilet (Left Side Transfer)
Accessible Toilet (Right Side Transfer)
The main hospital site is located in the city centre of Manchester on one of the busiest roads in the region. It can be accessed by car via the M56 and Princess Road or the A34 and Birchfields Road from the south or the M66/M60 and Rochdale Road from the north. Note that the roads surrounding the site will face disruption over the next few years due to works associated with the Bus Priority Package. The post code for SAT NAV is M13 9WL.
Parking can be in high demand at the main site so please allow time to find a space when you arrive. Car parking for patients and visitors is largely located in one of the two multi-storey car parks located at either the North East (Grafton Street Multi-storey) or South West (Hathersage Road Multi-storey) of the site. Each of these car parks provide parking for patient, visitor and staff car parking and operates a pay on foot system where customers make their payment for parking on exiting the car park. A very limited amount of parking is available in front of Accident and Emergency which is a pay and display car park There are no parking charges for: Disabled badge holders Relatives of Intensive Care/High Dependency Unit patients Frequent attenders (three or more times a week) Relatives of long stay patients If all disabled spaces are full, disabled badge holders may park in any normal car park space free of charge.
The main hospital on Oxford Road is very well served by buses. Twenty different routes from across Manchester all stop directly here. This includes the hospitals hybrid bus (the 147) which costs £1.50 for a day ticket and travels from Manchester Piccadilly Train Station via the Universities, stopping on site. The First Bus 18 Service from Langley stops on The Boulevard which is close to all main hospital entrances. There is also a 'Park and Ride' service from which you can take a free shuttle bus to the main hospital site and then walk or catch a 5 minute bus down Oxford Road to the Dental Hospital. The Trafford General Hospital shuttle runs from 10am to 3pm, Monday to Friday. It departs from the main entrance of Trafford General Hospital towards the main hospital site on Oxford Road (and returns) approximately every 30 minutes.
The closest railway stations are Manchester Oxford Road (MCO), approximately 1 mile away, and Manchester Piccadilly (MAN), approximately 1.5 miles away. Both are a short walk, cycle or bus ride from the main hospital site on Oxford Road.
The nearest tram stop is at St Peter's Square at the north end of Oxford Road, approximately 1.5 miles away. This is a short walk, cycle or bus ride from the main hospital site on Oxford Road.
For a personalised rail timetable, simply click the link below and enter your starting station, destination (MCO or MAN) and travel time.
Transport for Sick Children is a registered charity working throughout Greater Manchester and helping children to reach their hospital appointments.
The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is located inside Manchester Royal Infirmary Entrance 2.
Volunteers do not receive disability awareness / equality training.
Hospital staff do receive disability awareness / equality training.
Volunteers can be found at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital Main Entrance reception desk.
No hospital staff receive deaf awareness training.
The assistance dog toilet or toileting area is located the grass area in front of the main Manchester Royal Eye Hospital entrance.
Water bowls for assistance dogs are available.
Mobility aids are available to help patients move around and include; wheelchairs.
To obtain mobility aids please contact the Main Reception.
Nursing staff complete an e-learning course to assist with treating patients with learning disabilities.
You are on Hospital Parking (Royal Manchester Children's Hospital). Skip to the next section.
The car park is located outside the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital Main Entrance off East Road.
The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) surveyed are 305cm x 592cm (10ft x 19ft 5in).
There is a 120cm hatched zone around the Blue Badge parking bay(s).
There is a designated drop-off point.
The drop-off point is located directly in front of the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital Main Entrance.
There is not a dropped kerb from the drop-off point.
Payment signs are located throughout the car park.
Payment signs do not make it clear if parking charges apply to Blue Badge holders.
Payment machines are located throughout the car park.
There is not a level turning space (minimum 185cm x 210cm) in front of the payment machine(s).
The nearest designated Blue Badge parking bay is approximately 25m (27yd 1ft) from the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital Main Entrance.
You are on Getting To (Dental Health Unit and Regional Cleft Unit). Skip to the next section.
The Dental Health Unit and Regional Cleft Unit is/are located within the Outpatients department on the ground floor of Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.
Access to the Dental Health Unit and Regional Cleft Unit is via the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital Main Entrance.
Enter via Royal Manchester Children's Hospital Main Entrance and bear left into the main atrium. The Outpatients department is located ahead and to the right. Enter the Outpatients department through a set of double doors and the entrance to the Dental Health Unit and Regional Cleft Unit is located ahead of you and to the right.
There is step free access to the Dental Health Unit and Regional Cleft Unit.
The Dental Health Unit and Regional Cleft Unit is approximately 75m from the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital Main Entrance.
There is a/are manual, heavy, double door(s) between the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital Main Entrance and the department/service.
Wayfinding signage is provided.
There is some flooring in corridors which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
There is some flooring in corridors which includes patterns or colours which could be confusing or look like steps or holes to some people.
You are on Outside Access (Royal Manchester Children's Hospital Main Entrance). Skip to the next section.
This information is for the entrance located to the right of the hospital building off East Road.
There is step free access at this entrance.
The entrance door(s) does not/do not contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
The door(s) open(s) automatically.
You are on Opening Times (Dental Health Unit and Regional Cleft Unit). Skip to the next section.
You are on Entrance (Dental Health Unit and Regional Cleft Unit). Skip to the next section.
This information is for the entrance located within the Outpatients department on the ground floor of Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.
The entrance area/door is clearly signed with the name of the service/department.
There is no hand sanitiser at this entrance.
The main door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
The door(s) is/are single width with a locked extension leaf.
The width of the door opening is 81cm.
The reception point is located to the left as you enter the department.
The reception point is approximately 4m (4yd 1ft) from the Dental Health Unit and Regional Cleft Unit entrance.
There are not windows, glazed screens or mirrors behind the reception point which could adversely affect the ability of someone to lip read.
The height of the reception counter is high (110cm+).
There is sufficient space to write or sign documents on the counter.
There is sufficient space to write or sign documents on the low section of the counter.
There is not a clear knee recess beneath the low section of the desk.
Signs and universally accepted symbols or pictograms, indicating lifts, stairs, WCs, circulation routes and other parts of the building are provided in the reception area.
The type of flooring is vinyl/laminate and concrete.
There are soft bench seats without armrests.
No tables are permanently fixed.
The waiting room / area does have background music playing.
Subtitles are not available.
There is a play area or toys/books for a child to play with.
This venue does play background music.
Music is played within the waiting area.
The type of flooring in walkways and corridors is vinyl/laminate and concrete.
You are on Waiting Room / Area (Regional Cleft Unit). Skip to the next section.
There is a waiting room / area.
The waiting room / area is approximately 30m from the Dental Health Unit and Regional Cleft Unit entrance.
There is level access into the waiting room / area.
There is not a/are not door(s) into the waiting room / area.
There is a space for a wheelchair user to wait within the seating area.
All chairs are permanently fixed.
Chairs with armrests are not available.
Announcements are in person.
You are on Consultation / Treatment Room (Audiology Suite). Skip to the next section.
The name / number of the room surveyed was; Audiology Suite.
The type of flooring is carpet.
A hoist is not available.
There are no chairs with armrests available.
You are on Consultation / Treatment Room (Dental Surgery). Skip to the next section.
The name / number of the room surveyed was; Dental Surgery 6.
Some chairs are permanently fixed.
The chair(s) is/are adjustable.
You are on Consultation / Treatment Room (Dental X-Ray). Skip to the next section.
The name / number of the room surveyed was; Dental X-Ray.
You are on Consultation / Treatment Room (Speech and Language Therapy). Skip to the next section.
The name / number of the room surveyed was; Speech and Language Therapy Room 2.
You are on Accessible Toilet (Left Side Transfer). Skip to the next section.
There is written text and pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
This accessible toilet is located ahead of you and to the left as you enter the department.
This accessible toilet is approximately 12m (13yd 4in) from the Dental Health Unit and Regional Cleft Unit entrance.
This is a unisex toilet.
The door opens by sliding (Bi-Fold).
The door is locked by a locking handle.
The width of the accessible toilet door is 94cm (3ft 1in).
There is a lateral transfer space.
As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the left.
The lateral transfer space is 80cm (2ft 7in).
The lateral transfer space was obstructed at the time of the survey.
There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
There is a flush on the transfer side.
There is a/are general domestic waste disposal units.
There is a/are coat hook(s).
Wall-mounted grab rails are available.
As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rails are on both sides.
There is a mirror.
Mirrors are placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
The towel dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
The soap dispenser can be reached from seated on the toilet.
The wash basin is not placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
The toilet seat colour contrast is good.
You are on Accessible Toilet (Right Side Transfer). Skip to the next section.
As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the right.
There is a/are female sanitary and general domestic waste disposal units.
Standard toilet facilities are not available.
The nearest Standard toilets are located within the main Outpatients department.
To view other DisabledGo access guides that are related to this one please use the links below.
Royal Manchester Children's Hospital Building link (new tab) - click here.


RPM is licensed under the GNU General Public License, or as it's more commonly called, the GPL. If you're not familiar with the GPL, it would be worthwhile to spend a few minutes looking it over. The purpose behind the GPL is to ensure that GPL'ed software remains freely available.


"Philippe Boissonnet proposed to change our perception of the Earth, from Mother Earth to Child Earth, as if it were a being we carry inside us and must look after. We are aware of our impact upon the world, but what Boissonnet awesomely expresses […] is the world's impact upon us".
Installation in an urban public space, 15 inkjet prints on fabric (flags), 15 brackets and one inkjet print on adhesive vinyl (on the ground).
Presented within the Montreal subways' undergrounds (Complexe Guy Favreau), as part of Montréal Art Souterrain.
"Elle se sentait prête à porter le monde II", 2007.
"Elle s'est mise à repenser le monde I", 2010.
Seven colour photographs (based on photocopies) mounted on Foamboard. Unique print.


You can display the feedback you received for your latest project completed on freelancer.com using WordPress Freelancer Feedback Widget.
Freelancer.com user can participate in projects either as a project poster/employer or as a service provider/buyer. You can bid and work on other projects or you can post projects for others using the same freelancer.com user account. WordPress Freelancer Feedback Widget queries the freelancer.com api to obtain feedback items for a given user. At this time, you need to specify whether you need to get freelancer feedback items or employee feedback items in the api query string.
You can select which type of feedback you need to display in the WordPress Freelancer Feedback Widget by configuring settings in the plugin admin page.
To configure WordPress Freelancer Feedback Widget visit the plugin settings page (dashboard). Then select the 'Feedback' tab (the second tab), The first setting in this tab allows you to specify the number of feedback items to retrieve from the api. This setting defaults to four. The second setting is to configure the feedback type previously described. Employer or Freelancer feedback items. You can use the select box to specify the feedback type you need to display in the WordPress Freelancer Feedback Widget.
'Project Poster' setting is used to turn on/off the display of project poster name in the Feedback Widget. The freelancer.com feedback is a statement issued by the other party involved in a project via freelancer.com after the completion of the project. If you are an employer then you receive the employee/freelancer response/feedback after the project completion. If you enable project poster setting the freelancer.com username of the feedback will appear after the feedback statement. The next setting (Project Poster Link) enables you to link to the name to the corresponding freelancer.com user profile page.
'Show Project' setting enables/disables the appearance of project name on top of the feedback in the WordPress Freelancer Feedback Widget. If you enable the next setting, i.e. 'Show Project Link', the project name will be linked to the relevant freelancer.com project page. This allows a visitor to visit freelancer.com and verify that the information is true.
After each project completion, you are given a chance to rate the other party with a feedback. A link to rating and feedback page will appear in your freelancer.com dashboard after the completion of each project.
After a project is completed, you can rate a freelancer against five measures. (1) Quality of Work (2) Communication (3) Expertise (4) Would Hire Again and (5) Professionalism. With 'Project Rating' setting you can enable/disable the display of the rating for a given project associated with a feedback.
The other remaining settings fields are 'Project Budget' and 'Project Date'. You can enable/disable these components in the WordPress Freelancer Feedback Widget.
Freelancer.com api provides a method to query for feedback items according to different parameters. The settings you specified in the plugin settings page (Feedback Tab) is used to construct the api query string.
A typical freelancer.com feedback query string looks like the following.


text:
Why TIFF matters
At their core, film festivals are a platform for small, independent film makers
THE CITY OF TORONTO/CC FLICKR
http://var.st/40u
There are approximately 3,000 film festivals every year, with the most renowned being the Sundance, Cannes, Berlinale, Hong Kong International Film Festivals, and of course, our very own Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
Every September, the City of Toronto hosts a 10-day event — with a plethora of actors, directors, and writers coming to the festival to discuss their art. Alongside the other international festivals, TIFF provides a platform for the films that do not fulfil the formulaic patterns of American studios like Hollywood.
Over the last 10 years, the cost of producing and promoting films has skyrocketed — meaning that independent creators are reliant on film festivals to exhibit and promote their work.
Film festivals enable artists to share their art without the monetary constraints. However, it is ironic that festivals, by upholding their curatorial responsibilities toward arts and culture, have evolved into a multi-million-dollar industry.
The relationship between large film companies and film festivals is often finely balanced between complementary and uneasy. This is because the lifeline of the festivals is the celebrities who star in the films. The celebrities attract media coverage, which in turn results in sponsors and funding.
This means that the already unstable relationship between art and business — which defines the whole film industry — is particularly strained at film festivals.
Unlike blockbusters — where their success is controlled by funding and release strategies — indie films are largely dependent on the reactions of festival directors, the response of the audience, and how much sleep critics can grab in between the midnight and 8:00 am screenings.
Living in Toronto, we have the privilege of an international film festival right on our doorstep. The festival even occurs before the semester is in full swing, so we truly have an abundance of time to amble along King Street West and enjoy the culture that is the driving force behind one of the world's leading film festivals.
Breaking through barriers
The Breakthrough Film Festival showcases films made by women, for everyone
Breakthrough Film Festival displays films by a diverse range of filmmakers. JOCELYN REYNOLDS/COURTESY OF BREAKTHROUGHS FILM FESTIVAL
http://var.st/1l2
Why do female filmmakers make up only nine per cent of directors in 2015's 250 highest grossing films? Because the film world is "comprised of 91 per cent men," quips Maya Annik from The Gaze podcast. Breakthroughs Film Festival, Canada's only festival dedicated to showcasing short films by new-generation female filmmakers, seeks to address this disparity. Its fifth annual festival, which ran June 10–11 at the Royal Cinema on College Street, featured 17 films from nine countries, including Canada.
"We're trying to get far more of a balance compared to what has already existed," says Gabor Pertic, Breakthroughs' executive director and longtime programmer for TIFF and Hot Docs. "And it's not only about saying, 'hey everyone, here are a bunch of young female filmmakers and here are their films,' but, 'here is the world, this is what the world's stories are, this is what these young emerging talents are able to showcase, and we can all benefit from that.'"
The first night of the festival started with the premiere of Stalingrado, a drama set in the beautiful countryside of northwestern Spain. Director Anyora Sanchez brings together an unlikely cast of characters — a rugged Spanish shepherd, an elegant Russian woman with whom he is in love, and his mother — to explore, with tender humour and sincerity, the challenges of a relationship that threatens cultural norms.
Emilie Mannering's Star takes an honest look at Canadian culture's pervasive hypermasculinity through the eyes of teenage boys living in Montreal. The film opens with a selfie video using Snapchat or Vine, and its shakiness draws the audience right into the heart of their hectic world. Here, they watch street fights online, write rap music, and struggle to find ways to connect with their peers or stand up for their beliefs. It's a captivating portrait, right up to its haunting end.
Childhood visits to Pakistan inspired Canadian filmmaker and photographer Zinnia Naqvi to return to her family's roots and make a film out of a pre-existing photography project. Seaview is a visually striking exploration of identity, cultural differences, and artistic integrity.
2016 Breakthroughs Jury Prize winner Edmond ended the evening on a reflective note. The animated short, written and directed by Nina Gantz, follows a young man embarking on a retrospective journey at a critical point in his life. The childlike spirit evoked by puppetry contrasts the bizarre, often troubling behaviours Edmond relives as he ponders his current desires. Gantz's creative scene transitions lend the work a surreal tone.
Saturday night featured two other award-winners: Sunday Lunch, by French filmmaker Céline Devaux, won the Audience Choice Award for its portrayal of "a lunchtime gathering with family, complete with generational dysfunction and plenty of wine," while Ryerson film studies graduate Jasmin Mozaffari received Jury's Honourable Mention for Wave, which follows a man who has experienced a great loss and finds himself "struggling with his personal demons and anguish while having to maintain responsibilities he may not be ready to take on."
The quality of Breakthroughs' films shows that the lack of female representation in the film industry is not due to a lack of talent. On having a film festival devoted to women filmmakers, Zinnia Naqvi says, "It's nice to have this platform; to be together and have that community."


text:
Alfonso Sanchez LMFT
& Associates
PSYCHOTHERAPY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
The National Institute of Mental Health
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders. NIMH is one of the 27 Institutes and Centers that make up the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the largest biomedical research agency in the world. NIH is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). NIMH envisions a world in which mental illnesses are prevented and cured. Its mission is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic clinical research, opening the way for the prevention, recovery and cure of them.
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/index.shtml
Occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. You might feel anxious when faced with a problem at work, before taking a test, or making an important decision. But anxiety disorders involve more than temporary worry or fear. For a person with an anxiety disorder, the anxiety does not go away and can get worse over time. The feelings can interfere with daily activities such as job performance, school work, and relationships. There are several different types of anxiety disorders. Examples include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder.
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/index.shtml
Depression (major depressive disorder or clinical depression) is a common but serious mood disorder. It causes severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working. To be diagnosed with depression, the symptoms must be present for at least two weeks.
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml
The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. The Alzheimer's Association works on a global, national and local level to provide care and support for all those affected by Alzheimer's and other dementias.
https://www.alz.org/
There is a commonly held view that eating disorders are a lifestyle choice. Eating disorders are actually serious and often fatal illnesses that cause severe disturbances to a person's eating behaviors. Obsessions with food, body weight, and shape may also signal an eating disorder. Common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/eating-disorders/index.shtml
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender
The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center offers a wide range of services to the community including: free care and medication for people infected with the HIV / AIDS; housing resources, food, clothing, and support for homeless LGBT youth, and, support and advocacy services for LGBT seniors and LGBT parents.
https://lalgbtcenter.org/
The Department of Recreation and Parks operates 29 senior citizen centers throughout the City. In addition, these centers offer activities, programs, and special events such as shuffleboard, croquet, arts and crafts, zumba, line dancing, language lessons, oil painting, entertainment, and social dancing. Some senior citizen centers offer a nutrition program through the Department of Aging. Several programs are offered through the Los Angeles Federation of Senior Citizen Clubs.
https://www.laparks.org/scc
If you live in the Los Angeles area and want to report child abuse, call the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services at 1-800-540-4000 or visit
http://dcfs.co.la.ca.us/index.html
If you are a victim of domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at
1 800-799-7233 o visit
http://www.thehotline.org/
Adult Protective Services (also known as APS) investigates situations involving seniors (age 65 and older), and dependent adults (age 18-64 and physically or mentally impaired) who are reported to be endangered by physical, sexual or financial abuse, isolation, neglect, or self-neglect. 211 LA County answers the Elder Abuse Hotline and provides assessment, documentation, and coordination with the County's Workforce Development, Aging, and Community Services (WDACS) department.1 800-656-3646 o visit
https://www.211la.org/elder_abuse
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800-656-HOPE) in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.
https://www.rainn.org/about-national-sexual-assault-telephone-hotline
https://www.aa.org/pages?Media+PlayFlash
Al-anom/Alateen (Family and friends of Problem Drinkers)
http://al-anon.org/
https://saa-recovery.org/
Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
https://slaafws.org/english
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Melissa Chessington Leo is an American actress. She is known for her Academy Award-winning performance in the 2010 film The Fighter (2010). She was born on September 14, 1960, in New York City. Leo starred as the mother of boxer Micky Ward in the 2010 film The Fighter, also starring Mark Wahlberg. The role garnered her both Golden Globe (Best Supporting Actress) and Oscar awards. Other accolades include award nominations for the film Frozen River (2008) and the HBO series Mildred Pierce.


If you're looking for a green hotel, green travel destination, or tons o' eco-friendly travel advice check out these 15 super keen green travel links.
Off the Radar – Online magazine and newsletter for adventure travelers with a focus on independent travelers, personal travel stories and experiences and sustainable, environmentally sensitive travel.
Manaca – Awesome in-depth eco-ratings of all sorts of green places and eco-lodging.
Center for Sustainable Travel Destinations – a project of the National Geographic Society that covers, places, news, tips, and events in green travel.
The International Ecotourism Society – A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting ecotourism. TIES is committed to helping organizations, communities and individuals promote and practice the principles of ecotourism.
Green Globe – Green lodging certification that's accepted worldwide and looks at a ton of criteria before approving a lodging choice.
Kimpton Hotel – offers an EarthCare Program in all of their one-of-a-kind hotels in major destinations across North America. Makes it easy to stay green.
Backroads: Green Family Trip Advisor – Backroads operates tours with a sustainable focus and offers plenty of family options too.
World Wildlife Fund – Offers many travel options that incorporate nature and sustainability, for a reasonable cost.
Vail Resorts – Operates some of the most eco-savvy ski resorts around; i.e. wind power, LEED, organic foods, donations to the National Forest Foundation and more.
Oceanic Society Expeditions – Explore the Natural World – Not just ocean based trips; here you can learn about all sorts of amazing natural history journeys or even participate in research expeditions.
Golf and the Environment – If golf is your idea of an ideal vacation, but you'd like to keep your green ethics in check while you play, this site is a must visit. Managed by Audubon International you'll find greener golf tips and can look up an eco-friendly golf course.
Organic Holidays – Find smaller hotels, B&Bs, and other lodging where organic food is the rule rather than the exception.
Better World Club – Offers many travel services that have a green slant (trip planning, offsets, etc.). Sort of like the really green version of AAA. Plus they donate 1% of annual revenues toward environmental cleanup and advocacy.
Speaking of AAA – This travel standard recently went somewhat greener and now offers lodging ratings that reflect more green options.