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Third Sector Awards Cymru 2017
Our Strategic Framework
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Third Sector Awards Cymru
Wales Volunteer of the Year Awards
WCVA Members Photography Competition
The winners and runners-up have been announced for the Third Sector Awards Cymru 2017
Award for best communications
Supported by Creative Loop
WINNER - Gŵyl Nôl a Mlan
Gŵyl Nôl a Mlan, a festival in Llangrannog, Ceredigion was established by volunteers in 2009. The increase in its popularity has been 'endless' and in 2017, it broke all records with more than 8,000 visitors during the two-day event.
'This was mainly down to the dynamic communications plan and innovative and clever use of social media,' said festival producer Carys Ifan.
'The small team was forward-thinking in setting up Facebook and Twitter accounts nearly 10 years ago. In 2016, a Snapchat profile was set up, and an Instagram profile last year, to ensure a tailored communications approach with various audiences.'
The festival has three main aims - to promote the Welsh language, contribute to the economic and cultural economy of the village and surrounding area, and offer an experience for the whole family.
'The organisation communicates in Welsh at all times using everyday language, local dialect, colloquialisms, relevant vocabulary and humour,' Carys Ifan added. 'There are translation tools on social media so this is an option for individuals who can't - yet - speak Welsh.
'There's no doubt that the local community has benefitted greatly from the festival's confident and fun-filled communications plan, reinforcing the confidence of locals that they do live in a strong and vibrant community and avoiding a sense of rural deprivation.
'And with so many visitors coming to the festival, and returning at other times of the year, the festival has made a substantial contribution to the local economy.'
RUNNER-UP - Chwarae Teg
The women featuring in Chwarae Teg's Wonderful Welsh Women initiative are from both history and the present day and include scientists, athletes, actors, business people and humanitarians.
'The only criteria are that they must have an inspiring story or have achieved something remarkable,' said the equalities charity's Strategic Communications Lead Helen Bradley.
'The initiative is helping Chwarae Teg to achieve its objectives of inspiring, leading and delivering gender equality by generating debate about the current lack of profile afforded to female role models and by showcasing inspiring women.'
The campaign was launched on 11 October, 2017 - International Day of the Girl - and utilises digital media platforms. The launch tweet has been seen over 89,000 times, earning 3,400 engagements and 250 new followers for Chwarae Teg. Similar levels of enthusiasm and success have been achieved on Facebook, with the launch graphic getting 71 shares and being viewed by 14,200 people.
'Each week, we are showcasing a wonderful Welsh woman to raise the profile of female role models in Wales and to inspire the next generation of Welsh women, to empower them, and enable them to achieve and prosper,' Helen Bradley added.
The campaign will culminate with a public, digital media based vote to choose the most inspiring role model who will then receive an award at the Womenspire 2018 awards.
RUNNER-UP - Valleys Gymnastics Academy
Valleys Gymnastics Academy (VGA), which is based in Crumlin, Caerphilly, has a communications strategy that focuses on providing quality experiences for its members, while also attracting new members and participants.
The organisation uses three social media platforms. Its Facebook pages are mainly used for advertisement and recruitment, with the target audience being generally parents.
The Twitter page is primarily used to communicate with current and future partners of the club, promoting good news stories and activities, as well sharing collaborative work examples. Currently, VGA's twitter page has 3,330 followers.
The club's Instagram page is primarily used to engage with youth members through promoting achievements, competition results and class snippets using videos and pictures. Currently, the page has 3,930 followers.
'Valleys Gymnastics Academy is an award winning social enterprise, and recently won the Wales Social Enterprise of the Year 2017 (Customer Experience category) on the basis of its growth and sustainability,' said Director Aled Jones.
'Feedback from parents has revealed that continuous communication through the club's social media platforms has enhanced their experiences. Volunteers and coaches are also able to interact and communicate with each other through the social media platforms.
'Due its prominent social media presence, VGA is regularly referred to as a vibrant, visible, hub of the community.'
The environmental award
WINNER - REFURBS Flintshire
REFURBS Flintshire, a recycled furniture charity, was founded in 2002 with one of its four charitable aims being 'conserving and protecting the physical and natural environment by the promotion of sustainable waste management practices'.
The charity deconstructs items down to component parts to ensure they are all recyclable, and those identified for reuse are cleaned, repaired and recycled back into the community from its showrooms in Flint.
In November 2016, REFURBS began a three-month pilot project for Flintshire County Council to ensure that no item of soft furnishings - sofas, armchairs and beds, etc - ended up as landfill.
It has since deconstructed more than 6,300 items, diverted almost 270 tonnes from landfill and recycled over 6,800 items (205 tonnes) - as well as delivering a recycling awareness campaign at all of the Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) in Flintshire.
'Since its inception, REFURBS has seen the reuse rates at some of the HRCs rise significantly, from as low as five per cent in November 2016 to 50% in October 2017,' said REFURBS General Manager Kevin Barry.
'Following a recent extension, the pilot continues, generating significant results whilst offering employability, training, volunteering and work placement opportunities to those in the community who are furthest away from the job market.'
RUNNER-UP - Wild Ground - Tir Gwyllt
Wrexham-based Wild Ground - Tir Gwyllt was set up more than 30 years ago by a group of Connah's Quay residents concerned about the impact that large-scale development was having on the area's environment and wildlife.
The group looks after rare habitats and species, particularly pondscapes and wetland areas for the benefit of the protected great crested newt. Many of its reserves are Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), and it protects them in ways including controlling invasive and non-native species, planting trees and hedgerows, enhancing meadows, and reinstating ponds.
It promotes environmentally friendly living and respect for the natural world by running wildlife-themed events ranging from public open days, to pond dipping sessions, bird surveys, bat walks, fungi forays, creating breeding and hibernation sites for amphibians and reptiles, and putting up nest boxes.
'Wild Ground - Tir Gwyllt works with an amazing group of volunteers, numbering more than 100, who help with all sorts of activities,' said Conservation Director Leah Williams. 'It is fortunate to work with a wide variety of people from all sorts of backgrounds, many of whom have physical difficulties and/or mental health issues
'These people are able to experience their local natural environments and learn about the wildlife that can be found there and how they can help protect it. As well as that, they gain confidence, learn new skills, make a difference to their local environment, make new friends, and have fun!'
RUNNER-UP - Cardiff Rivers Group
Since 2009, Cardiff Rivers Group has been active in Cardiff's rivers, waterways and ponds, removing 4,225 bags of rubbish, 184 shopping trolleys, 237 tyres, 174 traffic cones, 89 bicycles, 16 motorbikes and 27 tons of waste. A further 7.5 tons of scrap metal has been recycled and is the group's principle source of income.
'This is waste and rubbish that the local authority cannot remove themselves, and so the volunteers have made a dramatic improvement to the natural environment,' said the group's Entertainment Secretary, Chris Hackett.
'This has benefitted directly the residents of and visitors to Cardiff, who undoubtedly have had greater enjoyment of our rivers as they are now clear of obvious eyesore rubbish.'
The group also carries out important habitat conservation and management. 'Given cuts to Cardiff Council's environmental budget, our assistance has been increasingly requested and appreciated by the Cardiff Park Rangers in clearing invasive reeds from ponds in Forest Farm, Whitchurch and Grangemoor Park in Grangetown,' Chris Hackett added.
'Being a volunteer with Cardiff Rivers Group gives one a sense of purpose, and improves mental wellbeing, as volunteers feel happier and more satisfied discharging their civic contribution by being a member of the group.'
Health, social care and wellbeing award
WINNERS - ABMyouth and Carmarthenshire People First
ABMyouth
Established in 2016, ABMyouth is a group of 20 young people from across Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend dedicated to improving health services for children and young people and the first youth action panel working within the Welsh NHS.
The volunteers represent the voice of children and young people within the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University (ABMU) Health Board area. They meet each month in hospitals across South Wales to design their own projects, meet healthcare professionals and map out future goals.
'Our team is made up of young people between the ages of 13 and 23 who all bring unique skills and qualities,' said Chair of ABMyouth Sophie Millar. 'We have members who have experience of being a patient, others volunteer with St John's Ambulance and many plan to go on to become nurses, pharmacists and doctors.
'We project children and young people's thoughts on the health issues that matter most to them and make sure that adults listen by reporting directly to ABMU's executive board.
'This ensures young people are involved at a decision making level. Working directly with NHS staff enables us to create positive change and have a real impact on the health services that young people use.'
ABMyouth members have formed part of the interview panels for ABMU staff. They also work with young patients to record their stories, thoughts and feelings about their journey through hospital services.
Projects include '15 Steps Challenge' - which allows NHS staff to understand what walking onto a ward for the first time is like through the eyes of a child or young person - and a patient questionnaire, currently being worked on with the aim of gathering the opinions of as many children and young people as possible.
'In 2018, we'll be working with Child and Adult Mental Health Services and creating a survey for children and young people across the health board,' Sophie added.
Carmarthenshire People First
Carmarthenshire People First is an advocacy and training organisation, run by and for members, who organise men's and women's and skills swap groups and offer formal and informal peer support on a range of issues.
This has led to the group developing training programmes including cancer screening, keeping safe online and learning disability awareness - all co-produced and delivered by people with a learning disability.
'Members have also developed and run their own healthy eating and exercise classes, building on their own life experience to help other members grow and develop,' said Mal Cansdale of training and information company Barod CIC.
'The group is a safe space for people with a learning disability in Carmarthenshire to talk to other members and paid staff. The paid advocates provide vital support to members around a wide variety of complex issues including health, housing and benefits from day to day issues to times of crisis.
'The group offers regular placements for trainee social workers giving people a real insight into person centred approaches and listening to what people really want. It is an important part of people's social lives, helping them forge friendships and peer support.'
RUNNER-UP - Recovery Cymru, Footsteps to Recovery
Footsteps to Recovery is an innovative programme providing 'throughcare', aftercare and ongoing recovery support for people who have had substance misuse problems in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.
A 'unique partnership' of three very different organisations - Solas and Recovery Cymru, Newlink Wales and Recovery Cymru Community - it delivers community-based rehabilitation, volunteer training and placements and ongoing recovery support.
Solas and Recovery Cymru's rehabilitation provides psycho-social therapies while remaining at home and develops participants' strategies for dealing with issues like low mood, anxiety and loss, improving their ability to create a healthy lifestyle balance.
Specialist substance misuse training agency Newlink Wales provides voluntary opportunities. For many of the participants, volunteering is an essential recovery tool which can provide a way into employment and economic activity.
'Recovery Cymru's ad infinitum support means that community members can access peer support for as long and as often as they need to,' said Gareth Joseph of Recovery Cymru Community.
'The programme's philosophy is that without improving and maintaining their health and wellbeing, people are unable to make the changes necessary to overcome substance misuse problems.'
RUNNER-UP - The National Waterfront Museum
Having always tried to ensure its visitor services cater for those with extra needs, The National Waterfront Museum decided to look at how to create a safe space for those with autism after being joined by teenage volunteer Rhys, who is himself autistic.
'When Rhys first started work, he was unable to make eye contact and uncomfortable with strangers,' said the museum's Marketing and Communications Officer Jenny Walford.
'Now he happily helps out with object handling sessions both in the museum and in its outreach work, and is able to engage with and hold a conversation with strangers.'
Last year, the museum appointed an autism champion, Suzanne, who has an autistic son. Suzanne now promotes changes which will benefit those with autism, across all seven Amgueddfa Cymru museums.
She was the force behind creating a new chill-out room for the Waterfront Museum, believed to be the first of its kind in a Welsh museum, which features soft flooring, beanbags to relax on, a colour-changing effect on the ceiling, natural sounds like birdsong and lapping waves, and a selection of different-textured toys to handle.
'The room gives visitors with autism, dementia and other conditions - who can be overwhelmed with the crowds, lights and sounds of the museum - a calming place to relax before returning to the museum itself,' said Jenny.
Award for good governance
WINNER - Hope Rescue
Hope Rescue in Llanharan, Rhondda Cynon Taf, has grown from a small charity with just one paid member of operational staff to having 13 people working at the £650,000 centre.
The Trustee Board appointed four new members - a management accountant, procurement manager, HR manager and marketing manager - to draw up the business plan it needed to be able to buy the building.
'They developed a robust business model including the establishment of a trading company and social enterprise model,' said Transformation Manager Vanessa Waddon.
New sustainable income streams were identified, including commercial boarding, a local authority stray dog contract, welfare boarding contracts with other animal charities, and the grant-funded redevelopment of the charity shop to provide a dog-friendly coffee shop and craft workshop.
The Trustees were successful in putting together a £650,000 funding package through a mortgage from Charity Bank, loan funding from the Communities Investment Fund and grant/loan funding from the Social Business Growth Fund. A fundraising campaign raised a further £225,000.
'The purchase of the rescue centre has transformed the way the charity operates,' Vanessa added. 'The Trustees have provided incredible support, ensuring we meet our statutory obligations and comply with good practice and using their professional skills to provide hands on as well as strategic support.'
RUNNER-UP - The Welsh Centre for International Affairs (WCIA)
The Welsh Centre for International Affairs (WCIA) was established in 1973, and its trustees were historically people with a prior connection with its work, said Chief Executive Martin Pollard.
'In recent years, we have been through a major transformation, with a step change in standards of governance and professionalism,' he added.
A transparent and open process of recruitment was introduced, increasing diversity on the board by moving away from a 'white, elderly male' profile and allowing for fresh ideas reflecting contemporary best practice to be shared. It also became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and adopted a constitution for the first time.
In 2015, the WCIA was awarded Wales for Peace (over £900,000) and Wales for Africa (£1.8 million) project funds by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Welsh Government. The WCIA staff team increased from five to 20, with one Board strategy leading to an improved revenue stream being generated via property assets.
'Today, the trustees have limited terms - maximum three terms of three years - and there are regular rounds of open recruitment to the Board,' said Martin Pollard. 'Trustees are surveyed to establish skills, experience and knowledge, and recruit actively to fill gaps and increase diversity. The Governance Committee, chaired by the Vice-Chair, runs an annual trustee survey to look for ways of strengthening governance.'
RUNNER-UP - Headway Cardiff & South East Wales
The 10-strong Rookwood Hospital-based Board has been continually improving and growing the organisation to ensure service users, volunteers, supporters and staff received the best possible experience, said Headway Fundraising and Communications Officer Lucy Lawler.
It met Headway UK's Good Governance standards, which meant it had to prove excellence in strategic decision-making, compliance, safeguarding, managing finance, quality assurance, engagement with service users and volunteers, and communication and management of 120 members.
One of the newest trustees was a service user - a 'fantastic' asset to the board, as it provided valuable insight into life with an acquired brain injury, as well as first-hand experience of the charity's services.
Outside scheduled meetings, the Board was involved in other activities such as risk assessments, interviews and conferences.
'Overall, our Trustees are extremely valued and respected by our staff,' Lucy Lawler added. 'Their commitment to our charity is overwhelming, and the growth of the organisation over the past few years is the result of their dedication and hard work.'
Award for innovative fundraising
WINNER - Mudiad Meithrin
National Welsh-medium early years care and education organisation Mudiad Meithrin collected almost £15,000 in one day through 'The Biggest Pyjamas Party in the World' last May.
The organisation's aim was to hold a series of local and national events to raise awareness of the importance of fundraising to the Cylchoedd Meithrin (Welsh-medium playgroups) as local charities managed by voluntary management committees.
Those attending a pyjama party would donate £1 per head, with proceeds given to the Cylch Meithrin as part of the continuous fundraising effort. There was also sponsorship and support from Bala pyjama manufacturer Aykroyds & Sons.
'After months of planning, collaboration with partners and promotional work, over 400 events were held on one day with 90% of Cylchoedd Meithrin - of which there are around 350 - taking part,' said Mudiad Meithrin Chief Executive Dr Gwenllian Lansdown Davies.
Also involved were 21 primary schools, 66 Welsh celebrities, 18 Cymraeg for Kids groups, several Merched y Wawr branches, offices and other organisations.
'Our aim was to break the world record for the number of people in one pyjama party, which was 2,004, and therefore to raise the equivalent amount of money,' Dr Lansdown Davies added. 'In the end, £14,693 was raised - over seven times the target) with 8,750 people attending over 300 pyjama parties!
'The day was such a success that we're under pressure to hold an annual event and partners such as S4C are seeking our advice on holding such a one-day celebration.'
RUNNER-UP - The Wallich
Sharing The Wallich's increasing concerns about and keenness to support the number of rough sleepers in Cardiff city centre, John Lewis agreed to help raise awareness of the issue while encouraging customers to also lend their support.
'We worked closely with the haberdashery department to come up with a practical and creative idea to raise money for The Wallich and show that John Lewis cares about homelessness,' said the charity's Corporate Fundraising Manager Mike Walmsley.
One Knit Wonder™ was designed as a stocking filler gift to encourage people to knit. Each pack included a ball of wool, knitting needles and a simple downloadable knitting pattern. The pack encouraged people to wear the hat, gift it to a loved one or give it to someone sleeping rough.
'The product was aimed at John Lewis customers to give the gift of knitting for Christmas and support rough sleepers at the same time,' Mike Walmsley added.
'Harlequin Printing and Packaging sponsored the pack production and John Lewis Cardiff sourced the materials required for the packs at a very significant discount. This allowed us to price the product at £12, much lower than other knit packs, and still make more than £10 profit per pack to The Wallich.
'They sold out three days before Christmas and we made £15,120 gross on the whole campaign - 1,260 units - which equates to £12,600 profit.
'The impact for The Wallich has been considerable. We have a partnership with a high-end retailer which is developing into future opportunities and income, in addition to reaching out to a new audience to promote our work. Most importantly, the money raised will be used to support vulnerable people off the streets and into safety throughout 2018.'
RUNNER-UP - Music in Hospitals & Care Cymru
Music in Hospitals & Care Cymru is based at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, which has a plentiful supply of talented student volunteers, who not only want to help the charity but are also looking for performance opportunities.
'We use professional musicians to cheer up people who are confined in healthcare venues,' said Robert Aitken, the charity's Director in Wales. 'But we also hit on a scheme to make use of volunteer musicians by asking them to perform in public spaces around Cardiff.'
The project has since expanded to include regular performances in St David's Shopping Centre and outside supermarkets throughout South Wales.
'Demand for the charity's concerts is growing each year,' said Robert Aitken. 'Last year, we needed to raise around £110,000 to meet that demand. For a small charity like Music in Hospitals & Care Cymru, that's a tall order. But the more money we can raise, the more concerts we can deliver.
'Using students to perform fundraising concerts for us has made a small but significant dent in that total. So far this financial year, this activity has generated more than £3,500 - that's over 3% of what we need to raise each year, and a significant chunk of our annual target - and the work was all done for us by volunteers.
'Although our charitable objectives are very clearly focused on people in healthcare, using music to raise money also allows us to spread the joy of live music far more widely - and that's got to be a good thing!'
Award for digital inclusion
Supported by Digital Communities Wales
WINNER - Innovate Trust
Cardiff-based Innovate Trust is running an 'intelligent personal assistant project' to promote digital inclusion for 'some of the most vulnerable people' inRhondaCynonTaff, the Vale of Glamorgan andCardiffitself.
The charity is setting up voice activated Intelligent Personal Assistant Devices (IPA) - such as the Amazon Echo and Google Home - in the homes of people with learning disabilities to help them live more independently.
'Disabled individuals are often excluded from the digital world or are forced to use technology that is built especially for disabled people,' said Innovate Trust Research Officer Kieran Vass.
'This technology is often not fit for purpose, is expensive and creates a stigma. With the use of mainstream IPA technology, our beneficiaries are able to proactively engage with the digital world to improve their lives. For example, beneficiaries can now set a reminder to take their medication without staff support - giving them more freedom and control over their lives.'
The project is being run in partnership with Cardiff University, research consortium Nesta, YLab the Public Innovation Labs for Wales, Welsh Government, local authorities, housing associations, cooperative parents' groups and Amazon.
RUNNER-UP - Derwen and Solas
Older people's housing association Derwen Cymru's'Learning Together' project has involved working jointly with fellow local housing providers Gwalia and Solas in promoting the project and recruiting and supporting young volunteers with backgrounds of homelessness, living in care and substance misuse.
'We are now exploring new partnerships, ideas and various technologies to include those residents who require a bit more encouragement,' said Active Ageing Officer Harriet Bleach. 'One example is to develop the Learning Together project withCardiffMetropolitanUniversityto include creating digital stories and reminiscing about their education and school days'.
Positive outcomes so far include both residents and volunteers enjoying the social aspect, as well as learning new skills, saving money, building confidence and increasing independence.
DerwenCymruhas also developed a range of ways to help staff and volunteers develop their digital skills, including training courses delivered by Digital Communities Wales and TPAS, building confidence to create content for Derwen's website and social media.
Derwen staff signpost residents to Digital Fridays held atNewportlibraries, while residents who need home visits are put in touch with the RNIB Online Today project and Age Cymru Gwent.
'Derwen's aim is to equip staff with the knowledge and enthusiasm to develop Derwen's overall digital approach,'HarrietBleachadded. 'We aim to provide residents with the choice to explore getting online and discover the benefits it brings in a way that suits them.'
RUNNER-UP - Clwyd Alyn Housing Association (CAHA)
Clwyd Alyn Housing Association(CAHA) has drawn-up a Digital Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, equipping its money advice team with Wi-Fi enabled computers.
The team then supports residents to use key online applications - such as for Universal Credit - and arranged for Digital Communities Wales to deliver Digital Champion training, boosting staff and residents' confidence and techniques in encouraging others to get online.
The action plan has also seen CAHA deliver 'job ready' sessions for unemployed residents - including assistance with searching and applying for jobs online - and raise awareness of online support tools such as benefit checkers and money comparison sites.
The housing association has liaised with Communities First in organising computer courses for people needing them and promoted Vision Support's RNIB Online Today project for people with visual impairments, arranging for them to deliver sessions for example to residents of Llys Eleanor Extra Care Home.
The plan has also involved the hosting of 'silent cinema' events, where elderly residents reminisced while watching black and white movies accompanied by live music.
'CAHA firmly contributes towards delivering a Digital Wales,' saidCommunity Development OfficerLouiseBlackwell. 'Working in partnership with many agencies, we use diverse engagement methods tailored to residents' unique wants and needs to help them access the internet and develop digital skills.'
RUNNER-UP - Gwynedd Ddigidol/ Digital Gwynedd
TheGwynedd Ddigidol/ Digital Gwyneddproject, which was set up by national charity Citizens Online, is a partnership focused on helping local people improve their internet skills and enjoy the social and economic benefits of being online.
In the past two years, it has recruited 140 digital champions through delivering training events in the workplace, forming a sub-group focused on online accessibility for disabled people, creating peer-to-peer community support and raising its profile through social media (1,000-plus twitter followers), quarterly newsletters (400-plus subscribers) and regular network meetings.
Its campaigns have been designed to appeal to people in greatest need, such as housing benefit claimants, and sessions and pop-up events have been run in the heart of communities, including supermarkets, livestock markets and doctors' surgeries.
'Our key successes include having 35 organisations as partners in Digital Gwynedd working together to increase capacity to promote initiatives by running joint marketing campaigns,' said Digital Gwynedd Co-ordinator Daniel Richards.
'We're always looking for better ways to upskill and empower staff and volunteers to become Digital Champions, who are crucial to motivate and support others in the community with technology.'
Class Networks award for the most admired organisation
As well as rehoming hundreds of dogs in need,Hope Rescue runs a 'Hope in the Community"' scheme, providing pet food and other pet sundries to food banks and support organisations helping owners on low incomes and those living on the streets, offering volunteering and work experience opportunities, campaigning for legislative change and promoting responsible ownership through education and community projects.
The canine respite scheme supports owners in crisis - for example, those suffering domestic abuse, homelessness or hospitalisation - to keep their dogs.
Jennifer Coleman-Humphreys of Penarth has championed the charity since adopting her dog Lacey from them. 'I've become a huge supporter ofHope's work and it's fair to say that they are so much more than "just" an animal rescue organisation,' she said.
'They moved in to their new rescue centre in April 2017, having previously operated through a network of foster homes and private boarding.
'Since then, they have a made a huge impact on the local community through their outreach programme, whilst having had to massively increase their fundraising activities in order to cover the costs of running premises. All of this is achieved through a very small team of paid staff, supplemented by some very dedicated volunteers.'
RUNNER-UP - Prince's Trust Cymru
The aim of thePrince's Trust Cymruis to give 11 to 30-year-olds who are unemployed or struggling at school a chance to transform their lives through free programmes giving them the practical and financial support they need while helping them develop key skills.
'Feedback from employers is that they are extremely happy with the calibre of young people interested in taking part, which proves how popular the programme has become due to the high quality training content and excellent outcomes the programmes have achieved,' said Yvonne Hughes of DWP - Jobcentreplus.
'Each young person benefits from one to one support and is offered further support/mentoring for up to six months - the figures show that last year they empowered 58,000 young people to turn their lives around.
'I believe that the Prince's Trust is the best thing since sliced bread!'Yvonneadded. 'They boost young people's confidence and motivation so they can continue to dream big.'
RUNNER-UP - TAPE Community Music and Film
TAPE Community Music and Film, based in Old Colwyn, Conwy works with communities, third sector groups and public sector professionals to co-produce a wide range of creative activities, events and projects.
'In essence, they facilitate others - mostly people from the margins of society - to tell their story,' said Mark John-Williams of The Co-production Network for Wales, a Lottery-funded network of more than 1,000 co-production champions.
TAPE's work includes co-producing inclusive creative arts workshops, culminating in musical and film performances and an art exhibition; and a film about the importance of friendship and community, which had a public screening at the North Wales Coastline Festival.
'TAPE's natural ability to include all people, in particular those who are most marginalised, is outstanding,' Mark John-Williams added. 'They are brilliant change-makers and facilitators who live and breathe a culture of enabling social justice, using creativity to unleash people's assets to get across hugely important social and community issues.'
RUNNER-UP - Groundwork North Wales
Groundwork North Walesis committed to improving the social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing ofWalesand focuses its activities where it can make the most difference to communities facing disadvantage.
It tackles such issues as worklessness, and fuel, food and furniture poverty, working in partnership with organisations acrossNorth Walesto ensure a greater understanding of the natural environment and how it can be protected.
'Groundwork North Wales has helped save people in fuel poverty over £24,000 off their energy bills through supported bill switching, as well as installing almost 2,000 energy efficiency measures in over 150 homes,' said Alison Hill of the Caia Park Partnership.
'I was also impressed by their activities which support young people into work, engaging with 135 young people through their green team with a retention rate of 89%.
'The diversity of their work and the commitment to the people ofWalesis incredible. My team at Caia Park Partnership have delivered projects with them and have all commented on the passion, dedication and enthusiasm the staff at Groundwork bring to their project delivery.'
RUNNER-UP - Age Connects Morgannwg
Operating throughout Rhondda Cynon Taf, Bridgend andMerthyr Tydfil, Pontypridd-basedAge Connects Morgannwgruns services including information and advice, community outreach, support at home, nail cutting - and armchair yoga and dancing.
'There is nothing that they cannot help you with - their staff are always kind and helpful and nothing is too much trouble for them,' said Rhondda 50+ Forum Secretary Lynda Corre.
'Age Connects Morgannwgis an organisation that you can feel completely safe with - you know that they are looking after your interests at all times. Whatever problem you have they are there for you, they ensure that those who are most vulnerable and at risk are kept safe.
'They also encourage older people to get involved in speaking up for what they want and influence change. I cannot think of any other organisation that goes that extra mile to ensure the lives of older people are made better in every way.'
RCT Older Persons' Advisory Group Chair Angela Tritschler said Age Connects provided a hospital discharge service which was invaluable to people returning home, helping with shopping, building up people's confidence and also helping with possible depression which can often occur after periods in hospital.
'In this time of austerity, ACM stands out as a beacon of light and hope to many older people in these valleys,' she added.
RUNNER-UP - Cwmbran Centre for Young People (CCYP)
Cwmbran Centre for Young People(CCYP) and its social enterprise company Randomz are highly respected providers of opportunities. CCYP was the first recipient of the Welsh Government's Quality Mark for Youth Work in Wales Bronze Award, then the Silver, before becoming the first organisation to achieve the Gold Award.
One of its qualities is its willingness to work in partnership with the wider youth work and third sectors, the private sector and other agencies including the police, saidPaulGlazeof CWVYS (the Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services).
'Youth services in Wales are undergoing significant changes in terms of how they meet the needs of young people - and this has to be delivered in the context of fewer available financial resources, a need to be highly adaptable, the need for excellent change management abilities while at the same time designing and implementing innovative solutions,' he added.
'CCYP has these skills and abilities in abundance. All of its workers, volunteers and young people are real grafters; they know that huge efforts equal rewards for all - training, volunteering, work-based learning, a job, apprenticeships and development of confidence, motivation and self-esteem in young people.
'CWVYS is very pleased to be associated with CCYP and the incredibly positive and powerful work it delivers on behalf of the young people of Torfaen and beyond.'
Before the charity was set up by patients and their families - supported by therapists in Rookwood Hospital - those discharged from hospital were left with little or no ongoing support to cope with and adapt to the devastating consequences of brain injury.
Headway brings people together for mutual support and provides them with an holistic, personal and tailored approach. 'It is a very responsive and agile organisation - if a gap is identified, an appropriate service is developed,' said Cari Sowden-Taylor of Hugh James Solicitors.
The welfare benefits and counselling service provides one to one support to reduce the emotional impact, stress and financial anxiety that can come with brain injury.
'Headway Cardiff and South East Wales are a small organisation with only 15 full and part time staff,' Cari added. 'However, thanks to their dedicated, determined and committed staff, they achieve a great deal.'
'They haven't waited for things to happen - they've made them happen and in doing so, have improved the lives of hundreds of people affected by acquired brain injury.'
Julie Smith, of Case Management Cymru, said that without Headway, many people would have nowhere to turn. 'They liaise with professionals involved in people's care to ensure there is a coordinated and consistent approach,' she added.
'However, for many people affected by acquired brain injury, because their disabilities are hidden, they can fall between services. Headway Cardiff & South East Wales provides a vital safety net which ensures people don't get overlooked or forgotten.'


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Le Sheraton Grand London Park Lane est un hôtel 5 étoiles situé à Piccadilly, au centre de Londres.

Description
L'hôtel a ouvert ses portes en 1927 sous le nom de Park Lane Hotel  dans un style Art Déco, et a été construit par le promoteur Sir Bracewell Smith. CW Stephens, qui a conçu Harrods, a été l'architecte d'origine, mais les travaux s'étaient arrêtés au début de la Première Guerre mondiale et Stephens est décédé en 1917 . Le bâtiment est un bon exemple avec un toit en mansarde et une façade en pierre de Portland. Le bâtiment est classé Grade II et dispose de 303 chambres réparties sur huit étages avec la façade donnant sur Green Park en direction de Buckingham Palace.

L'hôtel a été acheté par ITT Sheraton en  pour 70 millions de dollars.  ITT Sheraton a été acheté par les hôtels Starwood en 1998. Starwood a cédé son bail sur l'hôtel à Settled Estates de Sir Richard Sutton en 2014  mais continue d'exploiter la propriété dans le cadre d'un contrat de gestion à long terme. Bien que l'hôtel soit devenu un établissement Sheraton à partir de 1996, il n'a pas commencé à utiliser le nom Sheraton depuis vingt ans, et ce jusqu'au   lorsqu'il a été renommé Sheraton Grand London Park Lane à l'issue d'une rénovation majeure.

Les films The End of The Affair, The Winds of War et The Golden Compass figurent dans cet hôtel.

Références

Hôtel à Londres
Cité de Westminster
Monument classé de Grade II dans la cité de Westminster

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Details on what's happening at your development are ready to view on the Estates Manager development blog at My lpm.
Each development has an lpm dedicated Estates Manager. Should you wish to meet with your Estates Manager during the next scheduled visit which can be viewed in the documents section of My lpm, please contact enquiries@lpmonline.co.uk in advance, to arrange a suitable appointment.
It only takes a couple of minutes to Register to manage your account online.


text:
Protecting Civilians In Conflict Zones
Relatives of Ali Sille, one of the 13 victims who died during an explosion at a crossing on Turkey's border with Syria. February 12, 2013.
Few people are more likely to be the victims of mass atrocities than civilians caught in armed conflict.
The distressing reality is that, increasingly, civilians have become the victims of armed conflict. "Few are more likely to be the victims of mass atrocities than civilians caught in armed conflict," said United States Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice before the UN Security Council.
"Time and again – and all too often – the world bears witness to the horror of mass killings, sexual violence and gross human rights violations and abuses of innocents in conflict."
The primary responsibility for protecting their own populations falls to individual governments. But too many governments fail to do so, be it due to their lack of capacity or will, or because a few governments condone, or even perpetrate atrocities against their own people. And that is when the international community, and specifically the United Nations, must step in, said Ambassador Rice:
"In this regard, I want to highlight the horrific attacks by the Syrian regime on the Syrian people, including the widely reported targeting of hospitals and health centers and the use of ballistic missiles against civilian populations. The carnage unleashed by Assad merits universal indignation and strong action from this Council. When the people of Libya were on the verge of being slaughtered by a brutal dictator, this Council acted, prevented a massacre, and saved countless lives. This should remind us that for civilians in conflict, Security Council action can mean the difference between life and death."
Allowing unimpeded humanitarian access to populations in need of help is another facet of protection for civilian populations. The practice of preventing humanitarian aid from reaching people in distress, as has been happening in Sudan's Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states, is appalling and unacceptable.
The United States also strongly rejects impunity, and supports efforts to hold violators of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, accountable for their actions. Indeed, accountability for atrocities can lay a foundation for rule of law and prevent instability by promising that there will be justice and redress for victims. The United States supports the Secretary General's call for greater Security Council involvement in addressing violations of international law.
"The protection of civilians is a fundamental element of the Security Council's obligation to ensure international peace and security," said Ambassador Rice.
"While national action is necessary, it is not sufficient. International, collective action is required, and we look forward to strengthening our cooperation with the United Nations and member states to that end."
Halabja And The Fate Of Its Killers
Protecting Human Rights Of Migrants
Reflecting the Views of the U.S. Government as Broadcast on The Voice of America
More Editorials
Sudan No Longer State Sponsor of Terrorism
U.S. and Pakistan's Innovative Health Initiatives
Vietnam Stifling Free Expression
China's Dangerous Nuclear Game

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


How much love have we lost that we think it's our job to puff up ourselves?
How much love have we lost that we can't find a way to just talk?
How much love have we lost that we can't see the gift of life we've been given?
We have lost so many opportunities to love. Small moments come everyday to act in accordance with love's tenants. If we continue to lose them we lose ground. For Love must be expressed for others to see that it exists. It has to be worked on for it find roots in relationships and communities. It must be acted upon for it to bring forth a different kind of life.


Voluntary agreements (VAs) have been widely used in environmental policymaking over the past 20 years. This paper reviews relevant theoretical and empirical literature on VAs, assessing their performance in terms of effectiveness and efficiency. Effectiveness is evaluated on three criteria: (i) effectiveness in setting the pollution abatement target, (ii) effectiveness in incentivising participation, and (iii) effectiveness in realizing the abatement target. Both static efficiency, in particular the allocation of abatement among participants in the VA, and dynamic efficiency, in particular the role of technology and informational spillovers, are evaluated. Finally, we identify gaps in the literature that provide opportunities for future research.


PureVPN and VPNJACK are two well-known, popular and reliable VPN service providers. It can be challenging to pick between them, considering they offer similar services at similar prices. But if you compare them, you will see one of them does a bit better than the other in some essential aspects.


Discussions that could help writers improve their writing skills from the 55 year veteran journalist, writer, and novelist Sean Patrick O'Mordha.
Before putting anything in writing there are a number of things to accomplish.
Don't kid yourself. There is a formula to writing fiction.


text:
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<title>Pathfinder: Class Members - Variables</title>
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Pathfinder
    v3.0

The definitive Hacknet programmable modding system

- u -

UISmallfont
: Hacknet.GuiData

UITinyfont
: Hacknet.GuiData

UnloadedModIdentifiers
: Pathfinder.Pathfinder

UnloadedModIds
: Pathfinder.ModManager.Manager

unlockedColor
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UpdateSubscriptions
: Hacknet.OS

UseAspectPreserveBackgroundScaling
: Hacknet.OS

USED_RAM_COLOR
: Hacknet.RamModule

userLoggedIn
: Hacknet.Computer

username
: Hacknet.OS

users
: Hacknet.Computer

usingGamePad
: Hacknet.ScreenManager

usingTabExecution
: Hacknet.Terminal

Generated by
    doxygen 1.8.13

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
==============
Whoosh recipes
==============

General
=======

Get the stored fields for a document from the document number
-------------------------------------------------------------
::

    stored_fields = searcher.stored_fields(docnum)

Analysis
========

Eliminate words shorter/longer than N
-------------------------------------

Use a :class:`~whoosh.analysis.StopFilter` and the ``minsize`` and ``maxsize``
keyword arguments. If you just want to filter based on size and not common
words, set the ``stoplist`` to ``None``::

    sf = analysis.StopFilter(stoplist=None, minsize=2, maxsize=40)

Allow optional case-sensitive searches
--------------------------------------

A quick and easy way to do this is to index both the original and lowercased
versions of each word. If the user searches for an all-lowercase word, it acts
as a case-insensitive search, but if they search for a word with any uppercase
characters, it acts as a case-sensitive search::

    class CaseSensitivizer(analysis.Filter):
        def __call__(self, tokens):
            for t in tokens:
                yield t
                if t.mode == "index":
                   low = t.text.lower()
                   if low != t.text:
                       t.text = low
                       yield t

    ana = analysis.RegexTokenizer() | CaseSensitivizer()
    [t.text for t in ana("The new SuperTurbo 5000", mode="index")]
    # ["The", "the", "new", "SuperTurbo", "superturbo", "5000"]

Searching
=========

Find every document
-------------------
::

    myquery = query.Every()

iTunes-style search-as-you-type
-------------------------------

Use the :class:`whoosh.analysis.NgramWordAnalyzer` as the analyzer for the
field you want to search as the user types. You can save space in the index by
turning off positions in the field using ``phrase=False``, since phrase
searching on N-gram fields usually doesn't make much sense::

    # For example, to search the "title" field as the user types
    analyzer = analysis.NgramWordAnalyzer()
    title_field = fields.TEXT(analyzer=analyzer, phrase=False)
    schema = fields.Schema(title=title_field)

See the documentation for the :class:`~whoosh.analysis.NgramWordAnalyzer` class
for information on the available options.

Shortcuts
=========

Look up documents by a field value
----------------------------------
::

    # Single document (unique field value)
    stored_fields = searcher.document(id="bacon")

    # Multiple documents
    for stored_fields in searcher.documents(tag="cake"):
        ...

Sorting and scoring
===================

See :doc:`facets`.

Score results based on the position of the matched term
-------------------------------------------------------

The following scoring function uses the position of the first occurance of a
term in each document to calculate the score, so documents with the given term
earlier in the document will score higher::

    from whoosh import scoring

    def pos_score_fn(searcher, fieldname, text, matcher):
        poses = matcher.value_as("positions")
        return 1.0 / (poses[0] + 1)

    pos_weighting = scoring.FunctionWeighting(pos_score_fn)
    with myindex.searcher(weighting=pos_weighting) as s:
        ...

Results
=======

How many hits were there?
-------------------------

The number of *scored* hits::

    found = results.scored_length()

Depending on the arguments to the search, the exact total number of hits may be
known::

    if results.has_exact_length():
        print("Scored", found, "of exactly", len(results), "documents")

Usually, however, the exact number of documents that match the query is not
known, because the searcher can skip over blocks of documents it knows won't
show up in the "top N" list. If you call ``len(results)`` on a query where the
exact length is unknown, Whoosh will run an unscored version of the original
query to get the exact number. This is faster than the scored search, but may
still be noticeably slow on very large indexes or complex queries.

As an alternative, you might display the *estimated* total hits::

    found = results.scored_length()
    if results.has_exact_length():
        print("Scored", found, "of exactly", len(results), "documents")
    else:
        low = results.estimated_min_length()
        high = results.estimated_length()

        print("Scored", found, "of between", low, "and", high, "documents")

Which terms matched in each hit?
--------------------------------
::

    # Use terms=True to record term matches for each hit
    results = searcher.search(myquery, terms=True)

    for hit in results:
        # Which terms matched in this hit?
        print("Matched:", hit.matched_terms())

        # Which terms from the query didn't match in this hit?
        print("Didn't match:", myquery.all_terms() - hit.matched_terms())

Global information
==================

How many documents are in the index?
------------------------------------
::

    # Including documents that are deleted but not yet optimized away
    numdocs = searcher.doc_count_all()

    # Not including deleted documents
    numdocs = searcher.doc_count()

What fields are in the index?
-----------------------------
::

    return myindex.schema.names()

Is term X in the index?
-----------------------
::

    return ("content", "wobble") in searcher

How many times does term X occur in the index?
----------------------------------------------
::

    # Number of times content:wobble appears in all documents
    freq = searcher.frequency("content", "wobble")

    # Number of documents containing content:wobble
    docfreq = searcher.doc_frequency("content", "wobble")

Is term X in document Y?
------------------------
::

    # Check if the "content" field of document 500 contains the term "wobble"

    # Without term vectors, skipping through list...
    postings = searcher.postings("content", "wobble")
    postings.skip_to(500)
    return postings.id() == 500

    # ...or the slower but easier way
    docset = set(searcher.postings("content", "wobble").all_ids())
    return 500 in docset

    # If field has term vectors, skipping through list...
    vector = searcher.vector(500, "content")
    vector.skip_to("wobble")
    return vector.id() == "wobble"

    # ...or the slower but easier way
    wordset = set(searcher.vector(500, "content").all_ids())
    return "wobble" in wordset


text:
Zumba: Inside The Global Success of an Unlikely Brand
In the world of high-profile brands, there are many success stories that we return to again and again. Steve Jobs and the creation of the Apple brand – Tesla's Elon Musk – Richard Branson and his serial entrepreneurial success – Jeff Bezos and Amazon. Other brands don't get as much attention. This bias is so ingrained that we sometimes overlook brands that might have a lot to teach us.
I originally hesitated to write about Zumba, the global fitness brand that continues to explode in popularity despite a lack of attention from the business community. But to dismiss the brand is to fail to notice how deeply and brilliantly it has tapped into evolving trends in the fitness (and music) world and how innovative its founders' approach to growing their brand truly is. What makes Zumba work and what can its success teach us about building our own brands?
A Runaway Fusion
The first thing to consider about Zumba is how it has embraced the concept of fusion, both purposefully and not. The brand's origin story is long and well documented by Leigh Buchanan in Inc., which named Zumba its Company of the Year in 2016. To summarize: Alberto Perez was a dance and aerobics instructor in Bogotá, Columbia who, due to a music mix-up, ended up combining the two forms and inventing a new fusion of Latin dance and aerobic workout. He brought this new form (which he called Zumba because "Rumba" sounded too similar to the robotic vacuum brand) to Miami in the early aughts, where it gained an immediate cult-like following.
What happened next was no accident. Recognizing the appeal of this effective, high-energy workout that left crowds smiling instead of grimacing, Perez set out to build a brand. An initial run of exercise videos established a large reach, but Perez decided to break the mold again and try a different tactic. Instead of targeting class-goers, he would train teachers and empower them to spread Zumba in their own communities. Within a few years, he had trained 700+ instructors and organized the Zumba Instructor Network, a subscription portal offering access to new class plans, new music, and new merchandising opportunities.
The fusion of Latin dance and aerobic workouts engaged a dedicated audience of consumers, and the fusion of fitness instruction with entrepreneurship created an empowered network of Zumba disciples and brand ambassadors. The next challenge was to build a brand identity that could sustain a global community.
Zumba's Branding Genius
"Perhaps the most fascinating thing about Zumba is the way it sits at the nexus of so many dominant trends," Buchanan writes. "Like some great Zeitgeist cocktail, it is a frothy blend of Latin culture, social networking, globalization, weight consciousness, a feminizing society, solo entrepreneurship, and the maker's movement."
A brand with so many cultural footholds can either establish a strong foundation or dissolve into nothing. But as the Harvard Business Review reveals, "Like other brands that manage to elevate their perceived value above the merely commercial exchange of goods or services for money, Zumba believes it is on a mission."
Co-founder Alberto Perlman says "Our purpose at Zumba is to change lives through health, wellness, and overall happiness," and HBR notes that "this sweeping vision echoes the essence of Zumba culture: 'FEJ,' which is pronounced 'fedge' and stands for Freeing, Electrifying Joy." By naming the experience that consumers seek from the brand, Zumba creates a rallying cry and a cultural touchstone that unites Zumba-goers around the world.
The other pillar of the Zumba brand is also a major part of its financial success: music. Zumba has become such a force that Buchanan observes "it is also becoming an influential player in the music world, striking deals with such artists as Wyclef Jean and Pitbull to promote their songs in its classes and feature them on its CD compilations" which top billboard charts around the world.
Zumba's slogan perfectly captures the spirit of the brand and the promise it makes to its audience: "Ditch the workout, join the party." Alberto Perez brilliantly succeeds where many others have failed, creating a social fitness phenomenon with staying power. HBR reports that "the organization reports more than 15 million weekly participants in over 200,000 locations across more than 180 countries" – which a founder notes is more locations than McDonalds, Starbucks, and Dunkin' Donuts combined.
We can't all stumble into success as Perez did at first, but we can learn something from the business savvy the Zumba creator has displayed in turning his dance-aerobic fusion into a worldwide phenomenon. Zumba promises "Freeing, Electrifying Joy" and it delivers, wrapping music, merchandise, and socialization into a multi-million dollar package.
This entry was posted in branding, Innovation, Marketing, Starting A Business and tagged Alberto perez, fitness brand, fitness branding, Zumba on April 2, 2018 by aeidson.
← Making A Movement: REI's #OptOutside Turns Branding into Meaningful Action Design Mindset: It's Bigger than You Think (and so is its Value) →


text:
Hedge Funds Are Selling Mitek Systems, Inc. (MITK)
Published on June 24, 2020 at 10:39 am by Debasis Saha in Hedge Funds, News
In this article we will check out the progression of hedge fund sentiment towards Mitek Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MITK) and determine whether it is a good investment right now. We at Insider Monkey like to examine what billionaires and hedge funds think of a company before spending days of research on it. Given their 2 and 20 payment structure, hedge funds have more incentives and resources than the average investor. The funds have access to expert networks and get tips from industry insiders. They also employ numerous Ivy League graduates and MBAs. Like everyone else, hedge funds perform miserably at times, but their consensus picks have historically outperformed the market after risk adjustments.
Is Mitek Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MITK) ready to rally soon? The best stock pickers are becoming less confident. The number of bullish hedge fund positions fell by 2 recently. Our calculations also showed that MITK isn't among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds (click for Q1 rankings and see the video for a quick look at the top 5 stocks).
Bruce Kovner of Caxton Associates LP
We leave no stone unturned when looking for the next great investment idea. For example Europe is set to become the world's largest cannabis market, so we check out this European marijuana stock pitch. We interview hedge fund managers and ask them about their best ideas. If you want to find out the best healthcare stock to buy right now, you can watch our latest hedge fund manager interview here. We read hedge fund investor letters and listen to stock pitches at hedge fund conferences. Our best call in 2020 was shorting the market when the S&P 500 was trading at 3150 after realizing the coronavirus pandemic's significance before most investors. Now we're going to take a glance at the key hedge fund action regarding Mitek Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MITK).
How have hedgies been trading Mitek Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MITK)?
At the end of the first quarter, a total of 17 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were long this stock, a change of -11% from the fourth quarter of 2019. By comparison, 21 hedge funds held shares or bullish call options in MITK a year ago. So, let's review which hedge funds were among the top holders of the stock and which hedge funds were making big moves.
According to publicly available hedge fund and institutional investor holdings data compiled by Insider Monkey, Stephen Perkins's Toronado Partners has the largest position in Mitek Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MITK), worth close to $15 million, amounting to 4.7% of its total 13F portfolio. The second most bullish fund manager is Blue Grotto Capital, managed by Ben Gordon, which holds a $11.6 million position; 8.5% of its 13F portfolio is allocated to the stock. Some other professional money managers with similar optimism encompass Constantinos J. Christofilis's Archon Capital Management, C. Jonathan Gattman's Cloverdale Capital Management and Peter A. Wright's P.A.W. CAPITAL PARTNERS. In terms of the portfolio weights assigned to each position Blue Grotto Capital allocated the biggest weight to Mitek Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MITK), around 8.49% of its 13F portfolio. Cloverdale Capital Management is also relatively very bullish on the stock, dishing out 8.01 percent of its 13F equity portfolio to MITK.
Due to the fact that Mitek Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MITK) has witnessed bearish sentiment from the smart money, we can see that there is a sect of hedgies that decided to sell off their positions entirely last quarter. Intriguingly, Peter Rathjens, Bruce Clarke and John Campbell's Arrowstreet Capital said goodbye to the largest stake of the 750 funds watched by Insider Monkey, worth close to $0.9 million in stock. Josh Goldberg's fund, G2 Investment Partners Management, also said goodbye to its stock, about $0.4 million worth. These transactions are important to note, as total hedge fund interest dropped by 2 funds last quarter.
Let's check out hedge fund activity in other stocks similar to Mitek Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MITK). These stocks are Surgery Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ:SGRY), Dorchester Minerals LP (NASDAQ:DMLP), HCI Group Inc (NYSE:HCI), and Lizhi Inc. (NASDAQ:LIZI). All of these stocks' market caps resemble MITK's market cap.
SGRY 10 30221 -1
DMLP 6 15276 1
HCI 10 21739 0
LIZI 1 355 1
Average 6.75 16898 0.25
As you can see these stocks had an average of 6.75 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $17 million. That figure was $63 million in MITK's case. Surgery Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ:SGRY) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Lizhi Inc. (NASDAQ:LIZI) is the least popular one with only 1 bullish hedge fund positions. Compared to these stocks Mitek Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MITK) is more popular among hedge funds. Our calculations showed that top 10 most popular stocks among hedge funds returned 41.4% in 2019 and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by 10.1 percentage points. These stocks gained 13.4% in 2020 through June 22nd but still managed to beat the market by 15.9 percentage points. Hedge funds were also right about betting on MITK, though not to the same extent, as the stock returned 23.5% in Q2 (through June 22nd) and outperformed the market as well.
Follow Mitek Systems Inc (NASDAQ:MITK)
Is MITK A Good Investment Right Now?Is MITK A Good Stock To Buy?NASDAQ:MITKYahoo Finance
Is Mitek Systems, Inc. (MITK) A Good Stock To Buy? Is Mitek Systems, Inc. (MITK) A Good Stock To Buy?
Is Mitek Systems, Inc. (MITK) A Good Stock To Buy? Is Mitek Systems, Inc. (MITK) Worthy of Your Portfolio?
Is Mitek Systems, Inc. (MITK) A Good Stock To Buy? Here's What Hedge Funds Think About Mitek Systems, Inc. (MITK)


text:
Denali's Aircraft Overflights Advisory Council
The Overflights Advisory Council developed pilot "best practices" recommendations for mitigating sound impacts from flights over the park.
NPS Photo
During a day in June, a pilot skims the sky approaching Kahiltna Pass, allowing sightseers stunning views of glaciers, ice ridges, and Denali (The Mountain). The pilot circles near the pass, and the plane engines churn with the climb to a safe crossing altitude. Below the plane, climbers at 11,000-foot Camp—acclimatizing before their push to the summit—are expecting a wilderness mountaineering experience in Denali National Park and Preserve. The experience is mostly characterized by silence, broken by the clip of carabiners and the trudge of boots.
This conflict is a park-management challenge.
The Denali National Park and Preserve Aircraft Overflights Advisory Council (Council) was established in 2007 to address such a situation. The group is charged with advising the National Park Service (NPS) on ways to (1) mitigate (reduce) sound impacts from aircraft flights over the park, (2) develop voluntary measures for assuring the safety of passengers, pilots, and mountaineers, and (3) achieve desired resource conditions at Denali as outlined in the Backcountry Management Plan (2006).
The Council wants to ensure that public safety is paramount for pilots, for mountain climbers who are flown to glaciers, and for park visitors who experience Denali by flightseeing.
Who is on the Council?
The 12 Council members appointed under the Federal Advisory Committee Act represent the diverse stakeholders involved in and/or affected by aviation in Denali. The composition of the Council carefully balances local, state, and national interests, as well as aviation and non-aviation constituencies. Council members represent these stakeholders:
General aviation (private pilots)
Scenic air tour operators
NPS-authorized commercial aviation
Other commercial aviation
National and state environmental community
Local environmental community
Backcountry users
Local landowners
Mountaineering/climbing community
The intrinsic values of the park include habitat and wildlife, scenic mountain landscapes, wilderness recreational opportunities, and other wilderness values.
How does the Council approach issues?
The Council provides a forum for ongoing dialogue among stakeholders. Through regular interaction, members become more familiar with the issues and learn to recognize the validity of differing views. The Council's focus on voluntary measures (rather than regulatory outcomes) provides more latitude to explore a variety of constructive solutions. The mutual respect earned among Council members influences outcomes in ways that are difficult to document, but nonetheless have reduced real and perceived user conflicts.
Overflights and backcountry landings are important parts of the range of visitor experiences in Denali and also facilitate park management activities.
How can the public participate?
The full Council meets formally several times a year, with public comment opportunities at each meeting. In addition, as needed, the Council assigns interested members and affected stakeholders to discussion or "roll up your sleeves" working groups. The Council 's formal recommendations typically follow a vetting process through the informal working groups. For example, the "Aviation Working Group" has been proactive in developing voluntary "best practices" to minimize noise impacts. Another group is discussing how to make these best practices more useful and readily available to non-local pilots. By moving forward in small increments, with ample time for testing and informal vetting, the Council has earned a measure of trust among members and public participants, facilitating increasingly collaborative discussions and solutions.
The Council's Challenge
To recommend ways to balance the needs of public safety, public use and access, with protection of the park's natural resources, wilderness, and soundscape values in a way that is fair and effective.
Acoustic monitoring helps document the sounds that can affect the natural soundscape and the quality of a visitor's park experience.
Best practices recommendations
The Denali Overflights Council has identified several sound-sensitive areas in the park where visitors engaged in ground activities (e.g., hiking, camping, climbing) conflict with visitors experiencing the park via air tours. To minimize these situations, the Council recommends several best practices to adjust flight patterns when safety permits.
For the example at Kahiltna Pass, where sounds from flightseeing aircraft may impact mountain climbers, the best practice for pilots planning to fly through Kahiltna Pass during the climbing season (late April to early July) is to (1) climb to a safe crossing altitude well before arriving at the Pass, and (2) avoid circling in the pass. This best practice minimizes the sound impact for climbers in the vicinity of the 11,000-foot camp.
In all best practice recommendations, the goal is to separate aircraft from ground-based park visitors to reduce sound impacts to them.
All recommended best practices are subject to the influence of weather, transient traffic operations, and pilot judgment, which may require that pilots deviate from these procedures for pilot and passenger safety.
The Council's recommendations are subject to refinement and revision as operational experience is gained and as new data are collected. Recommendations may be added for other areas as the Council's work progresses. Pilots are encouraged to stay informed of new or revised recommendations.
In addition to recommending best practices, the Council provides input to the NPS regarding the park's efforts to: acquire soundscape data; evaluate the effectiveness of the Council's overflight recommendations; educate the public about the sources of aircraft sound over the park (e.g., tourism, administrative, search and rescue, general aviation); and consider improved ways to meet desired conditions at Denali.
Tags: DENA denali fact sheet aircraft soundscape park management


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breaking featured top story
UPDATE: Sheriff's Office identifies man killed in shootout Friday night
By Leader staff
The man killed in a shootout with Jefferson County Sheriff's Office deputies Friday night (May 28) at a Cedar Hill-area home has been identified.
Sheriff Dave Marshak announced on his Twitter account today (May 29) that Anthony Legens, 36, of Cedar Hill was shot and killed. A member of the Sheriff's Office SWAT team also was shot in the incident, and he is currently recovering following surgery in an area hospital, the department reported.
The SWAT team member has not been identified, although Marshak said the deputy has been with the Sheriff's Office for the past six years.
Marshak also said a dead body was found in the home where the shootout occurred. He did not identify the body, but he wrote in a post on social media that the person was dead prior to Legens and deputies exchanging gunfire.
Legens was a "target" in at least one recent missing person case, and the Sheriff's Office SWAT team members and detectives found him at the home in the 8000 block of Lake Drive south of Cedar Hill where they went to serve a search warrant in connection with a missing person and possible homicide, Marshak reported.
Marshak said authorities were at the home on Lake Drive gathering information before Legens was aware of their presence. Sheriff's Office spokesman Grant Bissell said SWAT team members and detectives announced they were outside the home between about 9-9:30 p.m., and Legens allegedly started shooting at the deputies.
At about 10:45 p.m., the deputy was shot. The injury occurred about an hour into the exchange of gunfire, and the situation continued until the suspect was shot and killed, the Sheriff's Office said in a written statement.
"The suspect was actively trying to kill police officers this evening," Marshak said in a Facebook video. "He even shot at our armored vehicles."
The injured deputy's surgery concluded at about 5 a.m. today.
"Our deputy continues to improve after surgery and is in good spirits," Marshak wrote in a Twitter post.
The deputy had been struck in his lower extremities below his tactical vest.
"He is a SWAT officer, well trained," Marshak said the video. "He is a great officer. If anyone can pull through, I think he is going to be fine."
Marshak said in the video that he didn't know how many other deputies were involved in the incident.
Legens had numerous previous encounters with law enforcement officials and has pleaded guilty to a variety of offenses, including assault, felonious restraint, burglary, stealing, assaulting law enforcement officers, domestic assault, driving while intoxicated, possession of an illegal weapon and felony and misdemeanor drug charges, court records show.
He pleaded guilty at least eight times to felony or misdemeanor offenses since 2004, and he was scheduled to appear in court for at least two felony charges – a plea hearing June 15 for a class E felony persistent DWI charge, and an initial appearance scheduled for July 12 for a third-degree domestic assault charge, a class E felony, court records said.
In 2004, Legens pleaded guilty to felony and misdemeanor charges on at least four different occasions in Jefferson County. He had been sentenced to four years in prison for felony burglary and stealing charges stemming for a 2002 incident, and he also received a four-year sentence for felony possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor resisting arrest charges stemming from a 2004 incident, according to court documents.
Also in 2004, Legens pleaded guilty to misdemeanor trespassing, resisting arrest and property damage charges and was sentenced to 30 days in jail, and he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor leaving the scene of an accident, resisting arrest, unlawful possession of a weapon, DWI and driving with a revoked license, court records said.
In 2005, Legens pleaded guilty to a felony possession of a controlled substance charge as well as misdemeanor charges for possession of marijuana, driving with a revoked license and DWI in Franklin County after a 2004 incident. He was sentenced to four years in prison, court documents show.
In 2006, he pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges for assaulting law enforcement officials, while he was serving a four-year sentence. He was given a 120-day jail sentence that was served concurrently, or along with, the four-year sentence, court records said.
Also in 2006, Legens pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges for possession of marijuana, unlawful use of drug paraphernalia and driving with a revoked license in Franklin County. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail, and that sentence also was served with his four-year sentence, according to court records.
In 2017, Legens pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and felonious restraint, both class C felonies, following a 2015 incident in Herculaneum. He was sentenced to five years in prison, court records show.
Court documents do not indicate when or why he was released from the five-year prison sentence.
Legens
Shootout
Deputy Shot
Dave Marshak
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Downloadable Demo of Apex Construct now Available on Steam Plus the title has 50 percent off currently.
The Swedish studio today launched a free demo for the game on Steam. It supports the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Windows VR headsets and lets you play through the first level. That should help you get to grips with the game's first-person action gameplay. In Apex Construct, you explore a post-apocalyptic world ruled by warring AI factions. Using a trusty bow and arrow, you do battle with drones and solve puzzles.
To mark the demo's launch, the game is also 50% off on Steam this week, available for $14.99.
This demo arrives shortly after Fast Travel revealed Apex Construct sold the best on PSVR. A tweet from CEO last week confirmed that 58% of the game's sales have been on PSVR, with a further 23% on Steam. The Oculus Store took another 19%. PSVR has had a demo since May of last year which may have helped sales. It probably has something to do with the fact that Sony's headset is thought to have the largest install base across all major headsets, though. PSVR has shifted over three million units.
The post Free Apex Construct Demo Finally comes to Steam appeared first on UploadVR.
Applications are now Open to Join Digital Catapult's CreativeXR Programme Interested applicants have until 17 February 2019 to submit their proposals.
The post A Fisherman's Tale Review: A Perfect Storm Of VR Puzzling appeared first on UploadVR.
Review: A Fisherman's Tale A wonderful marriage of narrative and puzzles, that's just too short.
The post Watch Darth Maul Try His Hand At Beat Saber appeared first on VRScout.
Improve Your Game as vGolf's Mixed Reality Simulator Gains Patent Approval vGolf will debut it tech as part of the 2019 PGA Merchandise Show.


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Thelidium submethorium är en lavart som först beskrevs av Edvard Vainio och fick sitt nu gällande namn av Georg Hermann Zschacke.

Thelidium submethorium ingår i släktet Thelidium och familjen Verrucariaceae. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

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10 Books A Home checks in regularly with the parents in our program to hear how their child is progressing. It's a great opportunity to get feedback on our program and the impact our volunteer Role Models have in the home. Conferences are also a time for parents to practice talking about their children's educational progress (aka, educational talk).
Every conference offers families the opportunity to participate in an enriching community event the following month. For our May family event, we teamed up with Bing Nursery School at Stanford University to offer tickets to a production of Charlotte's Web. More than 250 tickets were requested by our families! In the coming months, we will offer a guided nature walk and a family picnic. In this way, we can encourage community and educational talk among enrolled and waitlisted families.
Nearly 100 Parent-Staff Conferences were conducted in April and yielded insightful parent feedback. From changes in habits at home, to advances in language development and preschool achievements, parents' testimony is a yard stick for the success of 10BH's Child-Parent Home Tutoring Program.


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All posts in Drive
Aston Martin's New Vantage Roadster
Top-down Approach
Featured in: Drive
Aspark's fully electric hypercar
Japanese car manufacturer Aspark has unveiled its new fully electric hypercar to rival other competitors in the automotive industry.
Porshe Taycan 4s
Power & Perfection
Aston Martin – Helicopter
An Aston Martin inspired helicopter could now be yours as the British car manufacturer partners with Airbus to develop the special edition ACH130 helicopter.
Fast & Fan-tastic
The forthcoming T.50 supercar from Gordon Murray Automotive and the Racing Point Formula One Team has a rear end dominated by a 400mm ground-effect fan, at the centre of its airflow management system.
The new competition inspired McLaren 620R is the road-legal version of the manufacturer's GT4 race car. As a limited-edition coupé of just 350, it evolves the competition spec McLaren 570S GT4 into a road car.
Featured in: Drive, Uncategorized
An Electric Drive
Lotus's all-electric drive capability of the Evija model is being put through its paces as the initial build phase goes underway in the UK. www.lotuscars.com
Commanding form
Bentley's new Flying Spur is streamlined, elegant and comfortable and is the most advanced Bentley ever built
The UK car manufacturer has pulled out all the stops with this new class of vehicle; technology is state-of-the-art, finish is modern and ultra-luxurious whilst the performance speaks for itself, with long-distance driving in mind. With exclusive four-door, limousine-style comfort, this is supreme Bentley craftsmanship, marking the third-generation marque Grand Tourer.
Giving up the Ghost
As the Rolls-Royce Ghost approaches the end of its remarkable 10-year tenure, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is offering collectors an extremely limited Zenith Collector's Edition of the Ghost. Just 50 Zeniths featuring the highest levels of bespoke ever seen on a Ghost Collection car will be available to celebrate the marque.
Drive: Rolls-Royce Dawn Black Badge
It's hard to believe there is a V12 twin turbo engine under the bonnet; I pushed the start button then thought I needed to call the RAC. Read more…
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Published every two months, International Property & Travel focuses on the finest homes, travel and lifestyle across the world.
From the most desirable houses in beautiful locations to the best destinations.
© 2021 International Property Media.


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1.61123022041E12
Arthur and the Invisibles
Comic Mischief
Arthur and the Invisibles is rated 5.0 out of 5 by 1.
Arthur is a young boy on vacation at his grandmother's house. While searching for a mys Read More
Arthur is a young boy on vacation at his grandmother's house. While searching for a mysterious lost treasure in the backyard, he stumbles upon the miniature world of the Invisibles. Arthur himself is transformed into an Invisible and soon meets two companions: Princess Selenia and her brother Betameche. With his two new friends, Arthur embarks upon an extraordinary adventure that is rich in surprise and intense action.
Play as all three main characters and succeed through the power of team work
Enjoy a wide variety of game-play styles, from action to puzzles to flying and more
Experience a seamless blend of gaming and film
Rated 5 out of 5 by Patraw from A fun WarioWare-like mini game collection Arthur and the Invisibles, based on the CG animated film of the same name, is a collection of mini games that you rapidly play, one after another, a la WarioWare. I appreciate when the developers of movie tie-in games do something unexpected and imaginative like this instead of a predictable sidescrolling platformer. The 2D graphics are fairly good, even if most of it seems to be clip art from the film, and the music, while not particularly memorable, is pleasant to the ears and suits the action. Altogether, there are 90 mini games, spread across 12 "stages", which you have to reach quotas on (i.e., clear 20-40 mini games back-to-back) to unlock the next stage. There's a fair amount of variety to the game designs; you'll be flicking, poking, rubbing, and sliding like mad with your stylus and doing a lot of blowing into the microphone too! Sadly, unlike WarioWare, there isn't any way to regain lives, which can make reaching those higher quotas pretty tricky to accomplish, as you only ever have three tries to do it with. And, even though you get a brief instructional prompt at the beginning of each mini game, sometimes it isn't very obvious what you actually need to do in order to succeed, but eventually you'll figure it out (and, once you've encountered a mini game, you unlock it for practice so that you can hone your skills). There's also a virtual pet. Every time you clear ten mini games, you're awarded with some food or furniture to use with your pet Mul-mul (they're little puffball things with wings). You can't do a lot with these virtual pets, just feed them, pet them, clean up their droppings, and change the decorations/furniture in their cage, but at least it's fairly easy/painless to do and they're pretty cute. If you loved WarioWare like me, then I strongly recommend this game to you, as it shamelessy copies Nintendo's entertaining creation and does it very well. Even if you haven't seen the Arthur and the Invisibles film, if you like mini game collections, you'll probably enjoy the hectic and varied challenges facing Arthur and his friends here. The virtual pet is only so-so, but it's an okay bonus mode that gives you incentive to keep playing the game after beating it in order to acquire more food and furniture for your pet Mul-muls.


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Ray Ban Erika
Their business is simple. They give suppliers the tools to reach customers around the world through an online platform. They provide customers a stop shop to review thousands on suppliers, order safely and track purchases online. Selenium is a naturally occurring element throughout the environment, the release of which can be accelerated by the mining process. If present in high enough quantities, it can negatively affect fish and other aquatic species. Teck's focus is on taking action now to ensure that selenium concentrations do not reach a level that impacts fish populations..
Only 38 percent of working Canadians have access to workplace pension plans. In the private sector only one in five Canadians has access to defined benefit pension plans, which are not transferable from one employer to another. Neither are they protected under present regulations.
He built engines for stock cars and also raced stock cars himself for many years. He enjoyed building and racing the stock cars with his son, Terry. He had a special relationship with Calumet Brass for over 40 years.. The Prime Time Games provides life changing opportunities to two underserved populations in the same high school by bringing them together in an alternative varsity model. Youth from low income neighborhoods (especially boys and young men of color) are often perceived as being in need of a mentor, but, through the Prime Time Games, they become a coach and mentor to a peer with a developmental disability. Together, the coaches and athletes compete in the only league of its kind in the country..
The two programs will provide training for up to 44 Aboriginal learners, 22 in the 21 week Personal Support Worker program and 22 in the six week Food Service Worker program. The programs will feature the services of an Elder, facilitators/instructors, program coordinators and regular monitors to provide assistance to learners. Meals and accommodations will be provided through the programs..
"We knew of Sasha's love for animals and we got the idea for the TCP after hearing she asked for donations of pet food for her birthday instead of gifts," said Beth Mumaw, one of the event coordinators along with Shrail Heinrich and Liz Cuneo. "She wanted the pet food donated to help animals at local rescue organizations. We hope others will see that this child is going through so much adversity and will think of her and hope they recognize her heart and love for pets.".
Judy was born in Fond du Lac, Wis. On March 23, 1950, a daughter of Corbin and Bernadine (Ludwig) Gerner. On March 1, 1969, she married Paul Schmitz at St. Maxx that are felony amounts. Felony amounts would include anything over a minimum of one thousand dollars. You can tell that at least one of the two are seen leaving wal mart with a desktop computer.
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World Bank raises 2016 oil price forecast
For oil companies $110 billion debt wall looms over next 5 years
SM Energy to buy Midland basin firm for $980 million
A 'New World Order' is re-shaping natural gas storage
Global glut keeps oil under pressure
Crude slump sees oil majors' debt burden double to $138 bn
U.S. states signed pact to keep Exxon climate probe confidential
Newfield signs agreements to sell its Texas assets for nearly $390 million
Norway's Statoil sheds Marcellus shale acreage
Transocean buying Transocean Partners in $1.6bn deal
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KIC-1 test well in Arctic refuge remains mystery
The hood of Karl Brower's parka is trimmed with the nut-brown pelt of a wolverine. He trapped and skinned it. Its yellow claws cradle his chin and rattle in the bitter wind. For 40 years, the Inupiat hunter -- caribou in the summer, bowhead whale in the fall -- has chipped a scant living from this place, much closer to the North Pole than his nation's capital.
Right now, Brower is pondering a question, squinting into the gloom that poses as high noon during the Arctic winter. "It's out there," he mutters. He scans the same treeless, frozen frontier -- The White -- that some industrialists and politicians scornfully compare to a blank sheet of paper, ripe for oil exploration.
"I worked it," he says, recollecting the date. "19... 1985." Brower straddles his snowmobile. He wedges a Marlboro into a jaw that once held several teeth. In minus-30-degree weather, he flicks his lighter with a bare thumb. Can he still find it? Brower puffs for a moment.
"Let's go," he declares. And without another word, Brower roars into The White in search of the biggest mystery in a 19-mm-acre unknown -- the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. It's an iron pipe, said to be sticking six feet out of the permafrost, the top of a 3-mile deep shaft. Or more correctly, the mystery is what may be down the pipe. The pipe marks the only oil well ever drilled into the bedrock beneath the refuge. Discovering how much oil is at the bottom could determine whether more drilling is permitted.
KIC-1, the test well is called. It was drilled into the coastal plain southeast of Kaktovik. 260, Brower's hometown and the easternmost native village on Alaska's North Slope. The for-profit Kaktovik Inupiat owns land within the refuge. Sixteen years ago, they leased it to Chevron and BP for a test bore.
Exploration geologists, aided by labourers such as Brower, augured into the underlying sandstone. On April 24, 1986, according to state court documents, they reached a depth of 15,193 feet at a cost of $ 40 mm. Then they quit. The oil companies capped the well and dismantled the wooden drilling platform.
Eventually the tundra healed.
The companies won't discuss what they found at the bottom of KIC-1. Seawater? Mud? Gas? Oil? Ten years ago, Chevron won a lawsuit upholding KIC-1's confidentiality. It remains a secret.
"Only a handful of people know what's down the KIC well," said BP spokesman Ronnie Chappell. "They've never talked about it. I'm not even sure who they are." No single well can characterize an oil field's potential, but that's no longer the point. KIC-1 has become the stuff of myth in a state that was born amid legends of gold and cold.
"KIC-1 is the only direct data from the subsurface of ANWR," said Catherine Hanks, a research geologist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. "Those companies have one more piece to the puzzle, a piece that nobody else has. Everybody else is guessing." Rarely has such a fundamental political battle been waged with so little information.
In January, the National Academy ofSciences appointed a panel to investigate the impact of Alaskan oil and gas development. The rest of the scientific data -- much of it nearly 20 years old -- is as sparse as the tundra itself.
In 1984-85, a private seismic survey in a section of the coastal plain known as Area 1002 mapped a grid that researchers crisscrossed in tracked vehicles. Working in six-mile squares, they fired explosive charges into the permafrost and measured the return of the seismic waves. The results were intriguing, but not conclusive.
"We did the whole thing from the bottom to the top," said Anchorage geologist Arlen Ehm, who directed the survey. It showed the coastal plain is split diagonally by a steep underground ridge known as the Marsh Creek anticline. It runs from the foothills of the Brooks Range to the sea near Kaktovik.
Three-quarters of the available oil was believed to be southeast of the anticline in a zone riddled with complex faults, folds and subterranean dead ends that split the oil-bearing layers into two dozen deposits, or "traps." Most seemed small and difficult to tap, but two or three traps appeared to be Saudi-sized -- big enough to hold billions of barrels of petroleum, though there is no direct proof that they contain any. The KIC-1 well is said to have been drilled into one of these.
Ehm believes the refuge is an oily place. He's seen it seep to the surface in small, black pools. "It could produce for 25 years," he predicts. "But I'm also a scientist. If it isn't there, you plug the wells and move on." By now, Ehm believed he would have earned his fortune selling the survey's details like a treasure map.
"I never thought I'd be sitting here 20 years later still talking about what might be there," he laments. What about KIC-1? Just rumours at the Petroleum Club bar, Ehm replies. "Everybody still wants to know." Without new studies, the US Geological Survey began recrunching the original seismic data in 1995 using more powerful computers and applying new theories about oil geology.
The results are startling. The USGS now believes 85 % of the refuge's petroleum reserve exists northwest of the anticline, not southeast. The agency estimates that between 3.4 bn and 10.2 bn barrels of oil are technically recoverable there. Assuming an oil price of $ 20 per barrel, the USGS estimates there is a 95 % chance that least 3.2 bn barrels could be pumped profitably.
President Bush's Energy Department has suggested the total refuge reserves could be even higher -- 16 bn barrels. And yet the president himself last week acknowledged for the first time that he may not be able to drill for it. "I think it's important for us to open up ANWR. Whether or not the Congress sees it that way is another matter," Bush said.
Environmentalists contend the Arctic refuge's oil is a puny stash: Not enough to satisfy the nation's demand for a year. That's not a fair trade for spoiling the "biological heart" of the refuge, said Deborah Williams of the Alaska Conservation Foundation. Williams, a former Interior Department adviser to President Clinton, cautiously endorses new coastal oil fields to the west, hoping to keep the refuge pristine.
"Some places should be kept as they were created," she says. "In 10,000 years, I hope the refuge looks as it did 10,000 years ago." KIC-1 is a dry hole, she believes. Oil companies, she suggests, perpetuate its mystery to whet the appetite of Congress and the public. "I simply refuse to believe that if there is a huge amount of oil it could be kept secret," she says.
Pressure on the refuge is mounting, even if information isn't. In late March, nearly 500 scientists signed a letter urging President Bush to protect the refuge's 200 wildlife species and drop exploration plans. Also last month, a USGS contract worker, Ian Thomas, was fired for posting a map on a government Web site of calving areas on the coastal plain for the enormous Porcupine caribou herd. Officials said the map was outdated.
In Alaska, where university research is partially funded by oil money, even wildlife biologists say they cannot afford to categorically oppose drilling. "Drilling holds the potential to do great environmental harm to one of the world's last great undisturbed ecosystems," said R. Terry Bowyer of the Institute of Arctic Biology. "It's a very localized area every year that is suitable to calve and the caribou have to reach it." "But," Boywer said, "is there a way to drill into the refuge horizontally? If they could come into it from the side, I think you would see a lot of the scientific objections disappear." Karl Brower finds it difficult to imagine the arrival of such technology in his backyard.
Off his snowmobile now, he stands on the tundra. The Inupiat hunter has found the KIC-1 well, 13 miles southeast of Kaktovik. He nailed it by memory in 30 minutes, skimming through The White. Frost encrusts the pipe. Somebody crudely soldered the well's name and cap date on the iron. He traces the lumpy tattoo with his bare finger.
Someday this expanse could be punctured with 100 more wells. Working at KIC-1 was one of the few times Brower has punched a time clock. "I did it for the money," he snorts. Today, snowmobile fuel costs $ 3 per gallon. A pack of cigarettes costs $ 6.
Round-trip airfare to Fairbanks: $ 700. Brower leans against the pipe, staring into his own past and the refuge's future -- into The White, and into the Green. Like everyone else in the refuge debate, Brower has more questions than answers. Does he support more drilling? He shrugs.
"Only if it doesn't hurt the caribou." BP has had three significant spills at Prudhoe Bay since January. The Northern Alaska Environmental Centre says similar spills in the refuge could be devastating to sensitive species. Would Brower work here again? He frowns at his cigarette. "Maybe."
Source: HoustonChronicle.com


3 Bedrooms house for sale in Charroux - £114609 (Ref: AP2187823).
This house is packed with a lifetime of collecting and memories, which means you could be forgiven for not seeing what a marvellous home this would be and also the detail and passion that has gone into this home since the current owners became her owners in 2008. A nicely sized 3-bedroom property with a beautifully private garden, set in a small hamlet, but only 5kms from the centre of Charroux and 6kms from Civray town centre; giving you tranquillity with accessibility on one very competitively priced package.
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