text:
Clearwater election could clinch — or kill — downtown amphitheater
Candidates for City Council disagree on whether the waterfront should feature a 4,000-seat amphitheater.
CLEARWATER — Bill Jonson has never been one for dramatics in more than three decades of local activism and four terms on the City Council.
He carries annotated binders to back up his arguments and voices his positions at a decibel that would suit a monastery.
But Jonson's words drew cheers and an "Amen" from the crowd at a recent mayoral election forum. There, he condemned the council's decision last April to add a boutique amphitheater to the design for the downtown waterfront's revitalized park.
An amphitheater won't save the long-struggling downtown, Jonson said. And it's not what residents signed up for when they gave their blessing in a 2017 referendum to allow the city to build on the charter-protected bluff.
Related: VOTER'S GUIDE: Where the candidates for mayor, City Council stand on nine issues
A drone photo of Coachman Park is seen Sunday, Feb. 9 in Clearwater. Plans call for a covered amphitheater that would take up much of the park currently devoted to green space. [ LUIS SANTANA | Times ]
"You might say it was municipal malpractice, that it changed the scope of the park," he told about 100 people in a hall at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. The moment highlighted one of the biggest issues looming over the March 17 city election.
The outcome of three City Council races will determine the shape of Imagine Clearwater, the city's most ambitious attempt in decades to bring life to the depressed downtown.
Related: Imagine Clearwater amphitheater cost is 'scary,' but city still plans to build it
Could the amphitheater proposed as one of its signature features be the wow-factor that lifts downtown to Tampa Bay's cultural stage? Or is it just an expensive, shiny object that flies in the face of the green space-centric park many residents envisioned?
Three of the four mayoral candidates oppose the covered concert venue added to the design by the council at the urging of Ruth Eckerd Hall. The nine hopefuls running for two other council seats have varying stances, from charging ahead to nixing the amphitheater entirely.
With two sitting council members firmly in support of the amphitheater, the math is clear: Whoever is elected to the remaining three seats will determine how the project proceeds.
Almost a year after Clearwater residents voted to allow general "construction and maintenance" on the waterfront, then-Ruth Eckerd Hall President and CEO Zev Buffman met with each Clearwater City Council member about a big idea.
It was September 2018, and Imagine Clearwater was already a massive undertaking of 22 city-owned acres. It included a $50 million redesign of Coachman Park and the nearby library, a winding trail overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway, a garden and a gateway plaza with a splash pad — all surrounded by retail and residential projects. But Buffman felt the city was missing a major opportunity.
This photograph, taken Feb. 11 from the Clearwater Memorial Causeway Bridge, shows Cleveland Street, just south of Coachman Park and east of the Clearwater Harbor Marina. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
Officials had to think bigger when it came to the proposed Coachman Park concert venue, Buffman reasoned. The biggest acts wouldn't perform at an uncovered, slightly expanded version of the existing bandshell. But that's what the early Imagine Clearwater plans called for.
The City Council responded by putting Imagine Clearwater on hold for six months while a consultant studied the amphitheater's merits. The city paid consultant Duncan Webb $41,000 for his analysis, which concluded 3,000 covered seats would be sufficient. Buffman still pushed for 4,000, arguing anything smaller would compete with city-owned Ruth Eckerd Hall seven miles to the east.
In April 2019, council members voted unanimously to support the larger amphitheater. In November, they decided to issue $30 million in city bonds to help pay for it. Last month, after a second study by Webb found the venue would cost at least $2 million a year to operate and finance, the council reaffirmed its commitment to the amphitheater.
The amphitheater issue is perhaps most pronounced in the mayor's race. Frank Hibbard, the well-connected former mayor running again for his old job, also chairs the Ruth Eckerd Hall board.
In September 2018, Hibbard and Ruth Eckerd Hall vice president Bobby Rossi accompanied Buffman in his private meetings with each council member to advocate for the covered amphitheater.
Hibbard still stands behind the need for a bigger venue.
"If anybody wants downtown Clearwater to be more of a success, you have to bring a few more people down there to help support the businesses," Hibbard said. "If you just want to give up on downtown Clearwater, then just scrap the park and put some walking trails and some playground equipment and a little stage and call it a day."
A view of Clearwater Harbor at sunset on Tuesday from the Clearwater Memorial Causeway Bridge. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
Hibbard's concern is taxpayer money. He does not believe Webb used accurate data to calculate operating costs. If the final design and fiscal analysis confirm excessive costs, Hibbard said he would not back the amphitheater.
Related: In Clearwater, a new campaign pitch: City Council needs diversity
The other candidates for mayor — lawyer and environmental activist Elizabeth "Sea Turtle" Drayer and small business owner Morton Myers — have echoed Jonson's support for the smaller scale idea in the original plan.
"I think it overwhelms the green space," Drayer said. "I think it's going to change the nature of the park. I think it's going to be expensive to build and maintain."
In the four-way race for council Seat 3, Bob Cundiff, who is running for a second term, has defended his vote to add the amphitheater. The green space will remain with the gardens, splash pads, ponds and a gazebo, he said.
Bud Elias, owner of an insurance brokerage firm who is running for Seat 3, also said the amphitheater could be an economic engine, bringing businesses to empty storefronts surrounding the park. "There aren't too many chances left in our drawer of possibilities to re-energize downtown," he said.
But Kathleen Beckman, also running to unseat Cundiff, says the city should scale back the amphitheater "to offset any need for additional funding" and incorporate solar and energy-efficient designs.
Scott Thomas, the final candidate for Seat 3, wants to see residents vote directly on the amphitheater in another referendum.
Related: Clearwater's six election referendum questions, explained
In the race for the open Seat 2, Lina Teixeira, a downtown business owner who served on the Downtown Development Board, has said she supports the amphitheater.
Mark Bunker, a longtime critic of the Church of Scientology, said the price tag is too high without knowing if Scientology intends to sabotage the city's efforts by squatting on nearly 100 downtown retail properties bought since 2017 by companies tied to the church.
City officials say Scientology leader David Miscavige told them in January that he doesn't know anything about the properties. The church has not taken a public stand on Imagine Clearwater or the amphitheater, but city officials said Miscavige reacted positively when they showed him renderings of the plan.
An eastward view of Cleveland Street in downtown Clearwater on Tuesday. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
Three other candidates for Seat 2 — small business owner Mike Mannino, former Pinellas Sheriff's Office technician Eliseo Santana and attorney Bruce Rector — all want to see the city's plans for the amphitheater slowed until officials gather more information.
Mannino wants to see the city hold listening sessions with the public.
"The citizens voted to renovate, but I don't believe what they thought they were voting for is part of this (plan)," Mannino said.
The city hosted seven town halls in 2016, and that feedback formed the Imagine Clearwater master plan that envisioned a simple band shell and green space park. And at a series of community meetings in December, the city showed residents early Imagine Clearwater renderings with the updated concert venue.
Residents were asked to fill out a survey that asked how they felt about various aspects of the plans on a scale of 1 to 3. The amphitheater scored a 2.3.
March won't be the last time voters weigh in on the direction of Imagine Clearwater.
The plan calls for retail and residential projects to border the park to bring residents, shoppers and tourists downtown. Because some of that land is protected by the city charter, Clearwater would need voter approval to sell or lease two key parcels to developers.
Assistant City Manager Michael Delk, who is in charge of Imagine Clearwater, said adding new mixed-use developments near the park is nothing short of "critical" to the project's success. The city is about to start soliciting ideas for the properties from developers. The referendum on potential redevelopment plans could come as soon as November.
If the city continues to advance the amphitheater without adequate public input, it risks losing the next all-or-nothing referendum, Jonson said.
"If you want a partnership with the public," he said, "you need to involve them in the process."
2020 CLEARWATER CITY ELECTIONS
City voters will decide three City Council races and six ballot referendums. Here's what voters need to know:
MAIL BALLOTS: To request one, send an email to mailballot@votepinellas.com or call (727) 464-8683. The deadline to request a mail ballot is March 7 at 5 p.m.
EARLY VOTING: Runs from March 7-15. Weekday early voting is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Weekend hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. To find locations, go to votepinellas.com.
ELECTION DAY: March 17. Polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
VOTER'S GUIDE: The Tampa Bay Times asked the 13 candidates to respond to nine questions. Here's where they stand on the issues.
Up next:Clearwater candidates featured at this week's election forums
Kirby Wilson
Tallahassee Correspondent
Tracey McManus
Clearwater and Scientology Reporter


text:
Deinococcus cellulosilyticus sp. nov., isolated from air
Hang-Yeon Weon1, Byung-Yong Kim2, Peter Schumann3, Jung-A Son1, Jaeseon Jang4, Seung-Joo Go2, Soon-Wo Kwon2
Affiliations: 1 1Applied Microbiology Division, National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, Rural Development Administration, Suwon 441-707, Republic of Korea 2 2Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (KACC), Microbial Genetics Division, National Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Rural Development Administration, Suwon 441-707, Republic of Korea 3 3DSMZ – Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen, Inhoffenstrasse 7b, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany 4 4Department of Food and Nutrition, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon 506-799, Republic of Korea
CorrespondenceSoon-Wo Kwon
[email protected]
A pink-coloured bacterial strain, 5516J-15T, was isolated from an air sample from Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. The organism was found to have resistance to UV radiation typical of members of the genus Deinococcus, and it was placed within the radiation of the Deinococcus on a phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. Strain 5516J-15T shared low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (84.5–87.8 %) with Deinococcus species, showing highest sequence similarity to Deinococcus deserti VCD115T (87.8 %) and Deinococcus indicus Wt/1aT (87.8 %). Strain 5516J-15T had type A3β peptidoglycan with l-ornithine, menaquinone 8 (MK-8) as the major quinone and iso-C12 : 0, anteiso-C13 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and C16 : 0 as the major fatty acids. Its polar lipid profile contained three unknown aminophospholipids, two unknown polar lipids, one unknown phospholipid and one unknown glycolipid. The DNA G+C content of strain 5516J-15T was 61.3 mol%. Based on the phylogenetic and phenotypic data presented, it is proposed that the unknown strain should be classified within a novel species in the genus Deinococcus with the name Deinococcus cellulosilyticus sp. nov. The type strain is 5516J-15T (=KACC 11606T =DSM 18568T).
Brooks, B. W. & Murray, R. G. E. ( 1981; ). Nomenclature for "Micrococcus radiodurans" and other radiation-resistant cocci: Deinococcaceae fam. nov. and Deinococcus gen. nov., including five species. Int J Syst Bacteriol 31, 353–360.[CrossRef]
Gregersen, T. ( 1978; ). Rapid method for distinction of Gram-negative from Gram-positive bacteria. Eur J Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 5, 123–127.[CrossRef]
Groth, I., Schumann, P., Weiss, N., Martin, K. & Rainey, F. A. ( 1996; ). Agrococcus jenensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a new genus of actinomycetes with diaminobutyric acid in the cell wall. Int J Syst Bacteriol 46, 234–239.[CrossRef]
Hirsch, P., Gallikowski, C. A., Siebert, J., Peissl, K., Kroppenstedt, R. M., Schumann, P., Stackebrandt, E. & Anderson, R. ( 2004; ). Deinococcus frigens sp. nov., Deinococcus saxicola sp. nov., and Deinococcus marmoris sp. nov., low temperature and draught-tolerating, UV-resistant bacteria from continental Antarctica. Syst Appl Microbiol 27, 636–645.[CrossRef]
Kumar, S., Tamura, K. & Nei, M. ( 2004; ). mega3: integrated software for molecular evolutionary genetics analysis and sequence alignment. Brief Bioinform 5, 150–163.[CrossRef]
Kwon, S. W., Kim, J. S., Park, I. C., Yoon, S. H., Park, D. H., Lim, C. K. & Go, S. J. ( 2003; ). Pseudomonas koreensis sp. nov., Pseudomonas umsongensis sp. nov. and Pseudomonas jinjuensis sp. nov., novel species from farm soils in Korea. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 53, 21–27.[CrossRef]
Minnikin, D. E., O'Donnell, A. G., Goodfellow, M., Alderson, G., Athalye, M., Schaal, A. & Parlett, J. H. ( 1984; ). An integrated procedure for the extraction of bacterial isoprenoid quinones and polar lipids. J Microbiol Methods 2, 233–241.[CrossRef]
Smibert, R. M. & Krieg, N. R. ( 1994; ). Phenotypic characterization. In Methods for General and Molecular Bacteriology, pp. 607–654. Edited by P. Gerhardt, R. G. E. Murray, W. A. Wood & N. R. Krieg. Washington, DC: America Society for Microbiology.
Thompson, J. D., Higgins, D. G. & Gibson, T. J. ( 1994; ). clustal w: improving the sensitivity of progressive multiple sequence alignment through sequence weighting, position-specific gap penalties and weight matrix choice. Nucleic Acids Res 22, 4673–4680.[CrossRef]
[PDF file of Supplementary Figs S1 and S2](43 KB)
Supplementary Table S1. Fatty acid compositions of strain 5516J-15 Tand type strains of related species. [PDF](36 KB)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
General Lorenz may refer to:

Karl Lorenz (1904–1964), German Panzer Division major general
Stephen R. Lorenz (born 1951), U.S. Air Force four-star general
Werner Lorenz (1891–1974), German Waffen-SS general
Wilhelm Lorenz (1894–1943), German Wehrmacht major general

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Concert Review: The National + The Antlers at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington D.C.
The conclusion of Sunday night's The National show made me reminisce about the old days – as have the past few years when dealing with the indie music world. I had just seen two amazing bands play to an energetic and sold-out crowd of 3,700 people at DAR Constitution Hall in DC. Both bands were amazing, their sets near flawless. But, I was constantly reminded of the first time I saw The National and just how much things have changed since them.
My first experience with the band was more chance than anything – seeing them play to a half capacity crowd of about 150 people as the opening band for Ambulance LTD. I knew who they were at the time but hadn't truly fallen for them until seeing their forty-five minute set.
Fast forward to Sunday night. I sat in a beautiful, historic, yet just plain odd venue. There were what appeared to be man's first attempt at luxury boxes in front of me, named for the fifty states, which were basically knee-level walls with five fancy chairs crammed in. It was dark, and unmarked, prompting fellow concert goer/SIC consultant Tyrus Manuel to remark, "If I had a dollar for every confused hipster I've seen tonight, I'd be a rich man." Very true. And the lights going down, prompting everyone to rush in, only added to the problem.
The Antlers took the stage, and I was more than excited given they released the best album of 2009 with Hospice. I had heard mixed reviews of their live show, and after experiencing it, can almost see where why some have panned it. I couldn't agree less, but I maybe understand a little.
Anyone coming into the set expecting to hear songs played in a familiar fashion would be in for a rude awakening. Their set contained only songs from Hospice from what I can tell, but they were completely altered, arranged with completely new music but familiar lyrics. Fast songs from the album were played a bit slower and on the contrary, slow songs were given a punch and made into the rockers of the evening. Acoustic guitars were replaced with vocal chants, screams with whispers. And quiet moments burned out after a few minutes of feedback and fuzz.
Peter Silberman's voice actually sounded better than when produced on record, and when combined with the new musical direction, it was like hearing an entire set of brand new music, but I was able to sing along to every word. I can only hope that the musical parts we heard will be used on their next album, and if that is the case, I can understand why they put so much effort into crafting the stage show they gave us.
I, honest to god, was a bit worried I'd be walking out disappointed after The National set after being completely blown away by The Antlers.
But that was all just complete silliness once The National took the stage, accompanied by a keyboardist/violinist, trumpeter, and trombone player, launching quickly into "Runaway" off of their latest LP, High Violet. I quickly noticed how amazing the sound was, and I'm still not sure if it was the venue, or the band's attention to detail, given their sound tech paced back and forth around the top tier, listening to the output of each loudspeaker.
The show progressed, and they started "Bloodbuzz Ohio," which is one of those perfect live songs that allows the audience to sing the song then freak out at the end when things get loud. And while watching frontman Matt Berninger a few songs later during "Squalor Victoria," I started to notice how he would quickly go from awkwardly standing upright patting his hands on his legs, to yelling into his microphone hunched over with his back to the crowd. And when I mean yell, I mean freaking yell – the words "squalor Victoria" seemed to echo even after the song was over.
And that intensity persisted. Berninger literally left the stage during the opening portion of "Abel" only to return and hop into the crowd, yelling, "My mind's not right!" with the help of the audience that had surrounded him. He then climbed over people and seats to the back of the crowd, still yelling the same lyrics over and over. I began to wonder how his voice would hold up at the end of the night.
The encore gave us a gift in "Karen," that was literally introduced as a present since it's a song they rarely play. But for me, it was the only letdown of the show, and I really don't even know why. It sounded off – it was sung in a hurried fashion, and the music was lacking something that it once contained, even with the addition of horns and strings.
There would be no question of Matt Berninger's vocal abilities after the audience-aided choral shouting match that was "Abel" once "Mr. November" kicked off. He once again took off into the crowd, but this time climbing into the upper bowl of the auditorium, armed with what has to be the longest mic chord in the world. He made his way from section to section, embracing groups of people while yelling, "I won't fuck us over – I'm Mr. November" with each passing row. People rushed out of their seats and ran toward him. He wove his way to them, and repeated his call until the band ended things yards away on stage.
And as the band regrouped minutes later, they threw down what was the highlight of the evening for me, "Terrible Love." Being one of those songs that builds, gets louder and more emotional as it progresses, it seemed to draw in all of the energy of the evening, culminating in a blistering wall of guitar, vocals, strings, horns, cymbals, lights, and cheering. It was one of those rock moments you don't want to end, knowing it will be what you remember most from the evening.
And it remains my moment of the evening, while the overriding theme ultimately comes down to change. From stage presence, to depth of sound, to crowd size, The National is only the same band by name. And in this case, unlike some of their now-huge peers, change is more than welcomed.
Set List:
Mistaken for Strangers
Anyone's Ghost
Bloodbuzz Ohio
Squalor Victoria
Afraid of Everyone
Little Faith
All the Wine
Apartment Story
Geese of Beverley Road
Daughters of the Soho Riots
Fake Empire
Lemonworld
Terrible Love
About Today
Tags: Concert, Review, The Antlers, The National


It's hard to believe that after almost two years of wondering what the hell happened to Daenerys's ice dragon, how Jon Snow will find out about his real lineage, or all the million other questions we had at the end of Game of Thrones season seven, we will soon be getting answers. In fact, it's so hard to believe that we almost don't believe it. Jimmy Fallon and the rest of The Tonight Show crew is with us in wondering, "How long must we f*cking wait for Game of Thrones?"
In a hilarious and brutally realistic late-night skit, Lord of House Fallon exclaims, "Winter has come and gone, and Winter has come and gone again, and now 'tis Spring and one thing is clear: shorts weather is coming." The cast jokes about having no new shows to watch, and they even point out that if the show never starts, it can never end.
Sean Bean, also known as the late Ned Stark, popped in to Rockefeller Center to remind the uneasy council members to be patient. "The premiere is coming, but until then, we mustn't lose our heads," Bean quips in the clip. Watch the video above to see what George RR Martin also said about the end of the beloved show.


It's not Google that is buying Twitch. Amazon has agreed to buy the the most popular video game streaming website for $970 million.
Today, I'm pleased to announce we've been acquired by Amazon. We chose Amazon because they believe in our community, they share our values and long-term vision, and they want to help us get there faster. We're keeping most everything the same: our office, our employees, our brand, and most importantly our independence. But with Amazon's support we'll have the resources to bring you an even better Twitch.
I agree Mellexx. Google would merge it with YouTube and Microsoft would make it an Xbox service. The worst would be Facebook.
Poll YouTube Gaming - Is it better than Twitch?


text:
Economics New Zealand
Take advice? Moi?
Most years - they skipped 2016 - the OECD comes out with one of its Going For Growth reports. They're a big thing for the OECD: its Director General says that "Going for Growth is the OECD's flagship publication on structural policies. Its purpose is to help policymakers set reform agendas for the wellbeing of their citizens and to achieve strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth".
Don't know why they bother, frankly, if New Zealand's reactions are typical. We give the reports close to zero coverage in the media, and our governments sleepwalk on, taking too little heed of the OECD's advice. From time to time we do some patchwork or catch-up improvements, but rarely if ever deal to the issues properly. All of the recommendations in the 2013 version, for example, were still there in the 2015 one (if you want to see previous years, they're here).
And that's a real shame, because if you're in New Zealand's position, where we seem to be doing quite a lot of good things but getting little payoff by way of faster productivity growth, you'd think that we would be lapping up informed ideas on how to get more traction.
So, what are they saying we should do?
The OECD's got two approaches. One is a "what everyone should do" piece, which you can read here, and the other is a country-specific piece, which for New Zealand is here.
At the "everyone" level, the OECD has a long shopping list, some of which don't apply a lot to us, because - while we've still things left undone - we did a pretty good reform job in the Eighties and Nineties. But some do, and I was especially interested in their recommendations on infrastructure. As I've mentioned before, we're currently chronically unable to roll out enough infrastructure in good time: the OECD says that
The most direct contribution of policy to growth of the whole-economy capital stock comes from public investment and recent empirical work suggests a large positive effect on productivity. Solving infrastructure bottlenecks, such as those in transport, can also contribute to stronger labour utilisation, through enhanced labour mobility, and to better environment protection, through lower carbon emissions. Considering the post-crisis fall of government investment as a share of GDP...and the current macroeconomic context, enhancing core public capital, and in particular the capacity and regulation of infrastructure, is a priority for both member and non-member countries.
Everything we do (and we're not alone in this) is a dollar short and at least a decade late, and I have a strong suspicion that it's one of the bigger reasons for our relatively poor productivity performance by international standards (have a look here). With financing costs at historically low levels, we ought to be getting on with it in any event, but it would be nice to think that the OECD's advice will give a further rark up to the government's Budget plans on the infrastructure spend.
For New Zealand, the shopping list is:
Reduce barriers to FDI [foreign direct investment] and trade and to competition in network sectors
Improve housing policies [a new one added since the 2015 report, and no surprise given what's happened to house prices]
Reduce educational underachievement among specific groups
Improve health sector efficiency and outcomes among specific groups
Raise effectiveness of R&D support
There are detailed policy recommendations under each of the headings. On housing, for example, the report says by way of preface that "Reducing the scope for vested interests to thwart land rezoning and development that is in the public interest would result in greater agglomeration economies and housing affordability, which would disproportionately benefit lower-income households", and it says we should
Implement the Productivity Commission's recommendations on improving urban planning, including: adopting different regulatory approaches for the natural and built environments; making clearer government's priorities concerning land use regulation and infrastructure provision; making the planning system more responsive in providing key infrastructure; adopting a more restrained approach to land regulation; strengthening local and central government emphasis on rigorous analysis of policy options and planning proposals; implementing pricing to reduce urban road congestion; and diversifying urban infrastructure funding sources.
That's a pretty good summary of the choke points - each of us might emphasise one rather than another, but they're all there - and of what to do to relieve them, and the same goes for their other detailed recommendations.
But our track record on responding quickly and fully is, sadly, poor. Oscar Wilde said he could resist anything except temptation: New Zealand governments can take anything except advice.
Postscript (March 24): Michael Reddell has also written about this latest Going for Growth report in his post, 'What does the OECD really have to offer us?'. As his title suggests, he's less enthused about the OECD's ideas. And that's okay: opinions make markets.
Posted by Donal Curtin at 10:39
Labels: housing market, infrastructure, New Zealand economy
Welcome to my economics blog
"The remarkable thing about economics is that once you've been exposed to the big ideas, they begin to show up everywhere … Economics offers insight into wealth, poverty, gender relations, the environment, discrimination, politics...How could that possibly not be interesting?" - Charles Wheelan, Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science, 2002
"The market system is like democracy. It is the worst form of economy, except for all the others that have been tried from time to time. It succeeds because ... it admits variety and permits criticism. We should cheer it because it solves some all-but-intractable problems, which have been tackled by none of the alternative forms of economic organization. It generates wealth. It alleviates poverty. But it has its limits. There are things it cannot do. It does not necessarily do even what it is supposed to; it works only if it is well designed. Two cheers are enough" - John McMillan, Reinventing the Bazaar: A natural history of markets, 2002
"And if there's one thing we've learned about flawed markets, it's that people flee from them, either physically or by resorting to back channels and black markets. Either way, flawed markets can undermine not just communities but whole nations" - Alvin Roth, Who Gets What - and Why, 2015
"More than ever, the ideals of reason, science, humanism, and progress need a wholehearted defense...Problems are solvable. That does not mean that they will solve themselves, but it does mean that we can solve them if we sustain the benevolent forces of modernity that have allowed is to solve problems so far, including societal prosperity, wisely regulated markets, international governance, and investments in science and technology" - Stephen Pinker, Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism and Progress, 2018
"Economic controversy is generally a thankless task. You cannot hope to make any impression on your opponent. Yet he is the only reader on whose interest you can count" - Francis Ysidro Edgeworth, Economic Journal, 1898
"...microeconomics concerns thing economists are specifically wrong about, while macroeconomics concerns things economists are wrong about generally" - P J O'Rourke, Eat the Rich: A Treatise on Economics, 1998
"There is some evil genius which sits at the elbow of every economist, forcing him into all sorts of contorted and unnecessary complications" - John Maynard Keynes, letter to Roy Harrod, August 1935
"For the rational study of the law the blackletter man may be the man of the present, but the man of the future is the man of statistics and the master of economics" - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Harvard Law Review, 1897
"We are here and it is now. The way I see it is, after that, everything tends towards guesswork" - the philosopher Didactylos, in Terry Pratchett's Small Gods, 1992
"I have never yet seen any plan which has not been mended by the observations of those who were much inferior in understanding to the person who took the lead in the business" - the blogger's creed, as foreshadowed by Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France, 1790
"They acted as their situation naturally directed, and they who have clamoured the loudest against them would probably not have acted better themselves" - advice to Twitterati, as foreshadowed by Adam Smith, An Inquiry Into The Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, Book IV, 1776
Donal Curtin
Competition and regulation economist (12 years on NZ's Commerce Commission). Macroeconomist (former chief economist for a big bank). Writer (6 years with Euromoney, award-winning economics columnist, blogger). My economics consultancy is based in Auckland: call me (021 479462) if you need expert advice on competition, regulation, or business economics
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Media Invitation - Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada 2013 trophy is presented to the public Français
VALCOURT. QC, June 3, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - BRP will present the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada 2013 1st place trophy during the Open House on Thursday, June 6 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. This is the first time the trophy can be seen by the public prior to Sunday's race.
Come take advantage of this opportunity and meet the BRP team that made it all happen! The three designers responsible for the trophy's ideation and production will be on hand to discuss the concept and inspiration behind this example of design excellence.
Denys Lapointe, executive vice-president, Design and Innovation Centre, will be available from 10 to 11 a.m.
WHAT: Presentation of the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada 1st place trophy
WHEN: Thursday, June 6, 2013, during the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada Open House
TIME: From 9 a.m. to 12 noon
WHERE: Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve
Parc Jean Drapeau
That weekend, BRP will welcome Formula 1 fans at its booth near the Pont du Cosmos at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. In addition to BRP products, many activities are planned at the booth including taking your photograph with the trophy, a contest and the world champions of a internationally renowned kart racing series.
NOTE FOR TELEVISUAL AND PHOTOGRAPHIC DIRECTORS: The 1st place trophy and a racing kart, powered by a Rotax engine by BRP, will be available for photographs and video.
BRP (TSX:DOO) is a global leader in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and marketing of powersports vehicles. Distributed in 105 countries, its portfolio of brands and products includes Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea-Doo watercraft, Can-Am all-terrain and side-by-side vehicles, Spyder roadsters, Evinrude outboard engines, as well as Rotax propulsion systems. BRP employs approximately 6,800 people worldwide.
www.brp.com
Sea-Doo, Ski-Doo, Lynx, Evinrude, Can-Am, Spyder, Rotax and the BRP logo are trademarks of Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. or its affiliates.
SOURCE: BRP
Valérie Bridger
Senior Communications Advisor
BRP and its Principal Shareholders Announce Closing of Previously ...
Media Invitation - Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada 2013 trophy is presented to the public


Many landlords are hesitant, if not scared, to rent to tenants whom they know or suspect have HIV or AIDS. They fear that doing so would put other tenants at high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, and that they could face liability for any harm their tenants suffer.
But the Fair Housing Act (FHA), through its ban on disability-based discrimination, protects people with HIV/AIDS from being treated differently during the rental process, which means landlords can actually get into trouble if they refuse to rent to tenants simply because they have HIV/AIDS.
It's also important to be aware of the fact that HIV/AIDS isn't spread by casual contact or even through the air, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So, landlords (and other tenants) needn't fear an AIDS epidemic at their property.
I recently put together a set of dos and don'ts to avoid violating the FHA when it comes to renting to tenants with HIV or AIDS. Check them out in my article for Nolo.com, entitled "Dealing With Rental Applicants Who Have HIV/AIDS."
Do You Know What Happened 47 Years Ago Today?
Why, Exactly, Is April Fair Housing Month?


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About mattkalina
RadPrime founder provides production support for American Airlines travel documentary episode
mattkalina Uncategorized	0
RadPrime™ founder Matt Kalina provided production support and an on-camera role in a travel documentary episode for American Airlines.
The cast and crew of "One Day Two Ways: Scottsdale", an episode of American Airlines' travel documentary series, shot the episode in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Scottsdale, Ariz., wrapping up production of a climbing and hiking segment for the show July 9. The episode is set to be broadcast on American Airlines flights every day in November.
Kalina played the on-camera role of adventure guide with fellow Phoenix-based 360 Adventures guide Peter Tagala, who was host of the episode.
The video production team from Ink, the world's leading travel media company, selected 360 Adventures to lead the climbing and hiking segment, provide rigging for the cameraman and support the video production.
Pictured from left in the photo is Jeffrey Whitbrod, photographer and sound engineer; Peter Tagala, guide for 360 Adventures; Adrian H., producer and cameraman; Camile Rocha-Keys, producer; and Matt Kalina, guide for 360 Adventures.
For more information, see Ranking Arizona Awards, sponsored by AZ Big Media, established in 1985 as a publisher of AZ Business Magazine and Ranking AZ, an annual publication covering the outcome of the largest business opinion poll in Arizona at RankingAZ.com covering a multitude of niche topics and industries, and sponsor of the yearly award receptions for Best of the Best Arizona Companies. The Most Admired Companies, Most Influential Women in Arizona Business, Health Care Leadership and CFO of the Year.
—Originally published 07-10-19
RadPrime wins two 2019 Ranking Arizona Awards
RadPrime™ has won two Ranking Arizona Awards for the Best of Arizona Business in 2019, ranking second for Advertising Agency, and ranking fifth for SEO and Social Media Marketing, with 15 staff members or fewer. RadPrime™ also was nominated for a Ranking Arizona Award for Internet Marketing.
Ranking Arizona announced the winners of the awards in the 22nd Annual Edition of Ranking Arizona, The Best of Arizona Businesses, published in March 2019. An awards ceremony is set for May 2, 2019, at JW Marriott Camelback Inn, Scottsdale, Ariz.
RadPrime teams up with Millennial Marketing to produce video series for PrimeTime software company
mattkalina News	0
RadPrime Marketing has teamed up with Millennial Marketing to produce a series of videos for a sales team toolkit and to promote enterprise-level labor management software for PrimeTime.
Anissa Villegas, chief creative officer, and David Jones, partner, Millennial Marketing, Peoria, Ariz., are producing and directing the series of videos for PrimeTime. Alex Payan, producer, Instantaneous Studios, Phoenix, is heading up in-studio production and post-production of the videos.
Matt Kalina (from left), Anissa Villegas, Alex Payan and David Jones are pictured on the set of the studios of the Arizona Center for Digital Media Arts of Huntington University, Peoria, Ariz.
Matt Kalina, founder of RadPrime, Scottsdale, Ariz., provided on-camera work for the video series, shot February 2019 in the studios of Huntington University's Arizona Center for Digital Media Arts, Peoria, Ariz.
PrimeTime, Inc., headquartered in Scottsdale, provides in time and labor management solutions through easy-to-use software and data collection methods. Founded in 1988, the company offers software and applications for employees to track their time from any device.
PrimeTime offers services from basic time clocks with keypad entry, proximity, magnetic or barcode badge systems to biometric fingerprint time clocks, biometric hand readers, telephony, and web-based data collection.
For more information, see PrimeTimeCorp.com.
RadPrime founder wins AMA Phoenix award at Spectrum Awards
Matt Kalina (left) and Ben Holland, president of American Marketing Association, Phoenix Chapter
Matt Kalina, founder of RadPrime, won the Board Member of the Year Award at Spectrum Awards 2018, presented by American Marketing Association, Phoenix Chapter.
Kalina, vice president of membership for AMA Phoenix, serves on the association's board of directors. AMA Phoenix is the largest industry group for Phoenix Metro marketing, ad and public relations professionals.
Approximately 250 marketing professionals from the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area participated at the 16th annual Spectrum Awards event at Sun Studios of Arizona, Tempe, Ariz, May 10, 2018. A total of 37 finalists, representing advertising, marketing and public relations professionals were recognized at the awards event and 53 awards were presented.
Phoenix: An emerging hot-bed for tech innovation and digital marketing
Phoenix is quickly becoming a U.S. hotbed for tech innovators and digital marketers as it grows into one of the newest big tech centers in the country.
There's a lot happening in Phoenix and in the surrounding Valley of the Sun. You may know that the Phoenix Metropolitan Area is one of only 13 U.S. metro areas to have all four major pro sports teams. But did you know it's also the 13th-largest U.S. media market ranked by The Nielsen Company and has the 13th-largest convention center in the country? It's also one of the top travel destinations in the United States, ranked tenth in number of hotel rooms at 66,500, with some of the top resorts in world.
Beyond its epic professional sports, entertainment and luxury travel amenities, Phoenix ranks as the sixth-largest U.S. city, and its huge metropolitan area is home to large corporate, operations and regional offices for the digital marketing, data services and high-tech industries.
The Phoenix Metro services either headquarters or large operations for big-name technological and on-line firms such as Amazon, Apple, Clear Channel Outdoor, Ebay, GoDaddy, G/O Digital, Intel, LifeLock, PayPal, Shutterfly, and many others, including, CyrusOne, Digital Realty, InfusionSoft, Insight Enterprises, JDA Software Group, Jobing.com and Phoenix NAP.
The area has emerged as a hot destination for the operations of fast-growing tech start-ups and fast-growth companies, such as Axosoft, CA Technologies, Limelight Networks, Nextiva, SOOH Media, Uber, Weebly, Yelp, Zenefits and ZocDoc.
Large agencies for advertising, digital interactive, integrated marketing, public relations and social media disciplines operate in the Phoenix Metro, including Allison+Partners, Cramer-Krasself, Defero, Gordon C. James, LaneTerraLever, The Lavidge Co., McMurry/TMG, Moses, Off Madison Ave., Riester, Sitewire, Zion & Zion, among others, including hundreds of niche creative, graphics and video studios, and interactive digital marketing and communications firms.
In addition, Inc. 5,000 marketing firms such as BlueMedia, Digital Air Strike, Ethology, Gate6, Owens Harkey, Tempo Creative, Vertical Measures and ZOG Digital are based in the Phoenix Metro.
Hot beds of innovation and creativity are springing up from East to West in the Valley of the Sun, especially in Downtown and Innovation Corridor in Phoenix, and in Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, Tempe and Arizona State University, home to the largest enrollment by a public university campus in the United States at more than 60,000. Meanwhile, Scottsdale features several high-growth tech and innovation cores, including its Galleria Corporate Center located Downtown, Loop 101 corporate corridor, Scottsdale Airpark and SkySong Innovation Center.
Become a part of the growth and excitement in innovation and digital marketing by joining the top industry group for Phoenix Metro marketing, ad and PR pros: www.AMAPHX.org.
Matt Kalina | Scottsdale, AZ | @MattKalina | LinkedIn.com/in/MattKalina
Originally published 06-19-15 | Updated 11-06-17, 04-17-17
We are here to answer any question you may have about our Agency. We will respond as soon as we can.
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© RadPrime™ Marketing 2020 | RadPrime LLC


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Catalão är en stad och kommun i Brasilien och ligger i delstaten Goiás, ett par mil från gränsen till delstaten Minas Gerais. Hela kommunen har nästan 100 000 invånare.

Administrativ indelning
Kommunen var år 2010 indelad i två distrikt:
Catalão
Santo Antônio do Rio Verde

Befolkningsutveckling

Källor

Orter i Goiás


My fifth grade students have been working hard on their Tree of Life interpretations and family tree digital projects. They are coming alone great and the kids are proud. They are so proud that they want an opportunity to show them off. They initiated a conversation about having a "fancy art evening" just for the fifth grade.
There are an incredible amount of inspiring blogs out in cyber space. I can spend HOURS "surfing" the web; gazing at beautiful images, being taken in by a wonderfully written tutorial, or being cought up in to researching how to make all these wonderful ideas transpire in my own home or classroom. I regulary take inspiration from the blogs in the list to the right. Below are a few that I've really spent a lot of time on this past year. I encourage you to take a look on this freezing cold day!
What about you? What blogs do you relaly look forward to being updated?
- Although in French, the images are so inspiring it drives me to copy and paste the text in to google translate. Centered mostly on early childhood learning it's obvious that creativity and growth through exploration take center stage.
- Patty Palmer always is there to provide a beautifully illustrated tutorial on a wide range of media and topics. I regulary look to her website to freshen up my curriculum.
-Although, not a traditional art education website, the crafts on Kate's blog are so relevant to many art standards and techniques that I find myself regulary being influenced by her tutorials and style. A must for paper arts.
- I check daily on Colossal to get a quick look at what's relevant and exciting in the modern art world. It's a great way to keep up to date on current artists and I regulary bring back images and stories to my elementary classroom to further inspire students.
- Such a visually appealing website, filled with project ideas and tutorials. I have taken many ideas of this middle school art teacher back to my elementary classroom with great success. Her blog is easy to navigate and beautiful to gaze at.


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Unit Rechartering
 Recharter
Rechartering Resources | Recent Changes and Key Points | Schedule | Internet Rechartering | How Recharter is Done
Recharter Process | Useful Forms and Documents | Frequently Asked Questions
Every December, all units (packs, troops, crews, ships) are required to renew their affiliation with Scouting. The BSA issues charters to community organizations to enable them to use the Scouting program under their own leadership as a service to their children, youth, and families. Re-chartering is the process of renewing the charter agreement between the BSA and the organization, and renewing the registration of youth and adult members.
Rechartering on time is critical. It is required for Journey to Excellence. It is required for units to continue registration without interruption. It is required to ensure Scouts are registered, critical for receiving rank advancement and other awards, and for insurance coverage.
A representative of each unit completes the paperwork for renewing a charter online. Through the process, chartered (sponsoring) organizations, youth member and adult leader information is updated as well as registration fees and Boys' Life subscriptions are collected/paid.
If this is your first time to be involved with recharter, or if you need to brush up on how recharter is done, please read How Recharter is Done before continuing. Doing so will help make the pointers to resources below more useful!
Recharter Update
In September and October, BSA's National Council has announced two important changes that affect this year's recharter.
To ensure that BSA has the resources to fulfill the promise of Scouting, the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America has made the difficult but necessary decision to increase annual membership fees. The new fees are effective for all units rechartering in December 2019. Read the council's blog post on the national fee increases.
$60 for youth members in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouts,
$36 for youth members in Exploring, and
$36 for adult members
$60 for unit charter fees
A new background check authorization must be completed by all adult members and submitted with the recharter. Read the council's blog post on background checks.
The statements in this announcement supersede any other statement in our rechartering documentation that is in conflict with, or that omits mention of, these statements.
Recharter Turn-in
Recharters should be turned into the district leadership. Check the district calendar posted on the district website for turn-in dates.
Recharters may also be turned in at the Council Scout Center on Saturday, December 14, 2019, from 8:00 am until noon.
For questions about recharter, please contact your unit commissioner or district commissioner.
Rechartering Resources
BSA's Internet Rechartering website
BSA's Internet Rechartering Help system
SHAC's Recharter Workshop PowerPoint tutorial (.pptx format)
Useful forms and documents
2019 Changes and Key Points
Please read the entire section, even if you are experienced at rechartering.
All recharters are due to council no later than December 15th. Turn in your paperwork at your district's turn-in events or at the registration desk at the Cockrell Scout Center. Because December 15 is a Sunday this year, the Cockrell Scout Center will be open Saturday, December 14, from 8:00 am until noon to receive last minute turn-ins. We encourage you to start now as soon as possible because the majority of all BSA units' charters expire in December. The online system will be overloaded as December 15th approaches.
All recharters must be prepared using online internet rechartering. This is a web-based tool that allows you to add and remove members to your unit's roster, change adult leader positions, calculate fees, and print the final roster for turn-in. Packs, troops, crews, and ships should access internet rechartering using My.Scouting.org or the link in the rechartering resources section above. Exploring posts should access the similar tools via the lfl.participation.org website.
You can access internet rechartering starting on November 1. Your unit's access code for Internet rechartering this year is attached at the upper right-hand corner of the document you receive from your district. Remember that you are a "First Time User" the first time you log in each year even if you processed your unit's recharter last year or if you have last year's access code and password. (If you use last year's access code and password, you will get an error message telling you to contact your council.) When logging in as a first-time user, use the access code, the unit type (pack, troop, etc.) and the unit number to identify yourself. You will then enter your contact information and create a password. Use the access code and the password when logging in as a "Returning User".
While you wait for internet rechartering to become available, gather the information that you will need to update the recharter roster. Are all your unit's youth and adult members listed on the unit roster? (Use my.scouting.org's Member Manager to find out.) Contact all your unit's members to find out if they will renew their memberships for the coming year. If any member does not plan to continue, ask why and make a note of the reason. (Internet rechartering will ask you why each dropping youth member is not renewing.) While you are at it, be sure all members understand the BSA and unit fees to be collected and the date by which the fees must be paid. Finally, check that top unit leader training requirements are met (item #6) and Youth Protection Training is current (item #7).
Sam Houston Area Council requires the "top unit leader" named on the recharter roster to be "trained for the position". This entails completing "position-specific training" as well as Youth Protection Training. Most position-specific training can now be completed online at My.Scouting.org EXCEPT "Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills" (IOLS) for Scoutmasters. The "top unit leader" is the Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Venturing Advisor, or Skipper. See www.shac.org/training for required courses. Internet rechartering does NOT check this requirement, so you will need to be careful to check it. If your unit will replace the "top unit leader" during recharter, be sure the new leader to be appointed has the required training prior to recharter!
Only Youth Protection Training (YPT) taken on or after February 1, 2018, will count as "current" for rechartering. There is now only one YPT course (Y01) for all programs and it must be completed on or after February 1, 2018. As in the past, all adults, including Venturing youth aged 18 and over (Venturing participants) must complete YPT. To avoid further delays in the event of errors found during recharter, units should ask their members to retake YPT if the member's YPT will expire prior to March 1, 2020. This will avoid members' YPT from expiring while other errors are corrected.
New this year: On October 23, 2019, the BSA National Council announced new membership fees that are effective for this recharter.
Fee calculation in Internet Rechartering will be disabled until BSA National updates it to use the new fee in early November. Units will not be able to finish Internet Rechartering until BSA National completes the update.
New this year: The council accident insurance fee increases to $3/paid registration. Note that the fee is not paid by Lion and Tiger adult partners unless they hold a paid, registered position in the pack . It is expected that the increased fee will pay approximately 1/3 of the cost of the council's accident insurance policy. Internet rechartering will calculate the accident insurance fee and include it in the total fee on the recharter roster. (The old, separate powder blue "Accident Insurance Information" form is no longer used to calculate the fee.)
New this year: As announced by BSA National on September 19, every adult member must complete and sign a new background check authorization form. The unit must submit the signed background check authorization forms with the recharter. The unit's recharter will not be processed without the forms. NOTE: Venturing youth ages 18 and up ("Venturing Participants") must meet adult membership requirements. The form is different from the disclosure on the adult application.
Internet rechartering will allow either the institution head (IH/EO) or the chartered organization representative (CR) to authorize the person using internet rechartering (the "recharter processor") to approve the recharter roster. The unit then prints the recharter roster for turn in.
Internet rechartering will allow payment of BSA fees and the Accident Insurance Fee by credit card and E-check. (Note: BSA charges a convenience fee for credit card payment but not for E-checks.) Units electing this option must still print out the recharter roster, get signatures if online approval was not used, and turn it in. Units NOT electing to pay online will pay by cash, check, or unit account when turning in the signed printed roster.
The unit "Key 3" – top unit leader, committee chair, chartered organization representative – can print a current roster at any time using the Member Manager function of the my.scouting.org tools. The Key 3 may also use Training Manager to print the YPT Aging Report which will show the completion and expiration dates for adult members. The Key 3 may designate up to 3 additional individuals to be able to use the tools if they so choose. Contact your district's commissioner team if you need help getting started with my.scouting.org tools. Changes in applications processed by the registrar on any given day will not be visible in my.scouting.org until the next business day.
When printing the recharter roster from internet rechartering, use the "PRINT RENEWAL APPLICATION" button which will print the entire roster. This will allow you to make manual corrections to the roster in case you discover and error or omission. If you use the "short form" button to print the roster, you will not have a complete roster. Be sure to save a copy (for your records) of the PDF file produced by internet rechartering. Please turn in all pages printed by internet rechartering. The part of the printout after the roster includes lists that expedite the processing of your recharter by the registration staff!
New this year: BSA National has indicated that there will be minor changes to internet rechartering that will be easy to understand and that will not affect navigation through the program. While we have not seen the changes, we have been told to expect the following.
Support for new positions, such as the recently announced Unit Participant position.
Minor changes to Online Approval and Online Payment.
Changes to council accident insurance fees as requested by councils.
Remember, all recharters must be in the Cockrell Scout Center by December 15.
In October - Attend recharter training in your district
- Conduct a unit membership inventory to find out who will continue as a member
- Ensure all registered adults and Venturing Participants have completed YPT Y01 on or after February 1, 2018
- Ensure the top unit leader training has completed required training
- Encourage all leaders to take training
11/1/19 Internet rechartering available
12/5/19 District turn-in #1 (1st Thursday)
12/12/19 District turn-in #2 (2nd Thursday)
12/14/19 8:00 am - noon: council office open for last minute recharter turn-in
12/15/19 All recharters due (Sunday - council office closed)
Cockrell Scout Center registration hours are 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M., Monday to Friday. Please arrive before 4:00 P.M.; the office closes at 4:30 P.M. sharp. Recharter turn-in will be available on Saturday December 14 from 8:00 A.M. to noon at the same location. We encourage you to use recharter turn-in opportunities provided by your district to save yourself a trip to the council service center.
This web-based system provided by the BSA National Council helps you update your unit's roster to correct errors for existing members, add new members, and remove members who are no longer in your unit. IR is available to you starting November 1st. Attend your district's Recharter Workshop or see the Recharter Workshop PowerPoint tutorial linked in the "Resources" section of the recharter website for detailed information.
The access code required to use internet recharter is available on a brightly colored label attached to your recharter packet. The access code changes every year - do not use last year's code because it will attempt (and fail) to access last year's information. Remember: You are a "first-time user" when you begin your first session for each unit every year! If you misplace your access code, contact your district commissioner.
How long does internet rechartering should take?
Most units should be able to complete internet rechartering in a few hours spread over at most a few days. The key is to prepare and to start internet rechartering as soon as it is available on November 1st.
Begin by gathering everything needed for internet rechartering. The gathering can be done by unit committee members, or other adults. Many hands make lighter work!
Which members will not be renewing their memberships and why not? For any youth that you do not renew, internet rechartering will ask you "why not". So make a note of the reason.
Do any of your renewing members have new addresses, phone numbers, or email addresses? You will want to correct these in internet rechartering so that they get their Scouting communications. Email addresses are especially important as more of the administration of Scouting moves online.
Are there youth or adults participating in your unit's program that are not on the roster? If so, have them complete applications and get them turned in before November 1 so that you won't have to add them as new members during recharter.
Do you have new adult applications or adults who have not completed Youth Protection Training (course Y01) on or after February 1, 2018? Have them take online YPT and send you a copy of the completion certificate they receive at the end of the course. You will need to print the certificate and attach them to the paperwork that you turn in. Be firm if a member insists that his/her out-of-date YPT is valid; insist that they provide proof of Y01 taken on or after February 1, 2018.
Collect fees from everyone who is renewing their membership. That's the BSA membership fee ($60 for youth in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, and Venturing OR $36 for adults and youth in Exploring), Boys' Life subscription fee ($12, if subscribing!) and $3 council accident insurance fee for everyone who pays their BSA membership fee in your unit. If they pay their BSA membership fee in another unit, find out where they pay because you will need to know that too to avoid duplicate payment of fees.
Now, armed with all the information you need, internet rechartering should be a breeze! On November 1, all Sam Houston Area Council units can begin using internet rechartering. However, be aware that the vast majority of all Scouting units in the country also recharter on the same schedule. By being ready and starting right away, you will be done before the computer systems that run internet rechartering bog down with all the procrastinators who tried to wait to the last minute.
There is no minimum time that you have to spend in internet rechartering. It all depends on how prepared you are and how long you delay getting started. You can turn in your paperwork as soon as you are done, assemble all the required paperwork (recharter printout, new applications, proof of YPT), get the required signatures if your unit doesn't use the "online approval" feature of internet rechartering, and have payment ready. Do this as soon as you are ready -- don't wait until December 15!
The council has developed the following set of milestones for completing the five stages of internet rechartering that, if followed, will allow you to complete by December 15th.
Internet Rechartering Stage Complete by
1. Load roster November 7
2. Update roster November 18
3. Check roster November 21
4. Summary November 24
5. Submit roster November 27
But you can easily do the job faster before the system slows down closer to December 15. Remember, internet rechartering is just part of the process. You aren't done until the physical paperwork is turned in to your commissioner or to the Cockrell Scout Center.
Recharter Help
Your district's commissioner team is your first point of contact if you need help. If they don't already know the answer to your question, they will help find it. Contact your unit commissioner or, if you do not know who your unit commissioner is, contact your district commissioner or district director or executive.
Please submit your recharter on time without errors. Every hour spent by volunteers and council staff chasing down late recharters and fixing errors is one that can't be spent helping youth. Thank You in advance for making good use of our limited resources!
How Recharter is Done
If you are reading this, you probably have just been asked to "recharter" your "unit" and are full of questions. You also may be a little anxious, wondering "what in the world have I gotten myself into?" because everyone else was so relieved when you agreed to do it. Unit recharter is pretty easy. If there is a hard part, it's that some rules have to be followed for each member and that you have to finish on time.
What is a unit?
A unit is a pack, troop, crew, or ship. Units in our area operate under the Sam Houston Area Council (SHAC), the local operating arm of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). The council assigns each unit to a district, a geographic part of SHAC's area of operations. A unit always has a unit leader who is responsible for seeing that a program is delivered to the youth members. The unit leader has a title like Advisor, Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Coach, or Skipper. A unit has at least three adults who serve as the unit committee that supports the unit leader.
What is recharter?
BSA issues a charter through the local council to a chartered organization, like the church or other organization that owns your unit, which allows it to use a BSA program to serve youth in its community. For example, a Cub Scout pack uses Cub Scouting to serve youth in the first through fifth grades. BSA requires that the charter be renewed annually to continue using the program. We call that annual renewal "recharter."
What else happens during recharter?
In addition to renewing the unit charter, recharter time is when all youth and adult members (leaders) renew their membership in BSA. Member renewals are most of the work. Your unit should also complete the application for the Journey To Excellence Award which must be turned in to the Cockrell Scout Center before December 31.
Recharter Process
1. Attend your District's Recharter Workshop. Each district should hold one or more workshops to discuss recharter. Attending it also gives you a chance to meet your commissioner team, your first line of help in case you need it. You may have received your unit's recharter packet at the workshop. The PowerPoint presentation used at the workshop is available on the recharter website via the "Resources" section.
2. Inventory your members and collect fees. Collect BSA registration fee, Boys' Life subscription fee, and council accident insurance fee from each member that will be continuing membership. The unit's treasurer or another leader may do the actual collection, but you must know who is renewing and any changes to their personal data (address, phone#, etc.) and, for adults, Scouting position. Involve the unit leader and committee in determining the status of those who do not respond about renewing. Get complete, new applications, including all required parts and signatures, for any new youth or adult members.
3. Required training. All adult applications must include proof of having completed Youth Protection Training Y01 on or after February 1, 2018. Internet rechartering will enforce the YPT requirement and not permit the unit to complete recharter with an adult in a registered position without current YPT. The course can be completed online at the E-Learning Center at My.Scouting.org. Attach a copy of the training certificate to the application and the criminal background check authorization before submitting the application.
Venturing crews and Sea Scout ships must assure that their youth, aged 18 and up, must be properly registered as "Venturing Participants" and meet adult YPT requirements. If youth are changed to "Venturing Participants" during recharter, the unit must submit completed adult applications and proof of Youth Protection Training course Y01 for each such youth.
Your top unit leader - Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Advisor, Skipper - must have completed BSA training for their position. Internet rechartering does not enforce this requirement so the unit must assure that it is met to avoid delay to the unit recharter. If your unit is changing its top unit leader during recharter, be sure that the new leader to be appointed has the required training prior to recharter!
4. Update the unit roster. The recharter process uses a unit roster in a special format to provide an updated list of members and to provide BSA with the signatures to approve the renewal. You create this roster using internet rechartering. Internet rechartering will import a current roster from BSA's registration system after you first access the system. It will record any changes you make - corrections, added or deleted members - and send them to the council registration staff so they will have exactly what you want them to have! At the end of the internet rechartering process, you will print out the paper roster to use for the rest of the process. More information about IR and how to get started are on page 1. Consider the tutorial if you have not used internet rechartering before but be aware it was developed for an older version of internet rechartering and is only good as an example of the program steps.
Note that internet rechartering enforces the Youth Protection Training requirement. You will not be able to go past Stage 3 (Check roster) if any adults members required to have YPT don't have current YPT on file unless you have a valid certificate in hand to turn in.
Internet rechartering will calculate the council's Accident Insurance Fee of $3/registration. The separate form that was used in the past is no longer used.
If you added any new members and want them to be members before your new charter starts January 1, collect a fee of $2.75/month/member. This is particularly important to do for youth members because they must be registered for advancement to count.
As part of the update process, internet rechartering offers two optional features:
Online approval allows chartered organization to authorize the "recharter processor" (the person using internet rechartering for the unit) to approve the roster for the chartered organization. Authorization is given by either the institutional head / executive officer (the person who signed the charter agreement with BSA) or the chartered organization representative to the recharter processor. If this feature is used, the printed roster will carry the approval and no signatures will be needed on the roster. Note: signatures will still be required on new applications.
Online payment allows a unit to pay BSA registration fees, Boys' Life subscriptions, and council accident insurance fees via credit card or electronic check (E-check). BSA charges a convenience fee for credit card use but not for E-check. If this feature is used, the printed roster will carry payment information, eliminating the need to include a form of payment when turning in the paperwork.
5. Obtain signatures on recharter roster. If "online approval" is NOT used, before you turn-in your paperwork, you must get two signatures on the first page of the recharter roster. The person named as the executive officer on the roster must sign the top line for the chartered organization The person named as the unit leader (e.g., Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Advisor, Skipper) must sign the bottom line as unit leader. The middle line, council representative, can be completed at turn-in and will be signed by a commissioner and/or the professional Scouter responsible for supporting your unit's district.
6. Turn in all paperwork. Take the following to turn-in: signed, updated roster, complete applications for new members, and Journey to Excellence application. If not using "online payment", bring your unit's check with you to turn-in; we suggest that the amount not be filled in until someone has checked the total calculated on page 4. When your district has a turn-in, district personnel will take the paperwork to the council office if it is complete. Otherwise, your unit must turn it in at Registration in the council office at 2225 North Loop W, between 8:00 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. Monday-Friday, on or before December 15th. Turn-in will be available on Saturday December 8 and Saturday December 15 from 8:00 A.M. to noon at the council office registration area -- check back here for the final schedule. Any errors found by the registration staff after turn-in must be corrected promptly or your unit will be dropped, losing its right to use Scouting's programs to serve its youth members.
The recharter packet consists of a single-sheet document containing most of the information found above in the changes and key points section. You can download the packet here if you need to.
In this section are links to useful documents that may be helpful in rechartering and managing your unit.
1. Checklist: Use this list to double-check that you are ready to turn in your unit recharter.
2. Mandatory Adult Leader Training: Sam Houston Area Council requires that all top unit leaders (i.e., Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Advisor, Skipper) complete BSA required training for their positions prior to recharter, in addition to the mandatory Youth Protection Training required by BSA. Read this document to be sure your leaders meet standards.
3. Insurance Papers:
a. Council Accident and Insurance Plan: (Brochure) Tells about insurance coverage
b. HSR Claim Form: Sample – can be used
4. Your Pack/Troop/Crew:
a. Your Cub Pack
b. Your Scout Troop
c. Your Crew / Ship
5. The Facts About Applications: Learn when and how to use member applications when Rechartering.
6. Extra Applications: These are for new Scouts and Scouters. Make sure to have proper signatures both adults and youth.
a. Adult application ( English ) ( Spanish )
b. Youth application ( English ) ( Spanish )
7. Membership Inventory: Procedure for a membership checkup.
8. Telephone Reference Check for New Volunteer Leaders: Use this checklist to check references for volunteers that you are adding to your unit's roster.
9. Risk Management Checklist: For unit program planning.
10. Journey To Excellence Scorecard is used to determine whether units meet Journey To Excellence requirements. Use forms for the 2019 year in the Scorecards section of this page. There is a separate form for each type of unit: pack, troop, crew, ship. There is a tracking workbook for each type of unit under "Tracking Workbooks" in the "Unit Tools" section of this page.
Are Tiger partners a registered leader?
No. A Tiger adult partner is not a registered adult leader even though it is listed as a position in the "add adult" and "update adult" screens in internet rechartering as a convenience. However, they may be registered in any adult leader position in addition to being a Tiger adult partner. They pay the $3 per person council insurance fee but do not pay a BSA membership fee. They are encouraged, but not required, to complete Youth Protection Training (Y01).
Why is there an "Allow one week for your latest applications to be entered."?
This allows time for the council registration staff to enter the applications into ScoutNet and be available in internet rechartering. It usually won't take that long. Use my.scouting's Member Manager to verify that the changes requested have been made.
Does internet rechartering have a way to recognize bogus phone numbers, or other numbers?
What levels of encryption are deployed in internet rechartering? How safe is our personal information? The form contains social security numbers and driver license numbers. This data must be protected to the highest level.
The internet rechartering website uses SSL (secure socket layer) technology and the data to and from ScoutNet is secure. Since Fall 2009, SSNs can no longer be entered in internet rechartering which further improves security. No existing SSN or DL information in a person record is displayed on the site. Please see the Privacy Policy on the site (link) and also check the Confidentiality Statement. The national site also employs various safeguards against hacking.
Does a leader need a new application for each time they change their job responsibility in the unit or when they gain a new job responsibility in another unit?
The unit should submit a new application immediately when the change is made so that the leader receives communications appropriate to their position and so that there is a record that the chartered organization has approved the change. However, at recharter time only, the position may be changed in ScoutNet without an application because we have all the personal information, and the IH signature on the roster approves the position change.
For example: when a change in a unit's top leadership positions occur, the unit should send in a new adult leader application(s) to record those changes immediately to SHAC. Don't wait until recharter time. In the case of an adult changing units (or staying in one unit and adding another job responsibility in another unit), an adult leader application is always required. As a reminder, any new adult leader must fill out a BSA application and it is to be turned into SHAC, regardless of the timing of the unit's charter renewal date.
Don't forget that there are three parts to a complete adult application: (1) the application itself with signatures of the applicant, the committee chair, and the chartered organization, (2) the criminal background check authorization signed by the applicant, and (3) a copy of the applicant's Youth Protection Training course completion certificate.
Are Lion and Tiger adult partners considered "adult members of the unit?"
Lion and Tiger adult partners are not registered leaders. They do not have to pay a BSA membership fee or the council accident insurance fee. They do not have to take Youth Protection Training although it is highly recommended that they do so. If adult partners also hold a registered position in the pack, such as a den leader or committee member, they must pay the fees and take Youth Protection Training.
Does the ScoutNet keep up with individuals who are in multiple units and as such are wearing multiple hats?
Does a person pay for primary membership in each unit or just once for being in BSA?
A person is only required to pay once for BSA membership. The unit through which the person pays BSA membership is called the "primary" membership. All other, unpaid memberships are called "multiple" memberships. Only the primary membership is assessed the $3 council accident insurance fee.
When a youth reaches adult age, can the youth be moved to adult area without having to delete and reenter data?
Yes. An adult application will be required. If a unit has loaded the council information and has a youth member who is 18 (or 21 for Venturing) and cannot be renewed as a youth member, then that member may be "promoted" in the Promote screens. This will save re-entering much data. Remember that the adult application will require the applicant's social security number, the criminal background check authorization form, and Youth Protection Training completion certificate before it can be processed.
What happens if I discover I don't have some information I need to complete the recharter?
You may continue to enter the information you do have. You may close out and it will save the information you have entered. Make notes of what you need, then go get it. When you have more information, you can go back to the appropriate pages and enter the new information. You may stop and start as often as you need.
Remember that many screens have an "update roster now" button. Clicking this button updates YPT completion information and should add to your internet rechartering workspace any new members that were registered after you completed Stage 1 (load roster).
What happens if there is a change after I have printed out the recharter form?
Once you click the "Submit to Council" button in Stage 5, you cannot make any further changes online. If you need to make a correction or addition after this point, make the change manually on the updated recharter roster that you printed from internet rechartering. Use black or blue ballpoint pen to draw a single line through information to be changed and, very neatly, write in the change. Be careful not to obliterate the information that you are changing because registration personnel must be able to read what is being changed so that they can make the change. Be sure to attach complete applications for any new members that you add. Write the names of added new members in the appropriate "new member" (adult or youth) list printed out by internet rechartering.
Can you pay insurance online with a credit card?
Internet rechartering calculates the council accident insurance fee and adds it to the total owed. A new step, just prior to the "submit to council" step will allow the total owed to be paid by credit card or electronic check. The National Council will charge a convenience fee for this credit card payment, but not electronic check. (In 2018, this fee was 3% of the total.) After paying, the unit will still proceed with the "submit to council" step, print the "recharter renewal report", and get any remaining signatures. The "recharter renewal report" will show that credit card payment was made.
Units that do not want to pay by credit card can still pay by check, cash, or unit account as they have in the past.
When is the effective date of the recharter? The date signed or the date/time submitted?
The effective date of the recharter is the day after the old charter expires. Because charters expire on the last day of a month, the new charter will be effective on the first day of the following month. Because all Sam Houston Area Council charters expire on December 31, the effective date of all recharters is January 1 of the next year. The date that the recharter is "received" for on-time recharter purposes is the date when the signed paperwork and checks are received at the SHAC counter.
If it is necessary to add a new youth/adult after Internet rechartering has been submitted to the council, how is the information added and how are fees handled?
For a new youth/adult, an application must be obtained. Write it on the charter in the new youth or new adult sections of the printout, as appropriate. Include fees for both this year ($2.75/mo), next year's national BSA fees ($60 for youth in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, and Venturing OR $36 for adults and youth in Exploring), Boys' Life, if subscribing($12), and council accident insurance fee ($3). Note that, if you have already turned in the signed recharter, you submit these applications and fees to the council service center as you normally do.
Will we be moving towards a point where signatures can also be generated electronically?
Since fall 2018 internet rechartering has the ability to allow the Executive Officer/Institutional Head or the Chartered Organization Representative to authorize the recharter processor to approve the updated roster electronically. The approval must occur before the "submit to council" button is clicked. If used, this feature eliminates the need to sign the recharter roster.
In 2017, online membership applications were introduced that route from the applicant to the appropriate unit leaders for approval. However, to date, internet rechartering does not have the capability to submit online membership applications. Hard copy applications submitted with the recharter roster still must have original signatures.
Are we allowed to make changes via internet rechartering throughout the year as new youth/adults are added or removed?
No, the internet rechartering process is just for the annual renewal. And changes cannot be made at recharter after the "Submit to Council" button is clicked in Stage 5. Timely submission of new youth and adult applications to the council service center throughout the year will keep the charter information current. The unit "key 3" - chartered organization representative, committee chair, and top unit leader (CM, SM, NA, SK) - can obtain current rosters at any time using my.scouting's Member Manager.
Will we be able to prepare paperwork for new unit start-ups via the recharter process?
No. Internet rechartering is only for charter renewal. New charters cannot be established through internet rechartering. Internet rechartering is for traditional units only - packs, troops, crews and ships. You need the individual applications anyhow, so the council does all that work for you.
What is a UMS software package?
UMS means Unit Management System and is a software package used to manage the unit roster, member advancements, etc. Three UMS packages have worked with BSA to be able to accept data from ScoutNet and to be able to upload UMS data into ScoutNet for recharter. These are: TroopMaster (tm) and PackMaster (tm) from TroopMaster Software, Inc., and TroopSoft (tm) (formerly ScoutSoft (tm)) from SBF Publication Company. Two other UMS packages from different providers that were certified to work with ScoutNet are no longer available. The council does NOT recommend uploading UMS data to internet rechartering.
Will ScoutNet download information to a UMS software package?
Yes, have the registered committee chair or unit leader (Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Venturing Advisor, or Skipper) send an email to margarita.bernal@shac.org requesting their Scoutnet data in order to upload into a UMS system. However, this should only be done by units that are not currently using a UMS system. If a troop or pack has already been using a UMS software package to manage their unit's advancement/membership, downloading current ScoutNet data will create duplicate records in the UMS for all members already in the UMS or will have other undesirable side effects. If a unit intends to begin using a UMS, the unit should purchase a brand new UMS software package and start with a ScoutNet download - it helps when going back into the internet rechartering program.
Why does the council recommend against uploading UMS data in Stage 1 of internet rechartering?
There are two reasons: accuracy of BSA registration data and extra effort for the unit and council / district volunteers and professionals supporting recharter.
Most units using UMS software begin using it without obtaining a download of ScoutNet data to initialize their new system. Also, many units use nicknames for Scouts and Scouters in the name fields rather than the full legal name and have had other errors accumulate in their UMS data. When UMS data is uploaded into internet rechartering, the UMS data will completely replace the information contained in ScoutNet. Any nicknames and other errors will be put into BSA's registration data. We feel that there is less chance of an error being inadvertently put into internet rechartering if someone is looking at each member and making any corrections.
The first time a unit attempts to upload UMS data is usually quite difficult and, if the unit has waited until the last minute to start trying to upload, quite stressful on the unit and supporting council / district personnel. Internet rechartering attempts to match each member record from the UMS data with a member record in the unit's Scoutnet data. Internet rechartering makes the match effortlessly when the name and birthdate match exactly. Otherwise, internet rechartering goes through the entire set of unmatched records asking you to point out the corresponding ScoutNet record. This can be a very time-consuming process for a large unit (we have seen 75 members fail to match in a first time "uploader").
In summary, UMS is a useful tool for managing a unit. However, it is a useful tool for recharter if, and only if, the unit has an absolute commitment to maintaining its UMS data to a very high degree of accuracy.
Are there any other issues with using UMS for recharter?
These programs assume all current members will re-register. You must remember to un-check any who will not re-register. If you make a mistake and send the data through for a member that you didn't want to recharter, you can delete the member in internet rechartering after the upload process is completed.
How do I upload UMS data into internet rechartering?
PackMaster TM / TroopMaster TM - If you decide to use either of these software programs, you must run the Recharter report (found using the pathway REPORTS:SCOUT/UNIT GENERAL:COUNCIL RECHARTER:ANNUAL RECHARTER) in order to create the file necessary in internet rechartering. The programs may refer to it as the "diskette" because that was the way BSA intended to transfer the data when it redesigned ScoutNet in the late 1990's. Just create the file on your hard drive and remember where it is. Then go to that location when internet rechartering asks to locate your UMS data.
TroopSoft (tm) (formerly ScoutSoft (tm) - no information
For questions, contact your unit commissioner, district commissioner or district director or executive.