Approximately three million young Americans will graduate high school this summer, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, a division of the U.S. Department of Education. These young people are on the threshold of an often uncertain future. What will happen to them? Many already have problems with drugs or drinking, with study and with relationships. Only a minority have not tried at least some form of street drugs. Many consume alcohol on a regular basis; and a proportion are regular drug-takers. Along with reducing ability to think clearly and study well, drugs cause many other unwanted and often long-lasting side-effects, including physical and emotional problems. According to figures released at the 2005 National Education Summit on High Schools in Washington, D.C. last February, nearly a third of high school graduates who go on to college require immediate placement in remedial education courses. And one-half of the students entering college never earn a degree. Our graduates deserve our congratulations. Many others have not made this milestone; one-third of American students never graduate high school. But many grads also need help for the future. The Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention, an organization funded by the U.S. Department of Education, maintains a log of drug- and alcohol-related incidents in colleges across America. New incidents are reported almost daily. In one single recent incident alone, in Radford, VA, police made 26 arrests and issued more than 400 citations, mainly for underage drinking, after a campus festival at Radford University. There is no doubt that drug and alcohol abuse are commonplace in colleges, with resulting study difficulties and other side effects. And when life is not going so well drugs and alcohol seem attractive as an escape route; it is a dwindling spiral. According to the New York Times bestseller Clear Body, Clear Mind by writer and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard, there is something that can be done to remove the residual effects of drugs, which are stored in the fatty tissues. The book offers a structured program that is a careful balance of several elements, including exercise to increase circulation, specific vitamin and mineral supplements, and daily sauna sweat out. This program targets the build-up of toxins in the body as a key barrier to the individual’s ability to think clearly and lead a happy and successful life. One of the many benefits reported by many who have completed this program is increased mental acuteness. One program graduate says, “It is much easier to concentrate on the study materials. My ability to understand what I’ve read is much increased.” Another reports, “Before doing the program, I was a medium student. I would study and get something out of it, but sometimes it was hard to understand a subject easily. It’s easy for me to understand anything I have become one of the best students on my courses.” Many young people who have already made the mistake of taking street drugs, or have been exposed to heavy medical drugs or severe toxins of any type, could benefit from this program to help clear these toxins and drugs from their bodies, leaving an open path for them to think clearly, study well, and be happy and successful citizens. For more information about this program, visit www.clearbodyclearmind.com.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Senator Kennedy had always been active in his advocacy against arthritis. And his commitment has been duplicated by a lot of American politicians. One of the offspring of his commitment is the foundation of the American Arthritis Association. The AAA is a group that helps arthritis patients in managing their disease. The organization also helps in the dissemination of information for patients to know what to do to make their condition better.
To achieve their goal, the American Arthritis Association regularly holds yearly summits to pool member’s knowledge, resources and experiences. Their members include patients, pharmaceutical giants, and heath practitioners, including non-profit groups and individuals who are willing to help forward their cause. The summit is so powerful that it can touch arthritis patients and their families. It always creates a positive impact in their lives, that’s why all patients are invited to join.
The role of the American Arthritis Association is to serve as the bridge connecting arthritis patients to the government. By representing arthritis patients, they are able to receive the right medical care as funded by the government. The group helps lobby certain laws that will directly benefit arthritis patients. The government allocates funds for the research and study of arthritis to provide better drugs and new treatments to the public. Right now, researches are bent towards combining synthetic and biological medicines to give relief to arthritis.
Other than facilitating the quest to find the ultimate cure for arthritis, the group also works to secure the arthritis patient’s welfare, more particularly the ones that don’t have health insurances. Most Americans are not protected with the necessary insurance, especially during the time when they need hospitalization the most. This detail is being addressed by the AAA, as they constantly appeal to the desks of government officials. Their request is for them to create a law that would provide for the health care needs of the arthritis patients who don’t have the necessary health coverage. The group also looks into the possibility of adding children into their list of recipients.
In one of their projects, they try to put children as riders of their parent’s insurance. The campaigns were held inside schools to let parents know about it. There are low cost health care insurance that marginalized families can avail of to protect them and their children. Some can even be obtained at absolutely no cost if they qualify.
The group works in close contact with the people who are suffering from any type of arthritis. They link them to their respective statesmen so that they can request for benefits. Currently, there is one law that is created to help prevent, cure, and control arthritis. The law is now being reviewed and read in the congress. The AAA hopes that it will successfully pass the legislation body to finally provide aid to arthritis patients.
The American Arthritis Association will always be around to serve all the arthritis patients of America and the rest of the world. They are committed to serve and protect, in order for them to live active and fulfilled life that they always wanted.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Mrs. Shobana Bharatiya, Mr. Vir Sanghvi, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me begin by congratulating Shobanaji and her colleagues, for bringing together yet again, so many eminent personalities. You have just heard the Prime Minister who in his own direct and self-effacing style, has articulated a road map for us to follow towards “building a better future”.For “Building a Better Future”, without any doubt faster economic growth is essential.Clearly, enhanced investment in economic, social and physical infrastructure is crucial.To be sure, increased engagement with the rest of the world is necessary.Beyond question, a new political culture, based on caring and concern for the larger public good, is critical.But in addition to all this, I believe we need to give a whole new momentum to public action.This will call for the government to be even more purposeful and effective.It will also call for a new compact between the government and civil society.And it is this partnership that I want to speak on today.India’s entrepreneurs are justly celebrated these days. They are doing the country proud. I for one believe that they must be given every opportunity to realize their full potential.Indian scientists and technologists have made major contributions to nation-building. Now our colleges, universities, institutes of higher learning and laboratories need a renewed vitality coupled with creative energy.But if our concern is with people at large and their day-to-day lives, particularly of the weaker sections, then we need a new paradigm for sustained cooperation between the government and civil society.What do I mean by “civil society”?To me, civil society embraces the very large number of social action groups, voluntary agencies, NGOs, peoples’ movements, citizens’ associations, community organizations and, as a mirror of society, the media.India’s democracy has flowered and that is really our most remarkable achievement.And one key reason for this has been the existence of a vigourous civil society in which discussion, argument and mobilization thrive.

It is the arena in which alternative visions of the future have been articulated, in which alternative paths to attain that future have been debated.It is also the arena in which we, who are in a position of power, are being held accountable to our promises and pledges.In many parts of the country, civil society is making a real difference in education, health, nutrition, credit, rural development and the environment. Civil society associations have provided a forum for lakhs of workers in the unorganized sector.

In some regions, civil society has taken the lead in promoting social peace and harmony. At times of natural calamities, we have seen how quickly and how sensitively it has stepped in to assist the government’s efforts in providing relief and rehabilitation.All this has happened spontaneously, almost entirely because of individual drive, dedication and determination. We have in our country a tradition of social service – of sewa – exemplified most vividly by the Gandhian legacy.The government has to create an institutional framework for the involvement of a diverse array of civil society groups and organizations in both the democratic and developmental process. The challenge is to make space for them and encourage the proliferation of their success stories.The corporate sector too-and I see captains of industry here this morning– has a role in strengthening civil society networks. I am aware that we have some outstanding examples of corporate philanthropy and social service. I believe the corporate sector wants to and can do more.But let me be clear. Just as economic reforms do not mean the abdication of the role of the state, the involvement of civil society also does not imply the abandonment of the role of the state.There are many areas where such a collective effort can be mounted.I can immediately think of the implementation of social legislation as one example so that the progressive laws we have passed for the welfare of women and children particularly do not remain confined to paper.We now have a far-reaching Right to Information Act. Civil society has contributed much to the passage of this legislation. It is a historic opportunity to help enforcing a new culture of transparency and accountability in administration, starting at the panchayat level itself.Or take the historic Rural Employment Guarantee Act that Parliament passed in its last session. Here again, the involvement of NGOs will be essential not only for mobilizing the people but also for social audit and monitoring.In recent years, another remarkable segment has emerged and these are women’s’ self-help groups. I see panchayats and these self-help groups as two sides of the same coin.Panchayats are institutions of democratic representation. Self-help groups are institutions of voluntary participation. Working together, they can transform rural India.Incidentally, is it really a surprise that the most successful self-help groups are those run and managed by women?

[I know that some of the men in the audience may not agree,] but isn’t it true that the natural instinct of women is to save. And isn’t it true that the spirit of cooperative action is instinctively nurtured by women? It is not a coincidence that some of the most prominent names in civil society happen to be those of women.It is because of the centrality of women’s’ movements in civil society that we need to push harder for gender justice. While major initiatives have been taken like, for example, the reservation for women in panchayats and nagarpalikas, the struggle for complete gender equality must continue unabated.I hope you will not misunderstand my emphasis on women. I know there are many men whose contribution to civil society is second to none. But it is a fact that in our society women have to strive much harder for recognition and results.I have spoken of cooperation between the government and civil society. But I do recognize that at times there may well be an elements of conflict in this relationship. That is because the status quo may be threatened, that is because vested interests may come under scrutiny. That is because of fear that credit may be taken by others.

Such adversarial positions are not always wholly undesirable. Discourse is the essence of the democratic process and it is important to keep the dialogue alive, by the two sides talking to each other, rather than at each other. Still, I would say, that the onus remains both on political activists and the bureaucracy to provide expanding opportunities to civil society, to protect their autonomy and to permit them to engage in advocacy.

Having said this, let me also point out that civil society itself has to do some introspection. It has to subject itself to the same standards of audit and governance as it demands from elected representatives and the government. It has to avoid getting embroiled in partisan politics. It has to dispel the impression that sometimes it gives of being instinctively anti-growth and anti-technology.

Earlier, I spoke of the media itself as an institution of civil society. I must acknowledge the role our media is playing in highlighting the accomplishments of both individuals and groups. There is a vast army of professionals, of educated and talented young men and women whose vision of a better future is to work for the betterment of the lives of the less fortunate. Our media can play an even greater role in highlighting their contributions. This, in turn, will inspire others — I know that “good news” in the media is rarely “news” in fact it probably means “bad business” but it is good if the media forgets this basic rule once in a while.

Ladies and Gentlemen, a better future for India must mean a better future for all Indians, a future in which each and every Indian leads a life of dignity and is assured of the basic securities. Globalisation presents numerous opportunities that we must not miss. At the same time, we have a vast agenda
for local transformation which we must address with a new sense of commitment. A vibrant partnership between government and civil society is the springboard for such a new resolve. Such a partnership will, I am sure, provide a durable foundation for “Building a Better Future”.

Thank You

Popularity: unranked [?]

One of the staunchest backers of the Children’s Health Insurance Program, Sen. Jay Rockefeller isn’t ready to see it swallowed up by a new health insurance marketplace designed by Congress.The West Virginia Democrat is a leading voice in a quietly waged debate over how best to provide health insurance to millions of children in low-income families. Rockefeller persuaded the Senate Finance Committee to maintain the program, known as CHIP, through 2019 as part of health legislation the panel approved last month. That provision was included in the Senate Democrats’ health plan unveiled Wednesday. Rockefeller opposed earlier language in the Finance bill that would have ended CHIP after Sept. 30, 2013, when its current authorization ends, and moved those children to health insurance “exchanges” where private insurers and possibly a government-run plan would sell policies. The House health overhaul bill raises similar concerns for Rockefeller and some children’s groups. It would phase out the program at the end of 2013, moving some kids into a national exchange and placing others into Medicaid, the state-federal program for the poor.The debate revolves in part around uncertainty over the coverage and costs of insurance that would be available through the exchanges. Some children’s advocates fear that the House health bill might result in less generous coverage than CHIP and require greater out-of-pocket spending by families. “As health reform moves forward, we need to make sure children can keep their CHIP coverage and not be forced into untested private coverage,” Rockefeller said earlier this month.Jocelyn Guyer, co-executive director at the Center for Children and Families and a senior researcher at the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute, cites worries that the coverage sold in the exchange could be too expensive for some families. “I do think the potential fear that’s out there is that there are some kids with good coverage now who, because they are facing higher premiums and cost sharing, could actually end up uninsured,” she said.But House Democrats – longtime supporters of CHIP themselves — say the bill includes safeguards concerning benefits and would provide more stable funding for children’s insurance. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., said while CHIP has been successful, “once health care reform is in place, however, the case for a separate program for children – one that excludes their parents – is less compelling.”The insurance exchange will provide “solid coverage that is affordable for both low-income children and their parents,” Waxman continued. To minimize disruption, he said the House bill would allow children to remain in CHIP during the first year that the exchange is up and running and any problems are being resolved.Much depends, analysts say, on how Congress decides to handle critical areas, such as who can qualify for Medicaid, what types of benefits must be covered for children and the level of subsidies given to help families purchase coverage in an exchange.Lawmakers see the exchange as a specialized market where, initially, small businesses and people who don’t receive employer-provided coverage would choose among standardized benefits packages. More people and businesses could participate over time. Lower-income people would qualify for federal subsidies.A Growing ProgramCHIP covers children whose family incomes are too high to qualify for Medicaid but too low to afford private insurance. Congress extended the program this year. Enrollment is expected to increase from an estimated 7.4 million in 2008 to more than 12 million in 2013, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.According to preliminary estimates from the Urban Institute, about 60 percent of children in CHIP would, along with their parents, receive coverage in the exchanges. Children in families with incomes up to 150 percent of the federal poverty line – about $33,000 a year for a family of four — would go into an expanded Medicaid program. In addition, the House bill would require states that now cover CHIP children through their state Medicaid programs to continue to do so, regardless of a family’s income.Proponents defend the House approach on three grounds. Transitioning CHIP kids into an exchange would allow entire families, many for the first time, to receive health coverage. Research has shown, when all members of families have health insurance children are more likely to receive health care services. Moving CHIP kids to the exchanges or to Medicaid also ensures a more stable source of funding than the CHIP program, which Congress would have to continue to reauthorize and fund. Budget pressures have caused some states to cap enrollment or cut benefits in their CHIP programs.A Nov. 6 analysis by the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities said that, as a capped federal block grant program, “in some years it (CHIP) may not provide sufficient funding nationally or adequate funding in individual states” to cover all children. The analysis also said states can limit enrollment or impose waiting lists if funding falls short. Would Moving Kids Out Of CHIP Cost Parents More? Addressing concerns about benefits, proponents say the House bill lays out steps to ensure that CHIP kids moved to the exchanges do not receive a lesser package. The Department of Health and Human Services would have to study the benefits and cost-sharing of CHIP programs and compare them with the benefits and cost-sharing that would be available in the exchange. By the end of 2011, the HHS secretary would have to make recommendations to Congress on how to make exchange coverage comparable to what the children received in CHIP and how to avoid any coverage interruptions as CHIP kids are moved into the exchanges. Congress would have two years to act.Yet some children’s advocates say that the House language is significantly different from an earlier version of the bill that would have required the HHS secretary to certify that CHIP kids would have no loss of benefits before they were placed in the exchanges. While health insurers participating in the exchange are required to cover certain services, “we have no idea what type of amount, scope and duration limitations that those plans may impose,” said Bruce Lesley, president of the children’s health advocacy group First Focus. “When it comes to covered benefits, CHIP clearly goes beyond what the vast majority of commercial plans provide or what the health insurance exchange plans can be expected to provide in addressing the unique health care needs of children.”A study First Focus released last month found that moving CHIP kids into exchanges would cause their families to pay more out of pocket for medical care. The analysis, done by the firm Watson Wyatt Worldwide, found that moving those children into health insurance exchanges could expose them and their families to anywhere from 5 percent to 35 percent in out-of-pocket costs. Cost-sharing would be higher under the Senate Finance Committee bill than under the House-passed bill.If CHIP enrollees moved into exchanges face higher co-payments for doctor’s visits and prescriptions, their families might not enroll in the exchanges or use the benefits, said Stan Dorn, senior research associate at the Urban Institute. “The research in pretty clear: With low-income families if you charge more per visit people go without necessary services because they just can’t afford it,” Dorn said. “The benefits would be there in theory but not in reality because it’s not affordable to them.”The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Nov. 6 analysis concurs that for CHIP children moved into the health insurance exchange, the benefits packages would likely be somewhat less generous than what they receive in CHIP in a number of states and premiums and cost-sharing likely would be somewhat higher. But the analysis also states that total ou
t-of-pocket health costs spending for those children’s families would generally decrease because their parents would be covered through the exchange.In addition, the House bill would require health plans in the exchange and eventually all employer-sponsored plans to provide an essential benefits package that would include an array of services, including vision, hearing and dental care for children. And the subsidies provided to families with incomes of up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level — or $88,000 for a family of four — would be federally funded and not dependent on state funds or Congress acting to provide additional CHIP funding, the Center on Budget and Policy Priority’s report concludes.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Every journey requires a plan.  It is considered crucial to have a clear image of your goals, this will allow you to be able to take advantage of any unforeseen circumstances. In business, having a plan is not a guarantee that you will be successful, but it is certainly true that not having a plan is an invitation for failure. A business plan gives your direction and this is the first step. Having a professional business plan template is a signal that you are a serious entrepreneur.
The first thing you do after coming up with a business idea is to create a business plan, which can be doing using business plan software, a business plan sample, a business plan template, or by purchasing a how to write a business plan book. A good business plan gives you guidance and confidence in your business and we make it easy for you to create the best business plans for your business by offering you Professional business plan template, Free business plan template, Business planning template, Professional business plan template software, Free business plan template benefits, Business planning template software at our site http://www.createmybusinessplan.com .

A sound business plan template will consist of what you want to achieve for your business, what you need to do to succeed and how far you want to go. Your business plan template contains all relevant information about your new business and financial figures should be projected so that all aspects of the business can be looked at. The business plan will serve as a reliable foundation for your business to measure success in the future. When you are creating a business plan it is important that you identify all factors that might affect of your financial projections. The resources needed to operate the business are also clearly marked out in the sample business plan.  A business plan will be a guide to know if your actions were able to contribute positively to the business. Business plans also serve an important role for the investor.  A proper business template will acts as marketing tool for the entrepreneur to convince the investor to invest in your idea. The business plan should bring the business plan to life for the investor.
Investors will base their decision to invest in your business solely based on your business plan, which will include details regarding operations, management, and financial projections. Therefore, a good business plan software program will be one that answers all the questions the investor wants asked. Investors know exactly what they are looking for, and that is a business that can earn them a solid rate of return.  In order to accomplish that aim they will likely look at countless business plans so it is essential that your plan be well presented, thorough, and well written.  Investors will demand that the business plan be built according to best practice standards and the only way to do this is to look at samples, templates, and previous works.CreateMyBusinesPlan.com is one excellent source of information to use while creating your business plan.  The proprietary software walks you through every aspect of the business planning process.  The benefits of having a professional business plan template are tremendous and CreateMyBusinessPlan.com was created to provide this service.  The company was created in 2006 and during the past 2 years has helped write over 2,000 business plans.

Popularity: unranked [?]