Yet To Be Named

Envision the monopoly
Of the dueling hypocrisy
When what stands beside me
Is believed to be on top of me
Suffering fools search for truth by foot
As the wise pair lies
But nothing compares
To what the blind sees with lost eyes
As the high road becomes less traveled
I ask you all to stay down for the cause
Since new rules to behave
Are broken as just laws
For hindsight creates the perfect vision
Only to view my flaws
Guilty or innocent
When thrown from a jury of your peers
Means there is more separating us
Than age in years
The messenger is more important than the message
And the savior is greater than those he saved
Who is left afterwards to define the names they were gave
Languages are diverse
While math is concrete
Soon there will be a new science for people to compete
They depreciate the optimism
To raise the level of negative ideology
If one item can fix it all
We would reject it as idolatry
God must exist in a world where he or she is needed
However to go further than required helped in winning they were defeated
So I lambast myself for a solution for what to do
But everything I came up with was O-B-I-O-K-U

Report on Possible Merger of the Communication Departments at Frostburg State University

When we were assigned the possible merger of two departments as the topic of this project, there was a lot of work ahead of us to do. It is said that a good interviewer should be competent on at least sixty percent of what will be discussed (Brady, 1977). To adequately prepare, we determined what sources would be necessary for proper research. Being that the fundamental point of the interviews was to be about the communication departments at Frostburg State University, both Communication Studies and Mass Communication, the decision to start there was an easy one. Frostburg provides access to information of all their available majors online. A listing of active faculty and courses required for each program were found there (2014; 2013). As of now, the two departments have not been combined. There are completely different department chairs as well as degree programs. This fact was reiterated by nearly all of our participants during the interviews conducted. One participant felt that this had already occurred. To paraphrase, he believed each department had merged and were assigned co-chairs already. Later, we will go more in-depth with what was found from our research and the thoughts of others. Not necessarily to compare and contrast but to see how accurate was the information that was actually being exchanged. Though some may not talk about something as specific as the distinction between two majors, conversations about a topic like this can be had every day. What type of conversation it is however? Is it one of civil discourse, an argument of facts or a debate on whose opinion is correct. Can it be beneficial to both the interviewer and interviewee or is it a one way presentation where you just want to find what one knows and how much the other wants to know? The determination of the previous statement was a subtext of this project that may have become more important the more we worked on it. Let’s begin to discuss what was discovered.

From our research, this was going to be an interesting thing to discuss. A proposed merger of two departments would affect current and future students of both disciplines. This would not be new though. The earliest Frostburg State University undergrad catalog available is for students who attended during the years of 1999 to 2001 (1999). At that time, the departments were combined under the title of Communication & Theatre Arts. As the name suggested, students participated in a program where theatre, acting, and costume design were part of a curriculum that included speech communication, production, multimedia workshop and interviewing as one major. The major had a very diverse and lengthy course offering. The specific courses to complete a major were not found in our search. Several other universities have a similar program today. Eastern Michigan University has a comprehensive Communications, Media and Theatre Arts major (emich.edu/cmta/communication, 2014). This program has students complete communication courses like public speaking and group communication. Students also take acting and script analysis courses in addition to intro to media and production. Frostburg ended this practice as of 2001. Some members of the staff for Communication studies from that time have earned emeritus status as professors (Frostburg State University Undergraduate catalog, 2001; 2013). Some members of the Mass Communications department are still active today. For the purpose of this assignment, we were asked not to speak with active faculty or current students of those departments directly. At this point, we began to ask questions of voluntary participants to see how they feel about this issue.

Due to some last minute rescheduling, we were able to get six interviewees. All of our interviews began with participants in good moods. Each began with asking the participant how they were and to introduce themselves. This enables the interviewer to be interpreted as cordial and friendly (Post, 2011). These first two questions are for the interviewee to respond freely and with absolutely no pressure. That was done purposely to create a relaxed setting for the rest of the interview as the participant can establish pace and rapport from the start. Our schedule was designed to take the interviewee through a specific sequence that would transition seamlessly between larger concepts that we wanted to know about. We tried to take the position of having a discussion rather than performing an interrogation.

Our next group of questions was to discover how each participant sees the programs individually. Two of our student participants have taken courses in both majors. The other two were split. The two faculty members have some experience of their own. One has familiarity of being a student of Communication Studies and the other collaborating with Communication Studies for a variety of events. The amount of knowledge varied but no one was completely naive to what the disciplines were. As the wording infers, all of our participants felt that Communication Studies concentrated on direct exchange of information. Some used the term “face to face” and others used terms like public speech. The consensus opinion is that it is wide ranging about what it can cover. We tried to coin the phrase of “interpersonal communication” for what Communication Studies focuses on as a major program. Contrarily, Mass Communication was going to be defined as communication through a technical media source. Many of our participants agreed. Four of them included the term “broader” form of communication when saying that it addresses such things as radio, television and social media. With everyone feeling they have the theme of communication in common and further explaining the prior definition as the difference. One interviewee said that Mass Communication has a narrower focus as it prepared its students for connecting to a larger audience with technology. Another felt as if Communication Studies could be seen as deeper and intimate. Someone even offered a wise summation that should be used going forward as both communicate and the method of delivery is what defines them. After receiving how they viewed the programs, we wanted to discuss the particulars.

Trying to get an impression of the faculty and courses was the concept of the following section. All of our interviewees have met members of each department and felt what they heard about those individuals was fair except one. The remaining participant did not hear about their professor before or after taking the course. This question existed to know if evaluations or character assessments were accurate for these people. Students would take certain courses because they were told a teacher was good or nice. A preconceived bias can enable the direction of someone’s future choices. What would have happened if they disagreed after their personal experience? Does one question the source of information or the timing of the encounter? We cannot elaborate at this time due to short supply of contextual data. More questions to consider of a possible merger would be if there are any courses that should be recommended to a student of the other major and whether redundancy is present currently. The response was that the majority thinks that Communication Studies’ courses would benefit people of all educational backgrounds while Mass Communication does not translate as well. Both majors do have their own requirements. Communication Studies does have its students take introduction to Mass Communication while having specific tracks for the three categories of communication; conflict, leadership and public or rhetorical (Communication Studies, 2013). Mass Communications only asks the students of media management to have Communication Studies courses. The upper-level classes of interviewing, organizational communication and conflict communication are required for a degree (Mass Communication, 2013). Once undergrad students become graduates, we turned the questions towards a professional focus.

The first questions were about the professional careers that the graduate would be applying for. Coinciding with what was thought of the majors, the interviewees believed there are several opportunities for Communication Studies. Their responses were occupations of public speaking, speech writers, speech coaches, teachers, and therapists so on and so forth. The feeling is that Communication Studies can contribute to several areas of the workforce which is true. Mass Communication, even being more precise, has numerous chances for employment for its graduates. Participants felt that careers trended towards entertainment for the media of their choice. Candidates are readily prepared for jobs in television, radio, film and advertising as soon as they leave school from their point of view. These jobs all have a positive connotation is what the interviewees concluded. People would be helped as Communication Studies plays the role of increasing the skills for conveying thoughts effectively for any and all parties involved. Those roles allow people to speak articulately and intelligently in a variety of fields where that talent is essential. Mass Communications is thought to keep the public informed from their favorite news sources. To go along with the trending theme, Communication Studies appears to have elements that are vital to anyone in the other group. As the core of it is to be proficient in expressing ideas, anybody who speaks to a larger crowd or audience may need to be able to do that. The thoughts on detraction were mixed. Five to one sensed that there is no negative effect to combining these skills. The one participant, however, felt there could be some loss or confusion with intermingling personally talking through any resource other than face to face. As we scarcely introduced the idea of joining, the interviews ended with the topic of the merger.

Two out of six interviewees had heard that there was potential for a merger between the two departments. We heard about this in our class when the project was being bandied about. One of the participants which were not aware of the news beforehand felt it would be a good idea. Four of our contributors said the department should be called Communications or Communication Studies after unification. The two unique responses were “Communication Studies and Leadership” and “Mass and Personal Communication Science”. All of those would be good to use for the hypothetical department. When asked how it would affect the campus, we got an assortment of answers again. Some said it would be positive and good for the school. Some thought that it would be a minor change and only students of those majors would truly be affected. The faculty member who suspected it had already happened said people are just “not aware of it yet”. Not one of our interviewees knew about the example previously mentioned where theatre arts was also included.

The interviewees were happy and ample with providing what they knew. The project was informative and enjoyable for both sides. Though all of the information given was not factually true, there was not a mischievous or cruel motive of the participant. There was not a reason to hide information or conceal what they thought. It was slight mistakes in their perception of what was real and supported by our research. The interviewer could also add correction and help when needed. There was no intention to leave them in the dark either. From this sample we conclude that if it were to take place, people would be positive if not neutral about the decision and the process used to determine it. The only question left would be what’s the best way to announce it?

Annotated Bibliography

Communication Studies Faculty - Frostburg State University (2014). Retrieved from September 19, 2014 from http://www.frostburg.edu/dept/cmst/communication-studies-faculty/
The webpage shows the entire faculty listing for the Communication Studies department.  Resource will use to determine whom to speak with from a teaching perspective for this topic.
Faculty & Staff – Frostburg State University (2014). Retrieved from September 19, 2014 from http://www.frostburg.edu/dept/mcom/faculty-staff/
The webpage shows the entire faculty listing for the Mass Communication department.  Resource will use to determine whom to speak with from a teaching perspective for this topic.
Frostburg State University’s Undergraduate Catalog (2013). Communication Studies. Retrieved September 19, 2014 from p. 12 of http://www.frostburg.edu/fsu/assets/File/ungrad/catalog/clasp1.pdf
Frostburg State University has a summary of requirements for the Communication Studies program listed online.  It specifically tells what courses are needed to complete the program as either a major or minor and implies an order of succession in which they can be taken.  The page also contains the personnel whom are involved with these courses.  For completion, readers are informed of the option of a collection of 4 courses or a study track of a specialize selection within its program.  This will be used to know the core requirements of this program from the department.
Frostburg State University’s Undergraduate Catalog (2013).  Course Descriptions.  Retrieved from September 19, 2014 from p. 177-178 and p. 206-208 of http://www.frostburg.edu/fsu/assets/File/ungrad/catalog/course.pdf
Frostburg State University provides a description of each course offered and its assigned number of credit hours for readers online.  The information is listed primarily in alphabetical order by major and secondarily by course number.  Course numbers increase in level for relative expertise and requirements of taking lower level courses.  This is an excellent resource for anyone who attends or plans to attend this University.  Will be used determine the difference in what is included for the Communication Studies and Mass Communication majors prior to the anticipated merger.
Frostburg State University’s Undergraduate Catalog (2013). Mass Communication. Retrieved September 19, 2014 from p. 21 of http://www.frostburg.edu/fsu/assets/File/ungrad/catalog/clasp2.pdf  
Frostburg State University has a summary of the requirements for the Mass Communications program listed online.  It specifically tells what courses are needed to complete the program as either a major or minor and implies an order of succession in which they can be taken.  The page also contains the personnel whom are involved with these courses.  For completion, readers are informed of the options for a professional focus within its program.  This will be used to know the core requirements of this program from the department.
Frostburg State University’s Undergraduate Catalog (2001). Retrieved September 19, 2014 from p. 70 and p. 117 of http://www.frostburg.edu/fsu/assets/File/ungrad/catalog/archive/2001-2003.pdf
Frostburg State University provides archived version of their course catalog online for former students and/or historical reference for the user.  The resource shows the faculty that was present over a decade ago and what were the core requirements at that time.  This will be used to determine how the course suggestion was modified and who remains as an employee from then.
Frostburg State University’s Undergraduate Catalog (1999). Retrieved September 19, 2014 from p. 55-58 of http://www.frostburg.edu/fsu/assets/File/ungrad/catalog/archive/1999-2001.pdf
Frostburg State University provides archived version of their course catalog online for former students and/or historical reference for the user.  The resource shows that there was a time when the majors were not separated.  The program was then titled as Communication and Theatre Arts.  Course listing shows that elements of both majors were offered under the unified classification.  Will be used to research what were the benefits of this initial decision and why was there a move to divide the disciplines then.
Post, P., Post, A., Post, L., and Senning, D.P. (2011). Emily Post's Etiquette: Manners for a New World. Eighteenth Edition. New York, NY: William Morrow.
Miss Post has written a very elegant and sometimes funny book on how to conduct oneself in a variety of situations.  Some of the reading can be common sense while other parts are very enlightening and insightful.  Resource will be used for suggestions on how to approach and interact with the various participants that will be involved in each level of the project.
Seidman, I. (2013) Interviewing as Qualitative Research: A Guide for Researchers in Education and the Social Sciences. Fourth Edition. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
Mr. Seidman has written a witty and educational book on the dedicated science that is collecting data and speaking with individuals.  He not only speaks from experience but also with the apparent disclosure that there is more to this than it seems.  Resource will be used to bring a professional aspect to interviewing and discussing this topic at hand accurately.  
Underhill, P. (2000). Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.
Mr. Underhill has written a book that goes into to detail about the discreet observance of people from a business perspective.  There are many examples of expectation versus realization and human behavior, which can be applied to a subject outside of its intended audience.  The book can help to understand the types of answers we receive during this project.

The Theory Behind Raffling

    Participating in a raffle is a fun and sociable way of gambling.  Non-profit organizations would conduct this style of wagering for fundraising events.  The idea is to give away a prize in exchange for buying a ticket.  The prize is usually worth more than the cost of the ticket.  Multiple people would enter in the contest awaiting their name or ticket number to be called as the winning entry.  The waiting time could be within the same day or to be announced later.  Whatever contributions are leftover can be spent on a good cause.  This can include money to improve their own administration or for resources put towards other efforts.  It is similar to the concept of donations which usually arrives in abundance for non-profits.  Donations are giving from the kindness of the heart of those that can afford to do so.  The reward is doing a good deed for another.  Raffling, however, provides a perceptible award or gift for the winning contestants in addition to helping the organization.  Since there is an added stipulation to the average donation, a higher level of involvement maybe generated for the length of time the game is available.  Both are very good ways of raising funds but raffling has the capability of providing a greater response.

    With the increased proceeds, organizations can cover the cost of the prize and work with the remainder of money to support other expenses.  This would be a suitable way to maximize ticket sales.  The raffle tickets present an added value of the experience.  For instance, to offer a hundred dollar reward for one ten dollar ticket crafts its own sort of appeal.  So partakers understand that they can essentially purchase something for a discount if they are fortunate enough to win.  As long as there are more than ten tickets sold, a profit is gained.  Aside from the money, you would provide people with information about a cause or organization to be aware of and support.  The best prizes are always going to be associated with the giver in some way.  Not only would it be an excellent bestowal but it would remind you where it came from and how you received it.  As long as the cause is commendable that would encourage current members and people close to the situation to chip in.  Having an attractive gift would excite the ancillary revenue from those who are new and primarily interested in just the competition.   Ticket sellers can be motivated by an internal incentive for who could spawn the most entries.  Whether is it to achieve a certain position or for monetary compensation, sellers could try to get out there and spread the word as much as possible to maximize the effect.   A subsidiary of that would be to bundle tickets for a lower price.  Using the previous example of the ten dollar ticket, one could then offer three for twenty or five for thirty-five to optimize the point of sale opportunity.  Letting someone know they can increase their chances for more total money for numerous tickets but less than the amount of each being bought individually.  

Businesses can derive promotional opportunities and customer loyalty from this type of marketing effort by giving existing patrons another reason to stop by the store.  There is another objective in visiting their favorite place of commerce other than the usual selection of products on sale.  Adding a raffling competition begins to produce a new wave of enthusiasm as earlier discussed.  A different version of demand is obtainable by recurring clients.  It creates more reasons to pay attention to the approaching deadline, existing deals and who will be named the victor.  Being a fun form of competition should not garner the kind of animosity that could jeopardize an existing consumer base.  The winner will definitely be grateful towards the store and the other participants should not harbor any ill will.  The owner could experience a fast rise in new faces with some loss of retention but that is balanced by the amount of first timers who are impressed by the inventory the store has to offer and plan a return.   The most loyal frequenters were there before, are there during and will be there after the contest is over.

Raffling can be beneficial to both the proprietor and the participant.  The proprietor can bring surplus attention and revenue to their place for a short period of time.  There is a faith placed in the event that retention can be created from the previously unknown for future investment.  Participants can donate to a cause with the bonus of having hope of beating the odds and becoming the one winner from a group of many.  Depending on the reason for the money, walking away with the prize may be secondary.  It is a positive occasion for the majority who get involved except for the few who really wanted to win and were not able to.  That is the chance you take as you play the game, however.

Study Habits

Being a senior undergraduate at age thirty-one, after mistakes when I was younger, I may not be the best person to give advice but I should let others decide from what is written here.

1. Read to comprehend
2. Learn for yourself beyond the classroom
3. Putting emphasis on what the professor or teacher says
4. Connecting the materials to other topics
5. Create the proper amount of time to study
6. Summarize your notes
7. Use homework and assignments to prepare for tests
8. Start your day and end your day positively
9. Never be upset with the amount you have to study
10. Study to remind yourself of information rather than learn it for the first time.

Each of these points is imperative to any favorable result I have had while in school.  The education process is distinctive in that you can always improve from past performance.  If these techniques do not work for you, you can modify to what you feel is best.  Let me try to elaborate on how each has been constructive towards my erudite learning.

Reading to comprehend means to try to understand more than the words printed on the paper.  It is getting the concept of the overall message and how that particular phraseology is being used to express it.  This can be a timely activity to adjust to and really take in. Then it can become facile or second nature with the right amount of repetition and practice.  The level of thought to master that will transition to our next point, learning for yourself beyond the classroom.  Just acquiring knowledge can become a habit that you begin to complete for more that tests, quizzes and assignments.  Increasing your all around intellect can turn into a hobby as well.  The next one is something that I had to learn the hard way.  Put an emphasis on what your professor or teacher says during class time.  In college, we are given a syllabus and know what to expect on each test for the entire semester.  The professor who creates the exam will usually speak about what is most important from the required text and may cover material that the author does not discuss.  They could be speaking from personal experience or just adding something they think you should hear.  Becoming an elite student incorporates both excellent reading abilities in addition to paying attention in class.  When something is giving you difficulty, connect the material to another topic you know better.  A simple example of this was applying English and Math to Computer Programming when I first began.  Thinking about what causes errors during compiling and execution were some of the common rules from those subjects.  Once I was really able to grasp that, I could get through the elementary concepts of programming.  Some of the more advance techniques require a higher level of thought but that is a fair place to start.  Another idea is creating the proper amount of time to study.  I attempt to avoid studying too early in the morning and too late at night.  Therefore, I schedule time to study during the day similar to my courses.  Setting aside a period of 50 to 75 minutes to review material is very valuable to my study habits and maintaining some form of consistency.  I do not have to cram for a test in one day if I can constantly give the subject some type of attention for weeks leading up to the approaching date.  Summarizing your notes can help too.  Though most teachers have set the precedent of students reproducing absolute regurgitation for answers, it is good to write it in your own words.  If you can translate a message to your understanding, you can ask if your interpretation is correct.  This can not only help you but someone else who is having trouble with the vocabulary of the topic.  Use homework to prepare for tests.  Your performance on graded work is a fair indicator of what you may do next.  You can learn from your mistakes and gain confidence from what you already stored in your memory banks.  The next one is both important and sort of a side note.  Start and end your day positively.  If there is nothing that causes excessive stress or avert your attention to other areas, it will help to retain information that you received during your courses.  The second to last one has to do with coping.  Never be upset with the amount you have to study.  This applies specifically to what will be on a test or what has to be read before a certain class.  All assigned work is within your capability as long as you are a student in the course and your professor might be more aware of that fact than you are at the time.  Some professors do take pride in their students’ progress in a class.  Lastly, study to remind yourself of information rather than trying to learn it for the first time.  Whenever you study, it should be to reiterate something already presented to you.  You should be going more in depth to think on a different level and comprehend in another sense.  If you are studying a completely new subject or theme, it may be challenging to balance with everything else you are responsible for. 

Legalization: What Has Marijuana Learned From Alcohol?

When considering the legalization of products previously said to be dangerous, I think positive and negative lessons can be learned from the Prohibition era of alcohol. Marijuana is the primary drug to compare to alcohol for this topic as it reaches the repeal stage of its life cycle. There is a slow progression towards it becoming legal to use after several years, decades even, of resources being dedicated to stop its proliferation. Oregon, Washington and the District of Columbia have already authorized recreational use. The process began with medical use similar to how wine was allowed for religious use. There may not be a religious reason to use marijuana but the health benefits to patients suffering from pain, difficult radiology treatments and improper nervous systems are well documented. Marijuana has been found to help patients through their most difficult times both physically and psychologically. Alcohol is also taught to have health benefits. Some say a glass of wine, periodically, is good for the heart. It is possible that some substances in moderation are actually good for us and it is excess at which they can become destructive. So reflecting on the situation today, we can see that some form of regulation is always necessary but absolute restriction may not be fair to society as a whole.
          During the time of prohibition, alcohol was controlled by organized crime units who opposed the law. The legislation created to remove public access to alcohol did not mean the demand to have it diminished entirely. Bootlegging and the black market began and grew at a similar pace, if not faster than law enforcement. Marijuana distribution is a known service across the United States. Even with it being illegal, some of our favorite musicians, movie stars and athletes kept the drug in the public’s eye and popular. People would sell in their local communities as if it were as common as tobacco. Sometimes prosecutors and police officers would punish violators to the fullest extent and other times users would simply get warnings. The variations of discipline are subjective to say the least. It seems that eventually a democratic government will always respond to the population it serves. Meaning what the people clamor for will be given to them in due time. It just takes time to assess the actual benefits versus the dangers and study the long-term effects for the betterment of all involved.
          Now we can move away from the criminal element and consider how these decisions affect the omnipresent topic of our economy. As illegal substances are still pursued, any money spent on those efforts is not taxable. In the case of alcohol there was production, bottling, transportation and the direct sell to the user who knew that this was against the law. The makers of the beverage knew it was against the law. Every intermediary in that process knew it was against the law. There was still a market for it and therefore a way to make money. No one in the course of that transaction worked for free. Marijuana has a process it goes through today. Somewhere it is grown, harvested, bundled, transported, packaged and distributed. Again, with all parties involved aware of the risks being taken. Why is it so important to have the after-effect of its usage that one willingly ignores the consequences of breaking the law? These were potential billion dollar industries that the government could not lay any claim to without making an adjustment. In fact, they spent money for training and equipping a workforce to combat it in both eras. With acceptance of the demand and legalization, there is a huge growth of a taxable product market. As users no longer have to hide and be mysterious, purchasing will go up. Alcohol experienced an increase of the average user after the government endorsement.
          More importantly, with government regulation people may actually have access to a safer and more natural product. One could never be sure that the product you purchase through illegal means is actually good for you. How could you? The purity of the substance as well as its condition prior to your possession is always in question. The government can step in and be sure that if its voters want something then they can provide it a better way. Is the problem prevention from use or it is public safety? Those that want it will get it by whatever means they have available to them. So legality is not the concern of a constant user. I assume sustainability would also be enhanced with government intervention. Once a product is approved, does a new sector develop to try the once illicit item? This is usually the case with alcohol, as scores of young adults begin to drink at age 21. Those habits continue as long as they never have a really bad experience. There are some people who do not decide to start however. I cannot be sure of how marijuana will be received but it may be similar. There could be an age limit and tolerance level established to what is rational from a governing body. 
          In conclusion with the legalization of marijuana almost inevitable, I think there are reasons to prevent it and reasons to accept it. The main cause of prevention would be to continue to discourage the use of a dangerous substance. Even now, alcohol usage is a leading contributor to deaths and physical ailments of all kinds. To promote responsible consumption is not a concrete deterrent. This leads to the reasons to accept it. As stated earlier, the product whether legal or illegal will be sold and purchased. The least we could do is allow it to be retailed and distribute those resources to other causes. Think of the results of lower income taxes, better roads, improved schools and emergency personnel that are less busy all from the money that states could use from lawful marijuana profits. Usage may be at an all-time high, I cannot help the pun there, but will it have the same trend as alcohol. Already there are less cigarette advertisements. We have learned the lessons from smoking and what it can lead to. So maybe marijuana will not be as popular. Maybe people will try it and discover it is not for them. Maybe those who really need it will be helped by this latest advancement. All I know is that we can never be sure until we take the time to find out.

Small Businesses

Small businesses have become an integral part of America. When we think of “Mom & Pop” corner store, the local carry-out diner, small-time gas stations or “insert name here” hardware and tools we are thinking about this concept. We can see these in every state and city across the country. They usually offer a suitable substitute to some of the larger named stores. They could or could not be seen as competition due to the relevant size but are thought of as a fair alternative for its consumers and employees. We are helped by them without question. And to watch them continue to grow in number would only mean the persistence of our economy to be able to thrive.
            Small businesses play a very important role in our society both locally and nationwide. A business can be franchised from a known brand or individually owned by someone expressing their entrepreneurial spirit. Their beginning is like the birth of a new child. Whether it is a new type of business or a different spin on something that currently exists, the possibilities for what it can offer are bountiful. They create opportunities for employment and access to healthcare for those that can help. For one to find a steady income stream from a generous resource is always good news. Healthcare is an added benefit that ensures that individuals can keep a standard of living that is worthy of working for. Providing patient care, connections to doctors and the proficiency of advanced medicine are just some of the virtuous advantages received from healthcare. Plus the employees can perform at work regularly at their peak. The situation consists of an owner who cares about the growth of a community and employees who can recycle resources into that same community. This will always enable a net positive for everyone involved as philanthropy is reciprocated throughout the entire process. Not to mention the goods or services provided are wanted by the customer base. These can not only jumpstart a small economy but they can really increase and sustain one also. It creates a constantly improving circle where the employee gets recognized for their work experience, the customer can become a regular patron of a personal necessity and the owner’s business can be highly successful and profitable. This is respectable for all participating parties and worthy of praise from all observers.
            Without the small business industry there would be a very high level of competition for corporate jobs that may leave some of these people on the outside looking in. This can be destructive to the fabric of our nation as we know it today. It is not a negative to compete for a Fortune 500 job opening. These careers are reputable and typically only accept the cream of the crop for hire. When your life depends on it with no alternative however, a dire circumstance can be presented. Missing that type of opportunity due to requirements or availability can cause depression and lackluster effort moving forward. People would not be able to provide for themselves or their families which would be a challenging problem leading to more poverty. Less active workers would have a negative effect on the economy. The local supply of money from payroll cannot be placed right back in the surrounding area. The absence of cash flow to fuel stations for travel, eateries for lunch and parking in some major cities would deprive the region. In fact, in some cases those would be small businesses themselves. Another consequence would be the ensuing snowball effect of the pay scale for workers. Removing the axiomatic middle man of places for employment means that whoever does not get the corporate jobs begin to cope with accepting near or at minimum wage jobs as a means to work. Though a candidate would have thought of themselves to be overqualified in an alternative scenario, they now find it to be their best chance at the moment. That would subsequently displace those who would compete for those jobs to part-time work, crime or government assistance of another kind meaning welfare.
            The government has done plenty to help the growth of this sort of investment with the formation of the Small Business Administration. The SBA helps secure funding, provides education and can structure a long-term plan for anyone who wants to be an entrepreneur and qualifies. People can find information on what grants or loans can be given to them to create their new business. A startup can arise even if not having the full amount of necessary backing in your personal accounts. Inquirers can be taught valuable lessons about the business industry indicating what has been known to succeed or fail. To go one step further, I suppose that the government could also guarantee positive interaction with the entities it helps to create. This would be a radical yet fundamentally sound idea for enhancement. Imagine if someone could inform the Small Business Administration of an upcoming development. The business owner provides a name, address, type of business, types of payment methods and whatever else may be needed for proper registration. The SBA could then communicate with government officials and local residents to direct people towards that place of commerce creating a revenue stream. This could provide a service to quicken the time to recover the loan amount and makes sure that the creation they partly brought to light can prosper.
            Colleges and Universities can join in on the act by incorporating small businesses into their students’ curriculum and career fairs. Students could take courses on the small business owner strategies, ethics and concepts. Not to specify the contrast from being a national corporation but to know why this option is for anyone who wants to take that path. Learn about the Small Business Administration and regional planning for success. Also inform about what pitfalls could be faced after choosing not to be employed by another. It would be helpful to have this information as part of the collegiate process instead of only seeking it once you have the idea. Secondarily, students and soon to be graduates can meet local business owners looking for young talent to assist in the growth of their business. They can learn whether the opportunity is just a matter of convenience or a better career move. What if a small business could offer a higher rate of pay and specialized perks because the owner’s conditions can be personalized. The new hire can feel like a coveted member of an organization instead of a number among many who are very qualified. Graduates could be management material with both an outstanding resume and impressive interview instead of being relegated to entry level status of a huge company.
            Building a robust small businesses industry is already happening. They have created income for wise investors and those looking for work. They have become a key portion of the America’s commerce system. Without them things would be drastically different. Even if some other concept was formed as an alternative, it might not be as sustainable or beneficial. With both government and educational support, we can generate the path of businesses into the hands of people who would like to decide their future and consider the prospects of others. And that would be no small feat on any scale, by any measure.

Patience is the Key to Homeownership

Having committing some transgressions of my own, I am one of the proponents of this topic.  Not securing long-term employment, very bad purchase decisions, educational loans and some scary medical mishaps has my credit score pretty low at the moment.  And yet, I would like to have a home of my own one day.  It will take some time to clear the accounts that are weighing me down but at least I know what I have to do to fulfill my dream.  The current real estate market lets discredited clients know that the door is not completely closed on their future.  Having a terrible credit rating does not mean you have to quit on your potential to have a house.  Once someone is able to rebound from their pitfalls, there will be options towards helping you get or regain your own home.  Those options include both low credit lenders and rent to own property.  One can learn that similar to the housing market as long as you are able to build yourself up, there will always be a place to land.

The rent to own prospect is the first to consider.  The qualifications for renting a home would be lower than that of attempting a full purchase with a mortgage.  The buyer is essentially agreeing to pay on a property during a lease until they are confident that they can afford the home.  A person may not be required to have their best foot forward for the initial attempt.  And yet, by successfully qualifying and maintaining the payments you can have the privacy and safety that we all wish for ourselves and those close to us.  They can acquire a place to dwell for modest means for either the short term or the long term.  The short-term result would be to move to another residence when the duty of their contractual obligation is either alleviated or becomes too much to bear.  The long-term view, however, means that they could one day own the current abode as long as they maintain good standing with the provider which allowed this opportunity while still trying to improve their economic status.  A commendable agreement would allow the occupant to not only build their personal finances but also raise their credit score.  Without sinking everything you have to purchase a home, you can slowly climb out of your existing debt.  

Repairing your credit would be an ancillary benefit to having that type of offer.  Having seen how to lose an asset, one could be even more focused to ensure that it does not happen again.  Individuals having a second attempt at the housing market would hopefully mean having learned from the previous mistake.  The homeowner’s mentality should be to not make the same fatal flaws that put them in their current situation.  There will be a conscious effort to budget responsibly, accrue one’s bank account or accounts, pay off outstanding bills and do this within the comfort of their own home.   Create an environment of economic security for your own benefit.  The ability to guarantee timely payments from a steady source of income is paramount going forward.  This can create a since of pride in someone to work harder than they did before.  Not for having the fear of more to lose, one can have the perspective of everything to gain still.  They can believe that the past disgrace cannot happen again and is behind them.  Enable the feelings of victimization from past leases and mortgage contracts to fade away.  They now believe that their future is in their control in an arena where they have a new understanding of what is required and how it is achieved.  

The new home sellers can legitimize and maximize the second chance at helping the buyer live their dream with these policies.  The market itself can also benefit from this feature.  More opportunities to own homes can mean more demand from the consumers.  People will know that lenders do have concern for potential clients.  With reasonable rates and options for ownership, the brokers are making concessions to assist their customers.  The new formula for the transaction can foster the sentiment that it is not all about business.  Adding to the bottom line is just as important to putting good people in better houses.   There is now room for everyone to leave with smiles on their faces after making a deal.  

In conclusion, there are positive signs for people planning to own homes in the future.  Consumers know that mistakes on your credit report do not mean you will never have that opportunity to have a home.  There is land for all types of property from modest, rural houses to luxury, high-profile mansions.  Lenders will be available to confidently satisfy and facilitate all consumer needs now and into the future.  And if those needs can be met with a rent to own option to smooth the transition, that is now possible to be part of the discussions leading towards signing your name on the dotted line.  

Childhood Memories

To discuss the topic of how cancer has touched my life is an emotional one to write about.  I immediately think of how it is affecting me in one way or the other when implementing how I was touched.  It does not create a positive connotation due to the nature of the topic.  I have not suffered from the illness myself but I did lose my father as a result of it.  I was very young at the time of his passing and do not have any recollections or memories of the man he was.  When I was growing up, I never really thought about that experience with much sadness for the most part.  My perspective, at that time, was not that I lost my father.  It was that I solely did not have one.  There was my mother and my siblings.  The rare moments when I had to face that reality were very complex however.  In elementary school, we would have breakfast with our parents once a year, alternating the genders.  Every other year I had to explain to a teacher that my father was not alive.  The response was usually a sympathetic one of “I am sorry to hear that”.   It created a single moment of tremendous sorrow with the confirmation that it was bad to have had that happen to me.  It let me know that there was an aspect of my life missing.  There was something that many others had but I could not have for myself.  Then I would have a classmate volunteer that I could accompany them and their dad to the event.  The first time this happened, I believe I cried but every time after that just became much easier to deal with.  As I matured, I started to think of how my life would be different if my father were living.  I would see images on television and in the neighborhood but there was nothing that I would directly try to emulate.  I was not searching merely for the presence of a father figure but I wanted to know how my circumstances would actually be changed?  The troubling question was whether the effect of my father being alive would have been positive or negative.  The presence of my father would create a two income household where my mother would not be working the majority of the day.  There would be a contrast in parenting techniques.  I would have an adult male to seemingly grow in the image of.  I may have had a younger sibling.  There may have been an environment of discipline enforced that produced good study habits and improved academic performance.  All of this could be possible or it could be worse.  What if he were to be abusive?  What if he caused undue stress that changed the direction of my life?  What if he were to pass at a later time that would have a more dramatic effect on me than when I was younger?  I think of these questions but I never truly answer them.  I just allow them to exist in my imagination.  The proverbial cancer of curiosity has a cost of a toll of its own.  The questions are left without being answered predominantly because I know further research into those inquiries would change the person I am today.  And again I do not really know if that would be for the better or the worse.