National Foundation for Credit Counseling Provides Financial Fast Facts in Preparation for the Holiday Season

This can be the most exciting time of year for families, as it’s coming up on the holiday shopping season. People will be spending and charging hundreds if not thousands of dollars, so it’s important to not fall deep into credit card debt. From charging holiday gifts to spending money on travel, parties, and decorations, many Americans are already asking themselves if they’re going to be in over their heads financially. Now as the Holidays creep closer, anyone who is worried about their financial fitness should focus on making sure new debt doesn’t pile on top of old. The non-profit organization, National Foundation for Credit Counseling wants to help ensure you, your family and friends are taking the necessary steps today, before swiping that plastic this season.

NFCC.org has launched a series of videos, giving access to free information called “Financial Fast Facts,” brief videos that can be utilized to ensure the right, financial steps are taken before the big holiday rush arrives. Simply log on to NFCC’s Financial Fast Facts and instantly watch “How to Know if You’re in Financial Trouble,” which includes financial warning signs and a quick quiz to help assess if you are facing financial danger yourself.

Some questions to ask yourself are:

• Are my bills always past due?
• Do I have arguments at home about money?
• Is debt affecting my job?
• Do I hide purchases from others?

If you worry charging those holiday expenses could send you over the edge financially, then there’s no better time than now to ask yourself these questions and take stock of potential threats in your fiscal behavior. Remember, smart financial practices should not be put on hold simply because holiday season arrives; in fact, a more conscious effort undoubtedly needs to be made before the spending ever begins. Log on today to learn more, and also be sure to share your holiday, money-saving tips on Facebook by visiting www.facebook.com/NFCCDebtAdvice.

National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association Promotes Career Opportunities with New Video

The job market is a tough one these days, and whether you are a recent high school grad, college grad, or simply looking to make a career change, finding a job that offers you a challenge and the chance to give back to the community can be a daunting task. The U.S. aggregate producers that comprise the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association have joined forces to develop new recruiting materials that’ll show that this industry can provide just that.

Did you know that the aggregate industry gives back to America, adding almost 40 billion dollars to the U.S. gross domestic product? In fact, for every $1 of industry output, $1.58 is returned! More than 100,000 men and women are currently employed by the NSSGA, and have been seeing the benefits firsthand for years. Currently, there are many and varied employment opportunities available within the industry.

In addition to propelling the economy, NSSGA and its members also feel it is important to protect the environment. They have developed several sustainability goals with a focus on being as environmentally conscious as possible. Members not only realize that wise, environmental choices are good business and good for business, but that life depends on Earth’s finite resources. NSSGA understands that we must make smart decisions now to ensure quality of life is preserved for future generations.

So what type of positions does the aggregates industry offer? Everything from:

 

• Human Resource Specialist
• Accountant and Manager
• Safety and Health
• IT and other office and management functions
• Engineering
• Operator of heavy equipment
• Truck drivers
• Production Manager
• And so much more!

To learn more about what the aggregates industry can offer you and to complete a survey, simply visit: http://www.foundation4thefuture.com. And be sure to check out NSSGA on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Stone-Sand-Gravel-Association/46772849391

Join in the Fight Against Major Diseases and Celebrate the Medical Advances Made Possible Through Clinical Research

Quintiles Launches an Easy-to-Use Website Designed to Drive Clinical Research Awareness, Understanding and Participation

Did you know that millions of clinical research participants are needed to help the fight against cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, viral diseases, heart disease and stroke? With the help of research participants just like you, we’re winning our fight against major killers… specifically five of the top 10 diseases in the U.S.:

• Heart disease is down 4.7%

• Cancer is down 1.8%

• Stroke is down 4.6%

• Diabetes is down 3.9%

• Flu and pneumonia is down 8.4%

Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics Report Aug 19, 2009.

These victories are all due to advancements in medicine made possible by clinical research. Unfortunately, a lack of participants for clinical trials is one of the major factors lengthening the development of new drugs. Seventy-five percent of the general public state they have little or no knowledge of clinical research and the participation process. This statistic needs to change, as clinical research plays a crucial role in identifying cures and therapies. If more folks understood the positive impact clinical research has on our society, then more would be willing to participate.

The good news is there is an effortless way to gain more knowledge. People who wish to learn more about their potential role in speeding new, safer drugs to market now have access to a global Website that provides important information about clinical research in order to encourage more people to champion clinical research and contribute to the promise of tomorrow’s medicines!

Sponsored by global biopharmaceutical services company Quintiles, the new Website, www.ClinicalResearch.com, presents easy-to-use, comprehensive information for those who have little or no understanding of clinical research and the value it brings to society. With just a few clicks, patients who visit www.ClinicalResearch.com can identify ongoing or future clinical trials appropriate for their disease or condition and narrow them down to those that are geographically convenient. What else can ClinicalResearch.com provide?

• The Web site puts you in touch with supporting information about clinical research
• www.ClinicalResearch.com also provides videos and news from recent studies

The clinical trial became the standard in developing drugs in 1962, and since then, the FDA has approved more than 1,019 novel therapies. Virtually all the medicines used today are a result of clinical research, including all drugs for cancer, heart disease, depression, HIV, Alzheimer’s and asthma. Clinical research through clinical trials is arguably the greatest medical invention of the 20th century. It continues to deliver life saving medicines and treatments and gives hope to patients in need of better care and effective medicines.

To hear patients and doctors tell their story about clinical trials click here.

Need another reason to consider clinical trials? The research pipeline holds over 9,605 potential breakthroughs and in order to keep making strides though, more volunteers are critical! Visit www.ClinicalResearch.com today to learn more and get involved.

Have more questions?

http://www.clinicalresearch.com/Patients/Documents/ClinicalResearchFAQ.pdf

Advance Health through Clinical Research on Facebook:

http://tinyurl.com/yl74qfu

Clinical Research on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/advancehealth

Clinical Research on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/advancehealth

National Foundation for Credit Counseling Urges You to Protect Your Identity This Week!

Did you know that even the most responsible of us can become a victim of identity theft? The nonprofit organization, National Foundation for Credit Counseling, has teamed up with Council of Better Business Bureaus to bring you Protect Your Identity Week.

Now more than ever it is important to protect ourselves and our families from theft and invasion, as nearly 10 million Americans were victims of identity theft last year, making this the fastest growing crime in America! Everyday we may be putting ourselves and our families at risk by simply writing a check, using a credit card or even our ATM cards. So the best protection against identity theft is education. By visiting www.ProtectYourIDNow.org, you can take a quiz and assess your risk of ID theft and learn helpful tips to keep you and your family safe. Additionally, the Web site allows you to find PYIW events in your area. Workshops, shredding and credit report reviews are some of the events taking place across the nation from Oct 17-24.

Since this crime is not going anywhere, it is time for us to fight back! Identity Theft comes in many forms, from Financial Identity Theft, to Government to Medical, and can be accomplished by practices such as:

• Dumpster Diving

• Skimming

• Phishing

• Changing Your Address

• “Old-Fashioned” Stealing

National Protect Your Identity Week is October 17-24th. Visit www.ProtectYourIDNow.org, where you will learn important tips and receive information on ways to get involved in National Protect Your Identity Week events.

Learn more today to start protecting yourself and your family for the future: www.ProtectYourIDNow.org

And be sure to check out Poor Than You and Money Under 30 for great features on Protect Your Identity Week:

http://poorerthanyou.com/2009/10/18/protect-your-mail-national-protect-your-identity-week/

http://www.moneyunder30.com/seven-signs-risk-identity-theft

Protect Your Identity Week Website:

www.ProtectYourIDNow.org

NFCC Official Facebook Page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/NFCCDebtAdvice

NFCC Twitter Updates:

ww.twitter.com/nfccdebtadvice

Today is World Sight Day!

As caring individuals, we do our very best to ensure the people we love around us are safe and healthy. Unfortunately, in developing countries, this is a much more difficult task.

ORBIS International, a non-profit, global development organization is on a mission to eliminate avoidable blindness in developing countries. ORBIS envisions a world where no one is needlessly blind, where quality eye care, education and treatment are available to every human being.

Now it’s time for us all to get involved, as TODAY, October 8^th is World Sight Day! You can help by setting aside one day during the Month of October to inform your friends, family, and fellow Blog readers about this initiative.

Did you know that an estimated 45 million children and adults are blind worldwide… and every year between 1 and 2 million more will lose their sight. What makes these facts even more upsetting is that 75 percent of cases could have been prevented, or their eyesight restored, if only people had access to proper eye care. Unless steps are taken now, it is estimated that by the year 2020 blindness will affect more than 76 million people! There is hope though. ORBIS, with support from Alcon, carries out programs onboard its Flying Eye Hospital and at hospitals in developing countries to help the blind see. While they are in these countries, ORBIS also trains local doctors and nurses in the latest sight-saving techniques so that they may gain the tools and knowledge needed to carry on the work that is done.

This year, ORBIS International will be giving everyone an xclusive inside look to see the great work that goes on first hand! These inside accounts are called “Eye Reports,” and will be added to the website weekly to include inspiring moments from the field.

Want to check out the latest news and updates? Simply visit: http://www.orbis-eyereports.org and be sure to check ORBIS out on Facebook!

Canon Creative Park Makes Learning Fun and Interactive

Parents and teachers know first-hand that creative thinking is a crucial part of a child’s development and universal education. So selecting projects that foster creative learning is extremely fundamental! However, having to come up with fresh, new ideas can often be a very nerve-wracking experience for both parents and teachers, leaving them with questions such as: Where can I go to find innovative projects? Will my kids stay interested? Where do I even begin? It is a difficult task to constantly come up with ideas, but luckily Canon’s Creative Parks for Creative Minds offers a free, online resource that can help bring fun, easy craft projects right into your home or classroom!

The Creative Park Web site offers ideas and templates with projects ranging from 3D Paper Crafts, to scrapbooks and calendars and even tips on digital photography, allowing children to expand their minds in an imaginative fashion. Creative Park is a simple, innovative way to teach children about geography, history, social studies, sciences and so much more. So whether your children want to build their very own Tower of London, or venture to the Great Pyramid, there is a template for every child’s imagination!

The smart ideas on Creative Park are both an easy and affordable way to turn your home or classroom into a creative environment. If you are interested in introducing Creative Park into your children’s education, simply visit http://www.learningtocreate.com to receive more information about this hands-on approach to learning.

Capture the imagination of your children today!

Enter the LMK Online Safety Sweepstakes Today!

As you may recall from the feature back in May highlighting this initiative, Girl Scouts LMK is an online safety campaign that aims to keep teens and parents informed and ahead of safety issues on the web. We are happy to announce the LMK Online Safety Sweepstakes from the “Let Me Know” partnership with GSUSA and Microsoft Windows.

You can enter today and be in the running to win a brand new desktop computer! There is no purchase necessary to enter the sweepstakes (see rules for details). Sweepstakes ends Monday, September 7 and the online entry form and official rules are found on the Web site: http://letmeknow.girlscouts.org.

Good luck!!

NFCC Offers “Financial Fast Facts”

With everything going on in the economy these days, you may not know where to go for advice. You find yourself asking: Who can I really trust? Who is reputable? Why do some companies charge me sky-high prices for mediocre advice?! All wonderful questions to ask yourself when dealing with such an important issue. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (also referred to as CCCS or Consumer Credit Counseling Service locally) wants to help folks gain access to free information called “Financial Fast Facts,” brief videos that can be utilized with minimal effort and headache!

When you log onto NFCC’s Financial Facts , you can instantly watch short videos filled with great advice from Gail Cunningham, NFCC’s Vice President. She’ll share some quick tips that’ll get you on a smart financial track. Some of the important topics Gail covers are: “Changing Your Credit Card Terms,” “Dealing with Job Loss,” “Debt Settlement 101,” and more! Want to check it out for yourself? You can do so by visiting: http://www.nfcc.org/FinancialEducation/FinancialFastFacts/fff.cfm?v=CreditScorePT1Logo

NFCC is also offering visitors a free DVD with tips on how to avoid foreclosure, so be sure to sign up for that freebie while you’re on the website! http://www.nfcc.org/Housing/orderdvd.cfm .

To give you a quick background, NFCC has been around since 1951 and proudly continues to remain the nation’s largest and longest serving national nonprofit credit counseling network — offering reputable and free services! And as you see, NFCC is now taking those efforts straight to the Blogosphere and to Facebook!

You can connect to the latest news, updates and videos from NFCC by joining:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Foundation-for-Credit-Counseling-NFCC/69791289272

www.MandelaDay.com: Make An Imprint Today!

Nelson Mandela has spent 67 years making the world a better place. Now it’s your turn to make a difference in your communities and around the world.

www.MandelaDay.com was created to inspire people to embrace Mr. Mandela’s values and make an imprint through service to their communities. Service could mean any number of community volunteer activities, such as feeding the homeless, being a big brother/big sister or visiting someone who is sick. Aimed at bringing together people around the world to fight poverty and promote peace and reconciliation, Mandela Day celebrates the idea that each individual has the power to transform the world and the ability to make an imprint. But boy do we still have work to do! Global movement for positive change begins with small actions, actions which we as Bloggers can help encourage through a voice online.

I encourage everyone to watch and share this moving video to check out some familiar faces already making their impact. You even have the ability to cut yourselves into the film and choose celebs to make your own fun, unique version! Simply sign up, log in, and start creating here! http://mandeladay.com/participate/inyourhands/

Will Rogers Institute and John Ratzenberger Join Forces for Diabetes Awareness

Diabetes Knowledge is the Key to Early Detection and Control

Did you know that Diabetes often goes undiagnosed, allowing many to cruise through 10 years of life without pinpointing what exactly is wrong? Some may wonder why they are always tired. Or maybe others wonder why their fingers are a little numb? Tiny abnormalities can easily get brushed aside or written off as a simple nuisance. But there may be a larger problem at hand, which can be caught early and kept under control with the proper knowledge. So why not educate yourself and loved ones?

Will Rogers Institute has joined with John Ratzenberger, best-known for playing mail carrier, Cliff Clavin on Cheers to create awareness about diabetes education and stress the importance of early detection in fighting the disease. Ratzenberger has spent the last 14 years of his life promoting health literacy for Diabetes, educating as many people as possible on this potentially life-threatening disease. Since Ratzenherger’s son has Type 1 Diabetes, he understands the importance of catching warning signs early. “Diabetes kills four times as many people as breast cancer and AIDS combined. Four times! And costs $92 billion every single year in after-care costs such as: dialysis, blindness, amputations, and prosthetics,” Ratzenberger stresses.

In efforts to educate the general public, Will Rogers Institute and Ratzenberger are sharing important facts about Diabetes. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Type 1 or Juvenile Diabetes, is where your immune system actually shuts down insulin production.

• Type 2 or adult – onset Diabetes, occurs later in life, and involves the disruption in the delivery of insulin within your body.

• Diabetes is one of the largest risk factors for stroke and heart attack.

• It is important to take notice of warning signs early no matter what your age, as Diabetes can pop up later on in life.

• Fitness and nutrition play a huge part in your overall health and well-being. It is important to stay active and eat nutritious foods.

To hear more from Ratzenberger, and his mission to educate as many people as he can about Diabetes, please watch this very special announcement: http://www.westglen.com/online/17741.html .

Additionally, Will Rogers Institute is offering free pamphlets, enabling the general public an easy way to gain quick facts and learn more about Diabetes. “What You Need to Know” is available by visiting: https://secure.webaloo.com/wrinstitute/orderbooks.asp.

While you are at the website, check out ways in which you can get involved and support WRI. It is through the help and aid of the general public that keeps programs like this going strong! For more information, check out http://www.wrinstitute.org.