Cancer charity confronts backlash over grant cuts (AP)

NEW YORK ? The renowned breast cancer charity Susan G. Komen for the Cure faced an escalating backlash Thursday over its decision to cut breast screening grants to Planned Parenthood. Some of Komen's local affiliates are openly upset, including all seven in California, and at least one top official has quit, reportedly in protest.

Meanwhile, Komen has been deluged with negative emails and Facebook postings, accusing it of knuckling under to pressure from anti-abortion groups, since The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that it was halting grants that Planned Parenthood affiliates used for breast exams and related services. The grants totaled $680,000 last year.

Planned Parenthood has been heartened by an outpouring of support in response to the cutoff. Besides $400,000 in smaller donations from 6,000 people, it is receiving $250,000 from a family foundation in Dallas and a $250,000 pledge announced Thursday by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to match future donations.

In Washington, 26 U.S. senators ? all Democrats except for independent Bernie Sanders, of Vermont ? signed a letter calling on Komen to reconsider its decision.

"It would be tragic if any woman ? let alone thousands of women ? lost access to these potentially lifesaving screenings because of a politically motivated attack," the senators wrote.

Komen's top leaders, in their first news conference since the controversy erupted, denied Planned Parenthood's assertion that the decision was driven by pressure from anti-abortion groups.

"We don't base our funding decisions ... on whether one side or the other will be pleased," said Komen's founder and CEO, Nancy Brinker, depicting the criticism as a mischaracterization of the charity's goals and mission.

Komen has said the decision stemmed from newly adopted criteria barring grants to organizations under investigation ? affecting Planned Parenthood because of an inquiry by a Republican congressman acting with encouragement from anti-abortion activists.

Brinker said Thursday that there were additional factors, notably changes in the types of breast-health service providers it wanted to support. However, she said grants would continue this year to three of the 19 Planned Parenthood affiliates ? in Denver, California's Orange County, and Waco, Texas ? because they served clientele with few other breast-screening options.

A source with direct knowledge of decision-making at Komen's headquarters in Dallas gave a different account, saying the grant-making criteria were adopted with the deliberate intention of targeting Planned Parenthood. The criteria's impact on Planned Parenthood and its status as the focus of government investigations were highlighted in a memo distributed to Komen affiliates in December.

According to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of repercussions, a driving force behind the move was Karen Handel, who was hired by Komen last year as vice president for public policy after losing a campaign for governor in Georgia in which she stressed her anti-abortion views and frequently denounced Planned Parenthood.

Brinker, in an interview with MSNBC, said Handel didn't have a significant role in the policy change.

The source also said that Mollie Williams, who had been Komen's director of community health programs, had resigned in protest over the grant cutoff.

Williams, in an email, said she could not comment on her departure for reasons of professional confidentiality, but she was clear about her views.

"I have dedicated my career to fighting for the rights of the marginalized and underserved," she wrote. "And I believe it would be a mistake for any organization to bow to political pressure and compromise its mission."

Williams said she was saddened by the rift because she admired both Komen and Planned Parenthood.

"I am hopeful their passionate and courageous leaders, Nancy Brinker and Cecile Richards, can swiftly resolve this conflict in a manner that benefits the women they both serve."

Among Komen's affiliates, there were clear signs of discomfort with the decision. The Connecticut branch received scores of supportive emails after expressing frustration about the cutoffs and good will toward Planned Parenthood.

All seven Komen affiliates in California, in a joint letter to their congressional delegation, said they were "strongly opposed" to the policy change and were working to overturn it.

"Our commitment to our mission is unwavering," the letter said. "This is a misstep in that journey and ... we will do whatever it takes to do what is right for the health of women and men in California."

In New York City, a member of the Komen affiliate's medical advisory board said she would resign if the decision wasn't changed soon.

"Komen is a wonderful organization and does tremendous things for women, but this is straying from their mission," said Dr. Kathy Plesser, a radiologist. "It's sad."

The board of the Arkansas affiliate issued a statement noting that the decision was made at Komen headquarters "without input from affiliates," and called for the new policy to be changed.

"We hope Komen national will reverse its position on granting to organizations under investigation because we feel decisions of this nature should be made only after the investigation is complete," the statement said.

At the Orange County affiliate in Costa Mesa, Calif., executive director Lisa Wolter said there have been lots of exchanges with headquarters.

"We're very troubled by the reaction, and we want to make sure there are clarifications," she said.

The American Association of University Women, in protest over Komen's decision, said it was scrapping plans to offer a Komen Race for the Cure as one of the activities at its upcoming National Conference for College Women Student Leaders.

"AAUW is disappointed that some are playing politics with women's health and jeopardizing care for the most vulnerable among us," said Lisa Maatz, the association's director of public policy.

According to Planned Parenthood, its health centers performed more than 4 million breast exams over the past five years, including nearly 170,000 as a result of Komen grants.

Though comments posted on Komen's Facebook page seemed to be mostly critical of the grant decision, Brinker said at her news conference that donations to the charity had increased since Tuesday.

She also said there were other organizations receiving Komen grants, in addition to Planned Parenthood, that might be adversely affected by the new criteria about investigations, but she did not identify them.

___

Online:

Susan G. Komen for the Cure: http://ww5.komen.org/

Planned Parenthood: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/

___

David Crary can be followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/CraryAP

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/health/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120203/ap_on_he_me/us_planned_parenthood_komen

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The things that I have learned through divorce ... - Step Talk

I was brought up in a concept that it takes a village to raise a child. My grandmother lived with me for the first 9 yrs of my life, after that we still had daily contact. I knew that if I screwed up in the neighborhood, i would get a tongue lashing from the neighbor, and my parents would know before I got home. I was brought up that children were to be seen not heard, and that I was a direct reflection upon my parents, and that you respect your elders.

When I divorced, I moved in with my parents (mom and sd). They helped raise my daughter (10mo at the time) while I went to school. After graduation I stayed on with them, my sdad babysat, was my taxi service for DD back and forth to school. More importantly my dd was brought up with the same concept that family pulls together to help the one with the broken wing. I respected my parents home, I didn't like living there, but it allowed me to give a life to my daughter that we would not have had at the time- it was welfare, or parents). SHe had my sdad wrapped around her little finger by the time she was 18 months old. She walked on water - and he did too! my mom and sdad actually successfully blended a family. While my step sibs are not as "close" as my bio brother- we have one thing in common - our parents and it is enough to bring us together an keep in contact.

Right after my divorce, my mother sat me down (she was a NCP, and so was my SD). She let me rant rave and say mean things about my ex. Then we put our wine glasses down, and she said........now what are you really going to do - because the one thing you need to understand is that custody can change at any given moment, and you need to learn to treat him like you would want to be treated if he had custody. SO I was one of those annoying ex wives that constantly called.

I gave update about doctors appts
Dentist appts
school activities
daycare providers and choices
ear piercings
drivers ed
surgeries
bad attitudes and fights.
makeup
cell phones,
first tooth
first steps
etc.

He was a long distance dad from the time that she was 2.5. He received 90% of her school papers, knew what was talked about in every parent teacher conference.

If he would have helped me make the decision when we were married he helped me make it as her parent. In 19 years I never took him back for more support even though he is making 2 times what he was making when we divorced (she is a full time college student and we live in a state where he would have to help with that and support until 21). I never even thought about it. Occasionally I had to ask him for something extra. He obliged. He's remarried now has a young ss, I try not to ask for help now as I know he has a new family.

When I remarried, I did everything to be included and to include skids in our family. DH is NCP - I was met with resistance from the BM. Our 12 years have been hard, they have taken their toll on me. I took my role serious. I treated the skids like my own- what does that mean? They had beds, rooms, clothes, toys and experiences. If I would do it for mine I would do it for his. I love them dearly which is the reason that I am angry about what I have lost. I have lost the opportunity to love them, to know them, to be a part of their lives. They have lost the opportunity to love me, to know me, and to be a part of my life.

What would I like to tell BM
It takes a village to raise a child. I am not the mother, didn't want to be, but could have been a part of their lives that would have made your life easier.
I could have curtailed my husband's anger and turned that around into respect for you as a parent, instead your treatment of him regarding his place in his children's lives fueled even more - it became an all consuming inferno - I would like to thank you for that - it almost engulfed me to.
My skids could have and would have had everything or most everything that you wanted them to have (except the car).

BM, most of all...........they would have had their dad's love and involvement. For all your insecurities and fears you insisted on taking that away. 3 yr old children don't tell their BM's that they hate their dads house without guidance to hate. SS loved me we were inseparable. SD would have loved being here if you had told her that it was ok to love me. OH you said you did.

You have your children- congratulations - you have entitled children who hate their dad, who are angry and depressed, who have been in counseling for 4 yrs to deal with their "rough" life.

I sit back, toast my mom and say thanks, I treated my ex as I wanted to be treated if I was a NCP. I never lost sight that EX was the dad, as such he had certain rights, above all he had the right to be a parent and be treated as such.

just my thoughts tonight as I am sad that my skids are not a part of my family.

Source: http://www.steptalk.org/node/59426

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Blaine sophomore takes it to upperclassmen on the mat | My ABC ...

by Samantha Lefebvre
Sports Writer

From first hitting the mat when he was in Kindergarten to among the state?s top wrestlers at 195 pounds, Blaine sophomore Caleb Butler continues to thrive and climb his way to the top in the challenging sport he fell in love with years ago.

Butler is 16-2 on the mat this season and is currently ranked seventh at 195 pounds in Class AAA . He is one out of four underclassman to be ranked in the top ten for this weight class and the only one in Class AAA, which is usually dominated by upperclassman.

But when it comes to wrestling seniors and juniors, Butler does not let the age and status of his opponents bother him. To him age is just a number and all he focuses on is their level of experience.

?It seems like I have been wrestling the same amount of years as them, so that is the way I think of it,? Butler said. ?I don?t think of how old I am. I just think of how many years I?ve been wrestling compared to how many years they have been wrestling.?

So far this season Butler has wrestled and beaten top ranked state athletes including Mound-Westonka?s Will Van Sant who is currently ranked third at 195 pounds in Class AAA.

?He is in a tough weight class,? said Bengals first-year coach Josh Prokosch. ?It is a solid weight class to be in as a sophomore.?

As the post-season approaches Butler prepares to take on top ranked wrestlers in his section in order to get to the state tournament. Standing in his path are juniors Michael Burckhardt of Coon Rapids and Mitchell Eull of St. Michael-Albertville. Burckhardt and Eull are both in Section 7AAA and are ranked fifth and fourth, respectively.

?I?ve never wrestled them,? said Butler. ?But I want too.?

Despite the tough road to state Butler has his eyes set on getting to the state tournament this year and Prokosch thinks that goal is well within reach.

?The sky is the limit for him,? Prokosch said. ?He should do well in sections and state.?

This season is Prokosch?s first year as head coach in Blaine and also his first year working with Butler.

?He is the nicest guy,? Prokosch said about Butler. ?He coaches them [his teammates] and he tries to help them. He is a great team player.?

According to Butler, Prokosch has helped him and the rest of the team by not only teaching them the necessary skills for the sport but he has also offered many words of encouragement.

?He always has motivational words, more than our last coach,? Butler said. ?Our last coach made us run more, do lots of cardio and just drill-drill-drill. Our coach now still drills, but he also teaches us more moves and helps with techniques that require less muscles and stamina.?

This season is Butler?s third on varsity for the Bengals. His dedication to the sport and his teammates has earned him a captain role this season.

?Being a sophomore and a captain is incredible,? Prokosch said. ?He shows his leadership from a vocal stand point and by doing more than what is expected of him. That is rare to see in someone who is younger than the rest of the guys, yet they look up to him.?

Not only does Butler lead the team in skill, but he also tries to lead by example. Before his matches, you can see Butler shouting, ?Shoot. Shoot. Shoot.? from the sidelines as his teammates try to take down their opponents.

?He is invaluable to the team,? Prokosch said of Butler. ?The more kids you have like him on the team the more it makes my job easier. Having him for another couple years is? great. He will build our program and when he is gone hopefully we will have a stronger team.?

Although he still has two and a half more years left in high school, Butler says that we would love to wrestle in college.

?It would be great to get to that next level of competition,? said Butler. ?I like the [University of Minnesota]. They have a good wrestling team and a good engineering program.?

But for now Butler remains focused on winning matches and going on the mat with the mindset that he can beat anyone.

?I go in thinking that people are better than me,? said Butler. ?You can never down play anybody. If you think someone is easy to beat then you don?t wrestle to your full potential.?

The Bengals will be wrestling at home on Feb. 3 against Maple Grove and will be holding an invitational the following day, Feb. 4.

Source: http://myabcsportszone.com/2012/02/02/blaine-sophomore-takes-it-to-upperclassmen-on-the-mat/

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Insurance Auto Life Health Home | Motor Vehicle Insurance ...

Acquiring auto insurance quotes for your auto might be so easy given that cash just isn?t a problem for anybody. Regrettably everybody, yes even the rich would wish to get the best deal out of the quantity of funds they?re willing to spend for one. It is not a question of the scarcity of insurance organizations that provide auto insurance quotes but far more on the scarcity of reasonably priced auto insurance quotes that insurance organizations present.

Not all organizations that offer automobile insurance are of the same caliber and those who have tried comparing quotes from just one firm to another will be a lot more than willing to support this notion. Given that your vehicle could at the moment be insured, by the time that you want to renew it, the value have already improved to the point that it truly is currently impractical to sustain it thus this will be the time that you simply would want to search for other auto insurance quotes that could possibly be a good deal less costly.

But there are certain instances by which auto insurance quotes can actually be reduced by applying specific measures that?s within a car or truck owner?s control. As talked about earlier, no two insurance firms are alike no matter what. They generally have different approaches of identifying risks and what you probably need to do is to make comparisons amongst them as to how do they truly do that. The far more quotes that you could compare would provide greater odds for you finding the least expensive accessible auto insurance quotes to select from.

Just before you lastly choose to sign up for auto insurance quotes, you can find more probabilities by which the price can turn out to be lower. This could be completed by checking the status of the automobile model in insurance charts. Each and every vehicle would have a various rate so if it comes about that the auto which is tough to be insured on account of its rate, you may think about altering to a car that fairs better in insurance charts.

The name of the individual in which the automobile would be to be insured may also be an enormous factor in lowering the cost of auto insurance quotes, such as that of an MD car insurance. If it truly is possible, it is possible to have the name of a person in your family that has the highest credit score. The greater the credit score of an individual might guarantee businesses that their transaction with this person with regards to protecting the auto is also at its highest giving them much less factors to worry about paying for an accident soon.

Looking to find the best deal on auto insurance quotes, then visit our site to find the best advice on car insurance in Maryland for you.

Source: http://insurance-auto-life-health-home.com/2012/02/motor-vehicle-insurance-coverage-quotations-things-that-may-decrease-them/

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Top Home Improvement Tips To Save You Money | Webmaster ...

Keeping a healthy home and your wallet full

For most purchasing a house is a huge long term investment Just like most investments, keeping a close eye and learning what maintenance needs to be performed to keep your home healthy takes time. Making sure to clean the gutters and downspouts, roof and exterior siding are paramount to keeping your house well maintained and prevent future unwanted repair billsWhen visitors first pass by your home, what is the first thing they notice? The exterior of your house is a gateway into your interior maintenance habits. The outside of your house can begin to look darker and appear older because dirt, mold, and water stains have accumulated. This can be caused by many sources such as water from sprinklers spraying the house, grass and debris hitting your home from mowing the yard, heavy rains, high winds, and snow. Making sure to keep up with the yearly mainenance needs of your home is important, not only will your siding and windows last longer and they will continue to shine for years to come.
Keeping gutters free of leaves, small twigs, and other debris is an important part of proper home maintenance. Plugged downspouts will most certainly lead to bigger concens such as high repair costs and almost certainly over time a decrease in value of your property. When downspouts get stopped up, water can?t drain from the roofline and will start to erode the fascia boards and can lead to water damage below. Water pooling down on the gorund will erode soil and can seep into the foundation as well as accelerate wood decay.

One of the most important reasons to have your gutters cleaned before the winter is is pooling water freezes. Pooling water will cause a slipping hazard as well as cause damage to the foundation. When water freezes, it expands, if it seeps into the foundation it can most certainly crack causing thousands of dollars in damage Also, when the rain water freezes it cant drain off of the roof properly if the gutters are clogged, which can further cause more problems.

The roof over your head services as a shield between the elements and the nice warm interior. Constant vigilance must be taken to keep water flowing properly from the roof line and keep your family financially safe from hardship and the elements. Moisture and weather exposure sets the foundation for moss, mildew, and algae growth. When algae and mold start to form on the roof they appear as black or green areas. Moss and algae sets the tone for an unkept home and is very obvious to your visitors that your home needs attention.

Algae and mold can also grown on your siding which needs to be cleaned periodically. Without adequate cleaning the outside walls of your home will begin to look faded and will weaken over time. Regular maintenance is the key to maintaining a healthy home and lower overall maintenance costs.

The climate in which your home is located can determine how often your home needs cleaning, other factors such as: How many trees are located close to your home, the amound of dust blowing around, heavy rains and weather patterns. Closely monitor your house, every spring and fall inspect the siding, roof and windows and make sure everything is maintained properly.

Consider having a professional clean your home because they have the proper tools, equipment, and knowledge required. Using a high powered pressure washer to clean the outside of your house can strip the paint right off, forcing you to spend your hard earned money and time repainting. Professionals use specialized methods to ensure the job gets done without causing any unnecessary damage, they can also guarantee their work. So remember to closely examine your home and get it cleaned, before you get cleaned out because of high-priced repairs.

To learn more about keeping your home healthy visit our Portland window cleaning website
For more info about keeping your home healthy take a peak at our roof cleaning Portland Oregon web site

Related posts:

1. Save Money And Time With These Home Improvement Tips
2. Did You See That Roof? www.fsboowners.com
3. Home Improvement Tips To Increase Your Home?s Value
4. Easy Home Improvement Strategies Designed to Save You Money
5. Quick Roof Repair And Maintenance Tips

Source: http://webmasterarticles.net/top-home-improvement-tips-to-save-you-money/

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VW 'Star Wars' Super Bowl ad isn't one, sort of

By msnbc.com staff

Earlier this week, we talked with Volkswagen about their "Star Wars"-themed Super Bowl ad. Today, the company released the spot that will run on game day Sunday.

We'll try not to waste too much of your time so you can get to watching it, but we do have the question: What the hell does a dog losing weight have to do with Mos Eisley?

The spot:

{"contentId":"10289990","totalVotes":"2265"}

This ad ...

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?What do you think? Join the discussion on Facebook.

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Source: http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/01/10289990-volkswagens-star-wars-super-bowl-ad-isnt-one-sort-of-maybe

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Knowledge Management And Communications Specialist - Devex

Dexis Consulting Group is seeking a junior to mid-level Knowledge Management and Communications Specialist to support the execution of a series of knowledge management, communications, training, and research activities in the area of public?private partnerships for international development. The candidate will report to the Chief of Party for the Technical Services Support and work on a regular basis with the Communications Director and Training Workstream leader. This position is part of the Technical Services Support contract with Dexis Consulting Group to oversee the research and technical leadership agenda for Global Partnerships Division, Office of Innovation and Development Alliances, US Agency for International Development. The position will be based in Washington, DC and is expected for the remaining three-year duration of the contract.

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The primary responsibility of the position is to contribute to the development and delivery of the project?s Knowledge Management and Communications activities. The position also will support training activities on an as-needed basis.

?

Ideal candidates for the position bring experience in knowledge management and/or communications and knowledge of public?private partnerships for international development.

?

Responsibilities for the position include the following:

• Support the Communications Director in the implementation of the Global Partnerships Division?s Communications Strategy
• Provide writing and editing support, including research, drafting and editing support data analysis, fact-checking, talking points, blurbs, speeches, power point presentations, press and media releases and other materials on demand, or in response to internal and external requests
• Write, review, and edit materials for dissemination through a variety of channels to the Global Partnerships division?s key audiences
• Contribute to the identification and development of stories, lessons learned, case studies, and good practices that have the potential to capture the attention of wide range of audiences and partners
• Contribute to the development and implementation of all marketing and outreach strategies, including a social media strategy
• Support the external and internal websites
• Support all aspects of planning for training events
• Prepare inputs to training materials
• Write and conduct surveys with users and analyze and interpret results of these surveys
• Support the Training Workstream leader in coordinating multimedia materials with outside vendors (e.g., videographers, transcript providers).

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Candidates should possess the following criteria to be considered:

• Bachelor?s degree required, master?s degree preferred, journalism, marketing, communications, international affairs, international development, or related field.

• 5?8 years of overall professional experience.

• 3+ years of experience working in knowledge management and communications?

• Proven writing and editing skills with an ability to convey complex ideas in a clear, direct and lively style

• Initiative, high standards, eye for detail, creativity, problem-solving ability

• Ability to engage both internal and external stakeholders;

• Ability to work capably under stress and to juggle multiple tasks within tight deadlines

• Strong diplomatic, interpersonal, and teamwork skills and demonstrated client orientation.

• Self-starter who can work as part of a creative and results-oriented team

• Goal-oriented multi-tasker, proficient in prioritizing tasks, with strong project and time management skills

• Excellent communication skills

• Flexibility and sense of humor

• Must be authorized to work in the United States

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Preferred qualifications:

• Knowledge of and experience with public?private partnerships for international development
• Group facilitation skills and training experience
• Experience with user needs assessment and user-centered design?of training and communications materials and activities
• Experience working with multimedia and the ability to learn new media tools quickly
• Knowledge of and experience with social media platforms and their respective audiences and environments (Facebook, Digg, Youtube, Twitter, Flickr etc.) and how they can be deployed in different scenarios

?

Dexis Consulting Group is an international development consulting firm that provides economic revitalization services to developing regions worldwide. Established in 2001, the firm has completed 200 assignments in over 50 countries. The company?s head offices are located in downtown Washington, DC, across from USAID.?Dexis is an equal opportunity employer.

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Source: http://www.devex.com/en/jobs/knowledge-management-and-communications-specialist-5059-2

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