Leadership LIVE! - Only 3 Days Away!

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We are only three days away from our first Leadership LIVE! event, set for 7:00 pm on Monday, December 10th. To participate, go to the link that will be posted on the Texas 4-H Website (http://texas4-h.tamu.edu).
Please encourage your 4-H members, volunteers and anyone in the community to participate in this leadership development program!  Everyone is encouraged and welcome to register for FREE to win some great door prizes! To do so, visit the Leadership LIVE! webpage at: http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/leadershiplive.

Texas 4-H Robotics Contest Kick-off Events and Robotics Trainings 2013

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Educational WorkshopsPre-registration is required on allworkshops and Kick-off Events Trainings so we may adequately prepareresources.http://agrilife.org/d64h/robotics/is the link for all Workshop Pre-registration.

• Saturday January 12 - Cotulla – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – 706 Carrizo St. Cotulla, TX  (in conjunction with District 12 4-H Volunteer Workshops)  - Contact Luis Saldana for exact event location
• Saturday January 19 - Lubbock - 9 a.m. - Noon: New Teacher Workshop, Whitacre College of Engineering, Texas Tech University, Electrical Engineering Building, Room 217 (Seacat Room); Contact Dr. Tanja Karp by January 9^th
• Saturday February 9 - Fort Stockton - 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. – District Six Extension Headquarters - (lunch provided) - Contact mtarpley@ag.tamu.edu for more information.
• Saturday February 16 - College Station – 10AM to 3 PM -  Kick-off Event and Robotics Training - 4180 Highway 6 (Texas 4-H Building) -  Event Contact mtarpley@ag.tamu.edu for more information. 
• Thursday and Friday February 21 and 22 - Dallas – National 4-H Robotics Training Workshop – Dallas Research and Extension Center (17360 Coit Road, Dallas, TX 75252) – Dallas, Ellis and Tarrant Counties with new LM 4-H Robotics Clubs must attend, but everyone wanting a first-class lesson on how to teach robotics should attend.  No registration cost, and lunch provided each day.
• Saturday February 23 (this will be presented as GEAR only – TTU is the regional hub for GEAR, no 4-H contest information on Technical Interview or Team Presentation will be covered)  - Lubbock - 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. Kickoff Event at Texas Tech, Biology Lecture Hall 110.
  (The competition challenge will be presented; rules, game pieces, and game mats will be distributed; and teams will be working on hands-on engineering challenges.)  Contact Dr. Tanja Karp by January 9^th
• Saturday February 23 - Dallas – 9 a.m. – Noon - Kickoff Event – Dallas Research and Extension Center (17360 Coit Road, Dallas, TX 75252)
• Saturday March 2 - San Angelo – Noon to 3 PM – Tom Green 4-H Building – Kick-off Event – 3168 HWY 67 - Event Contact mtarpley@ag.tamu.edu for more information.

Additional Workshops can be coordinated through your CountyExtension Office.

Matt Tarpley - email: mtarpley@ag.tamu.eduExtension Program Specialist 4-H4-H Science National Liaison 432-336-8585 office

Tweet-Up on 4-H Scholarships in 2013!

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Join the Dr. Toby Lepley as he talks about the Texas 4-H Opportunity Scholarship Program and answers any last minute questions 4-H families or County Extension Agents have about the 2013 Scholarship Application Process. 

The "Tweet-Up" will be held on January 10, 2013 from 7 pm to 8:30 pm.  This “tweet-up” will use twitter and to join the conversation, just tag each of your post with the hash tag of #TX4HCONVO and @texas4h.  Using this hash tag as you post will then let everyone know your questions and thoughts and we can respond back. 

2013 Volunteer Award Nomination Site Now Open

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The Texas 4-H and Youth Development Program is pleased to announce the 2013 award nomination process for our volunteers, Extension employees, and supporters through the2013 Texas 4-H Volunteer Recognition Program.  The complete packet which includes all award descriptions and the submission process can be found on-line by clicking HERE.

ALL award applications will be submitted on-line through the Texas 4-H and Youth Development website.  The application submission process is currently open and will end on March 15th, 2013.  Any Extension employee, 4-H member and/or volunteer may make nominations for the awards.  Therefore, County Extension Agents are encouraged to share this information with co-workers, volunteers and 4-H members.   Self-nomination is discouraged. 

PRIOR HONOREES
A list of prior award winners is available on the Texas 4-H Website.  Please review this list to ensure the person you are nominating has not been honored with the award previously.  An award can only be presented one-time to an individual and/or supporter.

NOMINATION DEADLINES
Nomination Application Submission Dates:  March 15, 2013
Notification to Award Winners: April 1, 2012 to April 15, 2013

4-H Has Talent

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The Texas 4-H and Youth Development Program is pleased to announce this year's 2013 4-H Has Talent Competition. The Texas 4-H Has Talent Competition has grown tremendously over the last three years. We are looking for another great year of acts and excitement at Roundup. Deadline for entries is April 1st. For more information see attached documents. Please help us in spreading the work about this great opportunity.

National Oilwell Varco's (NOV) Mission Statement

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National Oilwell Varco utilized a Shared Values Statement.

Integrity: We say what we mean, our actions reflect our words, and we honor our commitments.

Customer Focus: Our customers are our number one priority and we consistently meet or exceed their expectations.

Enthusiasm: We are passionate about our work and take pride in designing quality into the products, services and solutions that we provide.

Stakeholder Value Creation: We employ creativity and initiative in the creation of stakeholder value and are recognized and rewarded for it.

Performance Drives Results: We create our future through our choices and actions today.

Teamwork: We collaborate with our suppliers, our customers and each other to optimize the sum of all individual efforts.

Citizenship: We honor the culture and laws of all areas in which we participate and demonstrate respect for all.

Source: NatOil.com

Tags: National Oilwell Varco, NOV, Mission Statement, Mission Statements, Values

Smith International's (SII) Mission Statement

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MISSION

Our people and technology make us a world leader in drilling tools and services. We work together to constantly improve customer satisfaction, employee opportunity and shareholder value.

PHILOSOPHY

Committing ourselves to integrity, we will:

• Earn the respect, confidence and loyalty of OUR CUSTOMERS by serving them so well that they profit from their association with us.



• Provide OUR PEOPLE the highest degree of challenge and opportunity so they can realize their ambitions in terms of career, rewards and family security.



• Fulfill our obligations to OUR INVESTORS to such an extent that they are both proud and eager to share in our enterprise. Be fair to OUR SUPPLIERS and encourage their contributions to our success.



• Not malign OUR COMPETITORS and gain their respect through our ethical practices. Be good citizens of OUR COMMUNITIES and OUR COUNTRIES.

Source: Smith International

Tags: Smith International, SII, Mission Statement, Mission Statements, Values

Publix's Mission Statement

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Our Mission at Publix is to be the premier quality food retailer in the world.To that end we commit to be:

• Passionately focused on Customer Value,


• Intolerant of Waste,


• Dedicated to the Dignity, Value and Employment Security of our Associates,


• Devoted to the highest standards of stewardship for our Stockholders, and


• Involved as Responsible Citizens in our Communities.

Source: Publix.com

Tags: Publix, Mission Statement, Mission Statements

Franklin Resources' (BEN) Mission Statement

To contact us Click HERE
Our mission is to be the premier global investment management organization. Guided by our core values and unique perspective, we achieve this mission by offering high quality investment solutions, providing outstanding service and attracting, motivating and retaining talented people.

Our core values reflect what is most important to us as a company.

1. Put clients first. We strive to know and meet our clients' needs, and we fully accept our fiduciary responsibility to protect shareholders' interests.

2. Build relationships. We work to establish enduring relationships with our clients and business partners. We value collaboration and cooperation in our workplaces.

3. Achieve quality results. We value professional excellence and expertise, and we work together to produce consistent, competitive results for our clients.

4. Work with integrity. We speak and act in an honest manner. We believe in being accountable for the impact we have on others.

Source: Franklin Templeton Investments

Tags: Frankline Templeton Investments, BEN, Mission Statement, Mission Statements

Terex's (TEX) Mission Statement

To contact us Click HERE
Our Purpose

• To improve the lives of people around the world.

Our Mission

• To delight our current and future construction, infrastructure, mining, and other customers with value added offerings that exceed their current and future needs.


• To achieve our mission we must attract the best people by creating a Terex culture that is safe, exciting, creative, fun and embraces continuous improvement.

Our Vision

• Customer - to be the most customer responsive company in the industry as determined by our customers


• Financial - to be the most profitable company in the industry as measured by ROIC


• Team Member - to be the best place to work in the industry as determined by our team members

Source: Terex

Tags: Terex, TEX, Mission Statement, Mission Statements, Vision Statement

National Oilwell Varco's (NOV) Mission Statement

To contact us Click HERE
National Oilwell Varco utilized a Shared Values Statement.

Integrity: We say what we mean, our actions reflect our words, and we honor our commitments.

Customer Focus: Our customers are our number one priority and we consistently meet or exceed their expectations.

Enthusiasm: We are passionate about our work and take pride in designing quality into the products, services and solutions that we provide.

Stakeholder Value Creation: We employ creativity and initiative in the creation of stakeholder value and are recognized and rewarded for it.

Performance Drives Results: We create our future through our choices and actions today.

Teamwork: We collaborate with our suppliers, our customers and each other to optimize the sum of all individual efforts.

Citizenship: We honor the culture and laws of all areas in which we participate and demonstrate respect for all.

Source: NatOil.com

Tags: National Oilwell Varco, NOV, Mission Statement, Mission Statements, Values

Smith International's (SII) Mission Statement

To contact us Click HERE
MISSION

Our people and technology make us a world leader in drilling tools and services. We work together to constantly improve customer satisfaction, employee opportunity and shareholder value.

PHILOSOPHY

Committing ourselves to integrity, we will:

• Earn the respect, confidence and loyalty of OUR CUSTOMERS by serving them so well that they profit from their association with us.



• Provide OUR PEOPLE the highest degree of challenge and opportunity so they can realize their ambitions in terms of career, rewards and family security.



• Fulfill our obligations to OUR INVESTORS to such an extent that they are both proud and eager to share in our enterprise. Be fair to OUR SUPPLIERS and encourage their contributions to our success.



• Not malign OUR COMPETITORS and gain their respect through our ethical practices. Be good citizens of OUR COMMUNITIES and OUR COUNTRIES.

Source: Smith International

Tags: Smith International, SII, Mission Statement, Mission Statements, Values

Publix's Mission Statement

To contact us Click HERE
Our Mission at Publix is to be the premier quality food retailer in the world.To that end we commit to be:

• Passionately focused on Customer Value,


• Intolerant of Waste,


• Dedicated to the Dignity, Value and Employment Security of our Associates,


• Devoted to the highest standards of stewardship for our Stockholders, and


• Involved as Responsible Citizens in our Communities.

Source: Publix.com

Tags: Publix, Mission Statement, Mission Statements

Franklin Resources' (BEN) Mission Statement

To contact us Click HERE
Our mission is to be the premier global investment management organization. Guided by our core values and unique perspective, we achieve this mission by offering high quality investment solutions, providing outstanding service and attracting, motivating and retaining talented people.

Our core values reflect what is most important to us as a company.

1. Put clients first. We strive to know and meet our clients' needs, and we fully accept our fiduciary responsibility to protect shareholders' interests.

2. Build relationships. We work to establish enduring relationships with our clients and business partners. We value collaboration and cooperation in our workplaces.

3. Achieve quality results. We value professional excellence and expertise, and we work together to produce consistent, competitive results for our clients.

4. Work with integrity. We speak and act in an honest manner. We believe in being accountable for the impact we have on others.

Source: Franklin Templeton Investments

Tags: Frankline Templeton Investments, BEN, Mission Statement, Mission Statements

Terex's (TEX) Mission Statement

To contact us Click HERE
Our Purpose

• To improve the lives of people around the world.

Our Mission

• To delight our current and future construction, infrastructure, mining, and other customers with value added offerings that exceed their current and future needs.


• To achieve our mission we must attract the best people by creating a Terex culture that is safe, exciting, creative, fun and embraces continuous improvement.

Our Vision

• Customer - to be the most customer responsive company in the industry as determined by our customers


• Financial - to be the most profitable company in the industry as measured by ROIC


• Team Member - to be the best place to work in the industry as determined by our team members

Source: Terex

Tags: Terex, TEX, Mission Statement, Mission Statements, Vision Statement

The Chocolate Mill is coming to Broadway

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 New pastries and confections will soon be available downtown when chocolatier Frank Vollkommer opens his second Chocolate Mill at 382 Broadway. The bakery and confectionery will be located next-door to Boca Bistro, where Johnny’s Italian Ice Cream used to be. 
The pastry shop will sell a variety of handmade artisan foods, including cakes, cookies, pastries, confections, savory, and more. The Chocolate Mill will also offer special-occasion cakes to order, including wedding cakes. A full line of chocolates will be made on the premises. Barista coffee drinks will be available, but the Saratoga store will not offer breakfast and lunch like the original Glens Falls Chocolate Mill.
All the Chocolate Mill’s products are made from scratch, according to Vollkommer. For those who would like to take a bit of the shop experience home with them, merchandise is available: boxed chocolates, coffees, teas, mugs, towels, aprons, and assorted gift baskets. Products can be shipped as gifts.
The shop is a balanced blend of old-world charm and new-world sophistication, he said.
Vollkommer, a Saratoga native, is an exclusive certified master pastry chef and has been an instructor at the Culinary Institute of America. He originally studied at the New England Culinary Institute.
“After school, I worked my way up from dish-washer to chef,” he said. “Now I am certified by the American Culinary Federation. Only four people in the country have recently taken that 10-day exam.”
Vollkommer’s first Chocolate Mill has been at 164 Glen Street, Glens Falls, for three years. It offers all the edibles of the Saratoga store, as well as a full-service coffee bar and café. Customers can dine in or order out. 
The master pastry chef decided to venture into Spa City because a notable percentage of his Glens Falls customers live in or around Saratoga, and had requested he open a southern location. 
“I am looking forward to the culture of Saratoga Springs; being immersed in that,” he said. “My store and my brand belong there. It feels great to be home.”
Vollkommer hopes to open in time for Saratoga’s First Night celebration on New Year’s Eve. His projected hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday to cater to the post-restaurant crowd.
--Jennie

Teakwood Builders wins national awards

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Area custom home builder and remodeler Teakwood Builders was awarded two National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) design awards at the local Tri-State Chapter NKBA Designer Awards in Saratoga Springs. The awards included Best New Kitchen up to 300 Square Feet and Best Remodeled Bathroom up to 300 Square Feet.  
Founded in 1996, Teakwood Builders provides the Capital Region with custom luxury building and remodeling, and historic renovations for both residential and commercial clients. 
This was the chapter’s first Designer Awards Extravaganza and Ceremony. The event was held at the Holiday Inn in downtown Saratoga. Area members entered their projects in the categories of Best New Kitchen, Best Remodel Kitchen, Best New Bathroom and Best Remodel Bathroom, for spaces ranging from less than 150 square feet, 151 to 300 square feet and more than 300 square feet. 
Present at the ceremony was Teakwood’s newest team member, interior design consultant Eva Anderson.
“These two awards are really significant to us right now, and do a lot to introduce our new kitchen and bathroom design services,” said Jim Sasko, founder and president of Teakwood Builders. “We’re thrilled to have Eva on board, and winning these two awards is proof that Eva’s work is amazing and right in line with the standards of custom home building/remodeling our clients have come to expect.”
The NKBA is the only trade association dedicated exclusively to the kitchen and bath industry, and is the leading source of information and education for professionals in the industry. Learn more about the New York Tri-State chapter at http://www.nytristatenkba.org/.
For information on Teakwood Builders, visit http://www.teakwoodbuilders.com/.
--Jennie

150 gifts to celebrate the happy golden days of yore

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 For those looking for a unique last-minute Christmas gift, Saratoga 150 is offering memorabilia that commemorates the 150th year of thoroughbred racing in Saratoga Springs. The race course is the oldest continuously operating sports venue in the United States. This Christmas marks the only opportunity for enthusiasts to buy this milestone anniversary merchandise as a holiday gift item. The gifts are available at Impressions on Broadway or online at www.Saratoga150.com. 
--Jennie 

Towne, Ryan & Partners and Rowlands & LeBrou announce special affiliation

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Towne, Ryan & Partners has announced an affiliation with Rowlands & LeBrou, who will act as special estate-planning counsel to the former firm.
“By partnering with Rowlands & LeBrou, we are able to expand on the sophisticated estate-planning services required by our high-net-worth clients,” said James T. Towne, Jr., one of the founding partners of Towne, Ryan & Partners. “In turn, we are able to offer a full range of legal services outside estate planning to the clients of Rowlands & LeBrou.”
As part of the affiliation, the attorneys of Rowlands & LeBrou will use Towne, Ryan & Partners’ six offices, including taking space in the firm’s newly expanded Albany branch.
Established in 2009, Towne, Ryan & Partners is a full-service law firm with offices located along I-87 from Poughkeepsie to Saratoga Springs and east to Bennington, Vt. The firm’s practice areas cover transactional and litigation work across a broad range of legal fields including municipal law; representation of automobile and truck dealers; family and matrimonial law; real estate law; vehicle and traffic law; corporate and commercial law; insurance defense; employer defense; and equine, racing and gaming law.
Rowlands & LeBrou was established in 2011. The firm’s practice areas cover estate planning, asset protection, estate and trust administration, and elder law matters.
For additional information, contact Towne at 452-1800 or Richard Rowlands at 250-4264.
--Jennie

Nacre Dance Company offers master class with Sabatino Verlezza

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Nacre Dance Company will offer a master class with its first visiting artist of the new year, Sabatino Verlezza, on Sunday, Jan. 13 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Myers Center for Dance, 153 Regent St.
Verlezza danced as a soloist with the May O’Donnell Dance Company in New York City for nine years, and continues to teach O’Donnell's technique and stage her classic works. In 1988, he established Verlezza Dance. In 1994, he became artistic director of Dancing Wheels, where he created an award-winning outreach program. Verlezza Dance continues to present concerts nationally, and partners with Cleveland Opera, Opera Circle and the Cleveland Orchestra.
This class is open to intermediate modern dancers. There is a participation fee of $15 per person or $10 for students. For additional information, e-mail Beth@Nacredance.comor visit www.nacredance.com.
--Jennie

Me ... live ... inexpensively ... at your company!

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(This is a shameless plug from my friends at SupportIndustry.com. Did you know that I do inexpensive custom webinars for customer contact operations worldwide through SupportIndustry.com, on areas like customer skills, supervision, and workplace communications? My webinar client list includes firms like Mattel, Employers Mutual Casualty (where we trained 200 managers live across the country, with remote facilitators and team exercises), and many others. Check this out and give Carolyn a call!)
You want to motivate and train your support staff, but with limited resources, it is hard to get them off the phones for a full day of training. SupportIndustry.com has an alternative.SupportIndustry.com has conducted hundreds of webinars and can provide you with a custom webinar that provides your agents with the specific tools they need to deal with issues such as:

• Understanding and dealing with your most difficult customers
• Communication skills for every customer situation
• Working effectively with the entire team
• Productivity skills for customer transactions

We can also help your managers deal with their greatest challenges, including:

• Understanding and managing different team personalities
• Learning what motivates your staff
• Understand how your leadership style affects your workplace
• Make real, tangible changes in your workplace performance, morale and success

So, how does it work? We will talk with you to determine the biggest issues currently facing your organization, and put together a webinar designed to meet your needs. Your support staff will attend a customized workshop designed to address their most pressing issues.Remember - research shows that employees are most happy when the companies they work for invest in training to enable them to do their job better. So help your support staff start 2013 out right and show them you are committed to helping them succeed!

For more information, e-mail me at chealey@supportindustry.com or give me a call at 805.569.5761.Thank you!Carolyn Healey
Publisher
http://www.SupportIndustry.com
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http://www.RecognizeServiceExcellence.com

Rolling, Rolling, Rolling…..or How I Spent Labor Day.

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Oh my! I have been having so much fun lately! And I’ve been so busy! Which, of course, leaves little time for the computer and no time for blogging.

(Some bones I saw during Labor Day’s Cart Driving event)

This past week I celebrated my 46th birthday on Sept. 4th. I started celebrating on Labor Day by participating in Another Cart Driving Event. 

(My friend Linda and her Daughter-in-Law, driving Linda’s mule, Rita)

My friends surprised me by also making this event a birthday celebration, too. We had a wonderful potluck lunch after the cart driving. And my friend Linda baked me a delicious chocolate cake with sprinkles!

There were 9 carts being driven with donkeys, mules and ponies, along with 2 mules and 1 horse being ridden.

(Manzano Mountains as a beautiful backdrop)

We were quite a parade!

 

My friend Linda and her daughter-in-law.

 

My friend, Anna, Linda’s Mom riding Amira, a friend’s beautiful Paso Fino bred mule.

 

 

And best of all, my dear friend and riding buddy, Kendra was there, too!

Check out how Kendra managed to haul her pony and her cart to Linda and Anna’s place. Isn’t that cool?

It was her pony, Poncho’s first public cart driving event.

Poncho’s only been under harness for a couple months, and had only been driven on the gravel and dirt roads around her property. But he did great!

Poncho took the large number of carts, donkeys, mules and other horses and new environment all in stride and was happy to pull his cart with it’s two passengers, Kendra and I!

Poncho seemed to enjoy being in the lead and trotting for most of the day. He has a lovely trot, too.

But sometimes we rode in the middle of the cart and rider parade.

Kendra did an awesome job driving Poncho and her cart.

There were some of my same friends there from our last cart driving event, and some new folks, too.

Anna, Linda’s Mom, who is in her late 70’s decided to ride a mule this time, instead of driving one like she did for our last cart driving event. The gorgeous mule belongs to a friend and is half Paso Fino.

In the cart behind Anna, is Kelli, driving a cart for her second time with Linda’s husband beside her for support.  

Anna is an inspiration. I hope to still be riding, and maybe even cart driving in my late 70’s. Anna is a real cowgirl and has ridden and driven horses and mules her entire life.

Diana was there with her husband, driving Miss Dixie again. I had so much fun riding with her for our last cart driving event.

Kelli was there driving for her second time, with Linda’s husband there for support and guidance

Linda’s son was there riding one of Diana’s horses. I was totally digging his awesome straw helmet hat!

Sandra was there, with my favorite donkey, Cisco! (Ooops, my camera lens got stuck!)

I love Cisco!

A friendly, funny gal named Connie was there riding her good looking mule to get him used to everything first before she brought him out again for cart driving.

This gal is a true cowgirl and I really enjoyed meeting her and hope to ride/drive with her again.

It was a gorgeous day with beautiful blue skies with white fluffy clouds, and a nice calm breeze.

We rode for about 2 hours and covered between 5-6 miles. It was a lot of fun!

I can’t imagine a better way to spend a holiday!

A fun little video I took of Poncho and Kendra’s first group cart driving event!