Differences between the worlds of social marketing and commercial marketing Essay Example

Differences between the worlds of social marketing and commercial marketing Essay Thesis: Significant differences between the worlds of social marketing and commercial marketing mean that the transfer of commercial marketing concepts into the social marketing arena poses a number of problems to the social marketing program Introduction: Andreasen defines social marketing as â€Å"the application of commercial marketing technologies to the analysis, planning, execution and evaluation of programs designed to influence the voluntary behaviour of target audiences in order to improve their personal welfare and that of society†. However, significant differences between the worlds of social marketing and commercial marketing mean that the transfer of commercial marketing concepts into the social marketing arena pose a number of problems to the social marketing program (Andreasen, 2000; Bloom and Novelli, 1981). The rest of this essay will explore the inherent differences between these two marketing applications and expose why it is difficult to adopt the commercial marketing framework and methodology to social marketing endeavours. BUPA Health Services is the chosen company, whose case history will be perused for presenting concrete evidence in support of the above mentioned thesis. We will write a custom essay sample on Differences between the worlds of social marketing and commercial marketing specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Differences between the worlds of social marketing and commercial marketing specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Differences between the worlds of social marketing and commercial marketing specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer In a general sense, Social Marketing is a novel way of conceiving and implementing a very old human endeavour. From time immemorial, â€Å"there have been social systems, there have been attempts to inform, persuade, influence, motivate, to gain acceptance for new adherents to certain sets of ideas, to promote causes and to win over particular groups, to reinforce behaviour or to change it — whether by favour, argument or force† (Gulas, 2000). Social Marketing has its origins in religion, politics, academics, and also in military strategy. It also has intellectual roots in â€Å"disciplines such as psychology, sociology, political science, communication theory and anthropology† (Gulas, 2000). Its practical development is related to such disciplines as â€Å"advertising, public relations and market research, as well as to the work and experience of social activists, advocacy groups and community organizers† (Gulas, 2000). Commercial marketing, on the other hand is defined as the understanding, targeting and advertisement of products and services to consumers, with the expectation of making profits out of the enterprise. This profit motive is what essentially separates the two concepts and in most cases makes them conceptually incompatible. Social Marketing is an integrated part of health promotion strategies across agencies and government departments in the United Kingdom Healthcare Sector. It is employed to deliver health promotion and disease awareness messages to specific target groups in the British demography and is â€Å"designed to help individuals make decisions related to maintaining and improving their health and well-being and that of their families and communities† (Lefebvre, 2001). Customer Profiling and Commercial Marketing: BUPA, alongside other major healthcare sector players like Allianz Cornhill, Scottish Life and First Active has forwarded plans to form a database repository and customer relationship marketing group called Sword. Although this venture is quite new and its results are yet to be discerned, the commercial nature of the group has made is in-conducive for propagating healthcare messages from government agencies. So far as one can discern from the group’s website, its aim has been to â€Å"use customer profiling to better target products to customer segments†, which says nothing about influencing the voluntary behaviour of target audiences in order to improve their personal welfare and that of society (Lefebvre, 2005). In mid 2002, Bupa employed WCRS to start an expensive multimedia campaign that aimed to improve â€Å"the consumers’ understanding of the private health brand and its offering†. (Fergenson, 1989) The campaign, which is still running, continues Bupa’s traditional practice of using its staff to participate in its commercials in an attempt to highlight the personal expertise, earnestness and dedication of those working for the company. Focusing on specific healthcare problems, the campaign runs across all kinds of media TV, press, radio and internet. While this campaign is hailed as a successful marketing effort by the business press, it has little to offer social marketers. For example, according to one marketing expert, the million of pounds pumped into the campaign could have only been possible by a business corporation, which is generally cash rich. All government health agencies operate on tight budgets and cannot undertake such marketing campaigns as that o f BUPA’s. Hence, what we see is a lack of adaptability of any commercial model of operation to social marketing (Fergenson, 1989). Legal advantages for commercial enterprises: Also, the laws pertaining to commercial advertising are much more liberal when compared to government run campaigns. One of the keys for the successful Bupa advertisement campaign was its portrayal of appealing and eye-catching visuals and attractive sloganeering, which cannot be reflecting the product or service accurately. In other words, there is an element of dishonesty and economy with the truth associated with these commercial campaigns. But a government agency cannot employ such techniques for their purpose as they are more liable than their business counterparts and are more accountable to the general public. This is another reason for the inappropriateness of comparing commercial and social marketing campaigns. To illustrate the point, let us consider the following description about the Bupa campaign. An advertisement for back-care, is shown with a montage of images illustrating how back problems affect more than sixteen million people a year in the United Kingdom. It later shows viewers a team of Bupa back specialists providing â€Å"personal assessments, treatment and care†. But, more importantly, there is no time in the short advertisement for revealing the relatively high premiums required by those plans, as well as some other hidden costs. A business corporation like Bupa can get away with such economy with truth and achieve product awareness among its target audience, but a government department is required by law to be much more straight-forward and act in the real interest of the public as opposed to acting with the sole motive of profit-making (Fergenson, 1989). The differences in advertisement content: In recent years, marketing campaigns have been started in areas such as health promotion like anti-smoking, safety, recreational drug use, driving under the influence of alcohol, prevention of HIV/AIDS, healthy food and nutrition, physical fitness, inoculation and immunization campaigns, cancer support and screening, mental illnesses like depression, family planning and baby care, etc. Some other campaigns have aimed toward curbing indirect causes of ill-health, like â€Å"safer water, clean air, energy conservation, preservation of national parks and forests), education (e.g., literacy, stay in school ), economy (e.g., boost job skills and training, attract investors, revitalize older cities), and other issues like family violence, human rights, and racism†. In these popular campaigns a combination of the best elements of the conventional approaches to social change in integrated with sophisticated design and development framework, and employs cutting-edge communications tec hnology and new theories in commercial marketing. In other words, commercial marketing is still of help to social marketing efforts. So, while the many disadvantages of employing a commercial marketing framework is the main theme of this essay, the utility of commercial marketing techniques deserves mention nevertheless. Through these techniques public discussions can be generated and awareness information promoted, resulting in changes in attitudes, values and behaviours. By doing so, it helps to create a climate conducive to social and behavioural change (Kotler, 2002). Measures of Success: While the measure of success for commercial marketing campaigns is the profits returned by them, the parameters of success for social marketing campaigns are quite different. In the case of the latter, the voluntary change in the public consciousness regarding a particular health issue is the yardstick of measuring success. So, while the medium is common, the method and the desired outcomes of the two marketing concepts are quite different (Fox, 1980). This is a strong argument against the employment of commercial marketing techniques for social purposes. To go back to our case study of Bupa, after six years of association with Ogiligy Mather, the private medical insurance company is looking for a new advertising agency to run its campaigns. For example, â€Å"The agency had been put on notice in the summer that its work was not thought to be up to scratch. A re-launch of the brand at the start of the year failed to materialise. Instead, TV viewers saw an evolved version of the ‘You’re amazing. We want you to stay that way’ campaign. Recently this has been supplemented with ads promoting BUPA’s hospitals and its screening service. But, all of these have failed in retaining the Bupa customer base and has led to subsequent dip in revenues†. (Cobb, 2005)

buy custom Opportunities Existing in the Market essay

buy custom Opportunities Existing in the Market essay Opportunities existing in the market turn into profitable ventures as a result of a meticulous analysis of the current market as well as assessing and evaluating current trends in the market. An effective market analysis will enable an individual answer fundamental questions like, what the emerging trends in an industry are, what strengths and/or weaknesses do your competitors have, the suitability of your location, whether your concept fills a certain gap in the market and the potential customers one can serve in a year. In order to identify opportunities and potential threats, one needs to study the dominant trends in the industry of his interest. The analysis entails scanning the environment for opportunities like a competitors failure/flaw, population increase leading to higher demand for your product, a market gap, among others. Threats include stiff competition, introduction of similar products and customer dissatisfaction. If one is swift in spotting opportunities and threats before others, he stands a better chance to expand their market share. This, in turn, stimulates your firms production, which could lead to increased profitability. The next step towards finding opportunities is the rigorous assessment of the local market area. Here, one needs to use economic and demographic statistics to help them determine the sales potential that the market oe is preparing to serve holds. These statistics ought to be compared with those from other regions so that the entrepreneur can assess the strength the market area possesses. Analyze your market area by first defining its geographic size. Secondly, obtain data on the demography of your cut out area. These include data on the age of most people in the area, their education level, gender as well as their level of income. In most cases, there will be other firms who entered the market before one does. They are, therefore, sources of competition. However, from the synthesis of the content of what we covered in the first week, I understand that the same competitors could as well be rich sources of valuable information that could help one analyze market opportunities and demand. Finding opportunities also means assessing your competitors weaknesses and strengths as well as learning form their achievements and failures. Acquiring new customers is one of the utmost delights that businesses boast of. Most business enterprises are more focused on the acquisition of new customers than working towards unlocking the value of the existing customers. It is surprising how many businesses fail to consider the existing customers as the most valuable assetsPreviously, I believed that real profits came from new customers because all businesses toiled to register new customers, regardless of their current customer base. However,, after the discussion of the second weeks topic on customers and their value, I now realize that the business existing customers are the source of its real profits. Obtaining a new customer is far much costly than dealing with an existing one. For a business to unlock the value of its customers, it must appreciate that customers are its most precious asset. They, therefore, ought to be treated the same way one treats gold. Issues that existing customers raise should be dealt with before those of prospective customers. Customers need to be provided with products of high quality that satisfy their needs. I have learnt that customers are a rich source of valuable information, if they are listened to and respected. When I start employing my entrepreneurial skills in the near future, Ill listen and have respect for my customers. This will be so because I understand that this will enable me cut down on the cost of testing new products in the market. Customers can be retained by use of exceptional customer service strategy. Personalizing responses regarding customer inquiries is also a powerful tool for cultivating customer loyalty and goodwill. This might be time-consuming, but the rewards of constant use of these tools are much far greater. In summary, customers are a business most valuable asset, and the more a business looks after its chief assets, the profitable it is likely to get. Buy custom Opportunities Existing in the Market essay

The Chemistry in Desalination Plants Research Paper

The Chemistry in Desalination Plants - Research Paper Example As the discussion declares there are various processes which are involved in desalination of water. Through the process of distillation liquids are separated from one another due to their difference in boiling points. The instrument used in distillation is called a ‘still’ and it consists of a pot, condenser, and a receiver. The liquid is heated in the pot, the condenser condenses it and the receiver receives the separated liquids. There are three different processes of distillation; Multi-Stage Flash, Multiple-Effect and Vapor Compression. In all these three processes water is either heated or passed through steam tubes and separated. This study highlights that an additional method is the process of Electro dialysis in which salt ions are transported from one solution to another by passing them through an ion exchange membrane. Due to the electric charges possessed by the ions they pass through the electro membrane. The membrane has the skill to select or reject the ions and transport them hence it is utilized in separation or removal of electrolytes. Another commonly used method in water desalination is the process of reverse osmosis. In this process the solvent is transported from a high concentration solution to a low concentration solution through a membrane. The membrane acts as a filter in which the solute is trapped on one side and the pure solvent is obtained on the other side. This method is used is obtaining fresh water from sea water. The pressure is applied on the higher concentration solution. The outwardly applied pressure builds up and is greater than the concentration difference hence the net solve nt movement is from high concentration area to low concentration area. Finally as the solute cannot pass through as the membrane because is it not permeable to it, the solute and the solvent are separated.

Account for Japans decision to go to war against the United States in Essay

Account for Japans decision to go to war against the United States in 1941 - Essay Example Attempts to successfully negotiate a ceasefire failed primarily on account of Japan’s refusal to return conquered territory (Iinkai 1973, 111). As the Second World War progressed, Japanese leaders began to feel increasingly vulnerable and particularly isolated (Bess 2008, 27). From the Japanese perspective the Soviet Union was a long and enduring enemy so that by 1936 Japan had subscribed to an anti-Communist pact with Germany and Italy. Fortifying the anti-Communist and anti-Soviet stance, Japanese military factors had conflict with the Soviet factions on Korea’s border with the Soviet Union in 1938. A larger battle would follow between the two in 1939 at Nomonhan near the border between Mongolia and Manchuria. The latter was a region in China conquered by Japan. The Soviets defeated the Japanese in this later battle and forcing Japan to conclude a non-aggression truce with the Soviets having learned that Germany had entered into a similar agreement with the Soviets. The knowledge that Germany had engaged a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union would be a turning point for Japan. In the latter stages of the 1930s Japan had commenced cooperation strategies with Nazi Germany, assuming that the two nations would jointly attack the Soviet Union and divide that country’s wealth between them (Duiker and Spielvogel 2006, 696). Japan came to the realization that it could not take the Soviet Union on its own and would inevitably have to find another method for obtaining its wealth. Attention then turned to Southeast Asia. This would mean a potential war with the Europe over its colonies in the area and the US who had already expressed disapproval of Japan’s attack on China, particularly following an attack on a US naval ship stationed in China (Duiker and Spielvogel 2006, 696). German victories in Europe in 1940 however, particularly the

Roles and Responsibilities of a Newly Qualified Nurse. Professional Essay

Roles and Responsibilities of a Newly Qualified Nurse. Professional Role Development - Essay Example This statistic demonstrates the importance of professional role adaptation, growth and development, as well as the significance of knowledge in the roles and responsibilities of a newly trained and qualified nurse. The school-bred values should reconcile with the ‘real world’ values of nursing practice. This is crucial in mitigating discrepancies that may occur when the new graduates take up their roles in healthcare service delivery (Duchscher 2008, p.3). Knowledge on roles and responsibilities is crucial in the pre-empting of role ambiguity and resultant job dissatisfaction and career disillusionment that may arise. The consolidation of the attained knowledge and skills is essential in availing a smooth transition from student to a professional practitioner. For a newly qualified nurse, the core concerns lie in care delivery and management as well as personal and professional development (Burton and Ormrod 2007, p.2). Critical Discussion The fields of practice that new ly qualified nurses can specialize in are diverse and may incorporate acute care of the elderly, coronary and palliative care, mental health nursing, or substance abuse. The roles of a nurse span from being caregivers to counsellors. They also advocate for the client and are change agents in the sense of modifying the client’s lifestyle in a healthier pattern. The primary role of a nurse is provision of proper care and protection to the patients to safeguard their health and wellbeing (Duchscher 2008, p. 5). Nurses’ roles include providing proper health and social care in a safe and valuable manner to patients (Burton and Ormrod 2007, p. 3). In addition, nurses should also respond to patient’s needs and deliver care within their context such as drug administration and infection control. Nurses also provide knowledge and support to patients and monitor vital signs of patients. Newly qualified nurses have a responsibility of maintaining the set standards of care a s well as conform to the set ethical and legal decisions. The transition into the nursing profession, especially the initial adjustment is usually marred by feelings of anxiety, insecurity, inadequacy, and instability. This revolves around the newly trained and qualified nurse’s roles, responsibilities, relationships, and knowledge (Burton and Ormrod 2007, p.4). Transition shock is occasioned by the fact that new graduates are confronted by a wide range and scope of physical, intellectual, emotional, developmental, and sociocultural changes as they take up their fresh roles. The newly trained and qualified nurses must, therefore, institute mechanisms that shape readiness for the new roles. Preparedness and reinforcement in role transition is essential in order to reconcile the associated intensity and duration of the transition experience. Newly trained and qualified nurses should be ready for the escalating workplace expectations. A newly trained nurse should be competent in handling the new roles. The essence of having prior knowledge of the profession and workplace expectations is outstanding as it bridges the transition shock. Knowledge on role transition is crucial in constructing successful integration of nursing professionals into the potentially stressful and highly dynamic context of professional practice. This calls for a better

Are The Theories Of Thucydides Relevant?

Are The Theories Of Thucydides Relevant? Are Thucydides and his History of the Peloponnesian War still relevant for the analysis of contemporary international relations? Why? It can surely be said that the realism school of thought was created by the great Greek historian Thucydides after his studies on the Peloponnesian Wars. His main assumption, which embodies the realist school of thought, is that relations between states are not based on right but rather on might, and that a state of anarchy prevails. To answer this essay question, the essay will dispute the degree of relevance of Thucydides theories and ideas in the modern world politics, by mainly using the Melian Dialogue as an insight of comparison. Thucydides observations begin during the Peloponnesian Wars between the different Greek city-states (polis). His first recognition was that there was a certain degree of pattern between the strategies adopted by these city-states concerning the relationship between them. He points out a hierarchical system of actions, while a change in smaller states will not make a difference, a change in stronger states car arguably unbalance a whole system. The following quote exemplifies this: What made war inevitable was the growth of Athenian power and the fear which this caused in Sparta. Two reasons can be identified of why the start of the Peloponnesian War. The first reason is the amazing growth of Athens in all spheres, and the second, the release of the Megarian Decree. Athens did this due to its preoccupations about the loyalty of its colonies. The Megarian Decree was essentially an economic sanction towards Megara in order to break its alliance with Sparta, which in turn becomes a threat to Spartas and Corinthian security (Gilpin, 1991: 34). The next chain of events was that the Corinthians made an ultimatum to the Spartans, suggesting a front against the Athenians, otherwise they would form a new alliance, thus harming Spartan security. In response, the Spartans demanded the annulment of the Megarian Decree, however Athens refusal to do so was probably the direct cause of war. Thus the security dilemma can be said to have driven the two powers into an undesired war (Lebow, 1991:127). To compare it with a modern example it has to be mentioned the sudden change in US perception of Soviet power after the Soviet Union launched its first ICBM. This action led to a growing US insecurity, Kennedys concern to maintain US power led to an increase in US strategic build up (Lebow,1991:142). However Kauppi states that there are intervening variables preventing the shifting balance of power leading to war in the cold war world. He cites modern examples of the restraining effect of nuclear weapons, and the existence of neutrals as having a stabilizing influence by not entrapping the superpowers in a zero sum game. He also cites the role of ideology as convincing both superpowers that they could win without war (Gilpin, 1991: 47). Moreover, it has to be mentioned that while power transition theory and the resultant fear may explain the stress imposed on the states, other factors can avoid fear from resulting in war. Lebow matches the power transition theory by arguing that Athens reached the peak of its power twenty years before the war started, he con cludes with the notion that it is the perception of power that is vital to power transition theory and war, the effect of middle powers like Corinth is another factor to consider (Lebow, 1991: 128). Again, during the Cold War, even though there was not a direct confrontation, the large defence spending and the development of weapons of mass destruction demonstrates that both superpowers used fear to dissuade each other and acting on fear by arming themselves, the MAD doctrine comes into consideration. Self interest is also one of the main features of Thucydides thought, according to Gilpin, Thucydides thought that human nature was unchangeable and since human beings were determined by interest, fear and pride, they always look for to augment their wealth until others driven by the same, try to stop them (Welch, 2003: 304). In the Melian dialogue the Athenians say: Our opinion of the gods and our knowledge of men lead us to conclude that it is a general and necessary law of nature to rule wherever one can (Brown, Nardin, Rengger, 2002: 57). The speech by the Athenians shows that their only worry is of preserving their empire, and they try to convince the Melians that it is in their best interest to surrender. They ask the Melians to ignore the matter of justice and claim that it is not in Spartas interest to interfere on their behalf (Brown, Nardin, Rengger, 2002: 57). It can be stated very confidently that the Melian dialogue reflects the law of nature of self interest being the m ost useful strategy. To give a modern example of self interest, the statist concept or the national interest, observed in the Mytilenian debate. Both Diodotus and Cleon try to deal the situation to Athenss benefit, even though they have diverse opinions, as Diodotus considerations of justice are inapplicable to interstate relations (Welch, 2003: 76). An example of self interest in US doctrine on Space (Oct 2006): The United States will preserve its rights, capabilities, and freedom of action in space and deny, if necessary, adversaries the use of space capabilities hostile to US national interests (BBC News. (2006). US adopts tough new space policy. Available: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6063926.stm. Last accessed 20 Dec 2009). In modern times the principal of self interest still guides the actions of states, however, it may not always be that of a single state, as states may cooperate to pursue their common self interest. This is highly considered by the states, as th ey understand that in a more globalised world they must re-think their actions of self interest. The expansion of international law, above all, humanitarian law, indicated that there are rules of non intervention and human rights that states are coerced to pursue. Disapproval from the international community in case of their infringement would not be in a states national or self interest. Therefore, while the national interest is an important constituent of state decision making, in the present day, the knowledge f two world wars and the predominance of liberal ideas indicate that the national interest is still imperative but not the only motive for state behaviour. Power politics is the effect of fear and self interest. To engage in power politics, the Athenians conclude: depends on strength: The standard of justice, depends on the equality of power to compel and that, in fact, the strong do what they have the power to do and the weak accept what they have to accept (Brown, Nardin, Rengger, 2002: 52). Therefore, the skill of imposing your demands depends on relative power. As the quote from the Melian dialogue demonstrates, Athens warns Melos to submit as they are too weak to oppose. In view of the fact that there is anarchy between the states relations, the command that exists is created and continued by the powerful that inflict their power inside their sphere of influence. States, resembling to individuals, are encouraged by self interest and fear, and plea to justice only when their interest is provided. The natural right of the stronger to rule over the weaker is a rather simplistic explanation of imperialism (Brown, Nardin, Rengger, 2002: 75). A present day example is that of US warning countries that they were either with us or against us. It can be said that this is a warning to force unity in the war on terror. Thucydides adds that an actors power determines his treatment thus showing the essential nature of the balance of power in international relations. This is the safe rule to stand up to ones equals, to behave with deference towards ones superiors and to treat ones inferiors with moderation. (Brown, Nardin, Rengger, 2002: 58) A quote from US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice about nations that didnt support the war on Iraq illustrates this: Punish France, ignore Germany and forgive Russia. (Reuters. (2003). Rice Quoted Saying U.S. to Ignore Schroeder. Available: www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0525-09.htm. Last accessed 20 Dec 2009.) Thucydides finds that it is a law of nature that the weak become subject to the strong and when the opportunity of aggrandisement is offered by superior strength considerati ons of right and wrong are sacrificed to self interest (Welch, 2003,75). The notion of universal justice is not denied by Thucydides, he merely admits that for better or worse it has no limiting strength in a system composed of states not equal in power (Welch, 2003:75). On the other side, Bagby disputes that not all states choose to maximise power. The example of Sparta and how the Corinthians call them shy and weak in contrast to Athens, comes to mind. These national differences are established by King Archidamus when he tells the Spartans: be not ashamed of the slowness and dilatoriness for which they censure us most. (Bagby, 1994:138) Doyle points out that the political ideologies of Athens and Sparta and the dissimilar sectors of society they attract were a significant constituent of their conflict. Doyle reveals that Thucydides stress on the national character of Athens, in its impatient culture and its democratic institutions (Doyle, 1997:150-152). Consequently, the aim of ma ximising power can be understood as a powerful encouragement, but domestic pressures and domestic character are also vital. In conclusion, Thucydides was one of the first to create three assumptions of classical political realism: states are the main players, they take power as an end in itself or as a means to other ends and act in ways that are rational. (Keohane, Bagby, 1994:132) Although Thucydides has been interpreted in many ways, his theories about human nature: self interest, power maximisation and fear, are lasting. They describe the strains acting on states in todays world pushing them to take decisions. Even though there are many differences between today and his time Thucydides successfully makes clear the psychological and social propensity in strategy and is therefore relevant today, as the Athenians state: And it is not as if we were the first to make this law, or to act upon it when made: we found it existing before us, and shall leave it to exist for ever after us; all we do is to make use of it, knowing that you and everybody else, having the same power as we have, would do the same as w e do.

My Family Tradition Essay -- Personal Narrative Divorce Marriage Essay

My Family Tradition While preparing for this paper, I thought very hard about any specific traditions that my family has or has had in the past. Although thinking and brainstorming for a long time I could not come up with one tradition that my family has. I think that the main reason for that is because, almost everyone in my family has gone through a divorce. Ending a marriage seems to be very popular in our society today, one statistic states that, â€Å"50% of first marriages end in divorce.† However common divorce may be the pain and heartbreak seems meaningless, until it happens to you. The reason why I can’t think of any family traditions is because all of my family traditions have been ripped apart because of two people’s ill feelings toward each other. Therefore, my family tradition is divorce. I know it seems strange for a family tradition to be divorce, but opening presents on Christmas Day and eating a fancy dinner on Thanksgiving, have all been overshadowed by something far more traditional in my family. My great-grandmother and great-grandfather lived in England and brought eight beautiful daughters into this world. Two years after my grandmother and her twin were born; my great-grandparents ended a 15-year marriage in divorce. When my grandmother was 17 she met my grandfather an American man who was in the US Air Force. Shortly after their meeting, they found out they were having a baby and were married soon after. My grandmother then moved to the States and they began their life together. Eventually the Rains family had two more children, my mother and my Uncle Les. Unfortunately, this was never a fairytale life for any member of the family. My grandfather was an alcoholic, due to the stress in his job and be... ... the biggest impact that divorce will have on me as a teacher is, that I realized that the best thing I could give these children is love. Because of all the heartbreak in my family, I know that love is one thing that no one can live without. School is more than reading and writing, it is about life and I feel that the biggest part of life is love and being loved. Even though I have been through such a horrible experience, I am not alone in this world, nor will I be the last one to ever go through such an experience. Mariah Carey, who is my favorite singer, writes the following. The words describe a part of me that isn’t always seen, which is, the part of me that is fighting to move on from this experience. â€Å"I know there is a rainbow for me to follow to get beyond my sorrow, thunder precedes the sunlight, so I’ll be all right, lf I can find that rainbow's end."

A Fortune

Well at least according to his mother, the lady with a black gig, using most of her time crying, because she fears the narrator will grow up and be like his father. Growing up in a trailer park, the family didn't have a lot of money. This is one of the reasons for his father teaching him pick pocketing in the age of five. This pick pocketing is still a part of his life, even after his old man left town without leaving a note or a phone call. The reason for him still pick pocketing lies in the hope he has, of his father someday returning: â€Å"One day Pop will show up again.I'll hand him the boxful of money, he will throw me some bills, and then Ill Just stow them way without counting them. That's what I think. † (Line 31) It's not that he needs the money. In fact he has a Job. But he Is longing for the recognition from his father. As he says himself, when arguing why he didn't ever count the money his dad gave him: â€Å"l Just didn't want to know how much Pop thought I was worth. † (Line 13) When working his Job, he earns enough money to take Sundays of. It's not to go to church, but to recharge his batteries.Not being religious is something he learned in his childhood. His uncle Barney used to come around dressed like Santa, only to lose his eared and ask for at stiff drink. That taught him to be realistic, only to believe in what you can see yourself. Though not having had the most love full childhood, he still loves his mother: â€Å"l have to give her credit for trying to make me an honest boy. † (Line 1 5) He still visits her at the trailer park, reading the notes from fortune cookies aloud to her. When speaking of the fortune cookies, these play a big part In his life.He always saves them, after eating a low-price dinner at the Chinese restaurant. As he says: â€Å"I love those stupid fortune cookies. † (Line 38) When using â€Å"love† and â€Å"stupid† in the same line, he contradicts himself. The fortune notes inside the cookie are stupid, it's such a small thing, and the fortune usually doesn't come true. But he loves them, because when they tell him things like â€Å"love and happiness will be yours in abundance† it's something he has never heard before, it's something he hopes will come true.These fortune notes tell him everything he has longed hearing from his parents, the loving things they never told him. When seeing the little boy at the market, he reminds him of himself. The boy is about seven ears old, following his father, Just like the narrator at the age of five used to follow his father when they would go pick pocketing. When he sees the boy standing all alone In the street, he feels forced to take care of him: â€Å"l don't know what compelled me, but my feet Just sort of walked over to him before I told them to. Kid, you lost? â€Å"Do you want to come with me? † I heard myself talking and I swear I sounded Like a stinking Clapper. Eve never Ana a problem wi lt stealing wallets, D stealing lost kids is out of my territory. It's Just that, it must be nice, you know, to be mound† (Line 75) He feels a connection to the boy, which express itself in the last line. When saying it must be nice to be found, the narrator is no longer talking about the boy. He is talking about himself, and how he is longing to be found by his father. To be found, and being told that he is loved.When taking the boy to his house, the similarity between the two gets stronger. At first the narrator doesn't quite know what to do with the boy. But because of his loneliness, it's nice to have some company. He chooses to show his collection of fortune notes to the boy, and the two of them are paving a blast. The narrator never cries. But this boy touches something in him. When looking at his lop-sided smile, he gets all emotional. He has already given the boy a fortune note saying â€Å"time is of the essence, use it wisely,† when choosing to give all his fo rtune notes to the boy.Why? Here's why: mean it, kid. I want you to have my fortunes. You know why? You deserve it, kid, you earned it. † â€Å"Here it says, ‘Long life will be yours. ‘ I want you to have that one especially, because you deserve a long life† (Line 116) The narrator puts on the role of fatherhood, making sure that this id, opposite to himself, knows what he is worth and that he is deserves to have a good, long life. He is telling the boy the things that the father is supposed to tell him.By telling the boy what he is worth, he states the fact, that the boy is a fortune in himself – hence the title. His father is a lucky man, and he doesn't appreciate it. If he did, he wouldn't have yelled harshly at the kid when they were at the market. The text is build up as a flashback at first. The narrator is looking back at when he first saw the boy, then going on telling about his old childhood. When he's done telling about myself, he returns to the story: â€Å"Like I said, it was a Sunday when I saw this man and his son†¦ (Line 34) It goes on chronologically from here on, and the story ends sudden when the narrator has dropped the boy of at his house. The narrator is a 1. Person narrator, not knowing how other people know or think. By this kind of narrator, we focus on the narrator himself, although the main event of the story is the little boy. As fortunes being the main theme of the text, there's no talk about fortunes as a materialistic thing, but the fact that everyone is a fortune in themselves.But people aren't told, and it hurts the most when not hearing it from one's parents: â€Å"That guy didn't need his credit cards or cash or oilskin wallet. He didn't know what a fortune he had 159) Before meeting the boy, the narrator got a fortune cookie that said: â€Å"A change in your daily routine will lead you to treasure. † When telling the boy what he is worth, he immediately feels better with himself. The message of the text comes as a result of this: It's important to tell people what they're worth, no matter if they are rich or poor, leaving them happy and leaving you as feeling like a good person.

How Does John Steinbeck Create the Theme of Loliness in of Mice and Men

The Theme of Loneliness in of Mice and Men Summary:    Loneliness plays an important role in John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men. As Steinbeck illustrates through Curley's wife, Candy, and Crooks, companionship and a sense of belonging are vital to human happiness; all three characters face problems and negative feelings because of their loneliness and isolation. [pic] Loneliness is one of the primary themes in Of Mice and Men. Throughout the novel, John Steinbeck shows the enormous effect that loneliness has on the characters. Steinbeck most clearly illustrates this theme through Crooks, Candy, and Curley's wife. Ranch hands are ideal types of people to portray as being lonely, because their constant travel leaves them without someone to talk to or share things with. Steinbeck also shows how important it is for every human being to have a companion. Companionship is necessary in order for someone to live an enjoyable life. Although loneliness affects each one of the characters in Of Mice and Men differently, they all experience negative feelings from their lack of companionship. In Of Mice and Men, no other character outwardly conveys their loneliness more so than Curley's wife. She†¦.. Curly's wife is perhaps one of the most significant themes of loneliness in the novel. She flirts with all the guys on the farm and dresses and acts like a **** because her husband does not love her,leaves her alone all day and she's lonely. Weirdly enough,I felt sorry for her because she is trapped feeling lonely in a loveless marriage,and besides no one on the ranch ever really gives her a chance to be change,they just take one look at her and say â€Å"She's trouble†,or â€Å"I think Curly's wife is a tart†. †¢Crooks is another great theme of lonliness in the novel too. Because Crooks is African-American during the Great Depression,he is left out of the crowd at the ranch,and spends his days all alone in the stable,thus he is called The Stable Buck

Event proposal for Conference Event Planning at the Roof Gardens, Kensington The WritePass Journal

Event proposal for Conference Event Planning at the Roof Gardens, Kensington Abstract Event proposal for Conference Event Planning at the Roof Gardens, Kensington AbstractIntroduction and AimsChosen Venue and Event ManagementFood and Beverage OptionsEvaluation TechniquesOutline BudgetBudget and Control MeasuresConclusionsReferencesRelated Abstract When planning an event which is targeted at a professional body of individuals within the hospitality industry, there are several questions which need to be answered, not least where the best venue to host such an event is likely to be located. In this case the â€Å"Roof Garden† is seen as a particularly appropriate choice, as it offers the state-of-the-art facilities necessary to deliver a seminar on social media and is centrally located, from geographical point of view. It is also an innovative new venue which is looking to raise its own profile and is therefore more negotiable when it comes to budgetary options. All of these factors are considered in the report below. Introduction and Aims It is proposed that a training session and networking opportunity event will be hosted in central London for approximately 50 delegates, all of whom are relatively high up in the management scale, in hotels across the UK (Berridge, 2007). Several different parameters have been laid out for the chosen venue and the structure of the event and these will be taken into account when looking at the ultimate choice of location which is â€Å"The Roof Garden. The purpose of this report is to identify why this venue has been chosen and how the event will be managed, as well as looking, in more detail, at issues associated with the activity, such as food and beverage options that are available and their final selection, and how the event will be evaluated, so as to make improvements for any future events, as well as scrutinising the budget and control measures that are required in an event of this nature (Allen et al. 2008). Several factors are deemed to be particularly important when choosing the venue and type of event to be managed. Whilst there is no intention to make a profit on the trading day, there is still a budget which needs to be maintained, as each individual delegate will pay just  £15 per person and there will also be  £1,500 which was obtained through sponsorship. Other relevant factors include the fact that the event needs to be relatively centrally located, as delegates are travelling from a broad range of different geographic regions. Consideration will also need to be given to the precise content of the course, in order to ensure that the chosen venue has the relevant facilities available (Catherwood Van Kirk, 1992). Therefore, while the actual content of the course will be for the client to determine, having a detailed understanding of these issues will, in fact, be critical, to ensure that the appropriate venue is selected, so that all of the needs for the course can be facilit ated. Chosen Venue and Event Management Before looking specifically at the chosen venue, it is helpful to gain an understanding of the key aims and objectives of the event, so that the chosen venue can be looked at, in more detail (Eriksson Hjalmsson, 2000). The main aim of the event is to encourage those within the hospitality industry to make better use of social media for their marketing; therefore, it is going to be essential that any venue chosen has state-of-the-art technology to enable the trainers to display the best options available to the delegates and for the delegates themselves to be able to experiment with technology to which they may not have access, in their own workplace. Secondly, the event aims to offer networking opportunities to those attending the course, and this again requires certain physical attributes to be present within the venue. Bearing this in mind and the stated budget, the venue which has been chosen, namely â€Å"the Roof Garden† has several key attributes attached to it which would make it the ideal venue for this event (DeWalt DeWalt, 2002). Given the nature of the delegates likely to be attending the event and the fact that these are from the hospitality management sector and are therefore likely to have very particular expectations regarding an invent venue, choosing a venue that is well versed in hosting this type of event is seen as crucially important, as the delegates are unlikely to tolerate any form of naivetà © or lack of professionalism. Furthermore, the aim of the event is to put forward new ideas to those involved in hospitality management; therefore, if the event itself is hosted in a non-forward looking venue, it will not gain a large amount of credibility (Tum, et al. 2005). It is recognised the chosen venue has state-of-the-art technology facilities as part of its business centre and this is one of the key reasons that this venue immediately came to the forefront. Having the necessary facilities in place is absolutely fundamental, given the primary aim of the event. Although it was possible to host the event anywhere within a 50 mile radius of London, the chosen venue is, in fact, extremely central to London and a short walk away from High Street Kensington tube station. This is important for several different reasons. From a practical point of view, making sure it is centrally located means that it is more readily available to a wider range of delegates, but by being centrally located, also assists in gaining credibility (Wagen, 2005). As well as having the technology available, this venue was seen as ideal, due to several other factors which made it the perfect choice for this event. As part of the venue, there are three themed gardens which have a panoramic view over central London. This means that the vast majority of the delegates will not been working in a hotel or venue with similar attributes and this will make the entire training day a novel experience for the delegates (Wagen, 2007). The venue is actually part of the Sir Branson Empire and is therefore also renowned for the quality service which is provided by staff members. All of these factors were seen as important, alongside the physical attributes of the venue, as the whole experience needed to stand out to the delegates, all of whom already have preconceived ideas as to what hospitality should offer. Food and Beverage Options The second main aim of the event is to host the networking session which will be undertaken as part of the working day lunch. With this in mind, the food and beverage options that are made available to delegates are also considered to be an important aspect of the choice of venue. The budget, particularly for central London, is relatively limited and therefore a buffet seemed to be the most practical option. Furthermore, as the intention is to establish a networking session as part of the lunch hour, it is necessary to ensure that individuals can eat relatively quickly, so that the networking event can take place in a timely fashion (Silvers, 2008). The registration will take place before 9 a.m., with the main body of the event happening between 9 a.m. and mid-day, meaning that there will need to be coffee served midway through the morning and again this needs to be done on a relatively tight budget. The working buffet lunch has been selected to involve both cold and hot items which are likely to appeal to the majority of individuals, as well as being sufficiently interesting that those within the hospitality industry will appreciate the quality of the food. As part of this service, the venue will be providing its own freshly baked cookies, during the break, which is a further opportunity to show how advanced the venue is and again to prove itself as one of the best venues of this type for a professional meeting (Tarlow,  2002). Evaluation Techniques It is anticipated that this type of event may be replicated again in the future; therefore, evaluating the course from every aspect of the delivery will be essential, in order to make sure that any future courses are popular, while also improving on any of the shortcomings (Arcodia Reid, 2002). All delegates will be asked to provide a brief evaluation of the event and this will look at every aspect of the event, including the quality of the venue, the quality of the food provided, as well as considering whether they believe it will be useful for them in the future (Shone  Ã‚  Parry,  2001). The main aim of the evaluation is to use questionnaires to be filled in by the delegates on the day, as this is the quickest and most efficient way of gathering the data and is most likely to be fresh in the minds of the individual delegates. However, as well as using questionnaires, a random set of individuals will also be selected and asked to participate in a more detailed evaluation, after the event, in the form of one-to-one interviews, either in person or over the phone. This will enable a much more open discussion to be had (Goldblatt, 1997). Evaluations that are relevant to the venue will also be provided, so that any changes can be implemented with future events or potentially a new venue located if there seems to be a reason that the venue is not performing in line with the original requirements. Outline Budget The budget for the event is  £15 per person, plus  £1,500 sponsorship. With fifty anticipated delegates, this means a total of  £750 from the delegates and  £1,500 from sponsorship and a total budget of  £2,250. However, with a budget for a venue of this nature in central London, it may be necessary to compromise on issues such as the type of buffet and the date of the actual training event. By negotiating with the venue as to which days it is not likely to be particularly popular, the budget can be adhered to (Saunders, 2007). Consideration will be given in the future charges that are made to the delegate, as  £15 is an incredibly small amount of payment for a training course, as well as a networking opportunity. Therefore, once the event gains a degree of following, it may be possible to charge separately for the training elements and the buffet element, to allow individuals to mix and match their experience and also to ensure that all tastes are catered for (Goldblatt, 2000). The venue itself is also offered at a reasonable discount, as it is felt that this will assist its positioning within the market and will be a good marketing tool, thus allowing it to host other events, in the future (Silvers   Goldblatt,  2003). Budget and Control Measures In order to manage an event of this nature, several specific controls and budget measures need to be put in place, so that the management team can keep track of the planning of the event and also on the event date, so as to ensure that the promised services are delivered and that any shortfalls are identified, at the earliest possible opportunity and mitigated, if possible (Arcodia Robb, 2000). Bearing this in mind, the control feature associated with this event will be looked at in two distinct ways, firstly in the planning of the events and secondly in the running of the event. Budget control needs to be done primarily with the venue itself, although it is also important to ensure that a sufficient number of delegates are recruited and that these delegates make all payments, prior to the date of the event, as any no-shows or non-payers could be extremely detrimental to the overall budget of what is already a very tightly run event (Silvers, 2004). A meeting will need to be held with the venue, in the few days prior to the event itself, to ensure that all aspects of the events are planned appropriately and that the technology being used is working properly and compatible with anything that the clients may wish to use as part of the training. The very essence of the training is to show the delegates how media can be used to optimum advantage and any technology failure would be extremely embarrassing and go to the core of the event. Therefore, controlling this aspect of the event is critical (Arcodia Reid, 2005). As it is expected that this type of event will be run in the future, maintaining accurate records of all individuals who are in attendance will be important to the ongoing marketing of future events and these need to be checked, both at the booking stage and as the individual attends (O’neil et al. 1999). Conclusions It is concluded that the chosen venue for this event is particularly appropriate, given its central London location and its state-of-the-art technology which makes it crucially important for delivering an event of this type. Budget is a really key issue and the fact that the venue will also gain from hosting this event enables a tighter budget to be maintained. Strong evaluation is also necessary to ensure that future events are popular and that these types of events go from strength to strength. References Allen, J., OToole, W., Harris, R., McDonnell, I. (2008). Festival Special Event Management (4 ed.). Milton, Australia: John Wiley Sons Australia, Ltd. Arcodia, C., Reid, S. (2002). The Mission of Event Management Associations. In K. Woeber (Ed.), City Tourism. Vienna: Springer. Arcodia, C., Robb, A. (2000). A Future for Event Management: A Taxonomy of Event Management Terms. In J. Allen, R. Harris, L. K. Jago A. Veal (Eds.), Events Beyond 2000: Setting the Agenda (pp. 154-160). Sydney: Australian Centre for Event Management. Arcodia, C. and Reid, S. (2005). â€Å"Event Management Associations and the Provision of Services†, Journal of Convention Event Tourism, 6 (4), 5-25. Berridge, G. (2007). Events Design and Experience, Events Management Series. First Edition, Elsevier Catherwood, D. W., Van Kirk, R. L. (1992). Special Event Management. New York: John Wiley Sons, Inc. DeWalt, B. R., DeWalt, K. M. (2002). Participant observation: a guide for fieldworkers. Walnut Creek, CA: Alta Mira Press. Eriksson, J. and Hjalmsson, A. (2000). â€Å"Event Marketing as a Promotional Tool-A Case Study of four Companies†, International Business and Economics Programme Master Thesis, Lulea University Goldblatt, J. (1997). Special Events Best Practices in Modern Event Management (2 ed.). New York: John Wiley Sons, Inc. Goldblatt, J. (2000). A Future For Event Management: The Analysis Of Major Trends Impacting The Emerging Profession. In J. Allen, R. Harris, L. K. Jago A. Veal (Eds.), Events Beyond 2000: Setting the Agenda. Sydney: Australian Centre for Event Management. O’neil M., Getz, D. and Carlsen, J. (1999). â€Å"Evaluation of service quality at events: the 1998 Coca-Cola Masters Surfing event at Margaret River†, Western Australia, Managing Service Quality, 9 (3), 158-164. Saunders, M. (2007). Research Methods of Business Students. Fourth Ed. Harlow: Financial Times/Prentice Hall. Shone,  A  Ã‚  Parry,  B  (2001)  Successful  Event  Management London:   Continuum. Silvers,  J  R  Ã‚  Goldblatt,  J  J  (2003)  Professional  Event  Coordination  New   York:  Wiley Silvers, JR. (2004). Professional Event Coordination, John Wiley Sons Inc. New Jersey. Silvers, JR. (2008). Risk Management for Meetings and Events, Butterworth-Heinemann, Burlington. Tarlow,  P  (2002) Event  Risk  Management  and  Safety  New  York: Wiley. Tum,  J,  Norton,  P   Wright,  N  (2005) Management  of  Events  Operations Oxford:  Butterworth ­Heinemann. Wagen, LV. (2005). Event Management: For Tourism, Cultural, Business and Sporting Events, 2nd Ed., Pearson Education, Australia. Wagen, LV. (2007). Human Resource Management for Events; Managing the Event Workforce, Butterworth-Heinemann, Burlington.

From emigration to immigration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

From emigration to immigration - Essay Example The population of Ireland is 5.5 million at present, but had been over 8 million in 1841. It had augmented hastily from 4 or 5 million at the Act of Union with Britain in 1801. As the population was to be destroyed by the Famine of 1845 to1848, together by death and mass emigration, there had been elevated emigration well before the Famine. More than 1.5 million had emigrated between 1815 and 1840. One third of these left to Britain and of those who went west, half came towards Canada, and the other half to the United States in that period. This stage of emigration which was to rise swiftly in the stage instantly after the Famine was an extraordinary high proportion of the total population, unparalleled in other European states. The Famine directed to the death and emigration of over one million people. The population fell to 6.5 million by 1851 and by an additional million to 5.5 million by 1871. There was de-industrialization, as stated by the author (Crotty, R., 1986), in the 19th century in the majority of Ireland, with the exemption of the North East. Five million people emigrated between 1851 and 1921 and most of these were sole adults. The tough farmers left the farm to the eldest son and many siblings went abroad and so the honesty of their farms was preserved. People had far less children and those who had property were to become tough in their attitude to heritage. Emigration and transforms in productiveness permitted for augmented profits for those who stayed behind. The following table gives the net outflow each decade from 1850 up to the ending of the 20th century and in addition for the three years to 2003 inclusive. It shows a huge outflow of people from Ireland mainly given the small size of the population. (Crotty, R., 1986). The reasons for the continued growth of the Irish economy are difficult, yet

Working with people and organisations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Working with people and organisations - Essay Example Furthermore preventative strategies and dilemmas were encountered. When considering student social work one of the overarching aspects is the consideration of the welfare of the individuals involved. Indeed, Ollsen (2008) has indicated the tenuous nature of such circumstances on the children involved, â€Å"Unaccompanied minors often face severe trauma during their preflight lives as well as during the course of their migration. These traumatic experi- ences can have negative psychosocial impacts on the minors† In many instances one understands the cases and the level of support that they require, but still rely heavily on supervision for the best outcome. I have relied on supervision and have found it extremely necessary as working so closely with your cases means one must maintain an appropriate professional boundary. I have found that foster children and their birth families often in conversation slip something to you, hoping that it will not be reported. I am constantly aware of safeguarding and always advise them it must be noted. That information could be apparent later on and could put someone’s life at risk or cause personal danger. †¨Ã¢â‚¬ ¨ As a Student Social Worker I have been assigned nine foster children to support. Some foster carers currently have no placements, but still require regular support, advice and training. Unlike working with a local authority, my foster carers could be 60 miles round trip away from our offices. As a lot of our placements are from different local authorities, our foster carer’s home addresses can span all boroughs. I was trained to use social e-care and also carried out general office based duties usually carried out by a duty worker in the day to day processes of dealing with referrals from local authorities in placing looked after children with well matched foster carer’s. I was professional at all times, particularly when taking referrals