Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that middle school is a time of great transition for students, who are simultaneously dealing with physical and social changes, as well as more rigorous academics. To help students manage the transition, many middle schools have begun offering advisory groups. The writer points out that advisory groups may consist of staff and students, meeting regularly to engage in activities designed to benefit students academically and socially. One of the main goals of advisory groups is for each student to have at least one caring adult at the school who knows the student personally. Schools have used advisory groups to help students increase self-esteem, build better relationships with peers and adults, improve academically, and play a positive role in their communities. The writer maintains that advisory groups can be critical to student success, but before one condemns middle schools for often providing ineffective programs, one must first provide a clearer picture of how to develop more useful alternatives. The writer concludes that by building on current research and conducting new inquiries into the scope of the problem and possible solutions, one can move toward a better understanding of best practices.

Outline:
Introduction
Promise and Problems
Working Toward Best Practices
Understanding Future Challenges
Conclusion

From the Paper
"However, advisory groups often have been riddled with problems. A distinct lack of guidance on best practices, as well as inadequate program focus and staff training, has led many advisory programs to be little more than glorified study halls or quiet times. Some schools are looking to change this, through structured activities that include character education, community service, and working with younger students. While schools begin to understand how to structure effective advisory programs, research shows that these programs are likely to face new roles and challenges. For example, researchers believe that advisory groups could help students make better health choices and develop more sophisticated notions of gender identity. However, before advisory groups can reach their full potential at the middle-school level, more research is needed to help schools better understand best practices and how tenets of good advisory programs can be practically implemented."

Tags:students, guidance, schools, programs

Abstract
This paper argues in favor of not allowing minors to buy CDs, videos and other music that carries a Parental Advisory Warning label. It offers a brief history of music censorship. It explores the issues of warning labels and artistic freedom.

From the Paper
"This paper is an argument for parental advisory labels on CDs and music videos offered for sale and for banning the sale of items carrying such warning labels to minors. It examines the history of music censorship and of warning labels in particular. Labels ..."

Tags:Music, CD, videos, parental, Minors, Censorship

Abstract
Judith Saidel, executive director of the Center for Women in Government, has conducted much research in recent years related to non-profit management, policy, government sector relationships and the relationship between the two. This paper examines Saidel's Resource Independence Theory which claims that appointing certain individuals to advisory groups is a method that organizations can use to build strategic relationships between the organization and key stakeholder groups in the community.

From the Paper
"Judith Saidel is the executive director of the Center for Women in Government located in SUNY-Albany (Rockefeller,2003). Saidel has conducted much research in recent years related to nonprofit management, policy, government sector relationships and the relationship between the two. In a recent study conducted by Saidel, 101 New York State nonprofits that received funding via government grants were examined. Saidel's primary intent was to uncover the role of advisory bodies in organizations.

Saidel's research has focused on interdependence issues between public agencies and organizations as well as the role contracting may have for non-profit governance, policy education and leadership development (Rockefeller, 2003). Saidel's recent New York State research study entitled "Advisory Groups and Governance," specifically outlines the important function advisory bodies have in nonprofit and public management. The primary purpose of her study was to examine the interdependent role nonprofit agencies have in relation with governing advisory councils.

Ms. Saidel developed the "Resource Independence Theory" related to the role of advisory boards and governance. She claims that throughout history, advisory boards have primarily been viewed as "passive bodies" with no real governing or influential impact on the organizations which they represent. "Resource Independence Theory" claims that appointing certain individuals to advisory groups is a method that organizations can use to build strategic relationships between the organization and key stakeholder groups in the community (Saidel, 1991). Advisory boards, according to Saidel, link nonprofit organizations with key members of the community at large and the pubic.

Advisory boards also help organizations find representation with businesses, corporate entities, professional group, foundations, community members and government agencies. To survive, nonprofit groups need such support, and need to be highly visible within the communities they represent. Advisory boards serve the purpose of enabling an organization a higher level of visibility in the community and world at large (Saidel, 1991). In the past, nonprofits were often seen as simply a group that resided within a community. This change in thinking however, offered by Saidel, can help nonprofits become more contributing and important members of the community.

Saidel's research supports the idea that volunteer advisory groups are crucial bodies of governance in many nonprofit organizations funded by government grants. Her theory explains how advisory boards act as independent entities in nonprofits, separate from the board of directors. The board of directors in a nonprofit organization is often comprised of the CEO and government policy makers. These individuals often have a desire to find an advisory group that will draw on the community, thus creating greater diversity within the organization (Aspen, 1999). Advisory board insight and influence assure that objective decision making remains possible within a nonprofit, in essence allowing a system of checks and balances between the board of directors and organization as a whole. The board of directors in turn, has the unique ability to also evaluate and criticize the decisions offered by the advisory board. The advisory board in turn, helps to fulfill organizational goals and train new board members, as well as maintain the affiliation of retiring board members (Aspen, 1999).

By remaining independent, advisory board decisions are often considered based on merit and not subjective decision making. Advisory board functions within nonprofits include performing organizational activities such as fundraising, grant allocation and agency assessment (Saidel, 1991). Additionally, advising bodies act as ambassadors and advocates for nonprofits in grassroots communities (Aspen, 1999).

Saidel claims that advisory boards hold three primary functions in nonprofit organizations, including: (1) Acting as the "bridge" between the nonprofit group and community members, (2) Complimenting and strengthening the governance functions of the board of directors by providing independent thought, and (3) Assisting executive staff members with nonprofit organizational activities such as fundraising (Aspen,1999). These functions have been outlined above. Perhaps another appropriate term for advisory boards would be "ambassadors," as these boards truly are comprised of officials that act as representative members of the nonprofit cause.

"Resource Independence Theory" provides a framework for how advisory groups should act out in nonprofit organizations. Saidel supports the idea that these groups can help nonprofit organizations achieve "a balance of community representation in it's governing bodies" (Aspen, 1999). Advisory boards also, according to Saidel's theory, play a key role in helping the governing body of nonprofits raise funds for their programs and offer key training to personnel and board members. Their organization contributions, from a practical standpoint, are critical to the survival of nonprofits. Advisory boards may be considered the glue that holds the organization together, assisting with key initiatives and program development.

Additionally, advisory boards help nonprofit organizations reach key people in the community, thereby increasing visibility and support (Aspen, 1999). Program development, continuity of process and policy making and objective judgment are all contributions to nonprofits made by advisory boards. According to Saidel, "As the boundaries between government, business, and the voluntary sector blur, connections across sectors are increasingly becoming blurred" (Aspen, 1999). Advisory board's also bring credibility to nonprofits, and their support of the organization spreads a message among community members and politicians that they are on an important mission with an important organization, one that will impact the community in many significant ways (Aspen, 1999).

Advisory boards function well by establishing a clear mission and goal. They focus the efforts of the nonprofit and help decision makers understand the role an organization has in the community. Saidel's research and theory regarding Resource Independence has re-established the importance of the connection of nonprofit organizations to the community at large. Her methods clearly establish the importance of recognizing the contribution that advisory boards have to the success of nonprofit management. Through proper use of advisory board council, influence and training, Saidel demonstrates how the creation of boards can once again establish the link between nonprofit organizations and the community."

Tags:board, of, directors, politicians

Abstract
This paper reviews a recent proposed expansion of wireless service into the German cellular phone market. Verizon wishes to partner with a German firm that has access to the cell phone market so as to avoid costs relating to licensing and market regulations. In assessing political factors affecting the German economy, the paper, in a form of a review, highlights recent shifts in national policy, Germany's status within the European Union, some basic facts about German demographics and local business practices. Germany's current government is run by a center-left coalition, which lacks the popular mandate of the electorate. Its chancellor advocates a reform package that aims at raising taxes to prevent a budget crisis amidst a population with rising unemployment costs. This package has been criticized by most economists and has prompted a large street demonstration. Despite this, it can be said that the German business ethic is as strong as it always has been, and Germany represents a stable investment environment. The paper goes on to provide an analysis of the wireless telecommunications sector in Germany and Europe. Here it was found that the greatest barrier to the introduction of cellular technology in Germany is that 70% of the population already has one, compared to 45% of the population of the United States. The introduction of third stage mobile phones, which will replace current cell phone technology, provides an opportunity to introduce a new mobile calling plan on a national basis. The report addresses basic problems with this sector and with an American company attempting to enter the market. The report concludes by ultimately deciding against the introduction of cell phones to Germany.

From the Paper
"Foreign observers have lauded many aspects of German production methodologies. Many believe that the German market economy is a highly developed organic one, enshrined in centuries of mercantile tradition, and in as such provides a much more stable business environment than neo-liberal Anglo-American models. This is reflected primarily in corporate relations with workers. Workers in Germany are world-renown for their craftsmanship, and with good reason. Germans workers see themselves as apprentices in the tradition of the guild halls of the middle ages. German companies not only spend more on training their workers than their American counterparts, they also have many years of experience do so. German unions appoint members that sit on the board of most German corporations, a practice that would seem anathema in the United States where labor disputes are seen as adversarial and sometimes even hostile. Germans enjoy generous vacation allowances and maternity leave programs. This concept of seeing workers as an integral part of corporate life is known as the "social partnership.""

Tags:eurozion, tri-band, European, Union, Deutschebank

Abstract
This paper is a company analysis of Price Water House Coopers and its industry. It is one of the most successful, complexly unpredictable, companies today. Their prime offering is business consulting that has integrated itself in a multitude of individualized and specific fields of operation over the years. The paper details the company's service offerings into six different types: Audit, Assurance and Business Advisory Service Sector, Business Process Outsourcing Sector, Corporate Finance and Recovery Services Sector, Management Consulting Services Sector, Global Human Resources Services Sector and Global Tax Services Sector.

From the Paper
"Price Water House Coopers enjoys a cynosure status in today's quicksilver business scenario. Of the world business's complexly unpredictable, almost temperamental attitude in the age of IT, there are not many that can claim to be an expert. Price Water House Coopers not only does that but it has already lived up to its claims for so many years now. The company boasts an impressive employee count of almost one hundred and fifty thousand "highly experienced and motivated personal", employing their "innovative" business techniques for client satisfaction in more then one hundred and fifty countries scattered all over the globe. Their prime offering is Business consultancy that has integrated itself in a multitude of individualized and specific fields of operation over the years. According to the website, the company has classified its service offerings into six different types. Audit, Assurance and Business advisory service sector claims to provide "innovative, high quality and cost effective solutions", concerning financial management in fields such as share markets and technological transformations. Business process out sourcing sector helps in such fields as analysis of internal audits and procurement of human and real estate resources. Corporate finance and recovery services sector provides comprehensive help to customers who are facing drastic business problems, as the word "recovery" suggests, the sector claims to breathe a new life in companies entangled in "complex business problems". Management consulting services sector should help transform the management structures of needing companies according to the demands of new economy, if they are anything as good as they claim to be. This also includes employment of latest technology. Global Human resources services sector searches and employs human potential for clients and also helps in "insurance management". Global Tax services sector devises and implements innovative strategies to improve tax management."

Tags:Price, Water, House, Coopers, business, consulting, IT, management, outsourcing, advisory, tax, human, resource

Abstract
This paper examines the reasons why the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee at its October 2000 meeting decided to leave the Federal Funds Rate target (and by extension the money supply target) unchanged as well as looking at what might have prompted the Fed Open Market Committee to increase the Federal Funds Rate or Discount Rate as well as what might have prompted them to decrease the Federal Funds Rate or Discount Rate ? and what other actions might have accompanied either an increase or decrease.

From the paper:

"To understand the Fed?s decision in October it is necessary to understand how the office functions in general. As the central banking authority of the United States, the Federal Reserve acts as a fiscal agent for the U.S. government; it also serves as custodian of the reserve accounts of commercial banks, makes loans to commercial banks, and is authorized to issue Federal Reserve notes that constitute the entire supply of paper currency of the country. The system comprises the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the 12 Federal Reserve banks, the Federal Open Market Committee, the Federal Advisory Council, and, a Consumer Advisory Council along with several thousand member banks. The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System determines the reserve requirements of the member banks within statutory limits, reviews and determines the discount rates established by the 12 Federal Reserve banks, and reviews the budgets of the reserve banks."

Tags:banking, authority, fiscal, legal, rates, commercial, loans, reserves, security, inflation, market, indicators, hitech, recession

Abstract
This paper seeks to address whether access to relatively new telecommunications technologies such as the Internet and broadband should be covered by a redefinition of universal service-advanced universal service. This paper examines the concept of universal service from a historical perspective to evaluate its current regulatory status. It examines the needs and barriers to implementing advanced universal service, explains broadband technologies, looks at initiatives to help narrow the digital divide, explores policy objectives and finally makes recommendations for policy makers for basic and advanced universal service. This paper finds that universal service policies should continue to ensure access to basic Internet and that policy makers should continue to closely monitor the deployment of advanced telecommunications technologies to ensure equitable access by all citizens. It does not, however, recommend that advanced universal service be deployed at this time.

Table of Contents
Abstract
Introduction
Overview
Methodology
History of Universal Service
Initial Executive, Legislative, and Regulatory Environment in 1934
Deregulation and Universal Service Fund in 1996
Bill Introduction
Conference Committee
Passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996
Section 254: Revision of Universal Service
Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service
Public Interest Advocates
Section 706: Advanced Telecommunications Incentives
Need for Universal Service
Information Age
Economic Benefits
Digital Divide
21st Century Job Skills
Empowerment
Access as a Right
Broadband Technology Descriptions
Broadband
Cable TV Networks
Digital Subscribe Line: xDSL
Fiber Access Networks: FTTx
Wireless Access Networks
Applications
Internet Access
Video-Conferencing
Video on Demand
Near Video on Demand
Digital Television
Barriers to Advanced Universal Service
Opposing Arguments
Executive, Legislative and Regulatory Climates
Monopoly vs Competitive Environment
Emerging Policy Arenas
Current Initiatives
Public
Next Generation Internet
The President's National Information Infrastructure Advisory Council
Department of Education
Department of Commerce
National Science Foundation
Department of Agriculture
Universal Service Administrative Corporation
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Private
OpenNET Coalition
AT&T
IBM
Partnerships
Presidential Advisory Committee
The Benton Foundation
Family Technology Resource Centers
Policy Objectives
Access
Standards
Competition
Content
Positive Outcomes
Negative Outcomes
Options
Option A
Option B
Option C
Recommendation
References

From the Paper
"Section 254 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 not only reaffirms the central importance of universal service in telecommunications, but it has vastly expanded the concept. The FCC is charged with assuring that all rates for universal service are just, reasonable, and affordable, not just the rates for interstate service. The word "affordable" had not been used before this legislation, but the 1996 Act introduces the concept of affordability directly and explicitly into national policy. The 1996 Act expands the services to which the universal service concept applies and institutes a formal process for expanding the definition of universal service over time. Although access to the network for high-cost areas and low-income consumers has been supported for years, the 1996 Act explicitly requires this policy and requires that it be implemented with specific and predictable mechanisms, in the form of contributions from all providers of telecommunications services to support universal service. A whole new range of institutions has been identified as having a role in universal service policy."

Tags:administration, communications, digital, science, telecommunications

Abstract
In this paper, the writer presents an analysis of the University of Victoria library and identifies a key challenge facing the organization, namely, how to effectively manage business processes and services that fall under the responsibility of multiple departments within the organization. It begins with a brief description of the organizational environment and an analysis of the attributes of successful teams with respect to academic theory and research. It then presents a definition of team diversity and identifies some of the issues and challenges associated with cross-functional teams. The conclusion to this case study contains recommendations for change, which include the creation of advisory groups with functionally diverse membership and the establishment of a strategic planning process that leverages the enhanced capacity for creativity and innovation of teams that are more organizationally and functionally diverse.

From the Paper
"Located primarily in the metropolitan area of a major city, the University of Victoria is a research-intensive, comprehensive institution with an international reputation for excellence in teaching and research. The Library's clients include over 29,000 students, approximately 20% of whom are post-graduates, 4,500 academic and general staff, clients from groups such as cooperative research centers, staff from major teaching hospitals as well as the wider community. The University also has regional campuses in two other nearby city centers."

Tags:book, research

Abstract
Part one of this analysis, the Product Concept, details the creation of an E-commerce site to be named ?Bazaar,? a name that was chosen because it has strong Middle East identification and because it captures the concept of the site as a wide-open shopping mall with a difference. Part two, The Market, divides the analysis into two main sections -- the events leading up to Saudi Arabia?s belated but active and focused entry into the Internet Age, and the current situation that draws on user surveys completed within the previous six months. These surveys show that the growth in Internet usage in Saudi Arabia is proceeding faster than predicted. In the competition section, particular emphasis is placed on the ISPs, since the success of an E-commerce site depends on choosing the right ISP. In the architecture section, the writer details the topography of the pages and provides a hierarchical division of the levels and the relations between the static and the dynamic pages. The technology section then emphasizes the type of connectivity and configuration will be used, including the justification for choosing to develop the site using Frame Relay Technology. In the strategy section of this analysis, the report presents a task breakdown of the individual structural components of the business group.

Executive Summary
Product Concept
The Market
Background
Current Situation
Competition
Finance and Advisory Board
Architecture
Internet Technology
Telecom Technology
Strategy

From the Paper
"Saudi Arabia has had an Internet connection for several years, although public access has only recently been allowed. The Kingdom also sponsors many Web pages, both commercial and government, and, until recently, those were all established outside of the country, mostly in Bahrain or the United Kingdom ("Internet to enter", 1997).
The region's first wide-area network, GulfNet, was created in 1985 by the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and IBM. It was an SNA (Systems Network Architecture) network in a star configuration with the mainframe hub in Riyadh. Initially there were ten additional nodes in the Kingdom and three in Kuwait connected via 9.6 Kbps leased lines. International connectivity via a link to BITNET in the United States was established in 1987 (Mansuri & al-Zoman, 1996)."

Tags:network, isp, internet, technology

Abstract
This paper compares and contrasts the macroeconomic forecasts prepared by different financial institutions, investment firms or other recognized forecasting groups including: Macro Dev, The Governors Economic Advisory Council (Ohio), Global Insight, the Virginia Department of Planning and Budget, BMO Nesbit Burns, The University of Michigan Department of Economics and the Conference Group. Specifically, this essay looks at each group's predictions for unemployment, real GDP and inflation in 2003 and 2004, while also looking at projections of housing starts and unemployment growth from some of these indices for 2003 and 2004. This essay also discusses how the results of these national forecasts will affect operations or planning for the Saint Joseph County Prosecutors Office in the State of Indiana, over the next two years. Because the economy can have a significant impact on crime levels in local jurisdictions, remaining aware of future economic indicators is a key part of being able to forecast future needs for prosecutors and other court resources.

From the Paper
"These groups predict that inflation will be between 1.4% to 2.3% in 2003 and from 1.7% to 2.8% in 2004. The groups are divided as to whether inflation will be higher in 2003 in comparison to 2004. All of these groups predict modest inflation rates in 2003 and 2004, all less than the predict growth rate of real GDP for those years. This suggests that if our budgetary increases match real GDP growth and the goods we purchase grow at the same rate of projected inflation, we will see modest increases in our purchasing power in both 2003 and 2004, allowing us to combat crime even more effectively and efficiently than we can in our current environment."

Tags:GEAC, tax, revenue