Abstract
This paper answers questions on regional trade associations and their effect on the global economy, along with the role of technology in the process of globalization. The paper discusses how regional trade associations create an environment where the members of the association can trade with one another with fewer restrictions and fewer barriers, which in itself benefits those members and increases the overall trade for the membership.

From the Paper
"Regional trade associations have increased in number in recent years precisely because they serve the interests of the members by giving them more power in the global economy, though such associations have also created a number of tensions in some cases. NAFTA (the North American Free Trade Association) is a case in point, an association which has benefited the U.S., Canada, and Mexico in terms of increased business and a reduction in trade barriers, but the move has also caused problems within the U.S. because of the perception that business is moving out of the country to benefit Mexico while forcing labor to retrain and find new jobs. In truth, such changes are fueled as much by the larger processes of..."

Tags:regional, trade, associations

Abstract
The paper specifically explores the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE), American Nurses' Association (ANA), Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) and the National League for Nursing (NLN). The paper details these organizations' benefits to nursing leadership, practicing nurses and students. The paper shows how these associations account for an improvement in the educational, professional and practical experience of nurses, while simultaneously improving the general quality of healthcare by addressing many of its most pressing points of concern.

From the Paper
"The nursing profession is profoundly challenging. Characterized by long hours, high levels of workplace stress and the need to make crucial decisions the implications of which will have significant bearings on the well-being of others, nursing requires a great deal of individual skill and organizational dexterity. This is the reason for the development of the multitude of professional organizations which function as a centering point for the nursing field as a whole. Such groups as the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) help to provide support, networking accessibility, information and continuing professional development to those already in the nursing field, at the practitioner and administrative level respectively. Additionally, such groups as the National Student Nurses' Association (NSNA) and the National League of Nurses (NLN) serve in these same capacities on behalf of those students on the educational path to nursing and on those who provide them with education respectively. This collection of professional associations is designed to establish a place of reference in the various phases and roles reflected by the broader nursing profession, benefiting members by helping them to sustain and improve practices and benefiting the broader healthcare system by providing support for a more consistent and higher quality of care."

Tags:ethics, membership, healthcare

Abstract
The paper explores the function of professional associations and shows how they establish a baseline of expectations, training and industry skill-sets upon which companies can rely on to establish the competency levels of their workforce. The paper focuses on the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), a leading professional association in the property and construction industry globally. The paper discusses how the role of RICS and other professional organizations has expanded greatly from their original function as more of a social organization for professionals to a more encompassing function with deeper economic ramifications.

Outline:
Overview
Target Association
Professional Development
The Construction Workplace
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The role of professional associations within the contemporary business environment and global economy has grown over the last several decades. While in the past professional associations have served to augment professional licensing services as well as to provide professional licensing services, they were often marginalized at the periphery of the particular industry with which they were associated. Bennett describes professional associations as, "collective bodies that are intermediary between individual business action and state action...they are one of a number of organizations that may influence the development of individual businesses and the wider competitiveness of a nation"(244). Viewed in this manner, the role of professional organizations is much more expansive than that of merely a supporting role to industry in general or a licensing body that contributes professional competencies to an industry."

Tags:competencies, expansion, industry, advancement, opportunities

Abstract
This paper discusses the prominence of women's activism in the New England region from the early 1830s to the 1870s. The paper examines how many of these groups were aimed at social and moral reform. The paper explores specific reform groups in this category and their impact on society.

From the Paper
"The period from the beginning of the United States in 1776 to the decade of 1870 during the country's reconstruction from the Civil War was a time of progress and reform for women, among women, and by women on the public at large. Women, beginning after the American Revolution, began to understand the ideals of liberty, and equality that their men had been fighting for. Slowly, they began to seek out ways to enter the public sphere from the private sphere of the home and their families that they had previously been sequestered in."

Tags:women's rights movements, women, prohibition, temperance, private sphere

Abstract
This essay briefly describes what a Voluntary Employees' Beneficiary Association (VEBA) is. The author discusses the perceived advantages and disadvantages associated with such a system, and the possible impact of modern VEBA's both for American healthcare consumers and providers.

From the Paper
"In plain English, a VEBA is a pre-funded tax free pre and post retirement medical expense account used by employees and their dependents for future health and welfare costs. This is in direct contrast to the more common and traditional method of 'Pay-as-you go' healthcare funding that current exists for the majority of businesses in the USA. A VEBA has been considered by many as nothing more than a way for an employer to contribute tax-free to a fund that can be used to purchase health and welfare benefits for its employees, the equivalent of "a lockbox filled with cash that can only be withdrawn to pay for health care costs or other welfare benefits like life and disability insurance." However, this simple analogy hides many of the intricacies and issues currently surrounding VEBAs and their renewed popularity.
"Given VEBAs general lack of recognition and limited up take, it will come as a surprise to note that they have been available in the USA since 1928. Initially, Union organizations were prominent in establishing the majority of VEBAs to provide benefit plans for their members. However, various business owners, large corporations and small companies have all introduced VEBAs to take advantage of the tax exemptions. Instead of VEBAs primarily offering a method of funding healthcare for employees, it has regularly been used as a tax-efficient financial planning tool by wealthy individuals as a method to protect their assets. In order to address many of the abuses that occurred, the Federal government introduced extensive restrictions and limitations in both 1984 and 1986."

Tags:VEBA healthcare USA, health coverage, stand-alone VEBA

From the Paper
"This paper will examine the National Rifle Association and its relationship with the Congress of the United States. The research will investigate how the National Rifle Association has attempted to influence Congress and what decisions Congress has made concerning the National Rifle Association's interests during the 1980s. A substantial part of the investigation will compare what is found in the research with what is asserted by Barbara Hinckley in her Stability and Change in Congress. Hinckley writes with regard to interest groups in general that they are most successful when they are comprised of individuals who are representative of voters in the home districts of Congressmen. That is, the "Washington Lobbyist" does not have the influence of the lobbyist who is truly in touch with voters back home vitally interested in the issue."

Abstract
The paper discusses how discrimination based on age still affects the work environment in Canadian organizations, and, moreover, this discrimination is sometimes experienced differently by men and women, so that there is an intersectionality of oppressions, that is, some people are subjected to discrimination on more than one ground. The paper notes that this is despite the fact that today's workplace is becoming increasingly diverse. This paper discusses ageism in the workplace, and also its causes as well as the consequences for Canadian business.

From the Paper
"What would it be as an old Canadian worker working with young colleagues, also what would it be as young worker working with old colleagues? What are some of the issues that may happen to this Canadian firm in this case? How are women and men differently affected by ageism? Discuss advantages and disadvantages and possible results that could affect the Canadian firms and business? Please provide examples. Discrimination based on age still affects the work environment in Canadian organizations. Moreover, this discrimination is sometimes experienced differently by men and women, so that there is an intersectionality of..."

Tags:ageism, business, canada

Abstract
This paper explores the impact of professional organizations for nurses, explaining that the impacts of these organizations cannot be affected without addressing the matter of leadership. The paper asserts that the need for a substantial clinical workforce must be addressed, leadership, research and education at all levels of organization must not be neglected in spite of its less attractive appeal. Efforts must be made to make not only nursing graduates stay within their chosen profession, but also to encourage and support promising individuals to pursue leadership roles or academic careers as nursing faculty.

From the Paper
"Professionalism demands strict self-regulation and continuous improvement of the standard of care through evidence-based recommendations and quality research. Professionalism also demands a multi-disciplinary approach in order to arrive at comprehensive, individualized treatment options for the patient. The nurses' roles as researcher, planner, policy-maker, educator, leader and collaborator testify to the ethical responsibilities they share towards patients, colleagues and the populations they affect through their decisions. In practice, it is the nurse that plays a large part in ..."

Tags:patient, medical, union, workers

Abstract
This paper analyzes the website of the American Diabetic Association, found at http://www.diabetes.org/home.jsp. The paper explains that this site is sponsored by the American Diabetes Association, a respected group that provides information on diabetes to sufferers, guidance about testing and treatment and sponsors the search for cures. The paper describes how the site offers a great deal of information on the subject.

From the Paper
"The website for the American Diabetes Association is found at http://www.diabetes.org/home.jsp. This site is sponsored by the American diabetes Association, a respected group that provides information on diabetes to sufferers, guidance about testing and treatment, and sponsors the search for cures. The American Diabetes Association was founded in 1940 and remains the nation's leading nonprofit health organization "providing diabetes research, information, and advocacy" (The American Diabetes Association, 2005, About Us, para. 1). Members are made up of both consumers and health care professionals, meaning largely diabetics and their families and medical personnel. There is no advertising on the site, except for links and suggestions to reach other sites with information for diabetics. The closest thing to an ad is the appeal for donations to fund the work."

Tags:american, diabetic, association

Abstract
This paper discusses and evaluates the use of databases at the British Columbia Muslim Association. The author finds that more extensive use of databases could be implemented and combined with the association's Web site.

From the Paper
"The British Columbia Muslim Association (BCMA) is a largely volunteer organization that operates a central Web site with links to Islamic resources in the BC community. The Web site is currently undergoing ..."

Tags:databases, british columbia muslim association, bcma, distributed databases, oracle