Monday, December 9, 2019

Stakeholders of the Antiquities and Monuments Office of Hong Kong

Question: Discuss About Roles of Stakeholders of the Antiquities and Monuments Office of Hong Kong? Answer: Introduction Definition of Antiquities and Monuments Different institutions have different definitions for the words monuments and antiquities. According to the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance 1976 of the Hong Kong Law, Antiquities are defined as the sites, buildings, places or structures erected, formed or built by humans and human agencies before the year 1800 and the remains or ruins of any such structure, site, place or building regardless of the fact that they have been restored, modified or have any additions after the year 1799. This also includes objects that are movable that can be shaped, made, painted, inscribed, carved, manufactured, created, modified or produced by humans before 1800 or the objects that have not been restored, added to or modified after the year 1799. The impressions, remains or fossils of these are also considered as relics according to the ordinance. The archaeological sites in Hong Kong are all considered the property of the Hong Kong government according to the Ordinance. The government of Hong Kon g has a list of monuments that are called declared monuments (Hong Kong Tourism Board, 2017). According to the ordinance, these are defined as any structure, artifact, building or feature that is important for the nation due to their paleontological, archaeological or historic significance. There are more than 180 sites all over Hong Kong that are considered sites of specific Archaeological significance. To include a monument into the list of declared monuments, the Antiquities and Monuments board is consulted and the approval of the Chief Executive or the Secretary of Development is required, after which the building, site, structure or place is declared a monument. In order to excavate, plant or cut trees, deposit earth or demolish any monument or proposed monument, a permit is required from the Secretary of Home Affairs failing which the action is forbidden. Some of the historical buildings are declared proposed monuments for temporary statutory protection. The World Monument Fun d has defined a monument as any structure that was constructed only for commemorating a person or event that has been of significance to a group of people however the term is loosely used for any structure or building that is of any historical or architectural significance or is a part of the cultural heritage of a place or people (AMO Team, 2014). Purpose and Structure of the Report This research report is made with an intent to thoroughly study the work, roles and responsibilities, structure, functioning, background, historic records and authority of The Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO) of Hong Kong. In this research, we have covered how the Antiquities and Monuments Office of Hong Kong defines the Antiquities and Monuments, the history and background of the board from its year of establishment to the current roles and responsibilities, the functions that it fulfills, and its various policies. We have also looked into the stakeholders of the Antiquities and Monuments Office of Hong Kong and how each of them contributes to the functioning of the organization. The stakeholders of the Antiquities and Monuments Office of Hong Kong can be classified into four categories, these are public stakeholders, private stakeholders, the volunteers and the Hong Kong government. The report also covers an in depth study of how the Antiquities and Monuments Office of Hong K ong has impacted the Hong Kong tourism industry (Hong Kong Tourism Board, 2017). The use of historic monuments and their promotion as national heritage is done by the Antiquities and Monuments Office of Hong Kong to attract the tourists from all over the world. These monuments are often located at the heart of the city and occupy all the prime locations. It also works the other way round when the place starts developing due to the attraction that the monuments serve as. Their energy embodied in the structures is radiant and this attracts visitors towards them. Another reason the Hong Kong government takes care of and promotes the historic monuments is that they involve minimal cost as compared to the development of a completely new tourist attraction and have a higher mass appeal. However the development and promotion of historical monuments come with a price and the bodies planning to do so have to face certain challenges. The most dominant of these being the difficulty faced in re building damaged or demolished structures (Fan Yim, 2011). The material and method used for building these is very different to the ones that are currently used. There are also certain disputes associated with the development of these. The government restricts the institutions from disturbing the ancient monuments and this prevents the authorities sometimes to conduct restoration and rebuilding activities on these monuments. This report therefore concludes with the understanding of all major responsibilities of the Antiquities and Monuments Office of Hong Kong and goes through its working and the activities carried out by them (McNulty Koff, 2014). The Antiquities and Monuments Office of Hong Kong History and Background Cultural Heritage is a symbol of pride for every nation. It is a part of their history and memories and is of utmost importance to them. The relics, antiquities and monuments of the country provide the citizens of Hong Kong with a sense of continuity and belonging. They let us have a look at all that the nation has been through and the unique past of the fusion of the eastern and western fusion that this country has been through. The Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO) of Hong Kong and the Antiquities Advisory Board (AAO) were established in the year 1976 as a part of the Leisure and Cultural Services of Hong Kong by the enforcement of The Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance by the government of Hong Kong. This was done to make sure that the popular monuments of Hong Kong are protected appropriately (Rypkema, 2008). The Executive Secretary presides the Antiquities and Monuments Office. The office comprises of well qualified staff, which is organized into five sections. These secti ons are Archaeology, Historic Buildings, Education and Publicity, Technical and Advisory functions respectively. The secretariat and administrative support is provided to the Antiquities Advisory Board as well as the Antiquities and Monuments Office. The Antiquities and Monuments Office is presently managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services department of the Hong Kong government (Jiang Homsey, 2008). The Antiquities and Monuments Office is based in the building that was formerly the Kowloon British School. It is the oldest school building in Hong Kong that is still functional. It started its operations as the Kowloon British School in the year 1902. The architecture type of this building is similar to the Victorian Era architecture and is typical of a number of schools constructed at that time. This building itself is a declared monument by the Antiquities and Monuments Office. Roles and Functions The Antiquities and Monuments Office was established for the protection of the heritage and historical monuments of Hong Kong. Housed in the building that once was the Kowloon British School, this organization is responsible for preservation and safeguarding of the Hong Kongs historic monuments (Pedersen, 2002). The major tasks that they have to carry out involve the identification, research and record maintenance of the items of historical interest and buildings in Hong Kong. To understand the duties and responsibilities of the Antiquities and Monuments Office, one needs to first understand the purpose for which this institution was formed. The Antiquities and Monuments Office is responsible for maintaining and developing the written and photo archives of the heritage sites of Hong Kong, recording, identifying and researching about the sites and structures that may be of historic significance to the nation. They also conduct and organize surveys, researches and excavations of the bu ildings and items of historic and archaeological significance. They organize the drives to carry out restoration, maintenance and protection of the monuments. The Antiquities and Monuments Office also evaluate and review the influence of development projects on the monuments and heritage sites and take measures to mitigate the effects. Another responsibility of the Antiquities and Monuments Office is to promote and make people aware of the heritage of Hong Kong and the historic monuments. They carry this out by various programs and activities like exhibitions, tours, lectures, heritage trails, events and workshops. The Antiquities and Monuments Office also provides support to the Antiquities Advisory Board in conservation and protection of the places of historical and archaeological interest in the country (Government, 2015). Policy The Antiquities and Monuments Office works for the conservation and preservation of the places of historic significance to the country of Hong Kong. The Government of Hong Kong earmarks a fixed amount of money to e used by them to carry out the development, promotion, restoration, excavation, maintenance etc. The government has asked the AMO the details of the work to be done on the monuments including the objectives for the task, timelines for the same and the performance indicators. The policy of the Antiquities and Monuments Office continues to be the promotion, preservation and conservation of the heritage monuments and sites in Hong Kong. Hong Kong as a nation has only gained heritage conservation consciousness in the late 1990s. Since then the Antiquities Advisory board has carried out country wide surveys in which the size of the built heritage of the nation has been recorded to be of about 8800 buildings, structures and sites. The Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance was const ituted for this very purpose (Globe Media, 2009). It aims at stopping the destructions and negligence towards the heritage sites and conserve them as they tell the story of the nations past and the rich cultural inheritance. The Roles of Stakeholders of the Antiquities and Monuments Office of Hong Kong Public sector The Antiquities and Monuments Office is an institution formed by the Government has been widely accepted by the public and their efforts are applauded by many. The people are happy with the work that they are doing and are in full support of the organization and their work. The general public of Hong Kong actively participates in the surveys and contributes to the growing database of The Antiquities and Monuments Office (Chan, 2015). The people also actively take part in the workshops and promotional events held at the heritage sites. The number of people visiting the heritage trails developed by The Antiquities and Monuments Office is also increasing day by day with the increase in the awareness and knowledge of the monuments and heritage sites among the public of not just Hong Kong but also all over the planet. Private sector The Antiquities and Monuments Office has got a lot of support both financially and in the form of resources like the required machinery, tools, human resource etc. from the private organizations of Hong Kong. There are a lot of cases in which the AMO carried out the restoration activity of the heritage sites with the help of the private organizations of Hong Kong. The clubs of the AMO like the Young Friends of Heritage have always got mass support and participation from the private organizations (Chai, 2013). Volunteers The volunteers are the backbone of an institution like The Antiquities and Monuments Office. There is a huge turn up of the individual volunteers and volunteer groups in the events and activities of the AMO. They provide assistance and have always lent a hand to the AMO in times of need. The volunteers provide their services and stand for the preservation of the monuments and heritage sites (Turner, 2016). They make the events organized by The Antiquities and Monuments Office a success every time and spread the information about the rich cultural heritage of Hong Kong in order to make others aware and discerning towards the history of the monuments, sites and structures that make up our cultural heritage. Government A number of government bodies and institutions have supported and stood for The Antiquities and Monuments Office in times of need and in general. The Center of Urban Planning and Environment Management, The Hong Kong Institute of Planners, Architects, Landscape Architects and Surveyors and The Hong Kong Geography Department extend their help and guidance during the planning process for the organization. The Leisure and Cultural Services department of Hong Kong takes care of the functioning of the organizations as per the government directive and the AMO has full monetary and non monetary support of the government in the process of preservation, conservation and promotion of the cultural heritage of Hong Kong (Legislative Council Secretariat, 2015). The other government bodies associated with the working of the Antiquities and Monuments Office of Hong Kong include The Commissioner for Heritages Office that was established on 25th April 2008 and which falls under the Development Bureau , The Hong Kong Governments Central Conservation Section and The Urban Renewal Authority, which is a semi government body that takes care of the urban development in Hong Kong (Schwab, et al., 2015). The Impacts of the Antiquities and Monuments Office on Tourism The Antiquities and Monuments Office that was set up under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of Hong Kong is responsible for preserving, protecting and conserving the cultural built heritage and archaeological sites of Hong Kong. As a nation, Hong Kong has come a long way from what it once was. Most of its heritage sites and monuments still stand right in the middle of the skyscrapers and urban life as good as they were years ago (Hong Kong Tourism Board, 2015). The diverse cultural heritage of the country is evident in the historic sites and structures and each of these is a spectacle in itself. Hong Kong tourism is a never ending contrast between the new and the old with the ancient structures standing tall among the urban jungles. Before the enforcement of The Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance in the year 1976, the heritage sites of Hong Kong were neglected, sparsely and independently maintained. The ordinance led to the formation of the Antiquities and Monuments Offi ce, which has now taken over the responsibility of maintaining, preserving and conserving the heritage sites of Hong Kong. This step has made the tourism sector of Hong Kong a little more organized and has given a boost to the culture and its perceived value in front of the world. The tourism industry in Hong Kong has flourished and a triple digit percentage growth has been observed in the visitor percentage since the AMO began promoting the heritage sites as places of tourist attraction. The heritage tours and trails have also observed an increase in participation and the people are more aware and knowledgeable about the country (Jiang Homsey, 2008). Their perception towards Hong Kong has changed and evolved and it is not just a holiday travel destination anymore, but also a place of rich cultural heritage and historic monuments. Thus the Antiquities and Monuments Office has impacted the tourism industry positively and made it a place of historic relevance and even more popular. The benefits of Using Historical buildings The basic idea behind developing historical buildings as heritage sites and making use of them is the conservation of resources. The redevelopment and restoration of these buildings is not only less time consuming as compared to building or development of new tourist attractions, but this also makes use of the past investment of time and energy made in it, thus preservation and reuse of the existing historic structures is considered a more effective way (McNulty Koff, 2014). Another major reason for the conservation of heritage sites is that these structures, monuments and sites are of historical and cultural importance to the nation. They represent the history and the story of the past of that place. While some buildings need to be maintained in their exact shape and form, most of the historic buildings can be utilized for activities and public interactions. This makes the place change with the changing times, hence making it even more significant for all of the coming generations as it increases the number of stories that the monument tells to its visitors (Tourism Commission, 2016). The preservation and maintenance of the historic places were considered a luxury previously, but the researchers have proved that this practice is in fact a sustained act that helps in the development of the local economy. Preserving the historic structures and buildings attracts visitors and this creates jobs and generated the capital in large amounts. The act of preservation of historic monuments helps in generating revenue for the country and is an investment that gives off great returns. The heritage sites also attract historians and researchers from all over the world who help in further promotion of not just the monuments or heritage site but also the country as a whole. The Challenges of Using Historical Buildings The first and foremost challenge that the Antiquities and Monuments Office faces when the decision is taken to use a historic building as a heritage site is that the excavation and restoration work for that place is to be done. This comes with a lot of challenges and difficulties of its own. The construction method and process of these is very ancient and to be able to replicate that is an impossible task. All these monuments are different in built and structure, from the other and the process developed and used for one cannot be reused (School, 2014). The construction materials, hidden details and their construction techniques require a lot of thinking, planning and preparation. There is no documentation done as a proof of the structure and built of the sites and therefore there are surprises that come up at the time of the excavation or restoration. The monuments and buildings are generally constructed in a complex shape and structure and this has to be assessed in the process as w ell. The historic significance of the structure of the structure has to be maintained without compromising on its safety level. This is another challenge that the AMO faces. Another challenge that comes when promoting the heritage sites as tourist places is that the people generally have a perception that is already in their minds regarding the historical places that they visit. The visitors emotional state at the heritage site has to be understood and such sites must be marketed accordingly. The site also has to measure up to the mental image that is built in the minds of the visitors failing which the attractiveness of the site is eventually going to diminish. Some of the historic sites that were discovered on the private properties of the people could not be developed as heritage sites, this led to the depletion of their condition and value. The government of Hong Kong in such a case is unable to promote and develop that site. In order to develop the site as a heritage site, it m ust be made accessible and easy to reach (Tsui, 2015). This is another challenge for the Antiquities and Monuments Office when the sites that are newly discovered are to be promoted. The historic sites are very important for both the cultural and economic development of Hong Kong, but this comes with a price and the challenges that the AMO has to overcome for their development are also great. The pollution caused by the vehicles and industries also poses a threat to the monuments and their appearance. The pollutants in the air corrode and crumble the monuments, due to which they lose their attractiveness and the actual looks are also lost. Case Study of Heritage 1881 The 1881 heritage site was constructed in the year 1884 and is located at Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Serving as the Hong Kong Marine Police Headquarters from the 1880s to the year 1996, it is a place of great historic relevance. The more than 120 year old site is now surrounded by the countrys greatest shopping destination and the Star Ferry Terminal. Other places of relevance around the 1881 Heritage site are the Hong Kong Clock Tower, The Avenue of Stars, Hong Kong Museum of Art and the Harbour City Mall. This site is illuminated everyday at night which transforms it from a heritage sightseeing place to an attractive photography site. Presently the 1881 Heritage site houses the heritage hotel, various luxury shops, bars, restaurants and fine dining places. The site is made up of a main building a block and a signal tower also known as the Round House. The site lost a part of its surrounding ground in the 1970s when the area was leveled to develop the Kowloon Park Drive. T he main building was originally two storied structure and the third story did not exist until its construction in the 1920s. The 1881 Heritage site is one of the four oldest buildings of Hong Kong that are still surviving. The entire compound of the site is a declared monument according to the Antiquities and Monuments Office of Hong Kong since the year 1994. The site was named after it earlier use as The Former Marine Police Headquarters Compound. This has officially been renamed as the 1881 Heritage site now (Tsui, 2015). The Marine Police that once had its headquarters in the compound of the 1881 Heritage site have now merged with the Hong Kong Police Force and serve as a unit in the same. The Old Kowloon Fire Station in the compound of the 1881 Heritage site has been redeveloped into a heritage hotel that houses retail facilities and outlets for food and beverages. It also comprises of an exhibition hall, communicating the transforming journey of the heritage site. The designs of the complex resemble those of the monuments built during that period. It is a combination of the neoclassical and Victorian architecture (School, 2014). The complex also contains the cells where the pirates and smugglers caught by the marine police were imprisoned. The enclosures on the walls of the site were used to keep pigeons who used to carry the messages sent to the ships that were on the harbor to carry out ship to shore communication. The most famous monument in the complex is the Time Ball Tower. This tower was in use from 1885 to 1907 to tell time to the travelling ships. A ball was mounted on a pole in the tower and this was lifted manually every morning and was dropped at 1 pm every day. This allowed the sailors to recalibrate their chronometers to the accuracy of one tenth of a second before departing from the country of Hong Kong for their designated destinations. Conclusion This research has been conducted to know and understand the roles and responsibilities of the Antiquities and Monuments Office of Hong Kong. The Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO) of Hong Kong and the Antiquities Advisory Board (AAO) were established in the year 1976 as a part of the Leisure and Cultural Services of Hong Kong by the enforcement of The Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance by the government of Hong Kong. This was done to make sure that the popular monuments of Hong Kong are protected appropriately. The Antiquities and Monuments Office was established for the protection of the heritage and historical monuments of Hong Kong. Housed in the building that once was the Kowloon British School, this organization is responsible for preservation and safeguarding of the Hong Kongs historic monuments. Their key responsibilities include identification of the historical monuments, recording their history and significance and researching further about them. They also carry out sur veys and excavations in the areas that are of historic and archeological significance. The AMO conducts awareness programs, exhibitions, workshops, tours, lectures etc. regularly to involve the people and the visitors and make them aware of the rich heritage of the Hong Kong culture. The Antiquities Advisory board has carried out country wide surveys in which the size of the built heritage of the nation has been recorded to be of about 8800 buildings, structures and sites. The Antiquities and Monuments Office is an institution formed by the Government has been widely accepted by the public and their efforts are applauded by many. It has also got a lot of support both financially and in the form of resources like the required machinery, tools, human resource etc. from the private organizations of Hong Kong. There is a huge turn up of the individual volunteers and volunteer groups in the events and activities of the AMO. They provide assistance and have always lent a hand to the AMO i n times of need. A number of government bodies and institutions have also supported and stood for The Antiquities and Monuments Office in times of need and in general. The Antiquities and Monuments Office has impacted the tourism industry positively and made it a place of historic relevance and even more popular. The tourism industry in Hong Kong has flourished and a triple digit percentage growth has been observed in the visitor percentage since the AMO began promoting the heritage sites as places of tourist attraction. The heritage tours and trails have also observed an increase in participation and the people are more aware and knowledgeable about the country. The basic idea behind developing historical buildings as heritage sites and making use of them is the conservation of resources. Thus the preservation and reuse of the existing historic structures is considered a more effective way. While some buildings need to be maintained in their exact shape and form, most of the histor ic buildings can be utilized for activities and public interactions. Preserving the historic structures and buildings attracts visitors and this creates jobs and generated the capital in large amounts. The act of preservation of historic monuments helps in generating revenue for the country and is an investment that gives off great returns. The organization, however, also faces a lot of challenges when using the heritage sites as places of tourist attraction. The monuments and buildings are generally constructed in a complex shape and structure and this has to be assessed in the process. The historic significance of the structure of the structure also needs to be maintained without compromising on its safety level. In the second part of the study, we have learnt about the 1881 heritage site, its history, previous and current significance. This report is for academic purposes only and has been conducted to mainly study the working of the Antiquities and Monuments Office of Hong Kong and its significance. References AMO Team (2014) Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO): Annual report, Available at: https://www.lcsd.gov.hk/dept/annualrpt/2013-14/en/cultural/amo.html Chai, W. (2013) Introduction to Tourism, Available at: https://www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/en/curriculum-development/kla/pshe/nss-curriculum/tourism-and-hospitality-studies/Tourism_English_19_June.pdf Chan, C. (2015) An Old Object in a Futuristic World: Re-Imagining Hong Kong through Its Clock Tower in the Eyes of Western Settlers and Local Citizens, Available at: https://cross-currents.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/e-journal/photo-essays/cs_chan.pdf Fan, I. Yim, J. (2011) Hong Kong Tourism Industry, Available at: https://www.hangseng.com/cms/tpr/eng/analyses/PDF/ecof_e_2011apr.pdf Globe Media (2009) Hong Kong: Guide, Available at: https://www.grospiron.com/medias/documents/guides/guide-hongkong.pdf Government, H. (2015) Travel and Tourism, Available at: https://www.yearbook.gov.hk/2015/en/pdf/E18.pdf Hong Kong Tourism Board, (2015) Legislative Council Panel on Economic Development: Work Plan for 2015-16, Available at: https://www.tourism.gov.hk/resources/english/paperreport_doc/legco/2015-02-09/HKTB_Work_Plan_2015_16_eng.pdf Hong Kong Tourism Board, (2017) Antiquities and Monuments Office. [Online] Available at: https://www.discoverhongkong.com/nz/see-do/culture-heritage/historical-sites/colonial/antiquities-ad-monuments-office.jsp Jiang, X. Homsey, A. (2008) Heritage Tourism Planning Guidebook: Methods for Implementing Heritage Tourism Programs in Sussex County, Delaware, Available at: https://www.ipa.udel.edu/publications/HeritageTourismSussexCo.pdf Legislative Council Secretariat, (2015) Hong Kong's tourism industry, Available at: https://www.legco.gov.hk/research-publications/english/1415rb06-hong-kongs-tourism-industry-20150805-e.pdf McNulty, R. Koff, R. (2014) Cultural Heritage Tourism: Livable Communities, Available at: https://www.livable.org/storage/documents/reports/CBC/culturalheritagetourism.pdf Pedersen, A. (2002) Mannaging Tourism at World Heritage Sites: UNESCO, Available at: https://whc.unesco.org/uploads/activities/documents/activity-113-2.pdf Rypkema, D. (2008) Benefits of Cultural Heritage Tourism, Available at: https://history.sd.gov/Preservation/OtherServices/CHTBenefits.pdf School, M. C. (2014) HK Heritage Past Exhibition, Available at: https://www.hongkongheritage.org/HKHeritagePastExhibition/Remembering%20Our%20Urban%20Legacies%2C%202014/EN_exhibit_urban%20legacies.pdf Schwab, K. et al. (2015) The Travel Tourism Competitiveness Report 2015, Available at: https://www3.weforum.org/docs/TT15/WEF_Global_TravelTourism_Report_2015.pdf Tourism Commission, (2016) Hong Kong: The facts Tourism, Available at: https://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/tourism.pdf Tsui, T. (2015) Summer Institute on Creativity in Teaching University Writing 2013, Available at: https://www.english.cityu.edu.hk/en/portal/summerinstitute2014/TST.pdf Turner, R. (2016) Travel Tourism: Economic impact 2016: World Travel Tourism Council, Available at: https://www.wttc.org/-/media/files/reports/economic%20impact%20research/regions%202016/world2016.pdf

Monday, December 2, 2019

Informative Speech Diabetes Essay Essay Example

Informative Speech Diabetes Essay Essay I. Attention-getting device: Turning up. I visited my household in Boston every summer. It was one of those summer yearss when the scariest thing of all time happened to me. My Cousin like many others was born with type 2 diabetes. It was a normal. searing hot twenty-four hours when my Cousin ( Logan ) . my Brother ( Anthony ) and I were angling in a nearby pool. We ever packed Logan a safety back pack that was full of the things he might necessitate in instance of an exigency such as ; sugar-free bites and drinks every bit good as bites and drinks with sugar. his blood glucose supervising kit. and insulin shootings. Leaving the house I thought I was prepared for anything but I was non prepared for the worst. We will write a custom essay sample on Informative Speech Diabetes Essay specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Informative Speech Diabetes Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Informative Speech Diabetes Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer After an hr or so my Cousin began so say â€Å"he was crashing. † non cognizing precisely what he meant I merely brushed it off and the following thing I knew I looked over and he was out on the grass. Wordss can non truly depict how I began to experience but I knew I had to make something and speedy or else I might free my Cousin. Logan had no sugar in his organic structure and crashed merely like he said. Thankfully. he was really knowing on his status and walked me through the stairss as best he could. I hate acerate leafs but I had to give him his insulin shooting in order to maintain him alive. II. Background: Diabetes day of the months back to 5000 bce being one of the oldest diseases known to scientific discipline. It was described by ancient Egyptians as a disease with frequent micturition. Diabetes as we know it today was normally called The â€Å"Sweet Water† Disease in 100 ad. The disease was coined by Grecian doctor. Areteus who used the Grecian word â€Å"siphon† or â€Å"going through† and the Latin word Mellitus significance â€Å"sweet† was added because those diagnosed with diabetes their piss was sweet. In the 1800s the first chemical trial for mensurating sugar in piss was discovered but until so physicians would name those with diabetes by really savoring the patient’s piss for sugariness. III. Relevance: Although we may non all have diabetes in this schoolroom diabetes is a immense menace to planetary wellness that is going a rapid epidemic throughout our universe that touches all age groups. Harmonizing to the American Diabetes Association there are 23. 6 million or 8 % people in the United States population who have diabetes IV. Establish credibleness: I could sit here all twenty-four hours and state you that none of us in this room will contract any signifier of diabetes but in actuality that would be a prevarication. After extensively researching diabetes I’ve come to the decision that diabetes is a serious menace that engulfs a huge bulk of our population today. V. Thesis: Although diabetes is an incurable disease that affects a big sum of our population today but if we are good informed we can do smart determinations to forestall and keep this disease 10/8/2008VI. Preview: In order for us to go informed about diabetes there are a few things that we need to understand and today I will explicate three facets of it: A. What diabetes is/background information B. Complications of diabetesC. What we can make to forestall and keep normal blood glucose degrees TRANSITION: First. we must understand precisely what diabetes agencies and the types of diabetes to foster our cognition on the issue. Body A. What is diabetes?a ) Harmonizing to Francine Kaufman and Janet Silverstein at the Center for Diabetes this status is defined as the procedure in which our organic structures produce excessively much blood sugar or blood glucose. Sugars come from the nutrients we eat that we need to fuel our organic structures. Our blood contains glucose because we need this for energy but diabetes patients have excessively much glucose in their organic structures which is unhealthy. B ) Types of Diabetes I. Pre-Diabetes: When blood glucose degrees are higher than physicians would usually wish but non high plenty to be diagnosed as diabetes. Harmonizing to the American Diabetes Association there are 57 million people in the United States diagnosed with pre-diabetes. Research has shown that if blood glucose is monitored closely at the pre-diabetes phase. type 2 diabetes can perchance be dodged. II. Type 1: Normally begins all of a sudden before the age of 20. Caused by a mixture of different familial abnormalcies and environmental triggers. It causes the organic structure to assail the pancreas doing it unable to bring forth insulin. Person with type 1 diabetes will necessitate to acquire their insulin from shootings or pumps everyday. Type 1 diabetes merely histories for approximately 5 % of the instances in the United States harmonizing to Harvard Health Watch. III. Type 2: The pancreas can still bring forth some insulin but the cells can non utilize it. Person with type two will necessitate to take insulin or pills to assist modulate the insulin in your organic structure. Those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes normally do non contract it from their cistrons it is based more on lifestyle factors with fleshiness being the chief subscriber. Harmonizing to Harvard Health Watch more than 90 % of diabetics have type 2 diabetes. IV. Gestational Diabetes: Occurs merely in pregnant adult females. After bringing. a Mother’s blood sugar degree returns to normal but the female parent every bit good as her kid have a high hazard of developing type 2 diabetes in the hereafter. TRANSISTION: Keeping diabetes under control can cut down the hazard of future complications. Harmonizing to the American Diabetes Association. unhappily. non many know they have diabetes until they encounter one or many of these complications. B. Complications of diabetesThere are many associated hazards with diabetes that are serious and can sometimes ensue in decease. Just to call a few: kidney disease. sightlessness. bosom disease. shot. high blood force per unit area. dental disease. nervous system disease. complications of gestation. and amputations. 65 % of deceases occur from bosom disease and shot among grownups with diabetes. TRANSISTION: It is obvious that the complications associated with diabetes can be chilling and life endangering but there are many ways to maintain your diabetes under control and prevent diabetes from come ining your life style. C. What we can make to prevent/maintain normal blood glucose degrees For those who are diagnosed with diabetes you can take some steps to maintain your status in line by take parting in regular physical activities. have a healthy repast program. keep a healthy weight. and command your blood sugar degrees by taking medicines instructed by physician ( s ) . We can all as college pupils take preventive steps to halt diabetes from happening in our lives. Although it may be difficult being off from Mom’s place cookery this can be done by doing healthy eating picks. increasing our physical activity. along with moderate intoxicant ingestion. TRANSISTION: By better apprehension diabetes and going knowing on the effects of diabetes we can prevent/maintain it. Decision I. Restatement of thesis: Diabetes is an incurable disease that affects a big sum of our population today but if we are good informed we can do smart determinations to forestall and keep this disease II. Closing: There is no remedy for diabetes therefore far but those diagnosed can still populate a long healthy life if they take attention of themselves. To better understand diabetes we need to acknowledge the four different types of diabetes ; pre-diabetes. type one. type two. and gestational diabetes. go educated on the complications of diabetes. and recognize what we can make to forestall and keep diabetes. Mentions American Diabetes Association. . ( n. d. ) . Diabetes Statistics. Retrieved Oct. 6. 2008. from hypertext transfer protocol: //www. diabetes. org/home. jspKreiter. T. ( 2008. March ) . CHASING DIABETES AROUND THE WORLD. Saturday Evening Post. 280 ( 2 ) . 84-88. Retrieved October 6. 2008. from Academic Search Premier database.Preventing diabetes. Part I: Understanding and naming the disease. ( 2007. June ) . Harvard Men’s Health Watch. Retrieved October 6. 2008. from Academic Search Premier database.Turkoski. B. ( 2006. May ) . Diabetes and Diabetes Medications. Orthopaedic Nursing. 25 ( 3 ) . 227-231. Retrieved October 6. 2008. from Academic Search Premier database.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Free Essays on Black Men In Public Spaces

themselves. The use of irony is enormously prevalent throughout the entire essay, and is nothing if not indispensable to the overall persuasiveness of his argument. Staples’ use of specific stories becomes essential to the meaning and overall power of the story, and creates the necessary elements that must be included if a writing is to be proper and effective. By using his own life encounters, Staples allows for a first hand understanding of what it was like in that particular situation, and also what he felt during those ordeals. Staples’ stories become such an integral part of the entire piece that without them, the entire essay would be totally lacking, and the emotional gain credited to these stories would be completely lost. This also makes for a much more flowing and sinuous piece, but still attests to the argument that throughout his life, Stap... Free Essays on Black Men In Public Spaces Free Essays on Black Men In Public Spaces In the late 1940’s, racial prejudice began a presumably unending journey, winding through decade after decade, usually lessening, though never completely disappearing. In more recent years, racial acceptance has become much more commonplace and laws formed by United States lawmakers have been implemented to ensure the fair and equal treatment of everyone, regardless of race. However, does this mean that every race is still viewed equally? In the essay entitled â€Å"Black Men and Public Space†, author Brent Staples argues that he has been racially profiled on several occasions, and in doing so, has been falsely assumed to be a threat to the safety of those around him. By employing specific stories, Staples creates an intellectually and emotionally powerful essay. His inclusion of emotion is very effective in pleading his case that he has been racially profiled, and through his own emotions, he forms a completely multi-faceted essay. Also, by writing the entire ess ay in an ironic manner, Staples is able to create an essay that has meaning and rationale far beyond the words themselves. The use of irony is enormously prevalent throughout the entire essay, and is nothing if not indispensable to the overall persuasiveness of his argument. Staples’ use of specific stories becomes essential to the meaning and overall power of the story, and creates the necessary elements that must be included if a writing is to be proper and effective. By using his own life encounters, Staples allows for a first hand understanding of what it was like in that particular situation, and also what he felt during those ordeals. Staples’ stories become such an integral part of the entire piece that without them, the entire essay would be totally lacking, and the emotional gain credited to these stories would be completely lost. This also makes for a much more flowing and sinuous piece, but still attests to the argument that throughout his life, Stap...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

The First Battle of the Marne

The First Battle of the Marne From September 6-12, 1914, just one month into World War I, the First Battle of the Marne took place just 30 miles northeast of Paris in the Marne River Valley of France. Following the Schlieffen Plan, the Germans had been moving swiftly toward Paris when the French staged a surprise attack that began the First Battle of the Marne. The French, with the aid of some British troops, successfully halted the German advance and both sides dug in. The resulting trenches became the first of many that characterized the rest of World War I. Because of their loss at the Battle of the Marne, the Germans, now stuck in muddy, bloody trenches, were not able to eliminate the second front of World War I; thus, the war was to last years rather than months. World War I Begins Upon the assassination of Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand on June 28, 1914, by a Serbian, Austria-Hungary officially declared war on Serbia on July 28- a month to the day from the assassination.  Serbian ally Russia then declared war on Austria-Hungary.  Germany then jumped into the looming battle at the defense of Austria-Hungary.  And France, who had an alliance with Russia, also joined the war. World War I had begun. Germany, who was literally in the middle of all this, was in a predicament. To fight France in the west and Russia in the east, Germany would need to divide its troops and resources and then send them in separate directions. This would cause the Germans to have a weakened position on both fronts. Germany had been afraid this might happen. Thus, years before World War I, they had created a plan for just such a contingency- the Schlieffen Plan. The Schlieffen Plan The Schlieffen Plan was developed in the early 20th century by German Count Albert von Schlieffen, chief of the German Great General Staff from 1891 to 1905. The plan aimed to end a two-front war as quickly as possible. Schlieffen’s plan involved speed and Belgium. At that time in history, the French had heavily fortified their border with Germany; thus it would take months, if not longer, for the Germans to try to break through those defenses. They needed a faster plan. Schlieffen advocated circumventing these fortifications by invading France from the north via Belgium.  However, the assault had to happen quickly- before the Russians could gather their forces and attack Germany from the east. The downside of Schlieffen’s plan was that Belgium was at that time still a neutral country; a direct attack would bring Belgium into the war on the side of the Allies. The positive of the plan was that a quick victory over France would bring a swift end to the Western Front and then Germany could shift all of its resources to the east in their fight with Russia. At the beginning of World War I, Germany decided to take its chances and put the Schlieffen Plan, with a few changes, into effect.  Schlieffen had calculated that the plan would take only 42 days to complete. The Germans headed to Paris via Belgium. The March to Paris The French, of course, tried to stop the Germans. They challenged the Germans along the French-Belgian border in the Battle of Frontiers. Although this successfully slowed the Germans down, the Germans ultimately broke through and continued southward toward the French capital of Paris.   As the Germans advanced, Paris readied itself for a siege. On September 2, the French government evacuated to the city of Bordeaux, leaving French General Joseph-Simon Gallieni as the new military governor of Paris, in charge of the defense of the city. As the Germans advanced rapidly toward Paris, the German First and Second Armies (led by Generals Alexander von Kluck and Karl von Bà ¼low respectively) were following parallel paths southward, with the First Army a little to the west and the Second Army a bit to the east. Although Kluck and Bà ¼low had been directed to approach Paris as a unit, supporting one another, Kluck got distracted when he sensed easy prey. Instead of following orders and heading directly to Paris, Kluck chose instead to pursue the exhausted, retreating French Fifth Army, led by General Charles Lanrezac. Kluck’s distraction not only did not turn into a quick and decisive victory, but it also created a gap between the German First and Second Armies and exposed the First Army’s right flank, leaving them susceptible to a French counterattack. On September 3, Kluck’s First Army crossed the Marne River and entered the Marne River Valley. The Battle Begins Despite Gallieni’s many last-minute preparations within the city, he knew that Paris couldn’t withstand a siege for long; thus, upon learning of Kluck’s new movements, Gallieni urged the French military to launch a surprise attack before the Germans reached Paris. Chief of the French General Staff Joseph Joffre had exactly the same idea. It was an opportunity that couldn’t be passed up, even if it was a surprisingly optimistic plan in the face of the ongoing massive retreat from northern France. Troops on both sides were utterly and completely exhausted from the long and fast march south. However, the French had an advantage in the fact that as they had retreated south, closer to Paris, their supply lines had shortened; while the Germans’ supply lines had become stretched thin. On September 6, 1914, the 37th day of the German campaign, the Battle of the Marne began. The French Sixth Army, led by General Michel Maunoury, attacked Germany’s First Army from the west. Under attack, Kluck swung even further west, away from the German Second Army, to confront the French attackers. This created a 30-mile gap between the German First and Second Armies. Kluck’s First Army nearly defeated the French’s Sixth when, in the nick in time, the French received 6,000 reinforcements from Paris, brought to the front via 630 taxicabs- the very first automotive transport of troops during the war in history. Meanwhile, the French Fifth Army, now led by General Louis Franchet d’Esperey (who had replaced Lanrezac), and Field Marshal John French’s British troops (who agreed to join in the battle only after much, much urging) pushed up into the 30-mile gap that divided the German First and Second Armies. The French Fifth Army then attacked Bà ¼low’s Second Army. Mass confusion within the German army ensued. For the French, what began as a move of desperation ended up as a wild success, and the Germans began to be pushed back.   The Digging of Trenches By September 9, 1914, it was apparent that the German advance had been halted by the French.  Intending to eliminate this dangerous gap between their armies, the Germans began to retreat, regrouping 40 miles to the northeast, on the border of the Aisne River.   German Chief of the Great General Staff Helmuth von Moltke was mortified by this unexpected change in course and suffered a nervous breakdown.  As a result, the retreat was handled by Moltke’s subsidiaries, causing the German forces to pull back at a much slower pace than they had advanced.   The process was further hampered by the loss in communications between the divisions and a rainstorm on September 11 that turned everything to mud, slowing down man and horse alike. In the end, it took the Germans a total of three full days to retreat.   By September 12, the battle had officially ended, and the German divisions were all relocated to the banks of the Aisne River where they began regrouping.  Moltke, shortly before he was replaced, gave one of the most important orders of the war- â€Å"The lines so reached will be fortified and defended.†1 The German troops began digging trenches. The process of trench digging took nearly two months but was still only meant to be a temporary measure against French retaliation.  Instead, gone were the days of open warfare; both sides remained within these underground lairs until the end of the war. Trench warfare, begun at the First Battle of the Marne, would come to monopolize the rest of World War I. The Toll of the Battle of the Marne In the end, the Battle of the Marne was a bloody battle. Casualties (both those killed and wounded) for the French forces are roughly estimated around 250,000 men; casualties for the Germans, who had no official tally, are estimated to be around the same number.  The British lost 12,733.   The First Battle of the Marne was successful in halting the German advance to seize Paris; however, it is also one of the main reasons that the war continued past the point of initial brief projections.  According to historian Barbara Tuchman, in her book The Guns of August, The Battle of the Marne was one of the decisive battles of the world not because it determined that Germany would eventually lose or the Allies ultimately win the war but because it determined that the war would go on.2 The Second Battle of the Marne The area of the Marne River Valley would be revisited with large-scale warfare in July 1918 when German General Erich von Ludendorff attempted one of the final German offensives of the war.   This attempted advance became known as the Second Battle of the Marne but was rapidly halted by Allied forces. It is viewed today as one of the keys to ultimately ending the war as the Germans realized that they lacked the resources to win the battles necessary to win World War I.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Battling Clean Up and Striking Out by Dave Barry Essay

Battling Clean Up and Striking Out by Dave Barry - Essay Example The basic premise of this particular column is about the different sensitivity of men and women to dirt and to sports, and Barry uses humor consistently throughout it, while at the same time pointing out factual information as well. Barry makes stereotypical remarks throughout this column, such as the fact that basically 'all women care about is cleaning up and men care about sports'. In regards to my own personal opinion and how well I conform to Barry's generalization here, I would say that the answer to this would go hand in hand with the issue of what ways I am stereotypically male or female. I am female, however, I do not consider my only worries to be in regards to 'dirt', and in fact, I enjoy sports very much. Therefore, in regards to Barry's stereotypical generalizations, I would actually consider that I am more stereotypically male in this case. As well, in regards to whether or not such generalizations as this amuse or merely annoy me, I can honestly and truthfully say that they amuse me. Generalizations such as the ones that Barry produces in his Battling Clean-up and Striking Out column, are not harsh or cynical in any way but are rather general stereotypes that can be seen in the world around us every day. I find them to be amusing, and they are even more obviously kidded about in this column by Barry in order to allow readers to see that he is joking around. Generalizations such as this certainly can be made to be rude or hurtful, but in this work of Barry’s, they are anything but. Dave Barry is an intelligent and incredibly humorous writer, and this work of his goes to prove this.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

How were European captives treated by Americans Essay

How were European captives treated by Americans - Essay Example Long before the Europeans started the ritual of slavery, Native Americans showed some cases of slavery where captives were enslaved. However, the enslavement practices of Native Americans were quite different from the European practices. The Native Americans did not treat their slaves as inferior creatures. The Native American culture allowed the slaves to acquire freedom through various options. As already mentioned they could either get adopted in the family or else they could free themselves through marriage, in cases of death of their masters or by performing any particular service that provided them freedom from the captor. 2 Not all captives were taken into enslavement; they were also tortured under different conditions. There was also a culture of killing the captives or selling them to the enemies for personal benefits by the Native Americans. A sect of Native Americans had beliefs that captives should be treated according to their bravery and courage in the war. If the capti ve was brave then he earned the respect of the captors. Some captives were sold in exchange for new weapons, food, clothing and other needed items when the Native Americans were in dire need of new weapons and goods at that

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Learning Communities Essay Example for Free

Learning Communities Essay Concorde Career Institute Orlando has been an educational institution for over 25 years. This organization provides fast-track, health-related programs in various fields. As with any educational institution, proprietary or not, there are many employees-all part of many different departments. Concorde Orlando has developed of a learning community to some extent, but the findings presented in Assignment Two support a need for further development in many areas. Concorde has committed itself to providing online and in-person training in order to continue to connect members of its current learning community. This training usually covers a variety of different objectives and the training is usually provided by outside companies. By utilizing outside agencies to provide training materials, the needs of the organization and its employees are not being evaluated nor met. A more personalized training, tailored to specific and immediate needs is a must. Stronger leadership and a more cohesive working milieu are also imperative. Concorde’s major concerns should be focused upon its communication and teamwork approach but, there are many more areas of that require attention. A cohesive, functional learning environment takes dedication and time. Once those areas are better executed, it can begin to build upon the foundation it has begun to lay. Concorde Career Institution, as a corporation, makes statements that it supports a mature learning environment. The mission statement seems to promote an idealistic working atmosphere that fosters independent thinking, creativity, and a teamwork approach to education. Reality has proven to be different. A motivated and strong team leader should be put into place-one that can appreciate the benefits of a well-built and maturely developed learning community. Concorde Orlando provides a yearly employee evaluation. This valuation is meant to appraise employee performance, acknowledge strengths and identify weaknesses. The employee evaluates himself, and then subsequently, so does his/her immediate supervisor. Depending on the evaluation’s results, it may produce an action plan. This action plan recognizes areas that need to be improved on, provides a strategy by which to improve them and a date in which a reevaluation should take place. Concorde does not necessarily discuss findings in employee performance evaluations with the employees; therefore organizational expectations are not known. This causes confusion and ambiguity. Many organizations have begun to favor consultants when evaluating employee performance. This can assure independent and neutral employee performance feedback. There is research that supports consulting as a strategy for improving teachers implementation of classroom interventions. † Results have supported that internal consultants are able to assess and briefly increase teachers treatment integrity with performance feedback† (Sanetti, et. al, 2013). There is a call, however, for organizations to realize that being proactive instead of reactive is a more logical approach when it comes to employee performance. According to a 2012 Global Workforce Study,† a survey of 32,000 employees across 30 countries, calls for employers to focus on engagement. The report defines such engagement as the intensity of employees connection to their organization based on three factors: the extent of their discretionary effort committed to achieving work goals, an environment that supports productivity in multiple ways, and a work experience that promotes well-being† (TD, 2013). This of course will improve overall employee performance and benefits the organization as a whole. The â€Å"group think† theory suggests that people from similar areas of work and backgrounds have ideas that are familiar are accepted without examination, while those that are unfamiliar are rejected without open consideration (Martin, 2006). Groups affected by group think do not tolerate opinions that do not coincide with their own. A learning community can be especially susceptible to group think when its community members are similar in background, shielded from outside opinions, and when there are no clear rules for decision making. At Concorde, group thinking does not habitually exist. Concorde does consider the input of the community, holding biannual meetings in which area affiliates give their input on school progress, its students and offers suggestions for change. This organization seems to value the input and opinions of others. Community members can feel included when they participate in creating the future direction of their learning community. They will make better decisions when they respect social, environmental and economic needs. When a shared vision is used to devise goals that guide local leadership, the community is well on its way to creating a better, sustainable place for the community (Grunkemeyer and Moss, 2010). Shared visions are an important characteristic of any successful learning community. Concorde Orlando is no exception to this fact. This organization has a clear set of goals to accomplish, and department leaders do communicate these company visions with employees. There does not seem to be a comprehensible plan in place, however, as to how to achieve them. Often times, multiple meetings are held in order to impart the company vision community members. Because we live in a world that is constantly changing and moving, organizations are challenged with conditions that seem to change at the speed of light. Often times, initiatives are poorly planned and executed. These errors can cause crippling effects within an organization. More and more, organizations have come to depend on teamwork. According to Ofoegbu, O. , et. l (2012) â€Å"Teamwork may be an appropriate managerial approach to reducing politics by increasing employees understanding and control, particularly in organizations whose strategic objectives call for employees to work in teams. † Most modern organizations have realized the value and benefits of teamwork and Concorde Orlando is no exception. Most projects are completed by teams. Most issues are resolved through the input of various community members. Many community outreach activities are also organized and carried out by teams. With enrollments being the number one company goal, Concorde Orlando heavily relies on teamwork in order to achieve this. Unfortunately, inappropriate team leaders are often chosen, resulting in poorly executed plans. This can cause major project delays and â€Å"do-over’s†. Dennis J. Elrod (2012), states that â€Å"Great leaders are always learning, whether its from those above them in the hierarchy, their peers, or those they lead. They also dont let opportunities to improve pass them by, so it pays to always be on the lookout for things that may improve your leadership style. There are many different types of leaders and many different types of leadership styles. Leaders not only concern themselves with the organizational goals, but also about the people who are involved in the process. Autocratic and hierarchical models of leadership dominated many businesses and organizations for years. The workplace environment changes from generation to generation. Today, community members are no longer content to go to work in complete obscurity. Employees want to feel significant, stimulated and challenged. Being an effective leader builds a sense of belonging within its learning community. Effective leaders not only increase employee retention, but also improve employee efficiency. Employees are more willing to follow efficient leaders than non-effective individuals. Choosing the right leader is the difference between success and failure. A great team leader needs to understand the organization’s goals and be able to understand what drivers are needed in order to motivate the team members. It is the leader’s job to ensure that great ideas are smartly implemented. The team leader must be able to sell his vision, the organization’s goals and the rewards reaped from the fruits of their labor. He must be able determine which team member could execute what parts of the project, resolve conflicts, and encourage each team member’s creativity and input. Concorde Orlando has a long standing history of ineffective leadership and a very high turn-over rate. During the last year, there have been several personnel changes in the Campus President, Academic Dean and program director positions. This instability and low employee retention ratio in its leadership roles have compromised Concorde Orlando’s credibility with the student body, its employees and the community. Concorde Career Institute has not been a pioneer in the field of communication. Issues are slow to be resolved, meetings are full of redundant material and there is a general fear of communicating with administrators for fear of retaliation. Great communication starts with listening and observing, and this organization has not trained its leaders to do that. Training is requisite in order to learn how to effectively communicate with others in a work environment. Currently, there is no communication training available at Concorde. The same communication methods that have been in place for years are still practiced today. Reevaluation of these methods is needed in order to have more successful communication within its learning community. Internet access provides opportunities for classrooms throughout the world to communicate and collaborate in real time. In the same way, members of the learning community can experience these open new ways of thinking. â€Å"A compendium of organizations and businesses is dedicated to encouraging an emphasis on skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, computer and technology skills, communication, and self-direction skills in US schools and schools worldwide. The educational challenges of the 21st century open up possibilities that, until now, have been beyond imagination† (Roth, 2010). Concorde does utilize different methods of training its employees in order to maximize learning potential. What seems to have been most successful within this learning community is peer leadership. â€Å"Peer leadership contributes to the success of collaborative group learning† (Popejoy and Asala, 2013). Group learning allows all members to be actively involved. When community members are involved in learning processes with their peers, they are more likely to feel comfortable. Concorde Orlando supports and encourages all types of learning models, therefore increases the chance of successful outcomes. Concorde Career Institute-Orlando could be classified as being well on its way to developing a mature learning community. Though this learning community is fraught with quite a few weaknesses, it also has an impressive set of strengths. As long as someone has the initiative and fortitude to move this community forward, Concorde Orlando can prove to be a great success.