WomanScope NewsMagazine

Neva’s Hike

Kris Smith — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:44:32 +0000

Here at WomanScope News Magazine, we love women and girls who are doing great things, and there is a young lady on the brink of adulthood breaking through everyone’s expectations each day. Neva Warren, who just turned 15, is thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. If she makes it all the way to Mount Katahdin in Maine on her own, she will be the youngest solo hiker to complete the 2,000 mile trail.

Miss Warren, who now goes by her trail name Chipmunk, is not by any means alone. In addition to the other “thru-hikers” and “section hikers” on the trail, she is supported by her mother, Tammy, who meets her nearly every night in a truck camper at the intersections of trail and roadway* known as the Gaps. Regardless of this support, Chipmunk always carries her full 30lb bag with supplies and tent, not only in case of emergencies that would necessitate camping unexpectedly but also to prevent anyone questioning her success should she complete the trail. Only about 25 percent of those who start the trail make it to Katahdin, and Chipmunk faces both the terrain as an obstacle and the passing of time, as the park closes Katahdin by the middle of October.

Chipmunk has already survived several challenges. After training for a few months in her home of Florida, her first two days on the trail, she rolled both ankles. Much like her face plant at the age of four when she first attempted to race Bicycle Motocross(BMX), her parents thought she might quit after such a tremulous start, and just like with BMX, she came back all the more determined. She continued hiking, up steep slopes to high altitudes, down rocky slippery shale and even through a couple cold rivers.

By May, Neva had made it to the big hiking festival in Damascus, Virginia known as Trail Days, hoping for some down time and a chance to reconnect with her friends and family after the isolation that is the Appalachia dead zone. Instead, she came much too close to tragedy during the parade as a driver lost control of his car and plowed into the hikers. Chipmunk was quite shaken seeing a woman underneath a car tire from only a few feet away, but she was otherwise unharmed.

Now, over 700 miles and more than two months on the trail, Neva’s biggest battle is against fatigue. To fulfill her goal, she must hike a certain amount of miles each day with a limited amount of “zero days” to rest, but if she pushes herself too far, she risks an injury that could rip her goals away from her. Chipmunk burns an average of 6,000 calories a day carrying her body up and down the mountainsides. While she spends time occasionally with other hikers, Neva has a reputation for setting her own pace and often taking long breaks to bask in the glory of this Americana landscape.

To hear about Chipmunk’s daily trials and tribulations, in addition to perusing her collection of photos, check out her blog at RidetheNation.org (Did I mention she rode her bicycle 3,000 miles across the country at 13? That’s another story).

*Note: This is often times a loose definition of roadway, and her mother has experienced a few adventures of her own, involving failing breaks, fallen trees, cliff sides and a bear or two.

A Push to Invigorate Women’s Basketball

adviser — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:53:10 +0000

New Orleans Arena was half-full when UConn won the N.C.A.A. title in April. A new report proposes holding the Final Four with the men’s, or even moving it overseas.

When Connecticut won its eighth national women’s basketball championship in April, the celebration felt oddly vacant. The brilliant play of the Huskies against Louisville was witnessed not by a throbbing crowd, but in a half-empty New Orleans Arena.

Men

Women

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Scott Cohen

Val Ackerman, a former president of USA Basketball, recommended the N.C.A.A. consider having teams seeded 33 through 64 play one another in the early rounds, with the winners advancing to play one of the top 32 seeds.

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Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Connecticut celebrating its eighth N.C.A.A. title. There have been complaints about a lack of parity.

A curious thing has happened since the N.C.A.A. began sponsoring women’s basketball in 1982. It remains the most popular women’s sport, but its appeal has grown stagnant. Attendance is dropping. Television ratings are flat or in decline. Shooting percentages and scoring have reached all-time lows.

Only one team, Tennessee, averaged more than 10,000 fans last season. Of the 343 women’s teams in Division I, 205 averaged fewer than 1,000 spectators and 90 averaged fewer than 500.

There are urgent calls for change and rejuvenation. So Val Ackerman, a former president of USA Basketball and the W.N.B.A., spent the last six months studying the women’s college game, trying to figure out how to awaken a somnolent sport.

Her recommendations were made public on Monday. Some were bold, like joining the women’s Final Four with the men’s, or moving it to Europe, China or Qatar. The wide-ranging suggestions covered elements as disparate as the N.C.A.A. tournament, the height of the rim and the appropriateness of tattoos.

Some important matters were not explored, like how to address lesbianism more openly. Brittney Griner recently told ESPN that her former coach at Baylor, Kim Mulkey, asked her not to reveal that she was gay while in college, fearful that it would harm recruiting and undermine Baylor’s basketball program.

Still, Ackerman has made a serious study of the need to broaden the appeal of women’s college basketball beyond older fans and families to more students and casual fans, to enhance officiating and improve governance, to increase scoring, and to boost revenue in the sport when the average operating deficit for teams from the top conferences is more than $2 million.

Among the coaches and administrators she interviewed, Ackerman said in a telephone interview, there was a “real desire for change” and a “need for a new sense of energy.”

There has long been debate about how closely or separately women’s basketball should follow men’s basketball. Ackerman, a consultant who teaches sports management at Columbia, gave the N.C.A.A. several paths to consider.

One is to simulate tennis and hold a Grand Slam of basketball, playing the men’s and women’s Final Fours simultaneously in the same city on a trial basis. Another is to take advantage of the international appeal of women’s basketball by holding the Final Four in a country like Russia or China.

“Why don’t we look at that?” Ackerman said. “Maybe women can be the bold frontierswomen.”

She also suggested that the women’s Final Four could be held in the same city for multiple years, as baseball’s College World Series is played annually in Omaha. Or that it could be played a week after the men’s Final Four, perhaps as a nightcap for the Masters golf tournament.

She has also proposed that the women’s Final Four be played on Friday and Sunday instead of Sunday and Tuesday; that the season be shortened to one semester; that conference tournaments be reduced or eliminated; and that two cities instead of four be used for the regional semifinals and finals. She even raised the intriguing possibility of 16 teams gathering in one city for a week to play the regionals and the Final Four.

Although women’s basketball is following the same developmental arc as men’s basketball, which began its N.C.A.A. tournament in 1939, complaints have grown about a lack of parity in the women’s game. Two teams — Tennessee and Connecticut — have accounted for half of the 32 N.C.A.A. tournament titles.

One way to create more competitive balance, Ackerman said, was to reduce scholarships from 15 to 13 per university (and use the two leftover scholarships for other women’s sports).

Some coaches and officials want to reduce the N.C.A.A. tournament field to 48 or 52 teams from 64. Ackerman disagrees. Instead, she proposes that teams seeded 33 through 64 first play each other, with the winners advancing to meet the higher seeds.

Last season, Division I women’s teams shot 38.9 percent from the field and 30.6 percent from 3-point range, both all-time lows. Scoring also hit an all-time low of 62.1 points a game.

To speed up the women’s game, reduce the physicality and raise scoring, Ackerman has proposed several measures: a wider lane, a 24-second shot clock instead of a 30-second clock, and four 10-minute quarters instead of two 20-minute halves.

She also called for a serious exploration of a proposal by UConn Coach Geno Auriemma to lower the rim to 9 or 9 ½ feet from 10 feet. Some purists reject the idea, saying it would suggest that women play a lesser game.

“I disagree with the knee-jerk no,” Ackerman said. “If it’s no, let’s make a reasoned and informed no.”

Some coaches and officials believe the proliferation of tattoos and baggy uniforms has hurt the appeal of the women’s game. Ackerman said some have proposed allowing no new tattoos or no new visible tattoos once players join college teams.

Her suggestions must be vetted by the N.C.A.A. membership, which could ignore or dilute them. But Anucha Browne, the N.C.A.A. vice president for women’s basketball championships, said: “We know the sport is in need of some reinvigoration. Her ideas absolutely will be taken into great consideration.”

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

Correction: June 18, 2013

An earlier version of this article misstated a recommendation by Val Ackerman, a former president of USA Basketball. She proposed that the women’s Final Four be played on Friday and Sunday, not Friday and Monday.

5 Things You Need to Know Now, Not Later

Kris Smith — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:36:13 +0000

1. According to Andrew Sharpless, the CEO of conservationist group Oceana, it’s time to give up shrimp. Sharpless recently released a guide to eating healthier and helping the environment at the same time. The Perfect Protein: The Fish Lover’s Guide to Saving the Oceans and Feeding the World details the best fish and sea life to eat for essential nutrients while also preserving natural ecosystems and endangered species. Without going into every fish to eat and not eat (or whether organic, farmed, or wild is your best bet), it is worth noting how damaging shrimp are for the planet. Wild shrimp trawling has arguably the highest amount of “bycatch,” which is to say 76 percent of what is caught in shrimp nets is not shrimp. This sea life typically dies and includes thousands of endangered sea turtles each year. Unfortunately, farmed shrimp aren’t any better. Most farmed shrimp are imported and have higher levels of debris such as sea lice. In addition, the farming of shrimp has led to the vast destruction of tropical mangroves that were once homes to countless rare and endangered species. To learn more, read The Perfect Protein and be part of a movement.

2. The weather is heating up and many of us are turning our thoughts to the beach. Before going anywhere, make sure you have sunscreen on. The Food and Drug Administration has changed the regulations for sunscreen in the past few years. For example, sunscreens may no longer be labeled “sunblocks,” nor can they be advertised as sweatproof or waterproof; a sunscreen may only be “water resistant.” Furthermore, labels must clarify for how long the sunscreen is water resistant, either 40 or 80 minutes. On the other hand, sunscreens that pass the broad spectrum test may now display that they protect against sunburn as well as skin cancer and early skin aging. A sunscreen must be at least SPF 15 to be eligible for broad spectrum classification, but most specialists agree that SPF 30 is the optimum. Lastly, adequate application AND reapplication are essential for sunscreen’s efficacy. These regulations and more can be found at http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm258416.htm.

3. Are you looking for a healthy alternative to soda? Everyone knows that juice is good for you, but one still needs to be careful when it comes to juice. Many of the products on the market are “juice drink” or “juice cocktail,” which means lots of added sugar and very little juice. Even without added sugar, 100 percent juice has very high sugar levels. On top of that, some 100 percent juice products can be very expensive. Personally, every morning I pour myself a glass of orange juice, but I always add about as much water to the glass. This way, I still get the taste I love for half the calories and sugars (I believe this is the basic philosophy behind “Trop 50,” an orange juice that has half the sugar and calories of regular orange juice). To spice things up a bit, try adding sparkling water. You get all the refreshment and buzz of a carbonated beverage with fewer calories and no mysterious chemicals. Make it fun for the kids with one of the new soda machines that have sprung up in stores and on television.

4. If you’re anything like me, you love a good cup of tea. Tea has lots of health benefits and is fairly inexpensive. Well, there are hidden health risks you should know about. Perhaps you have already heard of the connection between single-use water bottles and breast cancer. It is a fairly simple concept: the bottles are made from plastic and the plastic sometimes leaches chemicals into the water, especially if you let the bottles sit in the sun or if you reuse the bottles. The findings aren’t conclusive, but many people consider it evidence enough to switch to something safer for the body and the planet. Few people have considered the fact that the new “silky” pyramid style tea bags are made from this same plastic and we pour boiling water onto these bags. Again, no studies have conclusive evidence of a connection between silky tea bags and cancer, but to see the science behind the idea, check out the details here: http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/04/are-tea-bags-turning-us-into-plastic/274482/.

5. On a darker note, a man in Texas was recently exonerated after having shot and killed a woman who didn’t have sex with him. Ezekial Gilbert hired Lenora Ivie Frago, an escort from Craigslist, and paid her $150 for her services. Frago left without having sex with him and gave the money to her driver. Gilbert later shot Frago in the neck; she died from complications several months later. According to a Texas law Ezekiel was within his rights to “use deadly force to recover property during a nighttime theft.” Despite the prosecution’s argument that the law existed to protect those abiding the law, as opposed to someone already breaking the law by engaging in prostitution, the jury acquitted Gilbert of the murder charges. Gilbert’s defense claims he didn’t intend to kill Frago and “regret[s]the loss of the life of Ms. Frago.” The full story is available on the Huffington Post’s website.

Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland is Here for You

adviser — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 01:14:26 +0000

Barbara Levin, M.Ed.

Director, Client Services at Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, Inc.

I just wanted to remind you that Meals On Wheels of Central Maryland would deeply appreciate your telling anyone you believe could benefit from our home delivered meal services about us.

We can deliver lunch & dinner daily Monday – Friday directly to the home of any homebound adult in Baltimore City, or Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Howard, Harford Counties (plus Montgomery County near Leisure World) who is unable to prepare his/her own meals. We can send regular, Kosher, or texture modified meals. We help our clients out in lots of extra ways too. (We can send pet food, connect peer-to-peer phone pals, etc.)

We serve everyone regardless of age (young/old), income (high/low), or legnth of disability (short/long). We charge on a sliding fee scale, and subsidies are often available.We take food stamps and Medicaid Waiver and LAH waiver too.

Our meals keep elderly and disabled people in their homes longer reducing the need for institutionalization, keep them healthier, relieve stressed family members, and ensure someone is looking in on isolated homebound folks.

Please call 410 558-0827 for more information, flyers, or applications, or visit us on-line at www.mealsonwheelsmd.org. Thanks!

Reply to Barbara

Networking Part II: Turning Chit-Chat Into Contacts, By Sarah Schulman, Outreach Specialist, MD New Directions

adviser — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:05:25 +0000

Networking Part II: Turning chit-chat into contacts

If you’ve done the first part of networking, getting yourself out there and meeting people, you may be wondering, what’s next? How do I turn a few hours of conversation into something meaningful? It may not be apparent how someone you just met can be useful to you; and depending on where you are in your immediate career situation or what you are looking to do next, they may in fact have nothing to offer. BUT, networking is about building relationships, and building relationships is how you will most likely turn your conversations into connections!

Here are four easy steps to take after meeting new contacts:

1) Dog-ear “hot leads”- If you have collected a number of business cards at a networking event, or even if you have collected only a few, it is important to identify which people you are interested in staying in touch with. It can be difficult to remember which person said what in a crowded room, so if you have a great connection or know that you’d like to speak more to the person you just met, dog-ear his or her business card. This is a great way to remind yourself that you need to follow up with this person pronto.

2) Send a follow-up email- Many seasoned networkers I have met this past year have told me that sadly, many people they meet neglect to follow-up with them after a good conversation. While it may be nerve-wracking to put yourself out there to someone you just met, following up is the only way you can begin to build that relationship, and showing initiative and confidence makes a great first impression. Send your follow-up emails as soon as possible after your conversation so you don’t forget what you spoke about. In the email, remind the person of your name, where you met, and what you discussed. The rest of the email content will depend on the conversation you had and what you envision as appropriate “next steps”.

3) Create a LinkedIn profile and Connect- If you don’t already have one, create a LinkedIn profile as a way to stay in touch with contacts in your professional network. Even if you just met the person, but know that you are interested in staying in touch, reach out and connect with them on LinkedIn. This tool is a great way to help you remember faces and keep track of people from afar. It can also notify you of jobs or other updates posted by your contacts and can be a good first way of following up.

4) Set up an informational interview- if you have identified a few contacts that you are interested in getting to know better, set up an informal meeting with them, or informational interview. This is a great way to reach out to someone you don’t know well, under the pretense of learning more about a specific career field or a specific person’s career journey. Through this meeting, you can discover mutual interests and hopefully pave the way for further contact.

D.C. Italian Embassy to Host VIP Exclusives’ 7-7-7 Fashion Series1 in Support of Fashion for the Cure, Sat. June 29th

adviser — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:53:33 +0000

Event Details:

VIP Exclusive Fashion Show with Mid-Atlantic Lambos
The Washington DC event at the Italian Embassy is one of seven Fashion
Shows in the
7-7-7 Fashion Series. Lamborghini’s will be on display in recognition
of Lamborghini’s 50th Anniversary.

The 7-7-7 Project supports philanthropic community cause charity
organizations. This year in DC we will be supporting Fashion For the
Cure an annual event, which raises awareness and funds for DC-area
breast cancer initiatives through fashion and art. “Fashion for the
Cure” is the signature program for the non-profit organization, Cause
and Affect, Inc.

6:00 PM – 7:00 PM VIP ACCESS ONLY
This special hours is fora meet and greet behind-the-scenes
professionals, stylists, photographers, reporters, production crews,
media, talent from all genres, models, entertainers, industry Who’s Who,
public relations specialists, agents and corporate and government
sponsors supporting the 7-7-7 Fashion Series.

7:00 PM – 7:45 PM GENERAL ADMISSION
Designers: Lili Forrest, Estella Couture, Stacey Barker, Cheri
Fashions, LLC, Jacqueline Hutcherson, Rania Tabbah

Host: Terrance Shaw
Co-Host: Gwen Rogers

Special Guests: Elizabeth Webster, Councilman Vincent Orange, Chief of
Staff James D. Brown, Jr., former Chief test driver for Lamborghini
Vanlentinoi Balboni, Queen Latifah and Ski Johnson.

Purchase V.I.P. or General admission tickets here:
http://www.vip-exclusive.org/washington-dc.html

SPONSORSHIP and ADVERTISING opportunities are currently available.
Information email: Jyoti Chauhan, VIP Account Executive
jyo@vip-exclusive.com

Female Convicts Make High-End, Italian Fashion Goods

adviser — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 01:33:17 +0000

Convicts throughout the world have a famously tough time finding work after leaving prison. Employers tend to discriminate against ex-cons, and the criminal justice system rarely prepares prisoners adequately for re-entry into the workplace. But the Italian government is leading the way, at least in this regard. It’s created the Sigillo fashion brand, and all of the products under that label will be created by female prisoners and sold in high-end fashion stores.

In the Rebibbia prison in Rome, female convicts are being trained in the art of handbag-making. Any inmate who chooses to participate in the program will earn a salary of 600 euros per month (or roughly $800), according to AFP. No less an authority than Fendi heiress Silvia Venturini Fendi herself supports the project. The handbags will retail for up to 40 euros (or $53), and will be available in fashion stores throughout Italy “within months,” reports Business Standard.

Ten inmates have already agreed to participate in the program. Another 40 from across Italy are expected to join them. Officials hope that the training will lead to employment for them after prison. The Italian justice ministry has invested 400,000 euros for the program. Charities have kicked in an additional 400,000.

The program at Rebibbia is instilling an entrepreneurial spirit in its inmate participants, according to news reports. “When I get out of here, I would like to open a shop,” said a 33-year-old who was born in the Ukraine, and identified by AFP only as Natalya. She also said that she and her fellow convicts find professional fulfillment from the program. “When we create things and they are sold, are appreciated, then we enjoy our work.”

More: How Convicts Get Jobs Without Lying

According to Nanda Roscioli, a former Italian justice ministry employee, this professional training of inmates is “unique” in Italy. As to why the job training is only open to women, she said the “subordinate” minority in Italian prisons face conditions that are “harsher, more barbaric” then what men face. “The aim of the project is to give female detainees the tools to be in the marketplace once they are released.”

Of course, Italy’s ex-cons are hardly alone in their struggle to find employment. A study in New York City found that job applicants with a criminal conviction are nearly 50 percent less likely to be called for an interview or receive a job offer. As a result, many former convicts turn to nonprofit organizations, such as the Philadelphia-based Baker Industries, which trains ex-cons for free. The organization also helps its members find housing and clothing.

The Rebibbia participants, for their part, are optimistic about their employment future. “With this job I’m sure everything will be okay with me. I’ve learned a lot here,” Kalu Uwaezuoke Chinedum Ike, a 40-year old Nigerian facing drug trafficking charges who’s currently imprisoned at Rebbibia, told AFP. “When I get out I want to have a more normal, a calmer life.”

Traditional Colleges Offer Best Option for Online Degrees, By Vanessa Wamsley, Education Writer

adviser — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 18:57:33 +0000

While unemployment creeps back from the brink of catastrophe and the economy takes tentative steps toward recovery, the world of higher education, unfazed and even bolstered by the financial ups and downs of the last decade, welcomes ever-growing numbers of hopeful students into its fold. Educational institutions have met the glut of students seeking a degree with an excessive array of options, especially in the form of online degrees. While such degrees garnered little respect in the past, more students now choose the online route because they prefer the flexibility in scheduling and location. A breakdown of the types of online degrees and well as the pitfalls and dangers of online educational institutions shows that advantageous online options exist alongside risky and even illegitimate options.

Both degrees from online-only schools and low-residency degrees from traditional colleges eliminate the need for geographical consideration when choosing a school. But not all online degrees deserve consideration. Many online universities lack accreditation. According to the U.S. Department of Education’s website at www2.ed.gov, accreditation helps ensure that an institution offers a quality education. In the process, the department recognizes certain accrediting agencies (published on their website) as reliable authorities. These agencies in turn recognize certain institutions (published in a searchable database on the website) as reliable providers of higher learning. Students with degrees from unapproved schools and programs face the challenge of convincing employers of the quality of their learning. Additionally, validated schools rarely accept transfer credits from institutions that do not meet the standards. Clearly, an accredited school or program enjoys superior standing, but unaccredited schools use intentionally deceptive language to convince students that their programs receive official recognition. They may boast licensure from an agency unrecognized by the Department of Education or claim to be internationally certified. A quick check on the ed.gov website determines accreditation.

One other distinction among online degrees deserves address: ranking. While some students eschew elite universities as, well, elitist, diplomas from those schools hold far more meaning in the hands of a human resources officer than a degree from a forgettable online school. To be fair, most educational analysts agree that online degrees are gaining respect from employers. A survey conducted by online school Excelsior College found that 83 percent of questioned CEOs and business owners consider an online degree to be as valid as a degree earned on a traditional campus. But the 2013 U.S. News and World Report ranking of the top 1,600 colleges in the country does not list online schools. Their list of top online degrees names only schools that offer traditional on-campus programs as well as online programs. The diplomas from these schools, whether earned online or on-campus, appear the same, eliminating that nagging question of how much respect an online degree really garners. An online program offered by a more traditional school presents fewer risks than a degree from an online school.

As the demand for online options increased, an illegitimate competitor distinct from both traditional universities and online schools entered the field of options. Online degree mills offer fake diplomas in exchange for money but no actual learning. Their websites claim to offer diplomas in recognition of life or work experience at a much lower cost than what a university would charge for the same degree, but in reality, they offer a pretty piece of expensive paper. A little applied common sense helps any student avoid the scam. Again, accreditation checks out easily at ed.gov.

Investing in a degree from an unaccredited online school wastes time and money. On the other hand, a diploma from a traditional university, whether earned online or on campus, holds the weight a student needs to demonstrate her high level of learning to herself or her employers.

Etiquette & Beyond by Rochelle Soetan, Staff Writer

adviser — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 18:48:54 +0000

Party with Panache: Hospitality at Home

As a warmer climate approaches, the vibrancy of June generates a season for many anticipated occasions: welcoming weddings, graduations, baby showers, family reunions, and the familiarity of outdoor social gatherings. From backyard barbeques to formal dinner parties, entertaining at home has become a classic American style.

The traditional and rigid rules for gatherings have curtailed over time and today’s hosts are more contemporary. The style is casual, the focus is on family and friends, and the scenery is your very own home. Savvy socializing is a great way to end the spring and begin the summer and a great party is always grounded with enthusiasm and friendliness. Whatever your entertaining style, however, you can’t throw a party on good intentions alone.

A few planning tips for successful home entertaining include:

Ø Establishing date/time – consider work schedules

Ø Organizing your guest list – invite like-minded people or in someone’s honor (i.e., birthday) – the honoree usually helps provide the guest list

Ø Budgeting money – can determine a little or a lot

Ø Determining the menu – depends on the formality or informality of your party

Ø Setting the Scene – ambience (indoor or outdoor)

Some “finger foods” may include:

Ø Olives/Celery Sticks

Ø Pizza slices

Ø Grapes/Cherries

Ø Egg Rolls/Bread Sticks

Ø Barbecued ribs

Ø French Fries/Fajitas

Ø Chicken wings

Some foods that require utensils include:

Ø Shrimp Cocktail or Caviar

Ø Pie/Cake

Ø Salad or Avocado

Ø Mussels

Ø Blintzes

Other common interest parties that can be held at your home include brunches, potlucks, book club meetings, sporting events, pool parties, card parties, tea parties, and wine-tastings. When grilling, consider neighbors especially if you live within close quarters.

A successful formal dinner party will often require more planning than that of an impromptu gathering. This may include invitations, catering service, a serving staff, seating arrangements, and place cards and your event should be well organized in advance. On the day of your event you want to spend more time mingling with your guests and less time in the kitchen.

Invitations can be formal or casual. A casual invitation can be made by telephone, in-person or electronically. An example is, “Cocktails from 5:00 to 7:00.” A formal invitation should be made first by telephone, followed by a classic printed note card of good-quality paper and mailed four to six weeks in advance. Whichever, both have guidelines and require prompt replies.

RSVP or “respondez s’il vous plait” is an abbreviation of a French phrase simply meaning, “Are you coming or not?” Responses to invitations should be made within 24 hours of receipt (not 15 minutes prior to the event) and by telephone or in writing. Never disregard an invitation, always acknowledge your attendance or decline, and never send someone uninvited in your place. Once accepted, you are obligated, even if something better comes along. The host will be appreciative of your consideration and good etiquette practices.

A hostess gift is a classic way to say thank you to someone who has invited you to his or her home. A nice, quality gesture could be a bottle of wine or a homemade item. A thank-you note is never necessary when receiving a hostess gift.

After a gracious greeting from the host/hostess, connections and conversations, and a medley of mouth-watering food has been devoured, it’s time to say farewell. All good things must come to an end and a well-mannered guest knows when to depart – usually within forty-five minutes of the appointed end time. If you are the host, when showing your guests to the door, thank them and let them know how much you enjoyed their company. Don’t clear the serving table or wash dishes until your guests have gone (unless your guest has seriously overstayed his welcome). As an end result, your guests will depart in high spirits and you will have orchestrated a well planned event worthy of five stars!

Rochelle Soetan is the columnist of Etiquette & Beyond and a contributing columnist of Inspirationally Yours for Woman Scope News Magazine. A published author, activist, and etiquette professional, she is the sole proprietor of Pearls of Poise LLC, Washington DC’s flagship premier Etiquette and Civility Academy. Rochelle facilitates personal etiquette training/coaching, group workshops, and customized tea seminars upon request. In addition, her weekly commentaries can be explored at www.tuesdaymorninglove.com.

Inspirationally Yours, By Staff Writer Rochelle Soetan

adviser — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 18:44:52 +0000

The Challenge of Change

June has arrived. The cheerful season of spring is slowly transforming into the inviting season of summer, which bears more change in the conditions of our climate – and in the vibrations of our perspectives. Conventional wisdom advises us that nothing ever stays the same. Change—be it in our ecosystem or in our personal space—provides a period for reflection, reorganization, and renewal.

Change is challenging, yet essential to the quality of our journeys. Without it, we cannot grow or glow. It is a consistent companion and appears in all of our interactions including marriage, motherhood, continued education, divorce, employment, loss, and even personal development. When we consider making adjustments to anything, from managing relationships to developing daily habits, we assume that we have to exert a big effort to get a small result. We rarely expect anything to be easy. Every so often though, we get a golden opportunity handed to us on a silver platter. These evolving doors of chance provide us with endless possibilities for a more enriched life and small steps help us to get the big changes back on track.

Aristotle once said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

Just as we embrace the conversions in the seasons, we can make small changes in our lives fun and undemanding. Realistically, bad habits die hard and new habits can take time and perseverance to adapt to. During the process of change, remember to remain humble, light-hearted, open-minded, and free of irritation. This is not always the easiest thing to do. Some form of daily and early morning meditation, prayer, or physical exercise such as yoga can aid in the releasing of unwanted stressors and anxieties.

Yes, the challenges of life really do test your boundaries , but with a better understanding of why change is necessary, you can choose how you wish to change the outcomes. Despite daily woes, physical challenges, emotional pain, personal disappointments and unforeseen dilemmas, come what may the present moment is yours to seize – and the future, yours to imagine. Imagination is an excellent tool for improving yourself.

Half of the year has come and gone. Now is a good time to reflect and ask some very important questions. “Am I expecting a little, or a lot?” “Will the changes in my world be positive – or negative?” Careful….your thought process, outlook, and approach will heavily depend upon what the universe bestows you. Just remember, the smallest changes often bring about the grandest rewards. You now have the opportunity—and the power—to change your expectations. Be open to good news and expect that positive change is coming your way. Believe it or not, everything is changing now.