Saturday, October 26, 2019

National Chocolate Day (October 28)


The Story of Chocolate
Source: National Confectioners Association
October 28, 2019
The treat that now lies quietly in its wrapper carries a story of exotic places, long journeys and small families that raise delicate tropical fruit trees. As you peel back the wrapper, you’re uncovering the cacao tree’s seed—and joining people the world over who have turned to this mysterious food for ritual, medicine and sheer pleasure for the past 4,000 years.

How do the beans in chocolate farmers’ hands become decadent sweets in yours? Let’s explore how chocolate is made…the story of chocolate.

Read more...


Thursday, October 17, 2019

National Save For Retirement Week (Oct 18-24)

National Save for Retirement Week is a national effort to raise public awareness about the importance of saving for retirement. National Save for Retirement Week is held every year during the third week of October. The week provides an opportunity for employees to reflect on their personal retirement goals and determine if they are on target to reach those goals.

National Save for Retirement Week commenced in 2006, when Senators Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Kent Conrad (D-ND) introduced the first resolution establishing National Save for Retirement Week. Their goals were to elevate public knowledge about retirement savings and to encourage employees to save and participate in their employer-sponsored retirement plans.

Over the years, ICMA-RC has partnered with the National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators to ensure that the week is a great success. ICMA-RC and NAGDCA remain committed to educating employers and employees about the growing importance of saving for retirement.

To learn more and become involved, click HERE

Friday, October 11, 2019

National Take Your Parents to Lunch Day (Oct 11)

Source: KIWI Magazine

Washington, D.C. - October 10, 2017 (The Stuff Gazette) -- On October 11, 2017, parents across the country will join their children in the cafeteria to learn about what goes into serving healthy lunches during KIWI's National Take Your Parents to Lunch Day.

The program, which is cosponsored by the School Nutrition Association (SNA), Whole Kids Foundation, and Moms Meet, takes place during National School Lunch Week. The event serves as a way to open the lines of communication between school administrators and parents regarding healthy lunches. Participating schools have the opportunity to showcase menus and provide parents with more information about school meals, gardens, and other initiatives related to healthy eating.

To raise awareness for the event, KIWI will be hosting a Twitter party on October 10, 2017 at 1 p.m. EST. Better-for-you brands like SunButter, Mrs. Thinster's, a2 Milk, and Perfect Bar will be joining the event to promote the importance of healthy lunch. Attendees will have a chance to win prizes from participating sponsors. To learn more, visit kiwimagonline.com/2017-Lunch-Day-Twitter-Party.

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

National Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 9th through the 13th)


Source: Georgia Power

Atlanta, GA - October 10, 2017 (The Stuff Gazette) -- Oct. 9th through the 13th is National Fire Prevention Week – a time to spotlight ways to prevent in-home fires and develop an escape plan should a fire occur. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation, in-home electrical issues are the third leading cause of home fires nationwide, with more than 50,000 fires attributed to electrical issues each year.

Georgia Power offers the following electrical safety tips during National Fire Prevention Week and year-round:

  • Focus on Fire Prevention – Avoid storing combustibles such as paint, cardboard, sawdust and flammable liquids near electrical equipment or fuse boxes.
  • Overloads – Overloaded equipment and circuits can cause insulation to burn, create sparks and leave exposed wires. Don't overload electrical equipment by attempting to do heavier jobs than the equipment can handle.
  • Check out Georgia Power's new public service announcement, available in both English and Spanish, highlighting the common electrical dangers customers face in their homes.
  • Repair Equipment – Shut off all electrical equipment that produces odd sounds, odd smells or sparks and have it checked by a qualified technician. Tag and remove hard-wired equipment from service so that it cannot be accidentally energized while it is being repaired or replaced.
  • Extinguishers - Know where the nearest fire extinguishers are and how to use them. Only Class C extinguishers are safe to use on energized electrical equipment.

    Safety is a core value for Georgia Power with the company's signature community electrical safety program, PowerTOWN, marking its 25th anniversary this year. The safety education program, which has engaged nearly 4.6 million participants in presentations statewide, uses a model to demonstrate real-life safety scenarios, involving electricity, such as downed powerlines and more.

    Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.5 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the company is consistently recognized by J.D. Power and Associates as an industry leader in customer satisfaction.
  • Tuesday, October 8, 2019

    October is National Principals Month

    Congresswoman Susan Davis Introduces Resolution Honoring School Principals

    U.S. Rep. Susan Davis (D-San Diego) introduced a House Resolution to honor and recognize the critical role that school principals play in education. Davis’s resolution designates October 2015 as National Principals Month.

    “Leadership is one of the most essential elements for success in life – no less so in education,” said Rep. Davis, a senior member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. “Elementary, middle level and high school principals have consistently provided the vision, dedication, and mobilizing force behind successful school reform efforts. It is important that we take the time to appreciate and reflect on the skills, professionalism and dedication our principals bring to their profession.”

    Principals set the academic tone for their schools and work collaboratively with teachers to develop and set performance goals and objectives, all in an effort to improve student achievement. Research by the Wallace Foundation has confirmed that school leadership is second only to classroom instruction in its impact on student learning.

    In pursuit of educational excellence, today’s principals are expected to fill a large variety of roles, each complex in its own right, including: educational visionaries, instructional leaders, assessment experts, community builders, public relations experts, budget analysts, facility managers, special programs administrators, and guardians of various legal, contractual, and policy mandates and initiatives.

    This is the seventh straight year Davis has introduced her National Principals Month resolution and continues her efforts in the area of school leadership. Davis recently introduced legislation to help schools create programs to find the best and brightest individuals to be principals of their schools. Her School Principal Recruitment and Training Act would provide competitive grants for the recruitment and training of high-caliber aspiring principals. Current principals could receive training to lead high-need schools.

    The House passed Davis’s National Principals Month resolution in 2009 and 2010.

    In addition to the national resolutions in the House and Senate, see which states have issued official proclamations declaring October as National Principals Month by clicking HERE

    Sunday, October 6, 2019

    October is Apple Month!


    Celebrate Apples in October by making great Apple dishes, sharing apple recipes on Facebook, and remembering always that an apple a day helps keep the doctor away!


    Friday, October 4, 2019

    October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month


    Austin, TX - October 1, 2015 (The Stuff Gazette) -- The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), the largest national professional membership organization for nurse practitioners of all specialties, together with National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.® (NBCF), has launched an awareness campaign for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, publicizing the critical importance of early detection tools, namely self-exams, clinical exams and mammograms.

    The organizations are conveying these potentially life-saving messages via wall-sized advertisements, which debut this week and next in three major U.S. airports: Chicago O'Hare International, Reagan National in Washington, D.C. and Minneapolis-St. Paul International. The advertisements will reach an audience of more than 330,000 each day, the approximate number of air travelers who pass through these hubs en route to their destination or returning home.

    "As the primary care providers of choice for millions of patients nationwide, nurse practitioners play a vital role in ensuring women take advantage of early detection tools that can make an enormous difference in the discovery and treatment of breast cancer," said AANP President Cindy Cooke, DNP, FNP-C, FAANP. "With advanced education and clinical training, plus preparation rooted in the compassionate, patient-centered nursing model, our profession is on the front lines of ensuring patients best understand their breast cancer risk and take the necessary steps to protect themselves from this potentially devastating diagnosis."

    "Our mission of Helping Women Now® among those affected by breast cancer directly aligns with the work of nurse practitioners who are true champions for patients in today's health care system," said Janelle Hail, Co-founder and CEO of NBCF. "We're thrilled to be working with the AANP on this extremely important endeavor."

    Nurse practitioners play a critical role in health care delivery across the United States. With prior preparation and experience as registered nurses (RNs), plus graduate and often doctoral-level degrees, they provide primary care, as well as acute and specialty care. Nurse practitioners offer many of the same services as physicians, but with a distinct, holistic approach that's been proven effective, as shown by substantial, independent research studies demonstrating excellent outcomes and patient satisfaction.

    The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) is the largest national professional membership organization for nurse practitioners (NPs) of all specialties. It represents the interests of more than 205,000 NPs, including more than 64,000 individual members and 200 organizations, providing a unified networking platform and advocating for their role as providers of high-quality, cost-effective, comprehensive, patient-centered and personalized health care. The organization provides legislative leadership at the local, state and national levels, advancing health policy; promoting excellence in practice, education and research; and establishing standards that best serve NP patients and other health care consumers.

    Thursday, October 3, 2019

    October is National Bullying Prevention Month


    Minneapolis, MN - October 2, 2015 (The Stuff Gazette) -- October is National Bullying Prevention Month, which PACER Center initiated in 2006. Students, schools, and communities across the world unite together against bullying in October to raise awareness and encourage people to take action. National Bullying Prevention Month is supported by hundreds of schools, major corporations, and celebrities.

    "National Bullying Prevention Month continues to grow in the United States and other countries as more people unite together against bullying," said Paula Goldberg, executive director of PACER Center, the Minneapolis-based non-profit that created the National Bullying Prevention Center. "We are grateful for the support from communities, schools, families, and our partners."

    There are many ways schools and community members can participate in National Bullying Prevention Month.

  • Hold events and activities: Communities around the country mark National Bullying Prevention Month through creative events and initiatives. There are many resources, including classroom toolkits, free bookmarks, posters, and awareness-raising ideas available at PACER.org/Bullying.
  • Celebrate Unity Day: Students, teachers, community members, and employees will wear orange and send a united message of support on Unity Day, Wednesday, Oct. 21. Thanks to a partnership with CustomInk, supporters can wear the "official" Unity Day 2015 T-shirt. Proceeds support PACER's national bullying prevention programs.
  • Join Together Against Bullying (TAG): This new campaign launches in October. Individuals can donate at togetheragainst.org and receive stickers to "TAG" their friends and share on social media.



  • "October is a time when educators, students, parents, and community members can unite to share that they are together against bullying and united for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion," said Julie Hertzog, executive director of PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center. "Together, we can make our schools and communities safer."

    About PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center: Founded in 2006, PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center, actively leads social change, so that bullying is no longer considered an accepted childhood rite of passage. PACER provides innovative resources for students, parents, educators, and others, and recognizes bullying as a serious community issue that impacts education, physical and emotional health, and the safety and well-being of students. PACER offers tools to address bullying in schools, the community, and online. For more information, visit PACER.org/bullying or call (952) 838-9000 or (888) 248-0822 (national toll free).