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In spite of a strong wind that threatened to carry our check-in tents away, we helped the YWCA staff and volunteers set up the shoe station, where the male participants would be able to choose women’s shoes with the right color, style, and fit for their walk.  From SJSU athletes to San Jose firefighters, policemen and EMTs, these walkers had SVRG girls help them select mules, pumps, and stilettos in their sizes.  We also outfitted them with event tees, in case their flashy heels didn’t give them away as YWCA supporters.

When it came time for the walk to begin, we packed up our skates and moved out to the half-mile point.  Our YWCA coordinators paired us perfectly with our next role: offering water and band-aids to the participants.  After all, who knows more about blisters than rollergirls?  We handed out water to the walkers, some striding and some stumbling, and cheered them on as they passed us.

Once the crowd passed our station, we packed up and followed the high-heeled walkers to the California Theater in downtown San José, where participants and sponsors were rewarded with prizes for fundraising and refreshments.

Overall it was a great afternoon—a fun and lighthearted way to raise community awareness for some very serious issues.  Next year, we hope to cheer on our own SVRG male referees as they complete their first mile in our shoes.

If you missed our event but would still like to make a donation to the YWCA of Silicon Valley or learn more about their programs, please visit their website at:

https://secure.cnchost.com/ywca-sv.org/donateform.php

Silicon Valley Roller Girls (SVRG) is an all-female flat track roller derby league established in 2007 and represents what is known as Silicon Valley, California. SVRG aims to bring an additional exciting sport to the communities of Silicon Valley and allows women from all walks of life a chance to show their athleticism, intelligence, individuality, inner beauty and strength by participating in the subculture phenomenon of roller derby. SVRG is entirely skater-owned and run. Its dedicated members represent Silicon Valley’s mothers, professionals and students. SVRG encourages competition between other leagues and strives to represent Silicon Valley with sportsmanship and excitement.

INSPIRATION AND PERSPIRATION!

Ever thought of putting together a pinup calendar featuring hot guys enrolled at your college or university?

Most people who think of creating a “Men of (Your) University” calendar assume that all they need to do is locate only 12 hunky college males and have them photographed. These tasks must be accomplished. But there’s much more to publishing a calendar and many more than 12 college guys must be recruited.

Besides recruiting, selecting, and training your student male models, there is production of the actual calendar, which includes photography, arranging graphic design and commercial printing. After the calendars are delivered, news media publicity must be arranged. Promotional events must be held. And, of course, your pinup calendar must be marketed!

But, first, the best-looking campus guys at your university or college must be recruited. After a decade of publishing, recruiting of college men, the Campus Men Calendar operation has learned a great deal and refined its approach. So, here are the facts:

GUYS WANT TO DO IT!

There is a high demand to appear in pinup calendars of college men. Publishers should be able to choose from many college guys. Therefore, do not cater to, or try to convince any one college student to appear. Either they want to appear in your calendar or they do not! Students who need special handling often drag their feet and cause delays. Delays cost in potential sales. Therefore, students who expect you to cater to them, cost you sales.

BEWARE OF GIRLFRIENDS!

Beware of any college guy who involves his girlfriend into your operation. Why? Because girlfriends do not truly want their boyfriends to “model.” Yes, they want their boyfriend to be “good looking” and for his looks to be “model quality,” but they really do not want them going on photo shoots, meeting female models and certainly do not want the competition that is generated from having their boyfriend’s body being advertised to other females by appearing in a calendar.

When it comes time to choose the best calendar photograph, girlfriends can spell T-R-O-U-B-L-E. A revealing photograph may be threatening to a girlfriend. When it comes to their bodies, guys want to “show it off.” Girlfriends want their men under wraps.

If you hold a promotional event after the calendar is released, any controlling girlfriend will either want to attend the event or will encourage your model not to attend. Remember, you cannot replace a model once the calendar is printed. You will only be able to select from the batch of 12 who appear in the calendar. That means if five guys are unreliable, you only have seven to choose from. How many of those seven will be working at their job during your event? If you convince a bar owner to hold an event, but only have one model show up, you might be in big trouble and possibly owe the bar owner for their advertising costs. If no models show up at a retail store that carries your calendar, you just might loose that store as an outlet!

In summary, chose independent-minded males.

SEX STILL SELLS?

The theme of the calendar drives which students should be recruited and selected. At Campus Men, we chose a theme that was developed after years of trial and error. Our theme was to present young, all-American college guys in sensual poses.

Your photos should answer the question of: I wonder what that incredible-looking guy I saw on campus would look like in bed? If a publisher wants to sell calendars, it is foolish to feature college men wearing sweaters. Publish photographs of guys wearing suits, fully clothed or face shots only - and you will not be returning to the market with a calendar the second year. If you want to sell calendars, appeal to the sexual motivations of the viewer, whether through a cute smile, great face or body or skimpy clothing. Attempt to give the viewer a fantasy of what it is like to be intimate with the college student.

You do not have to depict models fully **** with ***** showing. Snug-fitting boxer briefs (or less) are just as exciting. Many guys will readily show their bare buttocks. By choosing students who are exhibitionists versus guys who are conservative, you give yourself valuable creative freedom when it comes time to photograph these college male models. Choose a male student who obsesses about which poses he will not pose for, versus choosing a young guy who is grateful for the opportunity you are offering, and you will undoubtedly find the production process more difficult.

Remember, there are thousands of students enrolled at your university. Why choose the ones who do not care about your profitability? You will find that buyers will remark on the one or two provocative photos that appear in your finished calendar. “Skin” photos draw more e-mails and sell more copies.

Campus Men learned this by accident. Gus Dakis posed for what our male model photographer calls a “miracle photograph” because the photo shoot was hastily put together due to bad weather. Gus and our photographer sped off to the photo shoot location and set up equipment as the rain still dripped from gutters around the pool house.

Yet, once set up, there was still no sun, which was needed for the photograph. Gus stood in exact position under the showerhead and our photographer stood by with his camera, continuously measuring light readings. Just as they decided to wrap it up and go home without taking any photos, the sun fell below the clouds, engulfing the pool area in a beautiful, brilliant deep gold color. A half roll of film was snapped off before the sun fell beyond the horizon.

Surprisingly, Gus’ photograph, which was created in two and one-half minutes, became the most popular image in Campus Men that year and was responsible for many sales. Why? Because the photo depicted Gus in a pair of wet, white shorts that inadvertently became translucent because of the hectic pace of that day’s photo shot.

GO FOR A CAMPUS FEEL

Design photographs with a collegiate or athletic feel to them, rather than “beach” themed photos. If people want to buy a beach theme calendar, they will buy the “Chippendales” calendar. Even the Chippendales calendar has changed to more “bedroom themes.” Remember, buyers want YOUR calendar because it offers college guys. While college guys are seen on beaches only during Spring Break, one will usually find college guys on the school’s quad, in a fraternity house, or playing sports. So, photograph your college men where buyers expect to see college guys. Plan imagery that brings college life to mind or portrays the college student as a **** athlete.

Remember, the successful theme of a calendars should be: “Here’s what that athletic guy you passed on the quad looks like in bed.”

RECRUIT EXTENSIVELY

Far more than 12 students must be recruited. Calendar production processes call for locating as many attractive males on your campus as possible. It is not usual to evaluate at least 125 college guys and as many as 500 during the entire process. If you want to organize a calendar, your goal should be to meet hundreds of hot college guys.

A large number must be secured because the most important issue - other than quality of photographs - is timing of delivery. Delivering early in the sales season is very important. Calendars must be produced for delivery on June 1 of each year. This allows a seven-month selling season and allows featured college guys to talk up and sell calendars during the summer (when they have ample time to sell because they are not enrolled in classes; are usually home among family and friends). It also allows sales through national magazines, and allows the producers to reach incoming freshmen college guys visiting the campus during orientation sessions, held during June through August. This means the calendar also will be on store shelves in time for students who arrive back for the beginning of fall quarter and are seeking to decorate dorm or sorority room walls.

Winter term is a poor time to recruit college guys because completing any activity takes more time due to cold weather. We cannot easily see what college guys look like because they cover themselves with clothing when outdoors. College guys generally stay indoors, become sedentary, gain weight, and do not have tans.

If only 12 college guys are recruited, the operation can be delayed if even one student drops out or is dismissed.

Recruit a large number of college guys because appearing in a calendar is not for everyone. We found that we had to screen all guys to select only those who are willing to pose **** or nearly ****. Why? Because college-oriented calendars are not the thing for timid or conservative young men. We have published many pinup calendars with varying degrees of provocativeness. Tame pinup calendars are nice. But, few buyers actually part with $15 to buy a boring male calendar. More risqué calendars have always been more popular in sales.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Here’s what to look for in a college-guy model for a pinup calendar:

• Outgoing, can sell calendars. Guys who like to talk to everyone and anyone

• Muscular or defined body

• Confident guys. Young men with self-esteem problems make problems for you.

• Comfortable posing nude, uninhibited, the kind of guy who would skinny-dip for fun or go streaking at the drop of a hat

Advertising did not bring in the “right” type of college guys. Many young men who are perfect for your calendar would never think of submitting their names to you. They must be invited. That is where student recruiters are valuable.

Advertise for a team of students whose sole duty is to stop college guys on an informal basis. Advertising to locate recruiters can include classified ads, as well as fliers to sororities, career placement offices and dorms. Aim for at least three “hard core” recruiters, a Greek system recruiter and a minority representative. Recruiters need not be female. Guys can recruit and sometimes find it easier to approach other guys in gyms, classes and on the quad. Girls sometimes thinks asking a guy to pose is like asking him for a date.

NUMBERS GAME

About 60 percent of the college guys recruiters find will be acceptable. Of those students, 75 percent will accept an offer to appear. Therefore, to secure 22 acceptable college men, recruiters should locate 50 guys per calendar.

Compensation to recruiters is a finder’s fee paid for each “found” student who appears in the published calendar. Fees are payable only if the recruited student appears in the calendar. Do not pay a finder’s fee if you do not select the college student to appear, if the college student declines your offer to appear, drops out before publication, or is dismissed for any reason.

After a college guy applies to appear in a calendar (through a website), collect a bio or tape an interview with the individual. That’s how selection of new “male models” begins!

church financing asked:


ng>Financing, Loans and Commercial Finance for Churches at Church-Financing.com.

Nearly all Churches necessitate the need of a commercial real estate financing. The financial sources for real and substantial estate includes: Regional banks, Private investors, Insurance companies, Saving and Loan institutions and Mortgage banking firms. First let’s touch on the obstacles that occur during the process of acquiring the church mortgage loans & church financing.

The Major Church Financing Difficulties:

(1) Church properties are unique and so, for this reason Lenders have a great apprehension regarding this matter because if the loans are not paid within a stipulated time, Lenders will be accounted for it. They have to assume ownership of the property. Owing to unique property features, it is not going to be easy to come across a new owner.

(2) For getting the hold of church loans, Lenders often entail the need of “personal guarantors” especially on account of prior observation with reference to the complexities that are involved in selling the church property again.

(3) When the church financing needs are attained, there are many objectionable terms that get exist. Such as: Minute amount of loans, low loan-to-value (LTV) of 50% to 60%, short-period time of loans and rates of high interest. By this, churches get many possibilities to face the countless financial difficulties.

(4) More than Purchasing and/or Refinancing, Church Financing, Church Construction Loans, Church Renovation and Land acquisition loans are considered as more intricate to deal with. Therefore, needed repairs are delayed for an indefinite period and new churches take lots of years to become a reality.

The Practical Solutions for the Problems which have been Issued above are:

(1) High LTV: High LTV of 75% to 85% would generate a realistic amount of about 15% to 25% that can be utilized for the purpose of down payment or non-financed portion in refinancing.(2) Long-term loans: To make the church financing more successful, rather than short-term, church financing should be of a long term, i.e. up to at least time period of 30 years.

(3) Non-Recourse Loans: Being reluctant towards individual guarantors fetches a non-traditional church lender. And than through this approach, church lending will no more rely on individual guarantors for the church financing.(4) Large sum of Loan: Ability to accommodate large church loan needs, at least of $500,000. This move would than persuade churches to finish their most business financing in one stage rather than by going through many stages.

(5) Low interest rates: Churches are being charged with the sky-scraping interest rates than it is actually required. Church financing payments can be phenomenally reduced if the payments are restricted to prime plus 1% or less than that. As a result, long-term church loan as well as decrease in overall payment will improve the church cash flow considerably.

For more detail log on to www.church-financing.com. Church Financing is a church loan division of Griffin Capital Funding offers church financing and loans with no personal guarantees, favorable rates and good terms.

Alison Cole asked:




An operating agreement is the code by which Limited Liability Companies (LLC) operate. In many states an operating agreement is not compulsory because in its absence the state law will apply by default. That may not be suitable situation for many LLCs, which require specific provisions for their management.

Though an operating agreement is not required to be in writing, it is prudent to have it properly documented and signed by all members, or by the sole member in the case of a single-member LLC. This will avoid confusion and misunderstandings, and also clarify the limited liability status.

An operating agreement basically covers the rights and responsibilities of members, how the company will be managed, and the manner in which the profits and losses are to be split. Due thought has to be given to such points, because they can have long-term impact on the LLC. Apart from routine details, the major points to be covered in an operating agreement include members’ voting rights, profit sharing, management, meetings, accounts, and span of life.

The voting could be either ‘per capita’ (each member having one vote) or according to percentage of interest the members hold (if a member has 75% of the investment, he carries 75% of the votes). Whether the profits are to be allocated in the pattern of the interest held by each member or according to some other formula should be clearly stated. There is no stipulation in state laws that an LLC should hold annual meetings or draw up reports of accounts, but it is desirable to set out rules about these.

The question of what happens if a member dies or quits has to be considered. It is better that these eventualities are adequately covered with, for example, a buy-out scheme. A clear understanding about the manner in which the members can draw the profits allocated to them is desirable. It is also important to specify how the business will be managed and what responsibilities each member will have.

Software is available to help in drawing up an operating agreement, or a legal expert can be consulted.

Trey Huguley asked:




Limited for space, but want to get a good workout In your Apartment? You could always go to the fitness center if your community has one. That’s what it’s there for and is usually top of the line.

But if you are truly more comfortable and want to work out in your actual apartment. There are a few ideas that you should keep in mind as you are burning the calories and pumping up those muscles.

First and foremost, try making a purchase on a space-saving total work out machine like the new Personality Gym. Sure, it may be a bit pricey on your budget, but this awesome piece of machinery can turn from a sleek looking piece of furniture that is standing up in your living space, into a total gym designed by fitness professionals for ultimate performance. This workout monolith is truly incredible.

If that’s a little out of your price range, but still want to have a small total work out weight bench, check a social networking classified ad web site like Craigslist. You’ll find that often people are dumping their slightly to moderately used weight lifting and workout equipment on the classifieds when they give up on their resolutions.

This brings me to the most important part of a home workout: NEVER GIVE UP! Sometimes you see quick results and sometimes it takes a few weeks or even months of work. It’s important to keep at it and keep a strict routine. You may try working yourself a little harder and keeping a better diet to see more enhanced results.

If you don’t have room for a weight bench or small work out machine in your apartment, EASY! Just buy several dumbbells (which you can easily hide in the closet when not in use) and use them to do various free weight lifts using the furniture you already have. You can do curls and incline bench press from your kitchen chair. Lay on the floor or a long, sturdy, and non-glass coffee table to get your bench press in. And work out your legs with some lunges virtually anywhere.

No matter how much you lift though, you will have to find a way to do some cardio if you want to see great results. you could jog in place in your apartment for 30 minutes everyday, but your downstairs neighbor may not like that very much, so I’d say…hit the neighborhood, jog around, and get out of your apartment for a little bit of your workout. After all, the sun is good!