Integrated Asset Services®, LLC (IAS®) (www.iasreo.com), a leader in default management and residential collateral valuation, this month celebrated the first anniversary of its IAS360 House Price Index (http://www.iasreo.com/ias360_update.html). The IAS360 HPI remains the only index to track U.S. housing trends at a county level. The index tracks monthly change in the median sales price of detached single-family residences in more than 15,000 “neighborhoods” across the U.S., then rolls the data up to 360 counties, nine census divisions, four regions, and the nation overall. The timeliness of the data, which is based on all arms-length transactions occurring in underlying neighborhoods, makes the IAS360 HPI a leading indicator for housing price trends in the U.S. The index was recently awarded Personal Real Estate Investor Magazine’s Editors’ Choice Award. “The granularity of the IAS360 HPI takes it deeper into U.S. housing data than other observational tools” said David McCarthy, President and CEO of Integrated Asset Services. “And given the timely monthly reporting, we’ll be the first to see the markets turn at the county level.” IAS’ methodology integrates multiple data sources beginning with familiar Census Block, most Multiple Listing Services, Bureau of Labor Statistics, HUD, and county recorder data. These feed to an automated valuation model for individual home value index designed to track housing prices for banks and investors. The IAS360 HPI measures median sales price trends at multiple areas within a county to report price performance within an individual market. The index covers only single-family homes, though IAS does provide a separate report on condos. IAS’s innovative methodology has been well-received by a demanding marketplace. With its timely and granular data, the IAS 360 has been receiving increasing press attention since its first appearance 12 months ago. In addition to its recognition by Personal Real Estate Investor Magazine, the index has received increasing coverage by leading industry media outlets like The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, U.S. News &World Report, Business Week, Reuters, ABC News Radio, CBS News Radio, Housing Wire, Mortgage Banking Magazine, Mortgage Servicing News, and National Mortgage News. “The better housing price indexes are all useful at the Metropolitan Statistical Area level,” said McCarthy. “The IAS360 adds another level of information with its neighborhood data. That, plus the fact the index captures seasonality, makes it quite valuable to homebuyers, lenders, and investors.” For the financial services industry, the IAS360 HPI provides the logic to determine value, risk, and volatility for loss mitigation and short sale negotiations. This data gives lenders an indication of market movement and sets a median price range covering the previous six quarters. Regression testing of the IAS methodology has proven that the IAS360 HPI index and forecasts are extremely accurate.
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Bicycle advocate Ryan Van Duzer will mount his New Belgium three-speed cruiser bike to embark on a two-wheeled journey across the U.S. this coming weekend. As he spreads the gospel of New Belgium Brewing’s Team Wonderbike and his life-long passion for biking, Van Duzer will chronicle his travels through blogs, videos and Twitter updates at http://www.newbelgium.com/duzer. Track his journey and ride along when he gets to your neighborhood to share a meal, a beer or a story.Launching Saturday, June 20 from San Diego, Van Duzer will be meeting with advocacy groups, bike lovers, and city planners from America’s Bicycle Friendly Cities as recognized by the League of American Bicyclists. Van Duzer will conclude his trip in Washington, D.C., where he plans to meet with League representatives as well as members of the administration.“Although I am thrilled to make a statement about the benefits of bicycling, I really enjoy the daily adventures of new terrain, camping in remote areas and learning about the lives of the people that I meet,” said Van Duzer. “I hope I inspire folks to dust off their bikes or up the ante on their current biking routines, showing that it is a sustainable, fun way to commute – across town or across the country.”New Belgium Brewing, maker of Fat Tire Amber Ale, is sponsoring Van Duzer’s travels as part of its Team Wonderbike initiatives (http://www.newbelgium.com/team-wonderbike). Team Wonderbike was created by New Belgium to inspire and encourage folks to use their bike instead of their car as often as possible. Team Wonderbike membership is currently 15,000 strong, with more to join as Van Duzer’s inspirational trek will inevitably get people to thinking, “If he can ride across the country, I can ride to work!”“Duzer is a living, breathing example of what one person can do with the power of a bike,” said Bryan Simpson, New Belgium Spokesperson and Team Wonderbike Spokes Model. “He’s ready to prove you can ride across the country on a three-speed so that others might make a smaller effort in everyday life. Those things add up and Duzer has become something of a personal hero of mine.”Check Duzer out in towns like these and maybe in your neighborhood:• Oceanside, CA• Flagstaff, AZ• Shawnee and Lawrence, KS• Columbia, MO• Carmel, IN• Columbus, OH• Arlington and Alexandria, VA• Washington, D.C.Visit http://www.newbelgium.com/duzer to look at the map and much more.
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Four out of five U.S. women are dissatisfied with their appearance, according to the Eating Disorder Foundation. Denver’s Eating Recovery Center (www.eatingrecoveryinfo.com) hopes to reverse this statistic with the launch of a new Body Image Group. This 12-week program, which strives to help people build healthier body beliefs, is ongoing; new participants can join at any time. “A majority of women in the United States struggle with unrealistic body expectations and strive for unattainable ideals,” explains Carolyn Jones, RN, MS, LPC, director of nursing at the Eating Recovery Center. “Over the course of the 12-week Body Image Group, we explore ways to reconnect with your body, accept your body in the present moment and appreciate your body for allowing you to live your life.” Led by Jones, an eating disorders expert with more than 17 years of experience helping people build healthy body beliefs, this breakthrough group meets on Wednesday evenings from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the outpatient department of the Eating Recovery Center. The Body Image Group is open to adults 17 and older working through eating disorder treatment, as well as those who may not have experienced anorexia or bulimia, but who want to build more positive body beliefs. “An unhealthy body image is one of the most difficult things to change in recovery, yet it is one of the most common causes of relapse,” explains Jones. “Our goal is to help individuals identify ways an unhealthy body image is preventing them from living out their values and develop new coping skills that will help them replace negative thoughts and behaviors with healthy ones.” Founded by nationally-recognized eating disorder experts, the Eating Recovery Center is one of the only treatment facilities offering a full spectrum of recovery options for adults, including inpatient and residential care, partial hospitalization and outpatient programming. The Center combines medical management and psychiatric evaluation with therapeutic interventions, including dialectical behavioral therapy groups, education groups, process groups, expressive arts therapy, yoga, personalized dietary counseling, culinary lessons and massage therapy. Participation in the Body Image Group costs $50 per session. However, Jones notes that participants’ insurance may cover all or part of this cost. For more information, please call 877.825.8584 or visit http://www.eatingrecoveryinfo.com. About the Eating Recovery Center Located in the heart of Denver’s medical district, the Eating Recovery Center is the only facility in the Rocky Mountain region that offers adults a full spectrum of eating recovery treatment options. Services offered include inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization and outpatient programs to meet each patient’s unique needs. The Eating Recovery Center combines highly-trained medical staff with a unique integrated treatment philosophy to make each patient's successful recovery a life-restoring event. For more information, visit http://www.eatingrecoveryinfo.com/. ### Contact: Shannon Fern Office: 303-433-7020 Cell: 303-667-3553 sfern@csg-pr.com
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Leaders of the Clean Tech Open (www.cleantechopen.com), the innovation catalyst that helps great ideas become viable clean tech businesses, today stood with Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, who called for governors from the Rocky Mountain region and across the country to embrace the New Energy Economy and support entrepreneurs participating in the $1 million Clean Tech Open business competition. The national business competition has helped more than 120 entrepreneurs launch companies and subsequently raise more than $125 million in external funding since its inception in 2006.“Today I stand with 64 ecopreneurs whose optimism and innovation represent the future of Colorado and this nation’s economy,” said Ritter. “I call on governors from around the Rocky Mountain region to support this event that will help drive the creation of green collar jobs across the region.”The Clean Tech Open is a partner in Governor Ritter’s 21st Century strategy to lead Colorado forward and establish the state as a national and international leader in the New Energy Economy, attracting thousands of new jobs and hundreds of new companies as Colorado leads the country toward a new energy future.The 2009 Clean Tech Open competition includes more than a $1 million in total prizes and a “100K Jobs Challenge” to create 100,000 clean tech jobs in America over the next five years.“We are honored to have the support of Governor Ritter as we drive the development of a clean, sustainable economy in the Rocky Mountain West,” said Richard Franklin, co-chair of The Clean Tech Open, Rocky Mountain chapter. “Many of the participants are first-time entrepreneurs who rely on the influence of local and state leaders to sharpen the focus of our region’s venture capitalists, academic institutions and laboratories on the economic opportunities clean technology offers.”A total of 64 early-stage startups in the Rocky Mountain region participated in this year’s competition, from a variety of clean tech categories: companies as varied as creating biofuels from waste, to transportation companies working to create more efficient engines.Twelve regional semifinalists will be selected later this month to compete for three regional prizes of cash and services worth $50,000. Similar regional competitions will also take place in California and the Pacific Northwest. The regional winners will then face off in a national competition this fall, vying for the Grand Prize of $250,000 in cash and services.In addition, semifinalists will be invited to participate in the Clean Tech Open Accelerator program, where they will be given hands-on training and experience in all aspects of starting and sustaining their businesses from national experts in venture capital, business, law, marketing and sustainability.
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How to Heal Yourself, Women's Creative Power, and Men's Spirituality are all fun six-week classes that start the first week of July. How to Heal Yourself is the prerequisite for our year-long Clairvoyant program, but is a valuable class for anyone, and includes energy tools you can use every day in any situation. See our website for more information: www.PsychicHorizonsCenter.org, or call 303-440-7171.Aura healings and short readings are available an our healing clinics in Boulder and Westminster. Call for more information.
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Come by the Post at 105 West Emma St. in Lafayette on July 11th and 12th to view a huge outdoor selection of useful household items, electronics, decor, and antiques, and at the same time help us to support our Nations Veterans of Foreign Wars, and those currently serving. This two day event is open to the public.
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Howard Lorton Galleries has just received over 75 new pieces of beautiful furniture from Theodore Alexander. To mark the occasion, Howard Lorton’s has taken an extra 10% off the already discounted price on all Theodore Alexander furniture – over 250 different pieces in all. Theodore Alexander’s gorgeous, finely crafted furniture is now an even better value! Included in the shipment is a large selection of pieces from the Castle Bromwich collection. The collection gets its name from an Jacobean manor house in rural England (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Bromwich_Hall). Made entirely from reclaimed wood, the Castle Bromwich collection seemlessly blends timeless furniture designs with environmental sustainability. With a carefully waxed finish that gives it a deep shine and depth of color, each piece has a wonderfully lustrous look. At the same time, the antiqued wood gives the collection a rustic feel. Howard Lorton’s sale on Theodore Alexander furniture ends June 27th. Hurry in for the best selection!
The Rotary Club of Boulder Flatirons has received the District 5450 Governor’s Award. The award was given at the District Conference and is in recognition to the club for its proactive and creative strategies to influence membership growth and retention. Rotarians Alta Drumm and Carolyn Marino accepted the award on behalf of the club. The club will also be honored with the Presidential Citation award at the Rotary International Convention in Birmingham, England, later this month. Boulder Flatirons Rotary Club was chartered in 1997 and currently has 40 members. Among its ongoing projects is support of Justice High School, Meals on Wheels of Boulder, the Parenting Place and Attention Homes -- all in Boulder, as well as a hearing screening project in Mante, Mexico, and water projects in India, Rwanda and Ecuador. Members meet weekly on Wednesday mornings at East Boulder Senior Center. For more information about the club, visit www.boulderflatironsrotary.org. Information about other clubs in this area will be found at www.rotary5450.org.
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eLearners.com, a web resource of EducationDynamics, which has successfully connected learners to online education since 1999, announces the Denver launch of a new national program aimed at helping adults kick start their careers through education, entitled “Career Stimulus Package” (www.careerstimulus.com). The comprehensive career education program will offer undereducated, underemployed adults access to online education opportunities, including up to $4 million in full-tuition scholarships, and job shadowing programs at some of America’s most innovative companies. At the center of the campaign is a 40-city RV “Empowerment Tour” offering free career coaching services. The tour starts in Denver, Colorado on June 12, 2009 and concludes in Los Angeles on September 9, 2009. The goal of the Career Stimulus Package and Empowerment Tour is to help Americans improve their lives through higher education and career resources. The Denver Empowerment Tour will begin at 7:00 a.m. on June 12 at Skyline Park at 17th and Arapahoe in downtown Denver, with career coaching sessions, and conclude at 5:00 p.m. At the Denver launch event, a press conference will be held at 10:30 a.m. featuring Lt. Governor Barbara O’Brien. O’Brien will discuss the importance of higher education and Colorado initiatives aimed at improving adult education. “Colorado needs an educated workforce to move forward with the New Energy Economy, a robust aerospace industry, health care and many other growing segments of our economy,” said Colorado’s Lt. Governor Barbara O’Brien. “Colorado is one of the states best poised to rebound and now is a good time for non-traditional students to prepare themselves for the upswing.” Alyssa Ohleyer, a Project Working Mom recipient from Idaho Springs, will also speak at the press conference. Project Working Mom is the previous eLearners.com full-tuition scholarship campaign that received more than 400,000 applications during the eighteen month campaign. You can read Alyssa’s winning essay at http://tinyurl.com/Project-Working-Mom-Recipient. The Career Stimulus Package and Empowerment Tour is the voice designed to help adult Americans overcome the barriers of time, money and confidence in pursuing a college degree. The scholarships provided by the participating schools, and the scholarship funds raised during the tour, is one small but significant step in helping to alleviate the financial burden. By studying online, students can do class work from home, during their lunch hour at work, and at any time of day mitigating the obstacle of time. And through the comprehensive Career Stimulus Package efforts, adults can get the knowledge and information they need to feel confident about returning to school. “Everyone talks about the crisis in education, but nobody is focusing on the root cause —the lack of college educated adults in the U.S.,” explained Terrence Thomas, EVP Marketing Operations for eLearners.com. “Not only is the fact that more than 70% of Americans aged 25 and older not having a bachelor’s degree debilitating to the competitive status of our nation, but it’s adversely affecting future generations as these adults ultimately become parents and we need them to be education role models for America’s children.” The tour’s primary ambassador is Flavia Colgan, a passionate advocate for education over the past decade. She served as the first woman and youngest Chief of Staff in the country for Pennsylvania’s Lt. Governor Catherine Baker Knoll. And, most recently she has appeared as a correspondent and commentator on several national TV networks including CBS, MSNBC and FOX. "While the Career Stimulus Package and Empowerment Tour are a catalyst for discussion and change, they are certainly not enough," said Colgan. "Funding for non-traditional adult education must become an ongoing national priority. Half of the projected job growth in the United States over the next decade will require a college degree. To truly strengthen America's workforce, we need to equip adults to take on these jobs. If we can educate, we can empower and employ. It's the solution to America's current and future economic woes." The components of the Career Stimulus Package include: Full-Tuition Scholarships The Career Stimulus Package campaign will award full-tuition scholarships to adults who have applied through www.careerstimulus.com. The scholarships will let deserving adults attend an accredited online college or university tuition free. The total value of these scholarships, which range from the associate’s level to the Ph.D. level, is about $4 million. Participating schools providing the scholarships include: American Public University, Ashworth College, Bryant & Stratton College, Capella University, Ellis University, Everest University, Virginia College, and Western Governors University. To apply for a scholarship, applicants must submit a short application and essay describing their goals, why they want to go back to school and past instances of triumph over adversity. The participating schools will select the recipients. The deadline to apply for a scholarship is October 31. Job Shadowing The individuals selected to receive scholarships will also receive a one-week, paid job shadowing opportunity with one of the Career Stimulus Package participating companies, including: CareerBuilder.com, Dictionary.com, ZipRealty, Entrepreneur Magazine, eLance, EducationDynamics, Habitat for Humanity, spud! and Orbitek, LLC. This job shadowing opportunity will provide scholarship recipients the chance to learn more about the industries they have interest in and will also provide the opportunity to network with professionals. The Tour The “Empowerment Tour: Educate. Empower. Employ.” Will travel to approximately 40 cities across the country by RV. The tour will launch in Denver on June 12 and conclude in Los Angeles on September 9. The tour will offer free career laser coaching sessions to help Americans discover what is holding them back and the strategies needed to move toward success. The two participating career coaches are Denver residents. Michael Cushman is the immediate-past president of the Denver Coach Federation and Ayn Fox is a certified Master Coach by the International Coach Federation. Both Cushman and Fox will be available from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at each tour stop. Reservations are being accepted online for Michael Cushman at www.empowermenttour.com; reservations for Ayn Fox will be accepted on location. In addition to free career coaching sessions, each Empowerment Tour stop will feature an Education Station where people can apply for a full-tuition scholarship. The Empowerment Tour will also include Donation Stations at each stop where people can donate old suits and other interview appropriate attire. Each tour stop will also include complimentary snacks and drinks throughout the day. For more information on the Career Stimulus Package, The Empowerment Tour and the full-tuition scholarships and job shadowing opportunities, visit www.careerstimulus.com. For additional information on the Empowerment Tour, including dates and locations go to www.empowermenttour.com.
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Campers will have the opportunity to explore different cultures through art, music, dance, sports and language. Various visitors will come to our campus to engage campers in fun daily activities...local artists, dancers, storytellers, theatre, yoga, and much more! All age groups will have the opportunity to prepare authentic recipes and taste foods from around the world. Elementary campers will take regular day trips within our commuity to parks, museums, swimming, pints of interest, and regional destination such as sports events. Sign your child up today! Call 303-443-0511 ext. 100
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According to a new study by BancVue, almost two in five Americans are unable to classify their current bank as “Mr. or Ms. Right”, with dissatisfaction higher among those with most of their money in large banks. In fact, almost one in two (49%) of big bank customers claim their current bank is far from “the one”. To help people “break up” with Mr. /Ms. Wrong, CheckingFinder.com has launched the Switch Kit, designed to make it effortless to switch to a high interest, free checking account with no minimum balance, no monthly fees and nationwide ATM fee refunds. “CheckingFinder.com’s Switch Kit makes breaking up with an unhealthy banking relationship hassle-free,” says Gabe Krajicek, Chief Executive Officer of BancVue, the creators of CheckingFinder.com. “And, banking customers end up with better products with the better service of a community financial institution.” But how do you know if you are in an unhealthy banking relationship? Mr. Krajicek suggests consumers ask themselves the “Six Simple Questions You Can Bank On”: 1. Does your bank treat you like a number? 2. Do you feel that you are getting as much out of the relationship as the bank is? 3. Fairness in banking tends to show itself in the form of fees. Does your bank over-charge you on fees? 4. Do you have open communication? In other words, does your bank keep you informed about your existing accounts or better opportunities? 5. Does your bank show you appreciation for entrusting your money with them? 6. Is your bank well run and stable? Check out the “Statement of Condition” to get a snapshot of its health. The answers to these questions can help determine if breaking up from a banking relationship makes sense. Interestingly, two-thirds (67%) of bank account-holding Americans admit they wouldn’t hesitate to consider breaking up with their bank, with 75% with most of their money in big banks. And, what they are looking for in their Mr. or Ms. Right bank: less fees (39%), higher interest rates (32%), better banking products (29%) and ATM refunds (29%). CheckingFinder.com, the one-stop-shop for the best high-yield checking accounts among community banks and credit unions, not only allows you to find an open a free, high interest checking account in minutes, but has developed a tool to make the break up go smoothly—The Switch Kit. The Switch Kit makes switching to a new account painless, with detailed instructions for transferring direct deposits, automatic payments, online bill payments and closing the preexisting account. The Switch Kit also provides downloadable direct deposit and auto-payment forms, making the switch hassle free. The accounts on CheckingFinder.com give customers free checking accounts with CD-like yields, no monthly fees and nationwide ATM fee refunds when they do simple activities, including accepting eStatements, utilizing direct deposit, accessing online banking, and using their debit card. All of these things help save the financial institutions money, and unlike the big banks that keep it for themselves, these financial institutions are returning the savings to their account holders in the form of higher yields. “Breaking up may seem tough at first, but with the right tools, such as CheckingFinder.com and The Switch Kit the perfect bank mate is only a click away,” concludes Krajicek.
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Grail Advisors, a leader in the development and distribution of active Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), today announced the registration of four new actively-managed ETFs--RP Growth ETF, RP Focused Large Cap Growth ETF, RP Technology ETF, and RP Financials ETF. The new offerings represent the industry’s first traditional actively-managed ETFs using a single-manager approach. New York-based RiverPark Advisors, LLC (RiverPark) will serve as the primary sub-adviser for each of the funds. Wedgewood Partners, Inc., of St. Louis will also serve as sub-adviser to the RP Focused Large Cap Growth ETF. “One of our goals from the outset was to bring traditional, active fund managers to the ETF marketplace,” said William M. Thomas, CEO of Grail Advisors LLC. “With these four new RiverPark offerings, that day has come, and it’s come a lot sooner than even the most enthusiastic proponent of the ETF structure could have imagined.” Grail unveiled the market’s first true, actively-managed equity ETF last month—the Grail American Beacon Large Cap Value ETF—and will follow up this summer with the Grail American Beacon International Equity ETF, the first international ETF of its kind. Those funds were designed to incorporate the traditional investment management approach and a multi-manager format into an active ETF structure. The single-manager RiverPark funds will take active ETFs a step further. The funds will be designed to combine all the benefits of an ETF structure—lower costs, tax efficiency, transparency of holdings, and intra-day trading—with actively-managed strategies from a veteran asset management team. RiverPark will provide day-to-day portfolio management services to RP Growth ETF, RP Technology ETF, and RP Financials ETF, and, in conjunction with Grail, oversee the day-to-day portfolio management services provided by Wedgewood to RP Focused Large Cap Growth. RiverPark was founded in 2006 by Morty Schaja, CFA, who serves as the firm’s Chief Executive Officer, and Mitchell Rubin, CFA, who is the Chief Investment Officer. All of RiverPark’s principals, including Mr. Schaja, Mr. Rubin, and portfolio manager Conrad van Tienhoven, came to the firm from Baron Funds. RiverPark has assembled a prestigious group of outside advisors to support the senior team in the management of the funds. David A. Rolfe, CFA, will be the portfolio manager of RP Focused Large Cap Growth ETF. Mr. Rolfe is the Chief Investment Officer of Wedgewood, and together with Anthony L. Guerrerio, the firm’s CEO and founder, has worked on various large-cap growth strategies for the firm since its inception in 1992. Each of the funds’ managers will have the discretion on a daily basis to choose securities for the ETF’s portfolio consistent with the ETF’s investment objective. Unlike index-based ETFs that seek to replicate the holdings of a specified index, each of the new Grail ETFs will use an actively-managed investment strategy to meet its investment objective. All four of the funds’ holdings will be fully disclosed on a daily basis. “We fully embrace the movement toward full transparency, continuous liquidity, and a low-cost fee structure,” said Mr. Schaja from RiverPark Advisors. “In today’s environment, investors are demanding a superior vehicle in which to make their investments without having to sacrifice access to world-class portfolio management. We’re thrilled to be on the cutting edge of this evolution with Grail.” Trading for shares the new ETFs is expected to begin September 1 on the NYSE Arca, Inc. The new funds will represent the latest in what is anticipated to be a series of offerings of the Grail Advisors ETF Trust. The San Francisco-based firm intends to make the benefits of ETFs available to the large pool of investors who currently select traditional mutual funds or other vehicles to access active portfolio management. Mr. Thomas says Grail Advisors is currently in discussions with a number of leading financial institutions and asset managers and expects to launch more customized, actively-managed ETFs this year.
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Integrated Asset Services®, LLC (IAS®) (www.iasreo.com), a leader in default management and residential collateral valuation, today released its latest IAS360™ House Price Index. The benchmark for national house prices, based upon the timeliest and most granular data available in the industry, moved up a fraction of a point in April. April’s report reflects the first non-declining numbers for the index in 10 months. The IAS360 had fallen more than 19% from its high-water mark in June of 2007. On a year-over-year basis, U.S. house prices are still down 13.0%, but the volatility of the trend line is less than the previous year, a critical point to industry analysts. More importantly, three of the four U.S. census regions were stable to positive for April. Only the South, which includes several particularly hard-hit Florida communities, was down for the month (0.3%), but there, too, the trend line was flattening. “It’s too soon to call this a turn in the housing market, particularly given all the political and regulatory uncertainties,” said Dave McCarthy, President and CEO of Integrated Asset Services. “I think that we’re still in for some difficult spells ahead, but we are seeing a certain kind of pricing equilibrium in several important markets. That’s encouraging for the long term.” Among metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), IAS360 reports that three of the country’s ten largest MSAs—Boston, Chicago, and San Diego—joined Denver, previously the only region in the nation showing gains, in positive territory in April. “Inventory levels are declining and sales are increasing in the lower priced markets through a combination of incentives and low interest rates creating a positive outlook for the entire market,” said Rick Foos, President of SRA Foos & Associates, Inc. “However, if we begin to see rising interest rates and an increase in foreclosures in tandem we could be experiencing a “false bottom”, but if neither materializes to a great degree then it does appear that the market may have bottomed.” IAS360 data also revealed certain evidence of normalization, or at least a return to seasonality, in California, arguably the first and foremost damaged state in the U.S. (six of the 10 hardest-hit counties in the country are in California.) Representative counties up and down the state, including Monterey, San Bernadino, Ventura, Riverside, Sacramento, Sonoma, and King, continue to report convincing upticks in housing prices. For its part, the aforementioned San Diego, down almost 24% from its high in 2007, has reported three straight months of stable prices. “We’re looking at daily information on more than 15,000 market segments across the country,” said McCarthy, “and we’re keeping a keen eye out for trends all the way down to the county and neighborhood level. With the benefit of our uniquely granular and timelier data, the IAS360 will report the turn in the market first.” The IAS360 House Price Index is a comprehensive housing index tracking monthly change in the median sales price of detached single-family residences across the U.S. The index, based on all arms-length transactions, tracks data of 15,000 “neighborhoods”, which are rolled up to report on the changes in 360 counties, nine census divisions, four regions, and the nation overall. The IAS360 House Price Index is delivered on a monthly basis.
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Increasing patient caseloads, professional collaboration/patient sharing and lack of medical resources are among the trends revealed in a May 2009 survey of eating disorder professionals conducted by the Eating Recovery Center (http://www.eatingrecoveryinfo.com), the premier treatment center for eating recovery. Due to the rapid growth in the number of patients presenting with an eating disorder, as well as increased awareness of the medical complications often associated with eating disorders, clinicians are finding it critical to work with other professionals to effectively treat eating disordered patients. Among 158 respondents, 52 percent have seen their eating disorder patient caseloads increase over the past three years. While 83 percent of respondents are very comfortable diagnosing eating disorders and 81 percent are very comfortable treating eating disorders, 94 percent responded that they share some portion of that treatment with other professionals. “Eating disorders are complicated diseases with multiple etiologies,” explained Kenneth L. Weiner, M.D., medical director of the Eating Recovery Center. “As these results show, the vast majority of our colleagues understand that a cross-disciplinary approach is necessary for successful and sustainable treatment.” When asked why they refer patients, eating disorder professionals point to the following: • Lack of the medical resources to treat medical complications (63%) • Lack of the necessary resources to treat patients (49%) • Patients have co-existing psychological illnesses or addictions they do not treat (38%) • Their facility is not eligible for or does not accept patients’ insurance (37%) • They lack the necessary expertise to treat patients (16%) • Liability issues (13%). “Results show that the majority of eating disorder professionals will refer patients when they feel they don’t have the resources to effectively treat them,” added Weiner. “It’s critical that when making that decision, clinicians understand the importance of finding the right solution for each patient’s individual needs.” The vast majority (92%) of behavioral health professionals look to an organization with which they have an existing professional relationship when making a referral. Of respondents, 48 percent consult other professionals, 36 percent rely on a referral from the patient’s insurance company and 23 percent seek referral sources using the Internet. Most respondents (74%) have referred to an eating disorder-specific inpatient treatment center or an eating disorder-specific residential treatment center (73%). Data shows that most professionals treating eating disorders (86%) consider clinical strength the most important factor to consider when making a referral decision. Other factors considered include reputation of the referral source (47%), cost (36%), location (35%) and aftercare availability (29%). This survey was completed by 158 clinicians from across the U.S. who are engaged in eating disorder treatment. Psychologists represented 39 percent of all survey respondents, with psychiatrists, therapists, licensed social workers, registered dietitians and other clinical professionals representing the remaining respondents. Nearly half of the survey respondents (47%) treat patients in an individual private practice. The Eating Recovery Center is currently producing a white paper that discusses the survey results in further detail. The white paper will be available in early July. To request a copy, please visit http://www.eatingrecoveryinfo.com.
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I wish I had a dollar for each cheap cliché I've heard during the last three years. Many of them I've tried to forget.The best one though, is some variation of "Time heals all wounds."Sorry, but losing one's only child is not that superficial. And, if it is that thin, I question the depth of the relationship between the deceased child and the parents.I'm not sure who came up with that, but Time personified has about as much chance of healing as a mechanic does of properly performing heart surgery. Time is nothing more than a measurement of existence. It is a tool no different than a yard stick or a tape measure. It can measure the distance between Point A and Point B, even though the points are theoretical moments in thought.Three years ago, time suddenly stopped. The immediate reaction is that the world stopped for us, and us alone. Initially, that was probably correct. But as we moved away from that exact moment, we met others who went through similar experiences.It didn't lessen the loss, but it did make us feel a little less alone with it.Apparently, there is an accepted time line when most people experience grief as very raw during the first five to seven years. It doesn't surprise us, but sometimes I do wish others knew that little factoid. This thought is completely contradictory to the people who would tell us, or try to imply that we need to "just get over it."If it were that easy, I would have to question your value of human life, and the relationships built in this experience called life.Even with the fallacies used in Hollywood's artistic license, there is some truth in movies like "Final Destination." The truth is simple. We don't know when it is our turn. It could be a disease or biological malfunction hidden in the body, or a truck that didn't see the stop sign at the next intersection, or a host of other issues that could happen, many that we have no control over, yet impact us just the same.The reality is life has meaning by who we include in it: friends, co-workers, business associates, and most importantly -- God. I didn't say religion, I said God, the god of the Holy Bible.
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online news websiteWith the public spat between Jerusalem and Washington over construction in the settlements intensifying daily, US President Barack Obama dropped in unannounced on Defense Minister Ehud Barak while he was meeting National Security Adviser James Jones in the White House on Tuesday.read the full news article on the international news on the Jerusalem post online news website
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SRI in the Rockies, the largest and longest-running sustainable and responsible investing conference in the world, will mark its 20th year and highlight growing opportunities for investors who embrace innovative investment strategies targeted on environmental, social, and governance factors. More than 650 attendees from the U.S. and around the world are expected to gather October 25–28, 2009 at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa in Tucson, Arizona. The 20th Anniversary SRI in the Rockies Conference. From Crisis to Opportunity: Investing for a Sustainable Economy, will be presented by First Affirmative Financial Network in collaboration with the Social Investment Forum. “Sustainable and responsible investing is moving rapidly to the forefront of investment strategy,” said Steve Schueth, President of First Affirmative. “This year’s conference has a particular responsibility to highlight how we all can play a crucial role in finding real market solutions to the world’s environmental and social problems and make money in the process.” The 2009 conference list of speakers include: James K. Galbraith, PhD, the Lloyd M. Bentsen chair in Government and Business Relations and professor of Economics at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin; Mindy S. Lubber, president of Ceres, the leading U.S. coalition of investors and environmental leaders working to improve corporate environmental, social, and governance practices; Auden Schendler, executive director of Sustainability at Aspen Skiing Company; and Andy Serwer, managing editor of FORTUNE magazine. Visit SRI in the Rockies (http://www.sriintherockies.com) to access speaker photos and bios. Lisa Woll, CEO of the Social Investment Forum, said: “The 20th anniversary of SRI in the Rockies occurs in a year in which there already have been significant steps forward in the national commitment to advancing policies that support good governance, transparency, and concerted attention on environmental and social issues within businesses and financial institutions. With national attention on addressing the financial crisis and regulatory frameworks, dealing with climate change and creating a clean, green economy, and looking at broad social and governance issues including executive compensation and mortgage and credit card reform, we believe that more individual and institutional investors will become socially responsible investors.” As the premier industry event, SRI in the Rockies attracts a wide range of investment professionals—from financial advisors to institutional investors and mutual fund companies, as well as social research and proxy voting organizations. Members of religious organizations and social change non-profits, and officers from community development banks, credit unions, and related organizations also will be in attendance. “Given the growing global awareness of investing for a more sustainable future, this year’s conference is all about identifying opportunities that are presenting themselves at this important juncture in the history of investing,” said Schueth. The 2009 conference will benefit from the support of leaders in the SRI industry including Calvert, a mutual fund company that for 30 years has been offering the nation's largest array of sustainable and responsible mutual funds. Calvert is unique among sponsoring organizations in that it has been a supporter of all 20 SRI in the Rockies conferences. For a full list of sponsoring organizations, visit http://www.sriintherockies.com/sponsors.jsp.
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