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Showing posts with label #LifeInTheAgeofCorona. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #LifeInTheAgeofCorona. Show all posts

Friday, May 1, 2020

Notations From the Grid (Special Edition): As a New Month is Before Us...

We present the following as we look forward to the continued opportunity to serve:

Woodens Wisdom
Wooden's Wisdom - Volume 2Issue 56
Craig Impelman Speaking |  Championship Coaches |  Champion's Leadership Library Login

 

DON'T LET YESTERDAY TAKE UP TOO MUCH OF TODAY

This maxim represents the foundation of Coach Wooden's approach as a teacher. He often reminded his players of this with his “Make Each Day Your Masterpiece” approach and spoke poignantly on the topic:

Don't live in the past, you can't do anything about the past. It will never change whether it's yesterday or last year. The future is yet to be determined and can be influenced by what you do today. Today is the only day that really matters. That's what I tried to teach.

Vivian Laramore said:

I have shut the door on yesterday,

Its sorrows and mistakes.

I have locked within its gloomy walls

Past failures and mistakes.

And now I throw the key away,

And seek another room.

And furnish it with hope and smiles,

And every spring-time bloom.

No thought shall enter this abode

That has a taint of pain.

And envy, malice, and distrust

Shall never entrance gain.

I have shut the door on yesterday

And thrown the key away.

Tomorrow holds no fear for me,

Since I have found today.

Today is the only day you can do anything about.
Coach Wooden often referenced his father’s example as a major influence on him. His mother, Roxie, also had a powerful impact on his “focus on now, not yesterday” approach. In his book, A Game Plan for Life with Don Yaeger, Coach described it this way:
I have written and talked a great deal during my long career about my father’s tremendous influence on my life, but have neglected to say much about my mother. That is a great oversight, as she was an incredible woman who managed a household with none of the modern conveniences and suffered the loss of both her daughters within a year of one another. Cordelia, who was born between my older brother Maurice and myself, died of diptheria when she was two; and there was a baby girl who died at birth and was never named. And yet Mother never once complained, or lost her faith, or showed any kind of self-pity. Instead, she poured herself into the lives of her surviving children with a fierce devotion that celebrated her love for us all.
Coach Wooden enjoyed collecting and sharing poetry and stories he found inspirational.
I think he would approve of me sharing some excerpts from an article written by his friend T.J. Simers in the Los Angeles Times, November 3, 2012.
Octavio Sanchez of Fontana was badly burned and lost one hand and his nose seven years ago in Iraq but he's happy to be alive and with his family.
In Iraq he almost died several times, before being brought back with 68% of his body suffering third-degree burns. He has had almost 30 operations on his body. Octavio says, he knows of only one way to react.

“Move forward.”
Octavio has been doing so for seven years. Every day, no breaks, no complaints.

"What's my other choice," he says, "crying over spilt milk?"
Octavio lost his right hand, two fingers on his left, his nose burns off and he says, "I've been blessed.”
He's lucky too, he says, and although the three remaining fingers on his other hand are fused together, swelling sometimes and looking like sausages, there's sensation.

"It's something special," he says, "to touch your children and feel their faces."
Octavio Sanchez has truly taken “Don't let yesterday take up too much of today” to a new level.

 

Yours in coaching,

 

 

Craig Impelman

www.woodenswisdom.com

 

Twitter: @woodenswisdom

 

 

 

Watch Video

Application Exercise

COACH'S
FAVORITE POETRY
AND PROSE


TODAY

 

Coach, you're a hunter and a seeker,
Not for silver or for gold.
Not for treasure or for pleasure,
Or for anything that's sold.

You're a connoisseur of living,
As you move along life's way.
With no worries of tomorrow,
For you have found today.
 

Swen Nater

For more information visit www.woodenswisdom.com

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Notations From the Grid (Weekly Edition): The Latest From Global Citizen on #LifeinTheTimeofCorona

 

'One World: Together At Home' Will Inspire Action to End COVID-19

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We will be urging governments, corporations, and philanthropists to increase investments in the World Health Organization's Solidarity Fund while celebrating and supporting frontline health workers.

Friday, April 3, 2020

Notations From the Grid (Special Edition): Digital security during the COVID-19 pandemic courtesy the team at @CPJ


A Lebanese journalist uses her mobile phone as she wears a medical mask and gloves at Rafik Hariri University Hospital in Beirut, Lebanon, on February 22, 2020. (AP/Bilal Hussein)

The current global health situation has seen changes to the way journalists do their job, with an increasing number working from home instead of an office. This is creating digital security issues for journalists and media outlets who still need to work during the coronavirus outbreak.

Journalists working from home may be using personal devices to do research, speak with sources, and download documents. The inability to have face-to-face meetings has caused many media organizations to adopt online conferencing services, often unaware of what they are giving up in terms of privacy and security.

Journalists who are reporting on the spread of COVID-19 are also at risk of being exposed to malware and scams as criminals target people with misinformation and sophisticated phishing campaigns linked to the virus. These are more of a threat to journalists working without tech support, or using personal devices that have not been secured; personal information could also be at risk if devices in the home are exposed to malware.

Secure your remote office

● Update your devices, including your phone, to the latest operating system. Updates often fix known vulnerabilities in the software that attackers could try to exploit. Configure your devices to update automatically.

● Update apps and browsers to the latest available version.

● Use a password manager to create long, unique passwords and secure your online accounts. Turn on two-factor authentication for all accounts wherever possible.

● Think about where you are storing your documents, especially if you are working on sensitive issues. Create a system for storing work while you are working from home so that you will be able to find it easily when you return to the office. Avoid downloading and storing documents on an ad hoc basis, or on multiple devices.

● Back up your data and research on a regular basis to avoid losing work. Create more than one copy—for example, back up your work to an external hard drive as well as saving it on your computer. If possible, protect your backup with a password, and store it away from your regular workstation.

● Use a virtual private network (VPN) if you are concerned about your internet service provider seeing your online activity, especially if you are carrying out sensitive research. Be aware that a VPN service may also record your internet activity, so research the best VPN service for you, depending on your location and your level of risk.

● Lock all your devices with a PIN or password to deter people from accessing them. Avoid sharing devices you use for work with other members of your household.

● Ensure that your home Wi-Fi is protected with a password.

Communicate more securely

Be aware that online communication services are often collecting personal data on you and the people that you are speaking with. This data can be sold, handed over to governments, or if the company does not secure the data properly, breached by criminals.

● Do an internet search on any online communication service you plan to use. Check for security vulnerabilities, privacy concerns, or if the company has suffered any data breaches. If possible, see if the company has been subpoenaed by a government and review what information the service handed over.

● Review the service’s privacy policy to see what they do with your data, how they store it, and how long they keep it.

● Check to see whether the service uses end-to-end encryption. Research the law in your country with regards to using encrypted communications methods.

● Be aware of your own risk profile, and that of the people you wish to speak with. If you or anyone you communicate with is likely to be a target of a government or of an adversary with sophisticated technology, consider whether using these services could put you at risk.

● Back up anything important contained in messaging apps regularly, and delete anything inessential.

● Be aware that many messaging apps store a copy of your messages, including photos and documents, either in a cloud account or on your device. Signal, the end-to-end encrypted messaging service, allows users to delete messages after a certain time set by the user.

● If you are working with low internet bandwidth and need to speak with more than one person at the same time, consider using end-to-end encrypted chat or voice messages instead of video conferencing.

Secure research, phishing, and COVID-19

● Do a regular internet search for common scams and misinformation about COVID-19. This will help you be more informed about documented attacks, including those that are less obvious and more sophisticated.

● Try and use one device for researching COVID-19. This will help limit exposure to malware.

● Avoid clicking on links or downloading documents about COVID-19 on your phone. The small screen makes it difficult to properly analyze the source.

● Think carefully before clicking or downloading information about COVID-19. Consider the source and whether it is reputable.

● Go directly to the source of the information instead of downloading documents sent to you via email, through SMS, or messaging apps. Look up the author of the information online to verify their identity and expertise.

● Research the authors of unexpected messages or requests to take action and verify their identity. Reach out to them directly to confirm they sent the message if possible.

● Use advanced search strategies, such as Boolean search methods, to look up information and confirm the source.

● Be aware that websites from legitimate sources should be encrypted. You can check this by looking for https and a padlock icon at the start of the URL, or web address, in your browser. This means that traffic between you and the site is encrypted.

● Be wary of information about COVID-19 shared in group chats on WhatsApp and other messaging services. There is a lot of misinformation being passed around and some of it may also contain malware.

For more information, consult CPJ's Digital Safety Kit, also in EspañolFrançaisРусский, and در فارسی. CPJ’s safety advisory on covering the coronavirus outbreak is available in multiple languages.

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Notations From the Grid (Special Quarter-End Edition): A DIFFERENT CURVE BALL A Helpful Visualization That Shows Whether Or Not We've Succeeded In Stopping Coronavirus

As our World Deals with #LifeIntheTimeofCorona:




We also hereby present a snapshot of the CARES Act along courtesy of the American Alliance of Museums:

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Advocacy Alert - March 27, 2020
Museums Included in Economic Relief Legislation

Congress has passed a massive COVID-19 economic relief bill that includes important support for museums. Late Wednesday night the Senate unanimously approved the bill, and the House approved it today. The president is expected to sign the bill. This is the third round of legislation providing emergency responses, and by far the largest, at an estimated $2.2 trillion. It very likely won't be the last.

"Due to the tireless work of museum advocates, we were successful in ensuring that museums are included in this critical economic relief package," said Laura L. Lott, President and CEO of the American Alliance of Museums. "We estimate that, collectively, museums are losing at least $33 million per day. With our allies across the field, AAM delivered a powerful joint letter to Congress with an audacious ask-$4 billion-as well as a universal charitable deduction. Museum advocates sent over 33,000 messages to Congress, many of them personalized. And we were heard."

Additionally, we collaborated with others in the nonprofit sector to ensure nonprofit organizations, including museums, are eligible for small business loans (with forgiveness provisions) and that the legislation include charitable giving incentives. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) are slated to receive $200 million collectively ($50 million for IMLS and $75 million for each endowment). All three agencies are authorized to provide direct grants to support museum operations and matching requirements are waived. We will continue to work with these agencies to ensure they understand the needs of the museum community.

Letters like those from Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and House members from New York City supported $1 billion and $4 billion asks for museums. And advocates were able to reach House and Senate leadership with personal calls, to make the case directly. We are proud of the field and this amazing effort amid this crisis. While we have a long way to go, there is already discussion of a fourth economic relief package. The Alliance will remain engaged in this rapidly developing and fluid situation and will continue to inform and activate the museum community. Thank you for your continued advocacy at this critical time.

In the meantime, the Alliance is a member of the National Council of Nonprofits, which has produced an initial overview of provisions that relate to nonprofit organizations. The full bill text is available online, and the U.S. Senate provides a section-by-section overview of key provisions. The Alliance shares the following highlights with museum advocates.

Highlights of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act

These are based on an initial analysis of the nearly 900-page bill. Additional details may become apparent through further analysis.

Emergency Small Business Loans (emergency SBA 7(a) loans): Provides funding for special emergency loans of 2.5 times monthly payroll expenses, up to $10 million for eligible nonprofits and small businesses, permitting them to cover costs of payroll, rent, utilities, and debt service, and provides that the loans be forgiven in whole or in part under certain circumstances. (Title I, Section 1102)

  • General Eligibility: Available to entities that existed on March 1, 2020, and had paid employees.
  • Nonprofit Eligibility: Available for charitable nonprofits with 500 or fewer employees (counting each individual - full time or part time and not FTEs).
  • Loan Use: Loan funds could be used to make payroll and associated costs, including health insurance premiums, facilities costs, and debt service.
  • Loan Forgiveness: Employers that maintain employment between February 15 and June 30 would be eligible to have their loans forgiven, essentially turning the loan into a grant. The amount of loan forgiveness would be equal to the amount spent by the borrower during an 8-week period after the origination date of the loan. The portion of the loan that can be forgiven would be reduced by an amount related to positions that have been eliminated and wages that have been reduced, unless those positions and wages are restored by June 30, 2020. (Section 1106)
  • Loans will be available through SBA and Treasury approved banks, credit unions, and some nonbank lenders.
     
Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL): Eliminates creditworthiness requirements and appropriates an additional $10 billion to the EIDL program so that eligible nonprofits and other applicants with 500 or fewer employees can get checks for $10,000 within three days. (Section 1110)

Charitable Giving Incentive: Includes a new above-the-line deduction (universal or non-itemizer deduction that applies to all taxpayers) for total charitable contributions of up to $300. The incentive applies to contributions made in 2020 and would be claimed on tax forms next year. (Section 2204) The bill also lifts the existing cap on annual contributions for those who itemize, raising it from 60 percent of adjusted gross income to 100 percent. For corporations, the bill raises the annual limit from 10 percent to 25 percent. Food donations from corporations would be available to 25 percent, up from the current 15 percent cap. (Section 2205) 

Nonprofits that Self-Fund Unemployment: Only reimburses self-funded nonprofits for half of the costs of benefits provided to their laid-off employees, as explained in this recent blog article. (Section 2103)

Employee Retention Payroll Tax Credit: Creates a refundable payroll tax credit of up to $5,000 for each employee on the payroll when certain conditions are met. The entity had to be an ongoing concern at the beginning of 2020 and had to have seen a drop in revenue of at least 50 percent in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the first quarter of 2019. The availability of the credit would continue each quarter until the organization's revenue exceeds 80 percent of the same quarter in 2019. For tax-exempt organizations, the entity's whole operations must be taken into account when determining the decline in revenues. Notably, employers receiving emergency SBA 7(a) loans would not be eligible for these credits. (Section 2301)

Industry Stabilization Fund: Creates a loan and loan guarantee program for industries like airlines to keep them solvent through the crisis. It sets aside $425 billion for "eligible business" which is defined as "a United States business that has not otherwise received economic relief in the form of loans or loan guarantees provided under" the legislation. It is expected, but unclear, whether charitable nonprofits qualify under that definition for industry stabilization loans. Mid-sized businesses, including nonprofits, that have between 500 and 10,000 employees are expressly eligible for loans under this provision. Although there is no loan forgiveness provision in this section, the mid-size business loans would be charged an interest rate of no higher than two percent and would not accrue interest or require repayments for the first six months. Nonprofits accepting the mid-size business loans must retain at least 90 percent of their staff at full compensation. (Section 4003)

Other Significant Provisions

Direct Payments to adults of $1,200 or less and $500 per child ($3,400 for a family of four) to be sent out in weeks. The amount of the payments phases out based on earnings of between $75,000 and $99,000 ($150,000 / $198,000 for couples).

Expanded Unemployment Insurance: Includes coverage for workers who are furloughed, gig workers, and freelancers. Increases payments by $600 per week for four months on top of what state unemployment programs pay.

Amendments to the New Paid Leave Mandates: Lowers the amounts that employers must pay for paid sick and family leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act* (enacted March 19) to the amounts covered by the refundable payroll tax credit - i.e., $511 per day for employee sick leave or $200 per day for family leave.

Significant Spending: The bill also calls for large infusions of cash to the following sectors:
  • $150 billion for a state, tribal, and local Coronavirus Relief fund
  • $130 billion for hospitals
  • $30 billion for education
  • $25 billion for transit systems
     
Legislative Summaries

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Thursday, March 19, 2020

#LifeIntheAgeofCorona: As We Go Dark Through The End of the Quarter In Our Properties.....


We hereby present this simple reminder courtesy of USA.GOV as we implore all to visit the World Health Organization and the Centers For Disease Control   for the latest information--our team will continue its' daily updates on our Twitter Corner and the latest on Demand live broadcast featuring SkyNews:

Person washing hands with soap under a sink faucet

Cleaning Hands Helps Prevent the Spread of Germs

Regular handwashing is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others. Be sure to wash before and after certain activities to reduces the spread of diarrheal and respiratory illness.
Follow five simple and effective steps:
  1. Wet
  2. Lather
  3. Scrub
  4. Rinse
  5. Dry
Learn more about when and how to wash your hands, the importance of using soap and water, and what you can do if soap and clean water are not available. Whether you are at home, work, or on the go, find out how good hand hygiene can protect you, your family, and others.
Learn More About Handwashing

Please Stay Safe, take care of yourself and your families.

#WeWillGetThroughThisTogether.