Monday, March 31, 2014

Sidjae Walia on Likeability

Good day leaders,
Likeability and Effectiveness
from www.suzipomerantz.com
Many determine the success of a leader by the results that are produced. Two leaders may produce the same results, but one, leader A, may produce it a week earlier. There are several factors which could impact Leader A obtaining the results before Leader B, however, today we will focus on one factor - likeability. Leadership expert, John Maxwell, cites relationship-building as the foundation of leadership. Leaders who take the time to know and understand their team members and colleagues, who demonstrate care and support, and who, in spite of their title, are relatable to others, have a high likeability factor. Likeability is the factor where individuals like you and are willing to go the extra mile to support you. A leader with a high likeability score is more likely to complete projects on time and within budget, as there is more support and less resistance from team members and colleagues, thereby increasing their effectiveness.
A leader who is likeable is not to be confused with a people-pleaser. A people-pleaser gets nothing done because such a person is torn in several directions trying to please everybody. Leaders must be clear about their priorities and the job that needs to be done. However, they should also have good relationships with others, as this becomes especially important to their success during crunch times.
What type of relationship do you enjoy with your team members and colleagues? On a scale of 0 (low) to 10 (high) where do you suppose your colleagues and team members would rank you? What one thing can you do differently to improve your likeability score?
To Your Unlimited Possibilities,
Sidjae
--
Sidjae Walia
Founder/CEO
UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES
Training that expands your mind and life
"The mind, once expanded to dimensions of bigger ideas, never returns to its original size" - Oliver Wendell Holmes
Twitter ID: http://twitter.com/SidjaeWalia
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/upthenextlevel
Website: www.upthenextlevel.com
(647) 927 9289
*Certified to administer the MBTI for individuals and groups. Give me a call if you are interested in learning how your personality impacts your work, team, and personal life.*
Sent from my BlackBerry® device from Digicel



Sunday, March 30, 2014

You have the power!

Beautiful self-affirming message and graphics from Mariama Williams via Joan Grant-Cummings – thank you Sisters!!

  “…no matter how unique each of us is, we share a common source in the consciousness from which all personal power arises. Once you have made contact with this source, the most valuable things in life - love, compassion, strength, a sense of truth - can be accessed naturally. There is no need to rely on your ego to win them for you (or to do without once your ego fails at the quest).”

Precious One, Personal power comes from who you are not what you do. - Mariama

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Jamaica Vision thanks Food for the Poor

Message from Susan James, the untiring Food for the Poor Project Manager for Jamaica
Please see the email below regarding an agricultural project that we're currently implementing in Jamaica.  We hope to share photos of the potato crop with you when we get them.  The Jamaica Vision Farmers Cooperative was established to answer the major unemployment issues being faced in this community in Southern Manchester (Coco Walk).  The project has the following components:

·        27 families have received chickens for rearing (8 more to go)
·        8  families have received pigs
·        23 families have received goats
·        Establishment of a 12 acre potato farm as a group project has begun with the clearing of the lands.  Approx 12 individuals will be involved in this component.

 

From: Winston Williams 
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 2:15 PM
To: Susan James
Subject: Thanks from Jamaica Vision

Hello Susan. This is Winston Williams whom you have helped by putting me in touch with the FFP office in Spanish Town. I would like you to know that the Jamaica Vision Farmers Cooperative is in full swing and now has an enthusiastic membership of over 250 farmers and growing. The giant share of the credit for this success goes to Food for the Poor that has helped us with tools and the present grant of chickens, goats, pigs, feed and plowing for sweet potatoes.
These poor communities have NEVER seen anything like this. There is a jubilant attitude of gratitude that has lifted the hopes of people both young and old.
They are saying that God has smiled on them. Thanks to you. Thanks to Robin Mahfood. Thanks to Food for the Poor. And above all Thanks to God



Tuesday, March 25, 2014

KERR-JARRETT ON HANOVER POLICE SHOOTING 

Just received from Paula Kerr-Jarrett

PRESS RELEASE

March 25, 2014 Businesswoman and JLP Caretaker for Eastern Hanover, Mrs. Paula Kerr-Jarrett today called for calm in Hopewell, Hanover following the shooting of a taxi driver by a Policeman during a scuffle.

She also called on the INDECOM to leave no stone unturned in its investigation into the incident. She noted that given the fact that a video of the incident was captured and circulated across social media, it is even more critical that not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done.

Mrs. Kerr-Jarrett encouraged all citizens to be respectful to the Police and implored the Police to exercise restraint despite the stressful circumstances they face.  

In the meantime, Mrs. Kerr-Jarrett called on INDECOM to give an update on investigations into an incident involving the Police personnel, November last year, from the same station that left one teenager dead and another in hospital.

 # # #
For more information contact:
Mrs. Paul Kerr-Jarrett
Tel: 381-2950
Sent from my BlackBerry® device from Digicel

Monday, March 24, 2014

The Jarretts and Kiwanis Team for Literacy

Poets Parade 2014
Committed to the cause, they delighted the audience
On Sunday 2014 March 09 a group of poets who have committed themselves and their talents to raise funds to support the Kiwanis Club of Downtown Kingston/ Norman and Cecile Jarrett Literacy Improvement Programme (LIP) for Primary Schools Downtown Kingston, came out in their numbers to delight the audience. The parade up the aisle of the Stella Maris Church Hall behind a soft glowing white candle was led by K-Kids from Stella Maris Prep School and student leaders from St Alban's Primary School. Poets and visiting Classical Pianist filed into their seats to await the official start of the programme. PDA Lloyd Davies was economical and poignant in his welcome address. Without a minute's pause, the MC's, Pat One (DP Patrick Whittock) and Pat Two (DP Patrick Palmer), got the audience warmed and salivating for the fare of words, notes and steps. And the Stella Maris K-Kids rose to the occasion with the first two pieces on the Pickney Parade. Theirs was a showcase of rare talent. Little D'mitry Chung-Scully with, "I am," had the entire audience on the edge of their seats. In fact the Pickney Parade was superb. 
Jean Lowrie-Chin followed and she whetted hungry appetites; if encores were in order, she would have spent the entire evening on the stage. But other poets measured up to expectations and engaged the appreciative audience with mouthwatering poems such as "Breadfruit" by Randy McLaren and a humorous gut-wrenching review, "What a Gwaan eena Jamaica," by Michael Abrahams whose entire performance went beyond excellence… he was fantastic. Dawn seized her moment with technology and what a panorama of colours she projected! Dr. Pearnel Bell epitomized tranquility with her nature pieces; one could listen to her forever and still grave for more. Janice Jarrett, first-timer, took poetry to a new dimension with "Oneness…a relationship with three," and an ironic twist she delivered to the ears perked up for the suss.
Nikki Lachambre charmed the receptive audience with her selections:  
Rhapsody Royale by Carolyn Setliff and La Petit Negre by Claude Debussy.
The young dancers from the John the Baptist Preparatory School had the hall moving with them and rocking to the beat of Michael Jackson's, Man in the Mirror.  Cecile Jarrett, Co Founder of Poets Parade ended the Poets Parade 2014 with her thought-provoking, "Lost Village."
It was an evening of creativity, wit, humour, nostalgia, camaraderie and surprises especially the one from the patron, Kay Osborne.  All told, it was for a worthy cause to which the poets continue to give – improving literacy in primary schools downtown Kingston. Thank you all.
Cecile Jarrett
Co-Chair Cecile and Norman Jarrett Foundation

The talent in your team - Sidjae's Leadership Nugget

Message from Sidjae Walia ...
There are several buzz words used to describe employee interaction in the workplace, including employee engagement. Employee engagement focuses on how involved the employee is in the organization in terms of effort and use of potential.
 
Most organizations have employee opinion surveys that indicate how employees feel about their managers, the organization in general, and whether or not they are satisfied with their job. These surveys do not indicate whether an employee is giving 100% effort or whether their talent is being maximized. An employee may indicate satisfaction with their job but may require minimal effort to complete it. This is an underutilization of the individual's talent. Such an individual could be better utilized to contribute significantly more to the organization, and to develop further professionally.
 
Leaders may better understand the talent residing within their team by first having an open relationship that facilitates this type of discussion. Team members may be given special tasks that explore and develop their talent set. 
How do you measure the level of engagement of your team members? Is it possible there are members of your team that are underutilized? What steps will you take to ensure that you are maximizing and developing the talent in your team?

To Your Unlimited Possibilities,
Sidjae Walia
Founder/CEO
UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES
Training that expands your mind and life
"The mind, once expanded to dimensions of bigger ideas, never returns to its original size" - Oliver Wendell Holmes

Twitter ID: http://twitter.com/SidjaeWalia
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/upthenextlevel
Website: www.upthenextlevel.com
(647) 927 9289

*Certified to administer the MBTI for individuals and groups. Give me a call if you are interested in learning how your personality impacts your work, team, and personal life.*

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Today's Gospel - Living Water

from www.refreshmysoulblog.blogspot.com
John 4: 5 - 15, 19 - 26, 39 - 42
5 So he came to a city of Samar'ia, called Sy'char, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob's well was there, and so Jesus, wearied as he was with his journey, sat down beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 There came a woman of Samar'ia to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." 8 For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samar'ia?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, `Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." 11 The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?" 13 Jesus said to her, "Every one who drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." 15 The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw." 19 The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain; and you say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." 21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." 25 The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ); when he comes, he will show us all things." 26 Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he." 39 Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me all that I ever did." 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of your words that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world."

Friday, March 21, 2014

Michelle Obama - 'Lady in red' in China

Chinese President Xi Jinping (4th L) and his wife Peng Liyuan (5th L) meet with
U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama (C), daughters Malia and Sasha and mother Marian Robinson in Beijing, capital of China, March 21, 2014.
(Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) - from China News/CCTV

Progress towards new Road Traffic Act

Update from Dr Lucien Jones, Convenor - National Road Safety Council

Ministers Golding, Bunting and Davies consult during a meeting of the NRSC
held at the OPM on Thursday March 20th. Minister Davies chaired the meeting
in the absence of the Prime Minister. - photo by Dr Jones

Progress was made on the following issues:
1. The introduction of a new Road Traffic Act - if all goes well the plan is
have the new Act laid in the House in a relatively short time.
2. Improvement in the Ticketing system
3. Discussion on the possible introduction of an Electronic Surveillance
system
4. Emergency Response by various agencies to motor vehicle crashes

All of these discussions are taking place in the context of the increased
number of persons dying on the nation's roads. To date ( 20 March 2014) 64
people have died compared to 57 at this time in 2013 and 54 in 2012. These
meetings with the Prime Minister, who is the Chairman of the NRSC, and her
Ministers who have portfolio responsibilities various aspects of road
safety measures, are scheduled meetings.

The technical and administrative staff of the three ministries also attended
the meeting, including the Permanent Secretaries of the MNS and MTW.

LWJ

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Smile for Happiness Day :)

From my friend Patsy Lee ....



No one believes seniors . . . everyone thinks they are senile.
An elderly couple was celebrating their sixtieth anniversary. The couple had married as childhood sweethearts and had moved back to their old neighborhood after they retired. Holding hands, they walked back to their old school. It was not locked, so they entered, and found the old desk they'd shared, where Jerry had carved I love you, Sally.

On their way back home, a bag of money fell out of an armored car, practically landing at their feet. Sally quickly picked it up and, not sure what to do with it, they took it home. There, she counted the money - fifty thousand dollars! Jerry said, We've got to give it back. Sally said, Finders keepers. She put the money back in the bag and hid it in their attic.
The next day, two police officers were canvassing the neighborhood looking for the money, and knocked on their door. Pardon me, did either of you find a bag that fell out of an armored car yesterday? Sally said, No. Jerry said, She's lying. She hid it up in the attic.   Sally said, Don't believe him, he's getting senile.
The agents turned to Jerry and began to question him.  One said: Tell us the story from the beginning. Jerry said, Well, when Sally and I were walking home from school yesterday ...

The first police officer turned to his partner and said, Were outta here!


 
Enjoy Life NOW
It has an expiration date


Wednesday, March 19, 2014

A home for the Pilliner family

Janice Pilliner holds aloft the keys to the family's new home handed over by Jean Lowrie-Chin, Board Director of Food for the Poor Jamaica.  Looking on are 14-year-old Ryan Pilliner and Mrs Sandra Miller, Asst Manager, Fontana Pharmacy, Savanna-la-mar. - Hubie Chin photos
Deacon Baldwin Powell, Food for the Poor Jamaica Western representative offers prayers for the family.
Tragedy struck the Pilliner family in Savanna-la-mar, Westmoreland, on January 29 when 33-year-old Rosemarie Wilson and her husband 44 year old Junior Pilliner, were killed by gunmen, leaving behind 8 children, ages 4  to 19.  Food for the Poor went immediately to their assistance, taking food and clothing and checking on the children's living conditions.  Their aunt, Janice Pilliner, is now taking care of the family.  A location at 137 Dalling Street was identified for the building of a 2-bedroom house with a loft and sanitary facilities. 
The group is joined by Lorenzo Stanton (2nd left), Project Coordinator for Food for the Poor Jamaica Construction Services.
The Food for the Poor Construction Division got busy, and on Monday of this week (March 17), delivered the house, furniture and a solar panel that provides 12 hours of light per day.  Fontana Pharmacy, Westmoreland, which had collected the most of all the Food for the Poor boxes located throughout the island, were on hand to participate.  Assistant Manager Mrs Pamella Miller said that they will continue to support the family.
We met two of the children, Bryan and Ryan Pilliner – well-mannered, but with a heart-rending sadness in their manner.  Let us keep the Pilliner family in our prayers.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

The wit of Gandhi

Great one via Dr Trevor Golding ...

When Gandhi was studying law at the University College of London, there was a professor, whose last name was Peters, who felt animosity for Gandhi, and because Gandhi never lowered his head towards him, their "arguments" were
very common.
One day, Mr. Peters was having lunch at the dining room of the University and Gandhi came along with his tray and sat next to the professor. The professor, in his arrogance, said, "Mr Gandhi: you do not understand... a pig and a bird do not sit together to eat ", to which Gandhi replies, "You do not worry professor, I'll fly away ", and he went and sat at another table.

Mr. Peters, green of rage, decides to take revenge on the next test, but Gandhi responds brilliantly to all questions. Then, Mr. Peters asked him the following question, "Mr Gandhi, if you are walking down the street and find a package, and within it there is a bag of wisdom and another bag with a lot of money; which one will you take?"

Without hesitating, Gandhi responded, "the one with the money, of course".
Mr. Peters, smiling, said, "I, in your place, would have taken the wisdom, don't you think?"
"Each one take what one doesn't have", responded Gandhi indifferently.

Mr. Peters, already hysteric, writes on the exam sheet the word "idiot" and gives it to Gandhi. Gandhi takes the exam sheet and sits down. A few minutes later, Gandhi goes to the professor and says, "Mr. Peters, you signed the sheet, but you did not give me the grade."

Sent from my BlackBerry® device from Digicel

Friday, March 14, 2014

TwitterFam Get-together

Deika's great photo

The Mahogany Tree Bar at Devon House was a lovely setting for our first
TwitterFam get-together on Wednesday.
It was great for folks to find out who were behind those handles!

We were honoured that Her Excellency Celsa Nuño, Spanish Ambassador to
Jamaica and Senator Marlene Malahoo Forte joined us simply in response to
our tweets - what cool ladies!

Others in the house were:
Emma Lewis
Sonjah Stanley Niaah
Tashna-Toya Edwards
Deika Morrison
Krystal Tomlinson
Yolande Levy
Kellie Magnus
Jacqui Juceam
Dennis Chung
Andrew O'Meally
Brandt Fuller
Hubert Chin
And yours truly @souldancing

We had a lovely time and are looking forward to meeting more TwitterFam
members!

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Applications Invited for United Nations Journalism Fellowship

Received via The Press Association of Jamaica

The Dag Hammarskjöld Fund for Journalists is now accepting applications from professional journalists from developing countries for its 2014 fellowship program. The application deadline is March 31, 2014.

The fellowships are available to radio, television, print and web journalists, age 25 to 35, from developing countries who are interested in coming to New York to report on international affairs during the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The fellowships will begin
in early September and extend to late November and will include the cost of travel and accommodations in New York, as well as a per diem allowance.

The fellowship program is open to journalists who are native to one of the developing countries in Africa, Asia, South America and the Caribbean, and are currently working full-time for a bona fide media organization in a developing nation. Applicants must demonstrate an interest in and commitment to international affairs and to conveying a better understanding of the United Nations to their readers and audiences. They must also have approval from their media organizations to spend up to two months in New York to report from the United Nations.

In an effort to rotate recipient countries, the Fund will not consider journalist applications for 2014 from nations selected in 2013: Brazil, Kenya, Pakistan and Turkey. Journalists from these countries may apply in 2015.

Four journalists are selected each year after a review of all applications. The journalists who are awarded fellowships are given the incomparable opportunity to observe international diplomatic deliberations at the United Nations, to make professional contacts that will serve them for years to
come, to interact with seasoned journalists from around the world, and to gain a broader perspective and understanding of matters of global concern. Many past fellows have risen to prominence in their professional and countries. The program is not intended to provide basic skills training to
journalists, as all participants are media professionals.

Click here to review fellowship eligibility criteria and documentation requirements as well as the fellowship application form. Please note that we cannot accept email applications.

http://www.unjournalismfellowship.org/

Questions about the program, eligibility and application process can be directed by email to fellowship@unjournalismfellowship.org.
≈ ≈ ≈ ≈
The Fund held its annual luncheon on October 18, 2013 at which Dr. Madeleine
K. Albright received the Dag Hammarskjold Inspiration Awards The 2013
fellowship recipients also spoke at the luncheon.

Please reply to - acmmail@gmail.com


President: Clive Bacchus

First Vice President - Peter Richards

Second Vice President - Dr Canute James

General Secretary - Wesley Gibbings

Asst General Secretary - Martina Johnson

Floor Member - Jabari Fraser

Floor Member - Onel Belle

--
"A Free Press, Oxygen of Democracy"

Spain boosts Food for the Poor School Furniture Drive



Tristan Alvarado (2nd from left) presents the donation from Solo Foundation to Andrew Mahfood, Food for the Poor Jamaica Chairman.  Others from left are Dr Rebecca Tortello, General Manager of the Spanish Jamaica Foundation, Her Excellency Celsa Nuño, Spanish Ambassador to Jamaica and Francois Chailfour, Chairman of Friends of Food for the Poor.

It was a beautiful morning last Friday at Food for the Poor Jamaica, when the dynamic Spanish Ambassador to Jamaica, Celsa Nuño, and fellow Spaniard Tristan Garcia Alvarado presented over $2.2 million, the cost of a container of 1,150 desks and matching chairs for Jamaica’s schools. This has pushed the Food for the Poor 30th Anniversary School Furniture Drive past the halfway mark, as Chairman Andrew Mahfood aims at a well-needed 15,000 desks and chairs. 
Ambassador Nuño made the presentation as President of the Spanish-Jamaica Foundation which has been recognizing top Spanish teachers throughout the island. Manager of the Foundation Dr Rebecca Tortello says the Ambassador is a strong advocate for the teaching of Spanish in our schools, as this could forge important links with the other 375 million citizens of Spanish-speaking countries in the Caribbean and the Americas.
Students from the beneficiary school, Edith Dalton James Comprehensive High, try out the new furniture.
We learned from Ambassador Nuño that Tristan Alvarado has been resident in Jamaica since 1994 and was a prime-mover in bringing the popular Riu chain to Jamaica. Mr Alvarado explained that his donation of J$1,189,100 was collected from the shop operators in the Spanish hotels who encourage visitors to support Jamaican charities.
Our Spanish friends were delighted with the performance of Shaliece Dawkins, President of the St. Catherine High School Spanish Club. She sang a beautiful Spanish version of “We Are The World”, her poise and talent reminding us that this school furniture drive is key to the development of our promising Jamaican children.  A big ‘thank you’ to Ambassador Nuño and Tristan Alvarado!