From my portfolio - 4

Again, this was written for a client, but I was not paid for the work.  Because I was never paid, the copyright does not pass to the client but remains with me.  Despite this, the article was published online without any compensation to me.  To guard my copyright, I am posting it here on my own blog.  I'll link to the client's site below the article.

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When a man is greeted with smiles and trust from those he serves, that man stands out. That man is Asot Michael, serving the people of Saint Peter more than a decade and a half. The population of Antigua and Barbuda has watched him work on their behalf. They have seen Asot pitch in his personal resources without hesitation if necessary to get results. And while he works tirelessly on their behalf, Asot Michael does not forget to listen to his constituents. Indeed, he attempts to live his slogan – Asot Michael cares for people.

The People of Saint Peter can expect their ABLP representative to move ahead with modernizing physical infrastructure throughout the area. Investments in tourism and renewable energy will lead to economic uplift for communities and families. The economy of the region remains on an uphill path. The ABLP reduced IMF debt over the last four years by $300 million. The party also saved the ABI Bank and cut the debt to GDP ratio from 104 percent to 75 percent. Looking ahead, there are planned improvements in electrical generation, including more use of wind and solar to reduce costs.

Asot Michael remains committed to all the people of Antigua and Barbuda, but particularly those in the Saint Peter Constituency. As with economic progress, so too has he been instrumental in the party’s progress in education. A knowledge-based economy is necessary to remain competitive on the world stage. Asot Michael’s wide ranging network of world leaders in business and politics is paying dividends. His experience benefits those he cares most about, the people he represents as an elected MP from Saint Peter.

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http://sergeyport.com/for-asot-michael-leading-means-caring/

From my portfolio - 3

Again, this was written for a client, but I was not paid for the work.  Because I was never paid, the copyright does not pass to the client but remains with me.  To guard my copyright, I am posting it here on my own blog.  I do not know if this was published online elsewhere but if so it was done without the promised compensation to me.

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Successful branding in the social media marketplace does not happen by good luck, like Cinderella's fairy godmother waving a magic wand.  Were Cinderella to succeed in catching her prince today, she would need the true magic of social media: high quality content.

But what is high quality content?  Cinderella, or for this example, the Cinderella Company, Incorporated, needs to know its audience and to tailor the social media message to meet audience expectations.  That communication should be consistent but specialized for each chosen outlet.  

For instance, Instagram is more visual than textual and requires photos more than mere words.  Picture captions can enhance the message, but if the photo does not capture the attention, the words will never be seen.  Twitter, on the other hand, revels in the textual and relegates photos to an also ran status.  Video works best on YouTube, especially if the presentation is longer than a few seconds.  The Cinderella brand can be consistent everywhere it's seen, but the presentation must match the chosen outlet.

In addition to tailoring the presentation for each platform, the message must resonate with Cinderella's audience.  There is little use in pitching the company's princely aspirations to a group composed mostly of wicked stepmothers or jealous sisters in a FaceBook group.  Cinderella's social media choices would more reasonably be guided by the knowledge that her royal audience hangs out on Instagram or Pintrest where they peruse photos of glass slippers or pumpkin shaped carriages.

Only by knowing her audience intimately and choosing the right venue to attract their interest will the Cinderella Company succeed with their social media message of living happily ever after.

From my portfolio - 2

This was written for a client, but I was not paid for the work.  Because I was never paid, the copyright does not pass to the client but remains with me.  Despite this, the article was published online without any compensation to me.  To guard my copyright, I am posting it here on my own blog.  I'll link to the client's site below the article.

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The combination of clean snow and good hills equals a fine day for snowboarding, and that means hitting the slopes well equipped for adventure and fun. Carrying your essential gear for the day doesn’t absolutely require a snowboard specific backpack, but if you hit the slopes more than once or twice a season, a dedicated snowboarding backpack is a more capable adventure solution that’s worth a look. Here are five backpacks with the features snowboarders have come to expect.

The smallest capacity bag in our list, the Jones Snowboards DSCNT Backpack has an internal frame, a dedicated hydro-pocket with an insulated sleeve and is sized at 19 liters. It’s a sleek unassuming pack that holds the essentials, like snacks, water, avy tools and a warm layer. Jones Snowboards builds the DSCNT out of recycled 450D nylon as well.

The Burton Side Country Backpack is available in basic black or yellow and at 20 liters won’t slow you down. The PU-coated Cordura fabric means durability, while the front panel access gives you quick access to snacks. There’s an adjustable ice axe carry for ascents, and back panel features airflow zones to counter the sweat.

If you want a pack that does class as well as the downhills, the Dakine Heli Pro Backpack is worth a serious look. With Vertical snowboard carry or diagonal ski carry, the 20 liter Heli Pro can keep you out and about all day. But it also has a laptop sleeve, so it can serve on campus too. There’s a fleece lined pocket for your goggles and the pack is hydration compatible as well.

Patagonia's SnowDrifter Pack comes in a 20 liter and a 30 liter version and the company says the pack is made from 100 percent recycled fabrics. The SnowDrifter has an adjustable sternum strap and padded waist belt with zippered pockets. It’s got an insulated hydration sleeve as well as quick access to main compartment. Multiple interior pockets make gear organization a snap.

Moving up in size, the Arc'teryx Alpha SK 32 Backpack as the name suggests is a 32 liter pack. More expensive than most, this weather proof pack keeps the water out and your layers and other gear dry. Its side zipper gives you easy access to interior of the pack, while the top lid holds your helmet and other bulky or wet items.

Finally, the largest pack in this list, the Osprey Kamber 42 Men's Ski Pack, has dual top-load and back panel access into the spacious main compartment. This 42 liter pack can take on most ski and snowboard carrying configuration, horizontal or vertical. It sports a removeable top pocket and glove-friendly zipper pulls so you can grab your tools easily.

The backpack you choose holds your essential gear safely and comfortably and lets you concentrate on the fun.

 

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http://shawnboday.net/the-best-backpacks-for-snowboarding/

 

From my portfolio - 1

This was written for a client, but I was not paid for the work.  Because I was never paid, the copyright does not pass to the client but remains with me.  Despite this, the article was published online without any compensation to me.  To guard my copyright, I am posting it here on my own blog.  I'll link to the client's site below the article.

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When one wishes to put his charitable giving to good use, the most likely target would be one of a number of non-profits, organizations whose purpose is not to make money, though they certainly might, but to support a cause. Groups who operate in the not for profit arena generally have other goals, usually charitable or altruistic. Employees of such an organization may be and often are paid, but any profits generated by the business do not enrich the owners but go back into the group to further whatever cause the group espouses. Today this seems obvious, so it might seem as though non-profits have always been around, but the concept is actually a recent one.

Prior to the twentieth century, most charitable organizations were associated with churches or religious orders. London, Rome, Paris - these and other European cities all had hospitals run by large churches, especially the Catholic Church, in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. In the middle and late 1800s both the YMCA and the Red Cross were organized. Neither was primarily created to turn a profit, and both depended on selfless giving and volunteers.

Philanthropy was not invented in the United States, but the country's expansive capitalism and wealth shaped the concept. The Rockefellers, the Carnegies and other big money names arose in the nineteenth century. These family dynasties made millions for their founders, who often endowed eponymous foundations. Indeed, PBS, the Public Broadcasting System, even today depends on grants from some of these old money foundations like Carnegie, Ford, and others.

During both World Wars, Americans were asked to donate time, effort and money to causes dedicated to either fighting the war or supporting those who did. The Red Cross especially grew its fund raising activities, and so did the Salvation Army and other not for profit groups.

However, it was not until the Tax Reform Act, signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1969, that the rise in non-profits really began. That law granted some tax advantages both to organizations and more importantly to those who donated to them. Further laws passed since the Nixon administration have expanded, and occasionally reduced, tax benefits of giving money to corporations, companies, clubs and other organized entities of a charitable bent. There are millions of charities in existence today, and some are more worthy of the name than others.

Charitable and public-spirited organizations have always existed, but it was not until the formal structure of Federal tax law that there were tangible advantages to organizing such structures. Needless to say, some are more worthy than others, so there has lately been a corresponding rise in ratings agencies or groups to help potential benefactors decide whether to donate and to whom. Consumer Reports and Charity Watch are among the most popular of the services who rate non-profits, grading them on how they use the funds they raise. Thus, the non-profit sector is now firmly a part of American popular culture.

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https://www.altiusdirectory.com/historic-approach-of-non-profit-work/