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When Henry Kravis and George Roberts founded Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co (KKR) in the seventies with the support of the First Chicago Corporation, the company’s specialization was in highly leveraged transactions. Recently they have put together a remarkable enterprise which concentrates not only on maximum profit margins, but in addition on how environmentally aware each of the corporate entities in their portfolio are. Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co’s Henry Kravis and the New York based Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) merged in 2008, with the goal of making green business practices an accepted idea. The coalition wanted to fight some important green issues, for instance global warming, deforestation, immoderate consumption of water resources, and toxic emissions. In order to attain these goals, they utilize a methodology known as eco-efficiency; this uses techniques like improving fuel economy through vehicle fleet maintenance, maximum use of renewable resources, and reducing the intensity of materials. Although the project was an enormous success, no-one realized how far-reaching the consequences were until Ken Mehlman, the head of the Green Portfolio Project and global public affairs, finished the first annual review. Ken who graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in 1988, has served as field director for George W. Bush’s 2000 presidential campaign, was appointed to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council in 2007, is, moreover, a trustee of Franklin & Marshall College and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and currently serves as a member of the Senior Advisory Committee of the Harvard University Institute of Politics, the executive leadership cabinet of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Foundation, and the board of directors at the National Endowment for Democracy, observed that the project was not only helping to conserve the local environment, but it was also saving companies a significant amount of money, making the program virtually an immediate success. Virtually all of the companies linked with Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co and Ken Mehlman nowadays are actively participating in eco-efficiency principles. Still, when you consider that the group has a 2009 business portfolio valued at 86,000,000,000 dollars, you can be sure this was not an easy achievement. The original program has developed far beyond its original remit and today encompasses new initiatives. To illustrate, Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co linked up with the Environmental Defense Fund’s Climate Corps Program that instructs MBA students how to encourage cost effective, green practices.

KKR and Ken Mehlman have been creating analytic tools and other related systems that have the ability to quantify and administer various resources. Products like these can assess a company’s progress and identify any areas that might need to improve. Henry Kravis, the KKC, and the Environmental Defense Fund have made going green easier for business organizations in every sector. Their innovations have made reducing their environmental impact easier for business organizations in any industry and demonstrated that running a profitable business need not entail the hefty price of damaging the environment.

As you know, donating your time as a volunteer lets you strengthen the bonds of your community and in the same stride assist the needy. You’ll also discover that it’s simpler to volunteer when an event is pre-planned. On the other hand, you’ll have more fun volunteering with your colleagues getting involved right along with you.

This is a call for other companies to take a cue from far-sighted firms like Adaptive Marketing LLC. As well as financial and shopping benefits programs including SavingsAce designed for the benefit of consumers, Adaptive Marketing takes on the organizational necessities so that its employees have more time to reach out to the community.

If you were asked for examples of company-backed volunteer work, you’d most likely talk in terms of blood drives, perhaps a Christmas donation drive, but this is simply no longer true. The staff members of Adaptive Marketing are regularly provided with the opportunity to take part in community initiatives. Once all the pertinent information — date, location, time, type, et cetera — had been displayed in advance it is a simple matter for staff members to settle the precise amount of time they’d be giving and how they’d be using it.

Of course, it’s essential to let volunteers select programs in line with their own interests. Employees of Adaptive Marketing select from among many drives. There’s so much to be done; working with children and young adults, lending a hand to environmental programs, or improving the area’s aesthetic through artistic projects among others. Adaptive Marketing’s employees will be certain to have something they enjoy to volunteer for, making their time enjoyable as well as effective. If companies encourage their staffers help at homeless shelters, it is often in support of an individual event or a regularly scheduled, ongoing job. Staffers may well say they don’t have the free time, though it would be pretty surprising if they honestly cannot find the resources to help at an event covering only a single day. It is hardly a new practice for business firms to assist the community which they serve. Like many other firms, Adaptive Marketing sponsors volunteer initiatives to help others and to generate goodwill within its home community as a result of the hard work carried out by its members of staff. Helping around your home town leaves you feeling better about yourself — exactly what you need, of course, to make employees motivated in both their regular work and their volunteer activities.

Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co (KKR) was launched in 1976 and initially the company’s focus was in ‘bootstrap’ buyouts. Moving beyond, in the pursuit of making the companies in their portfolio greener, KKR have rolled out a novel proposal which has transformed the method by which business concerns and environmental agencies work. When Henry Kravis from KKR and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) got together last year environmental matters went mainstream. The coalition wants to campaign against many important matters impeding the ecology of the planet, which include toxic chemicals, hazardous chemical use, absurd water consumption, and climate change.

In order to achieve these goals, they employ eco-efficiency; this uses concepts like fuel economy, increasing the durability of products, and waste reduction. Although the program was an enormous success, managment simply did not understand how far-reaching the results truly were until Ken Mehlman, the man in charge of the Green Portfolio Project, finished the review of the first year.

Much to everyone’s surprise, Ken saw that this program not only served in preserving the local environment, but was also increasing the the net profit from all their business concerns besides. Well-nigh all of the firms connected with Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co and Ken Mehlman at present utilize eco-efficiency. And, with a current portfolio worth 86,000,000,000 dollars, you may be certain this was not an easy achievement.

Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co with the EDF with the help of Ken Mehlman are extending the Green Portfolio project. To illustrate, Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co joined the EDF’s Climate Corps Program which teaches students studying for an MBA how to encourage cost efficient, ecologically friendly practices.

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Furthermore, Ken Mehlman has been in close collaboration with KKR to produce metrics that a wide variety of business organizations can utilize to evaluate various resources. With this information available, companies can assess each of their day-to-day activities and ascertain exactly how they can solve any problems while simultaneously permitting them to determine how far they have moved on. Henry Kravis, the KKR, and the Environmental Defense Fund are trailblazers when it comes to encouraging green business techniques. So, in conclusion, these systems have made green business techniques not only viable, but commercially desirable, and their revolutionary ideas are setting a new standard in today’s world.

The volunteers’ companionship can strengthen the local community spirit, and naturally it will fulfill the volunteers’ goal of supporting those incapable of supporting themselves. You’ll discover that it’s more straightforward to volunteer when an event has been organized for you. Of course, when volunteering becomes a team effort with friends from work, it will be more enjoyable.

Companies like Adaptive Marketing LLC, a Connecticut-based firm that developed shopping programs such as ValueMax, are stepping up as the points of organization for volunteer activities and helping their employees make time for reaching out.

If you think about company-supported charitable effort, you probably think of giving blood, perhaps an annual donation drive, but that’s simply not the case in the modern day. Shoe recycling initiatives and more energetic campaigns like tree replanting days — these and other activities have been arranged by Adaptive Marketing for its employees. In these cases, the dates, times and locations of the events were announced, ensuring that staff members knew what to expect, and how much time each event might specifically require. Naturally, it’s important to let volunteers select programs that fit their hobbies. At Adaptive Marketing, the company behind ValueMax, staffers can pick and choose from a diverse list of activities. There’s so much to be done, after all; getting involved in the education of children and young adults, assisting with environmental activities, or improving the area’s aesthetic through theater to name just a few. The result is that Adaptive Marketing volunteers are presented with the chance to use their time as efficiently as possible and enjoy participating in the process.

When companies recommend their workforce to think about volunteering at schools, it is frequently for an individual event or a regular project. What this means is if you’ve merely got enough time on hand for the public library’s sale of used books or a Saturday morning park clean-up, you’ve still got plenty of time to make a difference.

It’s common practice for companies to assist the people of their home town. Adaptive Marketing supports volunteer projects in part to spread goodwill through the local community by the activities of its staff. Volunteering to help others leaves you feeling like a better person — which is just the sort of feeling to motivate employees both in their volunteer activities and back behind their desks, too.

So what do you know about Trilegiant? In its field — the organization of club and loyalty services, the business is among the best known in the United States of America. Trilegiant and Mr Nathaniel Lipman, its President and CEO, liaise with several service and retail names chosen from the large shopping, travel, entertainment, health, and consumer protection companies to benefit your retail experience.

The business isn’t, we should note. Coming from Norwalk, Connecticut, it opened more than thirty five years ago and its growth since has reached influence in half a dozen states, eight locations, and around three thousand experienced staff members. More than twenty five million customers distributed throughout the USA depend upon Trilegiant’s initiatives at present date.

The renown of Lipman’s firm stems from risk free packages, making it easy for members to cut corners and get hold of valuable services. For example, cheaper protection for extended warranties, return guarantees, and repair costs are available for your purchase using Buyers Advantage. Other programs like HealthSaver make quality healthcare affordable, and don’t forget that these are just a pair of the great services that the firm oversees. In addition, the company takes care of the state of the surrounding community, with both President and CEO Nathaniel Lipman and its employees believing that it is their place to give back. As an example, during 2005 40 Trilegiant employees worked together to earn in excess of thirty thousand dollars in donations for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. What’s more, it took them no more than one working week to do!

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They also aim to be of service through research analysis. As you’re aware, every year public firms in association with the American government gather an unbelievable quantity of statistical information. Trilegiant examines this data with diligence to pick out major problems and then considers ways of improving them. For a closer look at an example, the number of vehicle accidents in the U.S.A. every year is several million. Nobody intends for their own van to play a part in these figures, particularly the nastier accidents, and over the last three years members of the Autovantage car club have received copies of the firm’s yearly “road rage” surveys. To enhance your safety, the tips and information contained within are calculated to increase your awareness. Caring for your customers and the community you come from is vital, whether or not most businesses are aware of it; Trilegiant is proud to be one of the businesses who understand. Their full range of projects enhance the buying experience for the general public, and their hard work for the community’s goals and the work to educate the population regarding key issues shows where Trilegiant’s heart is. They’re exactly what you might want from a community based firm.

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Among the largest of the United States independent companies working in customer loyalty and club programs is a firm called Trilegiant. As part of this, led by CEO Nathaniel Lipman, the company employs its reputation to team up with several retail names, travel, retail, dental, entertainment, health, and customer protection services, to make sure you feel secure in your retail. This firm isn’t a recent arrival by any means. Founded in the early seventies, Trilegiant hails from the state of Connecticut and can now boast 8 sites spread across an even half dozen states supporting a 3000 strong workforce ready to help any client. Today, they assist upwards of twenty-five million customers throughout the United States. Lipman’s goal is to create risk free packages, enabling members to guarantee value, make economies, and all without purchasing turning into something time consuming. Examining an example, the Buyers Advantage product gives clients access to reasonably priced insurance on extended warranty, guaranteed returns, and the cost of repairs, thereby guaranteeing their peace of mind as regards their acquisition. There are other programs on offer like HealthSaver — which offers low priced quality healthcare — to take one example.

Paying back the surrounding populace is the habit of the President/CEO and his staff. The Make-A-Wish Foundation was presented with above $30,000 from a handful of members of staff’s fundraising efforts a little under five years ago, to take one example. What’s more, it took them only one working week to achieve! One way they set out to assist is by publishing research. As you probably know, every year private companies in association with the federal government collect a significant profusion of hard information. Trilegiant studies these statistics carefully to isolate issues and then considers ways of changing them for the better. For a closer look at an example, the total number of traffic collisions in the United States of America in a given year is several million.

How do you curtail the risk of your own incident being included in these disagreeable figures? In 2007, Autovantage commenced releasing yearly “road rage” information. You’ll find summaries of crucial information to increase your awareness of the risks.

And so there it is; Trilegiant, a perfect exemplar of a firm that perceives how essential the welfare of its subscribers actually is. Using services intended to enhance clients’ purchasing experiences and an honest embracing of the community’s causes they show where their interests lie. They’re just what you might hope from a community-based company.

If you have been sleeping under a rock, you may want to roll over and go back to sleep. But if you take notice of the Web and its many issues you may have stumbled across the classic debate between hardened J.R.R. Tolkien fans over the question of “do Balrogs have wings?” While this may not seem like an Earth-shattering issue, some people resort to poison pen campaigns, character assassination, and outright lying in order to win converts to their point of view.

The latest example of these tactics recently emerged when an essay struggling to prove that Balrog wings are metaphorical, written by someone publishing under the pseudonym Elenhir, was dismissed out of hand by renowned Tolkien scholar Michael Martinez. Martinez, a veteran of endless Balrog wing debates, had no wish to be drawn back into a topic which has for all intents and purposes been settled.

In fact it was Martinez himself who finally published the truth about Balrogs when he rebutted a weak attempt to declare Balrogs as wingless metaphors by Wayne Hammond (an equally respected Tolkien scholar). Martinez, whose reputation for detailed and meticulous citation has won him thousands of references across the Web, wrote a lengthy and critically successful review of the Balrog wings war.

Perhaps in an attempt to gain notoreity, Elenhir retaliated against Martinez’ dismissal of the new Balrog essay by launching a series of personal attacks against Martinez. Joined by David Gransby, an Australian who poses under the screen name of halfir, Elenhir has attacked Martinez in recent days in the hope of creating a hostile environment in a forum where Martinez is not permitted to respond and defend himself.

For his part, Martinez pointed out some of the lies posted by Gransby while asking people not to take sides in these flame wars. The fact that Elenhir’s inability to write a coherent argument explaining away Balrog wings as metaphor would normally merit no attention. But the attempt to launch a flame war in response to Martinez’ lack of concern strikes some as a dirty tactic that serves more to discredit Elenhir and halfir. Perhaps if they focused on real scholarship they would be taken more seriously.

Have you been hanging around in internet forums and/or making blog comments lately? Public posting is growing ever-popular. One thing I’ve noticed, is that if you use it for business purposes and you accidentally blurt the wrong thing, it can get ugly pretty quick. A remark that was never intended to be malevolent turns out to offend somebody, and next thing you know, you’re engaged in yet another public forum ping pong match. This can be downright exhausting. So is there a ‘proper’ way to conduct oneself on the network, in the forum, and on the blog? From what I’ve seen so far, I have to say yes.

May I present: The Unofficial Internet Posting Rules.

1. Always assume that the other person has good intentions.

There you are, sprinkling comments here and there and having a fine old time, when suddenly up pops someone who begs to differ. A good debate can be envigorating, but if things escalate, you may begin to feel attacked and/or misunderstood. Do you have a right to feel this way? Who is attacking who anyway?

Internet conversations feel remote because they are. You can’t diffuse a tense conversation by cracking a joke or meeting someone’s eyes with a silent apology. Internet ‘arguments’ can string along for days because, unlike a verbal argument which quickly fades from your memory, they’re harsh words frozen in time. Someone who is ripping you a new one on the public forum may actually be a wonderful person who thinks a lot like you, but you wouldn’t know because all you see are those hostile words on the screen that won’t go away!

For this reason, it’s unbelievably important not to take internet skirmishes to heart. The truth is, you may be taking offense for no good reason. And even if someone really does seem to be out for your blood… who cares? Click away and they’re gone. Besides; the world is watching. How much of a scene do you want to make?

2. Ditch the sarcasm.

Sarcasm really does not translate on the internet. Sarcasm is my favorite form of communication, so believe me I’ve tried. People can’t tell by your tone or gestures if you’re serious, kidding, scathing, or what, so if you want to communicate effectively and efficiently, steer clear of sarcasm. I’ll give you an example of sarcasm causing confusion on the internet.

Networker 1: Say, Networker 2, how was that teleseminar you attended?
Networker 2: It was really something special.

“It was really something special.” Hmmm. What could that mean, exactly? Sounds a little smart-alecky, but who knows! The reader can’t be sure, so a straightforward answer might be the better option. “The guy was a good speaker, but I felt like he was telling me things I already knew. I’ll have to pick a more advanced course next time.” Now, there’s a complete answer that’s based in fact and well-expressed!

Some people use emoticons to convey when they’re being sarcastic, such as the smiley for “just kidding” , the wink which might mean, “I’m just teasing,” or the guy-with-his-tongue-out :P– “I know I’m being goofy.” Other people use internet gestures, like the *grin* and the :::shiver:::.

Emoticons are okay for a less formal public forum setting, but not so much for business networking. Use them sparingly. How are you supposed to appear professional if you’re throwing (((hugs))) everyone’s way? I don’t know about you, but I don’t go around hugging people I don’t know!

All this being said: stick to literal communication whenever possible. I know more than anybody how tough this is. If you’re really unsure about it, you can always just be a forum ‘lurker’ for a while, until you get the hang of how it’s done.

3. Instead of offering opinions, ask questions.

People love to argue. Make a statement, and by God, someone out there is going to contradict it. If you enjoy and know how to play the debate game, take them on… it will be a learning experience for all. But if conflict makes your tummy hurt, you can spur on a discussion in a more genteel way; by asking questions!

If you ask people what they think, they’ll feel encouraged to jump into the discussion… and that’s what you want, isn’t it? Ask questions, and let folks know you’re open to new points of view. When you word your ideas in the from of questions, you’re basically saying “Hey, I know I don’t have all the answers. But I’m thinking, and I’d love for you to add your insights.” Then, by phrasing your questions in a specific way, you can gently ‘lead’ the conversation. Next time you have a strong opinion to state, practice rephrasing it into a question. “What ways might we practice common courtesy in an effort to improve internet communication?” There, see how easy that was?

4. Remember the real-time issue.

If you haven’t noticed, real-time has some wacky effects on internet communication. Sometimes, messages look like they’re written in response to something someone else said… when really, they just landed there by sheer coincidence!

Suppose someone posts a remark at 9:05 a.m. Pacific Time, as you just happen to be posting the exact opposite viewpoint at 12:05 p.m. Eastern Time. When the messages “land” one after the other, it creates the illusion that the second person was arguing with the first person, when actually they were not and had no knowledge of the other person’s post! Whoa. That’s real-time at work, and it’s some crazy stuff. The lesson to be learned: don’t assume anything, especially on the internet.

The other way that real-time can botch up the works is if you’re seeking advice or technical support. You post a question, some time elapses, and the moderator replies. But by now, you’ve figured out the answer and it’s led you to a third complication. Now, you can either try and over-explain the confusion in an effort to be polite, or say to yourself, “the heck with this” and leave the discussion, which could be perceived as rude. It’s quite a fretful situation. Keeping this in mind…

5. Think before you speak.

Using the example from Point 4: thinking before you ask technical questions can save everybody the exhaustion of over-communication. Rather than blurt out your confusion, have a look around, see what’s going down. Is there an FAQ section you can refer to?

I have been known to dive right in to the chat without knowing what the heck is happening. As a result, I am familiar with the taste of shoe leather. If you’re puzzled about what’s going on in a public forum discussion… can you go back and read a few old posts to get caught up? You’ll save everyone a lot of wasted words if you just get with the program. I learned the hard way, but you don’t have to.

“Think before you speak” also means proofread. Be on the lookout for ambiguous content. If you’re tired, stressed or feeling under the weather, you may have some trouble getting your point across. Maybe it’s not the best time to communicate.

As a writer, I’m acutely aware of word choice. Use the wrong word, and WOOOPS- somebody is getting the total wrong idea. Copywriters have a chance to write multiple drafts - and in that way, get multiple chances to refine what they say in their writing. Internet posters don’t have this option. Once you hit POST, you can’t take back what you’ve written. All you can do is send MORE posts, and give folks the impression that you are a babbling fool! So, for your own sake, heed my words, take your time, think about what you want to say, and PROOFREAD!

Above all, keep a positive attitude and an open mind. Welcome others’ opinions while gently expressing your own. Be forgiving and patient with people and their bumbling ways. Be a good internet communicator.

Copyright 2005 Dina Giolitto. All rights reserved.

Dina Giolitto is a New-Jersey based Copywriting Consultant with ten years of industry experience. Her current focus is web content and web marketing for a multitude of products and services although the bulk of her experience lies in retail for big-name companies like Toys”R”Us. Visit http://www.wordfeeder.com for rates and samples.

Like most all people you’ll have encountered Mr. Naveen Jain’s name the CEO and co-founder of Intelius, Inc. the acclaimed information commerce market leaders. Well beyond having made the Forbes list “400 Richest in America” 2000, this highly successful entrepreneur has been bestowed various prestigious awards, foremost the WSA Industry Achievement Award, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and the Albert Einstein Technology Medal. However things definitely grow out from there. That’s because Mr. Jain and his relatives are in the same way as ardent about philanthropy and will seek to give aid whenever possible. There can be no reasonable doubt about the fact that kids are indeed our world’s number one resource and indeed its future. Naveen Jain also sees young people as being at the very focus point of his enterprises, and he takes advantage of each and every chance available to assist them. This, of course, is the chief reason why he is persistently exploiting every chance available to give assistance to them, wherever at all possible. Hence Naveen Jain, his family and his workers at Intelius, Inc. have committed to actually follow up in earnest: they have pledged time and effort to philanthropical institutions such as the Vedic Cultural Center, TreeHouse, and the Bellevue Boys and Girls Club. Expectably, they will offer plenty of monetary support, but even more importantly, they sacrifice their time and effort to the most deprived and at risk children. Beyond, Naveen Jain donates to the Children’s Hospital, intent on elevating children’s health, as well. As Jain is a former student of the Indian Institute of Technology and XLRI Jamshedpur, it comes as no wonder that schooling has been assigned a tremendously important preference within his philanthropic works. This also includes campaigns and good causes that cover the full spectrum from the local to the global. Hence, Intelius and its CEO are actively supporting voluntary bodies and organizations such as the University of Washington, the Children’s Hospital and United Way. Providing for the world’s starving is an equally serious task for Naveen Jain and his relatives and to him, it makes not a jot of difference. Although he is cognizant that the project of obtaining provisions for all the world’s hungry is a colossal one, he also knows that the unfeasible can factually become feasible provided everybody works in concert. If this entrepreneur should actually have his way, there will be a decisive ending to squalor and malnourishment on this planet in the future.

People may reckon that being the CEO of a very thriving business as well as being an out-and-out family man would leave him with no free time for charitable activities. Even so he sees to it that every one of his charitable enterprises will gets as much assistance as he can plausibly contribute. This philanthropic man is indisputably a lot more than a mere albeit eminently successful trailblazer of industry. He is an outstanding citizen and a true community activist.

Arranging a stag weekend can be nerve-wracking - whether you are the gallant groom-to-be or the well-meaning best man. You need to be certain that all of the men have a wonderful time and that the stag do is a weekend to remember - for the right reasons, of course!

So what are the crucial ingredients for the ideal stag weekend? Well, for most blokes, it must be action-packed and it must be fun.

Getting the location right will decide your stag do’s success. Whether you are heading just 20 miles away or going further away, you need a location that caters for all your entertainment needs day and night.

Scotland has all the facilities for a fantastic stag weekend, mixing a large range of adrenalin-fuelled activities set in amazing countryside with the friendly hospitality for which this country is famed.

You will need to be sure that your intended destination provides everything you want before making any bookings. And don?t forget to check that both the location and its events staff have an excellent history of running successful stag events. If in doubt, it’s definitely worth asking for references from satisfied visitors.

By putting on a plenty of different activities during the weekend, you should be in a position to keep everybody in the group happy. Pro event organisers with years of experience of organising stag weekends in Scotland will instantaneously suggest a suitably eclectic mix that includes something for .

If you book with a credible outdoors experience company, the possibilities for an all-adventure stag weekend in Scotland are unlimited. There’ll be many activities to test your stag group from morning to night, not to mention the night-time partying.

No matter how much energy they’ve expended in the day, party goers are always ready to go hit the pub and talk about the afternoon’s antics over a few drinks.

All you will have to do is to let the event company know what kind of night out you are looking for. Ensure that your chosen stag weekend package includes transport between the evening’s entertainment and your group’s overnight accommodation and, so that there are no last-minute panics.

That way everybody in your party can focus 100 percent on having a good time and celebrating their friend’s upcoming marriage.