SPECIAL PROJECTS
Excerpt from Corporate Internal Newsletter
Giving Back Through Our Community Participation Program
"In Tri-State, we know that giving back to the community is a great source of both professional and personal growth, not to mention personal satisfaction," said (Name), Managing Partner for the Tri-State Region. "Therefore it is important that all of us choose to support worthy causes in all areas where volunteers are needed."

To maximize the firm's ability to make a difference in the community, the Tri-State Region Community Participation Program (CPP) was formed. (Company) members from all levels, as well as their families, and alumni, volunteer their time and talent to some 13 Primary Volunteer Organizations.

CPP facilitates the process by which people get involved with worthy causes. "Volunteering isn't as easy as people think," said (Name), Manager of Community Relations for Tri-State and the contact person for CPP. "By going through a structured program such as CPP, people can be part of a group that has a specific role and goal. They don't just show up; the organization doesn't have to find a place for them. Their place is identified beforehand and all of their time goes to the work at hand."

Excerpt from Laboratory Equipment Operator's Manual

The (Name) system should be left on at all times, even overnight. When the system is on but not in use, the (Name) banner fills the PC screen.

At the start of a shift, or after a shutdown, initiate the systems Daily Startup Routine by pressing any key.
 Press any key to continue
The system notifies you that communication between the (Name) system and the PC does or does not exist.

If the PC and (Name) system are not communicating, check the items shown on the screen to establish communication.

 (Name) System Ready
Press F10 to continue
 Not communicating with (Name) system; check that:
1. (Name) is plugged in
2. Power switch is on
3. Cable between PC and (Name) is firmly attached

Press F10 to accept and continue

(NAME) SYSTEM READY

Press F10 to accept and continue

 
Excerpt from Ranch Brochure

Wind your way along pine-topped ridges beneath a clear blue sky, drinking in the crisp mountain air. Ride through aspen forests of sparkling streams. 

From Lake Mancos Ranch, located at 8,000 feet looking out on the La Plata Range of the San Juan Mountains, you can ride the most beautiful horse trails in Colorado. Follow a different trail each day, enjoying the splendor of our ranch and the two million acres of National Forest.
 Lake Mancos Ranch

Excerpt from Corporate Interview

CFF: Your Company has been expanding its operations for years in a number of countries. Based on your experience, what are the attributes a retailer needs to succeed outside its own country?

Mr. Name: Let me first say that outside or inside one's own country, retailing, as our Chairman and CEO (Name) always says, is a business based on peace, people, and community. It is important for any retailer to understand this notion of "peace" as the basis of our business, of "people" for whom we exist to serve, and of contributing to the "community" in which we do business. 

In terms of attributes, basically, I think a company needs four key attributes: cultural empathy, a customer-first attitude, a long-term perspective, and the ability to understand the importance of localization.

CFF: What do you mean by cultural empathy?

Mr. (Name): By that I mean a non-ethno-centric attitude, being able to look at things from the view of the people in the host country, not from the retailer's own perspective. Cultural empathy requires an understanding of the culture, tradition, history, political system, values—in short, the entire environment in which the company's future customers live. Too often retailers move into a country thinking their ways are the best. They try to impose their values only to find the people there won't allow that to happen.

CFF: Can you give me an example of how a retailer's lack of cultural empathy can influence the success of the company?

Excerpt from Consumer Demographics Newsletter
Doubling Up Efforts on the Singles

Large numbers of American consumers are "buying for one" when they go shopping. In a recent (Company) survey of the more than 86,000 shoppers, 43 percent indicated they are single. Of these, 25 percent fall into the category we typically think of when we hear the term "single," namely the younger, never-married single. But added to this group are the divorced and separated (10.7 percent of the total population), and the widowed, who comprise 7.6 percent. 

In total, more than 49 million people over 25 years of age living in the United States fall into one of these three categories of "singles." According to American Demographics (April, 1992), the single population has grown 85 percent between 1970 and 1990, while the married population has grown only 19 percent during the same period. The number of divorced singles aged 25-44 rose from 1.8 million in 1970 to 8.1 million in 1990. Single parents, who numbered 3.8 million in 1970, 13 percent of the total population, now number 9.7 million, or 28 percent of the total.

Excerpt from Board Member Profile
Bill Cross, Secretary: "It's a Flat-Out Hassle"

"Freelancing is a sickness," says Bill Cross, SWAN's secretary. "It's a flat-out hassle. But I'll take the hassles over punching a time clock any day."

Bill is a writer whose business combines corporate work with editorial writing. In the latter category he writes regularly for magazines such as Parents, Sports Illustrated for Kids, Travel and Leisure, and Your Company. "I like the flexibility freelancing offers me," Bill adds, "and the fact that I'm always doing new things and learning. And I never know where my assignments will lead me." A case in point is an article Bill wrote about his son's going to hockey camp. That one piece led to Bill's becoming a contributing editor to Hockey Player, which this past spring commissioned Bill to cover the Stanley Cup playoffs, a lifetime dream.