The Supreme Court spent three days listening to arguments on whether or not the Family Health Protection Act I (actual name vs Obama Care!) is constitutional.
Hundreds vied for a seat to watch the spectacle. As the last time the court ruled on powers of congress that mandated purchase of specific items was 70 years ago when the court ruled unanimously that Congress did have this power.
Today our managers met to discuss our company’s health care renewal plans.
The bad news from our agent? Our plan rates are going up by 13%, but we decided to absorb 100% of the increase for all employees. We also decided to triple life insurance— and pay for it all as a company enhanced benefit. We pay 100% of health care for all employees, and 80-100 100% for family plan based on tenure.
Having spent time in an Emergency Room recently, it’s disheartening to see those with no choice, no family doctor, no coverage and no prescription plan who beg and plead for help. As an executive, it’s frustrating to know that their unpaid bills are the major cause of our insurance plan increases…
Many will argue that no one should be forced to pay for health care if they don’t want it. Some compare it to being forced to eat broccoli. That analogy is wrong. People choose their vegetables, but they do not choose their genes, viruses, bacterial infections, cardiovascular disease, or accidental injuries.
We provide company paid health care for everyone because it helps our people, their families, our community (and yes, our barely perceptible turnover). Given time, The new mandate will lower our overall costs, while eliminating the threat of uncovered catastrophic illness for all.
How much more justification is necessary?
From The New York Times:
Education Gap Grows Between Rich and Poor, Studies Say
The widening achievement gap between affluent and low-income students has received less attention than the divide between white and black students, which has narrowed.
http://nyti.ms/xrgpw9
Kids Read Now is attacking this disparity at its core—by addressing and eliminating elementary reading loss over the summer. This “summer slide” disproportionally hurts lower income students, and is a major reason that these children end up years behind their better-off peers. It’s not a racial issue, it’s an economic one. That’s why we have committed a million dollars to expand a proven program to stop this slide.
KidsReadNow is rolling out regionally this summer—with primary support from the One Call Now Foundation— with a proven summer reading and motivational system for 3rd graders; the crucial period when “learning to read” transitions to the essential “reading to learn”.
Last summer, the Kids Read Now program raised reading scores substantially (10.4%) for 800 kids, for about a nickel a day per child. It can be done, and it doesn’t take much.
Sponsor a school for $1,000.
Support this effort with us.
Visit KidsReadNow.org to learn more.
SumVenture is Putting 12,000 Books in the Hands of 1,200 Elementary Students as Part of a New Summer Reading Program. This Will Be One of the Largest Book Fairs Ever Conducted By Scholastic, and the Largest Free Book Giveaway in Ohio.
SumVenture is putting 12,000 books in the hands of 1,200 elementary students as part of a new summer reading program. The program, sponsored by One Call Now in partnership with Scholastic Books, is integral to the launch of an all-day summer program focused on reading, physical fitness and experiential learning.
This Spring, in Miami and Preble counties, 1200 selected students will have the opportunity to attend a local Scholastic Book Fair with a special pass allowing them to select and take home 10 books of their choosing from a selection of over 600 titles at no charge. All students will be invited to participate in one of several summer reading programs offered in their communities, to encourage reading and being read to.
This will be one of the largest book fairs ever conducted by Scholastic, and the largest free book giveaway in Ohio.
“As a company that serves ten million students and families by delivering ‘Messages That Matter’, we feel it is important to create a significant program that matters for students over the long haul”, said Leib Lurie, founder of One Call Now and co-founder of the SumVenture program.
Multiple studies have shown that an aggressive reading-focused program that provides children books to own, coupled with adults who read to and with them, can make a major difference in educational outcomes. This program is intended to demonstrate cost effective, viable ways to halt the summer achievement slide that can leave low-income students three years behind grade level by the time they reach high school. This “summer drop” has been cited as a major contributor to poor achievement scores and higher dropout rates.
Maurice Sadler, Heywood Elementary Principal had this to say— “Troy City Schools has a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged children than most people would think, and a program like this allows us to create an extended-year learning environment for them. The all-day SumVenture program is really exciting. If implemented effectively, it could keep kids engaged in NEW learning and reading, instead of having them leave all learning behind for their three-month summer vacation.”
Tom Dunn, Superintendent, Miami County Educational Service Center adds, “During my 35 years in education, we’ve known that the summer learning drop has existed, but limited funding and logistical challenges have made it hard to address. This unique—and unprecedented—grant from One Call Now will allow us to test several things in a statistically valid way, to determine how best to solve the summer drop for every student.”
Each student will have their Dibble reading level results (administered in May and September by their school) sent to Urbana University, which, in partnership with the Troy City and Twin Valley South school districts, will provide faculty and Master Level students to conduct the statistical research and analysis to measure the results of the program. These results, matched against the overall student population’s results, will be the primary measure of success for the program.
“Urbana University is pleased to expand our partnership with One Call Now and presence in Miami County by participating in this exciting new venture. As a former superintendent, the value of reading in general and summer learning in particular, cannot be emphasized enough”, said Dr. Jim Daniel, former superintendent, Tipp City schools, and Professor of Education and Director of Academic Outreach, Urbana University.
In addition, forty students going into fourth grade will be selected to participate in the new SumVenture program, a six-week, all-day summer camp-type program heavily focused on kids reading and being read to. In addition to reading, SumVenture will incorporate an aggressive physical fitness program (CrossFit for kids) and 3 hours per day of experiential learning with exposure to STEAMM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math and Music.
“Along with a significant drop in learning achievement over the summer, lower income students have a higher propensity to gain weight far in excess of any expected gain. Children today are not nearly as physically active as we were as kids, or as they need to be, which leads to higher levels of obesity in elementary grades. That’s why I’m excited to be able to bring an aggressive, high intensity, game-oriented physical fitness program to the SumVenture program funded by One Call Now”, said Mike Lyons, Cross Fit for Kids Certified Trainer and Owner/Manager CrossFit Troy.
With One Call Now – you can protect, inform and engage your organization with multi-modal group notification including voice, SMS text messaging, and email. We offer the perfect communications solution for businesses, schools, religious groups, sports teams and emergency management organizations.
Call or visit our website for more information:
877.698.3262
http://www.onecallnow.com
One Call Now Honored By The Ohio House Of Representatives
Under The Sponsorship Of Representative Richard N. Adams – House District 79
On behalf of the members of the House of Representative of the 128th General Assembly of Ohio, we are pleased to congratulate One Call Now on being ranked as one of the fastest growing private companies in the nation by Inc. Magazine.
One Call Now is truly deserving of high praise, for its employees have consistently demonstrated professionalism and expertise, as well as a commitment to maintaining the highest quality standards. Providing up-to-the-minute information for sports teams, schools, businesses, churches, and municipalities by delivering automated messages via voice, text, or email, the corporation has experienced increased growth, and consequently, Inc. Magazine has rated it as one of the fastest growing companies in the country. Clearly, the enterprise has set an example worthy of emulation.
Over the years, the management and employees of One Call Now, including its founder and president, Leib Lurie, have certainly distinguished themselves as conscientious and hard-working Ohioans. As these fine professionals maintain their unfaltering commitment to service and achievement, this notable company will continue to grow and prosper and will follow in the tradition of excellence that has become its hallmark.
Thus, with great pleasure, we commend One Call Now on its recent accolade and extend best wishes for the future.
Here’s the news story that appeared on WHIO-TV:
http://www.whiotv.com/video/25648513/index.html
Call or visit One Call Now to find out how we can help with your message notification needs -
http://www.onecallnow.com
877.698.3262
One Call Now is announcing a major acquisition!
In addition to the acquisition of US Netcom Corp. – they’re also preparing to bring on 12 new Team Members.
Feel free to read the whole story by clicking on the following link -
http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2010/08/30/story5.html?b=1283140800^3855931
Would YOU like to be among the candidates interviewed for these positions? If so – visit our Careers Page at http://www.onecallnow.com/Corporate/careers.aspx and apply today!
