Your Very Next Step newsletter for May / June 2015
By Ned Lundquist
www.yourverynextstep.com
“There’s no one thing that is true. They’re all true.”
– Ernest Hemingway
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”
– Lao Tzu
This edition of “Your very next step” comes to you from Ubud, Bali, Indonesia.
“Your Very Next Step” adventure/outdoors/conservation newsletter, published by Ned Lundquist, is a cooperative community, and everyone is invited, no…encouraged, no…urged to participate. Share your adventures with the network today! Send to lundquist989@cs.com.
*** To subscribe for free:
Send us your comments, questions, and contributions to lundquist989@cs.com.
Contact Ned at lundquist989@cs.com.
*** In this issue:
*** Travel News:
*** Ned’s upcoming travel
*** The Power Grab at Airports Has a New Headache
*** 10 SHAMELESS TRICKS FOR SCORING FREE TRAVEL UPGRADES
*** Fodors’ 12 things not to do in Los Angeles
*** 10 BEST NEW UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES
*** Saturday night in Ubud…the Kecak Fire & Trance Dance By Taman Kaja Community.
*** Travelers still want free Wi-Fi
*** National Safe Boating Week kicks off May 16, 2015.
*** Pre-Check for Free?
*** Passports, Ranked by ‘Power’
*** The 7 Best Hotels for Business Travelers
*** GELATO FESTIVAL
*** WORLD’S 20 MOST BEAUTIFUL TRAIN STATIONS
*** 13 WORST COUNTRIES TO VISIT
*** WORLD’S BEST DESTINATIONS FOR SOLO TRAVEL
*** Teach English in Rabat
*** TOP 20 MOST BEAUTIFUL BEACHES YOU’LL FIND ANYWHERE
*** Habitat for Wildlife
*** What U.S. travelers want most: Free Wi-Fi
*** The world’s eeriest abandoned theme parks
*** The world’s rudest air travellers
*** Starbucks’ secret menu – the drinks you didn’t know you can ask for
*** 5 Marketplaces Around The World That Will Probably Leave You Cursed
*** How to Win at the Airline Miles Game: Frequent Flyers Spill Their Secrets
*** Airfares Are Down, and They Should Be
*** Best burger in Singapore?
*** Payogan Villas Resort
*** Ayung River rafting
*** Rail Trail of the Month:
*** Trail/Outdoor/Conservation volunteer opportunities:
1.) Visitor Center Volunteer, Voyageurs National Park, East International Falls, MN
2.) Communications Adviser (Volunteer), Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority (MIMRA), Majuro and Pohnpei, Marshall Islands
3.) Vol.Weed Eating, Riffle Run-Facility Maint., Burnsville Lake, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Burnsville, WV
4) The National Map Corp – Volunteer Map Editor, US Geological Survey (USGS), Work from anywhere
*** Travel/Adventure/Outdoors/Conservation employment opportunities:
1.) General Manager of the Tonga Tourism Authority, Ministry of Commerce, Tourism and Labour, Nuku’alofa, Tonga
2.) Chesapeake Bay Region Steward, Dept of Conservation & Recreation, Richmond, VA
3.) Avian Keeper, Lorikeet Landing, Nashville Zoo, Nashville, TN
4.) Canopy Tour Guide, Mount Washington Resort, Bretton Woods, New Hampshire
5.) Marketing/Public Relations Volunteer, Wright County Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), USDA Service Center, Buffalo, MN
…and much more…and it’s all FREE!!!
*** Do you have a travel adventure, conservation or outdoor update to share?
Send me your stories and I’ll post in the “Your Very Next Step” and on the YVNS website (http://www.yourverynextstep.com/).
*** Ned’s upcoming travel, maybe, perhaps:
July 7-8, Cleveland, Ohio
July 15-17, San Diego, Calif.
August 3-8, East Lansing, Mich.
August 17-19, San Diego, Calif.
September 30-1 October, Tokyo, Japan
*** The Power Grab at Airports Has a New Headache
By Joe Sharkey
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/07/business/the-power-grab-at-airports-has-a-new-headache.html
*** 10 SHAMELESS TRICKS FOR SCORING FREE TRAVEL UPGRADES
by Jenni Cairo
http://travelversed.com/tips-and-tricks/10-shameless-tricks-for-getting-free-travel-upgrades/
*** Fodors’ 12 things not to do in Los Angeles
http://www.fodors.com/news/photos/12-things-not-to-do-in-los-angeles?ref=news_fd_050915
*** 10 BEST NEW UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES
http://www.fodors.com/news/photos/10-best-new-unesco-world-heritage-sites?obref=obinsite#!1-intro
*** Saturday night in Ubud…the Kecak Fire & Trance Dance By Taman Kaja Community.
*** Travelers still want free Wi-Fi
12 May, 2015
By: Esther Hertzfeld
Hotel Management
http://www.hotelmanagement.net/technology/travelers-still-want-free-wi-fi-31189
*** National Safe Boating Week kicks off May 16, 2015.
Time to Check for Safety Items
*** Pre-Check for Free?
*** Passports, Ranked by ‘Power’
Browse the world’s passports by color, country, and most crucially, how many countries citizens can travel to without a visa.
SHAUNA MILLER
http://www.citylab.com/design/2015/04/passports-ranked-by-power/390402/
*** The 7 Best Hotels for Business Travelers
By Jessica Hullinger
http://theweek.com/articles/541579/7-best-hotels-business-travelers
*** GELATO FESTIVAL
Piazzale Michelangelo, 23th-27th May 2015
The not to be missed date with ice-cream ! From 23rd to 27th May, you don’t want to miss one of the tastiest Festival of Florence. The city turns into an outdoor ice-cream parlor. Piazzale Michelangelo will host the best ice-cream makers of the country with their handmade products. You will find “ice-cream villages” where educational and cultural paths will be organized, together with meetings and theme events!
http://www.firenzegelatofestival.it/
*** WORLD’S 20 MOST BEAUTIFUL TRAIN STATIONS
http://www.fodors.com/news/photos/worlds-20-most-beautiful-train-stations?obref=obinsite
*** 13 WORST COUNTRIES TO VISIT
by TravelTheGlobe
http://travelversed.com/travel-spots/9-worst-countries-to-visit/
*** WORLD’S BEST DESTINATIONS FOR SOLO TRAVEL
http://www.fodors.com/news/photos/worlds-best-destinations-for-solo-travel
*** Teach English in Rabat
*** TOP 20 MOST BEAUTIFUL BEACHES YOU’LL FIND ANYWHERE
by TravelTheGlobe
http://travelversed.com/travel-spots/15-most-beautiful-beaches-youll-find-anywhere/
*** Habitat for Wildlife
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries wants to help you help wildlife on your property. The Habitat Partners© program encourages corporate landowners, private landowners, schools and homeowners to improve habitat in their community that will benefit Virginia’s songbirds, mammals, amphibians and other wildlife.
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/habitat/
*** What U.S. travelers want mots: Free Wi-Fi
*** The world’s eeriest abandoned theme parks
*** The world’s rudest air travellers
Instagram travel accounts you must follow: Passenger Shaming, where sockless, shirtless, filthy fliers are put to the sword
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/11599320/The-worlds-rudest-air-travellers.html
*** Starbucks’ secret menu – the drinks you didn’t know you can ask for
*** 5 Marketplaces Around The World That Will Probably Leave You Cursed
May 11, 2015 at 10:00 AM | by TipsyTraveler
*** How to Win at the Airline Miles Game: Frequent Flyers Spill Their Secrets
Robert McGarvey
Main Street
*** Airfares Are Down, and They Should Be
http://www.frequentflier.com/blog/airfares-are-down-and-they-should-be
*** Best burger in Singapore?
I was told that Omakase Birger was the best in Singapore, and one of the best in the world:
*** Payogan Villas Resort
Here’s where I stayed in Bali, with a duplex villa with private pool. I loved it. Not many people during the kff season, which is good, but felt a little eerie sometimes.
http://www.balipayoganresort.com/
*** Ayung River rafting
There are many companies that offer white water rafting on the Ayung River. Our hotel uses Toekad Rafting. I was not disappointed. The ride is long (two hours), and even in the dry season we had class II and III rapids. The gorge is incredible.
http://www.balitoekadrafting.com/
*** Rail Trail of the Month:
Strolling the Chessie Nature Trail
www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/2015/may/18/destination-virginia-strolling-the-chessie-nature-trail/
*** Trail/Outdoor/Conservation volunteer opportunities:
1.) Visitor Center Volunteer, Voyageurs National Park, East International Falls, MN
http://www.volunteer.gov/results.cfm?ID=9199
2.) Communications Adviser (Volunteer), Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority (MIMRA), Majuro and Pohnpei, Marshall Islands
http://www.seek.com.au/job/28427434?pos=6&type=standard
3.) Vol.Weed Eating, Riffle Run-Facility Maint., Burnsville Lake, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Burnsville, WV
http://www.volunteer.gov/results.cfm?ID=12868
4) The National Map Corp – Volunteer Map Editor, US Geological Survey (USGS), Work from anywhere
The US Geological Survey (USGS) is recruiting volunteers to collect and update USGS geographic data. Similar to how other online crowdsourcing cartographic applications allow anyone to collect, edit, and use geographic data through an online map editor, the USGS has developed an online editor customized to our data needs that allows volunteers to contribute data to The National Map. We are looking for people like you to work with us to collect data for the USGS. The data you will collect during this project will be loaded into The National Map.
If you have access to the Internet and are willing to dedicate some time editing map data we hope you will consider participating! You do not need to live in any particular area to participate. Our editing guidelines explain how you can contribute data from anywhere.
https://my.usgs.gov/confluence/display/nationalmapcorps/Home
http://www.volunteer.gov/results.cfm?ID=13579
*** Travel/Adventure/Outdoors/Conservation employment opportunities:
1.) General Manager of the Tonga Tourism Authority, Ministry of Commerce, Tourism and Labour, Nuku’alofa, Tonga
The Government of Tonga seeks expressions of interest from suitably qualified individuals who wish to be considered for the General Manager position of the Tonga Tourism Authority.
The Authority is a recently established organization responsible for the marketing and development of Tonga as a visitor destination. The General Manager heads the Tonga Tourism Authority and is responsible for managing and leading the development of Tonga as a tourism destination. The General Manager will ensure that the Authority develops and efficiently, yet effectively, implements a Business Plan and a Destination Marketing Plan which meets KPIs as outlined in the agreement signed between the board of the Authority and the Government of Tonga. This is the lead role within Tonga’s tourism sector and the General Manager is expected to work closely with the private sector and with relevant government and non-government organisations to maximise the benefit which tourism brings to the country.
Individuals with a mix of complementary skills are sought, with selection being based on preference for the following skills and experience;
- Knowledge and experience of the tourism and related service sector industries at a CEO or senior management level. Ideally will have managed a national or regional tourism organisation and have reported to a board.
- Has demonstrated stakeholder relationship skills and industry leadership skills
- A small existing staff is currently employed with Tourism Tonga, therefore experience in leading and managing a team in a high pressure and political environment is very much required
- Sound demonstrable ability and experience in monitoring and managing finances to remain within acceptable variances
- Culturally sensitive and able to uphold Tongan culture to enhance Tonga’s tourism product
- Has a tertiary qualification with preference given to a qualification in a tourism, marketing or business management discipline
- Solid experience in all aspects of destination marketing and the marketing mix including; brand development, research, analysis, strategy, budget management, promotion and publicity.
- Strong business acumen
- Has a passion for Tonga and the development of Tonga as a visitor destination
- Ability to manage multiple projects efficiently and to prioritise competing commitments
- Proposals are to be received by 4pm Friday 29 May 2013. Email proposals are preferred and all proposals should be clearly marked “Proposal for General Manager – Tonga Tourism Authority”.
To obtain a copy of the Terms of reference for this project, please contact:
Email: ungateap@mctl.gov.to/rosscochapman@gmail.com
http://www.seek.com.au/job/28644453?pos=2&type=standout
*** From Mark Sofman:
2.) Chesapeake Bay Region Steward, Dept of Conservation & Recreation, Richmond, VA
3.) Avian Keeper, Lorikeet Landing, Nashville Zoo, Nashville, TN
4.) Canopy Tour Guide, Mount Washington Resort, Bretton Woods, New Hampshire
As grand as the history behind it, the Omni Mount Washington Hotel, located in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, is gracious in ambiance and generous in amenities. A favorite New England retreat of presidents, poets and celebrities, the hotel delights every sense with enchanting music, refined dining and luxurious décor.
Omni Mount Washington Resorts associates enjoy a dynamic and exciting work environment, comprehensive training and mentoring, along with the pride that comes from working for a company with a reputation for exceptional service. The Omni Mount Washington Resort is committed to serve our associates and nurture their growth. We embody a culture of respect, gratitude and empowerment each day. If you are a friendly, motivated person, with a passion to serve others, the Omni Mount Washington Resort may be your perfect match.
Job Description
Summary: The Canopy Tour Guide will have excellent communication, customer service skills, organizational and leadership skills and be comfortable working at heights of 200+ feet.
Responsibilities:
- Demonstrate strong leadership, organizational, and customer service skills.
- Comply with all safety standards, at all times.
- Be comfortable working at heights of 200+ feet.
- Assist desk staff with check in process, waivers and storing belongings.
- Greet guests and give an introductory orientation talk.
- Inspect, repair as needed and prepare guide equipment, guest equipment, and Canopy Tour course daily.
- Complete Daily Operations Check List and Report and Equipment Use Log. Complete Near Misses/Incidents when pertinent.
- Inform Canopy Tour director of any maintenance needs on the course.
- Guide groups of up to 8 guests on the Canopy Tour, and demonstrate proficiency in the multitude of skills required to guide.
- Ensure that all procedures covered in the Guide Training Manual are followed.
- Respond when necessary to evacuate participants from the course.
- Provide a friendly and welcoming atmosphere for Canopy Tour guests.
- Assist in operating the Williwaw Dual Racing Zip
- Current First Aid/CPR Certification is required of all guides.
Job Requirements
- Must be able to stand for 8+ hrs per day.
- Comfortable working in extreme weather conditions.
- CPR and First Aid certification is desired.
- Experience in the ski industry, outdoor education, recreation management, high angle ropes courses, and/or interpretive/educational programming a plus.
https://omnihotels.hua.hrsmart.com/hr/ats/Posting/view/31161/0
5.) Marketing/Public Relations Volunteer, Wright County Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), USDA Service Center, Buffalo, MN
The Wright County Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is looking for a marketing/public relations volunteer to help create a cohesive educational outreach plan and relate it to the public. This talented person will reach the public through various types of media: print, social, and events.
This position will need a creative individual, who can work independently, with minimal supervision to allow their talent and drive to excel. It is a great opportunity for entry-level or retired individuals. This is an opportunity to use your talent in a fun and creative way while helping to protect and restore our natural resources in the county/watershed.
Project examples can include: writing press releases, developing factsheets or newsletters, connecting with media outlets, developing and promoting educational events and updating Facebook and websites.
http://www.volunteer.gov/results.cfm?ID=14332
*** Send your job opportunities to share with the YVNS network to lundquist989@cs.com.
*** Your Very Next Step is a service of the Job of the Week Network LLC
© 2015 The Job of the Week Network LLC
Edward Lundquist, ABC –
Editor and Publisher
Your Very Next Step
7813 Richfield Road
Springfield, VA 22153
Home office phone: (703) 455-7661
lundquist989@cs.com
www.nedsjotw.com
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