Author Archives: Neds Job of the Week

Your Very Next Step newsletter for March 2009

“It liberates the vandal to travel–you never saw a bigoted,

opinionated, stubborn, narrow-minded, self-conceited, almighty mean man

in your life but he had stuck in one place since he was born and thought

God made the world and dyspepsia and bile for his especial comfort and

satisfaction.”

– Mark Twain – The American Abroad speech, 1868

“Life is all about making connections, managing expectations, and making

your waitress smile.”

– Ned Lundquist

The next adventure begins with your very next step.

“Your Very Next Step” newsletter, published by Ned Lundquist, is a

cooperative community, and everyone is invited, no.encouraged, no.urged

to participate.

Subscribe for free. Send a blank email to:

yourverynextstep-subscribe@topica.com.

Send us your comments, questions, and contributions to

lundquist989@cs.com.

You are now among 578 subscribers.

Contact Ned at lundquist989@cs.com.

*** In this issue:

*** Travel News

*** YVNS “Sport You Must Try” for March:

*** Travel, Outdoor and Adventure Jobs and Volunteer Opportunities

1.) Vice President Development & Marketing, Sierra Nevada Journeys,

Reno, Nevada

2.) Seasonal Park Ranger, Ken-Caryl Ranch Open Space, Littleton, CO

3.) Digital Marketing Manager, Burton Snowboards, Burlington, VT

4.) Assistant Product Manager – Forum Boots, The Program, Burlington,

VT

5.) Teen Expedition Leader and Coordinator positions, W. Alton Jones

Camp, URI Environmental Education Center, West Greenwich, RI

.and much more.and it's all FREE!!!

*** Here's the YVNS Travel News for February:

*** No more airport check-in for Ryanair

European discount leader Ryanair announced Saturday it would close all

its airport check-in desks by the end of 2009, leaving online check-in

as the only option for passengers.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/allBreakingNews/idUKLL53874020090221

*** From Bernie Wagenblast's TCN Newsletter:

Key to Eliminating US Flight Delays? Redesign the Sky Over New York City

Link to story in Wired:

http://www.wired.com/cars/futuretransport/magazine/17-03/ff_airspace

Could Radar Keep Birds from Colliding with Aircraft?

Link to story in Scientific American:

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=avian-aircraft-radar

Airline Industry Seems to be Serious About Going Forward with Wi-Fi in

Sky

Link to Scripps-Howard News Service story:

http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/41183

*** Hilton launches Denizen Hotels:

Hilton Seeks To Launch New Luxury Brand

Hilton Hotels Corp. today announced it is negotiating to develop a new

luxury brand in several gateway cities around the globe. The brand,

Denizen Hotels, will be positioned alongside Hilton's current deluxe

offerings, the Waldorf Astoria Collection and Conrad Hotels & Resorts.

http://www.btnonline.com/businesstravelnews/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003949778

*** From US Airways:

We're bringing back free drinks

On March 1, we're bringing back free drinks in our Coach cabin. This

includes sodas, juices, tea, coffee and water on all US Airways and US

Airways Express flights.

We believe in our pay-for-what-you-choose-to-use – or “a la carte” –

business model, but it's a work-in-progress. We are committed to

remaining competitive and that's the main reason we have decided to

bring back free drinks.

*** US Airways says soda, juice and coffee will be free again for

domestic coach passengers

Less than a year after it began charging $2 for drinks in coach class,

US Airways says it will return to free beverage service as of March 1.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-us-airways-soda-reversal,0,2458681.story

*** Southwest Airlines will begin serving Boston Logan this fall with a

“conservative number of flights and a two-gate operation,” according to

Chairman, President and CEO Gary Kelly. SWA will continue to serve

Providence and Manchester, N.H., and will release additional details

regarding its BOS service “in the coming months.” Kelly said using the

airport “is a smart choice” for the LCC, which traditionally has

operated at less congested, cheaper facilities, and that its BOS service

“will be made possible by. . .optimizing its current flight schedule and

repositioning aircraft.” It said it still plans to reduce 2009 capacity

by 4% year-over-year. It flies to nine destinations from four gates at

PVD and to eight cities from four gates at MHT.

http://www.atwonline.com/news/other.html?issueDate=2%2F20%2F2009

Southwest Launching Boston Logan Service

FEBRUARY 19, 2009 — Southwest Airlines today announced plans to launch

service from Boston Logan International Airport this fall. The addition

of Logan gives Southwest a presence in four of the top New England

markets, as it already serves Providence, R.I., Manchester, N.H., and

Hartford, Conn.

The carrier did not release full service details, but CEO Gary Kelly

said in a statement, “We plan to begin Logan service with a conservative

number of flights and a two gate operation.”

According to The Boston Globe, Kelly said the airline would start

service “with eight to 12 daily departures from Logan.”

Southwest said it has not changed its previously announced plans to

reduce available seat miles by 4 percent in 2009.

Yet, despite the capacity cut in its overall network, the addition of

Logan is Southwest's third planned launch into large regional cites

2009. The carrier has plans to launch at Minneapolis-St. Paul

International Airport and New York's LaGuardia Airport, pending approval

of its purchase of now-defunct ATA Airlines' assets (BTNonline, Feb. 2).

Fellow low-cost carrier JetBlue Airways has been using Boston as a

regional hub since 2006 and over the past several months has announced

expansion plans at Logan, including two daily non-stop flights to Los

Angeles International Airport.

http://www.btnonline.com/businesstravelnews/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003943035

*** Southwest's passage clear

Improved infrastructure, and industry changes, lure discount carrier to

Logan

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2009/02/27/southwests_passage_clear/

*** From Bernie Wagenblst's TCN Newsletter:

Southwest Airlines criticised for promotion of magazine's swimsuit

edition

Airline unveils plane painted with image of bikini-clad model featured

in Sports Illustrated

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/02/southwest-airlines-sports-illustrated-swimsuit

(The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published

electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe send an e-mail to: TCNL-subscribe@googlegroups.com).

*** From Bernie Wagenblast's TCN newsletter:

Paid Cheerleaders: Does Royal Caribbean's Viral Campaign Cross the Line?

Link to story on ExpertCruiser:

http://expertcruiser.com/advice/paid-cheerleaders-does-royal-caribbeans-viral-campaign-cross-the-line/

*** Which led me to:

Banned from Royal Caribbean for complaining too much

Banned from Royal Caribbean for complaining too much

*** Free wireless for Hilton HHonors members?

I recall that as a Hilton HHonors member I was entitles to free internet

service at Hilton properties. The last time I stayed at a Hilton I paid

for the service (it's not cheap), and I do not see on the website where

free internet is offered as a benefit.

*** From Judy Heise:

Restroom ransom? Airline mulls toilet toll

Ireland's low-cost carrier considers pay-to-use toilets, CEO admits

(Reuters) – Ryanair's chief executive said Europe's largest budget

carrier might start

charging passengers for using the toilet while flying, but his spokesman

cautioned Michael O'Leary often just made things up at will.

“One thing we have looked at in the past and are looking at again is the

possibility of maybe putting a coin slot on the toilet door so that

people

might actually have to spend a pound ($1.43) to spend a penny in

future,”

O'Leary told BBC television.

He said this would not inconvenience passengers traveling without cash.

“I

don't think there is anybody in history that has got on board a Ryanair

aircraft with less than a pound.”

A spokesman said the airline had considered the fee as a possible source

of

extra revenue since passengers had the option of not using the toilet on

board, but added that “maybe O'Leary was just taking the p-ss this

morning.”

“Michael makes a lot of this stuff up as he goes along and while this

has

been discussed internally there are no immediate plans to introduce it,”

Stephen McNamara said in a statement.

O'Leary has a reputation as a cost-cutter, expanding Ryanair by offering

low

headline fares and charging extra for items such as additional luggage.

Last week, Ryanair announced it was to shut all check-in desks at

airports

and have passengers check in online instead.

“We're all about finding ways of raising discretionary revenue so we can

keep lowering the cost of air travel,” he said.

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29429082/?GT1=43001

*** An “Inconvenience Fee?” Whose inconvenience?

Spirit Airlines adds a twist to the fee flap

A “Passenger Usage Fee” of $4.90 each way? A $2.50 “natural occurrence

interruption fee” and an $8.50 “international service recovery fee?”

http://www.atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=15864

*** What children say about the ocean, submitted by Gwyneth Saunders:

She says 9, 12 and 15 are good – especially 15!!

CHILDREN WRITE ABOUT THE OCEAN

1) – This is a picture of an octopus. It has eight testicles.

(Kelly, age 6)

2) – Oysters' balls are called pearls. (Jerry, age 6)

3) – If you are surrounded by ocean, you are an island. If you

don't have ocean all round you, you are incontinent.

(Wayne, age 7)

4) – Sharks are ugly and mean, and have big teeth, just like

Emily Richardson. She's not my friend any more.

(Kylie, age 6)

5) – A dolphin breaths through an asshole on the top of its head.

(Billy, age 8)

6) – My uncle goes out in his boat with 2 other men and a woman

and pots and comes back with crabs.

(Millie, age 6)

7) – When ships had sails, they used to use the trade winds to

cross the ocean. Sometimes when the wind didn't blow the sailors

would whistle to make the wind come. My brother said they would

have been better off eating beans.

(William, age 7)

8) – Mermaids live in the ocean. I like mermaids. They are

beautiful and I like their shiny tails, but how on earth do

mermaids get pregnant? Like, really?

(Helen, age 6)

9) – I'm not going to write about the ocean. My baby brother is

always crying, my Dad keeps yelling at my Mom, and my big sister

has just got pregnant, so I can't think what to write.

(Amy, age 6)

10) – Some fish are dangerous. Jellyfish can sting. Electric

eels can give you a shock. They have to live in caves under the

sea where I think they have to plug themselves into chargers.

(Christopher, age 7)

11) – When you go swimming in the ocean, it is very cold, and it

makes my willy small. (Kevin, age 6)

12) – Divers have to be safe when they go under the water.

Divers can't go down alone, so they have to go down on each

other.

(Becky, age 8)

13) – On vacation my Mom went water skiing. She fell off when she

was going very fast. She says she won't do it again because water

fired right up her big fat *ss. (Julie, age 7)

14) – The ocean is made up of water and fish. Why the fish don't

drown I don't know.

(Bobby, age 6)

15) – My dad was a sailor on the ocean. He knows all about the

ocean. What he doesn't know is why he quit being a sailor and

married my mom.

(James, age 7)

*** The bald eagles at the Norfolk Botanical Garden are on camera.

Check out the Eagle Cam:

http://www.wvec.com/cams/eagle.html

*** I have one of those Camper's Dream Ice Cream balls for making ice

cream. Anybody know what the recipe is to make ice cream in one of

those things?

Ned

*** Master Naturalists to Host Training Classes March 24

The Blue Ridge Foothills and Lakes Chapter of the Virginia Master

Naturalists announces the start of their 3rd training classes beginning

March 24.

http://www.brfal.org/

*** The March YVNS sport Ned has never heard of:

The British Open Crabbing Championship

http://www.explorewalberswick.co.uk/crabbing/

http://www.walberswick.ws/crabbing/2003/index.php

*** Travel/Adventure/Outdoors employment opportunities:

1.) Vice President Development & Marketing, Sierra Nevada Journeys,

Reno, Nevada

Sierra Nevada Journeys has experienced rapid growth over its two year

history and is moving into its next phase of accelerated growth. The

organization is looking for a VP of Development & Marketing with proven

experience raising significant funds for the organization and marketing

its successes. The VP must be a leader who is effective at evangelizing

the organization's mission and inspiring that passion in its funding and

program partners. They are responsible for developing and implementing

SNJ's fundraising and marketing strategy. This includes achieving SNJ's

fundraising goals and managing the organization's

communication/community outreach efforts. They report to the Executive

Director, serving as a peer to the VP, Operations (the three of whom

constitute the organization's Executive Team).

Areas of Responsibility

Fundraising

Work with the Executive Director and Executive Team to write and

implement a Development Plan that supports the organization's strategic

plan and significant organizational expansion

Build to a fundraising “Balanced Scorecard” that expands the range of

SNJ's fundraising efforts to include individual giving, grants,

endowment, planned giving, etc.

Manage the organization's grant-writing efforts and develop systems to

improve those efforts, including

Write and submit grants

Manage all other staff-written grants

Convene and garner feedback from “Blue Teams” and “Red Teams” (i.e.

organizational programmatic and financial grant review committees)

Prepare all grant-reporting documents

Work with AmeriCorps Member to maintain Grants Pipeline

Conduct periodic organizational grant-writing workshops

Meet significant targets (i.e. hundreds of thousands of $'s for annual

fundraising

Build new (and maintain on-going) relationships with key funders:

Foundations, Businesses, and State/Federal Agencies

Build the organization's nascent large donor outreach and stewardship

program including cultivation, solicitation, and relations.

Begin work on the organization's endowment

Work with and develop the Board of Director's capacity to contribute to

organizational fundraising goals

Create sustainable office systems to support fundraising efforts

Marketing/Communications

Work with the Executive Director and Executive Team to write and

implement an organizational Communications/Marketing Plan.

Develop a range of marketing collateral to support the Plan

Network with the local (and relevant national) community to communicate

SNJ's successes

Serve as the acting “Public Information Officer” in reaching out to

media and the community

Manage organizations' public relations efforts including:

Annual Report

Quarterly E-newsletters

Website updates and redevelopment efforts

Manage AmeriCorps support of organization's Annual Gala event

Create sustainable office systems to support fundraising efforts

Accountability: The VP, Development & Marketing reports to the

Executive Director.

Job Requirements

Qualifications of the Preferred Candidate Include

. Passionate commitment to SNJ's mission, vision and strategic

direction

. 3+ years of experience in development, with proven track

record of meeting significant fundraising targets in fast-paced,

entrepreneurial nonprofit organization (required)

. 2+ years of experience in organizational marketing,

communications, and public relations

. Demonstrated success in sourcing, writing, obtaining, and

reporting on grants

. Ability to thrive in an environment characterized as

fast-paced, creative, dynamic, and growing

. Proven management and leadership capabilities

. Demonstrated ability to think strategically and thorough

understanding of strategic development

. Experience working with Senior Level executives in a corporate

environment

. Extensive experience working with budgets

. Able to take the initiative, think entrepreneurially, and work

independently

. Ability to manage multiple tasks and to be accountable to

weekly deliverables

. Exceptional communication skills; articulate, with proven

ability to write effectively and speak persuasively and an ability to

listen to and learn from others

. High energy, positive, “can-do” attitude, flexibility,

teamwork, and attention to detail; high degree of initiative.

. Familiarity with the suite of Microsoft Office products

. Personal means of transportation

. Bachelor's degree required

APPLY FOR THIS JOB

Contact Person: Jonathan Mueller

Email Address: amy@sierranevadajourneys.org

Phone: 775-355-1688

Fax: 775-329-1689

http://jobs.prnewsonline.com/c/job.cfm?site_id=1691&jb=5206265

http://www.backdoorjobs.com/entrada.html

2.) Seasonal Park Ranger, Ken-Caryl Ranch Open Space, Littleton, CO

Job Description & Requirements:

POSITION SUMMARY

Under supervision of the Park Ranger I, monitors and maintains the

natural and cultural resources on Ken-Caryl Ranch's 4000+ acre native

open space.

SEASON

Seasonal Park Ranger positions run from mid-May until August. 40

hours/week, mostly from Sunday to Thursday.

SPECIFIC DUTIES

. Trail construction and Maintenance

. Noxious weed management

. Natural resource inventories

. General open space and facilities maintenance

EXPERIENCE

Working knowledge of equipment and natural resource management is

desired.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Seasonal Rangers will be subject to hot and cold working conditions

outdoors, physically strenuous work, working with chemical pesticides

and working with power equipment.

Must have current, valid Colorado Driver License and must be insurable

with the Master Association's insurance carrier.

AVAILABILITY

Candidates must be able to work weekends.

Company URL: http://www.ken-carylranch.org

Job Location:

Littleton, CO

Application Instructions:

View full description at www.ken-carylranch.org under EMPLOYMENT-KCRMA.

Application Address:

KCRMA Park Rangers

7676 S. Continental Divide Rd.

Littleton, CO 80127

http://www.oapn.net/OutdoorAdventureJobDetail.php?ad_id=1266&

3.) Digital Marketing Manager, Burton Snowboards, Burlington, VT

https://jobs.burton.com/careersNew/Careers.aspx?adata=ILqPy08n9faXvKQnCSd%2fyUw6s5E2EESRnBnFKvJfa6%2b%2bWAVhpAukBkoLmTe18setFUEx3B438yPFH7%2bPv%2bTFWkHhOpKF%2b6qc

4.) Assistant Product Manager – Forum Boots, The Program, Burlington,

VT

https://jobs.burton.com/careersNew/Careers.aspx?adata=ILqPy08n9faXvKQnCSd%2fydv2r5K7sXqD1HS6nUZEF38fIDh25FsQB75B0uGlgmTd34i36Xu4tuZ1x%2bqwjTCUmyIe18LQ%2bQhM

5.) Teen Expedition Leader and Coordinator positions, W. Alton Jones

Camp, URI Environmental Education Center, West Greenwich, RI

Introducing the W. Alton Jones Camp-an outdoor playground ideal for

learning, exploration and adventure. As part of the URI Environmental

Education Center, the Alton Jones Teen Expedition program provides

adventurers with a 6-12 day journey filled with caving, kayaking,

canoeing, rock climbing, rappelling, rafting and biking. Current hot job

openings include:

Teen Expeditions Coordinator (April 1st-August 31st; one position)

Responsibilities include coordinating entire program for forty teens

each week for seven weeks, overseeing the teen day program and

supervising nine expedition leaders as well as logistical staff.

Teen Expedition Leaders (June 16th-August 15th; nine openings)

Responsibilities include supervising groups of 8-10 teens and teaching

no-trace camping techniques, outdoor and wilderness survival skills and

natural history.

Applicants must have experience in river canoeing or kayaking (class

1/flat water), backpacking or rock climbing/rappelling. Successful

applicants should have experience teaching and leading adolescents and a

thorough working knowledge of no-trace camping techniques. Compensation

includes a very competitive wage, meals, accommodations in staff housing

(wireless Internet and cable TV included), CPR/first aid/lifeguard

certification and two weeks paid training. To begin the application

process, email or fax your cover letter, resume and 3 references to Herb

Blake; 401.397.3304, ext. 6043; 401.397.3293 (fax).

W. Alton Jones Campus

401 Victory Highway

West Greenwich, RI 02817-2158

http://www.backdoorjobs.com/adventure.html

http://www.altonjonescamp.com/

*** Your Very Next Step is a service of the Job of the Week Network LLC

© 2009 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

Subscribe for free. Send a blank email to:

yourverynextstep-subscribe@topica.com.

“Sunshine cannot bleach the snow, Nor time unmake what poets know”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Your Very Next Step newsletter for February 2009

“I hope to see London once ere I die.”

– William Shakespeare

“London is a modern Babylon.”

– Benjamin Disraeli

“Life is all about making connections, managing expectations, and making the waitress smile.”

– Ned Lundquist

The next adventure begins with your very next step.

“Your Very Next Step” newsletter, published by Ned Lundquist, is a cooperative community, and everyone is invited, no…encouraged, no…urged to participate.

Subscribe for free. Send a blank email to:

yourverynextstep-subscribe@topica.com.

Send us your comments, questions, and contributions to lundquist989@cs.com.

You are now among 549 subscribers.

Contact Ned at lundquist989@cs.com.

*** In this issue:

*** Travel News

*** YVNS “Sport You Must Try” for February:

*** Travel/Outdoors and Adventure jobs (a dozen of them at least)

1.) Glider ride pilot needed, Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport, Bar Harbor, ME

2.) California/Nevada Regional Director, The Wilderness Society, San Francisco, CA

3.) President & CEO, Wildlife Heritage Foundation of Wyoming, Cheyenne, Wyoming

4.) Ecuador-Country Program Director, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, New York

5.) Wilderness Field Instructors, Second Nature Entrada, Santa Clara, Utah

*** Travel, Outdoor and Adventure Jobs and Volunteer Opportunities

…and much more…and it’s all FREE!!!

*** Here’s the YVNS Travel News for February:

*** 2009 Boston Globe Travel Show to offer Industry Conference and Trade Day

http://www.forimmediaterelease.net/pm/2167.html

*** Long-haul destinations 'more accessible than ever'

http://news.opodo.co.uk/articles/2009-02-02/19003875-Long-haul-destinations.php

*** Scotland voted golf destination of the year

http://news.opodo.co.uk/articles/2009-02-03/19005486-Scotland-voted.php

*** Verboten Vacations: 9 Reasons Forbidden is “In” This Year

Cuba, Iran and North Korea — long off-limits to most American visitors — might be added to the “allowed” list under an Obama administration. Other destinations that were considered too dangerous or hostile to Americans are becoming fashionable again, as travelers jettison boring “staycations” for something more exotic.

http://www.frommers.com/articles/5797.html

*** Delta to shed 170 gates at US airports as part of NWA consolidation

http://www.atwonline.com/news/other.html?issueDate=2%2F10%2F2009

*** The UK's so-called “environment czar” last week raised the possibility of rationing air travel, limiting UK citizens to just a few vacation trips abroad by air per year in order to reduce the impact of carbon dioxide emissions.

http://atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=15528

*** 5 Things You Don't Know About London

http://www.frommers.com:80/articles/5804.html

*** Best Hiking in Costa Rica

http://www.vacationscostarica.com/destinations/best-hiking-in-costa-rica

*** From Bernie Wagenblast’s TCN Newsletter:

United Airlines to Unplug Number for Complaints

United Airlines dropping call center for after-flight customer calls; please write instead.

Link to AP story:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/United-Airlines-to-unplug-apf-14314175.html

Southwest Airlines to Begin Testing In-Flight Wi-Fi

Link to story in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-02-10-swa-in-flight-wifi_N.htm

*** The bald eagles at the Norfolk Botanical Garden have laid their first egg of the 2009 season. The egg was laid on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 4:10 p.m. Most bald eagles lay two eggs, although nests with one or even three eggs occur. Eggs may be laid over the course of several days. Bald eagles typically incubate their eggs for 35 days, although this pair averages 37 days. This is the sixth year this pair has nested at the Norfolk Botanical Garden, successfully raising nine young eagles in that time. The public can follow the lives of these eagles through the Eagle Cam, a joint project of VDGIF, the Norfolk Botanical Garden and WVEC.com. This high quality web cam provides 24-hour coverage of the nest with a blog posted by DGIF wildlife biologists explaining what's happening. The eagles can be visited in person (from a distance of course) by visiting the Norfolk Botanical Garden.

Check out the Eagle Cam:

http://www.wvec.com/cams/eagle.html

*** Ned’s recent flight to Orlando:

I flew USAirways non-stop from Reagan National Washington Airport to Orlando last week. I am a USAirways frequent flier, but I usually bank my miles with United. I don’t know why, I have not been able to get a really good deal from all those miles I have in years. Reagan is a great airport. It’s two stops away from the Pentagon, and the Metro drops you at the door. I had no bags, so check-in was a breeze. On board, I sort of resent paying a buck for a pretty lousy cup of coffee. In Orlando there was some kind of cheerleading competition, because there were hundreds of kids in groups you could tell apart by their jackets and t-shirts. When the adult became unsure of which way to go, they all stopped, and that means everybody in the airport stopped. I had signed up for a Mears Transport shared ride to the Hilton. Since I had purchased my ticket online, I checked in at the kiosk, and received a ticket that directed me to lane 40 – 41. There was a van loading, and I was almost inside before the driver said I needed to check in with the man over there, and when I did he wrote something down and gave me one of those hockey-puck thingies that lights up when your table is ready at Outback Steakhouse. I sat back and listed to the girls practice their cheers. 15 or 20 minutes later we squeezed into a van which took me and a dozen of my now closest friends to the Hilton in Downtown Disney. I had checked the weather before I left Washington, and it was just as cold in Florida as it was in D.C. I was only in Florida long enough to have a few good meals (at Black Angus and Fulton’s). I was back in D.C. in time to change into my tux and head into town for the watering of the Herd at the 109th Military order of the Carabao “Wallow.”

*** Gun manufacturing in Pakistan:

This gives me an a appreciation of what's going on near the Khyber Pass in Pakistan.

http://www.vbs.tv/full_screen.php?s=DGFE2305DC&sc=1363196

*** Dropped call:

Hi Ned –

A tip I recently learned the hard way:

Today–not tomorrow, or next week–you need to make sure that your cell phone is easily returnable to you if lost. Take a moment right now to find one of those self-addressed stickers that you probably have by the thousands in your desk drawer and never use, and put it onto the back of your phone.

Why? Because I lost my BlackBerry earlier this week. Gone. No warning. No backup. I was S.O.L. Out of touch and of sorts. Very unhappy.

Lucky for me a nice, honest local lady found it and took the time to call a few numbers I'd recently dialed. A fiend she reached told her how to get in touch with me, and she was nice enough to return the phone less than 24 hours later.

But what if she hadn't? Or hadn't been able to…? Eesh. So don't wait, it can happen to you!

– Bruce Blake

*** From Beth King:

When thinking about travel and next steps, some desire the exotic. Others look forward to the adventure. Then there are those of us who wish for nothing more than a chance to relax and escape the confines of corporate America.

Don’t misunderstand. I love my job as a media relations manager for a national life insurance company. Likewise, I’m not saying I don’t enjoy seeing places I’ve never been or having the opportunity to experience the thrill of a lifetime. But sometimes, I just value what’s familiar and what I know will always bring a smile to my face upon arrival and a tear to my eye at departure. In other words, I love spending time with my best friend, which is exactly what I did over my holiday break.

Before I get into this wild adventure, there’s a lot of catching up to do. First, my best friend’s name is Christy Harrell and she’s an identical twin. We both were born in Fort Wayne, Ind., met in middle school, went to a year of high school together before her father was transferred out of state for a job. However, we remained friends even after she and her family moved and long after graduation from high school. Christy attended Indiana University to study Hospital Administration and I went to Ball State University for journalism. After graduation in 1996, Christy moved to Charlotte with her twin sister Cathy and took a job working in a retirement home and eventually for the Duke University Medical Center. Wanting to be close to family, I went to work for a monthly newspaper and women’s magazine in Indianapolis as an associate editor before jumping ship to what many journalists refer to as “the dark side,” a.k.a. public relations.

Throughout our adult lives, Christy and I have shared many emotional moments. She was there for me when I lost both grandparents and made sure my family and I were not alone. I was in her wedding. She cheered the loudest when I was admitted to a prestigious graduate school and I gave her encouragement when she went back to school to become a teacher two years ago. After telling family, I was one of the first people she called to tell she was expecting both times. After a tough break-up in 2004, Christy was the one I called first, as well as the one who made sure I realized life was only beginning. Yet through it all and states away, we have remained close. Our mothers even joke that when we’re in our 80’s and can barely function, we’ll still be best friends. They’re right – and that is why this year for my holiday break, I chose to spend it with Christy in Hickory, N.C. instead of going somewhere unfamiliar with pictures to prove it.

Whenever we’re together and no matter the location, we always have fun hitting the malls, trying new restaurants, talking about the past and future and finding many reasons to laugh. However, this trip was meaningful for reasons beyond merely catching up or hitting the jackpot of sales. Christy’s husband Greg is a world away serving in Iraq where he’s flying planes and helicopters and keeping our nation safe from enemy forces. Second, my being there helped take Christy’s mind off her husband’s deployment and third, Christy’s daughters, Sydney, 7, and Savannah, 2 are a joy to observe and their honesty alone is worth traveling out of state. So this brings me to my report of what I did on my holiday vacation and why this trip truly was my adventure of a lifetime.

I landed the day after Christmas at Charlotte-Douglass International Airport. Sensing the excitement in her mother, Sydney asked if they were going to get her Daddy. When Christy said no, Sydney solemnly asked, “Why does everyone else have their daddy, but I don’t have mine?”

Although I can’t take the place of her father, nor would I want to anyway, I think Sydney was happy to see me and even more eager to break into the presents I brought for her and Savannah. The following day, I slept in and when I finally decided get moving, Sydney remarked that it was about time — as if to imply it was odd that anyone would dare sleep past 7 a.m. Oh the nerve. After a workout on the treadmill, she looked at the artificial highlights in my hair and said, “I don’t understand how your hair can go from brown when it’s wet to yellow when it’s dry.”

“You will when you’re older, sweetie. Give it time,” I said.

The following days were spent hanging out with Christy, taking pictures of the girls, watching and going to movies, scoping out sales and checking in with home. One night while talking to my mom, Savannah decided to engage herself in the conversation where she proudly announced that her favorite color was green and that she ate chips for dinner. Ah, to be young again and unconcerned about fat, salt and excess calories. Later that night, around 3 a.m., trauma struck.

Savannah’s go-everywhere, stuffed animal leopard-bear combination named Chester went missing. Could we have left poor Chester at the movie theatre where we had been earlier in the day? Did she file him away for safekeeping or was he just taking a break from a rowdy toddler? Regardless, it didn’t matter because when the tears started falling in the middle of the night, it was heart wrenching. As Christy searched high and low throughout the house and even on the Internet for a replacement, I worked to calm Savannah.

“Honey, Chester is taking a walk in the jungle, drinking lots of ‘jungle juice’ and picking up women,” I told her. “He’ll be back. And you know what we’ll do tomorrow? We’ll draw a picture of Chester, take it to the grocery store and ask the manager to put it on the back of a milk carton. Would that make it all better?”

As Christy stood in the door trying not to laugh at her single best friend without children, between the sobs, Savannah nodded and dozed off into the wee hours of the morning. Little did Christy or I know that the next day would not only be New Year’s Eve and Sydney’s birthday, but also thoughts of Chester would be fleeting, in exchange for a table dance sans clothes or a diaper – and in front of the picturesque window. We were saddened that we didn’t have our cameras ready faster, but the memory of a dancing, cackling two-year-old head of blonde will always be there in our minds.

What seemed like such a short trip or at first ordinary turned out to be the best week of 2008. After a tumultuous year ups and downs for both Christy and me, it was good to be reminded of the special people that help us recognize that some things will always remain strong, despite a temporary, albeit perfect storm – best friends, beautiful children, clever imaginations and good times spent in the company of familiar faces will always provide a healthy mix of adventure, relaxation, smiles and lasting, priceless memories that will last. I’ve often heard that if you can rely on one or two friends to always be there, consider yourself lucky. Having spent a week with my one true friend and her precious little ones, I know I have more than I could ever imagine.

Beth King

*** From David Super:

Hello Ned,

Thanks for the invite to prepare something for your travel blog. As I wrote in an earlier message, Carol and I enjoyed a family vacation last fall, a weather-perfect week in mid-September, touring all the customary spots in Glacier Park. We're ready to return, and for those who have spent time visiting that part of our great nation, I think many will agree.

But have you been to Polebridge, Montana? Polebridge, permanent population undetermined but not enough to fill out much more than a cowboy/logger bar band, is on the northwest border of the park, about 35 miles northwest of Columbia Falls. It's one of those way-out-there places that presents visitors with events, people, flavors and scenery that makes it all the more intriguing.

We spent just one night there in the North Fork Hostel, a rambling structure built in the 1970s that has been host to thousands of mostly young and adventurous travelers. Five of us were snug and all alone in the big house, except for the innkeeper's frisky cat. When we arrived, there was a note explaining that Oliver, the owner, was hiking with friends and would not return for three days. We were to make ourselves at home and take care to ensure that the not-yet-mountain-wise kitty would remain indoors. You can learn more about the hostel and what I presume could be its bridal suites at: www.nfhostel.com.

The highlight of our evening's stay was a short ride to Polebridge's Main (and only) Street, where we sat for supper at the Northern Lights Saloon. For about $20 each we dined outdoors on some pretty fancy grub, including buffalo tips, elk burgers and wild salmon. Nearby was the town's “recreation department,” a volleyball court that mostly served as a sleeping area for a couple of lazy hounds. Once our meals were served, the dogs awoke and VERY politely stood vigil near our table. We offered no scraps, and they didn't beg. But they stood by, just in case.

My wife, daughter and daughter-in-law then went next door to the Polebridge Mercantile to visit its just-about-to-close bakery. They purchased a plump bag of dessert cookies (apparently by some agreement the restaurant doesn't sell many desserts, and the bakery doesn't sell full meals). Unashamedly, we ate them all.

About the same time, another saloon patron showed up with a young female dog (about college age in dog years). That broke the black lab's vigil from our table, along with a quartet of his buddies who came out from beneath various shrubs and pickup trucks. For the rest of our time in downtown Polebridge, entertainment centered on watching these young and old men make fools of themselves in an effort to win the new gal's attention.

The Mercantile’s artisan bakery is another other big drawing card for Polebridge. Over breakfast coffee and pastries there the next morning, we were pleased to chat with a few of the locals. Our son is a graduate of the University of Montana in Missoula. For a kid who mostly grew up in the don't-get-hurt suburbs of Fairfax County, Virginia, he's become a fully converted Montanan. When I expressed my appreciation to him for arranging a visit to such an interesting place, he reminded me that Montana is full of characters, from the often-loathed-by-locals rich folks who have over-built the mountains and valleys with lavish vacation homes, to die-hard keepers of very lean and green outdoor ethics. For good measure, throw in hard-working timber people, ranchers, and ordinary townsfolk, and you've got a place worth visiting both for the people and the geography.

Time did not permit a return to Polebridge the following week when the locals gathered at the Northern Lights for the town’s “prom,” a tastefully promoted formal event. Stylish posters announcing details of the prom were displayed in many locations, including the saloon’s distinctive outhouse. Along with listing the musical entertainment, ticket price, starting time and location, a bit of text at the bottom of the poster reminded prom goers that fancy dresses and other formal wear were available for rent from nearby sources.

My wife and I were raised in small western towns. While Polebridge certainly offers sights, sounds and even flavors a good bit different from our South Dakota and Wyoming starting points in life, it was comforting to spend even a little time there and feel so instantly connected with unpretentious people and their rich-by-different-measure way of life.

David

The photos are pretty standard tourist snapshots of the hostel, the Polebridge Merc, the Northern Lights Saloon's outdoor dining area and one of the dogs who kept a careful eye on my supper meal. We didn't try our cell phones while there, but I'm going to presume the Helipad 6 sign gives some comfort to skeptical tourists who might worry about being far away from 911-style assistance.

We're ready to return but have missed not only the fall prom but probably this winter's sled dog races.

(See Dave’s photos at www.yourverynextstep.com)

*** From Heather Murphy:

Ned,

I came across this and thought it might be a fun thread or link for YVNS.

http://current.newsweek.com/budgettravel/2009/01/done_something_stupid_on_a_tri.html?wpisrc=newsletter

Heather Murphy

*** The February YVNS sport Ned has never heard of:

The Royal Shrovetide Football Match (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Shrovetide_Football) occurs annually on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday in the town of Ashbourne in Derbyshire, England (http://www.bambooweb.com/articles/r/o/Royal_Shrovetide_Football.html). It has been played since at least the 12th century, though sadly the exact origins of the game are unknown due to a fire at the Royal Shrovetide Committee office in the 1890s which destroyed the earliest records. However, one of the most popular origin theories suggests the macabre notion that the 'ball' was originally a severed head tossed into the waiting crowd following an execution.

Where: The small village of Ashbourne, England.

What is it?

Two soccer matches are held every year at the beginning of Lent in Ashbourne, with teams consisting of almost every single man, woman and child in the village–and some tourists–all playing at the same time

Like all the best sports, Royal Shrovetide Football doesn't concern itself with rules — indeed, the only official regulation seems to be “no murder.” The game begins at 2 p.m., when a local dignitary tosses a ball into a swirling mass of hundreds of terrifyingly large men and screaming women and children. The mobs then try and move the ball toward their goal areas. Essentially, it' a rolling, 8-hour fist fight between the Up'Ards and Down'Ards (people born north or south of the town river).

The 'pitch' is the entire town and the goal posts are the sites of old mills, three miles apart and a goal is scored by someone banging the ball against a post three times. Though called football, the ball can be kicked or thrown, and possession can, and does, change hands by the virtue of simple, honest violence.

Visitors to Ashbourne can view the full list at The Green Man Hotel where it is displayed on a series of wooden plaques that are updated yearly. (http://www.peakdistrictonline.co.uk/peak-district-hotel-the-green-man-royal-hotel-ashbourne/l153.html)

There are very few rules in existence. The main ones are:

• Committing murder or manslaughter is prohibited. Unnecessary violence is frowned upon.

• The ball may not be carried in a motorised vehicle.

• The ball may not be hidden in a bag, coat or rucksack etc.

• Cemeteries, churchyards and the town memorial gardens are strictly out of bounds.

• Playing after 10 pm is forbidden.

*** Travel/Adventure/Outdoors employment opportunities:

*** From Pat Valadata:

1.) Glider ride pilot needed, Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport, Bar Harbor, ME

Where: Maine, KBHB

When: May 15 to October 15

Fly daily, weather permitting, estimated 400-600 rides

Alcohol and drug testing required

Commercial glider rating and 2-32 proficiency

Compensation plus tips

Free room and use of kitchen, bath, and laundry

Email: governor@coloradosoaring.org for complete information.

Pat

Pat Valdata

author of The Other Sister , now on YouTube and wikispaces

*** From Vicki Ting:

To Whom It May Concern:

Good day. My name is Vicki Ting, and on behalf of The Wilderness Society, we would appreciate it if the Ned’s Job of the Week could circulate a job posting for our organization. We currently have 2 positions available, one for the California/Nevada Regional Director and one for California Communications Director. Both positions are available immediately, and the application closing date is Feb 16th, 2009.

Please see the attached job descriptions. We appreciate all of your efforts within this process.

Thank you very much and have a wonderful day.

Sincerely,

Vicki Ting

(Note: The communications Director position is posted in JOTW 04-2009 at www.nedsjotw.com.)

2.) California/Nevada Regional Director, The Wilderness Society, San Francisco, CA

For over 70 years The Wilderness Society, a national non-profit conservation organization, has been at the forefront of nationwide efforts to protect wilderness and inspire Americans to care for our wild places. The Society’s California/Nevada Regional Office has a long, proud history of successfully protecting the forests, deserts, mountains, and other wild places critical to the well-being of the people of California and Nevada.

The Regional Director is responsible for leading, managing, and inspiring a skilled and diverse regional team of 15 staff in the conception, development, implementation, and evaluation of programs aimed at achieving statutory and administrative protections for high priority wild lands in the region. The Regional Director will oversee strategic planning efforts and provide the necessary creativity and vision to ensure the region grows and adapts to new conservation challenges while remaining effectively integrated with the rest of the organization. The Regional Director must also play a pivotal role in cultivating and managing relationships with key partners in other leading environmental organizations and advocacy communities, as well as Members of Congress, state and federal government officials, regulatory agencies, and the media to maintain The Society’s strong and respected presence in the region. Substantial fundraising efforts are required of the position.

PRIORITY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead, manage, and inspire the California/Nevada regional team and promote its integration with The Wilderness Society's broader, multidisciplinary environment.

• Provide day-to-day supervision to regional staff, including: defining expectations, setting priorities, assessing results, encouraging professional growth, and cultivating a supportive, collegial team atmosphere.

• Provide the vision and strategic leadership to develop and implement an overall strategic plan for the region that allows for necessary growth, diversification of expertise, and new approaches to conservation.

• Guide regional staff in establishing and maintaining well-designed, effective advocacy campaigns for The Wilderness Society's priority work in the region.

• Play a leadership role in initiating, building, and maintaining collaborative relationships with key partner organizations as well as Members of Congress, state and federal government officials, and regulatory agencies.

• Working with Membership and Development staff, contribute significantly to fundraising efforts with philanthropic foundations, individual donors and other sources.

• Maintain a deep and thorough understanding of land conservation efforts in the region, as well as key national efforts. Ensure that the region’s perspective and concerns are understood by the rest of the organization.

• Travel as needed to ensure current knowledge of the region’s wild lands, develop relationships with partners and key players throughout the region, and maintain close coordination with regional staff in remote, field offices.

FUNCTIONAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

The ideal candidate should possess the following skills and experience:

• A substantial record of success directing advocacy campaign work in a highly complex, multi-layered, fast-paced environment.

• Extensive experience in environmental advocacy, public policy, grassroots organizing and/or public land conservation issues.

• Proven managerial excellence, including a track record for cultivating and retaining outstanding personnel and managing large, complex budgets.

• A history of successfully developing collaborations, alliances, and partnerships with key leaders among diverse ethnic and racial groups as well as other interests.

• A strong background in and familiarity with federal, state and local governments –both executive and legislative branches – and in public policy processes and institutions.

• Deep knowledge and understanding of environmental and political issues, environmental organizations, key government decision-makers, media outlets and significant funders in California and Nevada.

• Excellent writing skills and the ability to speak effectively in public.

• Successful experience working with donors, foundations and corporations to raise money.

• Extensive experience in effectively representing issues and positions to the media.

• Strong organizational and management skills and the ability to maintain an effective working environment while working under pressure.

INTERPERSONAL:

The ideal candidate would have one or more of the following leadership characteristics:

• The vision to lead and inspire a staff of outstanding professionals.

• A solid professional presence combined with proven management ability.

• In depth knowledge of public land conservation issues and a personal commitment to protect wilderness.

• Strong intellect, creativity, drive, and initiative.

• Superb organizational and interpersonal skills combined with the ability to diplomatically prioritize sometimes conflicting demands.

EDUCATION:

Bachelor’s degree, or its demonstrated equivalent, required. Relevant graduate work will be highly regarded.

We offer a very competitive salary and benefits package, including health and dental insurance and a generous pension plan. The Wilderness Society is an equal opportunity employer and actively works to ensure fair and equal treatment of its employees and constituents regardless of differences based on culture, socioeconomic status, race, marital or family situation, gender, age, ethnicity, religious beliefs, physical ability, or sexual orientation.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: February 16, 2009.

Please send resume and cover letter to Sara Barth, The Wilderness Society, re: Regional Director position, 655 Montgomery Street, Suite 1000, San Francisco, CA 94133, or email to CANV_Regional_Director@tws.org.

3.) President & CEO, Wildlife Heritage Foundation of Wyoming, Cheyenne, Wyoming

Organization Overview: The mission of the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of Wyoming is to generate and provide financial support for wildlife conservation in Wyoming. Founded in 2000, the Foundation is an independent, apolitical, charitable, nonprofit corporation whose vision is to sustain an enduring natural legacy for future generations through stewardship of all wildlife in Wyoming.

The Foundation directs its efforts and resources into three major areas:

Species conservation.

Habitat protection.

Enhancement and conservation education for the general public.

Because insufficient funding is a problem common among many state fish and wildlife agencies across the country, the development of private foundations has become an important vehicle to bridge the gap. The Foundation is committed to supporting the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and its governing body, the Game and Fish Commission by raising and administering money for Wyoming conservation needs and helping to solve problems in order to protect the state’s more than 800 species of game and non-game wildlife.

The Board of Directors of the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of Wyoming is made up of highly committed individuals with close ties to Wyoming and interests that span the spectrum of wildlife concerns. The Board has responsibility for directing the funding priorities of the Foundation and overseeing its operations in coordination with the President & CEO.

Duties: The President & CEO of the Foundation is responsible for the development and execution of comprehensive strategic, annual work plans, and a fundraising strategy to significantly enhance the operating and endowed financial resources of the this independent organization. The President & CEO reports to the Board of Directors and works closely with the chair of the Board, members of the Board, and the leadership of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the Game and Fish Commission.

Specific responsibilities include:

Fundraising — The President & CEO develops comprehensive fundraising plans and leads all fundraising efforts to meet the goals established for the Foundation’s programs. The President & CEO cultivates a portfolio of major donors, develops appropriate relationships with corporate and foundation sponsors, and maintains highly collaborative relationships with the Game and Fish Department and Commission representatives. The President & CEO also develops a highly efficient and effective fundraising infrastructure and donor acknowledgement program.

Strategic Leadership — The President & CEO gives direction and leadership toward the achievement of the Foundation’s mission, vision, goals and objectives. The President & CEO is responsible for development and implementation of the annual budget adopted by the Board, managing all activities of the Foundation, and providing strategic leadership for all areas of the Foundation and its advancement program, including programmatic, financial, and administrative operations.

Staff and Volunteer Management — The President & CEO is responsible for educating and engaging staff and volunteers in the advancement process and directing their activities appropriately.

Board Management — The President & CEO reports monthly to the Board on the action and status of the Foundation. He/she works with the chair of the Board to fulfill the board’s governance responsibilities.

Communications and Community Outreach — The President & CEO is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive marketing plan and being the public face of the Foundation in a variety of situations. He/she represents the Foundation consistently, enthusiastically, and professionally with public and private constituents, elected officials, business leaders, agency representatives, donors, and members of the public.

Operations Management — The President & CEO provides leadership and direction to a broad-based program including fundraising, grant-making, communications, and administration. The President & CEO is responsible for leading all the day-to-day operations of the Foundation, including employment and supervision of such staff as necessary to efficiently conduct the affairs of the Foundation.

The President & CEO provides strategic leadership to the Foundation, its staff, its Board, and other volunteers. He/she collaborates with and actively supports the efforts of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate for this position will be a seasoned executive with a demonstrated track record of success in fundraising and in managing and working within nonprofit organizations. Other skills that we seek in a new leader include:

Leadership abilities, mastery of modern business administration and a vision for the future.

Proven major gift fundraising abilities and accomplishments including the development of multi-dimensional fundraising activities and an efficient, solid fundraising infrastructure.

A strong interest in and enthusiasm for conserving Wyoming’s wildlife.

Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.

Strong diplomatic and negotiating skills and the ability to collaborate and build networks and coalitions.

Politically astute and able to work collaboratively across partnering organizations.

Ability to build trust and effective working relationships with the Foundation’s Board of Directors, the Game and Fish Department, and the Game and Fish Commission.

Ability to represent the Foundation in multiple venues and with a wide variety of constituents.

Experience in recruiting, coaching and developing people and a team orientation toward managing staff and volunteers.

The successful candidate’s managerial style will demonstrate creativity, flexibility, patience, and a sense of humor. The ideal candidate must be able to clearly interpret the philosophy and mission of the Foundation and define personal goals and plans. Outstanding fundraising credentials are required; the highest ethical standards are assumed.

Successful candidates must be willing to travel Wyoming as needed and should have an undergraduate degree; advanced degrees are preferred. Knowledge of and experience in wildlife conservation and management are also preferred.

Salary and Benefits: The salary and benefits are negotiable and commensurate with the experience and proven ability of the successful applicant.

The Wildlife Heritage Foundation of Wyoming is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.

To Apply: All applications are to be submitted via e-mail. To apply for this position, please send your resume, cover letter, and salary requirements to:

Carolyn McCormick

Peak HR Consulting, LLC

E-mail: Carolyn.McCormick@peakhrconsulting.com

http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/jobs/job_item.jhtml?id=241100017

4.) Ecuador-Country Program Director, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, New York

http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/jobs/job_item.jhtml?id=241900029

5.) Wilderness Field Instructors, Second Nature Entrada, Santa Clara, Utah

Second Nature Entrada is a licensed treatment program that uses the wilderness setting as a clinically focused intervention to teach students and adults about accountability, communication skills, and healthy emotional and behavioral habits. Treatment plans are individualized for each student and include flexible lengths of stay, group sessions, and individualized weekly therapy with doctorate level therapists.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

Wilderness Field Instructors facilitate a clinically-focused wilderness experience that allows clients to actualize their potential. Field Instructors teach and role-model healthy expressions of emotion and appropriate behavior patterns while keeping the clients safe backpacking in the desert of southwestern Utah.

At Entrada, doctorate level therapists work together with Field Instructors as a treatment team. Instructors work in a team of three to four staff with a group of eight to ten clients. Treatment plans are individualized for each client, and include flexible lengths of stay, daily group therapy sessions, and individual therapy sessions.

The wilderness provides immediate natural consequences for client's choices. The treatment team is available to process this cause and effect relationship and facilitate the client making new choices in the future. Entrada focuses on teaching clients how to communicate assertively and be accountable for their choices.

In addition to the clinical approach, Field Instructors teach primitive skills, backpacking skills, and Leave No Trace ethics. Entrada clients and instructors backpack five days a week between two to ten miles a day. Instructors work an eight day shift in the backcountry with six days off to mountain bike, rock climb, travel, or simply relax.

LOCATION

Entrada is the name of the beautiful red rock sandstone of southern Utah; it also means entrance or gateway. The field area, comprising of the Mojave Desert, the Sonoran Desert and the Great Basin eco-system, form a diverse and beautiful place to work. Amazing National Parks such as Zion, Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon are nearby waiting to be explored on your week off.

The elevation in this area ranges anywhere from 4,000 to 8,000 feet. Temperatures in the summer range from the mid-sixties to the upper nineties; while winter temps are fairly mild, with the average low of the season reaching twenty-five degrees.

TIME COMMITMENT

All prospective Field Instructors will attend a seven day training period where you'll experience first-hand how the Entrada program works while enjoying a week in the amazing wilderness of Southern Utah. Trainees will learn to maintain client safety, role-model assertive communication skills and teach clients how to be accountable for their choices.

Participation in the training period does not guarantee you a job, although Entrada does have high hopes for you based on its requirements. At the end of the training period, you will be notified of your employment status.

Upcoming 2009 Training Date Openings:

May 22nd—28th

June 12th—18th

July 24th—30th

August 14th—20th

New instructors begin by participating in an internship period. This consists of three, eight-day shifts. During the internship, new instructors have the chance to learn the program by watching, doing, and listening to the experiences of experienced staff. After this period, Field Instructors move through Second Nature's Level system (Levels I-V).

The Field Instructor position requires a one-year commitment

PERKS & REWARDS

Pay starts at $115/day and progresses up to $195/day with scheduled bonuses ($23,920 to $40,560 per year). Prior experience is recognized. Benefits include full health and dental insurance and a variety of professional gear deals. Entrada also provides training stipends for WFR, professional conferences, hard-skills workshops and other professional development.

Although housing is not provided, many people find living arrangements with other field instructors, sharing apartments with a person on your opposite schedule or renting a house together.

THE ESSENTIALS

Applicants must be 19 years of age. CPR and first aid certification is required, although Wilderness First Responder, EMT or WEMT certification is preferred. A Bachelor's degree in a related field or an equivalent amount of relevant experience is preferred. In order to be promoted to Level III, you must be at least 21 years of age.

Since you will be backpacking and hiking most of your shift (2-10 miles per day), professional or personal wilderness and backpacking experience is a definite plus. Energetic, fun and creative individuals who love the outdoors are encouraged to apply.

YOUR FIRST MOVE

Mail, email or fax your resume, cover letter, three professional letters of recommendation and a completed application.

CONNECTIONS

Sara Carroll

Recruiter

Second Nature Entrada

2711 Santa Clara Dr.

Santa Clara, UT 85765

435.669.3580

435.674.9309 fax

entradarecruiter@snwp.com

www.2nentrada.com

http://www.backdoorjobs.com/entrada.html

*** Your Very Next Step is a service of the Job of the Week Network LLC

© 2009 The Job of the Week Network LLC

Edward Lundquist, ABC

Editor and Publisher

Your Very Next Step

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lundquist989@cs.com

www.nedsjotw.com

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“Stress is the trash of modern life – we all generate it but if you don't dispose of it properly, it will pile up and overtake your life.”

~Danzae Pace

“You find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.”

– Samuel Johnson

“In London, love and scandal are considered the best sweeteners of tea.”

– John Osborne

Your Very Next Step newsletter for January 2009

“There are just two things on this material earth—people and natural resources.”

– Gifford Pinchot

“Life is all about making connections, managing expectations, and making the waitress smile.”

– Ned Lundquist

The next adventure begins with your very next step.

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“Tolerance, inter-cultural dialogue and respect for diversity are more essential than ever in a world where peoples are becoming more and more closely interconnected.”

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Contact Ned at lundquist989@cs.com.

*** In this issue:

*** Travel News

*** Thinking of visiting the Nation's capital for the Inauguration?

*** World premiere of “Journey to Mecca”

*** YVNS recipe of the month: Malay Bagadils

*** Ice Queen Gwen Saunders and those Ice Festivals

*** Sarah Armstrong reports from Sierra Leone

*** YVNS “Sport You Must Try” for January: Winter surfing in New England

*** Best Job in the World

*** Historic Hagerstown?

*** Travel/Outdoors and Adventure jobs (a dozen of them at least)

1.) Professional Ski Patroller, Heavenly Mountain Resort, Vail Resorts Management Company, South Lake Tahoe, CA

2.) TV 8 Intern / Production Assistant, Vail Mountain, Vail, CO

3.) Aircraft Electrical Design Engineer, GoGo, Aircell, Itasca, IL

4.) Director of Public Relations, Terranea Resort, Destination Hotels & Resorts, Lowe Hospitality Group, Rancho Palos Verdes, California

5.) Park Guide, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, National Park Service, Department Of The Interior, Organ Pipe National Monument, AZ

6.) International Tourism Consultant, United Nations Development Programme, Novi Pazar, Serbia

7.) RETAIL STORE HOURLY JOBS, Recreational Equipment, Inc., (REI), Nationwide

8.) Travel Photographer, Frommer's Travel Guides, Hoboken, NJ

9.) Recreation Spec. (Outdoor/Community Activities), United States Coast Guard, Department Of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, Training Center –

Yorktown, Comptroller and Personnel Support Division, Comptroller

Branch, MWR Section, Yorktown, VA

10.) Waiters/Waitresses, Seabourn Cruise Lines, Various

11.) Coordinator, Martu Ranger Program (southern zone), Western Desert Lands

Aboriginal Corporation, Jigalong, Western Australia

12.) SUPERVISORY OUTDOOR RECREATION PLANNER, BUREAU OF RECLAMATION, Department Of The Interior, Tiber Dam, MT

…and that aforementioned best job in the world…

…and much more…and it’s all FREE!!!

*** Here’s the YVNS Travel News for January:

*** http://www.usatoday.com/travel/deals/inside/2008-12-24-top-airline-stories_N.htm

***How does your airline board the aircraft? Back to front? From the window seats to the aisles? Check this sit out and see what system your airline uses:

http://www.seatguru.com/articles/boarding_procedures.php

*** From ATW Daily News:

McCain seeks to abolish “perimeter rules” for Washington National and New York LaGuardia.

US Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.) this week introduced legislation to abolish the “perimeter rules” that restrict flights to/from Washington National and New York LaGuardia. Federal statute prohibits flights between DCA and airports beyond 1,250 mi., though several notable exceptions have been made. A similar 1,500 mi. restriction is imposed on LGA with an exception made for service to Denver. McCain, who returned to the Senate this week following his failed presidential campaign, long has been a proponent of eliminating the perimeters and was involved actively in the passage of an exception to allow flights between DCA and Phoenix, his home city. Exceptions also have been granted for limited flights between DCA and DEN, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Seattle.

(More… http://www.atwonline.com/news/other.html?issueDate=1%2F9%2F2009)

*** Thinking of visiting the Nation’s capital for the Inauguration?

Beginning at 2 a.m. Tuesday, January 20, personal vehicles (cars, SUVs, pickups, vans, etc.) will not be allowed to enter Washington from Virginia. Those driving are encouraged to seek out public transportation to access the District on Inauguration Day. (See Public Transit Resources for more information). Personal vehicles will only be able to enter Washington by driving in from designated Maryland routes.

Inauguration Traffic/Event Resources

Visitors are encouraged to stay informed of traffic and weather conditions by checking the following Web sites before traveling:

• District of Columbia’s Inaugural Web site www.inauguration.dc.org

Official Inaugural Web site http://inaugural.senate.gov/2009/planyourtrip.cfm

• Washington Post http://voices.washingtonpost.com/inauguration-watch/transportation/

WTOP Radio www.wtopnews.com

• National Weather Service: http://www.weather.gov

For Virginia-specific information log onto the Virginia State Police Web site at http://www.vsp.state.va.us/Inauguration_2009.shtm.

*** From Hwee Suan Ong:

World premiere of “Journey to Mecca”

“Journey to Mecca” is a film about Ibn Battuta’s journey to perform the haj; the fifth pillar of Islam, and an obligation that must be carried out at least once in the lifetime of every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so.

A 21-year old scholar, Ibn Battuta set off from his home in Tangier, and travelled some 3,000 miles to Mecca. Along the way, he met with a fellow brother, who became his protector, guide and friend. The film is a visual feast of breathtaking desert landscapes, and an unprecedented access to Mecca, the holy city that non-Muslims are not allowed to visit. “Journey to Mecca” presents real scenes of millions of pilgrims performing their annual haj. The sight is mesmerizing. And it is most dramatic to see millions of people from all corners of the world and all walks of life come together, and become equal, and one in the name of Allah.

“Journey to Mecca” held its premiere on the grounds of the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi on 7 Jan 2009. Ibn Battuta is regarded as the Arab world's greatest traveler who had traveled three times more than Marco Polo. After Mecca, he continued to travel, pursue knowledge and made friends from people throughout Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. I hope this film travels far and wide too. http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1019620323012.

(This conversation led to another conversation, about food…)

*** From Hwee Suan Ong, originally from Singapore and now living and working in Abu Dhabi:

My fave Malay food is bagadils. I ALWAYS eat them whenever I go to a Malay foodstall.

Bagadils (Malay potato patty with beef)

Ingredients:

4 large potatoes – skin peeled, diced, boiled and mashed

1 large onion – diced

2 sticks celery – diced (optional)

2 garlic – diced

1 spring onion chopped

1 egg (beaten)

Minced beef

Salt

Pepper

Oil for deep frying

Method:

Heat oil. Fry onions, garlic, celery.

Add beef to mixture. Fry.

Add celery. Fry.

Add spring onions.

Mix all into mashed potatoes. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Shape mixture into balls (size of golf balls). Flatten them lightly.

Heat oil.

Coat patty with egg.

Drop into hot oil, fry till lightly brown.

Serve with salad.

*** Suan sends this along, too:

Australia offers 'best job in world' on paradise island

SYDNEY (AFP) – An Australian state is offering internationally what it calls “the best job in the world” — earning a top salary for lazing around a beautiful tropical island for six months.

The job pays 150,000 Australian dollars (105,000 US dollars) and includes free airfares from the winner's home country to Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland's state government announced on Tuesday.

In return, the “island caretaker” will be expected to stroll the white sands, snorkel the reef, take care of “a few minor tasks” — and report to a global audience via weekly blogs, photo diaries and video updates.

The successful applicant, who will stay rent-free in a three-bedroom beach home complete with plunge pool and golf buggy, must be a good swimmer, excellent communicator and be able to speak and write English.

“They'll also have to talk to media from time to time about what they're doing so they can't be too shy and they'll have to love the sea, the sun, the outdoors,” said acting state Premier Paul Lucas.

“The fact that they will be paid to explore the islands of the Great Barrier Reef, swim, snorkel and generally live the Queensland lifestyle makes this undoubtedly the best job in the world.”

Lucas said the campaign was part of a drive to protect the state's 18 billion Australian dollar a year tourism industry during the tough economic climate caused by the global financial meltdown.

“Traditional tourism advertising just doesn't cut it sometimes and we are thinking outside the box by launching this campaign.”

Queensland Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said some people might question whether it was risky to let an unknown person become an unofficial tourism spokesperson for the state.

“I think the biggest risk will be that the successful candidate won't want to go home at the end of the six months,” she said.

“This is a legitimate job which is open to anyone and everyone.”

Applications are open until February 22. Eleven shortlisted candidates will be flown to Hamilton Island in early May for the final selection process and the six month contract will commence on July 1.

Job-seekers can apply on Islandreefjob.com.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090113/od_afp/lifestyleaustraliatourismoffbeat_20090113032028

*** Where Does the Dollar Do Best?

Frommer's Global Price Index for January 2009

http://www.frommers.com/articles/5704.html

*** Gwen Saunders, about those Ice Festivals:

You list four U.S. ice festivals. You should go international and include

the Sapporo Snow & Ice Festival (Sapporo Yuri Matsui) that takes place on

the Japanese island of Hokkaido. (According to the Web, it's Feb. 5-11,

2009.) I went to it in 1980 when I was stationed in Japan. It's fabulous:

Roast chestnuts or roast ears of corn in the husks fresh off grills from

vendors, street lights illuminating gigantic ice and snow sculptures of

warriors, castles, mythic creatures, the Seven Lucky Gods – anything the

sculptor could imagine. And the skiing wasn't bad, either.

Gwyneth

(As you can see I am pretty lazy. I use what's already written. I'm just

not very original.)

I should be so lazy! I thought of it when I saw your promised listings

yesterday. Oddly enough, I remember the specific food at the festival rather

than specific statues. I look back and relate every place to what I ate. Why

I'm not as big as a house instead of just a small cabin is a source of daily

wonder!

But your airport listings … It's been a while since I've flown

extensively, but I always loved Logan, and Philly was home base. I take

umbrage at it's top-of-the-list position as most stressful, especially

beating out JFK and Newark – I spent a week in Newark one night waiting on a

delayed departure due to weather and who can love JFK? Since moving here,

though, I have to say that my favorite airports are Savannah – very

friendly, Dallas-Ft. Worth – love the concourse and I prefer BWI of the

three D.C.-area terminals.

Love to travel, love to eat. Maybe I should investigate travel writing to

great food destinations …!

As for original – you're a big picture original. Who else would link

employment opportunities with piracy reports?

Gwyneth

*** I’ve never stayed there, but this looks like a cool hotel:

The Four Seasons Bali at Sayan Ubud

http://www.fourseasons.com/sayan/

*** Take a dip in the coolest hotel pools in the world:

http://www.thecoolhunter.net/travel/Where-Are-The-Worlds-Coolest-Hotel-Pools-/

The coolest hotel suites in the world:

http://www.travelblissful.com/2008/06/03/the-coolest-hotel-suites-in-the-world/

*** From Sarah Armstrong:

Report from A Brighter Tomorrow for Africa Foundation (BTA) December 2008

This was my sixth trip to Sierra Leone, West Africa, the country in which I have been working with community-based organizations for over three years. I have been fortunate on all of my trips to see a great deal of the country including all four provinces and many of the districts and towns. This year, I spent time in the Upper Banta Chiefdom in the Moyamba District, parts of the Bonthe District, the town of Makeni, the Bombali District, and Koidu Town in the Kono District, where the diamonds are mined.

I also spent considerable time in the capital, Freetown, a city that was built for 250,000 people but, because of the war, now has over 1 million people looking for work and trying to establish their lives.

BTA has an office in Freetown with a wonderful Programme Assistant, Abu Bakarr Kamara. He ensures that the funding we send from the States goes directly to those in need. He also provides regular reports on the work we are doing with the organizations BTA is supporting. I met with the directors of each of these organizations to review the latest status of their programs. A summary follows:

National Accountability Group: On December 9, we celebrated International Anti-Corruption Day with a gathering of hundreds of students from the areas in and around Freetown. We hosted a parade and a celebration and then conducted a meeting with Abdul Tejan Cole, The Anti-Corruption Commissioner of Sierra Leone. The Human Rights Commissioner of Sierra Leone and the Director of National Accountability Group, Lavina Banduah, were also part of the meeting. I talked about how our supporters in the US want to help reduce, and eventually eliminate, corruption in Sierra Leone. Others in the meeting, all important stakeholders in the fight against corruption in their country, underscored the importance of this objective. Additionally, students in the BTA-funded Sewing Seeds of Integrity Program performed skits that demonstrated how to respond to corruption in the families, schools, workplace and communities. This program features an education module that spreads the anti-corruption message throughout primary and secondary schools. It aims to teach children to be “corrupt free” at an early age and share this message with all those with whom they connect.

Children of the Nations:

School Feeding Program: We’re currently feeding over 400 children a day at a primary school where we provide milk in the morning and a full lunch later in the day. It’s the only nutritious meal these kids get. We’ve seen very good results – not only in weight gain but in academic improvement among all of the students. In fact, this past year, all of those who took the national exams from our school passed! The problem is there are many more children who want to join the program. We’ve met with both teachers and students to understand how much this program needs to expand its coverage.

Malnourished Preschoolers: We funded a program for malnourished children up until this past summer when it seemed that we had addressed the needs of all of the tiny ones in the area. The children were cared for near our school for one month and then the mothers were taught how to take care of these children and were given seeds and other items to continue the feeding program once they returned to their villages. These children had been from nearby villages but now we’ve seen that mothers from 8 and 10 miles away want and need to be in the program as well.

FreeTong Players: These are a group of performing artists who want to educate kids about their country and national history through song, dance and plays. The head of the organization, Charlie Haffner, has a wonderful, sustainable idea of renovating a series of school buildings located just outside of Freetown and turning them into a teaching and secondary school level “college.” The first step is to bring teachers into the college for three months to train them in using performing arts as a mechanism to enhance the education of students ages 10 – 18.

They then return to their schools throughout Sierra Leone to incorporate what they learned into the student curricula. We would also use the school as a camp for children to provide educational skill building through performing arts. For this project, we are asking for funding to renovate the buildings and supply the school with materials. Once that is completed, Charlie and his community will teach throughout the year.

Children’s Learning Services: To counter the effects of a bloody, 10-year war, we are helping to spread the message of peace as well as teaching the tools to handle conflict in non-violent ways. We are establishing “Peace Clubs” in the North and hope to expand this program to reach as many teachers and students as possible. This program will be self-sustaining in that eventually the students will teach other students and the skill building will spread throughout the country. On this trip, we went to Makeni and surrounding villages to meet with students and elders of the communities and chiefdom authorities. All share in the conviction that peace-building activities are essential to the future of their country.

Market Women’s Association: The illiteracy rate among women in Sierra Leone is 85%. The program we launched this year is aimed at substantially reducing that number while empowering as many women as possible. We began by training a cadre of 50 women. Then, starting in Freetown, this group is teaching women how to read and write as well as showing them how to make and sell things in the local market. This trip, we met with many of the new trainers who are clearly very enthusiastic about the training and transferring their knowledge to others as the program moves forward to others in the area.

Additional Activities During this Trip

• Rotary Club of Sierra Leone: I met with the club’s president and was invited to their holiday party in Freetown. Since I am a member of Rotary in McLean, VA, we are hoping to team with this club for helping Sierra Leone.

• Girl Scouts: At the request of The National Capital Area Girl Scouts, I met with the Girl Scouts (called Guides) in Freetown. I had a wonderful meeting with them and hope to arrange a joint project between the Freetown and the National Capital Area girls.

• Side Trips: In an effort to get to know as much as possible about the country, I also took trips to Bonthe Island and Kono. Bonthe is an island founded by the British and it was one of the places where slaves were traded in the 1800s. It was also where the British brought the queen during the Second World War to protect her. Kono is the largest diamond mining area in Sierra Leone and where much of the story took place in the film Blood Diamond. We were able to tour two of the mines while we were there are well as see the city. Kono was totally destroyed by the rebels during the war and 90% of the youth are still unemployed as jobs have yet to be recreated after the impact of conflict.

For Much Appreciated Donations, you can visit our website at www.brighterafrica.org where we accept credit through PayPal or checks can be sent to: 6886 McLean Province Circle, Falls Church, VA 22043. Thank You!

Sarah Armstrong, Director, BTA.

*** A good old boat, from a email newsletter received by Debra Caplick:

Hi Ned,

This is a little beyond the reach of the JOTW, but I thought perhaps you might have some sailing contacts on the East Coast that would be interested in this boat?

Debra

Debra Bethard-Caplick, MS, MBA, APR

Strategic Communications

Dear Good Old Boat Subscriber,

Something just came up that you (or someone you know) may want to know.

Holly Siegel sent this message:

“I have a 1962 Seafarer Polaris, 26 feet, designed by William Tripp. My

husband was restoring her until he became ill and passed away. I have

been trying to sell her for a year with no luck. At this time my

landlords are threatening to destroy her if I don't have her out of

here by January 1. I just heard of your website. Maybe you'd have an

idea.”

Since that message — with an impossible deadline — arrived, we have

had several email conversations with Holly. Knowing that there is hope

for the boat, her landlords have postponed the deadline until January

31. Her Seafarer Polaris is located in Delmar, Delaware, and is being

offered free to a good home.

Holly attached a photo of the boat. We have posted it for you onn this

page: .

Holly's email address is: svenskaflicka728@aol.com, or you can call her

cell phone: 302-258-4919.

This is the sort of project boat that might get a new good old boater

started or it might be just right for you or another reader like you.

Happy New Year from Karen, Jerry, and the Good Old Boat crew!

*** The YVNS sport of the month that Ned has never heard of:

Winter surfing in New England

“No surfing in Dorchester Bay,” lamented the lyric of a punk-era chestnut by the Gremmies. The idea of hanging 10 here seems even more incongruous in winter months, but it turns out that, while our seacoast is still no Waikiki, winter is prime time for surfing here. The waves are bigger, the crowds smaller, the vibe laid back. Still, even devotees will tell you that a surfer must be crazy – and covered in thick neoprene from head to toe – to consider braving the chill.

“I like surfing when the waves are bigger, cleaner, and more consistent,” says former Gremmie Ralph Fatello, who works at Cinnamon Rainbows surf shop in Hampton, N.H., runs SurfFreeOrDie.com, and produces surfing documentaries. “Unfortunately, that's mostly in the fall, when it's cold, and the winter, when it's really cold. It's not for the faint of heart.”

Where to do it Don't expect regulars to point out their surfing sweet spots. “Preserve some of the spirit of adventure and discovery,” Fatello says. “Go and find it on your own, like I did.” Poke around Boston's North Shore; Ogunquit, York, or Kittery Point in Maine; Hampton Beach in New Hampshire; or the outer edges of Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island.

http://www.boston.com/ae/events/articles/2008/01/24/off_the_beaten_slope/?page=2

*** L Street Brownies Shake Off Cold For Polar Plunge

The L Street Brownies braved the cold once again and kicked off the New Year with their traditional plunge into Boston Harbor Tuesday.

Dozens of men, women, and children took the quick dash along the beach into the chilly water in South Boston just after 9 a.m. – when the water temperature was about 41 degrees.

The polar plunge has been held for more than 100 years. The Brownies say they are the oldest polar bear swimming club in America.

Several swimmers used the event to raise money for charity.

wbztv.com/local/L.street.brownies.2.621224.html

*** L Street Brownies

L Street, South Boston

These are a bunch of mainly 50-something guys who run into Dorchester Bay every New Year's Day clad only in tiny bathing suits. You can find them at the L Street Bathhouse, built by the immortal James Michael Curley.

http://www.boston-online.com/bizarro/l_street_brownies.html

*** And this…from 2009:

http://www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/2009/01/01/L-Street-Brownies-plunge-into/1230833005.html

*** Boston is not alone:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7166934.stm

*** New Yorkers, of course, say they were first:

http://www.polarbearclub.org/

*** Some swims raise money:

http://www.saundersfootnyds.co.uk/home.html

*** From Connie Mayse:

Dear Ned,

Some people in the Cleveland area (this writer is not among them) like to take a brisk, envigorating dip into Lake Erie on News Year's Day – here's the story:

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/01/clevelanders_celebrate_new_yea.html

Instead, here's how we celebrated the New Year: Mike and I checked into the Glidden House, a really nice independent hotel in the European bed-and-breakfast style. Went to the lounge for a drink and found a New Year's Eve wedding celebration winding down – the bride wore a red and black gown, the groom a white dinner jacket. Headed to Severance Hall for a really nice prix fixe dinner, then to the concert hall for an evening with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra. Audience members were issued party horns, which we used to “sit in” with the orchestra on two numbers, directed by maestro Carl Topilow. Guest artists, The 3 Redneck Tenors, took the stage. Hilarity ensued, followed by dancing to our choice of two live bands. Watched the ball drop back at the Glidden House and shook our heads at Dick Clark's efforts to host his “rockin' New Year's Eve” party. In the morning, we enjoyed a well-stocked communal breakfast buffet before heading out to fuel the local economy by checking out furniture sales (bought a sofa and a bed).

Here's hoping 2009 is fun and prosperous for you and yours! cj

Connie J. Mayse

*** Historic Hagerstown?

I was driving past Hagerstown on my way up and back to New England for the New Year’s holiday (it saves a lot of aggravation going I81 and I84 instead of I95). I later looked up Hagerstown’s airport because there are some massive hangars there. Turns out this is where Fairchild Aircraft built their famous C-119 Flying Box Cars – more than a thousand of them in the 1950s and 1960s. The company was based here until 1984. The By the looks of it, this JATO-assisted aircraft has seen some hard firefighting duty of late, but looks to be in superb shape.

http://www.hagerstownaviationmuseum.org/

The Fairchild Hiller FH-227, C-26 Metroliner, and Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II were also built here.

Hagerstown used to be the home of Henson Aviation, now based at Salisbury. MD, under the name of Piedmont Aviation. The field is named in Richard Henson’s honor. It’s sort of close to some big airports, but not so close. So it is seeking some “Essential Air Service” providers. One of the bidders is a company that runs limos, and has never run an airline before. How hard can it be?

Of interest to travelers, Hagerstown is now served by Allegiant Airlines, which specializes in flying from underserved airports to destinations such as Orlando. I don’t know anyone who has flown this airline, but it seems like a good business plan to avoid the competition and offer low fares to people who would otherwise have to travel to Baltimore, Harrisburg or Washington.

http://www.flyhagerstown.com/index.html

http://www.allegiantair.com/aaRouteMap.php

*** Travel/Outdoors and Adventure jobs:

1.) Professional Ski Patroller, Heavenly Mountain Resort, Vail Resorts Management Company, South Lake Tahoe, CA

Heavenly Professional Patrol is hiring experienced ski patrollers for the 2008-2009 season. Heavenly is a fast paced Class “A” avalanche destination resort on the south shore of Lake Tahoe . We are seeking hard working and dedicated professionals to join our team for the upcoming season and beyond. Applicants must possess EMT or OEC and CPR certifications and be a strong skier. The season goes from late November to late April. Wages DOE.

Heavenly offers competitive benefits including health insurance.

Contact Heavenly Human Resources at (530) 542-5180 or visit www.skiheavenly.com for online application.

http://www.avalanche.org/special.htm

2.) TV 8 Intern / Production Assistant, Vail Mountain, Vail, CO

The intern will gain a general overview of the television productions industry. Will be exposed to a broad spectrum of positions within the department, including but not limited to: production, camera operation, and audio. Will complete work as assigned to various positions working with the daily live show production. Other tasks and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications:

Must be a high school or college student.

Must be willing to commit at least 6 weeks to the position.

No background in television is required, but must demonstrate an interest in learning more about the television business.

Must adhere to early morning call-time of 6:30am.

Strong communication skills are required.

A professional demeanor and appearance are required.

https://vailresorts.taleo.net/careersection/external/jobdetail.ftl

3.) Aircraft Electrical Design Engineer, GoGo, Aircell, Itasca, IL

Aircell is the world's leading provider of airborne communications. Gogo, powered by Aircell, turns a commercial airplane into a Wi-Fi hotspot with true inflight Internet access. We are hiring talented professionals who share our vision for providing premiere communication services to the aviation markets and making broadband on airplanes a reality. COME ABOARD A WINNING TEAM!

Aircell offers an excellent compensation and benefits package. Aircell employees receive comprehensive group insurance programs including health, dental, and vision coverage. In addition, employees receive life insurance coverage, plus short- and long-term disability insurance. Employees can elect to participate in a 125 pre-tax benefit program for health or dependent-care expenses, as well as a generous 401(k) investment plan. Employees also receive paid vacation and 8 paid holidays per year.

The Aircraft Electrical Design Engineer is responsible for Electrical design, drawings and assemblies of system components/equipment on all airplane models.

Key Responsibilities:

* Responsible for Electrical design, drawings and assemblies of system components/equipment on all models of airplanes.

* Design product variations for compatibility with complex integration of hardware and software.

* Ability to use AutoCAD Lt 2007.

* Coordinate between airplane customers and suppliers to ensure the functioning and compliance of all systems and equipment.

* Apply knowledge of Electrical engineering and scientific principles to develop, design, analyze, test and validate solutions for complex systems and sub-systems.

* Design cabin systems (electrical engineering aspects) to satisfy customer, FAA and internal requirements.

* Assist with trouble shooting system anomalies and propose solutions

* Support integrated supply chain with manufacturability and obsolescence issues, product transitions to new suppliers and cost savings initiatives.

* Generate and perform system test procedures and reports

* Familiar and competent in relevant FAA regulations.

Qualifications:

* 5+ years experience in aviation or related industry designing components and systems. Experience with Wiring Harness Assembly drawings, Wire Routing and clipping in transport category aircraft (REQUIRED).

* Bachelor*s degree in Electrical Engineering or related technical field or equivalent.

* Proficient with CAD software.

* Extensive experience with avionics systems

* Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.

* Excellent communication skills with the ability to interface with customers, vendors, and other AirCell departments.

Aircell LLC is an equal opportunity employer and works in compliance with both federal and state laws. We are committed to the concept regarding Equal Employment opportunity. Qualified candidates will be considered for employment regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, marital status, medical condition or disability.

HOW TO APPLY TO THIS OPENING

Prior to submitting your response, we encourage you to review our company web site, to learn more about us and the GoGo Inflight Internet service.

We request that you send us your response via e-mail only. In your subject line please include the position title. Your resume & cover in plain text, MS Word or RTF is welcomed at recruiting@aircell.com. Please no agencies, phone calls, third parties.

4.) Director of Public Relations, Terranea Resort, Destination Hotels & Resorts, Lowe Hospitality Group, Rancho Palos Verdes, California

THE RESORT

The embodiment of the classic southern California lifestyle will be

coming alive June 2009 when Terranea Resort opens along 102-acres of

irreplaceable Los Angeles shoreline. Terranea is an Earth-friendly,

picturesque Mediterranean-style hotel and real estate community,

sensitively inlaid on the breathtaking site where Hollywood favorites

like Pirates of the Caribbean have been filmed. Terranea will offer

guests and owners spectacular oceanfront views from a world-class

spa, 2 miles of on-property hiking trails and a family friendly

nine-hole golf course with short game practice facilities.

THE BUSINESS

The design and development of Terranea Resort (“Terranea”) can be

attributed to the talents of the Lowe Destination Development under

the Lowe Hospitality Group, a division of Lowe Enterprises. For more

than 35years, Lowe Enterprises, (a privately held, Los Angeles-based

entity) has planned, developed and operated luxury resorts and

residential communities across the United States, such as the Resort

at Squaw Creek, The Reserve, and SunRiver Resort. For more

information about Lowe Destination Development (“LDD”), visit

www.lowedd.com ; .

As part of the Lowe Hospitality Group, Destination Hotels & Resorts

will manage the operations of Terranea Resort as well as the Ocean

Villas, Ocean Casitas and Ocean Bungalows at Terranea. Widely

recognized as one of the most accomplished resort management

companies in America, Destination Hotels & Resorts currently operates

30 independent, luxury and upscale hotels, resorts and golf clubs

across the nation. For more information about Destination Hotels &

Resorts, visit their website at www.destinationhotels.com

; .

OUR CULTURE

Destination Hotels & Resorts (“DH&R”) fosters a creative,

entrepreneurial and energetic work environment. We value passionate

people who love to be challenged and desire the freedom to contribute

to the overall success of the organization. Your role will be

integral to the success of our company. We strive to create a work

place Culture that values family, work life balance and community. We

help develop our associates and provide support for them to grow

their careers with DH&R. Our associates are proud to work here!

The Opportunity

To generate revenue for Terranea Resort and sustain the integrity of

the resort brand by working with the Vice President of Sales and

Marketing to develop and oversee the implementation of the annual

marketing, pr, e-marketing, direct mail and collateral plans. Oversee

all aspects of creation, development, implementation and management

of all branding, positioning, advertising, public relations,

collateral development and promotional programs for the resort

through internal efforts and direction of external agencies and

vendors. Providing direction and being the key contact for the

Resorts agencies and vendor relationships. Develop and implement an

on-going community relations program to support and enhance the

resorts efforts in the community. Work with VPS&M to ensure costs fit

within budget and review and report results on ROI for all programs.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: Includes the following: (Other duties may be

assigned) 1. Maintain complete knowledge and documentation of all

resort history/services/features/programs/hours of operation 2. Stay

abreast of trends in the industry and provide direction for the

marketing team to take advantage of those trends 3. Promote positive

relations with guests, owners, employees and community 4. Write press

releases and maintain and distribute media kits 5. Monitor Reputation

Management Tool as well as travel review web sites daily and report

reviews and responses 6. Audit resort website and partner websites

such as ALHI or Starcite for content, photography and test form

fields 7. Monthly tracking and ordering of collateral throughout the

resort 8. Attend designated trade and media trips 9. Join local

charities and organizations as appropriate 10. Attend social,

industry and community events as appropriate 11. Maintain databases

of media, community, owner and client information.

12. Entertain media clients at hotel as necessary 13. Plan and

implement media visits and media tours 14. Work in conjunction with

other departments to determine and promote newsworthy packages,

promotions and events.

15. Develop relationships with other industry professionals to create

awareness of hotel in community/region.

16. Responsible for development of hotel PR crisis plan.

17. Maintain clippings and e-marketing reports regarding hotel

18 Direct response to donation requests, maintain donation database

and arrange for displays at appropriate charitable events 19. Arrange

and direct photo/video shoots as necessary and responsible for image

library 20. Maintain relationship with real estate marketing to

ensure program and cost synergies 21. Responsible for the “look and

feel” of every resort activity regardless of department planning

events 22.Perform special projects or assignments assigned by Resort

Executive Committee

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to

perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge,

skill and/or the ability required.

1. Independent thinker with developed problem solving skills 2.

Ability to manage high volume, diverse workload and able to

prioritize and organize work assignments 3. Ability to promote

positive relationships with community, owners, clients guests and

staff 4. Ability to ensure confidentiality of guest, owner and hotel

data 5. Ability to work within a cohesive team or perform job

functions independently with minimal supervision 6. Ability to be a

clear thinker, analyze and resolve problems while exercising good

judgment 7. Creative and innovative 8. Focus attention to detail.

Proofing/re-writing other department's communications as needed 9.

Demonstrates consistent high level of professionalism 10. Must

possess excellent written and verbal communication skills 11. Ability

to remain calm and courteous with demanding/difficult situations 12.

Ability to balance time and work well with deadlines Skills and

Education Requirements 1. 3+ years upscale resort managerial

experience required, preferably 2 years in sales or marketing related

positions and/or advertising/public relations agency experience.

2. 4-year degree in business, marketing, advertising, public

relations, communications or management.

3. Excellent writing, communication and proof reading skills 4.

Computer skills to include word, excel, PowerPoint, photo shop, adobe

and database management

http://www.cytiva.com/dest/DetailDest.asp?dest7425

5.) Park Guide, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, National Park Service, Department Of The Interior, Organ Pipe National Monument, AZ

http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=75251713

6.) International Tourism Consultant, United Nations Development Programme, Novi Pazar, Serbia

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-7MNLGY

7.) RETAIL STORE HOURLY JOBS, Recreational Equipment, Inc., (REI), Nationwide

PUT YOUR LOVE OF THE OUTDOORS TO WORK AT REI!

Our store is not only a great place to shop, it's an inspiring place to work! Join our team of employees who share a love of the outdoors and a passion for providing great service.

APPLY IN PERSON AT A STORE NEAR YOU. Although we are not always actively hiring, we accept applications at all times, and encourage you to apply today! To find a store near you, use our Store Locator (see the link under “Maps” on the sidebar).

Typical full- and part-time positions include:

– Sales Specialists

– Cashier/Customer Service Specialists

– Shipping and Receiving Specialists

– Ski/Bike Shop Technicians

For all positions, we look for employees who can provide excellent service to our customers, demonstrate support and respect for their team members and have an interest in the outdoors. In addition, you must have the ability to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends. Previous retail sales and customer service experience is preferred.

We offer sales training to all new employees, and we support your growth via a wealth of career-building resources.

Apply today!

REI is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

https://secured.kenexa.com/reiv35/newhr/jobdesc.asp?ID=1600&jobreq=1632

8.) Travel Photographer, Frommer's Travel Guides, Hoboken, NJ

We are interested in working with published travel photographers. Please include any URLs where your images can be reviewed, tear sheets and stock lists of locations that you've shot in depth. We tend to select images that capture a slice of life that reflects a particular place. For a better idea of the types of images we prefer, simply take a look at any Frommer's Travel Guide.

If you are a photographer, submit your cover letter to:

Frommer's Travel Guides

ATTN: Photo Editor

Wiley Publishing, Inc.

111 River Street, 5th Floor

Hoboken, NJ 07030

http://www.frommers.com/about/about_jobs.html

9.) Recreation Spec. (Outdoor/Community Activities), United States Coast Guard, Department Of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, Training Center –

Yorktown, Comptroller and Personnel Support Division, Comptroller

Branch, MWR Section, Yorktown, VA

http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=78297271

10.) Waiters/Waitresses, Seabourn Cruise Lines, Various

We seek committed, experienced and enthusiastic people for these challenging and rewarding roles.

Description

To provide and maintain high service and customer care standards to our guests onboard. As a member of the ships crew you will also be required to hold a position of responsibility within the ships emergency plan. (Training for your emergency duty will be given).

Requirements

Minimum age 20

Must hold a diploma from a recognized apprenticeship program, or equivalent.

Have at least two years full-time restaurant service experience in a five star establishment catering to an international clientele.

Must have good command of the English language both written and spoken.

Have a pleasant, positive and outgoing personality combined with a desire to succeed.

http://www.seabourn.com/Career/index.cfm?id=3

11.) Coordinator, Martu Ranger Program (southern zone), Western Desert Lands

Aboriginal Corporation, Jigalong, Western Australia

We are establishing an Indigenous ranger program based out of the

Western Desert communities to provide environmental services to

government using a mixture of traditional knowledge and contemporary

science.

We need an innovative and reliable person who can work with Martu people

to develop and implement this exciting initiative.

The position will be based out of Jigalong Community and will involve

regular and significant amounts of time working in country with a team

of Martu rangers.

A commitment to training and development is essential. Environmental

science and a familiarity with Western Desert culture are highly

desirable.

A generous package including housing is available. Start Feb-March 2009.

For full job description and conditions, please contact:

psee@itonline.com.au

Applications close on Friday, 16 January 2009.

12.) SUPERVISORY OUTDOOR RECREATION PLANNER, BUREAU OF RECLAMATION, Department Of The Interior, Tiber Dam, MT

Reclamation is a contemporary water management agency striving to

assist in meeting the increasing water demands of the West while

protecting the environment. Reclamation is best known for

construction of dams, power plants and canals, including Hoover Dam

on the Colorado River, Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River and

Folsom Dam on the American River. Today we are the largest

wholesaler of water in the country and the second largest producer

of hydroelectric power in the western United States generating nearly

a billion dollars in power revenues. For more about the Bureau

of Reclamation, visit our website at: http://www.usbr.gov

A relocation/recruitment incentive may be authorized.

Embark on an exciting future! Reclamation is seeking a mid-career

professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their

expertise as a Supervisory Outdoor Recreation Planner. This position

serves as the technical expert and program coordinator for Recreation

Management, Concession Management, Title 28, Public Conduct rules on

Reclamation lands, and related programs.

Excellent benefit package including paid vacations, sick days,

holidays, health and life insurance, an excellent retirement package

and other work-life programs.

Under Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and

nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) may

compete for civil service jobs.

NOTE: This Merit Promotion vacancy announcement for this position

is being advertised concurrently with Delegated Examining

Announcement (DEU) BR-DEGP-MT-08-61 (open to the public).

Applicants who are NOT current permanent or former permanent

competitive service Federal employees eligible for reinstatement, or

who are NOT eligible under special appointing authorities, should

apply under DEU vacancy announcement BR-DEGP-MT-08-61 to be

considered. Applicants who are current or former permanent

competitive service Federal employees eligible for reinstatement,

VEOA-eligible veterans, or eligible for special non-competitive

appointing authorities may apply to either announcement or both but

must submit separate applications for each announcement they wish to

be considered.

NOTE: This position is also being advertised as a Supervisory

Natural Resources Specialist, GS-0401, Announcement #'s BR-GP-MT-08-

78 and BR-DEGP-MT-08-62. Only one position may be filled from these

four announcements, depending upon the qualifications of the selected

candidate.

VEOA-eligible Veterans Information: Applications will also be

accepted from Veteran Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) eligibles –

Veterans who are preference eligibles or who have been separated

from the armed forces under honorable conditions after substantially

completing 3 or more years of continuous active service. For

additional information on Veterans visit:

http://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetguide.asp

LOCATION

Great Plains Region

Montana Area Office

Marias/Milk Rivers Division

Chester Field Office

Chester, MT

Living Conditions:

CHESTER FIELD OFFICE is in Chester, MT about 21 miles NE of Tiber

Dam. Chester (pop. 750) has shopping facilities average for a town

of that size. There are good schools through high school, several

churches, one hospital, two doctors, & one dentist in Chester. Full

facilities are available in other towns in the area (ie. Shelby or

Havre, MT). No Government housing. MT has a State income tax,

but no sales tax.

http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=77688744

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