SBA Opens Temporary Refinancing Program to Real Estate Mortgages Maturing after December 2012

Release Date: March 29, 2011
Contact: David J. Hall (202) 205-6697
Release Number: 11-22
Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Small business owners with eligible commercial real estate mortgages maturing after Dec. 31, 2012, will be able to secure more stable, long-term financing through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s temporary 504 refinancing program as a result of a change that will be published in The Federal Register by April 6.

In February, SBA implemented a temporary refinancing program enacted under the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, which allowed small businesses facing maturing commercial real estate mortgages or balloon payments before Dec. 31, 2012, to refinance with an SBA 504 loan. The SBA change will lift the date limitation and will allow more small businesses to secure stable, long-term financing and avoid potential foreclosure on mortgages approved before and during the recession that were based on inflated real estate values.

“With the collapse of the real estate bubble, many small business owners have found themselves unable to refinance as a result of inflated real estate values at the time they took out their mortgage,” SBA Administrator Karen Mills said. “SBA’s temporary 504 refinancing program was first made available to those small businesses with the most immediate need. Today’s step opens this critical assistance to more small businesses, giving them the opportunity to restructure their debt and free up capital that will be essential to keeping their doors open and also their future ability to grow and create jobs.”

To be eligible for the temporary 504 refinancing program, a business must have been in operation for at least two years, the debt to be refinanced must be for owner-occupied real estate and have been incurred no less than two years prior to the date of application and the proceeds used for 504-eligible business expenses, and payments on that debt must be current for the last 12 months.

The refinancing loan is structured like SBA’s traditional 504 loan. Typically, a 504 project includes three elements: a loan (or first mortgage) secured with a senior lien from a private-sector lender covering 50 percent of the project cost, a second mortgage secured with a junior lien from an SBA Certified Development Company (backed by a 100 percent SBA-guaranteed debenture) covering up to 40 percent of the cost, and a contribution of at least 10 percent equity from the small business borrower.

Borrowers are able to refinance up to 90 percent of the current appraised property value or 100 percent of the outstanding mortgage, whichever is lower, plus eligible refinancing costs. Loan proceeds may not be used for other business expenses. Existing 504 projects and government-guaranteed loans are not eligible to be refinanced.

Under the Jobs Act, Congress authorized SBA to approve up to $15 billion in loans under this program ($7.5 billion in both fiscal years 2011 and 2012). Together with the first mortgage, this temporary program will provide up to $33.8 billion of total project financing. Additional fees charged to the borrower will cover the cost of this refinancing program and as a result no loan subsidy will be needed from taxpayer funds. The program is expected to benefit as many as 20,000 businesses.

SBA’s traditional 504 loan program is a long-term financing tool, designed to encourage economic development within a community. A 504 loan provides small businesses with long-term, fixed-rate financing to acquire major fixed assets for expansion or modernization.

With publication in the Federal Register, which is expected by April 6, SBA will begin accepting applications from small business owners with mortgages maturing after Dec. 31, 2012. The program will be in effect through Sept. 27, 2012.

Google Mobile Payment, Facebook Investments, P-Fresh Expands

Google Mobile Payment, Facebook Investments, P-Fresh Expands

Published on March 28, 2011 | Comments: 0

Google is teaming up with MasterCard Inc. and Citigroup Inc. to embed technology in Android mobile devices that would allow consumers to make purchases by waving their smartphones in front of a small reader at the checkout counter, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Google is reportedly aiming to make mobile payments easier in a bid to boost its advertising business.

Business & Finance

• Investments in Facebook and Zynga have more than quintupled the implied worth of each company in the last two years, and the social shopping site Groupon is said to be considering an initial public offering that would value the company at $25 billion.
• Borders Group, which filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February 2011 and has announced plans to close about a third of its stores, said it plans to pay key employees as much as $8.3 million in incentives and retention bonuses, according to Bloomberg.
• Amazon.com will soon start construction on a new distribution center (DC) in Rheinsberg, Germany that it expects to open in Q4 2011.

Store Openings & Closings

• Target was scheduled to launch its expanded grocery “P-Fresh” remodels in several towns in Connecticut and in the St. Louis market, according to local reports.

E-commerce & Multichannel Retailing

• Ikea has stepped up efforts to engage Hong Kong customers online with a new Facebook initiative aiming to take the online experience to the real life shopping world.
• Shoparatti.com, a daily destination site dedicated to connecting online shoppers to third party fashion and lifestyle deals, launched today.
• 1-800-Registry, a full-service wedding advisory organization, launches today.

Store Design

• Whole Foods is testing in-store bars which serve artisan beer and locally produced wines in around 12 stores in a test before a wider rollout.

Stats & Research

• The top online retailers sent each of their subscribers 3.2 promotional emails on average during the week ending Mar. 25, 2011, which is up 3% week-over-week, up 11% from where it was four weeks ago, and up 17% year-over-year.
• US consumers’ personal income increased $38.1 billion, or 0.3%, and disposable personal income (DPI)increased $36.0 billion, or 0.3%, in February 2011, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Marketing & Advertising

• Niketown Boston, the Newbury Street store that features all things Nike, said it has begun mounting a series of events that aims to help runners gear up for the Boston Marathon with a customized training program.

POWER MEDIA GROUP, INC: Hispanic Growth Makes Its Vote Crucial to GOP Sena...

POWER MEDIA GROUP, INC: Hispanic Growth Makes Its Vote Crucial to GOP Sena...: "By The Americano.com| Al Cardenas, the new head of the American Conservative Union, said these voters are 'a force to be reckoned with..."

Hispanic Growth Makes Its Vote Crucial to GOP Senate Bid

By The Americano.com

| 

Al Cardenas, the new head of the American Conservative Union, said these voters are "a force to be reckoned with." He adds that the GOP's grasp of the growth and influence of U.S. Hispanic communities isn't as strong as some in the party would like it to be. "It's a work in progress."

To make this story simple, let us just accept two premises:

One: The Hispanic population has grown so dramatically in several states that Republican strategists see their vote as crucial to their party’s efforts to retake the Senate.

Two: Even if the population growth the 2010 census does not measure citizenship nor voter registration, the increase of Hispanics across the nation, and particularly in these states, is of such an enormous magnitude, that GOP strategists should begin to devise a strategy that will attract these voters to the Republican Party.

And they need to do it now, not wait until next year.

According to The Hill, the 2010 census shows that the Hispanic population in states such as Montana, Nebraska and Missouri grew by a huge percentage. In Nebraska the growth was 58 percent; in Nebraska, 77 percent and in Missouri it was 70 percent. All this in the last 10 years.

It is important to note that these are three of the states that Republican strategists believe are the best takeaway possibilities in the  November 2012 elections. Winning these three states, providing the GOP does not lose any of the 10 seats they are defending would give the party an excellent chance at taking over control of the Senate.

Currently the Senate has a Democratic majority composed of 51 Democrats and two Independents who caucus with them to give the Democratic Party a 53-47 majority in the upper chamber.

The Hill points out that it isn’t lost on GOP strategists that the reelection campaigns for those states’ Democratic senators — Jon Tester, in Montana;  Ben Nelson, in Nebraska, and Claire McCaskill, in Missouri — are expected to be close. Nor do they need reminding that a Republican majority in the Senate is at least three seats away.

“If this becomes an election all about the economy, there’s a major opening for a Republican candidate to appeal to Latino voters,” said Bob Moore, a Republican pollster. “But if it becomes about immigration, then it could be problematic for the Republican nominee.”

Each of Montana, Nebraska and Missouri’s Hispanic populations remains in the single digits. But with increasingly competitive Senate races, even small blocs of voters can make a difference. Hispanics favored Democrats by a 3-to-2 margin last election, in a year when a record 19 million Hispanic voters were eligible voters, according to the Pew Hispanic Center.

Al Cardenas, the new head of the American Conservative Union, said these voters are “a force to be reckoned with.”  He adds that the GOP’s grasp of the growth and influence of U.S. Hispanic communities isn’t as strong as some in the party would like it to be. “It’s a work in progress.”

Republicans need to develop their entreaties to this voting bloc.

“The key to it is not so much the substance of views, but the quality and compassion of your delivery,” said Cardenas.

Danny Diaz, a Republican strategist, echoed Cardenas’s concern, and said any talk about immigration leading into 2012 must be “respectful.”

“To the degree that it’s not, it’s less than helpful,” said Diaz, who advised Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) on his successful run last election cycle. “It’s largely understood, but the question is whether it makes its way into practice.”

The Hill recalled that GOP immigration hardliners, such as Rep. Steve King (Iowa) and former Rep. Tom Tancredo (Colo.), have indicated they want to keep immigration a national issue, especially as it pertains to the upcoming presidential nominating contest.

If Republicans are not careful with how they address the immigration issue, they could face an election day problem even in small state’s such as Nebraska,  Montana and Missouri. It makes no difference if the number of Hispanics in these states is still relatively small, and if those eligible to vote are even a smaller percentage.

In a close election, even small numbers of a small group, particularly one growing rapidly in numbers, could make a huge difference. It could well decide whether Republicans re-gain control of the Senate or whether they fall short.

The numbers are there. The issue is alive. Now it is up to Republican strategists to develop a way to make it work in their favor and not give Democrats an easy vote.

Think for example of what would happen if Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) decides again to bring up the DREAM Act, which would make a path to legality for younger illegal immigrants. That might become a litmus test in Republican presidential primary contests, which in turn might influence the vote in Senate races in November.

The Hill brings back the results of last November’s election as a reminder of what may lie ahead for Republican senate hopefuls. Reid took 69 percent of the Hispanic vote in Nevada’s Senate race last year, according to exit polls, which helped clinch his 5-point win over Republican candidate Sharron Angle. In Colorado, support from Hispanic voters helped Sen. Michael Bennet (D) defeat his 2010 Republican challenger in a race decided by fewer than 30,000 votes.

“In states that are purple, the vote of a few thousand Hispanics may well make the difference,” Cardenas said.

It used to be that the Hispanic vote was only crucial in states like Florida, Arizona, Texas, and California. Now it is also important in states like Ohio, Virginia and North Dakota. These are states that also recorded spikes in Latino population growth since the last census.

“You’ve got probably another 10 or 12 states where, in a very close election, [it] could be a significant tilting point,” Cardenas said.

“Latino voters are paying attention,” said Patricia Guadalupe, a spokeswoman for the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), a non-partisan group that trains candidates and tracks voter participation.

There are now 26 Hispanic members of Congress, eight of whom are Republicans, according to NALEO. Party strategists point out that Republican Hispanic candidates won last year’s races for governor in New Mexico and Nevada, along with races for Florida’s open Senate seat and four House seats.

Regardless, reliable Hispanic support for Democrats shows the GOP needs a “change in approach,” said Javier Ortiz, a Washington-based Republican strategist.

“You need to say, ‘Come and be a part of our campaign,’” Ortiz said, adding that methods of “Latino outreach” tend to separate Hispanics from the rest of American society. “There should be no distinction in the message that you deploy in the Hispanic community: The message is, ‘You are American.’”

Source: The Americano.com

2010 Census Shows America's Diversity

Hispanic and Asian Populations Grew Fastest During the Decade

WASHINGTON, March 24, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Census Bureau released today the second in a series of 2010 Census briefs, Overview of Race and Hispanic Origin: 2010, which looks at our nation's changing racial and ethnic diversity and provides a snapshot of the racial and Hispanic origin composition of the United States.

The examination of racial and ethnic group distributions nationally shows that while the non-Hispanic white alone population is still numerically and proportionally the largest major race and ethnic group in the United States, it is also growing at the slowest rate. Conversely, the Hispanic and Asian populations have grown considerably, in part because of relatively higher levels of immigration.

Hispanic Population Growth

More than half of the growth in the total U.S. population between 2000 and 2010 was because of the increase in the Hispanic population. Between 2000 and 2010, the Hispanic population grew by 43 percent, rising from 35.3 million in 2000 to 50.5 million in 2010. The rise in the Hispanic population accounted for more than half of the 27.3 million increase in the total U.S. population. By 2010, Hispanics comprised 16 percent of the total U.S. population of 308.7 million.

The non-Hispanic population grew relatively slower over the decade at about 5 percent. Within the non-Hispanic population, the number of people who reported their race as white alone grew even slower (1 percent). While the non-Hispanic white alone population increased numerically from 194.6 million to 196.8 million over the 10-year period, its proportion of the total population declined from 69 percent to 64 percent.

Race Distribution  

The overwhelming majority (97 percent) of the total U.S. population reported only one race in 2010. This group totaled 299.7 million. Of these, the largest group reported white alone (223.6 million), accounting for 72 percent of all people living in the United States. The black or African-American population totaled 38.9 million and represented 13 percent of the total population.

Approximately 14.7 million people (about 5 percent of all respondents) identified their race as Asian alone. There were 2.9 million respondents who indicated American Indian and Alaska Native alone (0.9 percent). The smallest major race group was Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (0.5 million), which represented 0.2 percent of the total population. The remainder of respondents who reported only one race, 19.1 million people (6 percent of all respondents), were classified as "some other race" alone.

Nine million people reported more than one race in the 2010 Census and made up about 3 percent of the total population. Ninety-two percent of people who reported multiple races provided exactly two races in 2010; white and black was the largest multiple-race combination. An additional 8 percent of the two or more races population reported three races and less than 1 percent reported four or more races.

Three quarters of multiple race combinations were comprised of four groups in 2010: white and black (1.8 million), white and"some other race" (1.7 million), white and Asian (1.6 million), and white and American Indian or Alaska Native (1.4 million).

The population reporting their race as white, either alone or with at least one other race, was the largest of all the alone-or-in-combination categories (231.0 million) and represented about three-fourths of the total population. About 14 percent of the total population reported their race as black, either alone or with at least one other race, which was the second-largest of the alone-or-in-combination categories (42.0 million).  There were 21.7 million people classified as some other race alone or in combination and 17.3 million people classified as Asian alone or in combination in the 2010 Census, making up 7 percent and 6 percent of the total population, respectively. The two smallest alone-or-in-combination categories were American Indian and Alaska Native (5.2 million) and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (1.2 million), making up 2 percent and 0.4 percent of the total population, respectively.

Asian Population Growth

The Asian alone population grew faster than any other major race group between 2000 and 2010, increasing by 43 percent. The Asian alone population had the second-largest numeric change (4.4 million), growing from 10.2 million in 2000 to 14.7 million in 2010. They gained the most in share of the total population, moving up from about 4 percent in 2000 to about 5 percent in 2010.

Geographic Distribution

In the 2010 Census, just over one-third of the U.S. population reported their race and ethnicity as something other than non-Hispanic white alone (i.e. "minority"). This group increased from 86.9 million to 111.9 million between 2000 and 2010, representing a growth of 29 percent over the decade.

Geographically, particularly in the South and West, a number of areas had large proportions of the total population that was minority. Nearly half of the West's population was minority (47 percent), numbering 33.9 million. Among the states, Californialed the nation with the largest minority population at 22.3 million.  

Between 2000 and 2010, Texas joined California, the District of Columbia, Hawaii and New Mexico in having a "majority-minority" population, where more than 50 percent of the population was part of a minority group. Among all states, Nevada's minority population increased at the highest rate, by 78 percent.

Race and Hispanic Origin Data

The Census Bureau collects race and Hispanic origin information following the U.S. Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) standards for collecting and tabulating data on race and ethnicity. In October 1997, the OMB issued the current standards, which identify five race groups: white, black or African-American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. The Census Bureau also utilized a sixth category — "some other race." Respondents who reported only one race are shown in these six groups.  

Individuals were first presented with the option to self-identify with more than one race in the 2000 Census, and this continued in the 2010 Census. People who identify with more than one race may choose to provide multiple races in response to the race question. The 2010 Census results provide new data on the size and makeup of the nation's multiracial population.

Respondents who reported more than one of the six race groups are included in the "two or more races" population. There are 57 possible combinations of the six race groups.

The Census Bureau included the "some other race" category for responses that could not be classified in any of the other race categories on the questionnaire. The vast majority of people who reported only as "some other race" were of Hispanic or Latino origin. Data on Hispanics or Latinos, who may be of any race, were obtained from a separate question on ethnicity.

Source: http://www.prnewswire.com/

How mobile gaming can boost your brand

Article Highlights:
Leveraging the compelling power of gaming on mobile devices will prove to be tremendously profitable if done correctly
Brands need to be strategic in implementing a mobile gaming strategy that truly engages their users
Marketers who continue to create one experience for a variety of platforms may find it hard to make one size fit all
Your bus is late. The line at your favorite coffee shop is out the door. Your colleagues arrive for your meeting 10 minutes behind schedule. But the time you spent waiting was not in vain. On the contrary, you used those precious extra minutes to defeat those pesky pigs and advance to the next level in Angry Birds. And by no means are you alone in your pig-blasting vendetta; more than 12 million users have purchased the application since its release just 14 months ago.

Addictive, accessible, and entertaining, mobile games seem to be everywhere in 2011. Thanks to games like Angry Birds, Doodle Jump, and Words with Friends, gaming has spread from a closeted nerdy pastime to the not-so-secret hobby of the masses. Stay-at-home moms, their 4-year-old children, college students, and C-level executives alike share a newfound obsession with mobile gaming.

Stay informed. For more insights into the latest digital marketing opportunities and challenges, attend the iMedia Agency Summit, May 21-25. Request your invitation today.
Leveraging the compelling power of gaming on mobile devices will prove to be tremendously profitable if done correctly. Considering the rate of smartphone adoption and the popularity of social gaming, the stage is set for a mobile gaming explosion. According to a Nielsen survey conducted in December 2010, 31 percent of U.S. mobile users now own smartphones, and Gartner estimates that mobile application store revenue will exceed $15 billion in 2011, an incredible 190 percent increase from the $5.2 billion worth of revenue generated in 2010. Zynga, the online social games developer that brought us FarmVille, Mafia Wars, and Café World, among others, currently has more than 215 million monthly active users, with more than 50 million daily active users. In addition, the company has successfully translated some of its most popular games onto Android, iPhone, iPad, and mobile web applications.

It's important to remember that mobile gaming is not limited to mobile phones alone. With the tablet's popularity continuing to skyrocket -- undoubtedly bolstered by the launch of the iPad 2 -- mobile has a new platform for gamers to explore.

However, inexplicably, marketers have yet to really take advantage of the opportunities mobile gaming presents. Why haven't more large consumer brands stepped forward and invested in mobile gaming? Being a principal at an agency that has worked with both big brands on their mobile initiatives and with game developers on their interactive experiences, I couldn't be more excited about these two worlds colliding. Marketers would do well to cultivate engaging and immersive mobile gaming experiences that build loyalty and create buzz around their brands.

Remember when you passed time playing Angry Birds while waiting in line for your coffee this morning? What if, instead, you'd had the option to play a game on the coffee shop's official mobile app, earning points toward a free syrup or shot of espresso? We can already pay for the coffee using our smartphones. So why haven't we been given something to keep us occupied in line?

This is the year to tap the full potential of mobile gaming. Remember to always keep your business strategy in mind. Brands need to be strategic in implementing a mobile gaming strategy that truly engages their users and elevates their brand. We're no longer in the Wild West of mobile application development. App developers now have years of practice under their belts building and designing for most platforms and devices, which raises the bar for future apps. Marketers can no longer employ minimal resources and lack a plan that supports their business goals. They must approach mobile projects deliberately and strategically with larger goals in sight.

You must believe mobile gaming is worthwhile and invest accordingly. You've witnessed the upsurge of social gaming over the past 18 months and are well aware of the soaring statistics on smartphone adoption. So, go ahead -- invest in it. Give your mobile gaming strategy the same attention that you pay to digital and traditional advertising. Be strategic and savvy with every phase from conceptual strategy to implementation to maintenance. Your users will thank you later.

Think about which platform best fits your needs. While Apple certainly continues to experience great success, it's important to note that Android and BlackBerry's operating systems are virtually tied with iOS for U.S. market share. Each platform has different design and development challenges, so be sure to think about your customer; are they more focused on B2B and the enterprise? Invest in the key platforms that are embraced by your target audience rather than blindly following the buzz.

The iPad is not Windows Phone 7. Seems pretty straightforward, right? By now, we know that users have different experiences on different devices, which each have unique feature sets and capabilities. Marketers who continue to create one experience for a variety of platforms may find it hard to make one size fit all. Customize the experience to take full advantage of each platform and device.

Opportunity abounds on the digital landscape for mobile gaming. The pace is fast, and amazing things are happening. Your customers are paying money for short, entertaining experiences on their mobile devices; take full advantage of this behavior and put your brand in front of them. Flashy graphics and catchy music drive consumers' never-ending desire to advance to new levels, worlds, and content. Let the next world they unlock be the door to your brand.

Tony Hoskins is principal at POP.

On Twitter? Follow iMedia Connection at @iMediaTweet.

The Republican National Hispanic Assembly Congratulates and Supports George P. Bush

"The Bush family’s dedication to security and prosperity for our country resound with Hispanic Americans, whose values are unequivocally supported by the Republican Party."




This past weekend the Republican National Hispanic Assembly (RNHA) congratulated and supported George P. Bush.

George P. Bush is Jeb Bush’s eldest son and the family’s fourth-generation standard-bearer, in the co-founding of the Hispanic Republicans of Texas.
Hispanic Republicans of Texas is a political action committee for which he will work on recruiting candidates.
The RNHA is also incredibly proud that George P. Bush will be serving our country in the Naval Reserves as an intelligence officer in Iraq or Afghanistan.
RNHA National Chairman Alci Maldonado released the following statement:
“Nothing surprises me about George P. Bush or his wonderful family. George P. Bush is a patriot, a great young American and a role model for all Americans, Hispanic American and non Hispanic American alike.
Mr. Bush’s service to his country underscores the legacy his great family has built of service to our Republic, from the wartime heroism of his grandfather and our 41st President George H. W. Bush, who founded the Republican National Hispanic Assembly, and the accomplishments of his father, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and his uncle, former President George W. Bush, our 43rd president.
The Bush family’s dedication to security and prosperity for our country resound with Hispanic Americans, whose values are unequivocally supported by the Republican Party.
I am thrilled that George P. Bush is working hard to bring Hispanic Americans to their natural home into the Grand Old Party, just as his grandfather gave Hispanics a voice through his founding of the RNHA. God bless George P., his great family, and our wonderful country.”


Source: Theamericano.com

POWER MEDIA GROUP, INC: Hispanics Language U.S. Average on Willingness to ...

POWER MEDIA GROUP, INC: Hispanics Language U.S. Average on Willingness to ...: "Hispanics Lag U.S. Average on Willingness to Donate Organs 'Thirty-one percent of organ donors across Texas in 2010 were Hispanic, while n..."

Hispanics Language U.S. Average on Willingness to Donate Organs

Hispanics Lag U.S. Average on Willingness to Donate Organs

"Thirty-one percent of organ donors across Texas in 2010 were Hispanic, while new census figures show that 42 percent of the state’s population is Latino."


In South Texas along the Rio Grande from Brownsville to Laredo, where Latinos make up the vast majority of 1.4 million residents — many of them first-generation Mexican-Americans — organs from just 19 individuals were donated in 2010, according to the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance. The overall U.S. average is about 26 organ donors per million,
Reuters writes about the reluctance of Hispanics to become organ donors by telling the story of Norma García and the difficulties she encountered within her own family when her 13-year old daughter was killed in a car wreck. The decision on whether to donate her organs or not ripped the family apart and even tested her cultural identity and her Christian faith.
The story begin in 2001 after Jasmine García was declared brain dead at San Antonio’s University Hospital in 2001. Doctors asked her mother, Norma, if she would be willing to donate her daughter’s organs.
According to Reuters, that was the start of a deep and difficult family strife.
“The majority of my family had a belief that, ‘How could you do that? How could you allow her to be mutilated? How could you let them take her heart out?’” García, a San Antonio real estate agent, told Reuters. “My parents are from Mexico, and they had the feeling that, ‘She is your daughter. Why would you allow them to do this to her?”
Reuters said that García ultimately made an organ donation of Jasmine’s heart and liver. The decision left her estranged from several relatives for some time.
Yet García’s is not unique. It highlights a cultural divide that organ donation advocates say is threatening the ability of surgeons to save lives through organ transplants, especially as new census figures show the nation’s Hispanic population surging.
Reuters said that Hispanics — especially first- and second-generation Mexican-Americans — are less likely to donate organs than Americans as a whole, according to organ donation experts.
“We find that the Hispanic community tells us, ‘My religion says not to donate,’ and ‘I can’t have an open casket because the body will be damaged,’” Esmeralda Perez of the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance told Reuters. “They feel that their loved one will be disfigured, or the person will not be able to get into heaven because their body will not be whole.”
Thirty-one percent of organ donors across Texas in 2010 were Hispanic, while new census figures show that 42 percent of the state’s population is Latino.
The same thing happens in other states with large Hispanic populations.
Latinos’ reticence about organ donation centers on religion, Nuvia Enriquez, Hispanic outreach coordinator for the Donor Network of Arizona, explained to Reuters.
“A lot of work that we do is to go out and try to dissolve some of these myths,” she said. “We talk to them about the Catholic Church’s position on donation, which is very positive. Pope John Paul II was actually the first pope to declare donation to be an act of love, and Pope Benedict, when he was Cardinal, was a card-carrying organ donor.”
Still the church must do more to educate the faithful. Forty five percent of the patients on the national waiting list to receive organs are Hispanic. And many Latinos are still reticent about donating their organs.
The Rev. John Leies, a prominent Catholic theologian and former president of St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, said the church is working to convince the faithful that organ donation does not render the body unfit for the afterlife.
“The church is well aware that there are so many people waiting for organs, and there are not enough to be supplied and people die without receiving their organs,” he said. “It is difficult to fight against these cultural ideas, and maybe the church hasn’t made a good enough effort.”
According to Reuters, García said her relatives, who once so strongly criticized her decision to donate Jasmine’s organs, have since become big supporters of organ donation.
“After we all got more educated, and the family started attending these events where donors’ families meet organ recipients, and seeing how much of a difference this has made in the lives of others and the good they could do for all these people, and how this was keeping Jasmine’s memory alive, I think they realized it was the right decision,” she said.

Source: The Americano.com

Hispanics Language U.S. Average on Willingness to Donate Organs

Hispanics Lag U.S. Average on Willingness to Donate Organs

"Thirty-one percent of organ donors across Texas in 2010 were Hispanic, while new census figures show that 42 percent of the state’s population is Latino."


In South Texas along the Rio Grande from Brownsville to Laredo, where Latinos make up the vast majority of 1.4 million residents — many of them first-generation Mexican-Americans — organs from just 19 individuals were donated in 2010, according to the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance. The overall U.S. average is about 26 organ donors per million,
Reuters writes about the reluctance of Hispanics to become organ donors by telling the story of Norma García and the difficulties she encountered within her own family when her 13-year old daughter was killed in a car wreck. The decision on whether to donate her organs or not ripped the family apart and even tested her cultural identity and her Christian faith.
The story begin in 2001 after Jasmine García was declared brain dead at San Antonio’s University Hospital in 2001. Doctors asked her mother, Norma, if she would be willing to donate her daughter’s organs.
According to Reuters, that was the start of a deep and difficult family strife.
“The majority of my family had a belief that, ‘How could you do that? How could you allow her to be mutilated? How could you let them take her heart out?’” García, a San Antonio real estate agent, told Reuters. “My parents are from Mexico, and they had the feeling that, ‘She is your daughter. Why would you allow them to do this to her?”
Reuters said that García ultimately made an organ donation of Jasmine’s heart and liver. The decision left her estranged from several relatives for some time.
Yet García’s is not unique. It highlights a cultural divide that organ donation advocates say is threatening the ability of surgeons to save lives through organ transplants, especially as new census figures show the nation’s Hispanic population surging.
Reuters said that Hispanics — especially first- and second-generation Mexican-Americans — are less likely to donate organs than Americans as a whole, according to organ donation experts.
“We find that the Hispanic community tells us, ‘My religion says not to donate,’ and ‘I can’t have an open casket because the body will be damaged,’” Esmeralda Perez of the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance told Reuters. “They feel that their loved one will be disfigured, or the person will not be able to get into heaven because their body will not be whole.”
Thirty-one percent of organ donors across Texas in 2010 were Hispanic, while new census figures show that 42 percent of the state’s population is Latino.
The same thing happens in other states with large Hispanic populations.
Latinos’ reticence about organ donation centers on religion, Nuvia Enriquez, Hispanic outreach coordinator for the Donor Network of Arizona, explained to Reuters.
“A lot of work that we do is to go out and try to dissolve some of these myths,” she said. “We talk to them about the Catholic Church’s position on donation, which is very positive. Pope John Paul II was actually the first pope to declare donation to be an act of love, and Pope Benedict, when he was Cardinal, was a card-carrying organ donor.”
Still the church must do more to educate the faithful. Forty five percent of the patients on the national waiting list to receive organs are Hispanic. And many Latinos are still reticent about donating their organs.
The Rev. John Leies, a prominent Catholic theologian and former president of St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, said the church is working to convince the faithful that organ donation does not render the body unfit for the afterlife.
“The church is well aware that there are so many people waiting for organs, and there are not enough to be supplied and people die without receiving their organs,” he said. “It is difficult to fight against these cultural ideas, and maybe the church hasn’t made a good enough effort.”
According to Reuters, García said her relatives, who once so strongly criticized her decision to donate Jasmine’s organs, have since become big supporters of organ donation.
“After we all got more educated, and the family started attending these events where donors’ families meet organ recipients, and seeing how much of a difference this has made in the lives of others and the good they could do for all these people, and how this was keeping Jasmine’s memory alive, I think they realized it was the right decision,” she said.

Source: The Americano.com

POWER MEDIA GROUP, INC: Business Start-up Office Facilities for $10/Hour A...

POWER MEDIA GROUP, INC: Business Start-up Office Facilities for $10/Hour A...: "Business Start-up Office Facilities for $10/Hour Available at Power Woman Business Center, From Power Media Group Founder Patricia Gracia F..."

POWER MEDIA GROUP, INC: Photos: March 24: Women History Month Event - Edwa...

POWER MEDIA GROUP, INC: Photos: March 24: Women History Month Event - Edwa...: "Patricia Gracia invited as Keynote Speaker 'Fue un dia muy especial, el reconocimiento recibido por Air Force y NASA fue algo que no me ..."

Photos: March 24: Women History Month Event - Edwards Air force & NASA

Patricia Gracia invited as Keynote Speaker


"Fue un dia muy especial, el reconocimiento recibido por Air Force y NASA fue algo que no me lo esperaba, sin ambargo llegaron y me siento my feliz de ser la cara de la mujer Latina, trabajadora y sobre todo PERUANA................Doy gracias a DIOS por todo lo que me ha dado-Cuando uno trabaja con integridad y siempre pensando en dar mas que recibir, al final siempre se recibe mas"

Feliz fin de semana

___________________________________________________________

POWER MEDIA GROUP, INC: 6 in 10 Americans Energy Savvy

POWER MEDIA GROUP, INC: 6 in 10 Americans Energy Savvy: "Six in ten (61%) Americans describe themselves as knowledgeable about energy issues, including sources of electrical power and energy effic..."

Business Start-up Office Facilities for $10/Hour Available at Power Woman Business Center, From Power Media Group Founder Patricia Gracia

Business Start-up Office Facilities for $10/Hour Available at Power Woman Business Center, From Power Media Group Founder Patricia Gracia
For Immediate Release
SANTA CLARITA, Calif./EWORLDWIRE/HOLD --- For women who want to start or operate a business, the facilities available at Power Women Business Center are more than affordable and offer all the features anyone needs to present a credible, trustworthy business endeavor. 

Founder Patricia Gracia knows all too well how hard it is to persuade businesses to trust one when working from a home - when she started her business nearly a decade ago, she was no different from the entrepreneurs who cross the threshold of the business incubator. 

Now the advertising agency she founded is a multi-million dollar service, targeting Spanish speakers in a booming Hispanic market with marketing campaigns for high-profile clients. 

Gracia opened the Center for several reasons, not the least of which is the desire to help other women entrepreneurs who need tools and support to reach similar levels of success. The robust facilities provide everything from private furnished cubicles to meeting rooms, telephone answering services and warm, inviting reception area, and access to a conference room which supports up to 80 people. 

The fees to enjoy the benefits of office space without a long-term hefty rental lease start at $250 a month - less than the hourly rate most small businesses pay to employ someone, when insurance and overhead are added in. Other upgraded packages offer access to expert marketing consultation, longer hours of availability and catering services - and, for people who crave it for the professional appearance it provides, a business address for their business cards. 

The facilities feature powerful training and affordable assistance with business plans, along with access to the talent of an experienced team of knowledgeable marketers who can provide direction to grow sales and increase business. From a location within the Santa Clarita Enterprise Zone, special tax incentives may be available for business start-ups. 

The Center builds on Gracia's belief that by working together, small businesses can benefit from improved negotiation in media purchasing and placement - achieving together what would be impossible to achieve alone. 

According to Gracia, "People have a dream. The Power Woman Business Center makes it possible for the dream to become reality." 

"I know how difficult it can be to give the illusion of professionalism when you aren't working in a space that even remotely resembles an office. Within our facilities, anyone can gain access to the tools they need to present a credible business presence. Of greater benefit is access to us - to tap our experience to move their business in a better direction today." 

No-obligation tours are available and requests to speak with Founder Patricia Gracia are available on a limited basis. 

A comprehensive presentation may be viewed at the Power Woman Business Center Web site at PowerWomanBC.com (http://www.powerwomanbc.com). 

6 in 10 Americans Energy Savvy

Six in ten (61%) Americans describe themselves as knowledgeable about energy issues, including sources of electrical power and energy efficiency,according to results of a new Harris Poll. This is relatively unchanged since 2009 when 59% of Americans described themselves as knowledgeable about energy issues.

Knowledge Varies by Region, Gender

Energy knowledge varies by region and age with Americans in the East (67%) and West (64%) and those older than the age of 65 (65%) most likely to say they are knowledgeable. Three-quarters of men (75%) say they are knowledgeable about energy issues, while less than half (47%) of women say the same.

Most See Solar, Wind Benefits Outweighing Risks

When it comes to sources of energy, the public indicates that the benefits outweigh the risks for wind (75%) and solar power (77%). Natural gas (64%) and geothermal (52%) resonate as beneficial while there is less certainty about the benefits of nuclear (42%) and coal (38%). These views compare to 2009 when at least two-thirds of Americans said that when used, the benefits of solar (82%), wind (78%) and natural gas (66%) outweighed any associated risks.

In 2009, two in five Americans (42%) said the risks of using coal outweighed the benefits while 36% believed the benefits outweighed the risks. Further, almost one-quarter of Americans (22%) said they were not at all sure. Today, that view has not changed very much as 38% say benefits outweigh risks, but 43% believe the risks outweigh the benefits; those unsure has dropped to 19%.

In terms of nuclear power, less than half of Americans (42%) say the benefits outweigh the risks of nuclear energy while 21% are not at all sure and 37% say the risks outweigh the benefits. This poll was taken before the recent earthquake-related nuclear plant crisis in Japan. In 2009, the view on nuclear power was similar, as 44% of Americans said the benefits outweighed the risks and 34% believed the risks outweighed the benefits.

Turning Off Electricity Most Popular Conservation Tactic

Eight in ten Americans (84%) say they turn off lights and appliances when not in use to conserve energy. Americans are also replacing incandescent bulbs with fluorescent bulbs (60%), using power strips (60%), using low-wattage bulbs (56%), purchasing Energy Star appliances (53%), and reducing hot water usage (51%).

However, when it comes to more complex tasks such as weather stripping, sealing gaps and installation of products, the responses drop to between 29% and 38% for each behavior. Even fewer (11%) conduct home energy evaluations or audits. The overwhelming majority of respondents take at least one energy-conserving measure, as only 5% say they engage in none of these activities.

Gallup: 46% Worry about Energy

The US public is more concerned today than a year ago about “the availability and affordability of energy,” according to a recent Gallup poll. Forty-six percent of Americans now say they worry about this a great deal, up 21% from 38% in March 2010. Gallup historical analysis shows today’s level of concern is not extraordinary (the high in the past 10 years was 48% in 2006), but is roughly tied with other high points seen since 2001.

About the Data: This Harris Poll was conducted online within the US between February 14 to 21, 2011 among 3,171 adults aged 18 and older. Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online.

Small Business Owners Still Don't Get Search Marketing

Search marketing -- an intent-driven approach driving the highest returns -- should come as an easy decision for small businesses, but many still don't understand the benefits and the pitfalls.
So it came as no surprise to me that 56% of small businesses that plan to allocate marketing budgets toward search or social media advertising in 2011 admit they need help with some part of their campaigns. And despite a need for assistance, only 25% use SEM tools to manage their campaigns.
The findings come from a joint American Express OPEN Small Business Search Marketing Survey with Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO) released Tuesday. The survey, conducted by Echo Research between March 14 and 17, 2011, asked 400 small U.S. business owners using some type of online marketing for their thoughts.
Search engine marketing (SEM), which includes search engine optimization (SEO), and paid search or pay per click (PPC) marketing, isn't the easiest online marketing tactic to learn. Complete books are written on each. Marketers spend years perfecting the medium. It takes an understanding of traditional marketing techniques as well as how search engines and online advertising work. Nor is it easy for small companies to find a reputable small agency to outsource the work.
There is a dizzying array of strategies, knowledge and tactics required to plan, budget and execute on SEO and PPC campaigns. For starters, marketers delving into paid-search marketing first must know whether the campaign aims to brand, generate leads, or generate revenue. Will the campaign rely on impressions, clicks, return on investments, or cost per leads? What tools are required to test and optimize campaigns? What keywords should the marketer bid on, and how will she set budgets for each campaign?
Small business owners who plan to use online marketing this year will spend on average $5,260 for search or social media advertising. Nineteen percent said they do not plan to spend any of their budgets in this area. Sixty-six percent admit that new customers find them through search engines, compared with 82% who said word of mouth is still the main source.
Three-quarters of small businesses plan to add some form of online marketing in 2011, according to the survey. Roughly 36% will add a company Web site; or 29%, social media strategy. About 23% plan to add search engine optimization strategies; 22% plan to add mass email campaigns; and 16% are planning search advertising campaigns.
Although 21% of small businesses report using search advertising, 73% said they handle search campaigns internally, with 47% admitting to doing it themselves. Some companies do not have dedicated resources, which can lead to major headaches when a campaign misfires. One in five, or 22%, said they have a staff member handling SEM in addition to other responsibilities.
Company Web sites are the most common online marketing techniques, at 86%, followed by social media at 44%.
Search marketing is not easy. It takes time, patience and knowledge to accomplish goals. Luckily, there are tools and experts available to help.

by Laurie Sullivan, From Mediapost.com

POWER MEDIA GROUP, INC: Our Valleys Magazine Interviewed Patricia Gracia, ...

POWER MEDIA GROUP, INC: Our Valleys Magazine Interviewed Patricia Gracia, ...: "Patricia Gracia/Interview with Leonora Martín del Campo Time has passed, ideals are still strong as are memories and that bright picture bei..."

Our Valleys Magazine Interviewed Patricia Gracia, Power Media Group's Founder

Patricia Gracia/Interview with Leonora Martín del Campo

Time has passed, ideals are still strong as are memories and that bright picture being extended from San Diego, from the skies of the country that embraced her in the San Fernando Valley, to the mind of the young walker and mountain climber; it was the farewell of the turned-into-woman Peruvian girl... She is walking her way step by step to transform it in the successful career that demands from her to overcome, day by day, huge challenges in order to be palpable as benefits to her loved ones.

Patricia Gracia, from Peruvian origin, entered the United States via the Tijuana, Mexico border. She got to California when being 18 years old, her immigrating situation and the language barrier construct on her an unshakeable character and turned her into a lonely fighter of great courage. It is possible to summarize her career of success in: a Latin-origin woman, illegal, student, worker, fighter; winner; but no, Patricia Gracia does know that every step is indispensable and punctually demands her time and effort toll, thus, in less than one year she had a command of the language, enrolled to college where we can highlight that work was not an impediment for her to progress. She finished her program with excellent grades in the Los Angeles Valley College, was a practitioner in top-level institutions/companies that sponsored her studies in UCLA, graduated in Public Relations and after finishing a training program, Patricia Gracia reaffirms her philosophy and transforms the phrase that only warns to avoid the evil: “Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you”. Her courage goes beyond than expected, she transforms it as a benefit to others: “Do to others what you want them to do to you”. For this life philosophy, foundations, companies and various institutions have recognized Patricia Gracia for her humanitarian labor, the support to her country in tragic moments amongst them.

Patricia Gracia is Founder and President of Power Media Group.http://www.powermediagroup.com/who.html. A giant of marketing and advertising, the agency has been granted with multiple awards and recognitions.

1. LEONORA MARTIN DEL CAMPO M: Patricia, what was the motive that put you in a very difficult path, what is your strength, your ideal?

PATRICIA GRACIA: I took risks since being very young and I visualized the chance to grow as a human being, to grow to help my family. The mission to help both others and my relatives; it is my taste for leadership.

2. L.MCM. There are constant features throughout your life; we may highlight the role of the woman in the household, talk about it.

PATRICIA GRACIA: The woman is the core engine; everything is born from the family, which is the root of the huge tree: the society. Every activity carried out by the woman starting in the organization of her home, from the simplest task to the most complicated one will be reflected in the family, and from there in society; the woman is the link with society, she is the structure. Comparing the family with the business world, the family organization is as precise and punctual as every department of a company.

3. L.MCM. How do your reflect communication and household work to a company and society?

PATRICIA GRACIA: The origin of everything is in childhood, our mission starts when we have our children in our womb, from that moment, everything will affect the child; such a newborn will be fed with your physical and spiritual food, then when they grow, you guide them to set them free. The woman’s involvement is forming the individual to become honorable towards society.

4. L.MCM. How does that role transcend to a country?

PATRICIA GRACIA: The woman has evolved at both personal and professional levels, statistics point out that they are opening their very own businesses at a higher percentage than men, this marks the economy of the country –I mean the United States-. Great companies are led by women; they have a key position in the public, educational, entrepreneurial and diplomatic fields. Nonetheless, from the family scope, the woman is shaping society; her involvement is the root, the structure of every society.

5. L.MCM. Another constant feature is the aid for the fellow people, talk about the sentence you adapted: “Do to others what you want them to do to you”.

PATRICIA GRACIA: To help my fellow people is to help myself, it is the opportunity that gives peace of mind, fullness… from here it is what I say: “Do to others what you want them to do to you”. It is like giving away something you like; that causes happiness to both the person who gives it away and the one who receives it, it is a profound and sensible feeling that the interlocutor perceives; accordingly, communication.

6. L.MCM. What does love represent for you in routine and professional lives?

PATRICIA GRACIA: Love is the most important thing, it must be in every action; to transcend is educating children with love because that makes excellent individuals; when you cook with love, the dish will turn delicious, love when doing business; you have a passion for everything you do. Love in attitudes, feelings, and emotions; to know how to transmit that energy makes the receiver give their best; love lets us fulfill objectives.

7. L.MCM. What is the most important value?

PATRICIA GRACIA: The most important value is truth; a person who lies is a menace to society, lying brings terrible consequences, my grandma used to say: “Truth always comes to light”. It’s better living with the truth, people who are sincere have less mental work; lying generates tension and put you away from reality. Sincerity is peace of mind to undertake and create; it gives an actual lifetime purpose.

8. L.MCM. In the agencies, what are your achievements and your objectives?

PATRICIA GRACIA: I don’t want to fly overnight, but with firm steps; in 2008 a dream came true for us after buying a building in Santa Clarita. We achieved that in the middle of the economic downturn, when the world economic tragedy exploded here, it was a sad year in the United States, while for us it was a year of achievements. 2010 has been a very satisfactory year because the Federal Government granted the award: “Minority Small Business Champion of The Year”. My goal: To continue with sound bases, with a Latin taste, very humane, with passion.

My goal is to bring companies from Mexico, big companies that have no idea of the know-how to break into this market; they apply the marketing of their country, that doesn’t work; it generates failure, and our expertise responds to plans and marketing we apply to the awareness of the marketplace in this country, where the Hispanic is very different than the other Hispanics who live in the rest of the world. For me, the Mexican industry is the bridge to this country.

9. L.MCM. What do you advise in order to fulfill dreams?

PATRICIA GRACIA: Dreams are part of us, one has to live with dreams, paint them, shape them –and just like a painter- bring color to them, forge them on a daily basis… I see my dreams, keep my goals in them; crystallizing dreams is meeting goals. Dreaming is living, having energy. As a wrap-up of the interview, I fulfilled a dream: I went back to college, I always wanted to become a psychologist, and I resumed my program eight months ago in order to graduate. Drawing up goals and painting our dreams keep us alive with positive energy in order to give the best from ourselves; they offer us motives to go on. To thank God for his gifts, for the energy to continue; thank Him for the opportunity to share, everything in life is opportunities that God gives us. Thank God for letting me be what I am, for what he gives me every day, I thank the world and life. I ask God for letting me witness the growth of my children and see them go to college. Just to see them how they´ll become good people.

L.MCM. Patricia Gracia, thank you for sharing your experience and time with our Our Valleys readers.