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View full post on Free Printable Achievement Award Certificates
Click here to download this Certificate
View full post on Free Printable Achievement Award Certificates
Click here to download this Certificate
View full post on Free Printable Achievement Award Certificates
Click here to download this Certificate
View full post on Free Printable Achievement Award Certificates
With a WBE certification, you simply obtain a certification from a certification office to confirm that your business is 51% owned, controlled, and operated by one or more women. It can be confusing since there are different types and levels of certification, so let’s look at each type in more detail.
Not every WBE would benefit from a WBE certification. For example, if you have a woman owned business that doesn’t sell a service or product that the government or Corporate America would ever want to purchase, then WBE certifications aren’t really needed.
You should definitely pursue the idea of obtaining a WBE certification if you would like to sell your products or services to these billionaire clients. One reason a WBE certification is valuable is because government agencies and many corporations are required to award a certain percentage of business each and every year to WBE enterprises. Your WBE certification is proof that you meet the requirement of being a woman-owned business.
There are four different types of certifications you can obtain, which include (a) Local Certificiation; (b) State Certification; (c) Federal Certification; and (d) National Certification.
Each of these four certification levels will be explored further.
Local Certifications for WBE
Local government agencies in your state may have a local certification. If you want to do business with a particular local government agency and want to increase your chances of getting them as a client, then definitely obtain a local WBE certification with their office, if they have such a program.
State Certifications for WBE
State certifications can be obtained in most states through that state’s MBE/WBE office. If you want to sell to state governments with increase opportunities to get projects from them, you should obtain a state certification. If you want to obtain a state WBE certification, contact the certifying office in the state in which you want to be certified. You then have to submit the application and supporting documentatin that they require.
Federal Certification for WBE
Actually, there is no formal certification process for obtaining federal certification. The Federal WBE certifications are what are called “self-certifying”. When selling to the U.S. federal government, then you “self-certify” that you are a WBE. The “self-certifying” means that you sign and acknowledge on the submitted bids that your business is 51% owned, controlled, and operated by a woman. If you are later awarded that project with the federal government, you may be asked to prove your WBE status, but in most cases they don’t. Do not claim to be a WBE if you are not.
Since there is no formal federal government WBE application process, you can get started immediately and respond to federal government opportunities and leverage your WBE status be sure that you are registered as a federal government vendor with CCR, etc.). And remember that the federal government has mandatory goals to award 5% of their projects each year to woman owned businesses. (That statistic was current as of September 2009, but the exact percentage can vary with time).
It’s a significant point that the federal government has projects that are set-aside just for WBE’s. So this is a great opportunity for WBE’s to get more business!
National Certification for WBE
The Women’s Business Enterpise National Counsel (www.wbenc.org) is the certifying office for national certifications. National certifications allow you to increase your chances of selling to large corporations. You should first check with the large corporations that you want as clients to see whether they require a national certification or not, before you proceed. You may find that the corporations who you want to work with may honor a state certification, or not require one at all. But many large corporations today require that you have a national certification from WBENC.
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Click here to download this Certificate
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Bank managers are probably the most risk-averse individuals you are likely to meet – without proof of a regular salary and sound financial track record you may presume a frosty reception when you ask about borrowing. However, there are options available for people who don’t conform to the norm.
If you are self-employed or have an erratic income, you can consider a self-certified mortgage. As the overall mortgage market has become more flexible and competitive in the past few years, the amount of lenders offering self-cert mortgages has increased. Whereas they used to be the preserve of specialist lenders, and come with pretty strict terms and conditions, you can now find self-certs from most of the major high street banks and building societies.
The set up
Normally, lenders will look for a larger deposit when you take out a self cert mortgage – 25% is usual. As far as proving your earnings, some lenders such as the banks and building societies, will look for certified accounts for the last 3 years. They may also require bank statements and carry out credit checks. However, there are some mortgages available where the lender only asks for you to verify that you can afford the repayments.
Who’s it for?
This type of mortgage usually caters for self-employed people, but there are others who can benefit. People who work overseas, or who earn bonuses that do not show as part of their salary may choose to self-certify. Business owners and company directors sometimes award themselves a minimal salary, but have a larger income through dividends, for example. This can be useful when it comes to tax management, but make finding a conventional mortgage harder. If you have an erratic income, you may want a more flexible mortgage that allows you to increase or decrease your monthly payments according to your current situation.
The drawbacks
You may find the terms less generous than with other types of mortgage, and the lender may apply Higher Lending Charges or an indemnity to protect them. The FSA recently highlighted the disturbing trend of some brokers encouraging borrowers to inflate their reported income in order to gain a larger mortgage. Remember it is a criminal offence to lie about your income, and over-estimating what you earn could mean that you find yourself with monthly repayments that you cannot afford. If you are subsequently unable to meet repayments your home could be repossessed.
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In today’s quickly changing world, there’s a feeling of security that comes from understanding one’s place in history. For most of us who will never make the news, publish books, win national awards or be highly ranked on Internet search engines, that knowledge is defined by our relationships to others and to our family. In search of a secure and unchanging factual concept of self, millions have picked up amateur genealogy as a hobby.
It’s been estimated that genealogy is the second most popular hobby in the United States, as Utah’s Senator Orrin G. Hatch said 2003, while he pushed for October to become nationally known as Family History Month. That resolution passed and President Bush officially designated October as Family History Month that year.
Since 2003, newcomers have flocked to the now trendy pastime, creating scores of websites, magazines, blogs and conferences about the pursuit of family history. One of the largest websites even allows visitors to build their own family trees, share it with other users and access online records. The nationally recognized genealogical research center Family History Library, run as a non-profit organization by the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter-Day Saints is visited by close to 2,000 history seekers daily from around the world. Their website, launched in 1999, has over 1 billion names in its index and boasts over 1 million page views daily.
While it’s clear that amateur genealogy has taken off as a hobby, it’s difficult to ascertain the exact number of people interested in it. Because much of the research can be done alone, it’s not a hobby that requires joining a club, though genealogy clubs where members can discuss their roadblocks and findings have sprung up rapidly. For those that prefer to research on their own, there’s no membership roster to check, and they remain uncounted.
Amateur genealogy, in fact, could have become so popular partly because it doesn’t require the joining of a team or club, or depend much on others. How successful the hobbyist is depends solely on how dedicated they are to unearthing old family records.
In the past, amateur genealogy required countless trips to county courthouses and state offices of vital records. Birth, marriage and death certificates are the cornerstones a genealogy is built upon, so there’s no substitute for tracking down old vital records. While it’s still possible to obtain records by visiting vital statistics offices in person, that’s often not feasible because of the vast distances people live from their ancestors. If, for example, you find that your great grandmother had a sister in California, and you live in New Jersey, a visit in search of your great aunt’s vital records isn’t in the cards. Technology has made easier options possible.
Using an online certified birth certificate service is incredibly convenient. Whether working on your research at 2 p.m. or 2 a.m., it’s easy to place an order. Plus you can order an ancestor’s birth certificate from geographical distance states
It’s important to review the reputation of the company you’re considering for online vital records, and to choose one that’s safe and reliable. It is equally important to know what restrictions, if any, a particular state or local vital records office may have regarding genealogy requests. Some agencies do limit online ordering to emergency orders only but many government agencies do rely on online vital record ordering services for any type of request, which is an excellent sign that the company is a professional and trustworthy source. Once an online service is selected, the birth certificates, death certificates and marriage licenses of your extended family could be at your fingertips, making it much easier and faster to continue building your family tree.
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Building preservation trade body the Property Care Association (PCA) has launched its first ever awards programme.
Members of the PCA – which represents the UK’s structural waterproofing, wood preservation, damp-proofing, flood remediation and structural maintenance sectors – are being urged to prepare their entries now in time for the 15 December 2008 deadline.
An independent panel will judge the entries – consisting of Peter Darling, a freelance technical journalist, Ian Davis, Operations Director of the National House-Building Council, and Simon van der Byl, Director General of the Quarry Products Association.
The awards are exclusively open to members of the PCA, which incorporates the British Wood Preserving and Damp-Proofing Association (BWPDA). PCA contractor, consultant, surveyor and manufacturer members are all urged to take part.
There are three categories covering innovation, sustainability and training.
The PCA’s traditional accolades for Technician of the Year, as well as Student of the Year awards for both the Certificated Surveyor in Structural Waterproofing qualification (CSSW) and Remedial Treatment (CSRT) will also be presented at the Birmingham ceremony.
No entry is required for the CSRT and CSSW Student of the Year, or the Technician of the Year category, as students will automatically be assessed internally by the relevant PCA training professionals and judges.
Yasmin Chopin, executive director of the PCA, said: “The awards celebrate the professionalism and technical expertise of PCA members and present a great opportunity to put their businesses on the map.”
The PCA has developed a form with full details of how to enter. To receive the document contact eleana@property-care.org or telephone 0870 121 6737.
The awards ceremony takes place at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel on March 20, 2009.
ENDS
Notes To Editors
The Property Care Association (PCA) – has been in existence for four years, as part of the British Wood Preserving and Damp-proofing Association (BWPDA) but in 2006 officially became an independent association, along with the Wood Protection Association. The new Associations have been created to concentrate on their own areas of expertise – namely for the Property Care Association structural waterproofing, wood preservation, damp-proofing, flood remediation and structural maintenance. Although a relatively new trade body, the Property Care Association has inherited the stability and professional strengths of the BWPDA and its 75 year history.
Press release issued by Jane Shepherd, Shepherd PR Limited, 01538 308685. jane@shepherd-pr.com
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