A Prospectus on Substantive Change

Prepared for The Commission on Colleges, Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, October 1, 1987. For consideration by the Commission on Colleges at its December 5 and 6, 1987, meeting at the Salt Lake Hilton Hotel

Main Street Messenger, Spring 2007

News from Main Street Iowa and the Iowa Downtown Resource Cente

Reinventing an Organizing Union: Strategies for Change

[Excerpt] Confronted by declining membership and market share as well as an erosion of bargaining strength and political influence, a sense of crisis now pervades many international unions. Some labor unions continue to adhere to programs and practices they have pursued for several decades. But others, faced with challenges so fundamental that their viability is at stake, have chosen to reexamine their basic policies and performance and to reorient their essential course. This paper evaluates the experience of four such international unions, all of which have recently embarked on strategic planning initiatives. Three of the unions – the Electrical Workers (IBEW), Carpenters (UBC), and Painters (IBPAT) – operate primarily in the private sector, representing workers in the construction industry but serving significant branches in other industrial sectors as well. The fourth is a large public –sector union, the Government Employees (AFGE). The membership rolls range from about 100,000 members to more than 700,000 members

FLORIDA\u27S DOWNTOWNS: THE KEY TO SMART GROWTH, URBAN REVITALIZATION, AND GREEN SPACE PRESERVATION

This article reviews Florida\u27s growth management system, which has spurred suburban development, and its negative impact on Florida\u27s cities. As Florida\u27s governor and legislature have turned their focus to this issue, this article evaluates policy recommendations to limit Florida\u27s suburban sprawl and invigorate its urban centers

Shear resistance improvement of oil-contaminated ballast layer with rubber shred inclusions

Railway ballast, which form an integral part of rail tracks, is highly susceptible to subsistence due to both vibration transmitted by the passing trains, as well as the breakage of ballasts with repeated impact. The resulting subsistence necessitates regular monitoring and maintenance, involving cost- and time- consuming remedial actions, such as stone-blowing and ballast renewal. Measures to minimize the wear and tear effect are therefore desirable to prolong the lifespan of the ballast layer. It is even more critical when the ballast is contaminated with oil and grease from braking wheels and leakages. This paper describes the inclusion of rubber shreds (≤10 mm in length, 1.5 mm thick) derived from the inner tubes of motorcycle tyres in oil-contaminated ballast layer for shear resistance improvement. The tests are mainly carried out in a standard direct shear test setup, i.e. shear box measuring 60 mm x 60 mm. Granitic stones of suitable sizes were sieved and used as representative samples of typical ballast. The samples were soaked in lubricant oil for 14 days to simulate the contamination. The direct shear test results indicated rubber shreds inclusion could effectively improve the shear resistance of ballast and expedient in deformation control with increased ductility of the composites. This could potentially improve absorption of impact, hence reduction of breakages of the ballasts. Clearly both mechanisms contribute to the overall reduced subsistence, accompanied by an increase in the shear resistance. However, further investigations in a dynamic test setup are necessary for verifications prior to field implementation

Revitalizing Local Culture in Nusantara Music

Revitalization is a systemic process and methodology to reactivate local potentials in the context of preserving important cultures in the face of changing times. Revitalization of local culture as a big job, not just an activity to explore the heritage of tradition and then preserve it. Rather, that local culture stored in cultural heritage is used as a light in accompanying and coloring the musical character of the nation. Change can only be through real activities and not discourse, "this is where creativity and cultural values that can build human character lie. The collapse of traditional culture is not impossible that the Indonesian nation will lose its identity in the future. The degradation of the younger generation's interest in learning about their local culture must be resolved immediately