Developing Resources within a Grassroots Nonprofit: The Journey from Volunteer to Financial Donor

The United States of America has a rich tradition in philanthropy. Originating with industry titans in the late nineteenth century and embraced by everyday citizens of today, nonprofit organizations benefit from individuals who volunteer their time, make financial contributions, or both. As evidence points to a new generation of donors who value volunteer involvement prior to making a financial gift, nonprofit organizations must employ specific strategies and tactics to cultivate their volunteers into financial supporters. Literature findings demonstrate that individuals are motivated to volunteer and give financially due to organizational efficacy, values, personal benefit, and reputation. Additionally, empirical studies show that stewardship systems, inclusive communications, an invitation for a financial gift, and thanking donors well are all important tactics to engaging volunteers into financial donors. This study takes both the motivations for volunteering and giving financially and tactics used by West Michigan nonprofits, and concludes with recommendations for implementation by grassroots nonprofits that are interested in cultivating volunteers into financial supporters for the long-term sustainability of the organization

The role of geomorphic controls on the development of defensive networks along the Western Front during the Great War: case study of Champagne and Argonne (france)

The Great War was marked on the western front mainly by a war of position (for 40 out of the 51 months of the conflict) along the 750 km of the front area from Flanders to Alsace. The objective of this article is to understand the spatial organisation of defence networks in the eastern part of the Champagne region (Champagne sèche), the Vallage d’Aisne and in the Argonne region in 1918 by means of an analysis of geographical information system (GIS)-processed trench maps. This article presents a methodology, involving the transfer of fire trenches, communication trenches and vegetation, integrated into a geodatabase, and then cross-referenced with the digital terrain model (DTM). This comparison of three distinct regions with a chalky plateau (Champagne sèche), a wet plain (Vallage d’Aisne) and a sandy plateau covered with forests (Argonne), not only makes it possible to qualify the role of geographical conditions on the Great War but also to quantify the defence networks.Keywords: WW1, trench map, GIS, spatial analysis, Champagne sèche, Vallage d’Aisne, Argonn

EFSA guidelines on environmental risk assessment of GM animals, including insects

Future applications for the marketing of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the EU may include food/feed products derived from genetically modified (GM) animals, and the release of GM animals, including insects, into the environment. Efforts towards the development of GM insects to control insect vectors of human diseases and manage agricultural pests have progressed substantially with various GM insect × trait combinations in the development pipeline. As a proactive measure, the scientific GMO Panel of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has developed guidelines on: (1) the risk assessment of food/feed derived from GM animals including animal health and welfare aspects; and (2) the environmental risk assessment (ERA) of living GM animals, including insects, released into the environment for commercial purposes. The latter assists applicants in the preparation and presentation of their applications by describing the elements and data requirements for a structured ERA of GM insects consistent with the current Directive 2001/18/EC. A dedicated Working Group (WG) was involved in the elaboration of the ERA guidelines on GM insects, which underwent a public consultation before their finalisation. Relevant comments received were considered by the WG. The WG also took into account the external scientific report on GM insects commissioned by EFSA (Benedict et al., 2010). This report provided background information by mapping relevant fields of expertise and identified essential elements to be considered when performing an ERA of GM insects. Content and stakeholder involvement for the EFSA guidelines are presented

Fire debris analysis by Raman spectroscopy and chemometrics

A paper reporting the use of Raman Spectroscopy in fire debris analysis is presented. Five polymer based samples, namely carpet (polypropylene), nylon stockings (nylon), foam packaging (polystyrene), CD cases (polystyrene) and DVD cases (polypropylene) were burnt with each one of the following ignitable liquids: petrol, diesel, kerosene and ethanol. Raman shifts were obtained and, in some cases, peaks were identified to correspond to pyrolysis products in the form of alkanes, aromatic or polyaromatic compounds. All pyrolysis peaks were used to produce a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of the burned samples with the different ignitable liquids. The change in the Raman spectra made it possible to identify some of the pyrolysis products produced in the combustion and also to identify the different plastic materials in fire debris, even when different fuels have been used and the chemical and structural identity of the plastic has been altered in the fire