Cirque du Soleil to Return to New York with Tony Winner Diane Paulus’ Amaluna
View Comments Cirque du Soleil has been seen by more more than 100 million spectators in more than 300 cities in over forty countries on six continents. Its last New York big top production was Spring 2013’s Totem, which also played a limited engagement at Citi Field. A theatrical acrobatic tribute to the work and voice of women, Amaluna is a fusion of the words ama, which refers to “mother” in many languages, and luna, which means “moon,” a symbol of femininity that evokes both the mother-daughter relationship and the idea of goddess and protector of the planet. Featuring a cast that is 70% a female, a first for Cirque du Soleil, the production invites the audience to a mysterious island called Amaluna, governed by Goddesses and guided by the cycles of the moon. Their queen, Prospera, directs her daughter’s coming-of-age ceremony in a rite that honors femininity, renewal, rebirth and balance. In the wake of a storm caused by Prospera, a group of young men land on the island, triggering an epic story of love between Prospera’s daughter and a brave young suitor. 
The ultimate circus is coming to town! Cirque du Soleil is returning to New York with its newest big top production, Amaluna. Written and directed by Tony winner Diane Paulus (Pippin), the show will begin performances March 20, 2014 on the grounds of Citi Field in Queens (home of the New York Mets). The show had its world premiere in April 2012 in Montreal.
Illustration by Justin “Squigs” Robertson for Broadway.com Robert Joy Girl From the North Country, a new musical written and directed by Tony-nominated playwright Conor McPherson and featuring the music of Bob Dylan, opens on March 5 at the Belasco Theatre. The show began previews on February 7.Set in 1934 in Duluth, Minnesota, Girl From the North Country follows the trials of a down-on-its-luck community on the brink of change. The ensemble cast includes Todd Almond, Jeannette Bayardelle, Matthew Frederick Harris, Matt McGrath, Caitlin Houlahan, Robert Joy, Marc Kudisch, Luba Mason, Ben Mayne, Tom Nelis, Colton Ryan, John Schiappa, Kimber Elayne Sprawl, Rachel Stern, Chelsea Lee Williams, Mare Winningham, Jay O. Sanders, Austin Scott, Jennifer Blood, Law Terrell Dunford, Chiara Trentalange and Bob Walton.Girl From the North Country arrives on Broadway following runs at off-Broadway’s Public Theater, in London’s West End and at the Old Vic, where it made its world premiere in 2017.In celebration of opening night, Broadway.com Resident Artist Justin “Squigs” Robertson sketched a portrait of the musical’s talented players introducing a powerful story to Broadway audiences. Jeannette Bayardelle Related Shows Jay O. Sanders View Comments Star Files from $49.00 About the Artist: With a desire to celebrate the magic of live theater and those who create it, and with a deep reverence for such touchstones as the work of Al Hirschfeld and the wall at Sardi’s, Squigs is happy and grateful to be among those carrying on the traditions where theater and caricature meet. He was born and raised in Oregon, lived in Los Angeles for quite a long time and now calls New York City his home. Austin Scott Luba Mason Mare Winningham Todd Almond Marc Kudisch Colton Ryan Tom Nelis Caitlin Houlahan Girl From the North Country Kimber Elayne Sprawl View All (12)
Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott’s office and the teacher’s union are exchanging heated words over how to hold down school spending by reducing health insurance costs. The governor wants the teachers to collectively negotiate with the state over health insurance plans, while the teachers union insists on maintaining that health plans be dealt with locally. Both sides agree that health insurance premium increases have been a major driver of school budget increases. Generally, local school boards and the union (Vermont National Education Association) have had tough negotiating sessions over increasing the share teachers pay in premiums, in order to mitigate the hike in health care costs.Governor Scott’s Communications Director Rebecca Kelley today issued the following statement in response to the NEA’s opposition to what the governor calls an opportunity to provide Vermonters with millions in property tax relief without reducing teacher benefits: “Governor Phil Scott has been working with the Vermont School Boards Association and Vermont Superintendents Association to evaluate a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make sure teachers do not pay more for healthcare, while also generating up to $26 million in annual savings for property taxpayers through new Vermont Education Health Initiative (VEHI) health plans. It would be a win for taxpayers, a win for teachers and a win for our education system as a whole.“Yet, unfortunately, the Vermont NEA walked away from what was intended to be a positive and collaborative discussion convened by Governor Scott with an apparent unwillingness to even consider this discussion.“The Vermont NEA’s position is particularly perplexing considering that in 2015 and 2016 the it opposed(link is external) cost containment measures in the Act 46 education reforms by saying, ‘the inexorable growth in health care costs’ as the ‘root’ of any excess growth in school budgets.“Given the significant economic and affordability challenges Vermonters are facing – as we continue to lose six people from our workforce, three students from our schools and see nearly one baby born exposed to drugs every single day – Governor Scott is unwilling to pass up an opportunity to find millions of dollars in savings to invest in early care and learning, support our state college system, or provide much-needed property tax relief to Vermonters.“The Governor hopes the legislature look seriously at this proposal, despite the NEA’s response.”In that response, the Vermont NEA said that Scott’s proposal, supported by the Vermont School Boards Association, would “force local school boards and local teachers to give up their ability to negotiate with each other over health insurance” and “is an anti-union intrusion into collective bargaining.”The state’s largest union said in its statement that it agrees with the Democratic leadership in saying this proposal to force teachers to negotiate over health insurance directly with the state “should be rejected out-of-hand by the General Assembly.”Martha Allen, a K-12 librarian from Canaan who serves as Vermont-NEA’s president, said in a statement Thursday:“This assault on collective bargaining is straight out of the Donald Trump and Scott Walker anti-union playbook. It will end up hampering the ability of local school boards and local educators to do what’s best for their schools and children. The state does not employ teachers in Vermont – locally elected and accountable school boards do.“The half-century of collective bargaining in Vermont shows that local give and take works. Indeed, contrary to the anti-union proposals of the VSBA and the governor, settlements reached in communities across Vermont show that the system works. Already, a handful of local school boards have settled multi-year contracts with their local associations that balance the needs of students, communities, and teachers while producing savings for local taxpayers.“It’s too bad the VSBA and the governor have so little faith in local school boards to do what’s best for their communities that they want to grab power and impose a Montpelier-based solution to a problem that doesn’t exist. Unfortunately, the VSBA has done its best to dismantle the Vermont Education Health Initiative in the last year. In so doing, the VSBA has jeopardized VEHI’s two-decade track record in producing millions of dollars a year of savings to our local communities.“We expect better from the VSBA, and we expect better from the governor, who pledged during the campaign to respect collective bargaining rights. “This proposal runs counter to the governor’s campaign promise, and would put Vermont in the company of anti-worker states. While we are disappointed that the governor and VSBA would introduce this proposal, we are grateful to Democratic leaders who agree with us and have pledged to reject this gross intrusion into the collective bargaining rights of the women and men who educate our children.”RELATED: Governor: Proposal would save up to $26 millionSources: Governor. VT-NEA. 4.20.2017
This month marks the end of my thirteenth year with credit unions, and the end of my first year as a CEO. I have been deeply blessed to build a career in an industry that I stumbled upon accidentally and where I have grown immensely. It has been an honor to occasionally make an impact, and to frequently be impacted by a community with a strong purpose, incredible people, and eye-opening lessons. I know that the years ahead will bring additional growth—and I look forward to experiencing that—but for today, here is a look back at three of the most important lessons I’ve learned. If you are one of the future leaders who will guide our industry into its next generation of leadership, I hope you will gain something from these lessons, too.You Have a Role in the Success of OthersIn a meeting several years back, a colleague advised that employees really only need to worry about how they treat co-workers in lower pay grades. He said as you move up the ladder it becomes important not to abuse those beneath you. This is not good advice. At any point in your career, you have the opportunity- and it is always important- to contribute to the success of others, regardless of your organizational relationship. The time for treating colleagues well does not come after you climb the ladder.There is no point in a career when supportive colleagues become meaningless, but the expression “it’s lonely at the top” originated somewhere. Likely, it stems from this widely held perception that beyond a certain box on the org chart people lose the need for support. The reality is that no promotion is accompanied by an impenetrable layer of shellac: People- even leaders- are vulnerable. We all benefit from being surrounded by those interested in our success. In the words of Napoleon Hill, one can succeed best and quickest by helping others succeed. Concerning yourself with the well-being of others (regardless of whether they are above, below, or at your pay grade) will open doors. Wherever those opportunities take you, surround yourself with those you want to support, who will support you back.Know What Is Non-NegotiableYou will work with a number of stakeholders who hold strong, divergent opinions about how to fulfill your mission. It is absolutely critical to listen to those viewpoints and be flexible in developing solutions while recognizing it is not possible to always please every stakeholder. A relentless commitment to purpose and a willingness to compromise on the method (but never the goal) are important. Identify early on those goals that will support achieving the mission, then be uncompromising in your pursuit of excellence.When it comes time to make difficult decisions, this clarity around that which is non-negotiable provides a framework for forging a path forward. In my case, I have come to realize that strong financial stewardship and a commitment to building a team culture of accountability and trust are two critical areas of focus that will lead to maximized value for credit unions. While having a clearly defined framework in place does not guarantee all decisions will be widely popular, it does make it easier to have difficult conversations about those decisions.The Industry Needs You More Than You Need ItIt is hard to work for a purpose that you really love. A job does not love you back. It will never think about you as much as you think about it.People who are passionate about what they are doing may be scared. Every. Single. Day. When I first started working, I thought this was something I would outgrow. Then, a legendary credit union CEO shared with me part of his success stemmed from the fact that he spent every day in fear. These were the words of a man who was highly secure in his career and his legacy. His fear was not of losing his job, it was of not doing enough. Fear is difficult to live with, but it is the reality of finding a calling rather than having a job. When you are answering a call, your time is not your own. You will obsess over what more you can do, where you are falling short, who you have disappointed, and what will ultimately lead to the accomplishment of your vision.I was struggling with the weight of this when a friend shared something with me that is true for anyone working at something they truly love: This industry needs you more than you need it. If this ever stops being true– if you are no longer relentlessly pursuing a vision of excellence that will be game changing— consider looking for a different opportunity because while it is hard to work in a job you love this much, can you imagine the alternative? 13SHARESShareShareSharePrintMailGooglePinterestDiggRedditStumbleuponDeliciousBufferTumblr,Jill Nowacki Jill Nowacki started her career with credit unions in 2001. She has taken on leadership roles at credit unions and state and national trade associations. Now, she uses her experience … Web: www.humanidei.com Details
Hotel discounts added to Member Benefits lineup Hotel discounts added to Member Benefits lineup January 1, 2013 Regular News
Hotel discounts, including at Walt Disney World, have been added to the Bar’s Member Benefits Program.The Board of Governors at its recent Amelia Island meeting approved the recommendation of the Member Benefits Committee to add discounts for the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort and the Wyndham Hotel Group to the benefits program.Bar members will get 35 percent off Swan and Dolphin “rack rates” or the best available rate at the Starwood website, whichever is less, and receive a complimentary upgrade to a resort view room, if available.Other advantages include free transportation to Disney theme parks and attractions, access to extra hours at theme parks offered to resort guests, complimentary parking at Disney theme parks, and complimentary child care when dining at one of the resort’s signature restaurants.The Swan and Dolphin will also create a special webpage for Bar members, which will be linked to the Bar’s Member Benefits webpage. The Wyndham Hotel program will offer Bar members a 20 percent discount off the best available rates at 13 hotel brands — covering 7,000 hotels — associated with the company. Those brands are Wyndham Hotels, Ramada Worldwide, Travelodge, Knights Inn, Howard Johnson, Super 8, Red Roof Inn, Days Inn, Night, Dream Hotels, Baymont Inn & Suites, Motel 6, and Planet Hollywood.Wyndham also will develop a webpage for the Bar program.For more information about the entire Member Benefits Program, which offers Bar members a variety of discounts and savings on a wide range of goods and services, go to floridabar.org/memberbenefits.
Pennsylvania health officials have confirmed serogroup B in the bacterial meningitis death of a sophomore at Drexel University, the third college to report an infection from the serogroup that isn’t covered by meningococcal vaccines approved for use in the United States.Initial tests confirmed bacterial meningitis, the Associated Press (AP) reported today. Jeff Moran, spokesman for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, told CIDRAP News that Pennsylvania’s public health lab determined that the isolate is serogroup B.Serogroup B has also been linked to outbreaks at Princeton University and the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB).The 19-year-old woman was found unresponsive in her room by her sorority housemates on Mar 10, and she died at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center the same day, according to a Mar 11 letter posted on Drexel’s Web site by its president, John Fry.Fry’s statement said the school was approaching the illness as a suspected meningitis case and had taken steps to protect students.Drexel’s student health service, in a notice on its Web portal, is recommending antibiotic prophylaxis for individuals who had close or intimate contact with the woman on or after Mar 3. It noted that all Drexel students living in campus housing are required by state law to be immunized with the quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine. However, the vaccine does not cover the serogroup B strain.Previous outbreaksA meningitis outbreak involving serogroup B at Princeton University prompted federal health officials in November to approve special use of an unlicensed serogroup B vaccine—Bexsero, made by Novartis—as part of Princeton’s response. In early February, health officials took the same steps to allow the vaccine to be used to curb UCSB’s outbreak.Princeton’s serogroup B meningococcal outbreak sickened eight students, and a similar event at UCSB sickened four, permanently disabling one of them. Health officials have said analysis of the strains shows that the Princeton and UCSB outbreaks aren’t related.Bexsero is already licensed for use in Europe, Canada, and Australia. Novartis has said it is in talks with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to find a licensing pathway for the vaccine to fill unmet public health needs.The company has completed phase 1 and 2 clinical studies for Bexsero in the United States and is continuing to work with the FDA to advance a single vaccine to protect against the five most common meningitis serogroups (A, B, C, Y, and W).See also:Mar 13 AP storyMar 11 Drexel University letterDrexel University student health information
In a snapshot of the latest patterns in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC’s) Ebola outbreak yesterday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said conditions are “unforgiving,” with community resistance and conflict hampering the response and poor infection prevention and control practices in certain health facilities amplifying disease spread.Today the DRC’s health ministry reported six more cases, including three from Dec 12 in patients whose lab results were released late in the day.Intensifying activity in Butembo, KatwaThe WHO said the infection control problems are occurring at several private and public health centers. The agency underscored the fact that Ebola virus spread in the clinic doesn’t just affect patients, it’s a threat to health workers, as well. Over the past week, four new infections were reported in healthcare workers, raising the total to 51, including 17 deaths.The pace of new infections has averaged about 33 a week since the middle of October, and though there has been some decline in Beni—the main hot spot—the outbreak is intensifying in Butembo and Katwa, with new clusters popping up elsewhere. “At present, the situation remains concerning,” the WHO said, noting that affected health zones reflect a mix of densely populated urban areas and remote villages, resulting in different transmission patterns and response challenges.A high risk of further spread was exemplified this week when several contacts from Beni traveled to Kisangani and Goma, the provincial capital. The WHO said health officials quickly found the contacts, who returned to Beni to complete their 21-day follow-up. Also, several alerts for suspected cases came from Goma and locations between Goma and Butembo, and responders quickly isolated the patients, all of whom tested negative for the virus.Despite the tough challenges and conditions, the WHO said progress has been made on several fronts, with new tools such as vaccination and experimental treatments in use alongside proven tactics such as surveillance and rapid isolation.Latest case detailsThe six new cases push the overall outbreak total to 521 cases, 473 of them confirmed and 48 listed as probable. Three of the newly infected patients are from Komanda, two from Beni, and one from Kalunguta.Two more deaths were reported, one in Kalunguta and one in Komanda, and both occurred in the community, a factor that raises the risk of Ebola spread. The fatality count in the outbreak now stands at 306.In vaccination developments, health officials began immunizing frontline providers in Goma health zone, where the recent alerts were issued, the health ministry said.Also, a new vaccination ring opened in the South Mabanga district of Karisimbi health zone, located in Goma, targeting people identified as contacts of a group from Beni who had been identified as contacts but traveled to Goma.So far, 46,047 people have been vaccinated since the campaign with Merck’s experimental VSV-EBOV vaccine began on Aug 8.See also:Dec 13 WHO statementDec 14 DRC update
And New Mexico delivered. You elected Deb Haaland and Xochitl Torres Small – two of the fiercest members in the United States House. In 2018, we elected the most diverse, the youngest, and the most-female Congress in history. Someday, you’ll tell your children about this moment in our country’s history. Let us also tell them about how you led our country onto a better path. We have to show up because our lives depend on it. Our rights depend on it. Our future depends on it. Don’t those sound like New Mexico values to you? That the air we breathe be free of pollution and the water we drink free of chemicals. It’s with great honor that I stand before you today, the son of Ben and Carmen Lujan, the grandson of Luis and Cleotilde, and Celedon and Nestora, and of generations who held great pride in our shared histories, family and united cultures. It starts here, today, in this room with you showing up to make your voices heard. Can I count on you New Mexico?Are you ready to get to work? Are you ready to take back the Senate? Are you ready to take back the White House? Like so many of you, my family, mi familia, taught me early a love for this land – Esta Tierra Sagrada – that we call home. We win to restore the faith people have in our Democracy and the rule of law. We win for New Mexico!Two years ago, I stood before you to say this election was the most important of our lifetimes. That the right to health care, education, justice, and equality should not be reserved for the rich or for the few. When mom’s parents, Luis and Cleotilde, almost lost their lives in a car crash, aunts and uncles, mom and dad and all of the cousins cared for them. Because that’s what families do. My family had pride in creating a life for us that, to this day, remains deeply connected to the land and the water. My dad was a union ironworker with local 495. My mom worked for the public schools, right here in Pojoaque. Mom and Dad taught us that there was no job too big or too small. From cleaning the Acequias or shoveling out the barn to preparing a meal for a stranger. We were raised to work with our hands and to follow our hearts, to take pride in the job. It’s the values we were raised with that shapes the ideals we fight for today. That the American Dream should be available to all regardless of their background, identities, skin color, gender, ethnicity, or religious beliefs. Senatorial candidate Ben Ray LujánPOLITICAL News:POJOAQUE – Today, Ben Ray Luján, New Mexico’s Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, addressed delegates at the statewide pre-primary nominating convention at Buffalo Thunder Resort.Below are his remarks, as prepared for delivery:Good morning New Mexico! When we work together, we win for families and children, for health care, and equality, for veterans and teachers, for organized labor and our environment. I come from a family of pioneers. Of survivors who braved the elements and embraced the challenges and the opportunities of building our home in New Mexico – before we were even a state. Each of you has a story that explains why you are here today. A story that connects to our shared values and principles, shaped by trials and tribulations, and intertwined with hopes and aspirations. I’m proud to have you in this fight – because I know that when we work together, we win together. They taught me about service and caring for others. There was always a seat open at our table and a friend in need was never met with a closed door. These are the values that drive me. They are the reasons I serve New Mexicans in the U.S. House of Representatives and why I am running for the United States Senate. In good times, we rallied together to share in the joy. In times of tragedy, we came together to mourn with one another. That students be able to attend school free from gun violence. My name is Ben Ray Luján, I humbly ask for your support and your vote to be New Mexico’s next United States. Senator.Thank you New Mexico, let’s get to work. It’s those stories that help others understand why we must rise together, to speak up for those without a voice, and stamp out hate and injustice. We’ve broken barriers and have begun to change how Washington works. But we are just getting started. That people had to come together to save our Democracy and our country. Thank you for all that you do to fight for our state and protect our democracy. I learned the importance of treating others with respect and dignity. When I was young, my dad’s parents, Grandpa Celedon and Grandma Nestora, helped care for us. When they were older, we helped care for them. Now I’m calling on you again. This moment has found us. It requires us to act. It’s those stories that drive us. That every veteran who served our nation should return home heroes, and that we must fulfill our commitments to these brave men and women. That Social Security and Medicare must always be preserved and protected. That children must not be separated from their families and put in cages. We can, but only if we unite and work together. Because when we work together we win together. That every child living in our country should have equal opportunities — regardless of the zip code they are born in.
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To access this article REGISTER NOWWould you like print copies, app and digital replica access too? SUBSCRIBE for as little as £5 per week. Would you like to read more?Register for free to finish this article.Sign up now for the following benefits:Four FREE articles of your choice per monthBreaking news, comment and analysis from industry experts as it happensChoose from our portfolio of email newsletters