Author: Staff

  • Cleeves, Thomas A.

    Thoms Cleeves
    Thomas Cleeves

    WXYZ: TV engineering and video editor.

    Eaton Rapids, Michigan – Thomas Allen Cleeves, born on April 14, 1949 passed away on June 27th 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona at age 62. Son of Kenneth and Geraldine (Finch) Cleeves, Tom was born and raised in Eaton Rapids and Graduated from Eaton Rapids High School in 1967. He then attended Bob Jones University. He loved Photography and Videography and sought a career in Television. After University, he worked locally for Channels 6 & 10, then landed his dream job for the ABC News affiliate, Channel 7 in Detroit. He worked as a Cameraman and Video Editor for 25 years. During his career, he worked on Stage shows with big name stars, documentaries and Local and National News. He was a talented artist and was even given an Emmy Award for his work at Channel 7 in 1979 and was also able to film an African Safari which was another of his lifelong dreams. An avid Outdoorsman, Tom loved to hunt and fish and also worked for many years doing onsite camera work with Jerry Chiapetta on “Michigan Outdoors”.

    Tom was a Believer in Christ and enjoyed sharing God’s love with others. He had a big and loving heart and loved his family very much. He always made an effort to visit and bring together even his extended family and friends for reunions and gatherings. Those memories will stay with us all.

    Tom is survived and dearly missed by his 3 children, Kevin (Brandi) Cleeves of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, Lisa (Pawel) Piotrowski of Eaton Rapids, Michigan and Laura Cleeves Schroeder of Chandler, Arizona. Also his Parents, Kenneth and Gerry Cleeves, Sister Cathy (Tad) Cook, Brother Jim (Brenda) Cleeves, 2 beautiful Granddaughters, Leia (Kevin) and Hannah (Lisa), Nephews, Nieces, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and many friends.
    Memorial Services for Tom are to be held on Saturday, September 10th at 2pm at The First Baptist Church of Eaton Rapids. In Lieu of Flowers, gifts made be given to the church in memory of Thomas Cleeves.
    Thomas Cleeves

  • Trump Ends Funding to Fight Extremist Groups

    Delete HateWhile Trump empowers extreme right-wing through his words, tweets and press conferences, his administrations ends funding to fight such groups.

    WASHINGTON ― Weeks before a violent white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, led to three deaths and 19 injuries, the Trump administration revoked a grant to Life After Hate, a group that works to de-radicalize neo-Nazis.

    The Department of Homeland Security had awarded the group $400,000 as part of its Countering Violent Extremism program in January, just days before former President Barack Obama left office. It was the only group selected for a grant that focused exclusively on fighting white supremacy. But the grant money was not immediately disbursed. [1]

    Trump’s Two Faces

    The Trump administration’s decision to cut federal funding for groups fighting right-wing violence has come under new scrutiny following the president’s controversial response to violence at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., over the weekend.

    Trump, who faced a firestorm of criticism for not initially calling out white supremacists, the KKK and neo-Nazis on Saturday, explicitly denounced the hate groups by name on Monday and vowed to fight against violent extremism.

    But the botched immediate response has some critics questioning the White House’s commitment to the issue, and they point to the funding cuts as evidence. [2]

    References:

    1. Huffington Post, August 15, 2017, Jessica Schulberg – Controversial Trump Aide Katharine Gorka Helped End Funding For Group That Fights White Supremacy – Life After Hate works to de-radicalize neo-Nazis. The Trump administration decided it wasn’t a priority.
    2. The Hill, August 14, 2017, Melanie Zanona – Trump cuts funds to fight anti-right wing violence
    3. Life After Hate
  • Ross Reck: There’s A Reason Why It’s Called The “Golden” Rule

    Golden Rule - ReligionsThe Golden Rule

    Treating others the way you want to be treated is often referred to as the Golden Rule.  The reason it’s called the Golden Rule is that it has such a high payoff associated with it.  People absolutely crave to be treated with kindness and respect.  So, when you treat them this way, you almost always make their day.  As a result, they are both happy and excited.  When people are happy and excited, they feel compelled to do something extra nice for the person who made them feel that way.

    If you practice the Golden Rule with any degree of consistency, in no time at all you’ll start to accumulate this vast army of people who absolutely can’t do enough for you.  I refer to this army as your Personal Army of Advocates.  When this army starts to fall in place, whatever you’re trying to accomplish becomes so much easier because you all of these people excited about helping you.  So, give the Golden Rule a try.  You’ve got nothing to lose and a very bright future to gain.

    • 100% Employee Engagement Guaranteed! Newly Revised [Kindle & Paperback Editions]

      Now Available from Amazon.com for $15.99

      Kindle and Paperback Editions available from Amazon.com

      Imagine a workplace where every employee is engaged with their work … where every employee shows up each day excited about giving every bit of energy, creativity and passion to performing their job. These employees don’t need to be motivated because they already are and they channel their motivation toward creating a competitive edge for their company that can’t be easily copied. They’re constantly making innovative changes to products, services and customer experiences while providing superior levels of customer service which results in loyal customers. This means higher levels of repeat and referral business which, in turn, translates into significant increases in market share. In addition, absenteeism and turnover rates for these fully engaged employees are far below industry averages because they absolutely love what they do. This book presents a new management model that guarantees an employee engagement level of 100%. If you implement this model in your organization, every one of your employees will become engaged with their work; all working at their full potential. Think of what it would mean to the success of your business or organization if you could get all of your employees engaged with their work.

  • Ross Reck: You Can Go to the Well As Often As You Want

    Relationships

    Coffee ShopI’m sure you’ve all heard the old adage, “You can go to the well once too often.”  It means that you can only ask another person for favors so many times before you wear out your welcome.  This is true only if you fail to maintain your relationships.  As long as you maintain your relationships, you can go to the well as often as you want.

    Maintain Your Relationships

    There are two things you need to do to maintain your relationships:  First, regularly spend time visiting with the people you deal with (either in person or on the phone) when you don’t ask for things.  If the only time you visit with these people is when you want something, you quickly become know as a “taker” or “user” and no one wants to do favors for that kind of person.  Second, when one of these people needs a favor from you, make sure you come through for them in a big way.  If you do this on a consistent basis, I can assure you that you well will never dry up. [1]

    References:

    1. RossReck.com

    • 100% Employee Engagement Guaranteed! Newly Revised [Kindle & Paperback Editions]

      Now Available from Amazon.com for $15.99

      Kindle and Paperback Editions available from Amazon.com

      Imagine a workplace where every employee is engaged with their work … where every employee shows up each day excited about giving every bit of energy, creativity and passion to performing their job. These employees don’t need to be motivated because they already are and they channel their motivation toward creating a competitive edge for their company that can’t be easily copied. They’re constantly making innovative changes to products, services and customer experiences while providing superior levels of customer service which results in loyal customers. This means higher levels of repeat and referral business which, in turn, translates into significant increases in market share. In addition, absenteeism and turnover rates for these fully engaged employees are far below industry averages because they absolutely love what they do. This book presents a new management model that guarantees an employee engagement level of 100%. If you implement this model in your organization, every one of your employees will become engaged with their work; all working at their full potential. Think of what it would mean to the success of your business or organization if you could get all of your employees engaged with their work.


  • Terry Pochert and Lee Pochert Fishing at Port Hope, Michigan

    Terry Pochert - Lee Pochert

    Terry Pochert and Lee Pochert (cousins) fishing at Port Hope, Michigan, during perch season.