Sports Gambling and Its Negative Impact on the Games We Love Essay Example

Sports Gambling and Its Negative Impact on the Games We Love Essay Example Sports Gambling and Its Negative Impact on the Games We Love Essay Sports Gambling and Its Negative Impact on the Games We Love Essay In a time of peace – those years in between wars – there is no other activity that can elevate man’s thinking, inspire the average guy, and keeps a man talking endlessly for hours other than sports. In America sports is sometimes treated like religion. And for those who view it this way the more popular denominations are Basketball, Baseball, Football and Golf.Americans are dead serious in following the progress of their favorite teams and to increase their participation they not only subscribe to cable TV programming, buy expensive sports magazines, browse ESPN.com, and buy sports jerseys. A significant number of Americans bet on games. As a result sports gambling in the U.S. have become a serious problem. It is similar to addiction with a banned substance; no one can see its negative impact on the person until more serious self-destructive behavior emerges.BackgroundJust recently I came across this article in Yahoo.com about the highest paid athletes in the world of sports. I cannot remember the title of the said piece, the date it was written and who the author was but I cannot forget the names found on that list. The mention of big money is a sure way of getting somebody’s attention and I took a mental note of the following names, T. Woods, K. Bryant, A-Rod, S. O’Neil, B. Favre, L. James etc.I am sure that even without revealing their full names the reader has a good idea who these guys are. They are global celebrities and the mention of their names signifies the fact that the games they represent are recognized in every corner of this planet. As mentioned earlier sports is treated like religion in the U.S., meaning a considerable amount of time, money and efforts is spent just to participate in these events. And it does not matter whether the games are played by professionals or college athletes for many the thrill and excitement remains the same.There is no explanation needed as to why Americans love sports. For me sports like basketball and baseball are activities that can offer countless benefits. For some it is entertainment, the best way to chill is to sit back, relax and watch a game on a wide-screen TV. One way of releasing all that stress is to buy tickets and watch a game live. Rooting for a home team is like going to war except that everyone comes alive. If the home team wins those who are there to witness the game can come home feeling so good. And the feeling stays even after a few days. For others sports is a component of a healthy lifestyle that encourages exercise and the desire for a fit body.Baseball or basketball for that matter is more than a game for many Americans. Its purpose is more than entertainment or to give an excuse on how to spend the weekends and holidays. For many, baseball and basketball is like religion; one that an avid fan uses to aid him in the path to happiness. It helps get his mind pre-occupied, distracting him from the cares of the world. It gives him respite from the mind numbing repetitive work at the office or the manufacturing plant. For a few moments he does not worry about bills to pay and other mundane tasks. It can even help him forget about the evils in the world like the threat of terrorism.Paul Staudohar explains the effect of sports in the lives of people and he said, The games recall the playful, simpler times of spectators’ own childhoods and help keep them young (1991, p.190). It is therefore important to keep the traditions alive. The survival of this society can be assured if Dads can continually bring their sons to sports stadiums and together enjoy that magical moment. The son grows up to become a father and continues the tradition of bringing sons and daughters to see their sports heroes in action. The bonding between parent and child that occurs during these precious moments could not be described by words.But there is a growing problem that threatens to undermine all that is beautiful and beneficial about sports. This is the phenomenon of sports gambling or sports betting. At the onset one can easily enumerate a few of the negative impacts of sports gambling:1. encourages cheating e.g. game fixing;2. attracts organized crime; and3. bankruptcy and other money problems.Betting on GamesThere are many ways that an athlete can damage his or her career. Some of them would unintentionally harm their career by getting hooked on illegal substances or the practice of illegal activities. Another path that many athletes chose to follow on a self-destructive lifestyle is gambling. Staudohar, stated that There are three basic principal behavior problems in professional sports: violence, gambling and chemical abuse (1991, p.191). With prohibited drugs it is relatively easy to detect those who are suffering under its influence, but with gambling no one can be so sure until bankruptcy is announced and until game fixing is suspected.The difficulty in eradicating this problem can be explained by the pervasiveness of gambling. This is an interesting fact considering that it is illegal to bet on college and professional games in every state in the U.S. except for Nevada. In 1998 alone, $2.3 billion was legally wagered on sports in Nevada where 40 percent of the money was placed on college games. The amount is mind-boggling considering the fact that this is a highly regulated system the only place in the U.S. where betting is allowed. Now, be prepared to be blown away with the figures from the illegal side of sports gambling. With regards to illegal sports gambling made nationwide, it was estimated that the dollar amount soar as high as $ 380 billion (French, 2004, p. 108).With this kind of money floating around it is no wonder that everyone is turning a blind eye and basically ignores the problem. Aside from the overwhelming force of gambling there are other reasons why parents, teachers and even game officials condone the idea of betting. For them it is harmless and they justify gambling as a better alternative to drugs.Furthermore, it does not require the mind of a rocket scientists to understand the excitement that betting brings in to the lives of sports spectators. It is said that nothing becomes important unless something is at stake. And therefore in order to make the game more meaningful friends, family members or neighbors come together and place bets.With this kind of culture it is easy to go from innocent betting among friends into something organized that encourages systematic and regular betting on games that does not even involve the home team. When this happens it is a tell-tale sign of a compulsive gambler. They wager not for the simple fun of it but with the intent of creating a money-making scheme. This is where the problem begins and as mentioned earlier it has become a multi-billion dollar industry.Negative ImpactIn the world of professional athletes the Hall of Shame is littered with names that once were highly respected in their sport but now are ridiculed as a symbol of what is terribly wrong with U.S. sports organizations. These are professional athletes who seem to be never contented with their fat paychecks and continue to dabble in illegal schemes.But the problem concerning game fixing and the involvement of organized crime is not only limited to the pros. Collegiate level sports games is a major part in illegal sports betting in the country. Moreover the problem involves the players, game officials, students and all those who help perpetuate the said illegal activities.Myles Brand of the NCAA remarked that, Sports wagering is a double-threat because it harms the well-being of student-athletes and the integrity of the sports (as cited in Rogers, 2005, p. 52). From this statement one can glean two major results of sports gambling and that is game fixing or manipulating game results to dictate point spread. This can also lead in the rise of gambling junkies among students. Compulsive gambling is like an addiction and instead of getting high, the gambling addict will continually have money problems in order to sustain his or her habit. For a student this is a very bad precedent, one that can seriously affect the rest of his life.The same thing applies to professional athletes. Game fixing and compulsive gambling are two major problems that needed to be eradicated to ensure the integrity of the sport. This can be fully understood by looking at high profile cases where careers where placed in jeopardy because of the lack of self-control when it comes to gambling. As a result the public slowly begins to lose interest and if things will continue to slide then there is a possibility that more and more people will abandon the game they once love.In the Major League Baseball and the National Basketball association two cases involving illegal gambling will be discussed. For basketball the recent headline-grabbing scandal of a referee involved not only in game fixing but possible collusion with the criminal underworld has created some major disturbances in the league.In baseball, the legendary career of Pete Rose was flushed down the toilet when he could not control the urge to gamble. It is a terrible waste to be sure but sometimes it is hard to understand why someone would give up something special in exchange for a few moments of exhilaration from placing a wager.Gambling in the NBATim Donaghy is a member of an elite group of referees. He works for the NBA. At the time that he was fired from the league he was only 40 years old and at the peak of his career. There is no doubt that that he is pulling in substantial paychecks considering that he is part of the crew that works on playoff games. Moreover, ESPN.com reported that he lives in a gated community.Without even considering the amount of money he pulls in every year from his dream job, Donaghy is in a position of influence being an NBA referee. But he literally gambled it all away, not only his job but his life and his family. He will live the rest of his life in ridicule and there are only a few places in this planet where his misdeeds will not be recognized. He will live the rest of his life with a negative label.His actions seriously damaged the credibility of the league and many are shaking their heads in disgust. One could just imagine what a die-hard fan would have felt after receiving the news that Donaghy influenced the outcome of games. There are a number of controversial games where Donaghy was part of the officiating crew. One could not help wonder if Donaghy played a part in manipulating the results.It really pisses me off thinking about those games. For a true basketball fan a crucial game involving his favorite team will be followed with much gusto and every possession and every play made during the course of the game is savored like an expensive Cuban cigar. Now, here comes Donaghy admitting to having a hand in influencing the outcome of games; it makes me feel like a fool, like a puppet on a string. It may have been better for me if I just watched WWF wrestling, at least I know from the onset that the game was scripted and rehearsed.Gambling in Major League BaseballIn the infamous Black Sox Scandal that shocked the world of baseball Stanley Teitelbaum in his book Sports Heroes, Fallen Idols, recounted the impact of the scandal:In September 1920 the world of organized baseball was rocked by the news that eight players on the Chicago White Sox had conspired with gamblers to throw the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. The White Sox were the stronger team on paper and were heavy favorites to win the series, but before the opening game in Cincinnati the odds had shifted drastically in favor of the Reds. It is likely the word has gotten around to the bookmakers that a fix was in the works. (2005, p. 33)One can just imagine the negative impact the scandal had on the game and it seems that the players had learned their lessons well. But less than sixty years later, news of impropriety once again stunned the Major League. Cincinnati Reds player and manager Pete Rose was banished from the game of baseball. There is nothing crueler that could be done to a future hall- of-famer.Pete Rose: All Time Hit KingWriters find no difficulty in praising Pete Rose’s talents. Fred McMane heaped this compliment on Rose:As a baseball player, Rose is the perfect example of the individual who made the very most of what he had. Although limited in natural skills, he worked hard to become one of the sport’s all-time great players. In addition to most hits, he owns the career records for games played (3,562), most at-bats (14,053), most singles (3,315), most seasons of 200 or more hits (10) [†¦] Not only was Rose baseball’s all-time hit leader, but he was a catalyst on three world-championship teams. (2000, p.4)Addicted to GamblingThe same tenacity he displayed every time he is in a baseball diamond, is the same passion he exhibited in his gambling. Apparently the habit got so serious that in the twilight of his career, after becoming the all-time hit king by breaking Ty Cobb’s record, Pete Rose got the surprise of a life time. On February 23, 1989 the commissioner’s office officially began the investigation into the gambling problem of Pete Rose. They hired the services of John Dowd, a tough, hard-nosed attorney who spent ten years in the U.S. Justice Department running after mob-related cases (Ginsburg, 1995, p. 243).Integrity of the GameMcmane wrote that Giamatti – head of Major League Baseball at that time – held a news conference a day after banning Pete Rose, where he said:The matter of Mr. Rose is now closed. It will be debated and discussed. Let no one think it did not hurt baseball. The hurt will pass, however, as the great glory of the game asserts itself and a resilient institution goes forward. Let it also be clear that no individual is superior to the game. (2000, p.9)It was not only that Rose participated in illegal gambling; Rose exposed the beautiful game into the dark world of game fixing. Ginsburg explains the severity of his offense that according to baseball rules the penalty for betting on games involving your own club was permanent expulsion from baseballStaudohar was able to explain it succinctly by saying:Virtually all productive enterprises depend on consumer markets for their viabilit y and economic growth. Industries tat produce goods and those that render services to the public tend to rise and fall in accordance with the consumer image of the attractiveness and reliability of their performance. Public image is especially crucial to the success of sports, because the consumption of this service is based on a derived joy from entertainment rather than biological need to sustain life. (190)In other words, the moment the fans suspect that there is something wrong with the system and that they are not getting what they are supposed to be getting – which is the pleasure of witnessing two teams competing at the highest levels, then they will stop coming to the stadiums and arenas. No one would spend his hard earned money for a farce such as a fix.Adam Epstein has this to say as to why league officials must uphold the rules against athletes betting on their own team, At the heart of sports gambling is the concern that games fixed by players, coaches, trainers, or others defeat the ideal that the outcome of a sporting event is left to chance and skill. A disturbing issue [] is the role that the athletes, coaches, and even sports officials themselves might play in altering the outcome of a game in order to profit from betting on a loss, or point spread (96).ConclusionSports gambling is like a two-headed monster that could not be easily slain. It is part entertainment and part money-making scheme. On the basis of these two factors alone, the fight against gambling is an uphill climb to say the least. Others may argue that betting on games is part of the whole spectator experience. There are even those who are saying that it is harmless and just done for fun.But the discussion made in the preceding pages points to another end result. Sports gambling is not as innocent as it may seem. It can lead the way for game fixing, other forms of cheating, addiction to gambling, and will result in a host of problems relating to money. There are two high profile cases that were reviewed, Pete Rose lifetime ban from Major League Baseball and Tim Donaghy’s expulsion from the NBA serves as a warning to the destructive effects of sports gambling.There is not enough space to show that this problem does not only happen to professional athletes and in the professional leagues. Student-athletes can be drawn into the vicious world of illegal gambling and their well-being can be seriously affected by compulsive gambling. Furthermore, sports gambling is not only limited to the misuse of funds. When game fixing or manipulation of games becomes the byproduct of athletes betting for or against their teams, the sport will be seriously affected.This disturbing issue will surely drive the fans away and if no action is taken every time an athlete or sports official tries to play around with the rules to serve his own selfish motives then it will surely bankrupt the Major League or the NBA. Pete Rose represented the world of the athlete and spo rts official while serving as a player and manager of the Cincinnati Reds. Therefore he must be made an example. It was too bad that he was a future hall-of-famer; it was too bad that he was the all-time hit king, but what was worse was that he gambled it all away by deliberately breaking the rules that was placed there to ensure the longevity of the game he loves so much.The same is true with Tim Donaghy. His actions placed the entire league in peril. An organization like the NBA was established after decades of painstaking work from the athletes and officials. With an act of impropriety Donaghy succeeded in tarnishing a professional basketball league and a game loved by millions all over the world.

The Food Culture of American Nation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Food Culture of American Nation - Essay Example At start there were only three meal times, but later the healthy lifestyle promoters enforce the people to take four to five meals in a day. The quantity in each meal is reduced and the servings per day increases, this keeps the metabolism rate of the people high and it decreases the obesity. The latest concept in the food culture of America after fast food is lean meals or green meals.As Americans have seen how the consumption of fast food is effecting them, they are getting bit confused when they have to decide what to eat so there is constant battle between the organic food items as well as the natural food items. Eating habits and food habits make a very important impact on the social and political scenario of any country. The general attitude of Americans is lazy towards cooking healthy meals so they want anything that is quick, convenient and easy to afford and only one type of food item clicks your mind here that is fast food or junk food.Anything that looks yummy, fulfilling, and exotic and pleases aesthetically Americans are ready to spend their money on that food item. The new fast food for America is organic food these days as their food ethics are changing over time and they are moving towards healthy life style. The organic food is not cheaper or more tasty but it obviously is healthier. The food contains all the nutrients that are necessary to have a healthy mind and body.(Ray) mentioned in their book that around fifty million Americans are following the new American culture and food ethic now which is healthier. The author distinguished three groups on the basis of food consumption that are cultural creatives, moderns and traditionalists. [Rep99] has categorized two types of consumers in American food culture which are new green mainstream and the true naturals. These are very much similar to that of cultural creatives. The focus of the consumers is upon seasonally fresh, locally grown and minimally processed food items or you can say socially responsible food system. The burgers, Pizzas and spicy, oily foods are getting bit out of scenario in American culture and other green and low calorie food items are becoming part of dinner menus. While the diet and food culture in America is getting healthier, it is not same when it comes to Asia. The cooking methods, food ingredients and consumption trends in Asia are widely diversified. People believe in using more wheat, rice, oils, spices and herbs in their local cuisines. The focus is on the taste development instead of the consumption of balanced healthy diet. Ginger, Garlic, Onions, Tomatoes, red and green chilies are a necessity almost in every typical Asian dish. There is a large quantity of oil used which is not that beneficial but it improves the

Business presentation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Business presentation - Essay Example It is usually easier to read information because it helps reduce the number of speaking errors that I present and the information is already in a format that sounds academic and professional. Because my greatest challenge is in how I communicate to the audience, I think this is the biggest thing that I actually need to improve upon. It is very difficult to speak in front of my peers especially in a way that is not boring and keeps the audience’s attention. To avoid making mistakes, I create power points that have too much information and make presentations that are actually based on reading to the audience. There are probably techniques and methods to take the research that I perform to learn about a topic and shrink the knowledge down into a summarized version. Learning how to take research and use it to support the overall purpose of the presentation is critical. Right now, I also struggle in speaking to the audience and need to improve on how I prepare the presentation and actually deliver it to the

An Analysis Of The Conventions The Soap Opera Genre Essay Example for Free

An Analysis Of The Conventions The Soap Opera Genre Essay In this essay I intend to explore the genre of Soap Opera and some of the conventions that determine the genre. The Soap Opera genre is defined as A serialized drama usually dealing with domestic problems. Eastenders and Coronation Street are prime examples of the Genre. Soap Operas originated in America in the late 1950s and started being shown in England in the late 1960s. Soap Operas are named after the sponsors of the shows were Soap Products. These shows were a marketing strategy to sell the soap products. The ratings for the 2 Soap Operas mentioned are constantly at the top of the list. The ratings for particular episodes in which a story line is thickening have been up to 10 million viewers watching one episode. Increasing popularity in this genre has provided a phenomenon in spin-off products such as magazines devoted to the soaps. Actors and actresses are becoming celebrities and are appearing on talk shows because of their increasing popularity. The Soap Opera Genre has its own identifiable conventions, some of which will be explored. My particular soap that I will be analyzing is Eastenders. The episode that I will be analyzing is the episode on Monday 25th of November 2002. The time this episode was on TV was 8:00pm. Eastenders has a great slot in the channel schedule. Prime time t.v. is from 7-9pm and Eastenders popularity has also come from the time it is broadcast. The episode is half an hour long. This soap opera is shown before the watershed, which means there are certain things, which cannot be shown. There is never any swearing and hardly any violence used. I selected this soap because it has been going on for over 30 years and is one of the most popular soaps in England. The story lines that are used in this episode are: Phil Mitchell wants to find out what the postcard from Lisa says. Laura and the Doctor are having a meeting to find who wrote the poison pen letters. In the scenes that I will be focusing on the conventions of character will now be explored. There are mostly characters that have a history and meaning they are more rounded characters. There are 2 or 3 stereotype characters. Phil Mitchell is a very aggressive person that few people like. When people that he doesnt like tell him what to do he gets angry and threatens them and doesnt care what trouble he can get in. When he talked to someone about a postcard that had been sent from Lisa he was very aggressive and demanded to read it. The other man said no and told him to stop interfering with his life. Phil told him maybe he would maybe he wouldnt. He does what ever he wants and doesnt care who he tramples along the way. He loves his mother and protects her. He thinks that he can control everybody in the square. He has got into trouble with the police before and is a recovering alcoholic. He has 2 children and when with them he is made to look as if he such a soft character and a loving father rather than what he is everywhere else. Different camera shots are used when filming Phil to make him look powerful and menacing. He is filmed to look as if he is more powerful than anybody else in the same room. He is one of the main characters of Eastenders and is there to cause trouble and tension in the soap. I will now analyze my chosen 5 minutes where there is tension and many conventions used. The 5 minutes that I have chosen are where some of the people from the square are having a meeting to try and find who is writing poison pen letters. As the tension builds up the scene changes to the pub breaking the tension and prolonging you from knowing what was going to come if the scene hadnt been changed. The camera shots used only show 1 or 2 peoples faces to let the viewer see the facial expression of the person. When the scene changes to the pub the camera shots change and a panning shot is used to distinguish who is in the pub. The shot stops to people having conversations in the pub. When the scene changes you can see the lighting is different. It gets darker but there is enough light to see the people and their expressions. The camera focuses in on one of the people when they have something to say. The camera at the beginning of the scene turns around showing all the people in the room but from then on the camera doesnt turn but cuts from person to person. As the scene gets to the end someone is walking in to the room hearing something that shouldnt have been heard. The camera changes back and forth from the person speaking, to the person walking into the room. Eventually when the person walks into the room the camera angle is changed and shows the person who walked into the room taller than anybody else making the rest of the people in the room feel small. The camera cuts very quickly to all the different peoples faces showing their surprise and emotion. The camera stays on the person who walked in on the people until she has finished what she has to say. Then the camera cuts back to the peoples faces. This gives the effect of the people being caught out and the person who wouldnt normally be in this situation the person who caught them out. I think that Soap Operas will be an important part in the TV industry for many years because it has domestic issues and provides entertainment for a whole variety of people and for most age groups. It will also be popular because it opens up many conversations on suggested story lines and what will happen next in the next episode. The soap opera has become more than a marketing strategy for selling soaps.

The Great Gatsby Book Report Essay -- essays research papers

Summary At the onset of this book, the reader is introduced to the narrator, Nick Carraway, who relates the past happenings that construct the story of Jay Gatsby and Nick during the summer of 1922. After fighting in World War I, or the Great War as Nick called it, Nick left his prominent family in the West of America for the North where he intended to learn the bond business. Nick was originally supposed to share a house in West Egg near New York City with an associate of his, but the man backed out and so Nick lived with only a Finnish cook. Right next door, Gatsby lived in a glorious mansion with expansive gardens and a marble swimming pool, among other luxuries. Yet Nick did not even hear about Gatsby until he went to visit his distant family at East Egg next to West Egg. Daisy was Nick’s second cousin once removed, and Tom Buchanan was Daisy’s hulking brute of a husband and classmate of Nick’s from college. Jordan Baker, a prominent tennis player of the time, was staying with Daisy and Tom. As they sat down and chatted, it was Jordan who mentioned Gatsby, saying that she had been to one of his extravagant parties that he held every weekend. The four sat down to dinner when Tom received a phone call, which Daisy suspected to be from Tom’s mistress. Afterwards, Daisy and Nick talked and Jordan and Tom went out to walk about the grounds. Daisy talked about her little daughter and how when she was born Tom was not even there and she had wished out loud that she would be a fool, for that was the only way she could ever be happy. The four met again at the house and then Jordan went to bed and Nick went home. In the next chapter, the reader is introduced the bleak stretch of land between New York City and West Egg. It was there that Nick first met Tom’s mistress. Nick and Tom were taking the train into New York City one Saturday when Tom signaled to Nick that they were going to get off the train halfway to their destination in what seemed to be the middle of nowhere. Tom walked into an auto garage where he talked with a man named George Wilson, who asked about a car Tom was supposed to sell him. Wilson’s wife, Myrtle, emerged from the upstairs of the garage. When Wilson went off to his office for a moment, Tom quickly told Myrtle that he wanted to see her and to take the next train into New York. They arranged where they would meet quickly and moved away f... ...al 1922. F. Scott Fitzgerald was not biased for or against the rich in writing this book, he was simply trying to chronicle the lives and times of the early part of the 20’s. His lack of a bias is what makes his book such an accurate description of the era that he wrote about. This book should be considered â€Å"required reading† because it introduces the reader to what life was like for the rich at that time, as well as the general mood that pervaded the decade. It speaks of concepts such as bootlegging, gambling, and â€Å"new money†, ideas that previously were not commonly written of. F. Scott Fitzgerald can be considered an authority on the twenties because he lived in the twenties with the type of people that were described in his book. Theme In writing this book, commonly refered to as the â€Å"Great American Novel†, F. Scott Fitzgerald achieved in showing future generations what the early twenties were like, and the kinds of people that lived then. He did this in a beautifully written novel with in-depth characters, a captivating plot, and a wonderful sense of the time period. Bibliographical Data F. Scott Fitzgerald; The Great Gatsby; Simon and Schuster Publishing;  © 1925; 189 pages

Education is not the only key to success Essay

Most groups use some form of parliamentary procedure for their meetings. This Factsheet not only briefly explains proper parliamentary procedure for more formal meetings, but also describes acceptable alternatives for decision-making in smaller groups. Rules For Meetings Just as the object of a game gives direction to its players, traditional principles of a democratic meeting guide group members when they gather: 1. Every member has rights equal to every other member. 2. The will of the majority must be carried out. 3. The minority must be heard, and its rights protected. Only one topic will be considered at a time. In order to play a particular game, certain rules for that game must be followed. â€Å"Parliamentary procedure† is a set of rules for meetings which ensures that the traditional principles of equality, harmony and efficiency are kept. Robert’s Rules of Order, the best-known description of standard parliamentary procedure, is used by many different organizations as their rule book for conducting effective meetings. The Problem With Rules The saying â€Å"Rules are meant to be broken †¦ † implies that no rules are perfect. The parliamentary rules used in government provide guidance for a body of hundreds of people meeting daily for months with a great volume of business to conduct. These same rules are not appropriate for all organizations. How rigid are your meetings? Does too much technical procedure (motions, amendments, seconding, etc. ) get in the way of effective decision-making and total group discussion? Too much formality in a meeting will frustrate and discourage members when the proceedings â€Å"bog down†. Parliamentary rules for meetings are intended to help the group conduct its business (fairly and efficiently), not hinder it! There are many effective ways for a group to conduct its meetings. Technical procedure, however, should be discouraged in the average group meeting. Every organization should examine standard parliamentary rules, then interpret and adapt them to its own use. If group members agree that the rules they’ve developed permit a majority to accomplish the organization’s ultimate purpose within a reasonable period of time, while allowing the minority a reasonable opportunity to express its views, then those rules are appropriate. Rules For Small Group Meetings? Meeting procedures for committees, executives and most boards can be much different than those for larger gatherings. Certain formalities are unnecessary when the group size is less than about a dozen members. For example: 1. There is no limit to the number of times a member may speak to an issue. 2. It is not necessary to address the chair before speaking. 3. The chair needn’t leave that post in order to speak, make motions or vote. (In fact, he or she may well be the most active participant in discussions and work of the committee. ) 4. Motions need not be seconded. 5. Action can be taken, at times, without the introduction of a motion. If, however, a small group using these â€Å"relaxed† rules discovers that any one of the four basic meeting principles is being abused, then more formal procedures may be reintroduced to the meeting. Parliamentary Procedure At A Glance If your group follows parliamentary procedure â€Å"by the book†, the occasional technical question might be asked. 1. What is the proper sequence of steps in having a motion voted on? A motion has nine possible steps: Moved – a proposal from the floor. Seconded – another member feels the proposal is worth discussing. Stated – by the chair or secretary. Wording is recorded properly and everyone understands the intent of the proposal. Discussed – every speaker addresses the chair and must speak only to the motion. Usually, each member may speak only once to a motion except the mover who has first and last chance to speak. Amended – changing the wording of the motion by: adding or deleting words replacing with different words. – each amendment has the same 9 steps as a motion. Called – after sufficient discussion, either a motion to end debate or a vote is called at the discretion of the chair. Restated – ensures everyone understands what is being voted on. Voted – chair calls each option: â€Å"All in favour? â€Å", â€Å"Opposed? † or â€Å"Abstaining? † Declared – results of the vote are announced by the chair. 2. Can the intent of the main motion be changed by an amendment? Yes; the main motion may be changed, contrary to the intent of its movers. Only two criteria govern the use of an amendment: An amendment may not convert a motion to its direct negative; and An amendment must be pertinent to the topic in the main motion. E. g. , a motion â€Å"to purchase a new typewriter for the secretary† may not have â€Å"and to pay the expenses of delegates to the annual meeting† added to it. This amendment clearly has no relationship with the secretary’s need for new equipment. 3. How many amendments can be made to a motion? There are only two kinds of amendments: those pertaining to the proposed motion called â€Å"first rank†; and those pertaining to a proposed amendment called â€Å"second rank† (amendment to the amendment). Only one amendment of each rank may be on the floor at one time. Any number of amendments may be made to most motions, but no â€Å"second rank† amendments may be amended (i. e. , an amendment to the amendment to the amendment is not allowed! ). 4. How can a meeting start without a quorum? A quorum is the minimum number of eligible voters that must be present at a meeting to conduct business. This number is designated in the by-laws of the organization and for a board is usually half the voting members plus one. If no quorum is present when the advertised hour of the meeting has been reached, then: the presiding officer may dismiss the group (after setting a time for future meeting); or the group may agree to proceed informally with the agenda, awaiting ratification of any decisions at a future meeting; or the group may discuss any items of interest but make no decisions. 5. How can our constitution be amended? A good constitution contains provisions for amendment, so the structure and procedures can continually meet the changing needs and purposes of the group. Usually, a special committee is appointed to review the group’s objectives, structure, functions, etc. Copies of its report and recommendations are circulated to all members with the required notice and agenda for the meeting (often the organization’s annual meeting). Any amendments proposed during discussion at the meeting require a majority vote for approval, but the motion to amend the constitution needs a two-thirds majority vote for adoption. Who is the presiding officer at meetings? Often the president is designated in the constitution or by-laws to chair the organization’s meetings. In many groups, however, the chair is assigned to the past-president, special moderator, or to a different person each time on a rotating basis. This allows the president to take a lead in debates on policy rather than maintain a position of â€Å"supposed† neutrality which is directly contrary to his or her usual role as spokesperson for the group. 7. After considerable debate, we still are not ready to vote on the motion. What can we do? A motion to postpone the matter until the next meeting may be in order, so that more information can be gathered. A motion to postpone temporarily (to table) allows a motion to be set aside until later in the meeting, allowing more urgent business to be dealt with, permitting amendments to be drafted, or allowing time for implications of the motion to be checked. A motion to take from the table brings it back before the meeting. The motion may be withdrawn at the request of its mover, but only if no member present objects. 8. What happens when someone yells â€Å"Question! From the floor indicates that he or she wants the motion put to a vote. Only if the chair feels that the motion has had reasonable debate and most members are ready to vote, can he or she call the question (i. e. , â€Å"All those in favour? â€Å", etc. ). Another way to close discussion on a motion is for someone to make a motion to call for a vote. This motion must be seconded and requires a two-thirds majority vote in order to proceed with a vote on the motion on the floor. 9. How should a committee report be accepted by an organization? A motion to â€Å"receive† the report means that the organization is not committed to any of the conclusions or recommendations contained in it. (An example of such a report would be the monthly, unaudited treasurer’s report. ) A motion to â€Å"adopt† the report in whole or in part commits the organization to some or all of the recommendations of the report, and often implies some action to be taken. 10 Sometimes while one motion is being considered, an alternative motion might be the better one. How can it be presented? 1. The movers request permission from the presiding officer to read out the alternative motion. The movers of the original motion are asked if they will withdraw their motion, with the unanimous consent of the meeting. 3. If the original motion is withdrawn, then the alternative motion is moved. 4. If the original motion is not withdrawn, then the movers of the alternative motion inform the meeting that their motion will be moved if the original is defeated. They thus urge the members to vote against the original motion. | Top of Page | Consensus: Another Method Of Decision-Making In Groups How many meetings does your group hold in a year to discuss issues or problems? How much time is spent in each regular meeting making decisions or solving problems? Does the discussion end with a proposal for action? One rule in parliamentary procedure that can hamper a free and easy exchange of ideas is: â€Å"Discussion can take place only after a motion is proposed†. In fact, a motion is a proposed course of action, a solution to a problem, or a decision. By focusing the group’s attention on a solution before realizing the scope of the problem, the group may be voting on something that is entirely inappropriate. Is the â€Å"cart before the horse†? A simple method of ensuring an effective group decision is to build a motion through consensus. This method eliminates a complicated amendment procedure after an initial motion has been proposed. It also ensures that a large majority will agree with the motion rather than the mere 51% required by a typical voting procedure. The following process can be used throughout the meeting for every problem the group needs to discuss. Step 1. Describe the issue or problem confronting the group. – State the problem clearly and concisely. If it is complex, then write it out. Step 2. Gather all information relevant to the problem. – All pertinent facts and ideas about the problem need to be heard in order to make a wise decision. – Distinguish between facts and opinions. A decision can often be made right away. However, action may need to be deferred so that additional information can be gathered. Step 3. List all possible solutions or actions. – Explore alternatives. – Be creative. Use brainstorming techniques to generate new ideas, from every member. Step 4. Choose the best possible solution. – Use a process of elimination; refine and combine parts of your list in step 3. Reaching consensus is not always easy. Some individuals become frustrated with the time taken for group decision-making. Also, this method relies on the discretion of the chair who eventually decides when a general agreement or common â€Å"feeling† has been reached. In some situations, if only extremely vocal and confident individuals dare to challenge the majority view, then the minority opinion is in danger of being suppressed. Using consensus, however, can result in higher quality decisions. The complicated rules of parliamentary procedure are reduced while maximum member participation is encouraged. In the end, group decisions lead to group action! Conclusion Whichever method your group chooses to make its decisions or conduct its meetings, the four principles of a democratic meeting must be followed. As more formal procedures are adopted, more complicated rules are followed. There is little reason for any one person to attempt to learn every rule of parliamentary procedure. To know where to find the answers is enough. The following references may help answer any questions not addressed in this Factsheet. References Parliamentary Procedure at a Glance. Jones, O. Garfield.

A Study on Accountancy Students Shifting to Other Courses

1. A good thesis statement is your introduction to your subject. It is how you introduce yourself and your work to your reader. Your thesis needs to be well researched, provide an overview of your argument, make the reader ask for more, anticipate the readers arguments, and be clear and concise. Research 2. Writing a thesis starts with research. Take a look at the primary sources you have to work with and get an idea of the angle you want to take with your paper: this will be reflected in your thesis. Since research will continue throughout the process of your paper or project, you may end up going in a different direction or being convinced your stance at the beginning was wrong. Do not be afraid to change your thesis. Topic and Road†¦show more content†¦The importance of this bias is illustrated by the fact that several extant studies estimate an equity premium in the vicinity of 3 percent, which would be eliminated by the removal of the bias. We illustrate the point that cross-sample differences in the bias may lead to the erroneous conclusion that cost of capital differs across these samples by showing that analysts optimism and, hence, bias in the implied estimates of the expected rate of return, differs with firm size and with analysts recommendation. As an important aside, we show that the bias in a value-weighted estimate of the implied equity premium is 1.60 percent and that the unbiased value-weighted estimate of this premium is 4.43 percent. EASTON, P., MONAHAN, S., VASVARI, F. Initial Evidence on the Role of Earnings in the Bond Market Journal of Accounting Research We document that: (1) the incidence of bond trade increases during the days surrounding earnings announcements, (2) there is a bond-price reaction to the announcement of earnings, and (3) there is a positive association between annual bond returns and both annual changes in earnings and annual analysts forecast errors. 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