 A Quarterly International Service Newsletter |
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The Moorhill Monitor
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Volume 13 / Issue 4 / Date 4th Quarter 2004 *
In this
Issue:
[Five Kernels of
Corn]
[How
to Live and Drive in Phoenix]
[The Bush Record]
[Vote] [The Eight Quality Management Principles of ISO 9001:2000]
Moorhill International Group, Inc.
Fostering International Relations Through Commerce
|
Under ISO 9001:2000 |
Under ISO 14001:1996 |
By: Chris Davis
Several years ago
our entire extended family gathered at Grandpa’s and Grandma’s 700 acre farm
for Thanksgiving. The day was beautiful. The kids spent all morning playing
in the fields, the younger ones jumping hay bales and the older ones
throwing a football. When it came time to eat our Thanksgiving Feast,
everyone was hungry.
The dining room table was set with the china which was only used once a year. Several smaller tables had been set up for the many children. The smell of turkey, dressing, gravy, rolls and all the other special dishes drifted into the dining room.
Everyone was asked to be seated.
Then, from the kitchen, my wife and her sister brought each person their first course: a plate on which were five kernels of corn.
Everyone looked puzzled. Five kernels of corn don’t take up much room on a plate—or in a stomach. Almost in chorus the surprised group said, “Hey, I’m starved! What’s this?”
Then I told The Story. It is a story which most of us heard somewhere, long ago, in our childhood. But it is a story we need to be reminded of when we gather to remember why we are so thankful at this particular time of year.
As the food sat in the kitchen waiting to be piled on everyone’s plate, I recounted the first winter the Pilgrims had spent in their new homeland.
Coming ashore as winter was approaching, this little band of close-knit friends had little time to do much more than build a Common House for their protection against the cold and wind.
All through that first winter they were forced to attend to the growing number who were falling ill. They quietly buried their dead in the middle of the night, in shallow graves under the snow, on a slope next to the Common House so the Indians wouldn’t know how desperate they had grown. (When I visited Plymouth, I placed my hand on the sarcophagus containing the bones of those who died and whispered, “Thank you”).
One day it was announced that they were down to a ration of five kernels of corn per day.
Finally, the days began to lengthen and grow warmer, but not before half their number had died.
You know the rest of the Story. The Indian, Squanto, joined the survivors and taught them how to live off the land. That November, the now hearty Pilgrims, along with their Indian friends, held a feast so abundant that the table fairly groaned with the provision they had harvested.
But, when the men sat down at the huge table, the women brought them each a plate with their first course, five kernels of corn. The men looked at the five little kernels of corn before them. Each man knew what he had lost and the danger God had brought him and his family through the previous winter.
They gave thanks and ate their corn. And, then the feast began.
My family was silent. Many had tears in their eyes. Our Thanksgiving prayer had a special meaning that year.
Every year our family gathers for Thanksgiving. We miss the ones who have gone to be with the Lord. We welcome the ones who have joined through marriage or birth. I am now only one person away from being the oldest in the family.
And every year, when our family gathers, I am asked to tell The Story.
Source: Chris Davis, 2004
1. You must learn to pronounce the city name. It is: "FEE - niks."
2. The morning rush hour is from 5:00a to 10:00a. The evening rush hour is from 3:00p to 7:00p. Friday's rush hour starts on Thursday morning.
3. The minimum acceptable speed on all freeways -- I-10, I-17, U.S. 60,Loop 202 -- is 85 mph. You may only exceed that speed on Loop101, where the speed is allowed to match the highway number. Anything less is considered wimpy.
4. Forget the traffic rules you learned elsewhere. Phoenix has its own version of traffic rules. Cars/trucks with the loudest muffler go next at a four-way stop. The truck with the biggest tires go after that. (Note: East Valley, SUV-driving, cell phone-talking moms ALWAYS have the right of way.)
5. If you actually stop at a yellow light, you will be rear ended, cussed out, and possibly shot.
6. Never honk at anyone. Ever. Seriously.
7. Construction is a permanent fixture in Phoenix. Detour barrels are moved around during the middle of the night to make the next day's driving a bit more exciting.
8. Watch carefully for road hazards such as drunks, skunks, dogs, barrels, cones, cows, horses, cats, mattresses, shredded tires, squirrels, rabbits, crows, vultures, javelinas, roadrunners, and the coyotes feeding on any of these items.
9 . You must know that "Maricopa Freeway, Papago Freeway and the I-10" are the same road.
10. To find anything in Phoenix, it is required to know where Central and Washington are. This is our Alpha and Omega -- the Beginning and the End.
11. If someone actually has their turn signal on, wave them to the shoulder immediately to let them know it has been "accidentally activated."
12. If you are in the left lane, and only driving 70 in a 55-65 mph zone you are considered a road hazard and will be "flipped off" accordingly.
13. Ground clearance of at least 12 inches is recommended for city driving.
14. You are allowed to wear potholders to protect your hands and fingers during summer driving.
Source: Marcena Myhrberg, 2004
At the start of his Administration, President George W. Bush made clear his objective to citizens and taxpayers, "We are here to make progress, we are not here to mark time."
President Bush has used his time in office to make remarkable progress. He has charted a bold course and established a record of accomplishment and far-reaching results for the American people. From taxes to the economy, from homeland security to national defense, from improving education to ensuring better health care for seniors, President Bush has worked with Congress to bring higher expectations of Government, greater accountability, better service, and more freedom and choice for American citizens.
As the world has seen over the past few years, the American people do not face the future with fear; they embrace the challenges of the future because they know that America is capable of overcoming them. With three-and a- half years of results, the American people know the foundation has been set for even greater things to come.
Over the next four years, President Bush will continue to pursue a bold agenda of reform and change. He will build on a solid foundation of accomplishment to bring about a safer world and a more hopeful America. In this way, President Bush will continue to show that, as Ronald Reagan said, "for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead."
Download the information here - http://www.georgewbush.com/Record/Default.aspx
Source:
I admit to loving American politics. I paid attention to my first presidential campaign in 1964, before I was even a teenager. In the years since we've seen some tremendous contests to determine who will lead our country. And we've seen some lopsided blowouts. In 1972 Nixon carried every state but the District of Columbia and Massachusetts. In 1984 Reagan took all the electoral votes except DC and Minnesota. In the 2000 election, we saw as close a race (both in popular vote and the electoral college) as any in recent memory (271-266 electoral votes). I stayed up past 2:00 AM on election night in 2000 waiting for final results, though it wouldn't be settled until December 13! The biggest victory in our history was in 1820 when James Monroe beat John Quincy Adams 231-1 (electoral votes).
This year's race promises to be another close one. And bitterly contested. Both sides have fought hard to make their case to the American people. The differences between the candidates are substantial. They have very different styles of leadership and widely divergent agendas for our future. And the country seems polarized which is surprising given the deep sense of unity and patriotism we experienced in the months following September 11, 2001.
There are serious issues facing our country and our world. Some are purely political (and no one can claim divine support for their political persuasions.) Others are economic and cultural. Who believes any economic viewpoint is perfect and without weakness? But still other issues confronting us are genuinely matters of morality and ethics. In a pluralistic society like ours not everyone agrees with what is moral and what is right. But the fact of serious disagreement doesn't lessen the importance of people voting their conscience. In fact, it may make it all the more urgent. There are serious and deep divisions within our culture about what is truth and what is right. The temptation is for people with strong beliefs to be so distressed by the discord that they do nothing. Not even vote.
And that would be a mistake. You've read all the articles and heard all the speeches about the privilege and responsibility of voting in a free and democratic society. Since we believe that the rights of the governed come from God, not from the government, we must conclude that the governed are responsible for the quality of the government they elect. Rights and responsibilities go together. The former are eroded or taken by force when the governed fail in the latter. So, whether the privilege of voting or your responsibility as a citizen is what motivates you, or both: go vote.
And what do we do after the election? On this point I actually have biblical direction. Everything preceding this paragraph falls into the category of good citizenship, I think, but can't be proven by Scripture to be God's will for believers. Many believers around the world and throughout world history have had no voice in selecting their leaders. Government for millions of people is not something they have any choice about. So, what does the Bible say to us about our relationship to government? What should we do after the election, win or lose? Simply, pray for rulers and those in authority. Whether we voted for them or not. Whether we like them or not. Whether we agree with their policies or not. "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." -1 Timothy 2:1
I can't imagine that the Apostle Paul writing this under the rule of an imperial Roman empire would have chosen the Caesar of his day. Or that he agreed with his policies. Or liked him as a person. Yet, under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, he instructs first Century believers to pray for him so that they may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. That's his plain and simple reason for praying. So we can live our lives for God's glory whether in a democratic republic or a decadent, evil empire.
So, I hope you will vote, exercising both your privilege and responsibility. But we must pray. That is God's will.
Submitted:
5. The Eight Quality Management Principles of ISO 9001:2000!
Organizations depend on their customers and therefore should understand current and future customer needs, meet customer requirements and strive to exceed customer expectations.
Key Benefits:
· Increased revenues and market shares obtained through flexible and fast responses to market opportunities.
· Improved customer loyalty leading to repeat business and referrals
Principle 2 - Leadership
Leaders establish unity of purpose and direction of the organization. They should create and maintain the internal environment in which people can become fully involved in achieving the organization’s objectives.
Key Benefits:
· People will understand and be motivated towards the organization’s goals and objectives
· Activities are evaluated, aligned and implemented in a unified way
· Leading by example thereby enabling continual improvement
Principle 3 - Involvement of People
People at all levels are the essence of an organization and their full involvement enables their abilities to be used for the organizations benefit.
Key Benefits:
· Motivated, committed and involved people
· People feel accountable for their own performance
· People eager to participate and contribute to continual improvement
Principle 4 - Process Approach
A desired result is achieved more efficiently when related resources and activities are managed as a process.
Key Benefits:
· Ability to lower costs and shorten cycle times through effective use of resources
· Improved, consistent and predictable results
· Allows improvement opportunities to be focused and prioritized.
Principle 5 — System Approach to Management
Identifying, understanding and managing a system of interrelated processes for a given objective improves the organization’s effectiveness and efficiency.
Key Benefits:
· Alignment of the processes which will best achieve the desired results
· The ability to focus effort on the processes that matter
· Provides confidence to key interested parties of the effectiveness and efficiency of the organization
Principle 6 — Continual Improvement
Continual improvement should be a permanent objective of the organization.
Key Benefits:
· Increased competitive advantage through improved organizational capabilities
· Flexibility to react quickly to opportunities
Principle 7 - Factual approach to decision making
Effective decisions are based on the analysis of data and information
Key Benefits:
· Informed decisions
· An ability to demonstrate the effectiveness of past decisions through reference to factual histories
· Ability to review, challenge and change opinions and decisions.
Principle 8 - Mutually beneficial supplier relationships
An organization and its suppliers are interdependent and a mutually beneficial relationship enhances the ability of both to create value
Key Benefits:
· Increased ability to create value for both parties
· Flexibility and speed of agreed joint responses to changing markets
· Optimization of costs and resources.
Source:
ISO, Geneva, CH, 2002
Moorhill Monitor
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