Phil Hardwick

A national survey of 1,817 teens, conducted by Search Institute – Teen Voice 2009: The Untapped Strengths of 15-Year-Olds – finds that a majority of 15-year-olds lack high levels of each of the concepts: “sparks,” “teen voice” and “relationships and opportunities.” These three factors, when experienced at high levels and combined, provide young people the support they need to set and keep a positive course in the midst of a critical time in their lives. More...

The Mississippi Municipal League conference on the Gulf Coast opened with a parade of city flags. Some of the city officials in towns without flags wished they had a city flag. What makes a great flag? The answer to that question can be found in a great little booklet compiled by Ted Kaye and published by the North American Vexillological Association. Here are the five basic principles to create an outstanding flag for your organization, city, tribe, company, family, neighborhood or even country: 1. Keep It Simple – the flag should be so simple that a child can draw it from memory; 2. Use Meaningful Symbolism – the flag’s images, colors or patterns should relate to what it symbolizes; 3. Use Two or Three Basic Colors – Limit the number of colors on the flag to three, which will contrast well and come from the standard color set; 4. No Lettering or Seals – Never use writing of any kind or an organization’s seal; and 5. Be Distinctive or Be Related – Avoid duplicating other flags

There were quite a few inaugurations in Mississippi last week. At most, if not all, of them a prayer were delivered by a local minister. Even Presidential inaugurations feature a prayer. Steve Waldman, Editor-in-Chief of Beliefnet , has performed a great public service by collecting the texts of all Presidential inaugural prayers from 1937 to date. Click here to read them.

Information about how to apply for broadband funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. AGENCIES : Rural Utilities Service (RUS), Department of Agriculture, and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) and solicitation of applications. SUMMARY: RUS and NTIA announce general policy and application procedures for broadband initiatives established pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). RUS is establishing the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) which may extend loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to facilitate broadband deployment in rural areas. NTIA is establishing the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) which makes available grants for deploying broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved areas in the United States, enhancing broadband capacity at public computer centers, and promoting sustainable

The Two Most Admirable Qualities in a Leader When asked what they look for and admire in a leader and in a colleague, people put honesty at #1 . But the second-highest requirement of a leader — that he or she be forward-looking — wasn’t applied to colleagues. 72% of respondents wanted leaders to be forward-looking, but only 27% looked for that trait in a colleague. SOURCE: “To Lead, Create a Shared Vision” in Harvard Business Review , January 2009