Washington, D.C. – The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) today announced a sweeping election preparedness initiative designed to provide broadcasters with the critical resources, tools and training needed to navigate the complexities of the 2024 election cycle. As the voice for America’s broadcasters, NAB is supporting its members as they work to deliver accurate and reliable election coverage across all platforms.

If you are like most choir directors one of the things you do everyday and even multiple times a day if you teach multiple classes is Warm-ups. Here are the best 4 warm up resources that I have found.


      1. The Complete Choral Warm-Up Book By Robinson, Russell/ Althouse, Jay 

It’s a brand new year. Did you resolve to be healthier at the start of the New Year? Perhaps your goal is to improve yourself in some way or to put aside bad habits that you may have picked up in the last year. Add one more resolution to your list - resolve to drive safe.

Jim Grisanzio from Java Developer Relations talks with Marit van Dijk, a Java Champion and Developer Advocate at JetBrains based in The Netherlands. The conversation covers all things Java — the growing community, the latest features to enable developer productivity, contributing to Open Source, advice for students, and Marit's unique background in Social Science Informatics that combines computer science and social science.

Marit on Twitter https://twitter.com/MaritvanDijk77

Marit on the Web https://maritvandijk.com/

Jim on Twitter https://twitter.com/jimgris

TBILISI, 2 July 2016 – Nearly 300 parliamentarians from 54 OSCE countries have begun debates on political and security affairs, economic and environmental issues and human rights and humanitarian concerns at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s 25th Annual Session in Tbilisi.

The OSCE PA’s three general committees began working on resolutions Saturday dealing with topics including transnational terrorism, the crisis in and around Ukraine, protracted conflicts in Georgia, corruption, energy, climate change, migration and the rights of refugees.

Introducing the resolution to the Committee on Political Affairs and Security, Rapporteur Margareta Cederfelt (MP, Sweden) noted the importance of rebuilding trust and promoting stability in the OSCE region. “Since so many of our common challenges require real multilateral engagement, we as parliamentarians should work together in overcoming these challenges and work towards our mutual security,” she said.

Chaired by U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, the committee debated a number of issues related to the security situation in the OSCE area, with a particular focus on the threat of terrorism and resolving the Ukraine conflict through full implementation of the Minsk Agreements.

In the OSCE PA’s Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment, chaired by Nilza Sena (MP, Portugal), Rapporteur Marietta Tidei (MP, Italy) highlighted the necessity of addressing climate change and other challenges in the economic and environmental dimension. She noted that 2016 marks not only the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s 25th anniversary, but also 25 years since the international community began addressing one of the most challenging environmental concerns of our time.

“In 1991, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee held its first meeting to tackle what was already seen at that time as a serious challenge to humanity, the threat of climate change,” Tidei noted. She welcomed the adoption last year of the Paris Climate Agreement and urged its swift implementation by OSCE countries. Other issues touched on by the rapporteur and in the debate included food security, economic inequality and corruption.

The OSCE PA’s Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions opened debate on Rapporteur Gordana Comic (MP, Portugal)’s report and draft resolution, introduced by Committee Chair Isabel Santos (MP, Portugal). The resolution urges a revitalization of the OSCE’s commitment to the human dimension of security at a time when a “crisis of leadership and ideas” is coinciding with a humanitarian emergency related to Europe’s refugee and migrant crisis.

Chaired by Ivana Dobesova (MP, Czech Republic), the committee debated issues including fundamental freedoms in Crimea and humanitarian concerns related to the migration crisis, including the special vulnerabilities of women and girls.

Santos noted that the report and draft resolution do not present a “magic solution” to the challenges of human rights in the OSCE area, but provides a basis for further co-operation. ‘“Together, we can achieve more, and one day we will achieve the solutions,” she said.

Committee meetings continue on 3 July with a number of amendments to consider. After the amendment process and their adoption by the committees, resolutions will be voted on by the full Assembly during the final day of the Annual Session on 5 July, for inclusion in the OSCE PA’s Tbilisi Declaration.

The committee meetings today follow a number of opening speeches Friday, including by Georgian Speaker of Parliament David Usupashvili, President Giorgi Margvelashvili, and Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, as well as OSCE PA President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) and the OSCE’s Chairperson-in-Office, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Also on Friday, President Kanerva and Foreign Minister Steinmeier met for a bilateral meeting that focused on conflict resolution efforts in Ukraine. They discussed the crisis in and around Ukraine in detail, including the current Russian position on its level of engagement and prospects for implementing the Minsk Agreements.

For schedules, resolutions, live streaming during the event, daily news updates, press releases and other information, please visit www.oscepa.org. Selected photos are being posted on the PA’s Flickr page atwww.flickr.com/oscepa and on the Georgian Parliament’s Flickr page athttps://www.flickr.com/photos/geoparliament. Both the PA and the Georgian Parliament are tweeting using the hashtag #OSCEPATbilisi.

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is comprised of 323 parliamentarians from 57 countries spanning Europe, Central Asia and North America. The Assembly provides a forum for parliamentary diplomacy, monitors elections, and strengthens international co-operation to uphold commitments on political, security, economic, environmental and human rights issues.

Related Stories

• Christine Muttonen of Austria elected OSCE PA President, Vice-Presidents and Committee Officers also elected
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• Assembly’s work on migration presented to OSCE ambassadors by Ad Hoc Committee Chair Lombardi at special Permanent Council

BISHKEK, 22 July 2016 – Three public discussions on the regulatory legal acts regarding the use of natural resources and environmental protection are being organized from 19 July to 27 July 2016 by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek and the local Aarhus Centre in the districts of Toktogul, Aksy and Kadamjay in southern Kyrgyzstan.

The discussions are gathering representatives of environmental services, the local authorities, village- and district-level state administrations, local council deputies and public organizations, to exchange ideas on environmental problems and discuss how to address them through active public scrutiny.

“Local stakeholders should be aware of the environmental legislation upfront. This will help them to prevent conflict arising from the use of natural resources,” said Dmitry Prudtskikh, Environmental Officer at the OSCE Centre. “I am glad to see that the Aarhus Centre in Osh has established a platform for communication between governmental, public and private structures, with the support of the OSCE.”

Kanybek Isabaev, Director of the Aarhus Centre in Osh, said: “For several years, we have been disseminating information to the public and our partners on the legislation regarding environmental protection, the rational use of natural resources, and subsoil and environmental safety in our country. It is very significant that citizens can participate in decision-making in the area of ecology, a sphere that is becoming increasingly important in Kyrgyzstan.”

During the discussions, participants will gain knowledge on issues of environmental protection, public access to environmental information, the normative legal acts of the Kyrgyz Republic on ecology and the basic principles of the Aarhus Convention.

The event was organized as part of the OSCE Centre's project on promoting environmental security through dialogue and enhanced disaster risk reduction.

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COPENHAGEN, 13 June 2016 – Pointing to a loss of trust between OSCE countries in recent years, the rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly’s political affairs and security committee, Margareta Cederfelt (MP, Sweden), has authored a report and draft resolution geared towards strengthening international dialogue and improving co-operation to meet common challenges facing the OSCE region. The resolution will be considered at the OSCE PA’s 25th Annual Session, being held in Tbilisi, Georgia, from 1 to 5 July.

“Since so many international problems require real multilateral engagement, the gridlock and loss of trust we have recently seen across the OSCE area has had a tangible and negative impact on our mutual security,” Cederfelt said today. “Only by strengthening dialogue and political will can diplomatic efforts succeed in bringing together belligerent parties, resolving conflicts and addressing common threats.”

In this regard, she said that the OSCE should utilize its full capacity to tackle problems including transnational terrorism and the crisis in and around Ukraine. The resolution also points to conflicts and challenges of refugees and internally displaced persons in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova as requiring greater attention and political will. Regarding Abkhazia, Georgia, and South Ossetia, Georgia, the resolution calls for strengthening international dialogue in regard to the security and stability arrangements, and urges the full implementation of the EU-brokered Six-Point Agreement of 12 August 2008.

Other key themes highlighted by the rapporteur include women in armed conflict, the link between security and democracy, and the fight against corruption. Specifically, Cederfelt’s resolution:

• Calls upon OSCE governments to harmonize and co-ordinate anti-terrorism legislation and intelligence-sharing, as well as develop measures to block the funding of terrorist groups;
• Urges all parties to the Ukraine conflict to fully implement the Package of Measures for the implementation of the Minsk Agreements, and calls for an international peacekeeping operation under the auspices of the UN and the OSCE to reinforce the Minsk Agreements;
• Calls for democratic and legal accountability in order to address corruption and ensure greater political integrity;
• Encourages OSCE countries to promote effective measures to provide security guarantees and humanitarian relief for women at all stages of the conflict cycle.

Regarding the crisis in and around Ukraine, which Cederfelt underlines has been exacerbated by Russian aggression, the resolution expresses “respect for the principles of the inviolability of frontiers and territorial integrity, peaceful settlement of disputes, equal rights, and self-determination of peoples as stated in the Helsinki Final Act, and calls on the Russian Federation to restrain its aggressive practices and reverse the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.” 

Concern is also expressed over recent military escalation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, with the resolution urging parliamentarians to encourage political will from the sides in the region to promote an agreement on confidence building-measures to reduce the risk for further hostilities.

Cederfelt’s draft resolution will be debated and amended during a number of meetings of the OSCE PA’s General Committee on Political Affairs and Security beginning on 2 July. The committee will also take up several other resolutions that cover additional matters related to the OSCE’s politico-military dimension of security. After the amendment process and their adoption by the committee, resolutions will be voted on by the full Assembly during the final day of the Annual Session on 5 July, for inclusion in the OSCE PA’s Tbilisi Declaration.

The Declaration, containing wide-ranging policy recommendations and pronouncements in the fields of security, economics and the environment, and human rights, will be sent to the foreign ministers of OSCE participating States and presented in national parliaments. 

Held under the theme “25 Years of Parliamentary Co-operation: Building Trust Through Dialogue,” the Annual Session will take place at Expo Georgia Exhibition Center in Tbilisi, and is open to the media. Additional information, including the full text of resolutions and reports, is available here. Journalists interested in attending the Annual Session should register here by 20 June.

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is comprised of 323 parliamentarians from 57 countries spanning Europe, Central Asia and North America. The Assembly provides a forum for parliamentary diplomacy, monitors elections, and strengthens international co-operation to uphold commitments on political, security, economic, environmental and human rights issues.

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National Points of Contact from 16 OSCE participating States on implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their components were familiarized with countries’ commitments stemming from this Resolution, at a training session co-organized by the OSCE from 28 June to 1 July 2016 in Kaliningrad, in the Russian Federation. A National Point of Contact from Chile – an observer State – also took part.

The session was hosted by the Government of the Russian Federation, and conducted in partnership with the UN Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD) and the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA).

Welcoming the participants on behalf of Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, an official of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that “the efficiency of the UN Security Council Resolution 1540 can be guaranteed only through its full implementation by all countries”, and by encouraging close and constructive co-operation between all parties.

Robin Mossinkoff, the Head of the Forum for Security Cooperation Support Unit, said: “The OSCE has been supporting the network of OSCE National Points of Contact on implementing Resolution 1540 with annual meetings since 2014, and appreciates the Russian Federation’s initiative to hold this year’s annual meeting in format of a training session.”

Participants were provided with an overview of the international non-proliferation regimes and instruments. They discussed the national legislative and regulatory framework, enforcement of legislation with regard to export and border controls, transshipment, illicit trafficking and brokering control as well as the role of the Points of Contact in supporting the development and implementation of these measures.

Anton Martyniuk, the UNRCPD Coordinator of the project, noted that establishing Points of Contact and fostering their operation is a solid contribution to implementing Resolution 1540 at the national, regional and international levels.

Participants also visited a border crossing point to learn more about the work of a commodity identification centre.

The training course was organized as part of the joint UNODA-OSCE project on facilitating the regional implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540. UNRCPD and the OSCE organized the course in co-operation with the 1540 Committee and its Group of Experts.

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Pepperdine is expanding its TimelyCare program and offering Narcan training to address the rise in fentanyl overdoses and mental health issues affecting students on campuses nationwide. This initiative equips students with essential tools for their well-being.

The post Pepperdine Introduces New Opioid Awareness and Mental Health Resources appeared first on Pepperdine Graphic.

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ tourism oversight board is looking to exert its authority over development in Disney World’s special district.

The Home and Lifestyle author talks with keepsakes photographer Shana Novak about how she takes the poignant items in people's lives and elevates them.

Resolution 1 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - Rules of procedure of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector

Resolution 2 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector study group responsibility and mandates

Resolution 7 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - Collaboration with the International Organization for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission

Resolution 11 - (Rev. Hammamet, 2016) - Collaboration with the Postal Operations Council of the Universal Postal Union in the study of services concerning both the postal and the telecommunication sectors

Resolution 18 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - Principles and procedures for the allocation of work to, and strengthening coordination and cooperation among, the ITU Radiocommunication, ITU Telecommunication Standardization and ITU Telecommunication Development Sectors
Resolution 18 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - Principles and procedures for the allocation of work to, and strengthening coordination and cooperation among, the ITU Radiocommunication, ITU Telecommunication Standardization and ITU Telecommunication Development Sectors

Resolution 20 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - Procedures for allocation and management of international telecommunication numbering, naming, addressing and identification resources

Resolution 22 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - Authorization for the Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group to act between world telecommunication standardization assemblies

Resolution 29 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - Alternative calling procedures on international telecommunication networks

Resolution 31 - (Rev. Dubai, 2012) - Admission of entities or organizations to participate as Associates in the work of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector

Resolution 32 - (Rev. Hammamet, 2016) - Strengthening electronic working methods for the work of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector

Resolution 34 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - Voluntary contributions

Resolution 40 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - Regulatory and policy aspects of the work of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector

Resolution 43 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - Regional preparations for world telecommunication standardization assemblies

Resolution 44 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - Bridging the standardization gap between developing and developed countries

Resolution 47 - (Rev. Dubai, 2012) - Country code top-level domain names

Resolution 48 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - Internationalized (multilingual) domain names

Resolution 49 - (Rev. Hammamet, 2016) - ENUM

Resolution 50 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - Cybersecurity

Resolution 52 - (Rev. Hammamet, 2016) - Countering and combating spam

Resolution 54 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - Creation of, and assistance to, regional groups

Resolution 55 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - Mainstreaming a gender perspective in ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector activities

Resolution 58 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - Encouraging the creation of national computer incident response teams, particularly for developing countries

Resolution 60 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - Responding to the challenges of the evolution of the identification/numbering system and its convergence with IP-based systems/networks

Resolution 61 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - Countering and combating misappropriation and misuse of international telecommunication numbering resources

Resolution 62 - (Rev. Dubai, 2012) - Dispute settlement

Resolution 64 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - IP address allocation and facilitating the transition to and deployment of IPv6

Resolution 65 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - Calling party number delivery, calling line identification and origin identification

Resolution 67 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - Use in the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector of the languages of the Union on an equal footing and the Standardization Committee for Vocabulary

Resolution 68 - (Rev. Hammamet, 2016) - Evolving role of industry in the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector

Resolution 69 - (Rev. Hammamet, 2016) - Non-discriminatory access and use of Internet resources

Resolution 70 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - Telecommunication/information and communication technology accessibility for persons with disabilities

Resolution 72 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - Measurement concerns related to human exposure to electromagnetic fields

Resolution 73 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - Information and communication technologies, environment, climate change and circular economy

Resolution 74 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - Enhancing participation of Sector Members from developing countries in the work of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector

Resolution 75 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - The ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector's contribution in implementing the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society, taking into account the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Resolution 76 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - Studies related to conformance and interoperability testing, assistance to developing countries, and a possible future ITU Mark programme

Resolution 77 - (Rev. Hammamet, 2016) - Enhancing the standardization work in the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector for software-defined networking