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Dateof Submission:

Theauthor of this little sketch is referring to the next of kin orrather the relatives of the deceased. These are the individuals whoknew him before he left for the north. After he left they never heardof him anymore. These could be the same individuals that Geraldosends some money on a weekly basis despite the currency exchange inthat he came from a different country.

Themeeting is a concern to Marin in several aspects. Marin is a dancerand attends most of the dances in various joints. This one isexceptional in that she is the last to see Geraldo alive, despitethem having met for a very short time. It disturbs her that Geraldohad danced with her only to learn of his accident. He is someone whonever disclosed much about himself as the information provided toMarin was just the first name and the color of the garments he haddonned.

Geraldohas a rather reserved character. Little about him is known is in thepublic domain. Secondly, Geraldo is seen as a rather hardworkingindividual and a caring one. He often sends some cash back to supportthose he left behind. He, however, conceals much of his life and onecould describe Geraldo as an individual who loves the privatelifestyle. This is evident by the way that no one home knew where hehad moved to and more so, the people around him never came to knowwhere he had rented.

Thisis a love story. There is some aspect of the connection between Marinand Geraldo before he succumbs to the loss of blood. She spends a lotof time by his side at the hospital and more so seeks informationregarding his address. Although Marin refutes him being hisboyfriend, she is concerned much about him and constitutes some loveaspects.


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ManagingPaid Staff and Service Volunteers Staff

Keepingemployees engaged and motivated is central to the long term successof any organization. Identifying the motivational needs of theemployees is, therefore, among the key responsibilities ofexecutives. The issue of managing paid and service volunteers is ofparticular importance to a nonprofit organization because theorganization may not have the financial capacity to competeadequately with organizations whose primary focus is profitmaximization. Besides, the prevalence of volunteers in the workforcepresents a unique challenge the management of employees in anonprofit organization(Worth 229).The following is a summary of chapter nine of the course bookanalyzing the dynamics of managing both paid staff and servicevolunteers.

Thetotal compensation model is the first method through which executivescan address the motivational needs of their workforce. The modelappreciates that in the modern business characterized by theprinciples of capitalism, it is difficult for nonprofit organizationto compete on the market based way in compensating employees.Consequently, it is important to view volunteers as opportunities toenhance productivity at relatively lower operational costs, but withthe possibility of retaining them in the organization similar to thepractice in mainstream business practice(Worth 235).To this end, the total compensation model identifies a hierarchy ofneeds which managers can use as a framework to understand themotivational needs of employees.

Atthe bottom of the pyramid is the need for receive materialcompensation. Unlike employees in for-profit organizations, employeesin nonprofit organizations have material compensation as the least oftheir concerns(Worth 237).The reason for that is they are passionate about the course. Secondfrom the bottom of the happiness quotient for employees andvolunteers is the need to have a social interaction which representssocial compensation. Besides, employees feel more motivated if theywork in an engaging work environment where they feel personallyappreciated and as part of a group. Psychic compensation is the thirdof the four levels of needs for employees and volunteers. Itaddresses the emotional need of people and the need of individuals tofeel useful in the pursuit of a broad objective. Finally, spiritualcompensation is the ultimate aim of employees and volunteers. Theywant to believe that their actions give them life meaning and purposeand share in the vision and mission of the organization(Worth 238).

Theauthors note that not all employees or volunteers are interested inachieving the four levels of compensation. Consequently, it isincumbent on the nonprofit organization manager to ascertain thecompensation needs of the staff and develop appropriate remunerationstructures(Worth 240).In this regard, it is essential for executives to manage the processof hiring volunteers. The first step is to establish the reason whyindividuals volunteer. Among the reasons include enhancingself-worth, learning, giving back to society, finding meaning in lifeand enhancing career growth(Worth 245).It is worth noting that these motives fall under the socialcompensation in the hierarchy of needs. Consequently, managers shouldknow that volunteers cannot be viewed as cost-free assets. Eventhough they may not impose huge cost implications, they requirecompensation through others means. They should, therefore, be madeuseful through three processes namely ascertain their role in theorganization, recruit them and put them in the appropriate segment,and align their jobs with skills and individual interests. Asuccessful implementation of the three processes ensures thatvolunteers are given the opportunity to learn, grow, and find theirplace in the organization(Worth 252).

Aftervolunteers have fit into the organization and demonstrated alignmentinto the long-term objectives, it is critical that the executivesfind the best moment to confirm them as paid staff of theorganization. Despite the fact that material compensation is theleast of their interests, confirmation makes them feel that theirefforts in the organization have been recognized, which enhancestheir self-esteem(Worth 256).Because the distinction between paid and non-paid staff is becomingblunt by the day, it is critical to integrate volunteers into thelarger personnel management system where their needs can be matchedwith a compensation scheme which makes them feel part of the team.

Tosum up, it is evident that the line between the roles of paid andnon-paid staff has been eliminated over time. Also, the value ofhaving volunteers in an organization can only be unlocked if themanagers use a systematic system to understand the compensation needsof the volunteers before they bring them on board. The TotalCompensation Model is a useful tool for analyzing the needs ofvolunteers and identifying ways of balancing their needs with thoseof paid staff. Besides, the model provides a framework forintegrating volunteers into the full personnel management system ofan organization.


Worth,Michael J. NonprofitManagement: Principles And Practice.4th ed. Washington: SAGE Publications, 2016. Print.


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The Causes And Effects Of Ocean Pollution

The contamination of the ocean by non-natural causes has broughthazardous results that interfere with the comfort and health ofdependants of the marine source over the years. The UN Group ofExperts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Pollution (GESAMP)summarized the effects of ocean pollution into harm to livingresources, hazards to human health, a hindrance to marine activities,impairment of quality for the use of sea water, and, reduction ofamenities. By non-natural causes, my focus is on man and how hisactivities spring pollution in the oceans and how this contamination,in turn, alters life.

Agriculture is an important economic activity that is the backbone offood security in the world. The fertilizers used for crops in thefarm are sometimes excess that the soil cannot absorb all of it.Therefore, when it rains, running water carries these chemicals torivers which in turn take them to the oceans. These fertilizers richin nitrogen and phosphate boost the growth of aquatic plants whichconsume a lot of oxygen hence causing eutrophication where fish andother water animals die from oxygen depletion. Fishing, a reliedeconomic activity and food source for its practitioners, is hindered.

Accidental oil spillage by ships while being transported is anothercommon cause of ocean pollution. The oil affects marine lifeinternally through ingestion or externally by contact with theirbodies. Sea otters, for example, find difficulty in staying warm asthis depends on the ability to keep their fur clean. Oil componentsonce ingested by fish can in turn harm humans when they consumeseafood by causing cancer in the long run. Also to break down theelements of the oil, oxygen is used leaving a lot less that cannotsatisfy life in the ocean.

Ocean dumping is an irresponsible act by humans that lead to marinecontamination. People commonly dump waste materials from factories,tankers, and sewerage into the oceans. Plastics make up a hugepercentage of these waste and being non-biodegradable, means theywill stay in the water for years. Marine animals’ population hasbeen declining over the years due to the problem brought about by thecareless dumping of waste in the oceans. Whales and other aquaticlife chock on plastics dumped in water and hence end up dying.

Mining is a rich source of income in many countries. Following themany years of land mining, minerals are reducing forcing countries toturn to deep sea mining to fill the mineral void. Digging up of theocean base disrupts the ecosystem and the minerals mined may leakcausing contact of hazardous components with marine life. Given thepoor understanding of the deep sea surroundings by humans, millionsof unidentified species are likely to be disrupted by the processesof mining and hence cause loss of life.

Oceans make up a huge percentage of the world’s coverage. Theyshould, therefore, be protected from pollution by dangerous humanactivities. Governments and environmental organizations all over havetried to control the marine population by strategies such as plantingoyster beds in eutrophic estuaries to filter excess nutrients carriedby run-off water. Regardless, they need also to pay attention to themany industries seeing oceans as a quick dumping site and createawareness on some actions that the human population makesunconsciously known to them that they are risking aquatic life.


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Thehero’s journey is also known as the monomyth. It represents a taleabout a person who engages in adventures that impact the societypositively. Heroes are individuals who illustrate extraordinarymotivation and abilities in addressing the challenges experienced inthe society. The hero always emerges successful in a crisis. Theessay discusses the monomyth in the popular film, Gladiator(2000).The Gladiatortale is an appropriate monomyth because it explains the fictionaladventure and successes of Maximus in the Roman Empire. A Romangeneral experiences betrayal when his family members are murdered bythe proud and dictatorial son of the emperor. The general trains as agladiator and returns to Rome to get revenge. The essay discusses thelife stages experienced by the hero in the Gladiator(2000).

Thestatus quo is represented at the beginning of the film. GeneralMaximus is the leader of the Roman army. He leads the army in asuccessful war against the Germanic armies. Emperor Marcus Aureliusis proud of the achievement of Maximus. He plans to make Maximus theregent because his son is incompetent. The call to adventure beginswhen the Emperor is murdered by his son, Commodus, because of hispreference for Maximus. Commodus declares himself Emperor and demandsloyalty from Maximus. He states that “Your Emperor asks for yourloyalty, Maximus. Take my hand, I only offer it once” (Fandango). Assistance is experienced when the general develops strategies forrevenging the murder of the Emperor and his family. The slaversassist him to escape from the Empire (Stephens 37).

Trialsexperienced by the film hero are diverse. Maximus escaped the deathsentence by killing Commodus officers. He received training as agladiator and survived numerous murder attempts during fights.Maximus shows pride in being a gladiator. He says “My name isGladiator” (Fandango). The approach that Maximus applies isstrategic. He decides to gain entry into Rome as a gladiator to winthe support of the crowd and revenge the death of the Emperor and hisfamily members (Stephens 35). The crisis is a major component of thefilm. For example, Commodus attacks Maximus secretly using a knifebefore their Colosseum duel.

Treasureis something valuable and rewarding. Maximus strives to revenge thedeaths of people killed by Commodus. He succeeds by killing Commodusat the final stages of the film (Stephens 39). The result of the filmis satisfactory. The crowd appreciated the effort of Maximus toreturn just leadership in the Roman Empire. Immediately after hisdeath, the crowd stood to show respect. Lucilla says “Today I saw aslave become more powerful than the Emperor of Rome” (Stephen 39)to denote the importance of Maximus’s victory. The return theme isclear in the film. Maximus encouraged good leadership in Rome byreturning the leadership of the Senate through Senator Gracchus. Hesays that “Brothers, what we do in life echoes in eternity”(Stephens 37) to explain the significance of good deed in thesociety.

Thedeparture of Maximus from the film is painful because he died afterhis duel with Commodus. He was given a befitting burial ceremony as asoldier of Rome. The body of Commodus was buried without militaryhonors. New life is denoted in the tale. The people of Rome receivednew Senate leadership after the death of Commodus. Maximus’sgladiator allies also received freedom. The resolution of the tale isthat the hero succeeded in returning correct Senate leadership inRome by requesting the reinstatement of Senator Gracchus (Stephens37).

TheGladiatoris a good film that depicts the experiences of a hero. Maximus is ahero because he protected the interest of the Roman Empire. Herevenges the death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius by killing his rogueson, Commodus. Maximus influenced the release of his gladiator alliesand the return of appropriate Senate leadership. The hero’s journeyis important in enhancing the understanding of the audience becauseit illustrates key events and themes.


Fandango.“Gladiator.” Rotten Tomatoes, 2017, https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gladiator/quotes/.

Stephens,W. &quotMarcus, Maximus, and Stoicism in Gladiator (2000).&quotMarcusAurelius: A Guide for the Perplexed.London: Continuum, 2012. Print.


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Collaborations,Partnerships, and Mergers Worth

Theoperating environment for nonprofit organizations has becomeincreasingly competitive and characterized by scarce resources. Ineffect, it has become paramount for the organizations to find waysthat can provide additional resources to allow the organizationsexpand their current scope of resources. Often, the organizations donot have the capacity to inject the resources without support fromother organizations. They are, therefore, forced to get intocollaboration with other organizations whose primary focus ismaximizing profit as well government organizations(Worth 205).The major advantage of the collaboration is providing synergy andallowing then to scale up their operations and effectively servetheir mission. The following chapter summary discusses severalprinciples relating to the collaborations, mergers, and partnershipsincluding the different forms in which such partnerships manifest.

Differentprinciples inform the need for partnerships, collaborations andmergers. These factors could be both short term and long term, butthey must be denominated by the need to enhance internal efficiencyand serve the mission of the organization. The first driving forcefor collaboration is the need to have synergy and enlarge the socialvalue generated from the abundance of resources. To this end, anonprofit organization must perform due diligence and ensure thatthere is a convergence of value and objectives among all thepartnering organizations or agencies(Worth 206).An enlargement in depth and breadth from the other set of drivers forpartnerships is another driving principle. The principle requiresthat the primary focus of organizations coming together be informedby the need to reach more people and serve them better by enhancingthe quality of services provided(Worth 207).Thus, it is incumbent on a nongovernmental organization to determinethe level of control to give to the partnering to avoid dilution inthe discharge of the mission. At the same time, it is critical toensure that the partners feel that they are part of the broaderobjective. Thus, the nonprofit organization which has the longer handin negotiations must focus on mainstreaming the organizationalobjectives in the harmonized plan originating from the collaboration(Worth 208).

Theneed to refine or expand the resources of an organization is anotherunderlying driver for collaboration, mergers, and partnerships. Theprinciple of effective collaboration or mergers requires that theresulting operations have efficiency gains. In effect, there ought tobe a decline in internal costs of management. Besides, the need tohave economies of scale should, also, be central to the process ofcollaboration or partnerships(Worth 209).The economies of scale might result from the injection of humanskills or financial leverage. The former helps nonprofitorganizations expand the scope of their operations, whereas thelatter provided the financial resources to facilitate such expansion.Besides, the sharing of best practices has emerged as one of thedriving factors for collaboration and partnerships. The sharingincreases the knowledge base and provides a platform where the staffcan collaborate in generating new ways of performing functions(Worth 209).The factor is of particular importance because of the changing legalframework on the management of nonprofit organizations.

Oncethe needs for collaboration, mergers or partnerships have beenestablished, the chapter outlines that the focus should shift toidentifying the principles poised to serve as conditions for successin those endeavors(Worth 210).The first principle is that the nonprofit organization should beproactive and seek to establish an active alliance portfolio. Becausenonprofit organizations are focused on providing services that otherorganizations have no profit incentives to offer, it is paramount forthem to conduct their due diligence before signing off thepartnership(Worth 212).The due diligence should evaluate the objectives of the prospectivepartners as well as the extent of their financial endowments.

Tosum up, it is evident that the chapter underscores the importance ofnonprofit organizations to make preliminary evaluation concerningprospective partners to determine whether the potential partnershipswould generate the required synergy. Further, it is critical tooutline the role of each partner and how the individual functions fitinto the broader mission and vision. Also, it is critical to clarifyfrom the early stages of forming the partnerships the values thatwill hold the partnership together. Finally, organizations shouldensure that they invest for impact by making each partnership count.To this end, they should follow the letter and spirit of theagreements and monitor other partners to ensure that they do thesame.




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AnalysisEssay: Oates’ Where are you going, Where have you been?

Inthis text, the author, Joyce Carol Bates writes the story of Connie,the main character who is different from her elder sister June, andwho seemed to always be at loggerheads with her mother. It is almostcertain that the author intended to write of the exploits of Connie,as she grew into adolescence a fact seen from the author’sextensive description of the feelings that Connie experienced withher friends, towards boys. Is it possible that the author wasspeaking of obsession and sexual attraction? This analysis attemptsto shed light on this supposition.

Evidenceof Obsession &amp Attraction

Fromthe onset, it is not very clear that the author intends to speak ofthe attraction that Connie felt towards Arnold Friend because she hadbeen with Eddie. During their first encounter, Connie had slit hereyes at Arnold but could not help glancing back to find him stillwatching her (Oates 1). When Arnold wagged a finger at Connie anddecided that he would get her, his obsession with her, which wouldlater lead him to the violent end, began. In the meantime, Connie’sattraction to Arnold continued as seen in the instances where shekept dreaming of the boys she met, and all those faces dissolvinginto a single face, that of Arnold (2).

Theconfluence of Arnold’s obsession with Connie and her attraction tohim happens when her parents and sister leave for a Sunday barbecue.Arnold drives, in the company of a friend, to Connie’s house withthe full knowledge that her parents were out for the barbecue. Uponsighting the boy she had been thinking about, Connie tried to speaksullenly to him, trying as Oates (3) points out, to show no interestor pleasure. Her attraction to Arnold is further portrayed when thetwo are holding a conversation and Connie blushes, not sure whetherto like him or consider him a jerk (3). For Arnold, this meetingserved to show his obsession with the young lady, as he takes it uponhimself to inquire from third parties whether Connie’s parentswould be around and even the way to her house (Oates 2).

Oatesindicates Connie’s attraction to Arnold in several other instancesthroughout the story. She notes that Connie liked the way Arnolddressed, and that when he wagged his finger, her cheeks warmed andshe remembered how she had felt when she first passed him and hersmile assured her that all was okay (4). The attraction is pushed abit further when Connie recognizes most things about Arnold, “…his tight jeans that showed his thighs… and that slippery friendlysmile of his.” She also notices that his voice was the same voiceon the radio (5-6). Meanwhile, Arnold’s obsession with the younglady only grows stronger as Oates (6) notes when he warns her not tofool around with him. He even remarks that he must have her, aresolve that leads to the bitter end of the story.


Fromthe evidence in the story, it is proper to conclude that the authorintended to pass across the theme of attraction/ obsession asrepresented by the two main characters in the story. Throughout thestory she offers evidence as to these two themes and ends byindicating the dissipation of the attraction that Connie had towardsArnold while showing the ugly escalation of Arnold’s obsession withhaving Connie.


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Details from the Story

What it Suggests about Mama

Mama wonders what would happen if the parent and child came on and started to curse each other out.

“This seems like a hint that the real relationship between Mama and Dee may involve conflict.”

Sometimes the child tells how she would not have made it without the mother’s help.

‘This shows that Dee acknowledges the role of her mother in her success. If really she was interested in excelling in life, she should have cooperated with Mama because she would be of great help.

Dee is embracing me with tears in her eyes.

This is a clear proof that Dee and Mama are close to one another. There is emotional attachment between the two characters. Dee has realized that her mother is an important person who plays a central role in her life.

Dee pins an orchid on Mama’s dress.

This shows that the two characters are passionate about one another.

Mama has rough, man-working hands. She can kill and clean a hog as mercilessly as a man, etc.

This shows that Mama is a scary person. Her physique and actions can cause lots of fear to a person. She must be a no nonsense woman.


This shows that Mama and Dee are concerned about one another. Mama is also ready to cooperate with Dee because she feels it better to do so.

Whoever knew of a Johnson with a quick tongue?

This shows that Johnson is a character who is not so identified with people. not many people were familiar with his and his unique physique.

I have talked to [white men] always with one foot raised in flight….Dee, though. She would always look anyone in the eye.

This shows that Dee is a critical person who treats people based on the perception she has towards them.



Quiltis a significant thing in this family. The discussion from the familymembers signifies that it is a very important property valued in thefamily. It symbolizes family heritage that should be adored,respected, valued, and preserved for the future generations. However,it is important to note that the concept of quilt is not properlyunderstood by all the family members. Each family member has adifferent view on quilts based on their beliefs and interpretation.Each and every person has a unique and different interpretation ofthe quits. For example, Mama knows that the quilts are important inher family because it represents the family traditions(Leech, 29).On the other hand, Dee does not have a deeper understanding of themeaning because she appears to be mainly concerned about thematerials used in its production.


Leech,G. Alinguistic guide to English poetry.New York: Routledge, 2014. Print.