Auditing Local Union Financial Records: A Guide for Local Union Trustees

Customer Reviews:

Important tool for unionists.......2006-02-10

This easy-to-understand little book is a must-have for every local union trustee and auditor, providing the know-how and confidence needed to spot problems so they can be promptly reported and corrected. It offers a basic road map of procedures and a toolbox of skills and worksheets to help auditors and trustees accomplish their jobs. And it's a big help to local union treasurers as well, especially those new to the job.

Contents include: Rights and responsibilities of local union trustees; reviewing income sources; analyzing union assets; understanding disbursements; completing your audit; summarizing your results, presenting your report; handling discrepancies and problems.

The book is filled with sample forms and worksheets to help you do the job. Each chapter ends with exercises designed to help readers master the contents.

Formerly published by Cornell University ILR Press; original edition, with new acknowledgements.

Five stars, not the one you see above!

Book Description

Aldag and Kuzuhara combine key management and organizational behavior concepts with intense application of critical managerial tools and techniques. In each chapter, the learner is presented with a short discussion of relevant theory and concepts and then actively participates in the application of these concepts through experiential exercises, self-assessment tools, and case studies. Throughout the text are examples and interviews with practitioners, emphasizing to the learner the importance of the topic at hand. Internet links and activities provide guidance on how to use the Internet as a management tool and to explore management in today's organizations.

Organizational Behavior and Management: An Integrated Skills Approach

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Organizational Behavior and Management: An Integrated Skills Approach
Ramon; Kuzuhara, Loren W. Aldag
Manufacturer: South-Western College Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OUE14W

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Organizational Behavior and Management: An Integrated Skills Approach
Ramon J.; Kuzuhara, Loren W. Aldag
Manufacturer: South-Western Educational Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OUE6LU

Organizational Behavior and Management: An Integrated Skills Approach (Instructor's Resource Manual)

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Organizational Behavior and Management: An Integrated Skills Approach (Instructor's Resource Manual)
Aldag , and Kuzuhara
Manufacturer: South Western
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000PMZSLY

Book Description

The all-new Timeline series offers kids, grade 5 and up, a unique way to understand and visualize history. With these 10-panel foldout books, they're treated to all of the major historical highlights (people, places, important events, and more) having to do with three major topics: Inventions, Explorers, and Presidents. Loads of full-color photographs and visuals on every page help kids memorize important historical facts. The chronological layout helps them place each moment on a historical timeline. History will literally unfold before their eyes.

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Mars Unfolds (The Cosmos Unfolds)
Stephan C. Vandam
Manufacturer: Vandam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Astronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

Mars | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

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Unexpected, not perfect, but very welcomed
Not for the Casual Reader

Mars: The Mystery Unfolds
Peter John Cattermole
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Astronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

Mars | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

Solar System | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Book Description

In the wake of a flood of new data and images from several exploratory missions, fascination with Mars has become even more intense than it was when Percival Lowell believed he had observed canals constructed by live Martians. While we know that these never existed, we do have evidence that Mars once had rivers, shallow lakes, glaciers, huge active volcanoes, and intense flooding. In this book Peter Cattermole, a geologist who has been studying the planet for many years, captures the sense of continuing excitement about Mars and its history. He builds his story on the foundations of his earlier book, Mars: The Story of the Red Planet (Chapman Hall, 1992) At that time, although a large data archive and an overall picture of Mars' geological development existed, relatively little was known of the planet's volatile history, of short-term changes in climate and weather, and of the possible existence of large bodies of surfaced water. The discovery of what might be organic remains in an Antartic meteorite from Mars was completely unanticipated as well. Since then, new studies from the Mariner 9 and the Viking probes have appeared, new Earth-based spectroscopic measurements and oservations from the Hubble space telescope have been made, the meteorite has been analyzed (inconclusively) and, of course, Mars Pathfinder and Mars Global Surveyor have arrived. An immense amount of visual, geochemical, and physical data concerning the rocks, landscape, and weather is now available. The new book draws on this wealth of new information, providing a clear account of current scientific understanding of the Red Planet.

Customer Reviews:

Unexpected, not perfect, but very welcomed.......2001-12-21

This book is very surprising: the large hardcover format makes you think that you are about to read a beautiful Mars book, full of pictures with limited scientific information... You couldn't be more wrong! What you have here is a highly technical, accurate and up-to-date scientific review of our present state of knowledge about the Red Planet.

The text and presentation is completely similar to the articles found in the scientific publications such as "Science": text split on two columns, black-and-white pictures, graphics and bibliography.

In order to get the most out of this book, you must already have some good knowledge of the planet and of geology, because the author does assume that you know a lot of things and will not bother explain the basics. From this point of view, this book is a welcomed surprise for the Mars enthusiasts like me, because it brings you one step (or more) further. For the beginners, you should avoid this book, and get instead the beautiful "Mars : Uncovering the Secrets of the Red Planet" (by P. Raeburn, National Geographic, ISBN 0792273737).

Now, for those really willing to learn about Mars with this book, let's get into the details.

As I said, you should know about Mars before reading this book. The best way to get there is to read the massive "Mars" (University of Arizona Press, ISBN 0816512574). This 1500-page Mars bible covers everything, but is in some way outdated (published in 1991, before Phobos 1 & 2, Pathfinder, and MGS). This is where the book by Cattermole becomes complementary, and could be considered as an update of the other one.

The large majority of the chapters are on Martian geology: plains, volcanism, craters, polar regions, fluvial activity, etc. Every aspect is covered in great details, including the latest results from MGS. But unless you are a trained geologist (like the author), you will probably be a little overwhelmed by the vocabulary. But even with a partial understanding of the science, the wealth of information is worth the effort. A piece of advice: get a map of Mars and keep it with you while reading.

Only a few chapters are about the atmospheric conditions, the satellites or even the possibility of life on the planet. This is not surprising since the bulk of our current knowledge is about geology, but may leave you disappointed. Especially the chapter on weather and climate: quite a lot is known about Martian weather, but this chapter is confusing and ambiguous, revealing that the author is not an expert in this field.

Regrettably, this book suffers from many errors, typographical or worse. I have spotted 2 figures where the curves are not even printed, leaving the arrows pointing nowhere (fig. 4.5 and fig. 13.2); fig. 3.7 is weirdly centred at 31.53°S 130.73°N; fig. 8.9 is centred at an impossible 241°N (!) and on p.89 we learn that Apollinaris Patera is lying at 96°S; fig. 9.8 lacks the "solid line" used in the explanation; on p.48, we learn that the upper limit for micrometeorites is 1 billion kg (which does not sound very microscopic)... The list could go on. This is unfortunate, because the scientific quality of this book is weakened by the fear of reading something erroneous because of poor proof-reading.

Despite the many errors, this book is an impressive summary of our current knowledge, and is worth reading. And with the arrival or Mars Odyssey, you will be well prepared.

Not for the Casual Reader.......2001-07-19

Dr. Peter Cattermole was a former lecture of Geology at the University of Sheffield and a former principle investigator for NASA's Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program. As one would expect from a person with this background, this book presents a geologist's view of the planet Mars. Unfortunately, if one is not a geologist or versed in the sciences, this book maybe difficult to follow. Even this reviewer, who is an amateur geologist and well versed in a variety of engineering and science disciplines, could only read a few chapters at time (sometimes only a paragraph) without having to put the book down and reflect on what I had learned.

Each chapter of the book covers a different aspect of Martian geology. For example, there are chapters on craters, dunes, polar regions, the weather and climate, plus many more. There are also sections on the two moons of Mars and a summary of the robotic exploration of the planet. While there were times when I I had to put this book down to digest all the information I had read, I can definitely say that I learned more than I ever have about the planet Mars.

While the text maybe difficult for some people to follow (including this reviewer at times), there are numerous high resolution black and white photographs as well as some nice color photograph maps which present the many varied geological terrains that exist on Mars. Many of the photographs I have never seen published before, especially those from the Viking orbiters.

The author does provide a detailed reference list of over two hundred separate sources, which will allow the reader to thoroughly a specific topic. I found it refreshing that the author chosen only a few of his own papers for reference material, which does not always happen.

In summary, if you know geology, like high quality space photography, are out for a challenge, or want to learn a whole bunch about Mars, this book is for you

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Mars: The Mystery Unfolds
Peter John Cattermole
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OKLCUI

Customer Reviews:

A Nature Writing Smorgasbord.......2002-03-21

Imagine some of the world's best nature writers together in one room. You would include Emerson and Thoreau of course, and John Muir. And how could you leave out Rachel Carson or Aldo Leopold; Edward Abbey or Loren Eisely? A confident knock at the door and the trio of Annie Dillard, Barry Lopez and Peter Matthiessen appear, fresh from their various travels. A more deferential knock reveals some young unknowns, but they too are welcomed in.

The conversation runs broad and deep. Names and influences from poetry to fiction; theology to philosophy; science to ethics fly about the room. You finally notice someone sitting in the corner with a dazed but euphoric look on their face, a smoking tape recorder and spilling notebook on their lap. It must be the editor of the volume here reviewed.

For that is what Carolyn Ross has tried to do in this textbook. All of the writers and types of thinking mentioned above are included in this large volume (over 700 pages for the Instructor's Edition.) The purpose - and you'd be tempted to ask what more purpose than sheer collection you would need - is to analyse and dissect the ways in which these writers write. It is aimed at students and teachers of writing, with special emphasis on nature writing. "The goal . . . is to encourage students to understand their individual relationships to nature within a wider social context", writes Ross in the preface.

The structure of the book is generally that writers are given their say via generous excerpts. The editor then asks students to analyse and interact with that writing through a series of questions and exercises. It is here that some learner-writers may suffer a "paralysis of analysis". Getting the "right people" to come to your party doesn't guarantee it runs smoothly. If too much earnest analysis gets in the way of real conversation, a party may bog down.

Put another way, the book is at times too "right-brained". It tends to favour the "rules of writing" ahead of poetry; rhetoric ahead of contemplation. The encouragement to sit and look and smell and just soak up our subject, is usually outweighed by attention to rules. For instance, we are given the self-evident "rule" that "the most fundamental point the writer makes is an essay's central idea" (p. 82). This is then watered down when we're told that this central idea can be "implied through a dominant impression or mood" (p.83). It makes you wonder how useful the rule is in the first place. I tried it out on this piece by Karel Capek (not from this collection).

"Storms murmur on the horizon, wind saturated with moisture springs up, and here it is: strings of rain hiss on the pavement, the earth almost breathes aloud, water gurgles, drums, pats, and rattles against the windows, tiptaps with a thousand fingers in the spouts, runs in rivulets, and splashes in puddles, and one would like to scream with joy, one sticks one's head out of the window to cool it in the dew from heaven, one whistles, shouts, and would like to stand barefoot in the yellow streams rushing down the streets." (from "The Gardener's Year", 1931, Allen & Unwin. p. 73). Whether the "central idea" is the rain or the writer's delight in it seems irrelevant. Such writing doesn't depend on neat rules for its appeal.

Our example of Czech writer Capek leads to one other minor criticism, and that is the relative absence of non-North American writers. Since it can be argued that the nature writing tradition began with the English (such as Rev. Gilbert White and Izaak Walton) it would have been good to see some past or present UK or European writers (unless of course we count John Muir as a Scottish writer!) Being Australian I am parochially pleased to see Peter Singer included, but he is one of few "foreigners" to make the cut. The claim on the dust cover that the book is "culturally diverse" applies only to North American culture.

Another potential problem with a book of this nature, is that the writing of the editor, standing in such esteemed company, may suffer by comparison. While at times Ross's writing verges on the prosaic, she can also mix it with fine company, as the following quote indicates.

"If you examine a subject long enough, and carefully enough, it will speak to you. It will tell you a truth - probably not the only truth, but a truth nonetheless." (p. 70)

These quibbles aside, this is a uniquely valuable book. We can be grateful to the editor not only for gathering such company into one place, but also for being a genial didactic host. It has encouraged me to broaden my influences and look more closely at my technique. But above all it has encouraged me to get on with the writing.

Average customer rating:

A Great Beginner's Guide

Just what I was looking for

Very generic.....

Perfect guide for strength training for cyclists

Made me a climber!

Weight Training for Cyclists: The Ultimate Training Series from VeloPress (The Ultimate Training Series from Velopress, 2)
Schmitz & Doyle
Manufacturer: VeloPress
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Cycling | Individual Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books
Bodybuilding & Weight Training | Training | Sports | Subjects | Books
General | Sports | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Cyclist's Training Bible

Cycling Past 50 (Ageless Athlete Series)

Andy Pruitt's Complete Medical Guide for Cyclists

The Complete Book of Long-Distance Cycling: Build the Strength, Skills, and Confidence to Ride as Far as You Want

Chris Carmichael's Food for Fitness

Accessories:

Tanita BC554 Ironman Glass InnerScan Body Composition Monitor Elite Series

ASIN: 1884737439

Customer Reviews:

A Great Beginner's Guide.......2007-04-10

This book is an invaluable resource for those just getting into cycling. It also makes a great reference tool for the advanced cyclist.

Just what I was looking for.......2007-01-05

This book really changed my cycling performance, it's great for cyclists and also for everybody else.

Very generic............2006-12-12

This book offers no real insight other then the standard thoughts like cyclists should do high repetitions with low weight so as not to build bulky muscles. Other standard thoughts include varying your workout over time to constantly stress your muscles so they don't become too accustomed to one particular workout routine. The author references his personal training program available via his website one too many times for my taste. When reading the book you get the feeling that the "cycling" aspect of the book seems more the result of a search and replace operation in a word processor versus a book really geared towards cyclists.

If you haven't spent much time in a gym lifting weights then this book might be more valuable then I found it.

Perfect guide for strength training for cyclists.......2006-07-04

This book is very well laid out. It is an excellent guide for the beginner and a nice, well-organized reference for the advanced cyclist. Every part of the book is laid out in a straightforward manner and the information is right on in every respect. Whole training plans are sampled for the season, and easy-to-use charts are used to track your progress.

As a long-time cyclist and coach, the reviews that say this book is inferior are just plain wrong. Reading the book doesn't make you fitter. You have to practice what is taught in here. Additionally, the readers who pan it seem to have weight training backgrounds which likely pre-disposes them to their set ways of doing things in the gym. Bodybuilding techniques aren't cycling-specific.

Arguably this is the best book for that area of cycling that can improve your cycling the most, strength training.

Made me a climber!.......2006-05-24

I bought this book over a year ago, and followed the program as laid out by the authors. All I can say is WOW! I am now hammering guys on climbs that used to leave me in the dust.

I referred a friend to this site and was not happy to see the very negative review written by O'Toole. He and the other "bodybuilder" guy who panned the book claim to have all of this knowledge of weight training, so why did they buy the book? A bodybuilder may know his way around the gym, but I am betting that he has no idea how to write up an annual periodized training program specifically for cycling. If he did, then once again, why did he buy the book? Just to criticize it?

This is a book to inform cyclists on how to use weight training to improve their riding, and it does this perfectly. It tells you what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. I strongly suggest it to anyone who wants to get stronger in the saddle!

Average customer rating:

Weight Training for Cyclists
Fred Matheny , Stephen Grabe , Andrew Buck , and Geoff Drake
Manufacturer: Vitesse Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Bodybuilding & Weight Training | Training | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0941950115

Book Description

8-10 full colour maps

Customer Reviews:

Indispensable!.......2003-04-18

I just returned from a whirlwind trip to Sydney -- only one week, and I wouldn't have seen half the things I did without this guide! It's small and portable, with a nearly indestructible cover. More importantly, it hits the highlights with some detail and gives little interesting things to see and do, not just the standard touristy stuff. Great maps and helpful phone numbers and even business hours for some places...I will definitely get a similar guide for future trips.

Customer Reviews:

loved it.......2001-06-16

lindsay is a very interesting character, and it's really fun to see how north american customs and slang sound to people who aren't used to them. plus, there's a lot in there about india, and i've always wanted to go to a foriegn country. lindsay really has a hard time fitting in in america, and even though it's more extreme than the alienation most of us go through in high school, we can all relate. i especially loved the part where she told her aunt she slept 'in the raw'-i almost laughed myself sick!

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