Utah credit unions have been implementing programs to help their employees from coming down with H1N1.

“We keep hand sanitizer at every member service station,” said Kate Whittaker at Family First Credit Union, “We also let our employees call in sick without a doctor’s note.”

Mountain America Credit Union is offering flu shots at the corporate offices on October 28th for insured employees and their dependents that are 18 and older. They have also put information on the internet to inform their employees of the H1N1 virus and what they should do to prevent an outbreak. (links?)

America Fist Credit Union is also taking similar precautions;

“All of our employees were required to take an online course about our response plan. Then at the end of the course they had to take a quiz,” said America First’s Jennifer Baird.

The online course informed their employees about what a pandemic is, what the symptoms of the flu are, what do you do if you are exhibiting flu like symptoms, cleaning protocols, internal communications and where to receive information about the flu.

Managers have been given information relative to Human Resource and Privacy issues and every branch and department has received masks at their location to use for social distancing in the event that an employee comes to work ill or becomes ill at work. America First’s response plan includes trigger events, crisis assessment and personal activation, personal and member safety, human recource procedures, and member service and business continuity.

In the compliance section of the League’s website there is a pandemic plan to help credit unions be more informed and prepared. This plan outlines what to do in case of a serious pandemic occurs in their area. Some points the plan outlines trigger points such as:

• Demonstrated human-to-human transmission
• Significant human-to-human transmission beyond immediate family
• Human-to-human transmission cases in North America
• Human-to-human transmission cases within 300 miles of the Credit Union.
• · Human-to-human transmission cases within 50 miles of the Credit Union

There are many ways to protect yourself from contracting the H1N1 virus. One of the easiest ways is to get the H1N1 flu vaccine and the common flu vaccine. Many believe that the common flu vaccine will protect you from H1N1, this is not true. In order to prevent yourself from catching H1N1 or the common flue, you will need to get both vaccines.

The Center for Disease Control has advised that these people should get the H1N1 vaccine: pregnant women, infants and children, healthcare workers, people with chronic health conditions, and household contacts and caregivers of children younger than six months.

 Credit unions detected problems with the change from the beginning. One of the main problems that credit unions faced when using NILCO was that it was a one-man show compared to being run by a big company. This is what first sent up red flags for credit unions.

“There was supposed to be a deal where the previous owner of NILCO was supposed to work for the new owner, but an agreement could never be reached.  That was when we became very concerned,” said Doug Huntsman, President of Utah Federal Credit Union.

 “The new ownership didn’t have the expertise we needed,” said Chris Koch at Hi-Land Credit Union. “The new people were good. They just didn’t have the experience.”

Eventually, Utah Federal switched to CMC-Flex. However, it was not the first to leave. Intermountain and Hi-Land Credit Unions also noticed the problems with the new management and also took their business to CMC-Flex.  Utah Federal made the move in just five months.

“We went through about six different systems before we chose CMC-Flex,” said Koch. “We chose them they were up to date, had all the features we needed, and the support we needed. It was the best value for our dollar.”

 Members encountered a little trouble when the switch first happened, mosty because their statements looked different than what they were used to. Eventually, however, members adjusted to the change.

 “It was a great move,” Huntsman said.  “Our credit union is handling the expense just fine, and we are happy with the new company.  Our credit union is plugging along just fine.”

The only complaint about the new system is that with NILCO everything was very personalized and with CMC-Flex credit unions have lost that personal touch.

Many other credit unions celebrate is smaller ways. Many give out cookies and refreshments to its members. Some even hold coloring contests. Big or small, credit unions are taking the time to recognize their members.

        New owner has no immediate plans for building or statue

By Chelsee Arnold

            It started as a few teenagers worried about the fate of a statue of American Indian chief in the parking lot of a shuttered business. Now it’s grown into an online group of 268 people, and growing, who want to see the Roosevelt icon preserved.

            “Save the Moqui,” a group created on the social networking site Facebook, has the stated purpose of ensuring that the headdress-wearing statue seated in front of what was once the Moqui Indian Trading Post is not demolished.

            “We must do all that is required to save it: sign petitions, picketing, or if need be make a bill to make the Moqui a new national monument,” the group’s administrator Tyler LeBaron wrote. “One thing is for certain, we must not allow this piece of Roosevelt’s proud culture to be torn from our lives.”

            “This cannot be allowed,” said Cassie Haslem, another member of the group. “Moqui cannot be torn down. He is a part of our town.”

            Hoang Lee, the new owner of the trading post and the owner of Lee Nails told the Uintah Basin Standard that he has no intention of tearing down the statue. He does not know what he is going to do with the property yet, and until he decides, the statue will remain where it is.

            The Moqui Trading Post was built in 1969. Keith Burdick and his mother, Maurine, owned the business. At first the trading post only sold handmade beads that Maurine Burdick and her daughter made.

            Once the business began to boom, the family decided to sell handmade silver and turquoise jewelry. The Burdicks had people from all over the country, and also outside the country, ordering their jewelry.

            “When the post first started out we didn’t have the big Indian statue,” Keith Burdick said. “We had a giant tepee placed out front.”

            The tepee was built by Burdick’s grandfather, who was Shoshone.

            “My grandfather would sit out in the tepee and give a history of the reservation to tourists,” Burdick said.

            Then a few years later, Burdick hired Darrell Gardner of Farm Creek to build the Moqui statue. Burdick told the Standard that Gardner had nothing to work with when he built the statue.

            “It was like he built it from thin air,” Burdick said. “He is a real talented artist.”

            Burdick later sold the trading post to Allen and Jan Roth. When he was told last week that Moqui had been sold again and closed, he was saddened.

            “The Moqui statue is way neat,” Burdick said. “I remember people coming from all around the country and taking pictures with it. A lot of people associate the Moqui with the Basin. It is a part of the community and should be preserved.”

            LeBaron said his group plans to do just that.

            “If they ever do decide to tear him down, we will buy him.” he said. “We can figure out a way to move it and put it in a park somewhere. Then it is still in Roosevelt and it is a win-win situation.”

FBLA event

By Chelsee Arnold

            I pulled the crumpled nylons out of the milk carton-shaped container and shook them out before packing them into my bag.

            “Do I seriously have to wear those?” Flash asked.

            “Oh it won’t be that bad,” I answered. “It’s only for two days.”

            I always find it somewhat difficult to make a decision when I have two different opinions going through my head. The first, Flash, is the more rebellious of the two and tends to get me into trouble. She also leads me to do the wild, fun things that lend spice to life.

My other half, Chelsee, is the more responsible, do-gooder who keeps me on track and doing what I’m supposed to. There are times when one personality will defeat the other and have its way, but most of the time they are both pretty equally matched.

            This past week I attended a leadership conference hosted by the Future Business Leaders of America and my dueling personalities seemed be engaged in World War III. Each side would win battles, but at the end of the two-day conference one came out victorious.

            When the members of Union High School’s FBLA chapter arrived at the Hilton in downtown Salt Lake City we all rushed to our rooms to change into our business attire before the opening social began. Business clothing must be worn throughout the conference or there are consequences.

At the opening social we were greeted by our state officers and sat down. After the president welcomed us we had the opportunity to listen to a motivational speaker. This was one of my favorite times at the conference.

As soon as the speaker wheeled on stage, my “good side” kicked in. Chelsee got out a notebook and pen and was ready to hear some advice that would surely change my life.

The speaker was Mike Shlappi. He told us his amazing story of being shot by his best friend. He was left paralyzed, but grew up to be on four Paralympic teams in basketball. Shlappi’s story was inspirational.

            When the meeting came to a close I could feel the excitement ripple through the other 700 students at the conference. There was only one thing on our minds as we shuffled out of the grand ballroom: the FBLA dance that would take place later that night. Cue Flash.

 Once I got to my hotel room I immediately began to peel away the stuffy business slacks and blouse and – the most dreadful thing of all – nylons. It was time for some real clothes.

First I pulled on a bright pink and yellow tie-dye top, next my favorite pair of black jeans, and finally to top off the ensemble, my bright pink high-top tennis shoes.        “This feels so much better!” Flash exclaimed as she half-walked, half-danced out of the hotel room.

After three hours of dancing non-stop, Flash finally decided to call it a night.

The alarm rang shrilly at 6:45 a.m.

“Just sleep in and miss the first workshop. No one will even know,” Flash whispered.

The next voice didn’t come as a whisper.

“You better get out of bed right now or you’re going to be late!” Chelsee yelled.   Chelsee won and I stumbled my way through getting ready. I donned the dreadful nylons, but now I was wearing a nice business suit with a black pencil skirt that hit right below the knees and some four-inch black heels.

The second day of the conference consisted of different workshops ranging from Web design tips and tricks to understanding and using body language. After four hours of walking from class to class in four-inch heels, Flash took over.

Before the closing session, I secretly slipped off my heels and shoved my sore feet into the bright pink high-top tennis shoes from the night before. I walked into the closing session and went where the Union chapter was sitting as if nothing was wrong.

“You’ll be OK. No one will even notice.” Flash said.

Naturally, I believed Flash and took a seat near the back.

The first thing that happened at the closing social was a drawing for prizes. Since I never win these things I sunk into my chair and decided the floral print on the carpet was more interesting than what was going on up on the stage. The next thing I know, I hear my name being called over the loud speakers.

“Who? What? Me?” I asked in confusion, as I slowly stood up.

“Yes you! Go up there!” my fellow members yelled at me.

Completely forgetting about the bright pink shoes that seemed to scream at everyone, I made my way up to the stage. As soon as I saw the look on the state president’s face I knew something was wrong. Then like a flood, it all came rushing back to me, the bright pink sneakers.

As I made my way onto the stage the ballroom erupted in laughter. I looked down at my feet and then looked at the president, gave her a smile and a shrug. After posing for a picture I walked back down the long aisle where I was sitting.

It felt as if I was walking the Green Mile to my death.

I knew at the end of the aisle my advisers awaited me. Chelsee didn’t want to disappoint the advisers or make her school look bad, but fun-loving Flash had won the war.

By Chelsee Arnold

            Lip rings, nose rings, or any other kind of facial piercing must be removed during school hours in the Duchesne County School District, under a newly adopted policy.

            Duchesne High School officials requested the new policy at a Duchesne County School Board meeting two months ago. Originally the request was only meant to cover Duchesne High, but the school board felt it would be an effective policy to enforce throughout the entire district.

            The board voted unanimously on Sept. 11 to adopt the piercings policy.

Under the new policy, students are not allowed to have any facial or tongue piercings during school hours. They have been asked to remove these piercings during school and if they do not comply they will be sent to the office.

The rule does not apply to piercings that are covered by clothing.

            “There has to be a limit on some things,” said Union High School Principal Loyal Summers. “It’s to help not distract the students while they are at school.”

            Union High teacher Don Busenbark said facial piercings haven been “ a huge problem at our school.”

            “I have only had to remind a few students and for the most part they listen,” he said, discussing the new policy. “But it’s just distracting to the other students and to the teacher.”

            The average facial or body piercing costs around $55 dollars, according to Sassy’s in Roosevelt, a store that offers the service. Usually the holes caused by the piercings can grow back together within a couple of days when the jewelry is removed, or even in a few hours if the piercing is new.

            “I think it’s dumb and I don’t see how it affects how other people do their school work” said one pierced Union High student who asked not to be named. “It should be the student’s choice if they want piercings or not. They should be allowed to keep it since they paid for it.”

By Chelsee Arnold

Uintah Basin Standard

            When Nathan Niebergall stepped onto Utah State University’s campus he was overwhelmed with excitement. But as school started Niebergall realized he wasn’t as prepared as he should have been. Suddenly the overwhelming excitement was replaced with overburdening stress.

            Niebergall did not know what career path he wanted to pursue, which made it harder to sign up for classes. He also hadn’t applied for any scholarships to help him out financially. Niebergall ended up paying more for his schooling than he anticipated.

            “I thought I wanted to do engineering, but I wasn’t 100 percent sure so I didn’t know what classes to take,” said Niebergall, who will return to USU’s Logan campus in the fall.

            “It took me two weeks to decide on which classes I wanted and by that time I was already behind in them,” he said.

            Bob Peterson, director of Student Services at Utah State’s Uintah Basin campus, works to address some of the challenges faced by incoming freshman like Niebergall. Peterson provided the Uintah Basin Standard with a list of tips for students headed off to any college in the fall that should help them get the most out of their university experience.

            Peterson said the more preparation a student has during their high school years, the smoother the transition will be to a university. Students can take college preparation courses, study skill courses, concurrent enrollment classes, advanced placement classes, or any other challenging courses of study, he said.

            “I graduated with my associate’s degree through the concurrent enrollment program and I feel like it has really helped prepare me to know what college level classes are like,” said Rachel Hamblin, an incoming USU freshman.

            Keeping a high GPA and doing well on the college entrance exam is also crucial for admissions into a good school, Peterson said. Most universities require students to graduate from high school with a minimum 2.5 GPA, and a minimum score of 18 on the ACT.

            “High school seniors need to be proactive in applying for admissions, financial aid, and scholarships,” Peterson said. “Most application deadlines are in February or early March. Many students are surprised to learn that they have missed application deadlines and they are not eligible for financial aid and may be required to pay late fees for admissions.”

            Financial aid can be a big help to college students and take some financial weight off their shoulders. However, many students do not know how to apply for financial aid or even what it is. The USU financial aid office provides counselors and specialists who can help students apply for assistance and inform them about what’s available.

            Another way to get and stay on track is to work closely with an academic adviser. Advisers can help students chart which classes to take and create a plan so they can reach all of their academic goals. However, in order for an adviser to help, the student has to take the first step and take advantage of what the counselors can offer them.

            “Some general advice we can offer students is to challenge yourselves in high school, begin thinking of a future career, use as many sources that are available to you, make sure to apply early for admissions and financial aid, prepare yourself for hard work, and take responsibility for your education,” Peterson said.

            For more information about admissions and financial aid at Utah State University, contact Bob Peterson at 435-828-2619, or Josh Hunter at 435-722-2294.