Macy's Meeting Story

The Executive Directors of the Huntington Mall Macy’s decided Saturday to have another hiring fair, new sales promotion ideas and donate more merchandise to secondhand stores around the tri-state area.

            Each month, Macy’s donates half of their unsold merchandise to stores like Goodwill and the other half is sold to secondhand stores like Marshall’s. The executive directors determine the percentage of merchandise sold and donated.

            “I think since it is near the Christmas season we should donate 70 percent of penny (unsold merchandise) to Goodwill and the other 30 percent to Marshall’s,” Ginny Ferguson, sales director said.

            John Thompson, Human Resources Coordinator, agreed with Ferguson and said due to the store averaging 30 thousand dollars an hour on black Friday, the budget could certainly handle donating more unsold merchandise during the month of December.

            “Since sales were beyond what we projected them to be and have been steadily higher than years past, I would like to have another hiring fair to add at least four more seasonal members to my team,” said Betty Lucas, Merchandising and Support Manager.

            Lucas currently has seven full-time merchandisers, four part-time members and five seasonal members, she said.

            Sales improvement was the main reason the directors were supposed to meet, said Beth Walker, Store Manager.

            “On black Friday alone Macy’s sold more than 500 thousand dollars and our sales associates opened 30 new credit customers and 14 thanks-for-sharing customers,” Walker said. Macy’s thanks-for-sharing program is part of their credit card program but it requires a sign-up fee of 25 dollars. Walker said after paying the fee, Macy’s donates three percent of that customers’ purchases to charity.

            The Executive Directors voted unanimously to have another hiring fair and five to two on Ferguson’s motion to donate 70 percent of unsold merchandise and sell 30 percent to Marshall’s.

Meeting Story Questions

I attended the Executive Directors' monthly meeting at Macy's of Barboursville, WV on Saturday, November 27 at 3 p.m. There were seven voting members, 11 non-voting members and two audience members. The three major issues covered in this meeting were seasonal hiring, sales improvement and percentage of donations for December. These donations were not cash donations but clothes donations to stores like Goodwill. The clothes not sent to Goodwill are usually sold to stores like Marshall's.
This meeting was very informational because I work at Macy's and before attending this meeting I had never heard "behind the scenes" information. I had always assumed they had a set number of seasonal employees to hire and a monthly percentage of clothes donated or sold to other stores. It was a little surprising to hear everyone's opinion on these issues because I talk to these people almost everyday and I didn't know their personal views on store issues.

George T. Arnold story

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Arnold story

By Ashley Herrald

George T. Arnold, a self-confessed “grammaraholic,” said he feels the need to correct any and all grammar mistakes Tuesday to a Marshall University Journalism class.

Arnold is the copy editor and author of the “Media Writer’s Handbook,” an AP style textbook used across the nation by journalism students.

Teaching at Marshall for more than 35 years inspired Arnold to write his own grammar book because he felt there was not a textbook that covered everything.

“There wasn’t really a good book to cover the material I was attempting to cover,” Arnold said. “I started to make handouts and soon the handouts got so thick that a publishing company wanted to know if I wanted to do a book.”

One experience Arnold shared with the class was one of an arts and crafts woman at a W.Va. State Fair who made stones with peoples’ last names on them. When referring to the family’s last name as the place of their residence, one should not state the families name then add “…’s” because it is a possessive tense. This one of the many mistakes Arnold noticed at the fair. It should have had an “s” added to a last name unless the last name ended in an “s,” then there should have been an “es” at the end. When he told the woman about her grammatical error, she said her English teacher told her it could be either way.

“I simply said, well your teacher was wrong,” Arnold said. “She of course did not like that I corrected her and asked me to leave, not very politely I might add.”

This experience was one that Arnold said he always shared with his students in hopes they would not make themselves.

Arnold is creating a new chapter in the sixth edition of the handbook because he said it is important to observe the fundamentals of journalism writing.

“You don’t need to apologize for your mountain accent,” Arnold said when he spoke about different types of people and the ways they speak.

Arnold moved to S.C. one year ago and is still gathering new material for future editions of his handbook.

Arnold retired in 2004 and said he will continue to visit Marshall as often as possible.

                                                -30-

Marshall 10, ECU 37 (#2)

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. –- Dominque Davis Saturday threw 208 yards and two touchdowns for an East Carolina victory over the Marshall University Thundering Herd 37-10 in the Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

     East Carolina boasts a 4-0 Conference USA record, while Marshall has yet to defeat a league team this season (0-3).

     Marshall had more yardage than East Carolina in the first half (186-167) but with three interceptions thrown by Brian Anderson, the Thundering Herd came up short offensively.

     East Carolina not only had 261 passing yards to Marshall’s 234, but also 100 more rushing yards.

     East Carolina struck first with a five-yard touchdown from Davis to Lance Lewis for a five-yard touchdown.

     A 22-yard field goal by Tyler Warner put Marshall on the board (7-3) with over two minutes left in the first quarter.

     Marshall appeared to have gained momentum when Donald Brown intercepted Davis. The opportunity was wasted three plays later when Anderson threw his first interception at the 10-yard line.

     The Pirates used the turnover to kick a field goal within half a minute into the second quarter, pushing the lead 10-3.

     Marshall tied the game 10-10 with a throw from Anderson to Troy Evans six minutes before half time.

     Jonathan Williams, who ran for a total of 111 yards on 10 carries, regained the lead with a 29-yard run. Barbour posted three more points with a 40-yard field goal. East Carolina increased its lead early in the third quarter with a 27-yard touchdown by Davis.

     Barbour went 3-3 for field goal attempts during the game. His third field goal extended the Pirates’ lead to 30-10.

     Davis threw to Mark Price two minutes into the fourth period, making the score 37-10.

     Davis ended the game with an average 5.3 yards per carry and 208 passing yards. Anderson had a 4.6 average yards per carry and three interceptions.

     The Thundering Herd takes on UTEP (5-3) next week for homecoming.

                                                                             -30-

Marshall 10, East Carolina 37

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Marshall falls to ECU

     Dominque Davis threw for 208 yards and two touchdowns for an East Carolina victory over the Marshall University Thundering Herd 37-10 Saturday in the Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

     East Carolina boasts a 4-0 Conference USA record, while Marshall has yet to defeat a league team this season (0-3).

     Marshall had more yardage than East Carolina in the first half (186-167) but with three interceptions thrown by Brian Anderson, the Thundering Herd came up short offensively.

     East Carolina not only had 261 passing yards to Marshall’s 234, but also 100 more rushing yards.

     East Carolina struck first with a five-yard touchdown from Davis to Lance Lewis for a five-yard touchdown.

     A 22-yard field goal by Tyler Warner put Marshall on the board (7-3) with over two minutes left in the first quarter.

     Marshall appeared to have gained momentum when Donald Brown intercepted Davis. The opportunity was wasted three plays later when Anderson threw his first interception at the 10-yard line.

     The Pirates used the turnover to kick a field goal within half a minute into the second quarter, pushing the lead 10-3.

     Marshall tied the game 10-10 with a throw from Anderson to Troy Evans six minutes before half time.

     Jonathan Williams, who ran for a total of 111 yards on 10 carries, regained the lead with a 29-yard run. Barbour posted three more points with a 40-yard field goal. East Carolina increased its lead early in the third quarter with a 27-yard touchdown by Davis.

     Barbour went 3-3 for field goal attempts during the game. His third field goal extended the Pirates’ lead to 30-10.

     Davis threw to Mark Price two minutes into the fourth period, making the score 37-10.

     Davis ended the game with an average 5.3 yards per carry and 208 passing yards. Anderson had a 4.6 average yards per carry and three interceptions.

     The Thundering Herd takes on UTEP (5-3) next week for homecoming.

United Way Luncheon

For 88 years, the United Way has been dedicated to providing communities assistance in learning, family, wellness and basic needs, said Laura Gilliam, executive director of the United Way of the River Cities (UWRC).

Gilliam spoke Thursday at a Marshall University luncheon in the John Marshall room where one hundred people attended.

The Student Government Association (SGA) and the Faculty Senate contacted Gilliam to educate Marshall students about the organization. Gilliam’s speech focused on the UWRC and the organization’s mission to “live united.”

“People know the United Way name and the logo but they aren’t always sure about what exactly we do,” Gilliam said.

The organization has many various events year round like the West Virginia 5K Walk and “Out on the Town” fundraiser in September that local businesses donated a portion of their proceeds from the busy Friends of Coal Bowl weekend, said Gilliam.

The United Way started in 1922 and since then the goals and approach to community success has changed.

             “Instead of trying to help people already in a bad situation, we want to be on the preventive side,” said Gilliam.

Gilliam also said the formula has changed from the United Way raising money, administering it and giving it back to addressing the root of the problem and fixing it.

The UWRC serves Mason, Cabell, Lincoln and Wayne counties of West Virginia as well as Lawrence County, Ohio.

Partnered with 30 other charities and organizations, the UWRC is focused on two main issues in Huntington; obesity and substance abuse, said Gilliam.

Gilliam said, each year the UWRC raises about one million dollars through donations and fundraisers that is then distributed throughout the community.

Gilliam also said the UWRC fundraising goal for 2010 is 1.25 million, which is five hundred thousand dollars less than it was in 2009.

                                                -30-

Non-Profit Interview Assignment

I will ask the following questions:

1) After looking at your 990 form, your organization received (x) last year. What programs and/or activities were you able to conduct because of it?
2) What activities do you have planned for the rest of the year?
3) In your opinion, what is the most beneficial aspect of the YMCA?
4) What is the most challenging part of running a non-profit organization?
5) On average, how many donors do you have each year?

Three research websites:

1) www.guidestar.org
2) www.independentsector.org
3) www.huntingtonymca.org

Three documents:

1) Tax returns from the last three years
2) Business brochures
3) Tax-exempt letter

United Way of the River Cities

For 88 years, the United Way has been dedicated to providing communities assistance in learning, family, wellness and basic needs.

The organization has many various events year round like the West Virginia 5K Walk and “Out on the Town” fundraiser that local businesses donated a portion of their proceeds from the busy Friends of Coal Bowl weekend.

Laura Gilliam, executive director, and Cassey Bowden, director of resource development and marketing for the United Way of the River Cities, were contacted by Professor Burnis Morris to educate his News Writing 201 class about the organization and their mission to “live united.”

“People know the United Way name and the logo but they aren’t always sure about what exactly we do,” Gilliam said.

The United Way started in 1922 and since then the goals and approach to community success has changed.

Bowden said on Tuesday that fifteen years ago they looked at the community and fundraisers as not as effective and decided to change their approach.

“Instead of trying to help people already in a bad situation, we want to be on the preventive side,” said Gilliam.

Gilliam also said the “formula” has changed from the United Way raising money, administering it and giving it back to addressing the root of the problem and fixing it.

The UWRC serves Mason, Cabell, Lincoln and Wayne counties of West Virginia as well as Lawrence County, Ohio.

Partnered with thirty other charities and organizations, the United Way is focused on two main issues in Huntington; obesity and substance abuse.

Each year, the United Way raises around one million dollars through donations and fundraisers that is then distributed throughout the community.

Bowden said this year the fundraising goal for 2010 is 1.25 million dollars, which is five hundred thousand dollars less than it was in 2009.

Classmate Interview

In my first news article, I made some minor mistakes in my final draft. In my opinion, the worst mistake I made was using the dictionary to define "occupation." It does show that I am not a professional writer. The next big mistake I made was being too wordy in some parts of my story. I should've caught these errors. Another mistake I made was I did not wrap up the ending of my story. I ended my story with what Katie's favorite occupation was. I should have further explained why I thought her answer was so interesting.

WVU rents Marshall's Rec Center?

Rumors spread today that West Virginia University had rented Marshall University's Rec Center as a meeting place for WVU fans before the game on September 10. Many students in class called athletic directors and other various potential leads to try to get to the bottom of this rumor. No one could get a straight answer as to what was going on. Although the recreation center's website explained the center was going to close early that day for the game, it did not say it was for those purposes. It would not surprise me if Huntington let WVU rent the rec center because Huntington will do anything for some extra cash. It would also add to the hype of the highly anticipated Friends of Coal Bowl. In my opinion, we don't need anymore drama or hype added to this game- there is definitely enough already!

Furyk Oversleeps

Jim Furyk over slept Tuesday night, causing him to be disqualified for the tournament. The reason for this? His cellphone was not charged and died, causing his alarm to not go off. He missed his tee time and was not allowed to make it up. I do feel bad that he overslept and therefore was disqualified. But I mean, rules are rules and if someone breaks the rule he or she should accept the consequences. Furyk handled the situation with class and accepted the responsibility of being late. It is sad he was disqualified, but they have to make an example of him to other golfers because if not, everyone would know they could get by with being late.