Bangkok, Oct 12, 2012 - (ACN Newswire) - After ten successful runs in six of Southeast Asia's major cities -- Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh, Bangkok and Singapore -- the Asian Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility (AFCSR) once again returns to Thailand to hold the 11th AFCSR at the Shangri-La Hotel in Bangkok.

On October 25 and 26, more than 50 CSR experts from various industries will converge at the conference, which will be concluded by the Asian CSR Awards gala dinner and awarding ceremonies. Her Excellency Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand will be the guest of honor and will be presenting the awards to organizations on the evening of October 26, 2012.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Shinawatra confirmed her government's commitment to working with the private sector in building a society of good governance and social responsibility, with plans to support health and wellness, tourism and education in the region.

This dovetails with many Thai companies represented in the conference who have a strong CSR strategy; some of whom are Bangkok Bank, Double A (1991) PCL, Mitr Phol Sugar Corp., and The Siam Cement PCL.

Since 2003, the Asian CSR Awards Program has been recognizing and honoring Asian companies for embodying the principles of corporate responsibility in their business philosophy and operations. The awards seek to identify, honor, and provide role models of best practices for other companies. It is presented by the Asian Institute of Management - Ramon V. del Rosario, Sr. Center for Corporate Social Responsibility (AIM-RVR) and Intel Corporation.

This year's Asian CSR Awards saw the submission of more than 300 programs from 88 companies and 13 countries. Awards will be given in the focus areas of Value Chain Management, Governance and Society, Labor and Employee Engagement, and Product Responsibility and Consumer Rights. The Intel-AIM Corporate Responsibility Award (IACRA) will be given to the company that has taken a fully-embedded approach to corporate social responsibility across all the four focus areas and has implemented projects that have a significant impact and are sustainable in all appropriate areas of operations. The winners will be announced on October 26 at the awarding ceremonies at the Shangri-La Hotel.

For more details, visitwww.asianforumcsr.com .

About Asian Forum on CSR (AFCSR)

Following ten successful conference runs in six of Southeast Asia's major cities - Manila, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City and Singapore, the Asian Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility (AFCSR) continues to be at the forefront of CSR development in Asia. This 2012, Bangkok will host the 11th AFCSR on October 25 & 26, Thursday & Friday.

The AFCSR is recognized as the largest and most significant conference on CSR in Asia, this evident by the numbers of delegates who have attended the conference through the years. The forum is extremely well supported and attended, not just by the business sector but by government officials, the academe, civil society, media, and multinational and multilateral organizations operating in Asia.

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Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to Grace the 11th Asian Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility

(CNN/KSWB) -Yoga is now part of the curriculum at a California elementary school. But, not everyone is joining in on the yoga.

"You can watch me first just so you guys all know what to do?" said Kristen McCloskey.

It's last period at Encinitas Op Elementary. Balance, flexibility and strength are the lessons of the day. The yoga class is one of many being offered across the Encinitas School District thanks to a private grant from the Jois Foundation, an Encinitas based group that promotes the practice of yoga.

District officials say it's all part of a larger initiative to help students be more healthy and active. School officials say they've received overwhelming approval from parents, but not everyone is happy. Some parents have asked their children be taken out of the yoga lessons, claiming the practice of is a course in Hinduism. "We're really hoping this will help the kids feel more focused when they're in the classroom," says McCloskey.

Kristen McCloskey is the yoga instructor at the school. She's been practicing yoga for 13 years and says while the roots of the exercise is spiritual; the class is anything but. "Yes, the roots of Yoga is based in Hinduism; however, we as Americans have really brought it into our culture to gain the actual physical and mental benefits of it. It is purely the physical and the mental benefits that we're trying to convey to the children," says McCloskey.

For now, district officials are confident the benefits will outweigh the criticism. "We believe the yoga program will actually have academic benefits and in fact there is research out there that show that," says Tim Baird, Encinitas School DistrictSuperintendent.

Parents who oppose the yoga class say they just wish the time, effort and money were invested in other subjects like math and science.

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Web Exclusive: Yoga controversy in schools

Treasure Coast Community Counseling & Coaching Center Inc., also known as T5C, hosted its first golf tournament at Lost Lake Golf Club in Hobe Sound on Saturday, Sept. 29.

All proceeds benefitted T5C in an effort to support this organizations purpose and mission.

The purpose of T5C is to provide Counseling, Life Coaching, Mentoring, Tutoring, College Assistance/Test Preparation, Fitness Program Services and Activities for children, adolescents, teenagers and adults.

Genaris Haston, founder of T5C, and his team of passionate counselors and life coaches are providing just that.

Previously, Genaris was a supervisor at the Martin County Sheriff Office Juvenile Offender Training Center, well known as the Boot Camp, and retired in 2007.

The center is impacting the lives of children, young adults and families. To date, T5C has provided underprivileged families numerous opportunities to visit universities and colleges along with educational and recreational trips throughout Florida.

The golf event was the kickoff fundraiser for this organizations capital campaign.

T5C is requesting the ongoing support from businesses, private foundations and individuals in the community to raise awareness and the capital needed to sustain its activities and programs.

More information is available by calling 772-600-8950 ir by visiting their website: http://www.t5cinc.org.

If you would like to visit the center please stop by 322 S.E. Georgia Avenue in Stuart.

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Golf tourney benefits Treasure Coast Community Counseling & Coaching Center

RALEIGH, NC--(Marketwire - Oct 11, 2012) - Valencell, an innovator in mobile health and fitness technology, today announced a partnership with Samsin, Innotec Co., Ltd., a Korea-based leading headset contract manufacturer for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Samsin is now an approved contract manufacturer of earbuds powered by PerformTek sensor technology.

This relationship enables licensees of Valencell's patented sensor technology to use Samsin as their contract manufacturer and accelerate their time to market. Samsin will help Valencell's licensees design, develop, test and manufacture their products.

Valencell executives will demonstrate PerformTek Precision Biometrics during the Hong Kong Electronics Fair in Samsin's booth #5B-F24. The Electronics Fair runs October 13-16 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center.

PerformTek Precision Biometrics captures accurate health/fitness data -- such as heart rate, speed, distance, pace, cadence, calories burned and VO2 max (aerobic fitness) and uses these metrics to provide meaningful fitness assessments. The technology seamlessly integrates into audio earbuds and smartphone apps people are already using while exercising. PerformTek continuously measures more real-time biometric and physiological data than any other fitness monitors with high accuracy and consistency.

"The industry has been waiting for a way to seamlessly measure fitness and performance metrics through devices people already wear during exercise. This new partnership with Samsin Innotech will accelerate the time-to-market for PerformTek licensees," said Dr. Steven LeBoeuf, co-founder and CEO of Valencell.

Samsin, the first headset manufacturing company in South Korea, makes products for many brand name OEMs. The company has a long history in the industry and is experienced with both Bluetooth and wired technology. Recently Samsin developed Valencell's own prototypes.

"For nearly 40 years we've provided headset contract manufacturing solutions for companies worldwide. Valencell has developed a breakthrough technology in this industry and we're pleased to be the approved and preferred CM for PerformTek Precision Biometrics," said S.K. Kim, CEO of Samsin, Innotec Co., Ltd.

In addition to earbuds, other form factors that utilize PerformTek Precision Biometrics, such as arm bands and wrist devices, are on the horizon. Attendees at the Electronics Fair interested in learning more about licensing Valencell's technology should contact info@valencell.com.

The Hong Kong Electronics Fair attracts attendees from around the globe and presents various electronics products and services, such as audio-visual products, navigation systems, telecommunications products and testing, inspection and certification services.

About Valencell Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, Valencell develops wearable fitness monitoring technology and licenses this technology to consumer electronics manufacturers, mobile device and accessory makers, and sports and fitness brands for integration into their products. Valencell's PerformTek sensor technology seamlessly integrates into audio earbuds and connects with smartphone apps people are already using while exercising. It measures more real-time biometric and physiological data than any other fitness monitor with a high degree of accuracy and consistency, and uses that data to give people meaningful health and fitness assessments. PerformTek has been clinically validated by Duke University and other independent research institutions.

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Valencell Partners With Contract Manufacturer Samsin to Accelerate Licensees' Time to Market

The Irish Times - Friday, October 12, 2012

MICHAEL O'REGAN

DIL SKETCH:REFERENCES TO Minister for Health Dr James Reilly are never far from Dil proceedings these days. The same applies to his would-be nemesis, former minister of State Risn Shortall.

Yesterday, she was in the chamber for Opposition Leaders Questions, which were taken by Tnaiste and Labour leader Eamon Gilmore.

She sat next to fellow Dublin TD Tommy Broughan, an ideological soulmate who, like herself, is without the Labour whip these days. While they sat on the Labour benches, they were a distance from their erstwhile parliamentary colleagues who are still firmly under the whip.

Shortall and Broughan engaged in conversation, while Fianna Fils Willie ODea challenged Gilmore to clear up the confusion about allowances for public sector workers.

I am happy to clear up any confusion in Deputy ODeas mind, said Gilmore.

The Tnaiste should do that for Deputy Shortall, too, said Fianna Fils Timmy Dooley.

The Shortall-Broughan conversation ended abruptly when the source of Shortalls wrath was referred to by Sinn Fins Caoimhghn Caolin.

Is the Tnaiste in any way concerned at the contempt of the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, for those who question him, Caolin asked.

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Ó Caoláin casts doubt over fitness of our Minister for Health

Time for another retirement rule of thumb According to Fidelity investments, you should have saved 8x your annual (final) salary by the time you reach age 67 if you want to replace 85% of your pre-retirement income in retirement.

To stay on track for this, you should have saved 1x your income by age 35, 3x your income by age 45, and 5x by age 55. They do acknowledge that every individual's situation will differ greatly based on desired lifestyle in retirement, but still

In my view, this is just another in a long line of bogus (imho) guidelines that feed into the fallacy that retirement planning should be based on pre-retirement income levels. I've said it before and I'll say it again:

Retirement savings goals should be based on expenses, not income.

If you're living paycheck-to-paycheck, then income might be a decent proxy for expenses. But I'm hoping that's not the case for most of you.

There are also a number of underlying assumptions here. Among them:

In the end, if rules like this spur someone to action (vs. complete inaction) by at least providing a concrete and/or conceivable (if wildly inaccurate) goal, then I guess they're doing their job.

But you're not doing yourself any favors (again, imho) by burying your head in the sand and basing your retirement plan on overly-simplistic assumptions.

Here's a simple rule of thumb: Project your retirement income needs and multiply by 25 (or 33 if you want to be conservative). These values correspond to 4% and 3% withdrawal rates, respectively. That's how much you'll need in a well-diversified portfolio.

Is that number overwhelmingly large? Then you need to start earning more, investing more of what you take home, and/or reducing your desired standard of living. Or all three. You can't cheat reality.

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Another Retirement Rule of Thumb

video

MSNBC host Chris Matthews joined Tamron Hall on MSNBC on Thursday where he reiterated his case against President Barack Obamas first debate performance and offered his view of how his vice president could make up for lost ground. Matthews went after the president for not defending his personal views, which he claimed serve as the basis for legislation the president pursued over his first term like health care reform and the auto industry bailout. Matthews implored Vice President Joe Biden to focus on his philosophical differences with GOP vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) over substantive differences on various individual policies.

RELATED: Chris Matthews Epic Meltdown Over Obama Performance: What Was He Doing Tonight?

After introducing Matthews and calling his reaction to Obama lackluster debate performance legendary, Hall asked what Matthews felt should be the goal for Biden in tonights vice presidential debate.

What bothers me is the Democratic side in this case the president and the vice president they have not fought the big fight, said Matthews. There are real, drastic differences between these two parties on the big issues.

The president supports health care. He enacted it into law against all kinds of Republican opposition. The position of the challenger, of Mitt Romney as of this day, is to throw them in the emergency room. Put them in the emergency room. Let them wait. Take them out of their apartments, as he puts it. He assumes all people without health insurance live in apartments.

Mathews went on to define positions that Obama holds which he failed to defend in the first debate.

When it comes to issues like the auto industry his position was bankruptcy, Obama was rescue, said Matthews. These are drastic differences.

People on Medicare and Social Security the Romney position is these people dont want to take personal responsibility for their lives. The president says lets support health care, Matthews went on.

Matthews said Ryan has similar personal values he believe are not shared by the bulk of the American people. This character, Paul Ryan, he supports personhood, said Matthews. He wants to give the fertilized egg a second after conception property rights property rights which would probably create a criminalization situation for the mother.

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Matthews Nails Obama For Not Defending Democratic Values, Begs Biden To Focus On Philosophy

Both men were assertive from the outset, a reflection of the closeness of the presidential race just weeks before the election, each eager to trumpet the strengths of his ticket and equally zealous in ripping the other party.

Biden was aggressive, hoping to make up for President Barack Obamas tepid performance in his opening debate last week against Republican nominee Mitt Romney, a performance that reset the race and thrust the Republicans back into contention. Pressing to make his points, Biden at times raised his voice and jabbed his finger at moderator Martha Raddatz of ABC News.

Ryan was more measured, often lowering his voice after Biden. A fresh-faced congressman who had never debated on the national stage despite his 14 years in the House, Ryan betrayed no signs of nervousness about the showdown with Biden.

Debates by vice presidential candidates usually have little effect on elections, but Thursdays took on added significance after Obamas lackluster debate debut on Oct. 3.

Since then, Romney has pulled even with Obama in national polls and closed the gap in several battleground states.

In Florida, Romney opened up a 7 point lead, according to a new Tampa Bay Times/Bay News 9/Miami Herald poll. Obama has a 1 percentage point edge over Romney in a new NBC/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll of likely voters, released Thursday. The margin was the same as before the Obama-Romney debate. In Ohio, Obama leads by 6 points. He had led by 8. And in Virginia, Obama was up 2, but Romney is now ahead by 1.

In their sole debate, Biden and Ryan sparred repeatedly on domestic policies such as Medicare and taxes, as well as foreign policy questions such as the attack in Libya that led to the deaths of four Americans, including the U.S. ambassador.

Most covered the same ground as Obama and Romney. It was in their personal exchanges that they shed new light on the two major party tickets and their policies.

Both Irish Roman Catholics, Biden and Ryan spoke about how their religion drives their different positions on abortion.

Our faith informs us in every thing we do, Ryan said. He added that science also plays a role in his opposition to abortion rights in most cases, saying he and his wife were touched by the ultrasound image of their unborn first child.

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Biden, Ryan get personal in debate

DANVILLE, Ky. -- Vice President Joe Biden and Republican rival Paul Ryan sparred Thursday in often personal terms that exposed their passions and core beliefs over the role of their faith, families, and deeply held views about the role of government in American life and foreign policy.

Both men were assertive from the outset, a reflection of the closeness of the presidential race just weeks before the election, each eager to trumpet the strengths of their tickets and equally zealous in ripping the other party.

Biden was aggressive, hoping to make up for President Barack Obamas tepid performance in his opening debate last week against Republican nominee Mitt Romney, a performance that reset the race and thrust the Republicans back into contention. Pressing to make his points, Biden at times raised his voice and jabbed his finger at moderator Martha Raddatz of ABC News.

Ryan was more measured, often lowering his voice after Biden. A fresh-faced congressman who had never debated on the national stage despite his 14 years in the House of Representatives, Ryan betrayed no signs of nervousness about the showdown with Biden.

Usually an afterthought with little impact on the race, the only such meeting between the No. 2s on their respective tickets took on added significance after the initial presidential face-off last week and Obamas negative reviews Oct. 3.

Since then, Romney has pulled even with Obama in national polls and closed the gap in several battleground states.

In Florida, Romney opened up a 7 point lead, according to a new Tampa Bay Times/Bay News 9/Miami Herald poll. Obama has a 1 percentage point edge over Romney in a new NBC/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll of likely voters, released Thursday. The margin was the same as before the Obama-Romney debate. In Ohio, Obama leads by 6 points. He had led by 8. And in Virginia, Obama was up 2, but Romney is now ahead by 1.

In their sole debate, Biden and Ryan sparred repeatedly on domestic policies such as Medicare and taxes, as well as foreign policy questions such as the attack in Libya that led to the deaths of four Americans, including the U.S. ambassador.

Most covered the same ground as Obama and Romney. It was their personal exchanges where they shed new light on the two major party tickets and their policies.

Both Irish Roman Catholics, Biden and Ryan spoke about how their faith drives their different positions on abortion.

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Fiery Biden-Ryan debate turns personal

The pursuit of superb physical fitness, high-level conditioning and supreme pace are goals which are shared by coaches and trainers up and down the country.

Whether it is at school, university, club or county level, the desire to parade teams that are the embodiment of these three qualities is ongoing for the greater part of the year.

The days of lapping playing-fields, engaging in rather meaningless practice games and performing only the most basic of physical exercises are long gone.

Instead, detailed fitness programmes are diligently prepared and followed rigidly both on an individual and collective basis.

Yet there is one other attribute that is absolutely necessary if real progress is to be achieved and that is hunger.

A teams appetite for success can be quickly gauged from players body language during games and often opponents, sensing chinks in their armour in this context, can overpower them without necessarily playing with greater poise and panache.

Hunger has been clearly rampant on more than one front this year.

Cork revealed a high-intensity attitude during the National League to collect their third title on the trot, while Donegal underlined their yearning to be eventually regarded as a great team and not just a good team by winning back to back Ulster titles.

Perhaps the greatest level of hunger was exhibited by Kilkenny both as a unit and on an individual front.

I cannot think of any player in any code who best encapsulated the real meaning of hunger this year than Noel Hickey (pictured).

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Joe Kernan: Success built on hunger games