Middle school students will compete at Rochester Institute of Technology

Deaf or hard-of-hearing middle school students from across the country can participate in Rochester Institute of Technology's sixth annual Math Competition for Students Who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing, April 4-6, 2014 at RIT's National Technical Institute for the Deaf.

This competition for middle school students in 6th, 7th or 8th grades is designed to promote math as fun and engaging and features three rounds that test speed and accuracy, teamwork and additional math skills. Cash prizes will be awarded to team and individual winners in several categories. All participants will receive T-shirts and medals.

The first 25 schools that submit completed registration forms and payment, or payment authorizations, for either teams or individual students who want to compete, will be accepted to participate in the competition.

Registration will be closed when the 25-school limit is reached. The final registration deadline is Dec. 15, 2013.

Registration is $90 registration per team (four students) or $25 for students who register individually. Coaches and students wishing to participate in the next competition can get more information online at https://www.ntid.rit.edu/prospective/mathcompetition.

Parents and teachers are encouraged to accompany the students during the weekend, which offers fun and social activities in addition to the math competition.

For questions or more information, contact us at MathCompetition@ntid.rit.edu, call 585-475-7695 or by videophone at 585-286-4555.

RIT is internationally recognized for academic leadership in computing, engineering, imaging science, sustainability, and fine and applied arts, in addition to unparalleled support services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. RIT enrolls more than 18,000 full- and part-time students in more than 200 career-oriented and professional programs, and its cooperative education program is one of the oldest and largest in the nation.

NTID, one of nine colleges of RIT, was established by Congress in 1965 to provide college opportunities for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who were underemployed in technical fields. Today, 1,432 students attend NTID; more than 1,250 are deaf or hard of hearing. Others are hearing students enrolled in interpreting or deaf education programs. NTID's Center on Employment assists NTID students with finding co-op and permanent jobs. More than 100 interpreters, tutors and notetakers support students in and out of the classroom. Visit: www.rit.edu/NTID.

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????"These volunteers spend hours and hours getting the mansion ready," says Carolyn Hanes, chairperson of this year's holiday event and herself a volunteer decorator. "Even the smallest tree can take up to two hours to decorate."

Multiply that time by anywhere from 50 to 75 trees and you get some idea of how much effort volunteers and Vaile Mansion staff put into this event.

And that's just for the trees.

Vaile Mansion, built in 1881 for Col. and Mrs. Harvey Vaile, features 31 rooms and includes nine marble fireplaces, painted ceilings and a 48,000-gallon wine cellar. The home, known as one of the best examples of Second Empire architecture in the U.S., cost more than $100,000 to complete. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

During the holidays, the mansion retains its Victorian charm by ensuring era-appropriate traditions are honored. One such example is a five-foot-tall Christmas tree hung upside down to replicate the look of a chandelier; it's found in the grand entryway.

"That's original Victorian - that's how they used it," says Hanes. "It's kind of our showpiece every year."

That showpiece, along with the attention to detail given every section of the mansion, keeps visitors coming back year after year, Hanes says.

"I think people are just blown away by the chandeliers, marble fireplaces and the 14-foot ceilings," Hanes says. "We're able to have 12-foot-tall trees in a room, and the rooms are very spacious. It's so opulent ... every room is filled to the brim."

Hanes says event organizers like to refer to Vaile Mansion as "America's Christmas Castle," though she points out people from around the world have taken notice of the annual event. In 2012, visitors from 20 countries were represented in the guestbook.

One of the major highlights of the month-long event is the annual twilight tour, held the first Sunday in December (Dec. 1 this year). The twilight tours include live music and refreshments for attendees.

"It's getting dark (when tours begin) and everything is sparkling inside," says Hanes. "A lot of people enjoy coming in the evening because you get to see what the mansion looks like 'after hours.'"

Victorian Winter Wonderland tours at Vaile Mansion are 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday thru Saturday, and 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, from Nov. 29 to Dec. 30 (no tours Dec. 23-25). Admission is $6 for adults; $3 for ages 6-18; and free for children ages 5 and younger.

The twilight tours event is 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Dec. 1; admission prices are the same.

Vaile Mansion is located at 1500 N. Liberty St. in Independence. Call 816-325-7430 or visit VaileMansion.org for more details.

Across the state from Vaile Mansion, the city of St. Charles hosts one of Missouri's most popular celebrations, Christmas Traditions.

From Nov. 29-Dec. 24, Main Street, in the downtown historic district, comes to life with music and costumed actors portraying beloved holiday characters. Don't miss appearances by Santas from around the world, shopping and dining options along Main Street and the beautiful decorations adorning the entire district.

Every Saturday and Sunday during the festival, Santa and Mrs. Claus lead a parade (each begins at 1:30 p.m.), while Wednesdays and Fridays bring late-evening shopping options.

Carolers, along with a local fife and drum corps, take part in live performances presented during the annual Christmas Traditions festival, where horse-drawn carriage rides are available.

Find details and the full schedule of activities online at StCharlesChristmas.com.

Throughout Missouri, seasonal celebrations take place in large cities and small towns, offering visitors an array of choices, from parades and drive-through light parks to live music and regional cuisine. Here's a look at more Missouri celebrations designed to get you in the mood for this splendid season.

For other holiday happenings, check out the Missouri Division of Tourism's blog, which has a more complete listing of events.

• In St. Joseph, Krug Park (3500 St. Joseph Ave.) and Hyde Park (8th Street and Hyde Park Ave.), along the city's famed Parkway, become Holiday Park and the South Pole from Nov. 29-Jan. 1, 2014. A tradition since 1981, the scenic holiday drive features a dazzling display of lighted arches, trees, winter scenes and the Italianate buildings of Krug Park.

• Kansas City's Country Club Plaza - a 15-block retail, dining and entertainment district - hosts one of the most well-known lighting celebrations in the Midwest. Thousands of revelers join in the festival-like atmosphere on the opening night of Plaza Lights. Live music and fireworks are part of the fun from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Thanksgiving night; the official flip of the switch is 6:53 p.m. The lights shine through Jan. 12, 2014.

• In St. Louis, Holiday Magic fills the America's Center (701 Convention Plaza) Nov. 29-Dec. 1, offering entertainment and shopping. Carnival rides, a vendors' district and hands-on arts and crafts projects for kids are part of the excitement. Holiday Magic is 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, and noon-5 p.m. Sunday.

• Holidays of yesterday are the focus of events at the Old Courthouse in downtown St. Louis. Each Saturday leading up to Christmas, the Old Courthouse shows what holidays were like: relive Christmas 1763 at the Dec. 7 event (noon-4 p.m.); move forward to 1813 at the Dec. 14 happening (noon-4 p.m.); and get a glimpse of 1863 St. Louis from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Dec. 21.

• Get a taste of German heritage at the Kristkindl Markt, Dec. 7-8, at Stone Hill Winery in Hermann. This traditional German market features crafts, food, entertainment, hot soups and mulled wine. Saturday's event is 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday's is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Stone Hill Winery is located at 1110 Stone Hill Highway; admission is free. A similar event takes place 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 14 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Hermannhof Festhalle, 237 E. First St. The Festhalle event includes an open-air Hofgarten, a full menu at the Mill and live entertainment.

• In the Lake of the Ozarks area, holiday activities abound in a variety of cities. Linn Creek, for example, hosts the Holiday Market at the Camden County Museum from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Nov. 22-23. The market includes vendors selling a variety of holiday-themed goods (get your Christmas shopping done!); the museum is located at 206 S. Locust St.

• Elsewhere near the Lake, popular drive-through light parks are found in Laurie and Versailles. In Laurie, St. Patrick's Festival of Lights is billed as the area's oldest light park, dating to 1981. The festival includes 4,000 strings of lights and focuses on Jesus and his mother, Mary. The Shrine is located at 176 Marian Drive; there is no admission charge. In Versailles, the Unity Circle of Lights runs from Nov. 28-Jan. 1, 2014, in Versailles City Park. The park features up to 40 lighted displays, including several animated holiday scenes. The park is open from sunset until midnight daily; there is no admission charge. The park is located at the junction of Highway 5 and Highway 52.

• In Springfield, enjoy the opportunity to shop and hear live music at the 19th annual WinterFest Visual and Performing Arts Festival. Held at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts (525 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway) this event features live music, local and regional artists whose works are on display and for sale, and a Broadway touring company's production of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast." Tickets for that show should be purchased in advance. Activities are 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, and noon-5 p.m. Sunday.

• Carthage is home to Mt. Moriah Lights at Mt. Moriah Park. Enjoy more than 50,000 lights programmed to six different Christmas songs. The park is located at 15506 Nutmeg Road; hours are 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday from Nov. 29-Dec. 8. From Dec. 13-Dec. 29, park hours are 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. daily (except for Dec. 22).

• Silver Dollar City in Branson hosts one of the largest holiday celebrations in the country, "An Old Time Christmas," running through Dec. 30. This annual celebration features more than 5 million lights, 1,000 decorated Christmas trees, a holiday light parade, two live shows and a five-story-tall special effects Christmas tree. Regular rides and attractions are open, weather permitting. Food and shopping add to the experience. Hours are 1 p.m.-9 p.m. Thursday-Friday, noon-9:30 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.

• The Holiday Christmas Festival in Ste. Genevieve features a Christmas parade, carriage rides, more than 30 free music programs, carolers strolling the streets of the historic city and shopping specials in retailers and art galleries downtown. Activities are Dec. 7-8.

• In Salem, a unique holiday experience awaits at the Trains and Trees exhibit from Nov. 26-Dec. 24 at the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center (202 S. Main St.). The exhibit features an array of colorful, lighted trees decorated by individuals, businesses and organizations. The exhibit is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Saturday. Hours are 1 p.m.-5 p.m. on Dec. 22 and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

• You don't have to wait for Black Friday to find great gift ideas at the Christmas Arts and Crafts Extravaganza in Cape Girardeau, Nov. 22-23. In its 43rd year, the event features artisans and crafters from across the Midwest; their wares will fill nearly 300 booths. An event so large, it takes two venues: the Osage Centre (1625 N. Kingshighway) and Show-Me Center (1333 N. Sprigg St.). The Extravaganza is one of three arts and crafts festivals happening in Cape Girardeau over this weekend. For more details, check out VisitCape.com.

There you have it, a look at some of the events found in Missouri during the holiday season. Again, to find a more complete list, please visit the Missouri Division of Tourism's blog site.

About the Missouri Division of Tourism
The Missouri Division of Tourism (MDT) is the official tourism office for the state of Missouri dedicated to marketing Missouri as a premier travel destination. Established in 1967, the Missouri Division of Tourism has worked hard to develop the tourism industry in Missouri to what it is today, an $11 billion industry supporting more than 281,000 jobs. For more information on Missouri tourism, go to http://www.VisitMO.com.

Thought leadership is often viewed by marketers as a platform that is focused externally. But while thought leadership is an effective means of influencing customers, it's also a very successful way of empowering employees.

Over the last decade, various organizations have shifted their policy towards encouraging employee empowerment. Studies have shown that organizations with empowered employees perform better than their competitors by up to 202%. Empowered employees are known to be more engaged, inspired and productive in their work. They are more likely to take initiative and are expected to last longer within the company.

Though thought leadership is a great tool for spreading your brand message, it can also be used as an effective means of empowering your staff from inside your organization.

How Thought Leadership Empowers Your Employees

Influence is the currency of thought leadership. That's because an effective thought leader can have a profound effect on the people they influence. As a tool for change, influence has a longer lasting effect than simply giving out orders on the office floor or through e-mail. It can refocus your company and empower your entire workforce. Here are just a few of the ways thought leadership can empower your employees:

• Thought Leadership allows employees to see the bigger picture of the organization by sharing the company's long term goals and long standing principles.
• Thought Leadership encourages employees to excel at their responsibilities, inspiring them to come up with solutions that allow them to go above and beyond their roles.
• Thought Leadership provides employees incentives outside of monetary gain. They understand the larger, more intangible goals of the organization: success, satisfaction and service.
• Thought Leadership allows employees to discover the importance of their roles in the organization. It allows them to see the worth in their actions and become proud of their accomplishments.

This is why thought leadership should help influence the organizational culture beyond one that is geared towards customers, but one also focused on staff and employees. The infusion of thought leadership into an organization's culture can unite and empower the organization.

Empowerment through Influence

As mentioned earlier, influence is the currency of thought leadership. But to gain influence over your employees, it's important to equip them with the right tools, skills, and responsibilities to make sure they perform to the best of their professional abilities.

On average, only 29% of employees are actively engaged in their work. While managers can increase salaries, improve benefits, and promote key staff, nothing takes the place of genuine leadership.

Thought leadership utilizes edu-training tools that empower your workforce by making them advocates of the organization. These internal initiatives provide insight and ideas that are of value to employees. They are activities and platforms that help inspire the staff and bring the organization together. Whether it's through an internal social media platform, speaking, training or other forms of internal communication, these are all means of introducing a culture of empowerment into the organization.

Followers are the lifeblood of any thought leader, but followers can be found inside as well as outside of the organization. In truth, empowered employees are the most effective followers of all. They look to their leaders for more than just their next pay check. They look to them for inspiration and ideas.

About the Author: Mitchell Levy is the CEO and Thought Leader Architect at THiNKaha who has created and operated fifteen firms and partnerships since 1997. Today, he works with companies who are active in social media to leverage their IP and unlock the expertise of the employee base to drive more business. He is also an Amazon bestselling author with eighteen business books, including the recently released #Creating Thought Leaders tweet. Mr. Levy has provided strategic consulting to over 100 companies and has advised over 500 CEOs on critical business issues. Get a free copy of his latest ebook at http://mitchelllevy.com.

According to Technomic, 96% of consumers polled purchase sandwiches at least once a week. Unique flavor combinations, such as cranberry wasabi chicken, feature on the menu alongside classic options. Erbert & Gerbert's offers extreme flavor with a relaxed, vintage atmosphere reminiscent of its Wisconsin roots. The satisfying sandwiches provide a healthy meal, and also serve vegetarian options. Expansion after success in initial Midwest markets will allow Erbert & Gerbert's flavorful message of quality ingredients and zesty tastes to grow nationwide.

"After celebrating a huge milestone this year- our 25th anniversary - and our success throughout the country, we are very excited about coming to the Quad Cities to serve local residents," said Chuck Schwalbe, director of marketing for Erbert & Gerbert's. "We look forward to introducing locals to Flavornation - which stands for quality and being different. It's about sandwiches you can't find in a normal sub shop - it's part of our culture."

About E&G Franchise Systems, Inc.

Founded and headquartered in 1988 in Eau Claire, Wis. The system currently has 70 locations open and operating with 26 additional in development in Wisconsin, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Colorado, Georgia, Oregon, and Texas. For franchise information, visit Erbert and Gerbert's website at www.erbertandgerberts.com or call 800-283-5241.