By: Richard E. Kelly

The January 15th issue of The Watchtower magazine leaves no doubt about how Jehovah's Witnesses should treat family members who have been "disfellowshipped," or ex-communicated, from the religion.

"Really, what your beloved family member needs to see is your resolute stance to put Jehovah above everything else - including the family bond," warns the magazine on page 16, before asserting, "Do not look for excuses to associate with a disfellowshipped family member, for example, through e-mail."

Jehovah's Witness is not the only religion that calls upon its followers to ostracize anyone who leaves the faith. Described as psychological torture by University of California-Davis Professor Almerindo E. Ojeda, such social rejection is used in the United States by Anabaptists (the Amish, Mennonites, Hutterites), Scientology, and the Baha'i Faith, among others. Some contemporary evangelical Protestant churches have renewed the practice of shunning, as in the case of a 71-year-old former Sunday school teacher who was arrested on trespassing charges after questioning her pastor's authority.

The practice can have devastating consequences.

In 2011, Eric Reeder was disfellowshipped from the Jehovah's Witnesses after sustaining injuries in a motorcycle accident that led to a blood transfusion - a medical treatment prohibited by the religion.  His family subsequently shunned him in accordance with the faith's rules.

Eric posted about his predicament in an online forum for ex-Witnesses in August of that year, admitting, "The only thing I am really going to miss is my folks ... my dad is a hardcore elder and has told me he will no longer be able to speak to me 100% of the time."

In April 2012 he wrote that he was "still not used to my parents totally shunning me ..." before adding, "It's so hard ... nobody should have to lose their parents twice."

By the end of September, Eric was found dead at age 51. He had killed himself.

Nobody can be certain what dark thoughts were swirling through Eric's mind when he took his own life, or what finally drove him to such a desperate act. But we do know that in the preceding months, Eric was deeply tormented by the ostracism inflicted on him by members of his family.

While The Watchtower Society, the name of the legal entity used by Jehovah's Witnesses, proudly publishes annual statistics related to its worldwide evangelism work, there are no official figures for those who are shunned, and no way to confirm how many of these former members, like Eric, feel desperate enough to take their own lives. However, one can find a great deal of anecdotal evidence on Internet forums frequented by Ex-Witnesses. One well-known researcher, Terri O'Sullivan, reported that being shunned worsens one's mood within 60 seconds.

In the absence of any popular or political impetus to address the issue of religion-incited shunning, I am proud to be part of an organization that dares to face it head on. Advocates for Awareness of Watchtower Abuses (AAWA) has been established to educate the world via its website (www.aawa.co) about some of Watchtower's most shocking practices.

While these are often pardoned in the name of religious freedom, there are instances where governments have successfully sanctioned extreme shunning:

"The Jewish tradition frequently confronted this issue in the many Eastern European communities where the government outlawed the use of excommunication and shunning. Not surprisingly, when confronted with significant governmentally imposed sanctions against this practice, the Jewish authorities ceased using exclusion as a method of community formation or maintenance," states an article by Michael J. Broyde, academic director of Emory University's Law and Religion Program.

My colleagues and I believe that the shunning of relatives and friends represents mental and emotional abuse. Modern society must no longer allow Watchtower to promote this barbarous practice through printed word or otherwise.

About Richard E. Kelly: Richard E. Kelly is the Managing Director of AAWA and the author of Growing Up in Mama's Club: A Childhood Perspective of Jehovah's Witnesses and The Ghosts from Mama's Club. The retired former president of a Michigan manufacturing company, Kelly was raised as a member of Jehovah's Witnesses, and left the faith at age 20.

Lighten up!!

That's the buzz phrase for fall as a recovering economy fans a collective determination to put the bad news of recent years - from layoffs to natural disasters - behind us, says Roy Joulus, CEO of the award-winning, design-forward Greenbo, LLC, (greenbo.co).

"We'll see an insistence on hope, optimism and joy in the simple things in life reflected in bright, happy colors and clean designs with strong lines,'' says Joulus, whose innovative new railing flowerbox, Greenbo XL, won the prestigious international Red Dot Design Award for product design in 2012.

As a manufacturer of high-quality products for urban homes, Joulus says he and his team must forecast global style trends two to three years out. That's why their new line of garden containers is made from sustainable and recyclable materials in uber-upbeat colors, with attached drainage trays that can be mixed and matched for custom color combos.

The Greenbo designers also see a growing demand for products whose form is as appealing as their function. That's why the Greenbo XL railing planter is a flowerbox "that you don't have to hide with flowers,'' Joulus says.

"Consumers' desire for sustainability and 'green' products is only going to continue to grow; in fact, that was one reason we launched our company in 2008 even though the global economy was tanking at the time," says Joulus. "The interest in gardening will continue to grow, as will demand for high-grade products that can either be recycled or are made from recycled materials."

The fall colors, which you'll see in everything from fashion to furniture to the garden, include bright greens, deep fuschia, bright orange, fiery red, ochre yellow and violet. How can you brighten your garden with these colors? Joulus offers some tips:

• Forget terra cotta - use containers that offer a vivid pop of color. Colorful containers add a carefree, cheerful element to any garden - whether it's a full yard, a patio, a balcony, or a cluster of plants indoors by a south-facing window. "Plastic containers require less watering than terra cotta or unglazed ceramic, but be sure to get a very high-grade plastic," Joulus says. "Nothing looks worse than plastic that has faded and cracked, which will happen quickly when low-quality plastics are exposed to the elements." Mix up the colors, just as you would wildflowers in a garden, or use all one color for more impact."

• Coordinate plant color and pot color. Play with different combinations to see what you like. One extreme is the monochromatic approach - where container and plants are all the same color, although shades may vary. On the other end of the extreme, a "cottage garden" with a jumble of colors (polychrome) will work beautifully, too. You might try pairing containers and plants from opposite sides of the color wheel, such as red and green, violet and yellow, or blue and orange. Or use colors that reside side by side on the color wheel, such as salmon and violet or fuchsia and bright red.

• Create a pattern of repeating colors and textures. Containers and plants with different colors can create an eye-catching display when arranged so that each color repeats at a regular interval.  For instance: blue, purple, violet, green, blue, purple, violet, green. This technique is sometimes used with border plants, or plants in linear beds. The addition of colorful containers heightens the effect and adds to the options for placement. Create a repeating pattern on a railing, along a patio or even using hanging containers.

About Roy Joulus

Roy Joulus is CEO of Greenbo, which was founded with a focus on simplicity, efficiency and innovation in creating urban agricultural products. Its Greenbo XL flowerbox, designed to hang securely on any balcony railing up to 6 inches wide, won the prestigious 2012 Red Dot Design Award. Greenbo products are manufactured in a multi-cultural Israeli-Arab setting using sustainable and recyclable materials, and with safety the No. 1 priority. Find Greenbo products at garden centers and independent nurseries in the United States and Europe, and online at amazon.com.

DES MOINES, IA (07/31/2013)(readMedia)-- On opening day, August 8, Fairgoers will start the 11-day celebration by packaging meals and helping the Fair honor the service of its loyal Fair supporters. The 2013 Fair runs August 8-18.

Meal Packaging Event

From 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. 1500 volunteers will package 250,000 meals to help alleviate life-threatening hunger around the world. The event is part of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions' "Dream Big" food drive by fairs and festivals throughout the world. Together, participants hope to collect 20 million pounds of food - enough to fill the daily food needs of nearly six million people.

Volunteer shifts are currently filled; however, the Fair is also collecting monetary donations to help purchase supplies. To donate, visit iowastatefair.org

Meals from the Heartland is a non-profit organization committed to providing meals for food-insecure families around the world. Since their initial launch in 2007, the organization has packaged more than 30 million meals which have been distributed locally through Iowa food pantry partners as well as shipped throughout the world.

Opening Ceremonies

At the west entrance of the Cattle Barn, the Fair will hold opening ceremonies and honor the Clearfield Lions for their 50 years of service. The club has improved the experience for countless Fair campers by providing easy, accessible transportation between their campsites and the events on the grounds since 1964. The Fair will commemorate their years of service to the Fair as well as their philanthropic efforts throughout Iowa.

The Clearfield Lions will also kick off this year's Fair as co-Parade Marshals with John Putney, outgoing Executive Director of the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation. Putney has held this position since the Blue Ribbon Foundation started in 1993 and will retire effective March 2014.

The parade is set Wednesday, August 7, to begin at 6:15 p.m. in downtown Des Moines. The Iowa State Fair Parade is the state's largest, showcasing nearly 200 floats, animals, vehicles, novelty and performing units. Staging will take place at the State Capitol complex. Parade entrants will then travel west on Grand Avenue to 13th Street. Dispersion will take place between 13th and 18th Streets.

Entertainment

Fun Fair activities can also be found in the day long selection of contests, food, games and entertainment including performances by The Nadas, Home Free, Blue Öyster Cult and The Farm. Christian music favorites Casting Crowns and Jeremy Camp will perform on the Grandstand stage at 8 p.m. Tickets for the Grandstand show are $30 (plus convenience charges) and are available now through Ticketmaster outlets and the Iowa State Fair Ticket Office.

A complete listing of opening day activities is available at iowastatefair.org.

"Nothing Compares" to the 2013 Iowa State Fair, August 8-18. Save money on advance admission tickets now through August 7 (while supplies last). The Fairgrounds are located at East 30th and East University Avenue, just 10 minutes east of downtown Des Moines. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit www.iowastatefair.org.

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If you feel frustrated or intimidated whenever you take your car in for repairs, you're not alone. According to the Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau, auto repair fraud consistently ranks among the top consumer complaints they receive.

Although most auto repair shops are legitimate, some unscrupulous operators will rip off inexperienced car owners by performing unnecessary or unauthorized repairs, substituting counterfeit or used replacement parts, or even doing such shoddy work that lives are endangered.

Here are tips for becoming a more informed consumer and a few common scams to avoid:

Try to have a trusted repair shop already lined up before you need one. Ask friends or your auto insurance company for recommendations, or search the Better Business Bureau's website (www.bbb.org) for accredited businesses. Also:

• Ask the state Attorney General's office (www.naag.org) whether any complaints have been filed against prospective mechanics.
• Look for mechanics currently certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (www.ase.com) or who belong to your insurer's authorized repair network.
• If your car's warranty is still in force, you may be required to use only authorized dealerships.

If your car needs major work, gather several estimates for comparison. Once you've chosen a shop, ask for a detailed estimate (with no sections left blank) before you authorize repairs. Specify that you must be called to grant permission before additional repairs. Make sure the work order clearly specifies:

• Repairs to be done.
• All fees, including parts, labor, storage, loaner car, etc.
• Whether new, reconditioned, or used parts will be used.
• Acceptable payment methods.
• Completion date.
• Diagnostic or reassembly charges if you decide to get a second opinion or have the work done elsewhere.

Make sure the final repair bill contains itemizes all work completed and parts used. (Ask them to show you the work done and replaced parts.) Also have the bill spell out any guaranteed items (including exclusions), in case problems occur later and you need contractual proof.

Watch out for these common scams:

• They give you a verbal estimate then charge a higher price. Always get it in writing.
• A shop lures you in with low-cost specials (oil change, brake inspection, etc.), then pads the work order with other repairs you don't want or need. If in doubt, have the initial work done and get a second opinion on the rest, unless there's an immediate safety issue.
• Charging for services that are covered under the car's warranty. (Always read your warranty carefully.)
• Dishonest mechanics have been known to inflict intentional damage during an inspection in order to boost needed repairs.
• They don't want to return replaced parts to you, which could mean the work wasn't actually done, or they used inferior parts. (Keep in mind that there could be discarded parts lying around that they could pass off as yours.)
• Going against your car manufacturer's recommendations. If your manual recommends getting an oil change every 10,000 miles but the mechanic says every 3,000, make sure there's a good reason.
• Offers to waive the deductible - for example, offering to install a used part and bill your insurance company for a new one. This insurance fraud could land you in a world of hurt.
• High-pressure sales tactics.

Just because you don't completely understand what goes on under the hood doesn't mean you can't protect yourself against auto repair scams. To learn more, visit the FTC's comprehensive Auto Repair Basics site at www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0211-auto-repair-basics.