Guild of Health

Archive for June, 2009

The name “pen” is derived from the Latin word “penna”, which means feather. This is a writing instrument that, manually through capillary action applies ink to a surface, usually paper. Pens can be used with inks of many colors but commonly make use of inks in shades varying between black, blue, red, and sometimes green. There are many different kinds of pens, some of which are listed here i.e. Reed pens, Quills, Metal nibs, Fountain pens, Ballpoints, Felt tips, Roller balls and the Porous Point. All the pens of the world are made around these different. Pens are also classified depending on the type of tip that accompanies the pen, there is the ballpoint pen, the rollerball pen, the fountain pen, the felt-tip pen and also the gel pen.

Cross pens appeared in 1846 as the elegant creation of Richard Cross; throughout his life Richard Cross patented an incredible number of twenty one pens until he passed the company over to his son Alonzo. At present the company is proud to be preserving the oldest tradition in the design and manufacturing of chirography instruments.

In 1879 the precursor of the ballpoint pen was released by the company with a considerable commercial effect, and later on, in 1930 the company’s first fountain pen appeared. In 1946 the company’s new logo, the Century, was introduced, and it still preserves its meaning even today. Since its beginnings the company has sold more than one hundred million pens becoming a symbol of quality and longevity.

Cross pens are known as being more traditional than trendy, they focus more on quality than on design, and here, the Century II model is the best example possible since this is the one to combinerefinement with high class style. In 1916 Walter R. Boss bought the company and encouraged his son Ellery to share his passion for good pens. Ellery joined his father in 1920 and led the company for more than forty years retiring only in 1966.

In those years Cross become a company known more as a line of personal leather accessories than as a pen maker. However, following a definitely ascending path, in 1971, it was listed to the American Stock Exchange, and later on, new partners were attracted to start designing other types of appreciated fine products.

Over the last two decades Cross pens imposed themselves more as being a work of art than simple writing tools; and their price has often been considered relevant for the tradition they represent. In 1993 the Townsend fountain pen and the Selectip ballpoint pen were designed; only high quality materials were used in the process of which we could mention eighteen and ten karat gold, black lacquer, medalist and titanium. The Century II appeared in 1996, it mainly relied on fourteen or ten karat gold, blue wood, black lacquer or rose wood.

These features strictly belonged to the Century model for the international market. Another variety was produced exclusively for the American continent, and the pen was plated with gold of twenty three karats, medalist, black lacquer and chrome, the set also included a ballpoint pen, a rolling ball pen, a 0.5 millimeters pencil and a fountain pen. Later models like the ATX, Verve and Apogee respected the luxurious line the company has followed from its beginnings.

Consultants, directors and support staff who make up the Philanthropy Committee at Boston Recruiting Firm Hollister, Inc., sponsored an American Red Cross blood drive at 75 State Street in the heart of the financial district. The team completed another quarterly community outreach program, after helping out at Salvation Army’s Christmas Castle and at a toy drive with Kevin Youkilis this holiday season.

“The committee chose to sponsor a blood drive for a number of reasons,” said Lacey Burnett, Administrative Consultant and Philanthropy Committee member. “Not only will it allow us to promote the well-being of the community by helping those in need, but it will also involve both the Hollister community and the ones of State Street in raising awareness of blood donation.”

The Dedham Red Cross paired up with Boston Recruiting Agency Hollister and reserved a spot on the second floor of the building to host the blood drive. Hollister volunteers helped with registration as well as assisting donors in the canteen, where juice and snacks were generously offered.

Forty-five State Street employees participated in the blood drive, including those from Sovereign Bank, American Well, Fortis Investments, and Brookfield Properties. Of the 45, about 20 Hollister employees participated. Patrick Philips, Contract Accounting & Finance Consultant from Hollister and veteran donor, took the opportunity to donate.

“It feels great to be able to donate in between my hectic work schedule,” he said, wearing his free donor t-shirt he received after donating, a bit sunburned from his sales trip in Mexico. “If I can help out at work, I would like to take any opportunity I can get.”

The blood drive proved to be successful by ushering in a high number of donors, and for Hollister, the Philanthropy Committee completed another initiative for the Hollister Cares program. The program is devoted to specific philanthropic initiatives during the quarter so that by working together, they can bring the Hollister culture into the community and simultaneously make a difference as a team.

About Hollister

Founded in 1988, Hollister is a leading full-service Boston staffing agency (http://hollisterstaff.com/employers/index.asp) passionate about connecting Massachusetts’ opportunity with talent. Based and home-grown in the Greater Boston region, Hollister’s Recruiters in Boston are well positioned to see the Massachusetts job market from both sides. They essentially have two sets of clientele that they show up for every day- Massachusetts companies and its active and passive jobseeker. For 20 years, Hollister has been the bridge that connects professionals with jobs in Massachusetts (http://www.hollisterstaff.com/services/index.asp) and companies with the best employees. Whether you are searching for Massachusetts jobs or to hire your next best employee, they are the network you are looking for.

The Heart of American Charity

There is something very unique about the heart of what it is to be an American that results in Americans being the most charitable people in the world. That is not just a generous exaggeration. Documented studies have shown conclusively that Americans give far more to charity and to help out their fellow man in times of trouble than any other private citizenry in the world. Just consider these statistics.

* When the tragic tsunami hit Asia and devastated so many countries, American private citizens gave 1.78 billion dollars in relief above and beyond what the U.S. Government gave to help bring relief to the suffering. This size of donation just on the private sector side dwarfed even the best of what other developed nations could contribute.

* Only a few months later when a terrible earthquake devastated Pakistan, American rallied again giving 78 million dollars to aid the suffering there.

* When hurricane Katrina and Rita devastated the US coast states, Americans from all over the nation responded with 3.12 billion dollars and relief efforts are still underway to reach out to those displaced by that terrible storm.

These are just a few of the hundreds of examples of charity that Americans give willingly every year whenever the need is great. Americans donate an estimated one quarter of a trillion dollars to charities such as the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army and The American Cancer Society. And the amount that Americans give through their places of worship exceeds the gross national product of all but the most prosperous of nations.

These figures stand in direct contrast to the idea that Americans are selfish and spoiled as some would like to maintain. But the reasons for how deeply the belief in giving to others in need is engrained in the American psyche are diverse and an important part of the American dream and how this country came to be.

Part of the reason lies in the immigrant heritage that is what virtually everybody who makes up this great country can call their linage. That is because when we all go back to our roots, we all started out with a dream and this great country to grow that dream in. And all along the way, we helped each other. So we have a generational debt to pay back to all who pitched in and helped our ancestors establish this great country.

But it’s more than that. Our zeal to help others doesn’t stop at our shores. Americans give more than any other nation to help out others in need around the world. Our instinct to give is stronger than even our national politics as we will give generously even if an enemy of America is hurt by storm or disease. When it comes to helping out our fellow man, we put aside national animosities and reach out. That is a people who have that kind of deep empathy for others. That is what it means to be “an American”.

That empathy for people of all races and colors, nationalities and countries of origin is very natural for Americans to feel. We are a people made up of the immigrants from all lands. And so when we reach out and aid others who are suffering, we all feel like we are touching our own family that way. That is the heart of what makes American charity so amazing and so generous.

And even if the countries we reach out to don’t always appreciate what we do, Americans will always be a people who will not sit by and let others suffer. We have that deeply held national conviction that we are all going to get through this life together. And that is just another in the many reasons why America is the greatest country in the world.