Ferrum Acuit Ferrum

Spring Around The World

jondalton — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 05:59:18 +0000

Over the past eight months I have spent my life living in a perpetual Spring. From the beaches of South America to the thaw of the Rocky Mountains, I have experienced the season of rebirth over and over again and learned a great deal from this blossoming season.

Perhaps the most intriguing thing throughout my time abroad was discussing the attitudes of the native people in relation to the world around them, much of which is affected by the climate in which they live. Throughout fall in the United States I was in Chile studying Spanish. In Vina del Mar, a beautiful Chilean port city, the weather begins to warm and the ocean begins to swell as the sun bakes the ground in the afternoons.

A bike rests on a dune along a Chilean beach.

In a literal paradise on earth I thought Chileans would take full advantage of the scenery surrounding them. I was shocked to discover not only was it difficult my friends to walk rather than jump on a collectivo, bus or metro but also I had to argue to get them to go to the beach and jump into the water.

“Spring in Vina del Mar is a sign of tourists crowding our streets,” a Chilean friend told me.

Although he may have had reason, I simply had to continue on disappointed in what we were missing by our time in the water.

When I returned back to the frozen Rocky Mountains in September the dry and bitter cold struck at my bones. The cold was refreshing and the mountains majestic. “I am home,” I thought to myself as I walked out of the Salt Lake City International Airport.

A small flower peeks through freshly-fallen snow.

Spring was not so apparent here, everything remained frozen. But as spring semester passes by, Spring reveals itself subtly to the keen eye. As the temperatures warmed the snow melted away and green flourished across Utah State University campus. Then, as is normal here, mother nature had her laugh and dumped another storm on top of us. But some were too determined to live than succumb to frost.

In a way the small details like these bring joy to living in the incredible place I call home in the Rockies. It is not every day that one can stop for only a minute to enjoy such a rare sight. It caught my eye and I still have no idea how it was never trampled.

In spirit of the arrival of the warmth to break the bitter cold, Spring Break sat upon me. I decided to take advantage of this week and travel to South Korea to visit a close friend living and teaching English as a second language to youth in Seoul. It was my first excursion to an Asian country and I enjoyed the challenge of being in a culture I knew next to nothing about.

I arrived eager to eat new foods, try new things, visit historical sights and share life with Josh. He worked every afternoon in a private English academy and left me to my own devices in this gigantic city. I decided to venture to a palace of historical significance in Seoul near a beautiful cathedral and was astounded by the history that lay within the walls of these buildings. Everything from art to graves of martyrs fell within the walls of these thousand year old structures.

A tree blooms in Seoul, Korea

But perhaps even greater than what was located inside the building was the trees I completely overlooked on my way in to escape the winds. It astonished me how I walk through these streets struggling to stay warm while these trees bloom from the sun above.

Koreans appreciate nature’s beauty and celebrate it in national festivals, celebrating the rebirth of their country from a dark winter.

I feel so privileged to have experienced these cultures in this time of the year. Spring has always been recognized as a time of change and opportunity. How lucky am I to have received this opportunity!

FINAL Press Release 3: Cause Promotion

jondalton — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 06:38:43 +0000

Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009

For Immediate Release

Cache Valley Area Investors Association

Preston Parker, president and founder

801-555-4567

www.cvaia.com

Finding Financial Freedom

Cache Valley Company Educates Locals About Financial Independence

LOGAN,Utah—The Cache Valley Area Investors Association (CVAIA) encourages residents to obtain financial independence utilizing financial, mental, physical, spiritual, health and wealth theories said Preston Parker, president and founder.

Parker said his goal is to help people’s passive income rise above their expenses. He said passive income is the key to financial success and what makes wealthy people wealthy.

“How much happier will America be when people are doing the jobs they love rather than the jobs they hate,” said Parker. CVAIA offers a financial education for free, he said, and encourages their participants never to invest in something they are not comfortable investing. Parker said everyone has the opportunity to invest whether it be time, experience or money everyone has the power of investment.

CVAIA meetings are held every other Thursday at the Cache County Chamber of Commerce; while additional information can also be found on Facebook. Parker said meeting attendance is free and meeting subjects are determined by the needs of meeting attendees.

If people learn the right mentality and approaches to investing, they can all be successful in what they desire. People should be able to spend their time doing something they love, not just a job that provides an income. Passive Income largely makes this possible. Cache Valley Areas Investors Association (CVAIA) teaches people how to increase passive income. CVAIA embraces the Law of Attraction, Law of Abundance, and Law of Exchange. They practice the methods found in the ideologies of books including Rich Dad Poor Dad, The Wealthy Barber, The Millionaire Next Door, Atlas Shrugged, The Automatic Millionaire, and The secret. CVAIA began in August 2007 and now has members from many geographical locations and from all walks of life. The members come together with the same belief: that education mitigates the risks of investing.

For public relations inquiries:

Jon Dalton

Public Relations representative

435-513-1892

jon.dalton@aggiemail.usu.edu

Draft Press Release 3: Cause Promotion

jondalton — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 02:33:11 +0000

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Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009

For Immediate Release

Cache Valley Area Investors Association

Preston Parker, president and founder

801-555-4567

www.cvaia.com

Cause Promotion (change to cool headline)

and a better subtitle here

“How much happier will America be when people are doing the jobs they love rather than the jobs they hate,” said Parker.

CVAIA meetings are held biweekly on Thursdays at the Cache County Chamber of Commerce. They can also be found on Facebook.

For public relations inquiries:

Jon Dalton

Public Relations representative

435-513-1892

jon.dalton@aggiemail.usu.edu

Final Press Release 2: Image Building

jondalton — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:07:29 +0000

Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009

For Immediate Release

Burger Planet

James E. Mullenbach

Burger Planet, CEO

219-513-2419

http://www.uwm.edu/~mcbridej/pressrelease.html

Burger Planet Promotes Healthy Menu

GARY, Indiana – Burger Planet hired fitness guru Jayne Petersen to aid the company’s initiative to provide healthy menu items to customers by conducting healthy eating and activity events across the country.

“Jayne Petersen and Burger Planet share a commitment toward health,” said James E Mullebach III, Burger Planet CEO, “The hiring of Jayne Petersen fits perfectly in the company’s overall focus on healthy lifestyles.”

Petersen said she is excited to be a part of Burget Planet’s team and she is confident customers will enjoy the new menu.

In 2008, Burger Planet added white chicken breast, four gourmet salads and five fruit packages, which can be substituted for french fries, to their traditional menu, Petersen said. Each of these items serves as an economic, low calorie and low carbohydrate option for moms on-the-go.

Burger Planet will continue to produce and sell the burger and soda combo that made Burger Planet famous 70 years ago, Mullenbach said.

Petersen will appear with Corny the Clown, Burger Planet mascot, at shopping malls and Burger Planet locations nationwide in June and July while working to develop new tray liners which will offer nutritional advice, she said.

“Burger Planet has been a leader in the Quick Service Restaurant industry in offering healthy menu choices.” Petersen said, “The company believes in encouraging customers to live healthier, active lifestyles and I have spent my life trying to teach women that lesson.”

Founded in 1934 by James E. Muellenbach Burger Planet quickly grew to be one of the nation’s leading quick service restaurant industry, and now functions as an international company. Burger Planet currently serves approximately 52 billion customers worldwide and employs 48,272 people in 17 countries.

For public relations inquiries:

Jon Dalton

435.513.1892

jon.dalton@aggiemail.usu.edu

-END-

Draft Press Release 2: Image Building

jondalton — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:05:44 +0000

Wednesday, Jan. 29 , 2009

For Immediate Release

Burger PlanetJames E. Mullenbach

Burger Planet, CEO

219-513-2419

http://www.uwm.edu/~mcbridej/pressrelease.html

Burger Planet gives healthy choices

In 2008, Burger Planet added white chicken breast, four gourmet salads and five fruit packages to their traditional menu, Petersen said. Each of these items serves as an economic, low calorie and low carbohydrate option for healthy. Petersen said the fruit packages can be substituted for french fries at no cost to the customer.

Burger Planet will continue to produce and sell the burger and soda combo that made Burger Planet famous 70 years ago, Mullenbach said.

Petersen will appear with Corny the Clown, Burget Planet mascot, at shopping malls and Burger Planet locations nationwide in June and July while working to develop new tray liners which will offer nutritional advice, she said.

Founded in 1934 by James E. Muellenbach Burger Planet quickly grew to be one of the nation’s leading quick service restaurant industry, and made its way onto the international stage. Burger Planet currently serves approximately 52 billion customers worldwide and employees 48,272 people in 17 countries.

For public relations inquiries:

Jon Dalton

435.513.1892

jon.dalton@aggiemail.usu.edu

In Memory–Column published in Utah Statesman Jan. 28, 2009

jondalton — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:47:35 +0000

To whom it may concern: The following information is neither comical nor fictional and, as a matter of fact, is my humble attempt as a journalist to publish something that will affect one person … proceed at your own risk.
One thousand one hundred and ninety-one days, 8 hours, 5 minutes and 3 seconds ago my father was pronounced dead.
My father passed away from a heart attack completely unexpectedly three years ago this Saturday. Michael Joseph Dalton was pronounced dead at Saint Mark’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, at 2:10 p.m., although he had actually died about 37 minutes prior in our home. He did not suffer.
I will not recount the day’s events to you, for that is not my intent; rather, I hope to impart some things I have discovered about grief throughout my 20 years here. Maybe some of you are unconvinced that I am qualified to speak on personal grief because, as far as you know, I grieve my father. I grieve three childhood friends, six high school comrades, four grandparents, an uncle, two aunts, my deacon and my father (to name a few). I say this not to beg pity but to provide context for eyes racing through these words.
The common thread that binds all living things is death. Death is a big part of life, and however awkward it may be to put into words it is inevitable that not only will we all arrive to greet death but also that we will grieve the loss of someone we love.
Asserting we all have death in common and we all grieve lost loved ones, why is there no “1-2-3 Guide to Grieving Your Dad” book amongst The New York Times best sellers? What are the words to speak to console the heart of a grieving friend? Why is death awkward or hard?
The answer is simple: fear.
I fear letting down my guard enough to even tell most people that I grieve my Dad every day. Friends fear they will offend me or bring up hard emotions by even mentioning a weekend trip they took with their dads. Fear consumes us and, as a result, healing is hindered.
Here is some news – I know I am one of few, and yet many, that grieve their father’s death so early in life. I know I have been to more funerals in the last three years than most people twice my age. And I am who I am because of it.
As a 17-year-old, I never anticipated being confronted with the death of my father, who was 47. My college search came to a screeching halt; high school graduation lost its wonder, my relationships deteriorated, my faith faltered and my world was rocked. I did not desire to hear “the right words,” I longed to hear and feel the profoundness of the simple phrase, “I am sorry,” and the freedom to cry and to be hugged.
Everyone deals with death uniquely. In my own family I saw an array of coping methods through my brother, sister and Mom. There is no right way to grieve, it is a path that will unfold as you walk it, step-by-step.
Three years later I look back on my Dad’s death and can say that I would not change it. His passing has influenced me far beyond his capabilities stretched when he was alive and his memory emerges in my mind every day. I was blessed to have friends that desired to know how I dealt with this reality, life without a dad.
People speak of what strength I have for handling his death so well and how great it is that I have pursued a life for myself beyond my extenuating circumstances, but you live with what you are given. The pain of losing him is not something I would wish on my worst enemy, but I am proud to say he is my biggest influence in my life today.
The hardest thing my dad ever told me was “I hope you’re everything I’m not.” He was completely serious. I am proud of the man I am because of the man that got me here, my Dad.

Jon Dalton is a junior majoring in public relations. Questions or comments can be sent to him at jon.dalton@aggiemail.usu.