TCS Advertising & Public Relations: August 2012

Friday, August 24, 2012

DOCUTAH Returns to Southern Utah .... .... Touting PBS Recognition and record number of submissions

ST. GEORGE, UTAH - Touted one of the nation’s best “Small-Town Documentary Film Festivals for 2012” by the Public Broadcasting System (PBS), this year’s festival will showcase the best of a record 348 submissions from 46 world countries.

During the five-day event, theaters throughout southern Utah will screen top-rated documentary films with special events and screening parties daily. A unique feature of the DOCUTAH festival is its dedication to education. Following many film premiers, viewers will have the opportunity to engage in question and answer sessions with movie producers, directors, field experts and academicians.
"The mission of DOCUTAH is to inspire a global connection through documentary films and intellectual discussion,” said Lani Pururi, DOCUTAH operations manager. “We invite the community to review Festival Guide for films of individual interest, and then join us for open discussion on the many topics that will be presented during the festival."

Wednesday, Sept. 5, will feature opening night festivities commencing at 7:45 p.m. at the DSC Encampment Mall. Following an outdoor performance by Calamity Dance Company, DOCUTAH will kick off with a free starlight screening of “Hip Hop Maestro,” a 40-minute film celebrating music and dance. Following the film will be a presentation by Dixie STORM Radio and an outdoor Zumba dance party. “Dixie State College is pleased to present the third year of DOCUTAH,” said Christina Schultz, Festival executive director. “We are excited to bring the Festival home and to invite the community to our campus for this opening event of film, dance and fun."

Following opening night will be five days of documentary film screenings with feature events highlighting artists, humanitarians, athletes, musicians, and various social issues. Thurday, Sept. 5 will highlight local artist Matt Clark, sculptor of “Painted Pony.” Clark’s works will be on display at the Eccles Fine Arts Center at Dixie State College throughout the festival. On Friday, Sept. 7, the films “Awaken the Dragon” and “Running Through” will feature athletes who have overcome extraordinary odds to achieve success and happiness. Canyon Media will host a recycling carnival Saturday, Sept. 8, in conjunction with a series of eco-friendly films including “Terra Blight” and “Pad Yatra.” And Sunday, Sept. 9 will feature historical event films including “Raid of the Rainbow Lounge,” “Life is Strange,” and “Biblestoryland.”

The Festival will close Sunday, Sept. 9 with a celebration of filmmakers and Raven Awards ceremony at 7 p.m., MegaPlex Red Cliffs Theatres. DOCUTAH Artistic Director Phil Tuckett said the organizing committee is expecting some outstanding award winners this year. “With more entries than ever before, the 2012 festival presents the best selection yet of production value, subject matter and international flavor for our Southern Utah community to enjoy,” he said.

The DOCUTAH International Film Festival originated at Dixie State College in 2010. The Festival has since put southern Utah on the map for hosting this event that attracts professional, amateur and student filmmakers each fall. Festival-goers enjoy coming for the films, staying for the scenery and departing having experienced documentary film inspiration.
As part of the festival’s ongoing commitment to provide quality exposure to meaningful documentary films. DOCUTAH now offers year-round screening events to southern Utah communities. The September Festival serves as the organizations culminating annual event.

Participating screening venues include Eccles Main Stage Theatre, Sears Museum & Art Gallery, Red Mountain Resort, Jazzy Java, 13th & Park, Megaplex Red Cliffs Theatres. Tickets can be purchased at screening venues or at the Dixie State College Ticket Office. Cost is $5 for a day-pass or $20 for an all-event pass. For more information, call (435) 879-4273 or visitwww.docutah.com.

Mayor Proclaims September 27, Southwest Utah Recovery Day

St. George, UT, August 22, 2012 — At the City Council meeting on August 16, 2012, St. George City Mayor Dan McArthur presented Angi Graff, Washington County Adult Substance Abuse Program Manager at Southwest Behavioral Health Center, a signed proclamation declaring September 27, 2012 “Southwest Utah Recovery Day”.

The Recovery Day event celebrates individual, family and community recovery from the effects of addiction, thereby strengthening this community in which we live.

This event will be held from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Town Square Park in St. George and will include FREE music, food, activities for children, display booths and special speakers.

The community is invited to attend and enjoy the festivities!

Thursday, August 23, 2012

10 Simple Ways to Change Your Life in 2 Minutes a Day

10 Simple Ways to Change Your Life in 2 Minutes a Day

by Henrik Edberg

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” --Lao Tzu

“The distance is nothing; it is only the first step that is difficult.” --Madame Marie du Deffand

Making a positive change in your life does not have to be about making a huge leap. But I believe that belief is one of those things that hold people back from improving their life and world.

A simpler way that more often results in actual action being taken and new habits being established – in my life at least – is to take smaller steps but many of them. So here are 10 ways to change your life in just 2 minutes or so a day. Through these small steps you can start to build habits that become stronger and over time can change your life in ways you perhaps can’t imagine now.

To remember to actually do one of the things below each day write down a simple reminder. Put it on your night table so that you see it when you wake up each morning. Or put the note in your workspace so you see it early in your day. If you like and if possible, expand on the small habit after a week or two and do it for just a few more minutes a day.

1. Just start working for 2 minutes on your most important task.

I use this one at least one day every week. On some days I simply don’t feel like getting started with work. I’d much rather stay lazily on the sofa. So on such days I just start to work for 2 minutes on my most important task. That is the deal.

The thing is: getting started is pretty much always the hardest part. After I have started moving and been at work for those 2 minutes it is usually pretty easy or simple to just continue working on that task.

2. Review and appreciate your day at the end of it.

If you do good things during the day and get things done then that can raise your self-esteem. If you reflect upon that you have done so that is.

So take two minutes of the end of your workday. Appreciate what you did and what you thought.

That is what I will do when I am done with this article and workday.

3. Set a low bar for happiness for the day.

Lately I have been telling myself this when I wake up in the morning: “Have a low bar for happiness today.”

As I tell myself this and try to keep it in mind during the day I appreciate things more. The food, my work, the weather, the small events of the day becomes not everyday stuff but something I feel happy to have. The small or what may be something one takes for granted becomes something I now often pause for a moment or two to take in and appreciate.

But if I become happier in my everyday life for the smaller things does that mean that I become unmotivated to keep working towards the bigger things?

Nope.

This way of looking at my life actually fuels me with more energy and inspiration and fun, life becomes lighter and I feel less inner resistance as I explore and work towards both small and bigger things.

4. Breathe when stressed.

When stress catches up with you, when you start to feel anxious, irritated and or fearful because of it then take 2 minutes. Sit down. Breathe rather deeply with your belly. Focus on just for your breathing for those 2 minutes. This will calm your mind and body down and you can resume your work in a calmer mood after that.

5. Open up your senses to what is here now.

Pull yourself out of the past where you relive an old conflict and drag yourself further down a depressing spiral. Pull yourself out of the the future where you imagine a catastrophe at your next meeting, date or presentation. Place yourself and your attention on where you really are. Here now.

Do so by sitting down for 2 minutes. See what is right in front of you. Listen to the birds and cars outside. Feel the spring sun shining in through the window onto your clothes and skin. Sense the small draft from one of the windows. Smell the flowers and trees that have started to bloom.

Be here fully with all your senses for those 2 minutes. This will calm your mind and body down. Thinking will become easier and an optimistic viewpoint will feel more natural.

6. When you feel the need to judge someone tap into understanding instead.

When you feel the need to judge someone you know or may not know then take 2 minutes. Ask yourself these two questions: What parts of this person can I see in myself? How is he or she like me?

Why do that instead of judging?

Because no one wants to be judged in a negative way and doing so to the people in your life doesn’t help to build good relationships. Plus, the amount you tend to judge others often is a similar amount that you judge yourself. So help yourself to live a more positive life in those two ways by pausing when feeling the need to judge and then choose something better.

7. Think for a minute and give someone a genuine compliment.

Spend one minute coming up with something you really and genuinely appreciate about someone in your life and that is in the same room as you at some point during the day. Spend the other minute or less on telling him or her the compliment.

She or he will be happy. You’ll feel good about yourself and probably get some positive feelings too from the now happy and complimented person. It’s a good and small way to build more positive relationships.

8. Hug.

It’s a small thing but physical intimacy can reduce stress and make us feel good. So spend 2 minutes of your day on hugging. Like compliments it can be a simple way to build warmer and more positive relationships with all kinds of people in your life. Just use your common sense before you start hugging.

9. Be interested instead of interesting.

At the start of a conversation or to break the ice spend two minutes on asking one or a couple of questions about someone you are talking to and his or her life.

Pay attention and don’t just wait for your turn to talk again. The interest you give will most likely be returned and you can start to build not only a good conversation but also a giving and fulfilling relationship for the two of you no matter what kind of relationship it may be.

10. Mix things up.

Try the opposite. Have the vegetarian dish if you always go for the meat. Walk away from a stupid conflict instead of making it worse. Let one thing go if you often cling to things. Say yes to something spontaneous if you often say no and stick within your daily routine.

Take 2 minutes or less in one common or negative situation in your life today, pause for a brief reflection and then make a decision that is uncommon for you.

Make a habit of mixing things up to have more fun. To grow your life in small or bigger ways. To add unexpected experiences. To make it easier and simpler to step out of your comfort zone in general when you really need to.

And to feel alive.

Friday, August 3, 2012

HintonBurdick Aquires Nick Lang & Associates

St. George, UT, July 18, 2012 — Morris Peacock, managing partner of HintonBurdick CPAs & Advisors announced today the acquisition of St. George-based accounting firm Nick Lang & Associates.

Established in 1982, Nick Lang & Associates served an expansive client base of individuals and small businesses in the St. George area. According to Lang, the decision to join HintonBurdick was motivated by a desire to provide clients with a broader range of services and the opportunity to tap into the specialized expertise of a larger staff. “HintonBurdick is one of the top accounting firms in the state” he said. “Merging our two firms will give my clients access to expertise across the entire spectrum of accounting practices and tax law.”

Peacock added that, “Nick Lang’s dedication to his clients mirrors our own. He believes, as we do, that every client is unique and deserves to be treated as a valued neighbor and friend. Our shared values, as well as our shared experience serving the St. George business community, make this merger a win-win situation for our clients, as well as for our firms.”

Lang received an MBA from Utah State University and has practiced as a CPA in public accounting for over 30 years. Lang has been teaching accounting courses as an adjunct professor at Dixie State College for the past 17 years, teaching business, marketing, personal finance, and entrepreneurship classes. His leadership and community service includes serving on the Governing Board of Directors for Dixie Regional Medical Center and Ensign Credit Union. Lang has served as the Rotary Club President and is the incorporating member and president for the Heritage Choir.

HintonBurdick currently serves clients in 47 states and some foreign countries with accounting and audit services, litigation support, computer training and systems management, payroll services, tax planning and consulting services. Offices are located in St. George, Cedar City, Hurricane, and Richfield, Utah, and in Mesquite, Nevada, and Flagstaff, Arizona.