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Our Client’s Heroic Navy SEAL Rescue Thumbnail

Our Client’s Heroic Navy SEAL Rescue

Dr. Dilip Joseph, a client of Insurance Services of America, realized his life’s dream to provide overseas humanitarian aid when he became the Medical Director at Morning Star Development. In 2012, the Colorado-based organization sent Dr. Joseph to remote, war-torn villages in Afghanistan on a humanitarian mission. The rewarding work was not, however, without its dangers…to say the least.

On a cold December morning in 2012, while traveling to Kabul, armed Taliban soldiers intercepted and kidnapped the doctor and two native colleagues. In his riveting account, Dr. Joseph shares the horror and ultimate triumph of his ordeal in his book Kidnapped By the Taliban: A Story of Terror, Hope, and Rescue by SEAL Team Six (available at Amazon.com).

The kidnapping and resulting hostage situation necessitated the deployment of special Navy SEAL Team Six, which only months before had successfully pulled off one of the most famous operations in US combat history: the capture and execution of Osama Bin Laden. The mission was dangerous, true, but Ed Byers, Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL/FMF/SW), was prepared to fulfill his duty to rescue Dr. Joseph.

Read More »

Insurance Services of America Awarded Best of Gilbert 2016 Thumbnail

Insurance Services of America Awarded Best of Gilbert 2016

Insurance Services of America Receives 2016 Best of Gilbert Award

Gilbert Award Program Honors the Achievement

GILBERT June 9, 2016 — Insurance Services of America has been selected for the 2016 Best of Gilbert Award in the Business Services category by the Gilbert Award Program.

Each year, the Gilbert Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Gilbert area a great place to live, work and play.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2016 Gilbert Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Gilbert Award Program and data provided by third parties.

About Gilbert Award Program

The Gilbert Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Gilbert area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.

The Gilbert Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community’s contributions to the U.S. economy.

U.S. Cities Renewed Terror Threat in Global Travel Warning Thumbnail

U.S. Cities Renewed Terror Threat in Global Travel Warning

Americans traveling abroad should beware of potential terror attacks aimed at them in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East by al-Qaeda or its affiliated groups, the U.S. State Department said in a global travel alert.

“Extremists may elect to use conventional or non-conventional weapons, and target both official and private interests,” the department said yesterday. Potential targets may include high-profile sports events, residences, businesses, hotels, clubs, restaurants, schools, places of worship, shopping malls and tourist destinations where Americans congregate.

Read the rest of the article here>>

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State Department Travel Warning for Turkey

The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens traveling to or living in Turkey that the U.S. Consulate General in Adana has been authorized to draw down its non-emergency staff and family members because of threats against U.S. government facilities and personnel. The Department of State recommends that U.S. citizens defer non-essential travel to southeastern Turkey.

On September 6, the Department of State permitted the drawdown of U.S. government non-emergency personnel and family members from the U.S. Consulate General in Adana, Turkey. U.S. citizens seeking to depart Turkey are responsible for making their own travel arrangements. There are no plans for charter flights or other U.S. government-sponsored evacuations.

U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Turkey should be alert to the potential for violence. We strongly urge U.S. citizens to avoid demonstrations and large gatherings. Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence. There have been no direct attacks on U.S. citizens.

Review your personal security plans, remain aware of your surroundings, including local events, and monitor local news media for updates. Maintain a high level of vigilance, take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security, and follow instructions of local authorities.

We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens and nationals traveling to or residing in Turkey enroll in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). U.S. citizens and nationals without Internet access may enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrolling signs you up to receive updated information about areas abroad and makes it easier for the U.S. embassy or consulate to communicate with you or your designated contact in case of emergency.

Current information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444 for callers from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

You can also stay up to date by bookmarking our Bureau of Consular Affairs website, which contains the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution. Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook as well. Download our free Smart Traveler App, available through iTunes and the Google play market to have travel information at your fingertips.

Contact information for the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Turkey:

The U.S. Embassy in Ankara is located at 110 Ataturk Boulevard, tel: (90)(312) 455-5555, fax (90)(312) 468-6131.

The U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul is located at 2 Uçsehitler Sokaği, 34460, Istinye, Sariyer, tel: (90)(212) 335-9000, fax (90)(212) 335-9102.

The U.S. Consulate in Adana is located at 212 Girne Bulvarıı, Güzelevler Mahallesi, Yüreğir, tel: (90)(322) 346-6262, fax (90)(322) 346-7916.

The Consular Agency in Izmir can be reached at tel: (90)(232) 464-8755, fax (90)(232) 464-8916.

Copyright © 2013, U.S. Department of State

Short-Term Mission Trip Tips Thumbnail

Short-Term Mission Trip Tips

From Mark Hampton

 

As summer approaches, churches across the nation prepare to send out teams for their summer mission trips. Those who are going on trips typically go through some type of training, but as flawed individuals, it’s more than easy to make some mistakes. Some are only minor and will lead to a good laugh and a great story to bring home; however, there are others that can have more collateral damage than meets the eye, and could prevent the work we do as missionaries from being effective.

 

Here is my list of eight important things that I have learned from doing mission work and I hope that it helps all of us going on trips this summer to have a greater impact, realistic mindset, and do the least damage to others and ourselves.

 Read the rest here!

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Traveling To Turkey

The U.S. Department of State alerts U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Turkey to the continuing public demonstrations taking place throughout the country.  There have been numerous reports of violence, injuries, and at least two confirmed deaths resulting from or related to clashes between protestors and Turkish law enforcement authorities.  U.S. citizens are urged to remain alert to local security developments and to be vigilant regarding their personal security.  This Travel Alert expires on July 5, 2013.

Violent altercations have occurred in areas of Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Adana, Mersin, and elsewhere.  The Turkish National Police and protestors continue to clash in some locations.  Individuals caught in the vicinity of violence have been injured and/or detained, including U.S. citizens.  Labor organizations have announced plans for strikes.

U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Turkey should be alert to the potential for violence.  We strongly urge U.S. citizens to avoid demonstrations and large gatherings.  Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence.  There have been no direct attacks on U.S. citizens.

Review your personal security plans, remain aware of your surroundings, including local events, and monitor local news media for updates.  Maintain a high level of vigilance, take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security, and follow instructions of local authorities.

We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens and nationals traveling to or residing in Turkey enroll in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).  U.S. citizens and nationals without Internet access may enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.  Enrolling signs you up to receive updated information about areas abroad and makes it easier for the U.S. embassy or consulate to communicate with you or your designated contact in case of emergency.

Current information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or a regular toll line at +1-202-501-4444 for callers from other countries.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

You can also stay up to date by bookmarking our Bureau of Consular Affairs website, which contains the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution.  Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook as well.  Download our free Smart Traveler App, available through iTunes and the Google play market to have travel information at your fingertips.

Contact information for the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Turkey:

The U.S. Embassy in Ankara is located at 110 Ataturk Boulevard, tel: (90)(312) 455-5555, fax (90)(312) 468-6131.

The U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul is located at 2 Uçsehitler Sokaği, 34460, Istinye, Sariyer, tel: (90)(212) 335-9000, fax (90)(212) 335-9102.

The U.S. Consulate in Adana is located at 212 Girne Bulvarıı, Güzelevler Mahallesi, Yüreğir, tel: (90)(322) 346-6262, fax (90)(322) 346-7916.

The Consular Agency in Izmir can be reached at tel: (90)(232) 464-8755, fax (90)(232) 464-8916.

 

Copyright © 2013, U.S. Department of State

The Perfect Suitcase Thumbnail

The Perfect Suitcase

The forever suitcase: defined as the one bag that will last a lifetime, be your constant companion on trips of all kinds, and meet your particular travel needs, all without disintegrating into a pile of cheap materials before you even make it home. This is no carry-on bag, folks. This is a suitcase that has it all and fits it all.

I scoured the racks and tested out many makes and models. Height, weight, maneuverability, and durability were the most important criteria, but I also examined features like zippers, handles, and compartments. My final list of medium-sized beauties boasts super-smooth wheels and ergonomically designed handles alongside new features like built-in overweight indicators and global bag-tracking systems. Read on to find out which suitcase should find a forever home in your closet.

Find your perfect suitcase here!

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Losing Your Valuables While Traveling

You’re winging your way across Europe, having the time of your life, when you make a simple mistake. You set your bag down next to your café chair, and before you know it…your bag is gone. Unfortunately, today’s the day you tucked your passport, credit cards, and extra cash in your bag instead of in your money belt. That sinking feeling is the realization that you’ve lost everything, except for the euro or two in your pocket.

Odds are, this won’t ever happen to you. But a little bit of advance preparation can make even this worst-case scenario a minor bump in your European adventure.

Find out what to do when losing your valuable while traveling here!

Traveling Boston after Marathon Bombing Thumbnail

Traveling Boston after Marathon Bombing

Traveling Boston after Marathon Bombing

In the wake of the bombings at the Boston Marathon Monday, traveling in and out of the city has become a bit more arduous because of the heightened level of security.

Here are a few updates on how services in Boston are being affected:

– A Massport representative told Boston.com Tuesday that Logan Airport is “open for business as usual.” Security remains heightened.

– Boston Logan Airport tweeted Tuesday that “operations continued unabated” while security inspected US Airways Flight 1716 from Philadelphia. The Associated Press reported that the flight was held after landing so authorities could check out baggage.

Read the entire article here!

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The Date of Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday typically falls on a different date each year. Easter is always the first Sunday after or on the first full moon, after the Spring (vernal) Equinox in the Northern hemisphere and the Autumnal Equinox in the Southern hemisphere.

The date is determined by a combination of events centered around the lunar cycle, the solar cycle, the division of each year into 365 days and a 1,700 year old Church ruling.

The explanation starts with the fact that early Christians elected to link the date of Easter to the Hebrew calendar. The New Testament states that the Resurrection took place on the first day of the week following Passover. Sunday is the first day of a Jewish week; the Passover falls on the day of the first full moon after the Spring Equinox, which can fall on either March 20 or 21.

Chaotic, or what? The result was that different churches ended up celebrating Easter on various days. And to try to clear up the confusion, the Roman Emperor Constantine I organized a major summit meeting.

The first Ecumenical Council was held at Nicea in present-day Turkey in the year 325. It decreed that Easter would be celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon that occurred after the Spring Equinox. This retained a lunar connection as a sort of “memory” of the Jewish calendar system, and ensured that the feast would be on a Sunday. Because lunar phases occur independently of the solar year, this means that there is a “window” of several weeks during which Easter may be celebrated. By this reckoning, in our calendar, Easter must occur between March 22 and April 25.

So, go to your calendar, and find the first day of spring – then find the first full moon immediately following that. And Easter will be the first Sunday after (or on) that first full moon. Note the difference in the southern hemisphere: Easter falls on the first Sunday on or after the first full moon after the Autumnal equinox, not after the first day of Autumn.

The system that was slowly developed throughout the Middle Ages is the base for what we use today.