Program Options And Fees Weekly Special Activity Schedule (For: Fill & Download for Free

The Salon and Spa is one industry that’s based on repeated business. Services like haircuts, massages, pedicure and manicure are considered as frequently required. This industry with quite a few identical competitors is extremely over saturated. Nowadays, a lot of beauty and hair salons have started giving their customers an online scheduling and booking solutions that helps them to access the availability, book their appointment and consult an expert for assistance. By giving your clients access to the mobile app, you are not only showing that you are ready for next level, but you will also provide them exactly what they need. A dedicated mobile app for your business can help you get more clients, unlocks the power of repeat business and customer retention. For small businesses like spas and salons, a mobile app is the easiest way to connect with clients, and it allows opening new marketing channels. A good hair salon app should have following great features to boost business cost effectively.Mobile ReservationsThrough this feature, clients can access mobile reservations linked directly through beautiful built-in calendars. This also helps save your staff some time on the phone and makes it simple for customers to get an appointment conveniently, especially if they are hesitant to call. This feature also lets clients receive notifications via email when appointments are scheduled. Having this feature in your app can be helpful in providing easy appointment management and can help you book more clients and increase repeat appointments. It also implements an optional up-front commitment fee for the appointment.Loyalty CardsThis fantastic feature is always a hit and fan favourite, and a great way to encourage clients to choose your salon and product over your competitors. This feature in salon app allows you to offer a mobile loyalty program, for example, buy two manicures, and get one pedicure free. If you want to boost your product sales further, you can make a 5+1 card, which gives your client a product for free (shampoo, hairspray, conditioner, hair mask.) Through this feature, you can easily manage your user’s coupon activity, provide users with attractive offers with an incentive to return to your business and create different levels of perks to reward your most loyal users better. Remember to focus on the goals of your salon before creating a loyalty card. Will you gain a higher loyalty and return rate by offering free services (haircuts, pedicures, hair dye, and manicures) or by providing the free product? Consider both options thoroughly before finalising your loyalty cards because you never know you might need both. Keep in mind that loyalty cards are part of a long-term strategy to build stronger clientele and increase profit, with time and patience you will eventually reap the benefits.Special OffersPush notifications implement a notification system that helps you stay in contact with users. It allows you to drive activity on special promotions, events, deals, and offers. It provides clients with easy updates and important information. During a downtime, if you feel the need to generate revenue, push notifications allow you to generate interest easily and proactively. With the help of this feature, you can also manage your notifications across Android, iOS, Twitter and Facebook. One more interesting thing you can do is you can offer GPS coupons that clients unlock when they check in to the app at your location. Not just, it adds a fun dimension to your business, but it also rewards clients just for visiting your salon.Style LibrariesAdmit it or not, women across the globe like to copy celebrities in our real lives. Whenever they spot their favourite celebrity with a new haircut, women flock to their local salons with a picture of the great hair to duplicate the look. Celebrity obsession is an all-time high trend, and salons make sure not to miss the advantage of new hair looks. You can introduce exciting features to your app like:Haircut of the WeekThrough this feature, you can display numerous trendy hairstyles. Upload a celebrity picture; describe the details and type of style and haircut. Offer hairstyling tips according to their face cuts. Go the extra mile, inspire your clients, encourage them to come in and try something new. Add hashtag with a photo to your social media feed to attract more clients.Updo of the WeekSpecial events and weddings are the seasons when updos are especially sought out. Girls are always looking for fun, funky haircuts and new updos, cash these events by posting a weekly updo with styling tips and advice about the hair look.Appointment RemindersEvery salon must incorporate this feature into their app. Through this important feature, you can send your existing clients reminders of their regular appointments. Act smartly and proactively; you can easily get hold of a segment of clients that might affect your business by visiting another salon. With sheer dedication, you can secure more appointments that may help you boost your yearly revenue.The benefits are many, and the costs are few. Consider making your own app for your salon if you have not developed one yet. It’s entirely up to you whether you want, to begin with just one, or add all five features to your app. It really does not matter how big or small your business is or what business your own, your app with unique features will be a strong tool your clients will love.

Why Preschool MattersChildhood experts agree: Attending a high-quality program prepares kids for kindergarten and beyond. But finding the best option for your child takes time and research. To get you started, I've answered your biggest questions.The Importance of Preschool1. What's the difference between childcare and preschool?Childcare centers are generally an option for working parents who need their children to be taken care of during the day; centers accept babies as well as toddlers and are full-time, full-year programs. Preschool refers to an early-childhood educational class for 3- and 4-year-olds. Many offer a part-time schedule (for example, a few hours a day, two to five times a week) as well as full-day care, but only from September to May. Yet the terms are often used interchangeably. A childcare center with experienced, well-trained teachers and stimulating activities offers kids similar advantages to a preschool.2. How important is preschool?There's increasing evidence that children gain a lot from going to preschool, At preschool, they become exposed to numbers, letters, and shapes. And, more important, they learn how to socialize -- get along with other children, share, contribute to circle time.Statistics show that a majority of kids attend at least one year of preschool: According to the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), more than two-thirds of 4-year-olds and more than 40 percent of 3-year-olds were enrolled in a preschool in 2005. Children who attend high-quality preschool enter kindergarten with better pre-reading skills, richer vocabularies, and stronger basic math skills than those who do not.Every child should have some sort of group experience before he starts kindergarten. Music and gymnastics classes are great, but what preschools do that less formal classes don't is teach kids how to be students. Your child will learn how to raise his/her hand, take turns, and share the teacher's attention. What's more, he/she will learn how to separate from Mommy, who often stays in a music or gym class. All of this makes for an easier transition to kindergarten. Kindergarten teachers will tell you that the students who are ready to learn are those who come into school with good social and behaviour.In fact, educators have so recognized the importance of giving kids some form of quality early education that about 40 states now offer state-funded pre-K programs.3. What will my child learn?In addition to strengthening socialization skills -- how to compromise, be respectful of others, and problem-solve -- preschool provides a place where your child can gain a sense of self, explore, play with her peers, and build confidence. Kids in preschool discover that they are capable and can do things for themselves -- from small tasks like pouring their own juice and helping set snack tables to tackling bigger issues like making decisions about how to spend their free time. Plus, 4- and 5-year-olds have begun asking some wonderful questions about the world around them -- what happens to the water after the rain? Do birds play? Quality preschools help children find answers through exploration, experimentation, and conversation.4. But what about learning his ABCs?Young children can certainly learn letters and numbers, but to sit kids down and 'teach' them is the wrong way to do it. They learn best through doing the kinds of activities they find interesting -- storytime, talking to their teachers about stars, playing with blocks. To help kids learn language and strengthen pre-reading skills, for instance, teachers might play rhyming games and let kids tell stories. Keep in mind that for small children, school is all about having fun and acquiring social skills -- not achieving academic milestones. Kids need to be imaginative and to socialize -- that's what fosters creative, well-rounded people. It's not whether they can read by age 4 or multiply by 5. An ideal curriculum? Parading around in dress-up clothes, building forts, and being read to.Choosing the Right Preschool5. How old should my child be when he/she starts?Most preschools serve 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds, and many kids begin at age 4. (Some preschools will start accepting children at around 2 1/2, but that doesn't mean your child will be ready when he/she reaches that age.) You can choose from a part-time schedule or a full-time one. Your choice will depend on your family's situation -- working moms might prefer five days a week -- and on your child's temperament.Parents typically start investigating options about a year before they want their children to attend. But if you live in a big city, where competition for spots can be fierce, you'll want to start applying even earlier and to more than one place.6. How do I choose the right preschool?Research, research, research. First, decide on location (close to work or home?) and hours (half-day, two or three days a week, full-time?). There are programs at private schools, daycare centers, religious institutions (like synagogues and churches), state-funded schools, and cooperatives run by parents. Start by asking for recommendations from other moms. Next, check whether the schools are licensed, which ensures the facility meets safety requirements and has adequate staffing.The gold standard of approval is accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. NAEYC carefully evaluates schools and childcare centers based on curriculum, teacher qualifications, class size, and health and safety standards. In addition, many preschools now have Web sites that you should visit.Call each school you're considering and ask about its fees, admission policy, and curriculum. Once you've narrowed down your choices, schedule visits. Most preschools run open houses during the winter. Also, meet with the director and spend time in a classroom to observe the teachers. Visit each school with your child and see how he/she responds to the classroom, the teachers, and the activities.7. What should I look for during a visit?Check out the basics: Is the facility clean and safe? Keep your eye out for smoke detectors and first-aid kits. Is there a well-kept outdoor play area? Are there plenty of art materials, age-appropriate toys, and books? Are they in good condition? Is the atmosphere friendly and fun? Student work should be displayed in the hallways and around the classroom, hung at kid-level. I tell parents to pay special attention to the artwork on the walls, Would you be able to pick out your child's artwork? If all the pictures look the same, then your child will learn to make a bunny just like everyone else's. That's not really the goal.The classroom should have a variety of activity areas -- a reading place, an art station with materials on shelves that kids can reach, a block corner, a puzzle area, and a place for naps. Children should not all be doing the same thing at the same time; they should be playing with toys or other kids but still well supervised.Finally, do you feel comfortable? You want to be confident that once you drop off your child, he/she will be happy and well taken care of.Making the Right Decision8. What makes a good teacher?Find out about the teachers' training and credentials. Ideally, head teachers should have a minimum of an associate's degree and formal training in early-childhood education. Research shows that teachers with college degrees and specialized early-childhood training have more positive interactions with children, provide richer language experiences, and are less detached, Also, consider teacher-child ratios. According to standards, there should be at least one teacher for every eight to ten 4- and 5-year-olds, and one adult for every six 2- and 3-year-olds. Low child-teacher ratios are very important, since they allow teachers to give ample attention to everyone. Talk to the teachers about how they work with the kids. Look for teachers who recognize the particular needs of different children, and who know how to adapt a curriculum for those who are ahead as well as for those who need additional help.Visit a class while it's going on. A good teacher talks with children, asking a lot of questions and patiently answering theirs. He/she makes kids feel welcome and fosters their self-confidence. Talk with the teacher about a typical day, and ways in which he/she will keep you informed about your child's progress. If he/she is responsive to your questions and you're happy with his/her answers and his/her classroom style, you've found a good fit.

Q: What are the pros and cons of going active duty or Army Reserve?A: I am qualified to answer this! I went US Army Reserve under the mistaken impression that it would be one weekend a month and two weeks a year. Instead, during my thirteen years as a Reservist, I spent more than half my time on active duty.Edit: I have updated with suggestions from Steve Yi in the comments.Active Duty vs. Reserve DutyActive Duty =AReserve Duty = RAge RequirementsA: Be between the ages of 17-42 years.R: Be between the ages of 17-42 years.Note that returning service members can actually come in after the 42 years of age cut-off. Subtract your years of service from your age. If that number is in the range, then you could possibly get back in. This is limited by open spots for prior enlisted.Length of ServiceA: 2-6 year commitment/Serve a total of 8 years in the military *Including Inactive Ready Reserve serviceR: 1-6 year unit commitment/ Serve a total of 8 years in the military *Including Inactive Ready Reserve serviceRetirementA: May Retire after 20 yrs. of qualifying service. Once eligible, you start receiving your pension the day after you level the military.R: Modified retirement possible after 20 yrs. of qualifying service. Once eligible, you will wait till age 60 to start receiving your pension. The start of your pension can be reduced 3 months for every of 3 months of Active service.Another note is “double-dipping” as some governmental agencies allow for multiple pensions. My ex was a California Highway Patrol officer. He got a California pension as well as his US Army retirement.Job ChoicesA: 200 jobs to choose fromR: 180 jobs to choose fromMedical / Dental BenefitsA: Full Medical and dental benefits.Active duty service members pay nothing out-of-pocket.Active duty family members pay nothing unless using the point-of-service option.All other beneficiaries pay annual enrollment fees and network copayments.R: Medical and dental benefits when on active duty *See my comments about medical care I received while on “Active Duty”. In the reserves you can purchase medical insurance.Low Cost Health, Dental, & Life InsuranceAll eligible members of the Selected Reserve may qualify to purchase coverage under TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS). You must be a member of the Selected Reserve or the Ready Reserve, and you cannot be eligible for or enrolled in the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program (or currently covered under FEHB).You’ll pay a monthly premium for health care coverage, just like most civilians do in their employer’s health care plans. The monthly premiums are:$50.75 for TRS member-only coverage*$205.62 for TRS member and family coverage*Job training opportunitiesA & R: Specialized job training (AIT)Note that some schools are run for Reserve vs. Active components only. In general you will get the same training. If you do go to a reserve component only course, it will likely be shorter and cover items in less detail.A: Once you start gaining rank, there are additional schools that provide greater leadership and technical training. Active duty almost everyone goes to these.R: Only a handful of reservists are sent to the senior MOS courses. It a combination of their SM being too busy in their regular jobs or there not being money available to send them.Location of dutyA: May be stationed at home or on foreign soil. Potential for selecting assignment.Active duty service members are often granted basic choice in where they will be stationed after recruit training and military occupational specialty school - called Advanced Individual Training (AIT) for Army Soldiers. Active duty enlistees can be stationed anywhere within the United States or abroad depending on the duties and mission of their respective unit.It’s basically up to one guy in charge of your MOS and rank to decide where you go, if you can get in good with that person you can go anywhere you want to go as long as there is an opening. Once you’re pretty senior you can start shopping units on your own.R: Stationed at home unless called to active duty. When called to active duty, activating unit makes choice.Reserve status members will be stationed near their home and only be subject to international station in the event they are called for active duty. If the Reserve Unit is more than 100 miles from their home, they might qualify for individual drill training. This must be approved in advance.If you plan ahead and contact your unit of choice. If they like you, you can arrange to have orders assigning you to that unit. And you can stay put as long as you do a good job. Just like Active duty, you deploy when your unit does. But, If you want to deploy more often you can find volunteer opportunity for Individual Augmentees.Work ScheduleA: Serve 5 days a week. *Typically. Not 100% across all jobs. Some are 4/10s.R: Serve one weekend a month and two contiguous weeks a year. *Unless called to active duty. Then active unit orders will determine work schedule.Vacation & LeaveA: 30 days military leave per year (paid vacation)R: Paid vacation only if you are on extended active duty. Key here - extended active duty.Social & Recreational ProgramsA: Unlimited access to all military Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) facilities or programsR: Unlimited access to all military Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) facilities or programs. *In theory. I personally have been turned away while I was a reservist. I was asked for my Active Duty orders before they would allow me access. Likely not per regulation, just because they said … Meh.Education BenefitsA: Educational benefitsThe Federal Perkins Loan Program allows you to cancel your current student loan debt if you have served on active duty in a combat situation.The College Loan Repayment Program will repay part of your current student loans.The Concurrent Admissions Program (ConAP) allows you to earn college credit towards your degree while you serve in the Army or Army Reserve.The Military Spouse Education And Career Opportunities (SECO) program will allow your spouse access to tuition funding, free career counseling services, and employment readiness tools that he or she can use to get an education.MONTGOMERY GI BILLThe Montgomery GI Bill provides education benefits to veterans and service members who have served at least two years on active duty. Montgomery GI Bill can be used to pay up to full tuition for numerous schooling programs, including college, technical school, and flight school. Benefits are generally payable for 10 years following your release from honorable military service.THE POST 9/11 GI BILLThe Post 9/11 GI Bill is open to members of the U.S. Military who began their service after Sept. 10, 2001. Can earn full tuition to the college of your choice for up to 36 months, plus a monthly housing allowance and a books and supplies stipend of up to $1,000 per year.R: Some Educational benefits.The Selected Reserve Montgomery Bill (SR-MGIB) provides Army Reserve Soldiers with cash to put toward college tuition.The Army Reserve Montgomery GI Bill “Kicker” is extra money eligible Army Reserve Soldiers can add on top of their Selected Reserve GI Bill benefits.The Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP) provides educational assistance to Army Reserve Soldiers called to active duty in response to war or a national emergency.Under the Loan Repayment Program (LRP), the Army will repay 15 percent of the outstanding principal balance on your student loan or $500 per year (whichever is greater) after you spend a year in service.With the Tuition Assistance program, the Army will pay $250 per semester hour of college credit.The Concurrent Admissions (ConAp) program allows you to earn credit towards your college degree while serving in the Army or Army Reserve.The Minuteman Scholarship allows high school and college students to receive full tuition or $10,000 in room and board in return for a service commitment.Commissary PrivilegesA: Unlimited post exchange and commissary privilegesR: Unlimited post exchange and commissary privileges. *Commissary cards used to be issued with punch blocks for your visits. Several of the bases that I went to changed that to unlimited visits and only required a Reserve ID. But it could be limited to 24 visits per year.Physical RequirementsA: Physical training 3-4 times a weekR: Responsible for maintaining your own physical fitness (you will be tested twice a year)The physical standards are the same. The APFT tests are administered using the same scale:http://www.usarec.army.mil/downloads/mrb/AECP/Application_Process/DA__form_705_APFT_scorecard.pdfPayA: Military pay is governed by time in as well as rank. Example: An officer of rank O-2, with over 4 years of service would be paid $4,643.74 per month.Military Pay Charts for Active DutyR: National Guard and Reserve perform a minimum of one weekend drill per month, and two weeks per year of active duty for training. Compensation for drill is monthly Drill Pay, equal to one day's active duty base pay for each drill period. There are four drill periods in one weekend drill.*Based on 2014 military pay tables.**Pay for Private (E1) will be slightly lower for first four months of service.*Based on 2014 military pay tables.OtherA: If you are active duty you have job security, you are guaranteed a job for the length of your contract. If you want to stay in longer, as long as you don’t have a bar to reenlistment and the position is available, you can generally stay.Military Involuntary Separation Pay Rules & EligibilityIf you were discharged from active duty and received Special Separation Benefit or Voluntary Separation Incentive, read about VSI/SSB Recoupment before you consider applying for retirement.You will be required to repay the full gross VSI/SSB paid to date.Special Separation Benefit (SSB)Voluntary Separation Incentive (VSI)VSI/SSB RecoupmentDisability Severance PaySeparation with disability severance pay occurs when the Soldier's unfitting disabilities are determined by the Army to be service connected, the Soldier has less than 20 years of service as computed under 10 USC 1208, and the Soldier's combined disability rating assigned to the unfitting disabilities is less than 30 percent. Separation without entitlement to disability benefits occurs when the unfitting disabilities are determined to be non-service connected without permanent aggravation or incurred due to misconduct.Prior to January 28, 2008 members were required to have at least 6 months of service to qualify for discharge with severance pay. This rule no longer applies.Calculation and PaymentDisability severance pay is a one-time lump sum payment. The amount of the payment equals 2 months basic pay for each year of service not to exceed 19 years. Additionally, a minimum number of six years will be used for calculation purposes. Prior to January 28, 2008, a maximum of 12 years and minimum of three years creditable service was used.R: Soldiers of the Ready Reserve with 20 qualifying years and Soldiers of the Selected Reserve with 15 qualifying years with a disability disposition of separation with or without severance pay have an additional election in lieu of being separated.Final note:An Honorable discharge is actually a good thing in the civilian market. But should you get a Dishonorable Discharge, you will likely have problems finding employment as many companies will not hire someone if they have a dishonorable discharge. If you get an other than Honorable Discharge, you will likely have problems as well._______________________________________________________I got to “BE Active” but NOT “BE Active” at the same time. When I was mobilized, I was not given orders for more than twenty nine days at a stretch. The orders would be issued back to back, with a day in between so as to prevent me from being able to claim active duty benefits.As a reservist, I had to have a civilian job at the same time. Reserve pay did not pay the bills when I was not activated. Yet it was difficult to keep a job because I was constantly gone. Yes, I was protected by the Soldiers & Sailors Leave Act. No it didn’t matter.When on duty, if I was injured, I encountered lots of problems trying to get medical care. They would see me, with my orders. I had to fight to get my LOD *line of duty* form to prove that I was injured while on duty. If I did not get that piece of paper, I could not then get follow up care. EVEN with that piece of paper, getting follow up care was difficult. At the VA, as a Reservist, I was on the BOTTOM of the care priority list. I broke my leg on active duty - and was refused care at VA centers for a year. I basically did not work for several months because I could not walk. If I did, I would injure my leg even more.That priority list always seemed insurmountable for receiving care. Instead I went to civilian doctors and paid out of my own pocket because insurance doesn’t cover it either.You might think I was unhappy as a reservist. But that is not true. I would have gotten my 20 years had my husband not talked me out of staying. I loved every minute of it. I likely would have had an even better time as active. But who knows? I was a reservist, and I will never regret it.Priority Groups - Health BenefitsPriority Group 1Veterans with VA-rated service-connected disabilities 50% or more disablingVeterans determined by VA to be unemployable due to service-connected conditionsPriority Group 2Veterans with VA-rated service-connected disabilities 30% or 40% disablingPriority Group 3Veterans who are Former Prisoners of War (POWs)Veterans awarded a Purple Heart medalVeterans whose discharge was for a disability that was incurred or aggravated in the line of dutyVeterans with VA-rated service-connected disabilities 10% or 20% disablingVeterans awarded special eligibility classification under Title 38, U.S.C., § 1151, "benefits for individuals disabled by treatment or vocational rehabilitation"Veterans awarded the Medal Of Honor (MOH)Priority Group 4Veterans who are receiving aid and attendance or housebound benefits from VAVeterans who have been determined by VA to be catastrophically disabledPriority Group 5Nonservice-connected Veterans and noncompensable service-connected Veterans rated 0% disabled by VA with annual income below the VA’s and geographically (based on your resident zip code) adjusted income limitsVeterans receiving VA pension benefitsVeterans eligible for Medicaid programsPriority Group 6Compensable 0% service-connected VeteransVeterans exposed to Ionizing Radiation during atmospheric testing or during the occupation of Hiroshima and NagasakiProject 112/SHAD participantsVeterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam between January 9,1962 and May 7,1975Veterans of the Persian Gulf War who served between August 2, 1990 and November 11, 1998*Veterans who served on active duty at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987Veterans who served in a theater of combat operations after November 11, 1998 as follows:Currently enrolled Veterans and new enrollees who were discharged from active duty on or after January 28, 2003, are eligible for the enhanced benefits for five years post discharge.**Combat Veterans who were discharged between January 2009 and January 2011, and did not enroll in the VA health care during their five-year period of eligibility have an additional one year to enroll and receive care. The additional one-year eligibility period began February 12, 2015 with the signing of the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for America Veterans Act.Note: At the end of this enhanced enrollment priority group placement time period Veterans will be assigned to the highest Priority Group (PG) their unique eligibility status at that time qualifies for.*Note: While eligible for PG 6; until system changes are implemented you would be assigned to PG 7 or 8 depending on your income.*Note: While eligible for PG 6; due to system limitations, Veterans will be manually assigned to Priority Group 8c, yet eligible for the enhance benefitsPriority Group 7Veterans with gross household income below the geographically-adjusted income limits (GMT) for their resident location and who agree to pay copaysPriority Group 8Veterans with gross household income above the VA and the geographically-adjusted income limits for their resident location and who agrees to pay copaysVeterans eligible for enrollment:Noncompensable 0% service-connected:Subpriority a: Enrolled as of January 16, 2003, and who have remained enrolled since that date and/or placed in this sub priority due to changed eligibility statusSubpriority b: Enrolled on or after June 15, 2009 whose income exceeds the current VA or geographic income limits by 10% or lessNonservice-connected and:Subpriority c: Enrolled as of January 16, 2003, and who have remained enrolled since that date and/or placed in this sub priority due to changed eligibility statusSubpriority d: Enrolled on or after June 15, 2009, whose income exceeds the current VA or geographic income limits by 10% or lessVeterans not eligible for enrollment:Veterans not meeting the criteria above:Subpriority e: Noncompensable 0% service-connected (eligible for care of their SC condition only)Subpriority g: Nonservice-connected