History.

Beginnings (1844–1938).

The Co-operative Group has developed over 173 years from the merger of co-operative wholesale societies and many independent retail societies; evolving from solely a wholesale operation to a major retailer. The Group's roots are traced back to the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers, established in 1844. The Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers was based on the Rochdale Principles – which notably introduced the idea of distributing a share of profits according to purchases through a scheme which became to be known

WWII and post-war decline (1939–1989).

During the Second World War, rationing led to an effective pause in any major changes to the co-operative movement in the UK with the CWS becoming highly involved in sourcing overseas goods for UK consumers and manufacturing wartime goods.  During this time, the CWS began planning for the future, as even then they could see the potential disruption to the retail market that the new multiple grocers could have. What was less obvious at the time would be the impact of National Savings and national taxation on the movement, as Britain shifted from a country of friendly, building and co-operative societies, to one with a National Health Service, National House building programs and National Post Office Bank NS&IGPO. In 1944, the CWS published a report entitled "Policy and Programme for Post War Development" which focused on methods for revitalising the co-op movement after the war had ended. The report suggested merging the CWS with the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society (SCWS); reducing the number of co-operative societies through merger; moving into the manufacturing and production of white goods and the expansion of the Co-operative Bank.  This report received much criticism from the fiercely

Modernisation and takeover attempts (1990–1999).

By the start of the 1990s, the co-operative movement's share of the UK grocery market had declined to the point where the entire business model was in question. This was at a time when many building societies were demutualising as many of the public preferred the short-term financial gain of the windfall payment over the perceived lack of benefits from the mutual model. For a time it seemed as though the mutual or co-op model was almost dead.  The Co-op's reputation was not helped in this respect by the factions within the movement, notably the strong rivalry between the CRS and the CWS, acting in a manner which exacerbated the belief held by many members of the public that, rather than working for the interests of all members, co-ops were largely acting in the self-interests of a dominant 'clique' of members within each society.  Together these crises meant that the 1990s would become a crucial decade if the Co-op was to survive. In order to raise capital to invest in its food stores (and also the increasingly successful Co-operative Bank), the CWS sold many of its factories to Andrew Regan in 1994 for £111 million in what initially appeared to be a highly beneficial arrangement for the CWS.  However, later it appeared that those involved in this deal did so without the CWS Board's permission and had been also handing confidential CWS files to Regan. Notably, one Sunday newspaper printed the CWS' annual report before it had been officially released. This would later pose a huge threat to the CWS when in 1997 Regan posed a highly ambitious £1.2bn hostile takeover attempt of the CWS. This shocked many in the movement and consolidated support for the CWS as the 'linchpin' of the movement in a way that many had previous opposed.  The CWS, under the leadership of Graham Melmoth, was able to defend itself from this takeover bid, largely by informing Regan's creditors that his hostile takeover was based upon dubiously sourced data and bad business practices. The deal also failed because Regan had greatly misunderstood the CWS' complicated ownership structure, assuming that by paying off the 500,000 'active members' he could gain control of the CWS.  Though this strategy worked for the carpetbaggers

Expansion (2000–2012).

Following the integration of the CRS and CWS into the new Group structure it became evident that the business required significant modernisation and rationalisation of its businesses. The Co-operative Group followed by selling its loss-making footwear and milk processing businesses as well as some aspects of its agricultural production. The business also sold many of its larger supermarkets and hypermarkets using the funds to expand further into the convenience store sector, notably through adding 600 stores, following the acquisition of the Alldays chain. Alldays had previously purchased the VG chain of small supermarkets, which operated a franchise operation, supplying marketing and own-brand products to independently owned grocers. The Co-op invested significantly in

Financial crisis (2013–2014).

In May 2013, after recognising inadequate capital levels in its banking group, Euan Sutherland took over from Peter Marks as Chief Executive. That month Moody's downgraded the bank's credit rating by six notches to junk status (Ba3) and the bank's Chief Executive, Barry Tootell, resigned. The difficulties stem largely from the commercial loans of the Britannia Building Society, acquired in the 2009 merger. The Co-operative Insurance sold its life insurance and pensions business to Royal London releasing about £200m in capital, and planned to dispose of its general insurance business. Further financial restructuring was expected.  On 5 June 2013, Richard Pennycook, former Finance Director of Morrisons, was named The Co-operative Group's Finance Director, and Richard Pym, former Chief Executive of Alliance & Leicester, as

Rebuilding the Co-op (2015–present).

Having scaled back their operations to their core food, funeral, insurance, electrical and legal businesses in the preceding years, the business set about modernising these businesses in order to create a stable and profitable base for the future. In April 2015, The Co-operative Group announced that it had reduced its debt levels by approximately 40% (to £808m) and had made a small profit during 2014, but would not pay a dividend to members until 2018. When The Co-operative Group released its annual report in 2016, it showed that its food business was growing faster than the overall grocery market

Co-operative practices.

As a co-operative, the group places importance on ethical and transparent trading and reporting, and democratic accountability and participation. Individual

Businesses.

Current.

The group has 85% of the co-operative grocery retail business in the UK and substantial shares in wider markets, including wholesale, funerals and legal services.

Grocery retail.

The Group's food retailing business, which trades as Co-op Food, is the largest division of the group with over 2,600 of its own stores in various sizes and with the largest geographical spread of any grocery retailer. The stores mainly operate in the food-to-go, forecourt, convenience and medium-sized supermarket formats, with some larger superstores.  In addition, Co-op Food offers customers a free online grocery delivery

Grocery wholesale & franchising.

In 2018, Co-op acquired the wholesaler and symbol group Nisa and now supplies thousands of independent stores directly or through other symbol groups such as Costcutter Supermarkets Group. Unlike some of its competitors, Nisa does not own or operate any of its own stores.  The Group also entered the franchise market in 2019 and has a growing number of franchised Co-op convenience stores. Franchise partners must

Funerals and life planning.

The Co-operative Group operates the UK's largest Funeral Director, with over 1,000 funeral homes, most of which now operate using the Co-op Funeralcare brand.

Insurance services.

The society owns Co-op Insurance, a business aimed at providing insurance services to Co-op members.  In 2013, Royal London Group acquired the Co-operative Insurance Society Limited (CIS) and The Co-operative Asset Management for up to £219m. Royal London now looks after all of the former life assurance, investment and pension businesses owned by the Co-operative Insurance Society. In January 2019, the Co-operative Group announced the sale of its underwriting business for

Legal services.

Co-op Legal Services is a national legal services provider. Services cover family law and divorce, writing wills, probate, conveyancing, personal injury and employment law.

Healthcare.

The Co-op Health mobile app was launched in May 2019. The app marks a return to the healthcare sector following the purchase

Land and property investment.

The Group has interests in retail & residential property management, investment and land development which are managed through its business, Co-op Property (formerly The

Marketing and customer data insight.

The Group owns and operates Co-op Membership, with over 4.6m active members in the UK and provides a range of marketing, customer engagement and data science services to clients. The Co-op card currently operates as both a loyalty programme, through the 5%+1% scheme, as well as proof of membership in

Co-operative school academies.

The Group runs a non-profit multi-academy trust in England, the Co-operative Academies Trust.

Former.

Syncro was the rebranded engineering and building services business of the Co-operative Group, based in Salford. Syncro was sold in 2006.  Associated Co-operative Creameries (ACC) was the group's milk processing and distribution division. ACC handled logistics of the retail business but this responsibility was transferred to Co-operative Supply Chain Logistics before it was sold to Dairy Farmers of Britain, a farmers co-operative, on 10 August 2004.  The Co-operative Department Stores business was exited after many years of increasing losses, with several stores being acquired by the Anglia Regional Co-operative Society, and the remainder were closed. Many stores had been in poor locations and had suffered from under-investment. Initially, two stores were to be retained in Perth and Tunbridge

Marketing and branding.

CWS became Co-operative Group (CWS) Limited on merger with CRS in 2001. CWS Retail was formed in 1933 and demerged in 1957 as CRS, with the purpose of opening shops in "co-operative deserts" and to take over failing retail societies. The combined Group merged with United Co-operatives, based in Yorkshire and North West England, in 2007, reinforcing its position as the largest consumer co-operative in the world. At this time the current name, Co-operative Group Limited, was adopted.  Following the mergers of the 1990s and 2000s, the modern Co-operative Group was formed of a large range of different independent societies with separate brand identities which led to a lack of consistency and gave an incoherent message to consumers. The four-leaf clover "Co-op" brand, introduced in 1967

Governance.

The Co-operative Group is unusual as a co-op because it is owned by millions of UK consumers and also a number of other UK co-operatives, making the business a hybrid of a primary consumers' co-operative and a co-operative federation. This is largely a function of the group resulting from the merger between the Co-operative Wholesale Society (a co-operative federation) and the Co-operative Retail Services in 2000. Since 2015 The Co-operative Group has operated a 'one member one vote' system whereby any of the Co-op's millions of members can vote to elect board members, to guide strategic decisions and propose their own motions for voting on.  The current governance structure of the business was established in 2014 and comprises an Executive Management Team, a Group Board and a Members' Council.

The Executive Management Team.

The Executive Management Team are the highest level

The Group Board.

The Group Board is a team of between seven and twelve people who are responsible for overseeing the strategy of the business and for holding the executive management team to account.  The Group Board is made up

The National Members' Council.

The Members' Council is an elected group of over one hundred people who hold the Group Board to account and acts as the guardian of the co-operative Values and

The Leadership Teams.

Details of those people who are members of the Group Board, the Group Executive

Executive remuneration.

The Annual Report cites a number of factors in determining executive pay, including "attracting, retaining and motivating senior Executives of the appropriate calibre to further the success of the Group" and "ensuring that the interests of Executives are aligned with those of the Group and its members".  Former CEO Peter Marks was paid a basic salary of £1,014,000 in 2012, with a performance-related bonus of £103,000. The

Member Owner Governance Structure 2007 to 2015.

Between the creation of The Co-operative Group in 2000 and the major governance changes of 2014–2015, the Group had a complex governance arrangement which consisted of the business executive, the Group Board of twenty people, a series of regional boards and numerous area committees. This could be likened to English local, county and national government, where society members stood for election and if successful were expected to represent members at all levels of the society, simultaneously, with positions held in on co-op committees corresponding to departments (the businesses boards), the cabinet (the national Board), devolved nations and regions(Regional Boards), counties and parish councils (Area Committees), plus doing press events and engaging with neighbourhoods and communities such as a highly paid professional member a national government might face: Quite a task for volunteer laypeople.  The Group Board was made up of fifteen "lay" member directors elected from regional boards, another five which came from the "independent societies" and, though there was the option to appoint up to three "independent professional non-executive directors" (IPNEDs) to the Group Board at any one time, only one was ever appointed.

Dividend and membership scheme.

The idea of co-operative trading revolutionised food retailing with the dividend, often known as "divi", and the "divi number" became a part of British life. The way in which co-operative retail societies are run for the benefit, and on behalf of their members sets them apart from their modern-day competitors. The dividend is a financial reward to members based on each member's level of trade with the society. The distribution of profits on the basis of turnover rather than capital invested is a fundamental difference between a co-operative and most private sector enterprises.

History of co-op membership.

Historically, members' sales would be recorded in ledgers in society's stores and at the end of the collection period a proportional payment would be made to the member. As the societies grew, and the number of members increased, the method of using ledgers became cumbersome. As a solution, some societies, including Co-operative Retail Services, issued stamps to members for qualifying transactions. Members collected stamps on a savings card and, when the card was complete, would use it as payment for goods or deposit into their share account.  By the late 20th century the group's predecessors and then the Co-operative Group no longer paid true dividend as it had become a drain on limited resources, although several independent societies (such as Anglia Regional) continued to do so. In the mid-1990s a loyalty card scheme, in the style of the Tesco Clubcard, was introduced which used the dividend brand. These loyalty cards were inspired by the co-operative dividend but were little more than marketing exercises and a way to gather useful customer information. Co-operative customers,

Current membership scheme.

The current co-op membership scheme was launched in September 2016 and rewards members with 5% of what they spend on own brand products and services being credited back to their membership account. A further 1% is donated to a local charitable or community

Ethical trading and campaigning.

As the UK's largest co-operative, the group plays a key part in the co-operative movement. In the 1840s the original co-op shops were set up to protect consumers from adulterated food and profiteering shopkeepers. Since then the co-operative movement has campaigned on a number of issues which they thought were key consumer interests. As a part of this, The Co-operative Group has long been campaigning for consumer rights legislation, researching into new food labelling initiatives, a major sponsor of new co-operative ventures, a notable donor to community initiatives, directly involved in the development of animal welfare standards and in championing Fairtrade in the UK.  The Co-op has traded on its 'ethical' credentials for many years and in 2014 a survey suggested that 70% of the British public believed that it was a business that 'tried to do the right thing'. The co-op is particularly known for its work in championing the introduction of Fairtrade in the UK, investing in renewable energy and in reducing its carbon emissions, in maintaining high standards of animal welfare, in being a leading retailer of responsible fish, for reinvesting its profits in local communities and for campaigning on a range of social issues.  The Co-operative is widely recognised for its commitment to responsible and ethical trading, particularly for championing fairtrade in the UK. These commitments and its mutual structure led to The Co-operative Food being awarded "Ethical Consumer" magazine's 'Best Buy' status in 2011 and 2014. Following significant public outcry regarding the Tax avoidance of many well known multi-national companies the co-op was awarded the Fair Tax Mark in 2015, an independent certification designed to identify businesses which are not aggressively seeking to avoid paying taxes.  Each year the business publishes a sustainability report on its website with a breakdown of the key social, environmental and charitable activities which were undertaken during the previous financial year. In 2008 the company was awarded the European Business Award for the Environment (Management category) by the European Union for its commitment to combine competitiveness with respect for the environment.

Fairtrade.

The Co-operative Group was the first major UK retailer to stock Fairtrade products and was the first UK supermarket to sell Fairtrade coffee (1992), bananas (2000), own-brand chocolate (2000), own-brand wine (2001), pineapples (2002), sugar (2005) and blueberries (2010). Since then, all own brand block chocolate (2002), coffee (2003), sugar (2008), bananas (2012), winter blueberries (2012) has been converted to Fairtrade. Co-op Food is also the largest UK retailer of fairly traded wine and has the largest range of Fairtrade products in the UK. In 2014 its Fairtrade sales were £133m. During

Renewable energy and energy saving measures.

Since 2005, 98% of The Co-op's electricity has been sourced through renewable sources, notably wind power, hydro and anaerobic digestion. By 2014, 12.3% of the business's total energy use was being sourced from renewable sources. The business has also constructed its own renewable energy generation facilities, operating three wind farms with a fourth given planning permission in 2014. When the fourth wind farm is complete, it is expected that The Co-operative Group will generate almost 25% of its own electricity consumption. In 2016 the co-op sold ownership of

Animal welfare.

In 1994 The Co-operative Group became the first retailer to support the development of the then new RSPCA Freedom Food scheme with the aim of improving welfare standards for animals at all stages of the food chain. Their range of "freedom foods" certified products began from around this time. The Co-op also has a range of animal welfare standards for its own brand chicken, pork and turkey products which are more strict than UK legal requirements. It has also labelled the living conditions of the hens which lay its eggs in the 1990s and became the

Responsible fish sourcing.

The Co-operative is one of the leading retailers of responsible fish in the UK having launched its Responsible Fish Sourcing Policy in 2008 after commissioning research in association with NGOs, academics and its suppliers. This report was subsequently updated in 2014. The Co-operative Food was commended by the Marine Conservation Society with a "gold award" (2011) and a "silver award" (2013) and, for its sourcing policy, The Co-operative was one of five organisations accredited with the 2010 Seafood Champion Award.  Since 2011 all own-brand tuna has

Community dividend.

Like many co-operatives, The Co-operative Group runs a community dividend scheme where each year a share of the businesses profits are re-invested

Co-operative development.

The Co-operative Group, like most co-operatives, has supported the development of co-operative businesses in many sectors of the economy through its

Clean energy campaigning.

Between 2011 and 2013 the group campaigned on the issue of climate change under its banner of "The Clean Energy Revolution". There were three main aspects to this campaigning:  In addition to this, the business has provided on targets to reducing its own environmental impact including reducing direct GHG emissions by 50% relative to 2006.  As a part of its attempts to highlight the problem of climate change and specific issues relating to fossil fuel extraction, the group campaigned against tar sands oil extraction and fracking. To this end, The Co-operative Group part-funded the UK release of films including Chasing Ice, Gasland and H2Oil to raise awareness of the cause and, as a part

Food labelling.

In 1984–85 research commissioned by the Co-op showed that consumers had a preference for food labelling schemes which presented the content of fat, sugar and salt within a product as either "high", "medium" or "low". The Co-op implemented this labelling system on own-brand products the same year. Further research in 1993 suggested that many consumers were confused by the nutritional labelling schemes used at the time. Both of these findings were supported by evidence gathered by the Food Standards Agency in 2002 and the Institute for Grocery Distribution proposed a new labelling system based upon the guideline daily amount principle.  As a consequence of this research, the Co-op trialled a new greatly extended labelling format which went above the legal requirement for what should be included at the time (energy, protein, carbohydrate, of

Israeli settlement boycott.

At the end of April 2012, The Co-operative Group announced that it was "no longer engaging with any supplier of produce known to

Pesticides and toxic chemicals.

The group's pesticide policy bans, restricts and monitors pesticide use at farms which supply its own brand products. The policy aims to minimise the use of chemicals, and the residues which remain on crops, whilst providing safe food but without notably increasing the cost of products. In 2014 39% of tested products from The Co-operative fresh, frozen and canned produce range were pesticide residue free (2011: 35%) whilst 1.4% of tested products had pesticide residues above the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) set for each product (4.4% is the UK average).  Their pesticide policy was launched with a report titled "Green and Pleasant Land" (2000) which formally banned over 20 pesticides which were still in use at the

Genetic modification.

In 1994 The Co-operative Group began labelling own brands food which contained genetically modified (GM) ingredients and, five years later, they banned the use of GM ingredients in its own-brand products including GM animal feed. Since 2003 the Co-op has banned the growing of GM crops

Waste reduction and carrier bags.

Total waste from the business has decreased by 41% since 2006 with 95% of all waste now being either reused or recycled. Product packaging for own brand items has been reduced by 40% since 2006 (by weight). In line with regulations, the Co-op prints information on the recyclability of product packaging on the label. In 2014 over 80% of packaging (by weight – 45% by product line) was widely recyclable.  In 2002 the Co-op launched

Supply chain efficiency.

The Co-op Food Supply Chain Logistics business makes 35,000 deliveries per week and it has invested heavily in increasing the efficiency of its supply and distribution networks with the aims of reducing its costs and environmental impact. Between 2006 and 2013 the Co-op reduced its fuel consumption by 29% and its emissions from supply chain activities by 31%. In 2013 the society closed six "legacy" distribution centres and opened two new sites which won awards for

Palm oil policy.

Palm oil is significant as it has one of the highest yields per hectare of any oil, however, its production has been linked to significant deforestation and habitat loss, particularly across Africa and South America. In order to reduce this impact The Co-operative became the first major supermarket to commit to only using certified sustainable palm oil

Political affiliation.

The Co-operative Group, the largest business in the UK Cooperative movement, is a major affiliate and supporter of the Co-operative Party, which fields candidates in elections on joint tickets with the Labour Party as Labour and Co-operative Party. It is a substantial funder of the Co-operative Party. In addition to core aims of furthering co-operative values and mutualism in Parliament and on the national

List of corporate members.

As of 2011, 22 independent consumer co-operatives are corporate members or customer-owners, of the group. They invested share capital to found or join the group's wholesaler predecessors, such as the North

Awards.

In 2002 the society gained Worldaware's 2002 "Shell Award for Sustainable Development" for its use of Fairtrade goods. and in 2007 it won a Queen's Award for Enterprise in the Sustainable Development category, in recognition of its business practices, including its pioneering stance on Fairtrade and the environment. In January 2010, the society appeared on the shortlist for the Transform Awards for rebranding and brand transformation in a number of categories A 2011 "Which?" survey claimed that the Co-operative was the least favourite grocer with 46% satisfaction among customers compared to Waitrose which achieved 85%.  The Co-operative Bank has consistently been one of the highest-rated banks in the UK for customer satisfaction.

The Co-operative Group, trading as the Co-op, is a British consumer co-operative with a diverse family of retail businesses including food retail and wholesale; e-pharmacy; insurance services; legal services and funeralcare, with in excess of 3,700 locations. It is the largest consumer co-operative in the UK and owned by more than 4.6 million active members. Membership is open to everyone, provided they agree to subscribe £1 sterling in the capital of the society and share the values and principles upon which the group was founded. Members are democratically involved in setting business strategy, decide how social goals are achieved, and share in its profits – in 2018, £79m was returned to members and their chosen local community causes via the 5+1 scheme. The Group also owed £792m to its lenders.

The Co-operative Group ou plus simplement Co-op est une entreprise du Royaume-Uni de type coopératif. C'est-à-dire détenue et dirigée par ses membres qui sont avant tout des consommateurs.


Club career.

Youth years.

Allan Wanga started playing while at primary school. As a youth he also played at various age levels for now defunct Kisumu based football club known as FIFA Kingdom.  He then went to St Paul's High School, Shikunga in Butere District and continued playing there, although the school did not have a famous football team.

Early career.

In 2005, he joined Kisumu-based Lolwe FC, then playing in Nationwide League, the second tier football league in Kenya. He only stayed three months though, because the Nationwide was being revamped and thus closed. He was set to join Agro-Chemical, but the move did not happen as he was threatened by Agro players fearing for their place in the team, according to Wanga. He then went home and was persuaded by his mother Noel, to join the army. He failed the army test, and got a chance at Sher Karuturi, another Kenyan top-flight club. After waiting for a contract offer, his brother Richard called him over a job offer in Canada, and Allan joined his brother in Nairobi but it did not materialise. After almost a year without a club, Lowle contacted him in late 2006 and he returned, but was picked up by Premier League club Tusker F.C., in early 2007. He played for Tusker until the end of 2007 season, when his club won the league. He managed to score 13 goals in his nine last matches for Tusker FC and 21 in total.

Petro Atlético.

At the end of 2007, he moved to Angolan club Petro Atlético, turning down trial offers from Swedish clubs. He won the Angolan Premier League (Girabola) in his first year, Petro Atléticos first league title since 2001.

FC Baku.

At the end of January 2010, he moved to Azerbaijani club FC Baku on a six-month contract but renewable for a year. After winning the Azerbaijan Cup his optional year contract was not taken up by Baku, and Wanga went on trial with Georgian side Rustavi Olimpi. When the deal hit a snag he called on Baku who could not issue him a work permit until after four months.

Hoàng Anh Gia Lai.

On 2 December 2010, he signed a contract with Hoàng Anh Gia Lai in the Vietnamese Super League.  In January 2013, Wanga joined Floribert Ndayisaba in going on trial with Omani side Al-Nasr.

Loan and return to A.F.C. Leopards.

At the beginning of the 2012 Kenyan Premier League, Wanga signed a loan deal with A.F.C. Leopards until 11 November 2012. At the end of the season, Wanga sealed a permanent move to "Ingwe".

Al-Merrikh.

On 4 June 2014, Wanga agreed to a one-year contract with the Sudanese giants Al-Merrikh.

Azam.

On 21 July 2015, Wanga agreed to a one-year contract with the Tanzanian club Azam FC. His first goal came in a Vodacom Premier League match against Stand United, During his one-year stay at Azam he was restricted to 11 appearances due to personal issues scoring 3 goals in the process.

Return to Tusker.

In June 2016, Wanga completed a move back to his former side Tusker. On 17 July 2016, he played his first match back for the club in a 2–2 draw against Chemelil Sugar, coming on as a substitute for Michael Khamati in the 59th minute. He scored 4 minutes into injury time to put his side 2–1 up before having his goal cancelled out by Hillary Echesa a minute later.

International career.

He made his debut for Harambee Stars on 27 May 2007, in a friendly against Nigeria. His first international goal for Kenya came on 8 December 2007 against Tanzania in a 2–1 loss at the 2007 CECAFA Cup.  On July 08,2019 Wanga announced that he had retired from International football.

Personal life.

Wanga's father, Frank Wetende, is a former A.F.C. Leopards and Kisumu Posta footballer who also played for the national team in the 1970s and early 1980s. His mother is named Noel Ayieta. He has three siblings, Richard Malaki, Nancy Kuboka and Magdalene Amboko, who is deceased.  His role models are fellow Kenyan footballer McDonald Mariga of Inter Milan and former French New York Red Bulls striker Thierry Henry.  Wanga married Brenda Mulinya, a Kenyan TV reporter on 3 September 2011.

Allan Wetende Wanga (born 26 November 1985 in Kisumu) is a Kenyan footballer who currently plays for Kakamega Homeboyz in the Kenyan National Super League as a striker, where he also is the sporting director. His dream of playing in the UEFA Europa League was not realised with Azerbaijan Premier League side FC Baku, as he failed to obtain a work permit after working out a 2-year contract with the club, which ended on 31 December 2009.

Allan Wetende Wanga, né le à Kisumu au Kenya, est un footballeur international kényan qui évolue au poste d'attaquant à l’AFC Leopards.


Early years.

Born in Wichita, Kansas, and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, Gale Eugene Sayers is the son of Roger Winfield Sayers and Bernice Ross. His father was a mechanic for Goodyear, farmed, and worked for auto dealerships. Sayers' younger brother, Ron, later played running back for the San Diego Chargers of the American Football League. Roger, his older brother, was a decorated college track and field athlete. Gale Sayers graduated from Omaha Central High School where he starred in football and track and field. A fine all-around track athlete, he set a state long jump record of 24 ft 10 in (7.58m) as a senior in 1961.

College career.

Sayers was recruited by several major Midwestern colleges before deciding to play college football at the University of Kansas. While being interviewed during a broadcast of a Chicago Cubs game on September 8, 2010, Sayers said he had originally intended to go to the University of Iowa. Sayers said that he decided against going to Iowa after the Iowa head coach, Jerry Burns, did not have time to meet Sayers during his one campus visit. During his Jayhawks career, he rushed for 2,675 yards and gained a Big Eight Conference-record 4,020 all-purpose yards. He was three times recognized as a first-team All–Big Eight selection and was a consensus pick for the College Football All-America Team in both 1963 and 1964.  As a sophomore in 1962, his first year on the varsity team, Sayers led the Big Eight Conference and was third in the nation with 1,125 rushing yards. His 7.1 yards-per-carry average was the highest of any player in the NCAA that season. Against Oklahoma State, he carried 21 times for a conference single-game-record 283 yards to lead Kansas to a 36–17 comeback victory. In 1963, Sayers set an NCAA Division I FBS record with a 99-yard run against Nebraska. He finished the year with 917 rushing yards, again leading all rushers in the Big Eight. He earned first-team All-America recognition from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA), "The Sporting News", and United Press International (UPI), among others. In 1964, his senior year, he led the Jayhawks to a 15–14 upset victory over Oklahoma with a 93-yard return of the game's opening kickoff for a touchdown. He finished the year with 633 rushing yards, third most among Big Eight rushers, and also caught 17 passes for 178 yards, returned 15 punts for 138 yards, and returned seven kickoffs for 193 yards. He earned first-team All-America honors from each of the same selectors as in the previous year, in addition to the Associated Press (AP), among others.

Professional career.

1965: Rookie season.

Sayers was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the first round, fourth overall, in the 1965 NFL Draft, and was also picked fifth overall by the Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League in the AFL draft. After consulting his wife, he decided would rather play in Chicago, signing with George Halas's Bears. In his rookie year, he scored an NFL-record 22 touchdowns: 14 rushing, six receiving, and one each on punt and kickoff returns. He gained 2,272 all-purpose yards, a record for an NFL rookie, with 1,371 of them coming from scrimmage. Sayers averaged 5.2 yards per rush and 17.5 yards per reception. His return averages were 14.9 yards per punt return and a league-high 31.4 yards per kickoff return.  Against the Minnesota Vikings on October 17, Sayers carried 13 times for 64 yards and a touchdown; caught four passes for 63 yards and two touchdowns; and had a 98-yard kickoff return touchdown in the 45–37 Bears victory. He was the last NFL player to score a rushing, receiving, and kickoff return touchdown in the same game until Tyreek Hill accomplished the feat over 50 years later, in 2016. Bears coach Halas lauded Sayers after the game, saying, "I don't ever remember seeing a rookie back who was as good," and deemed his talents equal to former Bears greats Red Grange and George McAfee. "And remember," said Halas, "we used to call George 'One-Play McAfee'." On December 12, Sayers tied Ernie Nevers' and Dub Jones' record for touchdowns in a single game, scoring six in a 61–20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers that was played in muddy conditions at the Chicago Cubs' Wrigley Field. He accounted for 326 yards in the game: 113 rushing, 89 receiving, and 134 on punt returns. Sayers was the consensus choice for NFL Rookie of the Year honors from the AP, UPI, and NEA.

1966: First rushing title.

In his second season, Sayers led the league in rushing with 1,231 yards, averaging 5.4 yards per carry with eight touchdowns and becoming the first halfback to win the rushing title since 1949. He also led the Bears in receiving with 34 catches, 447 yards, and two more touchdowns. He surpassed his rookie season's kick return numbers, averaging 31.2 yards per return with two touchdowns. He also supplanted his all-purpose yards total from the previous season, gaining 2,440 to set the NFL record. The first of his kickoff return touchdowns that season came against the Los Angeles Rams, as he followed a wedge of blockers en route to a 93-yard score. Against the Minnesota Vikings in the Bears' final game of the season, and the first of Sayers' pro career with his parents in attendance, he carried 17 times for a franchise-record 197 yards after returning the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. Sayers was named to All-Pro first teams by the AP, UPI, the NEA, "The Sporting News", and the Pro Football Writers Association, among others. Starring in his second straight Pro Bowl, Sayers carried 11 times for 110 yards and was named the back of the game. The Bears finished the season with a 5–7–2 record, and the "Chicago Tribune" tabbed Sayers as "the one bright spot in Chicago's pro football year."

1967: Shared workload.

In Halas's final season as an NFL coach, Sayers again starred. Sharing more of the rushing duties with other backs, such as Brian Piccolo, Sayers gained 880 yards with a 4.7-yard average per carry. His receptions were down as well. He had three kickoff returns for touchdowns on 16 returns, averaging 37.7 yards per return. Only rarely returning punts—he returned three all season—Sayers still managed to return one for a score against the San Francisco 49ers, a game in which he also returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown and scored a rushing touchdown on a rain-soaked field in San Francisco's Kezar Stadium. "It was a bad field, but it didn't stop some people," said 49ers coach Jack Christiansen of Sayers' performance. Christiansen said that after Sayers' kickoff return, he ordered that all punts go out of bounds. But Sayers received the punt and ran 58 yards through the middle of the field for the score. In a November game against the Detroit Lions, a cutback by Sayers caused future hall of fame cornerback Lem Barney to fall over, after which Sayers sprinted for a 63-yard gain. Later in the game he returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. After the season, Sayers was invited to his third straight Pro Bowl, in which he returned a kickoff 75 yards and scored a three-yard rushing touchdown and again earned player of the game honors. Chicago finished in second place in the newly organized Central Division with a 7–6–1 record.

1968–1969: Right knee injury and comeback season.

Sayers had the most productive rushing yardage game of his career on November 3, 1968, against the Green Bay Packers, during which he carried 24 times for 205 yards. His season ended prematurely the following week against the 49ers when he tore several ligaments in his right knee including his anterior cruciate ligament, his medial collateral ligament and his meniscus cartilage. Garry Lyle, the teammate nearest Sayers at the time, said, "I saw his eyes sort of glass over. I heard him holler. I knew he was hurt." Sayers had again been leading the league in rushing yards through the first nine games, and finished the year with 856 yards. After surgery, Sayers went through a physical rehabilitation program with the help of Piccolo, who had replaced him in the starting lineup. Despite missing the Bears' final five games, he earned first-team All-Pro recognition from several media outlets, including the AP, and UPI, and NEA.  In the 1969 season, after a slow start and despite diminished speed and acceleration, Sayers led the league in rushing once again with 1,032 yards. He averaged 4.4 yards per carry and was the only player to gain over 1,000 rushing yards that year. He moved into second place on the Bears' all-time rushing yards list, passing Bronko Nagurski. Sayers was recognized as the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year by United Press International. The Bears, long past the Halas glory years, finished in last place with a franchise-worst 1–13 record. In his fourth and final Pro Bowl appearance, Sayers was the West's leading rusher and its leading receiver. For the third time in as many Pro Bowl performances, he was named the back of the game.

1970–1971: Left knee injury and retirement.

In the 1970 preseason, Sayers suffered a second knee injury, this time bone bruises to his left knee. Attempting to play through the injury in the opening game against the Giants, his production was severely limited. He sat out the next two games and returned in Week 4 against the Vikings, but he was still visibly hampered, most evidently when he was unable to chase down lumbering Vikings defensive lineman Alan Page during a 65-yard fumble return. Sayers carried only six times for nine yards before further injuring his knee. He underwent surgery the following week and was deemed out for the remainder of the season. He had carried 23 times for 52 yards to that point. During his off time, Sayers took classes to become a stockbroker and became the first black stockbroker in his company's history. He also entered a Paine Webber program for 45 nationwide stockbroker trainees and placed second highest in sales.  After another knee operation and rehabilitation period, Sayers attempted a comeback for the 1971 season. He was kept out of the first three games after carrying the ball only twice in the preseason, as Bears head coach Jim Dooley planned to slowly work him back into the rotation. His first game back was against the New Orleans Saints on October 10, in which he carried eight times for 30 yards. After the game, he told reporters he was satisfied with his performance and that his knee felt fine. The following week, against the 49ers, he carried five times before injuring his ankle in the first quarter, an injury that ultimately caused him to miss the remainder of the season. He was encouraged to retire but decided to give football one last try. Sayers' final game was in the 1972 preseason in which he fumbled twice in three carries; he retired from professional football days later.

Playing style.

Sayers' ability as a runner in the open field was considered unmatched, both during his playing career and since his retirement. He possessed raw speed—he completed a 100-yard dash in 9.7 seconds— and was also highly elusive and had terrific vision, a combination which made him very difficult to tackle. Actor Billy Dee Williams, who portrayed Sayers in the 1971 film "Brian's Song", likened his running to "ballet" and "poetry". Mike Ditka, a teammate of Sayers' for two seasons, called him "the greatest player I've ever seen. That's right—the greatest." Another former teammate, linebacker Dick Butkus, famous for his tackling ability, said of Sayers:  He had this ability to go full speed, cut and then go full speed again right away. I saw it every day in practice. We played live, and you could never get a clean shot on Gale. Never.  On his tendency to escape from tight situations, Sayers once proclaimed, "Just give me 18 inches of daylight. That's all I need." He felt if his blockers created 18 inches of space for him to run through, he could break a run into the open field. This quick acceleration became a hallmark of his running style, although some of it was lost following the injury to his right knee. After the injury, he relied more on tough running and engaging tacklers for extra yards.  Despite the production from Sayers, the Bears as a whole struggled to find success; in games that Sayers played, the team compiled a record of 29 wins, 36 losses, and 3 ties, and failed to reach the postseason. Because of this, Sayers' main focus each postseason was on the Pro Bowl, where he excelled. Showcasing his breakaway talents, throughout his Pro Bowl career he achieved runs of 74, 52, 51, 48, and 42 yards. In the Pro Bowl following his rookie season, he had kickoff returns of 51 and 48 yards, despite limited opportunities due to the East's attempts to punt and kick away from him. In the next season's game, his 10 yards-per-carry average set a Pro Bowl record. He was named the "back of the game", an honor he received again in 1968 and 1969, joining Johnny Unitas as the only players to win three Pro Bowl MVP awards. "The Pro Bowl is the time to prove how good you are, playing against the best of your peers," recalled Sayers. "I took it as a challenge. I came into the game in shape, came to play."

Brian Piccolo.

In 1967, Sayers and Bears teammate Brian Piccolo became the first interracial roommates in the NFL. Sayers' ensuing friendship with Piccolo and Piccolo's struggle with cancer (embryonal cell carcinoma, which was diagnosed after it metastasized to a large tumor in his chest cavity), became the subject of the made-for-TV movie "Brian's Song". The movie, in which Sayers was portrayed by Billy Dee Williams in the 1971 original and by Mekhi Phifer in the 2001 remake, was adapted from Sayers' account of this story in his 1970 autobiography, "I Am Third". A notable aspect of Sayers' friendship with Piccolo, a white man, and the first film's depiction of their friendship, was its effect on race relations. The first film was made in the wake of racial riots, escalating racial tensions fueled by Martin Luther King's assassination, and charges of discrimination across the nation. Sayers and Piccolo were devoted friends and deeply respectful of and affectionate with each other. Piccolo helped Sayers through rehabilitation after injury, and Sayers was by Piccolo's side throughout his illness until his death in June 1970.

Later life.

Sports administration and business career.

Sayers worked in the athletic department at his alma mater, the University of Kansas, for three and half years, before he was named the athletic director at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1976. He resigned from his position at Southern Illinois in 1981.  In 1984, Sayers founded Crest Computer Supply Company in the Chicago area. Under Sayers' leadership, this company experienced consistent growth and was renamed Sayers 40, Inc. Currently, he is chairman of Sayers 40, Inc., a technology consulting and implementation firm serving Fortune 1000 companies nationally with offices in Vernon Hills, Illinois, Canton, Massachusetts, Clearwater, Florida, and Atlanta. Sayers and his wife Ardythe are also active philanthropists in Chicago. They support the Cradle Foundation—an adoption organization in Evanston, Illinois, and they founded the Gale Sayers Center in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago. The Gale Sayers Center is an after-school program for children ages 8–12 from Chicago's west side and focuses on leadership development, tutoring, and mentoring. In 2009, Sayers joined the University of Kansas Athletic Department staff as Director of Fundraising for Special Projects.

Concussion lawsuits.

In September 2013, Sayers reportedly sued the NFL, claiming the league negligently handled his repeated head injuries during his career. The lawsuit claimed Sayers suffered headaches and short-term memory loss since retirement. It stated he was sometimes sent back into games after suffering concussions, and that the league did not do enough to protect him. The case was withdrawn after Sayers claimed it was filed without his permission, but he filed a new lawsuit in January 2014 along with six other former players.

Dementia.

In March 2017, Sayers' wife, Ardythe, revealed that he had been diagnosed with dementia four years prior. She stated that a Mayo Clinic doctor confirmed it was likely caused by his football career. "It wasn't so much getting hit in the head," she said." It's just the shaking of the brain when they took him down with the force they play the game in." While he remains physically healthy, the disease has had an adverse effect on his mental health and memory in particular, making simple tasks such as signing his own name difficult.

Legacy and honors.

Records.

Sayers' record of 22 touchdowns in a season was broken by O. J. Simpson in 1975, who scored 23; his 22 touchdowns remains a rookie record as of 2017. Sayers remains the most recent player to score at least six touchdowns in a game. His career kickoff return average of 30.56 yards is an NFL record for players with at least 75 attempts, and he is one of several players to have scored two return touchdowns in a game. He is tied with four other players for the second most career kickoff return touchdowns, with six. Sayers' rookie record of 2,272 all-purpose yards was broken in 1988 by Tim Brown, who gained 2,317 yards through 16 games, which was two more games than Sayers set the record in. His single-season all-purpose yards record of 2,440 set in 1966 was broken in 1974 by Mack Herron, who surpassed it by four yards. 's NFL off-season, Gale Sayers held at least 20 Bears franchise records, including:

Post-career recognition.

Sayers was elected to the "Lincoln Journal"'s Nebraska Sports Hall of Fame in 1973, the first black athlete to be so honored. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1977. His number 48 jersey is one of three retired by the Kansas Jayhawks football team.  Later in 1977, Sayers was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and is still the youngest inductee in its history. On October 31, 1994, at halftime of a Monday night game, the Bears retired his number 40 at Soldier Field, along with number 51, which had been worn by teammate, linebacker Dick Butkus. The Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee named Sayers to its NFL 1960s All-Decade Team, which comprised the best players of the 1960s at each position. In 1994, Sayers was selected for the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team as both a halfback and a kickoff returner; he was the only player selected for multiple positions. In 1999, despite the brevity of his career, he was ranked 22nd on "The Sporting News"'s list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.

Gale Eugene Sayers (born May 30, 1943) is an American former professional football player who earned acclaim both as a halfback and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). In a brief but highly productive NFL career, Sayers spent seven seasons with the Chicago Bears from 1965 to 1971, though multiple injuries effectively limited him to five seasons of play. He was known for his elusiveness and agility, and was regarded by his peers as one of the most difficult players to tackle.

Gale Eugene Sayers, né le à Wichita dans le Kansas, surnommé "The Kansas Comet" (« La comète du Kansas ») est un joueur américain de football américain ayant évolué comme running back et comme kick returner.


Name and mission.

On the RSA building's rear frieze, the words "The Royal Society of Arts" are displayed (see photograph at right), although its full name is "The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce". The short name and the related R(oyal) S(ociety) of A(rts) acronym are used more frequently than the full name.  The RSA's mission expressed in the founding charter was to "embolden enterprise, enlarge science, refine art, improve our manufacturers and extend our commerce", but also of the need to alleviate poverty and secure full employment. On its website, the RSA characterises itself as "an enlightenment organisation committed to finding innovative practical solutions to today's social challenges".

Leadership.

The RSA's Patron is currently Elizabeth II, its President is The Princess Royal (who replaced her father, The Duke of Edinburgh in 2011), its Chairman is Vikki Heywood, and its Chief Executive is Matthew Taylor.

Fellowship.

Prospective fellows can apply for membership (which is reviewed by a formal admissions panel); others are recommended to the Fellowship. There have been nearly 28,000 Fellows since 1754. Fellows must have demonstrated a high level of achievement related to the arts, manufactures and commerce and more recently, "share the values" of the RSA and be "committed to supporting the mission of the RSA". This change coincided with a rebranding of the RSA mission as a "21st century enlightenment" and its approach as "The Power to Create", which aims at broadening the RSA's impact through increasing its Fellowship. Life Fellows must have demonstrated exceptionally high achievement. The RSA says: "The RSA Fellowship is an international community [of] achievers and influencers from a wide array of backgrounds and professions, distinguished by the title 'FRSA'. Fellows are social entrepreneurs to scientists, community leaders to commercial innovators, artists and journalists to architects and engineers, and many more." Fellows of the RSA are entitled to use the post-nominal letters FRSA. Fellowship is widely regarded as an honour and privilege.

Prizes.

Originally modelled on the Dublin Society for improving Husbandry, Manufacturers and other Useful Arts, the RSA, from its foundation, offered "prizes" through a Premium Award Scheme that continued for 100 years. Medals and, in some cases, money were awarded to individuals who achieved success in published challenges within the categories of Agriculture, Polite Arts, Manufacture, Colonies and Trade, Chemistry and Mechanics. Successful submission included agricultural improvements in the cultivation of crops and reforestation, devising new forms of machinery, including an extendable ladder to aid firefighting that has remained in use relatively unchanged, and artistic skill, through submissions by young students, many of whom developed into famous artists e.g. Edwin Landseer who at the age of 10 was awarded a silver medal for his drawing of a dog.  The RSA originally specifically precluded premiums for patented solutions. Today the RSA continues to offer premiums.  In 1936, the RSA awarded the first distinctions of Royal Designers for Industry (RDI or HonRDI), reserved for "those very few who in the judgment of their peers have achieved'sustained excellence in aesthetic and efficient design for industry'".  In 1937 "The Faculty of Royal Designers for Industry" was established as an association with the object of "furthering excellence in design and its application to industrial purposes": membership of the Faculty is automatic for (and exclusive to) all RDIs and HonRDIs. The Faculty currently has 120 Royal Designers (RDI) and 45 Honorary Royal Designers (non-UK citizens who are awarded the accolade of HonRDI): the number of designers who may hold the distinction of RDI at any one time is strictly limited.  The Faculty consists of the world's leading practitioners from fields as disparate as engineering, furniture, fashion and textiles, graphics, theater and film design. Early members include Eric Gill, Enid Marx, Sir Frank Whittle and numerous other household names.

RSA House.

The RSA moved to its current home in 1774. The House, situated in John Adam Street, near the Strand in central London, had been purpose-designed by the Adam Brothers (James Adam and Robert Adam) as part of their innovative Adelphi scheme. The original building (6–8 John Adam Street) includes the Great Room, which features a magnificent sequence of paintings by Irish artist James Barry titled "The Progress of Human Knowledge and Culture" and portraits of the Society's first and second presidents, painted by Thomas Gainsborough and Joshua Reynolds respectively.  The RSA has expanded into adjacent buildings, and now includes 2 and 4 John Adam Street and 18 Adam Street. The first occupant of 18 Adam Street was the Adelphi Tavern, which is mentioned in Dickens's "The Pickwick Papers". The former private dining room of the Tavern contains a magnificent Adam ceiling with painted roundels by the school of Kauffman and Zucchi.  A major refurbishment in 2012 by Matthew Lloyd Architects won a RIBA London Award in 2013, and a RIBA English Heritage Award for Sustaining the Historic Environment, also in 2013.  The RSA devised a scheme for commemorating the links between famous people and buildings, by placing plaques on the walls — these continue today as "blue plaques" which have been administered by a range of government bodies. The first of these plaques was, in fact, of red terracotta erected outside a former residence of Lord Byron (since demolished). The Society erected 36 plaques until, in 1901, responsibility for them was transferred to the London County Council (which changed the colour of the plaques to the current blue) and, later, the Greater London Council (the G.L.C.) and, most recently, English Heritage. Similar schemes are now operated in all the constituent countries of the United Kingdom.

Associated organisations.

The origin of London's Royal Academy of Arts lies in an attempt in 1755 by members of the RSA (then simply known as the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce), principally the sculptor Henry Cheere, to found an autonomous academy of arts to teach painting and sculpture. Prior to this a number of artists were members of the RSA, including Cheere and William Hogarth, or were involved in small-scale private art academies, such as the St Martin's Lane Academy. Although Cheere's attempt failed, the eventual charter, called an 'Instrument', used to establish the Royal Academy of Arts over a decade later was almost identical to that drawn up by Cheere and the RSA in 1755. The RSA also hosted the first "exhibition of contemporary art" in 1760. Thomas Gainsborough and Joshua Reynolds were among those who exhibited at this first exhibition, and were subsequently founder members of The Royal Academy of Arts in 1768.  The Society was a pioneer in examinations, offering the first national public examinations in 1882 that led to the formation of the RSA Examinations Board now included in the Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations Board.  In 1876, a predecessor of the Royal College of Music, the "National Training School for Music", was founded by the RSA.  In 1929 The Society purchased the entire village of West Wycombe. After extensive repairs, the village was legally conveyed by deed to the National Trust.  In 1936, the RSA awarded the first distinctions of Royal Designers for Industry (RDI or HonRDI), reserved for "those very few who in the judgment of their peers have achieved'sustained excellence in aesthetic and efficient design for industry'".

Activities.

In Great Britain and Ireland, the RSA offers regional activities to encourage Fellows to address local topics of interest and to connect with other Fellows in their locality. The UK Regions are: London, Central, North, Scotland, South East, South West, Wales and, Ireland. The RSA has a presence around the world under its RSA Global scheme with a notable presence in Australia, New Zealand and the USA.

Events.

The RSA's public events programme is a key part of its charitable mission to make world-changing ideas and debate freely available to all. Over 100 keynote lectures, panel discussions, debates, and documentary screenings are held each year, many of which are live-streamed over the web. Events are free and open to the public, and mp3 audio files and videos are made available on the RSA's website and YouTube page.  Renowned thinkers and doers have been invited to present their ideas on the RSA's stage ever since the society was founded in the 18th century "age of enlightenment". More recent speakers have included Sir Ken Robinson, Al Gore, Sir David Attenborough, Alain de Botton, Michael Sandel, Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Martha Nussbaum, Desmond Tutu, Steven Pinker, Susan Cain, Dan Pink, Dan Ariely, Brene Brown, Slavoj Zizek, David Cameron, and Dambisa Moyo.  The choice of speaker for the recent annual Presidential lecture has been a matter of interest in the press. Danish professor Björn Lomborg, was chosen; his latest book, "Cool It", suggests that the imminent demise of polar bears is a myth. As president of the RSA, Prince Philip's first choice of speaker was Ian Plimer, professor of mineral geology at Adelaide University, but this was rejected as too controversial, as Plimer argues that the theory of Anthropogenic Global Warming is unproven.  On 14 January 2010, the RSA in partnership with Arts Council England hosted a one-day conference in London called "State of the Arts". A number of speakers from various disciplines from art to government gathered to talk about the state of the arts industry in the United Kingdom. Notable speakers included Jeremy Hunt MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport and his counterpart Ben Bradshaw MP, who was then the Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport. Notably, Jeremy Hunt stated that if the Conservative party won the next elections then government funding for the arts would be cut.

RSA Animate (animation series).

Excerpts from the events programme form the basis for the 10-minute whiteboard animations as shown on the theRSAorg YouTube channel. The series was created as a way of making important, socially-beneficial ideas as accessible, clear, engaging and universal as possible. The series is produced and audio-edited at the RSA, and the animations are created by RSA Fellow Andrew Park at Cognitive.  The first 14 of these had gained 46 million views as of 2011, making it the no.1 nonprofit YouTube channel worldwide. The first animation in the RSA Animate series was based on Renata Salecl's speech delivered for RSA on her book about choice.  A number of celebrity fans have tweeted about RSA Animates, including Yoko Ono, Eric Schmidt and Milla Jovovich.

Projects.

During the 1980s, the RSA worked with the Comino Foundation and established a Comino Fellowship Committee 'to change the cultural attitude to industry from one of lack of interest or dislike to one of concern and esteem'. This eventually led to a joint government/industry initiative to promote 1986 as "Industry Year", with the RSA and the Comino Foundation providing core funding of £250,000 – which persuaded the Confederation of British Industry to raise £1 million and government departments to provide £3 million.  In July 2008, the RSA became a sponsor of an academy in Tipton, The RSA Academy, which opened in September 2008. New buildings are currently under construction to designs by John McAslan and Partners. Current projects include Arts and Ecology, Citizen Power, Connected Communities, Design and Society, Education, Public Services, Social Brain, and Technology in a Cold Climate. There are seven schools in the RSA Family of Academies, all in the West Midlands, including The RSA Academy and Whitley Academy.  Past projects include delivering fresh drinking water to the developing world, rethinking intellectual property from first principles to produce a Charter (published as the Adelphi Charter), investigating schemes to manage international migration and exploring the feasibility of a UK-wide personal carbon trading system. It still promotes the practice of inclusive design, and is working with artists to communicate ideas about environmental sustainability (for example, through one of the RSA's past projects, WEEE Man, and currently through the Arts and Ecology project).

The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) is a London-based, British organisation committed to finding practical solutions to social challenges. Founded in 1754 by William Shipley as the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, it was granted a Royal Charter in 1847, and the right to use the term "Royal" in its name by King Edward VII in 1908. The shorter name (The Royal Society of Arts) and the related RSA acronym are used more frequently than the full name.

La Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce, plus connue sous le nom de Royal Society of Arts (RSA), est une institution pluri-disciplinaire britannique basée à Londres. Fondée en 1754, elle se voit octroyer une charte royale en 1847. Elle a notamment compté parmi ses membres Benjamin Franklin, Karl Marx, Adam Smith, William Hogarth, John Diefenbaker, Stephen Hawking, Ethel Ayres Purdie, Nelson Mandela ou encore Charles Dickens.


Amateur career.

College.

Russell was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 26th round, 782nd overall, in the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft. Opting not to sign, he instead decided to play college baseball at Ohio University, where he did so for three years.

Professional career.

Chicago White Sox.

He combined to go 4–2 with a 3.75 ERA in 17 appearances with six starts in his pro debut between the Rookie-Level Great Falls Voyagers and Class-A Kannapolis Intimidators in. Russell went 4–0 with a 2.37 ERA to earn promotion to Kannapolis on August 23. He made two starts at Kannapolis.  In Russell made 24 starts for Class-A Kannapolis, going 9–7 with a 3.78 ERA. He ranked eighth among White Sox minor leaguers in ERA and finished second on the Intimidators in victories.  Russell was rated by Baseball America as the number seven prospect and possessing the best fastball in the White Sox farm system entering the season. He was 10–6 with a 3.43 ERA in 27 starts between Class-A Advanced Winston-Salem Warthogs and the Double-A Birmingham Barons. Russell ranked among the organizational leaders in starts, wins, ERA, strikeouts and innings pitched. Opponents hit.248, including a.210 mark by lefties against Russell. He began the season at Winston-Salem, going 7–3 with a 2.66 ERA in 17 starts. He was promoted to Birmingham on July 12, where he went 3–3 with a 4.75 ERA in 10 starts. He was 2–0 with a 3.65 ERA in 13 relief appearances with Scottsdale of the Arizona Fall League.  In he went 9–11 with a 4.80 ERA and one save in 38 games, in 20 starts, in his first full season with Double-A Birmingham. Russell began the season in the starting rotation before moving to the bullpen on July 21. He was 7–9 with a 4.61 ERA as a starter and 2–2 with a 5.60 ERA in relief. He made nine quality starts. Russell pitched for Phoenix in the Arizona Fall League, going 2–0 with a 2.81 ERA in 11 relief appearances. Russell was again rated by Baseball America as the number seven prospect and possessing the best fastball in the White Sox farm system entering the season. On November 20,, Russell's contract was purchased by the White Sox, protecting him from the Rule 5 Draft.  Russell split the season between the Triple-A Charlotte Knights of the International League and the Major League White Sox in. He was 4–0 with a 5.19 ERA in 22 relief appearances in his first season in the Major Leagues. The four wins came in his first 10 Major League outings and three of his four wins came at home and all against American League Central opponents. He made his Major League debut on June 17 against the Pittsburgh Pirates with one perfect inning pitched and his first strikeout against José Bautista. Russell earned his first major league win on July 1 as the White Sox defeated the Cleveland Indians 3–2 in 10 innings.

San Diego Padres.

On July 31, 2009, Russell was traded to the San Diego Padres along with Aaron Poreda, Clayton Richard and Dexter Carter for Jake Peavy. In 15 games with the Padres he went 3–1 with a 3.65 ERA in innings pitched.

Tampa Bay Rays.

On December 17, 2010 a deal was finalized that sent Russell, along with Cesar Ramos, Brandon Gomes and Cole Figueroa, to the Tampa Bay Rays for Jason Bartlett and a player to be named later.  Russell was designated for assignment on July 18, 2011.

Atlanta Braves.

The Atlanta Braves signed Russell to a minor league contract on November 22, 2011. He was released on July 21, 2012.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

He subsequently signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and was assigned to the Salt Lake Bees.

Baltimore Orioles.

He signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles for 2013 and was assigned to the Norfolk Tides.

Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Arizona Diamondbacks signed Russell to a minor league contract on November 29, 2013.

Cincinnati Reds.

Russell signed a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds in May 2014. He was released on July 28, 2014.

Adam William Russell (born April 14, 1983) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. In, Russell was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the sixth round as the 179th overall pick.

Adam William Russell (né le à North Olmsted, Ohio, États-Unis) est un lanceur droitier de baseball sous contrat avec les Reds de Cincinnati de la Ligue majeure.


Club career.

Artur Voskanyan began his career in Zvartnots Echmiadzin, for which he played 11 games in his first season. At that time, he was still 17 years old. Zvartnots soon had a number of unsuccessful performances and soon became SKA-Arai Echmiadzin and was demoted from the Armenian Premier League to the Armenian First League. After leaving the club, Voskanyan moved to Van Yerevan. He managed to play only two seasons for Van, as the club was disbanded after the 1996–97 season.  In 1998, Voskanyan joined Tsement Ararat. The club won the 1998 Armenian Premier League that season and also the 1998 Armenian Cup and 1998 Armenian Supercup. Voskanyan was given the Armenian Footballer of the Year award in 1998 by the Football Federation of Armenia.

International career.

Voskanyan debuted in the Armenia national football team on 27 March 1999 in a home UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying match against Russia, in which the Armenian team was defeated 0:3. Over his entire time playing for the Armenian national squad, Artur had 52 matches and scored one goal in a game against the Maltese national team.  In March 2010, has been invited to the national team, for which last played a year ago. Voskanyan left the national team that same year.

Managerial career.

On 8 December 2015 he has appointed as Head coach of Armenia under-17 football team. He is now the manager of FC Banants Yerevan.

Personal life.

Artur is married and has two children, a girl and a boy. His younger brother, Ara Voskanyan, was also a football player.

Honours.

Club.

Tsement Ararat  Banants Yerevan  Pyunik Yerevan  Ararat Yerevan

Artur Voskanyan (, born 13 August 1976 in Yerevan) is an Armenian football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of Armenia national under-21 football team.

Artur Voskanian (en arménien : ), né le à Erevan en Arménie, est un ancien footballeur international arménien. Il est désormais entraîneur.


Types.

Periodic paralysis is an autosomal dominant myopathy with considerable variation in penetrance, leading to a spectrum of familial phenotypes (only one parent needs to carry the gene mutation to affect the children, but not all family members who share the gene are affected to the same degree). Specific diseases include:

Cause.

One of the most common descriptions of periodic paralysis are episodic attacks of muscle weakness, which are commonly associated with serum potassium levels. Physical activity and diet content (carbohydrates) have been identified as PP triggers. Unlike non-dystrophic myotonias, the periodic paralysis phenotype is triggered after resting following exercise. Voltage-gated sodium channel (Nav1.4) mutations are among the key causes behind periodic paralysis.  Hyper-kalemic PP (hyperPP) is identified with high extracellular potassium levels which are typically greater than 5 mM during attacks; however, HyperPP attacks can also take place without rise in potassium concentrations. HyperPP has a prevalence rate of 1/100,000. Patients become symptomatic around the age of 10. The weakness attacks in hyperPP are relatively short lasting, and range from minutes to hours. The attacks can happen upwards of ten times per month.  Hypo-kalemic PP (hypoPP) is associated with low potassium levels. The onset of hypoPP occurs between the ages of 15 and 35. The prevalence of hypoPP is estimated to 1/100,000. HypoPP can be triggered by many external factors such as stress, high-sugar diet, and rest after exercise. During hypoPP attacks, the serum potassium concentrations can drop to less than 3 mM. Furthermore, hypoPP attacks are considerably longer lasting than hyperPP. As exercise is a trigger for periodic paralysis attacks, recently there is more research going into the physiological changes that accompany exercise including changes in blood pH.

Diagnosis.

This disease is unusually difficult to diagnose. Patients often report years of wrong diagnosis and treatments that made them worse instead of better. Part of this may be that migraines are present in up to 50% of patients and can cause a confusing array of symptoms including headaches, speech difficulties and visual, auditory or sensory auras. DNA testing is available for only a half dozen common gene mutations, while dozens of known mutations are possible but are not routinely tested. Electromyography (EMG) findings are not specific but the McManis Protocol, also called the Compound Muscle Amplitude Potential test (CMAP) can be used by a skilled neurologist capable of utilizing the EMG, which can give assistance in diagnosing several of these PP disorders. The old glucose/insulin provocative testing can cause life-threatening symptoms and should not be used.  Also of note is that potassium levels do "not" have to range outside of normal limits to cause serious, even life-threatening paralysis. These diseases are "not" the same as having a very low level of potassium (hypokalemia) or high potassium (hyperkalemia) and must not be treated as such. The total body store of potassium is usually normal; it is just in the wrong place.

Treatment.

Treatment of the periodic paralyses may include carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (such as acetazolamide, methazolamide or dichlorphenamide), taking supplemental oral potassium chloride and a potassium-sparing diuretic (for hypos) or avoiding potassium (for hypers), thiazide diuretics to increase the amount of potassium excreted by the kidneys (for hypers), and significant lifestyle changes including tightly controlled levels of exercise or activity. However, treatment should be tailored to the particular type of periodic paralysis.  Treatment of periodic paralysis in Andersen-Tawil syndrome is similar to that for other types. However, pacemaker insertion or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator may be required to control cardiac symptoms.

Prognosis.

While the disability can range from minor, occasional weakness to permanent muscle damage, inability to hold a normal job and use of a powerchair, most people function fairly well with drugs and lifestyle changes.

Periodic paralysis is a group of rare genetic diseases that lead to weakness or paralysis from common triggers such as cold, heat, high carbohydrate meals, not eating, stress or excitement and physical activity of any kind. The underlying mechanism of these diseases are malfunctions in the ion channels in skeletal muscle cell membranes that allow electrically charged ions to leak in or out of the muscle cell, causing the cell to depolarize and become unable to move.

Les paralysies périodiques sont un groupe de maladies génétiques rares qui conduisent à une faiblesse musculaire ou une paralysie (rarement la mort) à partir de facteurs déclenchant courants tels que le froid, la chaleur, des repas riches en glucides, le jeûne, le stress, l'excitation et l'activité physique de toute nature. Le mécanisme sous-jacent de ces maladies est un dysfonctionnement des canaux ioniques des membranes des cellules musculaires du squelette qui permettent aux ions de passer dans ou hors de la cellule musculaire, en provoquant une dépolarisation de la paroi cellulaire et une incapacité des cellules de se contracter (une canalopathie).


Early life.

Sam Mills was born in Neptune City, New Jersey. While growing up in Long Branch, New Jersey, he loved to tag along with his older brother and play pickup football games with the bigger boys. Mills attended high school at Long Branch High School, where he was a standout football player and wrestler. In 1976 and 1977, Mills won District Championships at Long Branch as a wrestler. Long Branch High School honors him to this day by hanging his high school jersey and his NFL jersey in the school gym. Although considered a great athlete in high school, Mills' 5'9" frame did not interest college scouts. Even though Mills was only 5’9 3/4, since he was so close to 5’10, thats what he originally went by

Playing career.

Montclair State University.

Mills attended college at Montclair State College (now known as Montclair State University) and made the football squad as a walk-on. Mills played for Montclair State from 1977-1980 where he is the all-time leader in career tackles with 501, tackles in a season (142), and tackles in a game (22). He was a three-time NJAC First Team All-Star and was named the New Jersey Collegiate Writers Defensive Player of the Year for three straight seasons (1978–1980).

Cleveland Browns and Toronto Argonauts.

Mills signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 1981 but was released after the conclusion of preseason. He wore number 41, the one of the two times he didn't wear number 51, the other being with the Stars. In 1982, Mills signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League but was released before the season.

Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars.

Fred Hill, who coached Mills at Montclair State, said that many pro scouts loved his tape, but when they heard he was only 5'9", they lost interest. Conventional wisdom at the time held that middle linebackers had to be at least six feet tall to see over opposing offensive linemen and scan the field. Just like after high school, Mills' lack of height held him back. After college, his Pop Warner Football coach Thomas Bevacqui Jr. was able to get Mills invited to the Cleveland Browns training camp after meeting with Browns coach Sam Rutigliano. Bevacqui told Rutigliano that Mills was the best linebacker that he had ever seen play the game. While Rutigliano admired Mills, he didn't think he had the size to play in the NFL and cut him. He then tried out with the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts but did not make the team. Mills found a job teaching photography and assisting the football coach at East Orange (N.J.) High School.  However, Rutigliano still liked what he had seen of Mills in camp. He called an old friend, Carl Peterson, general manager of the Philadelphia Stars of the United States Football League, and suggested that he give Mills a look. Mills made his reputation at the Stars' first training camp; as Peterson recalled years later, "he just lit it up." He quickly became known as the "Field Mouse" for his devastating speed; as Peterson put it, "he was a mouse running around a field of elephants, but the elephants wanted nothing to do with him."  In his three years with the Stars (who moved to Baltimore in 1985), Mills became one of the anchors of the Stars' feared "Doghouse Defense," During that time (wearing #54), he became known around the league for both his tenacity on the field and his leadership off it. Mills led the Stars to two USFL championships, was named to three All-USFL teams and is a member of the USFL’s All-Time Team. He has been described as arguably the best defensive player (along with Reggie White) in the short history of the league.

New Orleans Saints.

After the Stars won the 1985 USFL title, their head coach Jim Mora was signed on to coach the New Orleans Saints, and Mills followed his mentor. During his tenure with the Saints, starting in 1986, Mills was an anchor of the defense. He was a member of the vaunted "Dome Patrol," the stellar linebacking corps that led a ferocious Saints defense in the early 1990s. Mills earned four Pro Bowl appearances with the Saints in 1987, 1988, 1991, and 1992. Mora, who coached 15 seasons in the NFL, called Mills "The best player I ever coached."

Carolina Panthers.

Mills became a free agent at the end of the 1994 NFL season. The expansion Carolina Panthers offered him a two-year, $2.8 million deal. While New Orleans matched the offer, Mills was displeased that the Saints did not make an offer until the Panthers forced their hand, and opted to sign with the Panthers.  Mills became a veteran leader for the young team, the only player to start every game during the Panthers' first three seasons. In a 1995 game against the New York Jets, Mills stepped in front of a Bubby Brister shovel pass and took it 36 yards for a touchdown, sealing the Panthers' first win in franchise history. His career rebirth gave him a fifth Pro Bowl appearance in 1996 at the age of 37 which, at the time, made him the oldest defender to be invited to a Pro Bowl. He retired after the following season.

Post playing career.

Mills played 12 seasons in the NFL and recorded 1,319 tackles, 20.5 sacks, 11 interceptions and four touchdowns while starting 173 of 181 games. Mills was named to the NFL All-Pro team three times, in 1991, 1992, and 1996. He was elected to the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame (2001), the Sports Hall of Fame of New Jersey (2003) and the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame (1998). After retiring from play, Mills was inducted into the Carolina Panthers Hall of Honor. He became a defensive coaching assistant for the Panthers in 1998, before being promoted to linebackers coach in 1999.

Cancer and death.

In August 2003, Mills was diagnosed with intestinal cancer. Though he was told he had only a few months to live, he underwent chemotherapy and radiation and continued to coach. He was an inspirational force in the Panthers’ post-season run to Super Bowl XXXVIII. His plea to "keep pounding" in an emotional speech before the Panthers' victory over the Dallas Cowboys later became the name of a fund to sponsor cancer research programs and an official team slogan. He continued to coach the team during the entire 2004 season, but after battling with cancer for almost two years, Mills died at his home in Charlotte, North Carolina on the morning of April 18, 2005.

Legacy.

Mills' jersey number 51 was retired by the Panthers at the start of the 2005 NFL season, making it the first number the franchise retired. Mills was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009, with his son Sam Mills III accepting the award on his father's behalf. Sam Mills III is currently the defensive line coach for the Washington Redskins.  The speech inspired Nike, when awarded the contract for NFL jerseys starting in the 2012 NFL season, to feature "Keep Pounding" sewn on the inside collars of Panthers jerseys for the 2012 NFL season, in honor of the elder Mills. Also, before the start of every home game, the Panthers have an honorary drummer bang a "Keep Pounding" drum. Though Carolina was not the designated home team for Super Bowl 50, the tradition remained a part of the game, with the drummer being Panther fan and Charlotte native Stephen Curry, the star point guard for the 3x NBA champion Golden State Warriors.

Samuel Davis Mills Jr. (June 3, 1959 – April 18, 2005) was an American football linebacker who played twelve seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers. He also played for three seasons in the United States Football League (USFL) with the Philadelphia Stars and won two championships.

Samuel Davis « Sam » Mills Jr (né le à Neptune City et mort le à Charlotte) est un joueur et entraineur américain de football américain évoluant au poste de linebacker.


Geography.

New Castle is located at (39.572304, -107.534941), on the north side of the Colorado River, just east of where the river cuts through the Grand Hogback. Interstate 70 passes through the town following the river, with access from Exit 105. I-70 leads east to Glenwood Springs, the county seat, east to Denver, and west to Grand Junction. U.S. Route 6 is Main Street in New Castle and forms a parallel route to I-70 for local traffic. US-6 joins I-70 to the east at Chacra and to the west at a point west of Rifle.  According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of, of which is land and, or 1.21%, is water.

Demographics.

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,984 people, 705 households, and 537 families residing in the town. The population density was 850.6 people per square mile (328.8/km2). There were 731 housing units at an average density of 313.4 per square mile (121.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 94.61% White, 0.30% African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 3.28% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.90% of the population.  There were 705 households out of which 48.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.7% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.7% were non-families. 16.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.18.  In the town, the population was spread out with 31.9% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 38.9% from 25 to 44, 16.4% from 45 to 64, and 3.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.6 males.  The median income for a household in the town was $55,000, and the median income for a family was $58,889. Males had a median income of $39,597 versus $27,933 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,356. About 2.9% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education.

It is within Garfield Re-2 School District. Coal Ridge High School is in New Castle.

The Town of New Castle is a Home Rule Municipality in Garfield County, Colorado, United States. The population was 4,518 at the 2010 census, up from 1,984 at the 2000 census.

New Castle est une ville située dans l’État américain du Colorado, dans le comté de Garfield. Selon le recensement de 2010, New Castle compte. La municipalité s'étend sur une superficie de.