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Het Bundesverfassungsgericht is het grondwettelijk hof van Duitsland. Het hof is sinds zijn oprichting in 1951 gevestigd in Karlsruhe.

Geschiedenis
Het Bundesverfassungsgericht is een van de grootste overwinningen van het constitutionalisme in het naoorlogse Duitsland. Tegen de achtergrond van het nazisme is het van bij de oprichting moedig overgegaan tot het formuleren van democratische principes. Ondertussen is het tot een van de belangrijkste politieke en juridische instellingen van het federale Duitsland uitgegroeid. Het is geen Supreme Court aangezien het zich niet bezighoudt met hogere beroepen tegen beslissingen van lagere rechters, maar wel enkel met voorzieningen waarin de Duitse grondwet betrokken is. Het is dan ook niet het hoogste rechtscollege van Duitsland maar staat eerder buiten het Duitse juridische systeem. Het bevindt zich in de grijze zone tussen recht en politiek. In eerdere grondwetten was er reeds sprake van rechtbanken die zich met constitutionele aangelegenheden bezighielden. Zo was er in 1850 als eerste de "Bayerischen Staatsgerichtshof". De grondwet van 1871 voorzag echter niet in een grondwettelijk hof, terwijl de Weimar Grondwet van 1919 dan weer een (beperkte) constitutionele rechtbank inrichtte.

Het Bundesverfassungsgericht zoals we het vandaag kennen werd ingevoerd door de Grondwet van de Bundesrepublik Deutschland in 1949. Twee jaar later, in 1951, opende het zijn deuren. Voor het eerst was er een rechtbank bevoegd als finale arbiter in grondwettelijke aangelegenheden zodat de bindende kracht van de hele grondwet gewaarborgd werd. De positie van het Bundesverfassungsgericht is tweeledig. Enerzijds staat het op gelijke voet met de andere hoogste constitutionele organen zodat het zelf ook dat statuut verkrijgt en zijn onafhankelijkheid verzekerd blijft. Anderzijds is het een rechtbank die uitsluitend bevoegd is voor het vellen van juridische beslissingen. Daar waar andere rechtbanken enkel bindende beslissingen tussen partijen kunnen nemen, zijn de beslissingen van het Bundesverfassungsgericht bindend voor alle rechtbanken en autoriteiten van het federale Duitsland.

In de beginjaren van het Bundesverfassungsgericht, namelijk de jaren 50, werd het door de conservatieve regering van Adenauer aangezien als een gevaarlijke tegenstander. Voorbeelden hiervan zijn de Televisie zaak (1962) en de Lüth zaak (1958). Vanaf de jaren 60 en 70 houdt het Bundesverfassungsgericht zich bezig met actuele thema's zoals gendergelijkheid en vrije meningsuiting. Als in 1969 de socialistische democratische coalitie aan de macht komt, verandert de houding van het Bundesverfassungsgericht aanzienlijk. Het doet er alles aan om de sociale en politieke hervormingen van de nieuwe regering binnen de perken te houden, bijvoorbeeld in verband met abortus. Vanaf 1982, als kanselier Kohl aan de macht komt, probeert het Bundesverfassungsgericht een gulden middenweg te zoeken tussen vriendelijkheid naar de regering toe en de controle op de maatregelen die deze regering neemt. In de vroege jaren 90 krijgt het te maken met problemen die rijzen naar aanleiding van de eenmaking van Duitsland. Kortom, het Bundesverfassungsgericht heeft bijgedragen tot de liberalisering van de federale republiek en is op wereldvlak het model bij uitstek voor nieuwe grondwettelijke hoven in de voormalige Sovjetlanden en elders ter wereld.

Daar waar het Bundesverfassungsgericht vooral bedoeld was om conflicten binnen het Duitse rechtssysteem op te lossen, acht het zichzelf ook bevoegd op vlak van het Europese communautair recht. Solange 1 (1974), Solange II (1986), het Maastricht Urteil (1993) en het Lissabon Urteil (2009) zijn hier voorbeelden van.

Grondwettelijke positie
Het Bundesverfassungsgericht is een gerechtshof sui generis, dat voornamelijk wordt beheerst door 2 soorten regels. In de eerste plaats is er de Grondwet (Grundgesetz, GG.). In 1949 werd de oprichting van een Bundesverfassungsgericht in de Grondwet ingeschreven in hoofdstuk IX van de Duitse Grondwet. In artikels 92 tot en met 94 bevinden zich de voornaamste bepalingen. In art. 92 van de Duitse Grondwet (Grundgesetz, GG.) wordt het Bundesverfassungsgericht genoemd als deel van de Duitse rechterlijke macht. Art. 93 GG. heeft het over de bevoegdheid. De samenstelling en rechtskracht van de arresten worden toegelicht in art. 94 GG.
Verdere regels met betrekking tot organisatie, bevoegdheid en procedure bevinden zich in het zogenaamde "Gesetz über das Bundesverfassungsgericht" (BverfGG), aangenomen op grond van art. 94, lid 2 GG. Deze wet omvat 3 grote delen. Ten eerste is er de oprichting en de bevoegdheid van het hof, vervolgens de procedure. Het merendeel van de wet omschrijft evenwel specifieke procedures die dienen te worden gevolgd wanneer specifieke soorten wetten ter toetsing worden voorgelegd. Deze wet werd aangenomen op federaal niveau en geldt dus zonder uitzondering in heel Duitsland.

Structuur
Het Bundesverfassungsgericht bestaat uit zestien rechters. Verschillend met de aanstelling van de rechters in de andere rechtbanken, worden deze verkozen door de twee federale wetgevende instanties. De ene helft wordt verkozen door de Bondsdag, de andere helft door de Bondsraad, elk met een tweederdemeerderheid. Gezien de grote politieke invloed van het Bundesverfassungsgericht is dit een poging om het zo op zijn minst een indirecte democratische legitimiteit te geven. De vereiste van een tweederdemeerderheid helpt de positie van de politieke minderheidspartijen in elk orgaan te versterken. Normaal kan een enkele partij geen tweederdemeerderheid behalen in de Bondsdag of de Bondsraad, zodat steeds een compromis moet bereikt worden tussen de verschillende politieke strekkingen. Het nadeel van dit systeem is dat de verkiezing van de rechters kan leiden tot een ongewenste politisering van het Bundesverfassungsgericht. De helft van de rechters wordt in gesloten, bijna geheime vergaderingen van een rechterlijke kiescommissie ("Richterwahlausschuß") bestaande uit twaalf leden van de Bondsdag verkozen. De Bondsraad verkiest de andere helft na niet-openbare onderhandelingen tussen de vertegenwoordigers van de Duitse Staten en de partijvoorzitters.

Drie rechters uit elke senaat moeten reeds als rechter in een van de andere federale opperste hoven gezeteld hebben voorafgaandelijk aan hun benoeming in het Bundesverfassungsgericht. Het mandaat van de rechters duurt twaalf jaar of eindigt op de leeftijdsgrens van 68 (art 4. BverfGG). Om hun onafhankelijkheid te garanderen, kunnen deze niet worden herverkozen en kunnen ze niet in andere instellingen zetelen. De beslissingen van het Hof worden door een Senaat of een Kamer bekomen. De rechters van de Senaten worden bij de uitoefening van hun taken ondersteund door secretariaten, wetenschappelijke medewerkers en voorzittersraden.

Oorspronkelijk bestonden de Senaten elk uit twaalf rechters. Sinds 1963 werd dat aantal verminderd en bestaan de Senaten uit telkens acht leden. De Eerste Senaat wordt voorgezeten door de Vicepresident, de Tweede Senaat door de President. De huidige President van het Hof is Prof. Dr. Andreas Voßkuhle. De bevoegdheid voor grondwettelijke klachten en wetscontrole wordt verdeeld over de twee Senaten. De Eerste Senaat is voornamelijk bevoegd voor de wettelijke toetsing, wat vooral de onverenigbaarheid van een wettelijke bepaling met de fundamentele rechten uitmaakt en voor de constitutionele klachten (met uitzondering van de constitutionele klachten van gemeenten en die op het vlak van verkiezingsrecht). In alle andere procedures beslist de Tweede Senaat exclusief. De Tweede Senaat – de politieke senaat – buigt zich meer over de 'grote' grondwettelijke geschillen; o.a. de interpretatie van de grondwet in geval van geschillen over de omvang van de rechten en plichten van een opperste federaal orgaan of procedures met het oog op het verbieden van partijen. De plenaire vergadering van het Bundesverfassungsgericht kan, met ingang van het begin van het volgende boekjaar, een andere bevoegdheid aan een Senaat dan waarvoor ze normaal bevoegd is toewijzen, mocht dit noodzakelijk zijn omdat een van de Senaten -niet enkel tijdelijk- is overbelast. Als het onduidelijk is welke Senaat bevoegd is voor een welbepaalde procedure, wordt de zaak door een commissie behandeld, bestaande uit de president, de vicepresident en vier rechters, waarvan er twee worden benoemd door elke Senaat voor het boekjaar. Als de stemmen staken, zal de voorzitter van de commissie een beslissende stem hebben (art. 14 BverfGG).

In elke Senaat zijn er een aantal Kamers met telkens drie leden (art. 15 BverfGG). De Kamers beslissen voornamelijk of een grondwettelijke klacht moet worden toegelaten voor een verdere procedure. Als een klacht niet wordt toegelaten is de procedure ten einde. De Kamer kan een grondwettelijke klacht toestaan als deze duidelijk gegrond is. In procedures van fundamenteel belang daarentegen, is het altijd de voltallige Senaat die beslist. De Kamers verlichten vooral de werkdruk van de Senaat.

In de meeste gevallen is er een gewone meerderheid nodig binnen een Senaat van het Bundesverfassunggericht om tot een beslissing te komen in een zaak, in sommige gevallen een tweederdemeerderheid (art. 15 §4 BverfGG). Een Senaat is bekwaam beslissingen te nemen als ten minste zes rechters aanwezig zijn. Aangezien elke Senaat bestaat uit een even aantal rechters, is het mogelijk dat de Senaat gelijk verdeeld is over een bepaalde kwestie. In dat geval voorziet het Bundesverfassungsgerichtsgesetz dat de status quo zal worden gehandhaafd zodat er geen schending van de Grondwet kan en zal worden uitgesproken (art. 15 § 4 BverfGG). In tegenstelling tot andere Duitse rechtbanken, die enkel de meerderheidsbeslissing publiceren, hebben de rechters van het Bundesverfassungsgericht de mogelijkheid een dissenting opinion te geven, die samen met de meerderheidsbeslissing wordt gepubliceerd. Het Bundesverfassungsgericht kan een tussentijds bevel geven, als dit nodig is om een eiser van een ernstig nadeel te behoeden, een dreigend geweld of omwille van andere belangrijke redenen om het openbaar belang te beschermen (art. 32 BverfGG).

In een Kamer moeten de uitspraken echter unaniem zijn. Het is niet geoorloofd dat een Kamer een precedent van de Senaat waartoe het behoort verwerpt; zulke zaken moeten aan de Senaat zelf worden voorgelegd. Zo ook wanneer een Senaat een uitspraak zou willen doen over een precedent van een andere Senaat, moeten dergelijke kwesties aan een plenaire vergadering worden voorgelegd (art. 16 BverfGG). Dit is nog maar vier keer voorgevallen. De plenaire zitting bestaat uit alle zestien leden van het Hof en heeft ook organisatorische taken. De President is voorzitter van de plenaire vergadering. Binnen het kader van de wet, regelt de plenaire vergadering de bekwaamheden van de Senaten. Voorafgaand aan elk werkingsjaar worden de Senaten hun bekwaamheden, naast hun vaste bekwaamheden, toegewezen.

Lijst van presidenten van het Bundesverfassungsgericht

Bevoegdheid
Het hof heeft tot taak om vast te stellen of wetten in overeenstemming zijn met de grondwet .

Het Bundesverfassungsgericht (hierna "Hof" genoemd) steunt haar bevoegdheid op art. 93 Grundgesetz (GG) en art. 13 Bundesverfassungsgerichtsgesetz (BVerfGG), hetwelke het Enumerationsprinzip bevat: het is toegelaten om zich tot het Hof te wenden wanneer het geschilpunt onder een van de talrijke bevoegdheidstoewijzingen door de Grondwet of een federale wet kan geclassificeerd worden. Tevens kan een Landesgesetz (een wet gecreëerd in een deelstaat) de beslissingen over constitutionele disputen toewijzen aan het Hof (art. 99 GG). Hierna volgt een overzicht van de verschillende zaken die aan het Hof voorgelegd kunnen worden.

1. Verfassungsbeschwerde (klacht/rekest over ongrondwettige maatregelen)
Iedere burger (zowel een natuurlijke als een rechtspersoon) kan voor het Hof een schending door de publieke overheid inroepen van zijn basisrechten (art. 1 t.e.m. 19 GG), art. 20, §4 GG of art. 33, 38, 101, 103 of 104 GG (art. 93, §1, 4a GG). Basisrechten zijn o.a. het recht op menselijke waardigheid (art. 1 GG), het recht op leven (art. 2 GG), het recht op een familieleven (art. 6 GG), het recht van onschendbaarheid van de woning (art. 13 GG). Art. 20 § 4 bepaalt dat alle Duitsers het recht hebben om zich te verzetten tegen personen die deze grondrechten willen afschaffen, rekening houdend met het subsidiariteitsbeginsel. Art. 33 GG bevat het gelijkheidsbeginsel, art. 38 GG het recht op vrije verkiezingen, art. 101 GG het verbod op uitzonderingsrechtbanken, art. 103 GG het recht op een eerlijk proces en art. 104 GG bepalingen m.b.t. de vrijheidsberoving.x
De klacht kan door de verzoeker ingesteld worden door middel van een verzoekschrift dat moet voldoen aan vier ontvankelijkheidsvoorwaarden :
a) De (theoretisch) mogelijke schending van een of meerdere grondrechten;
b) De schending moet persoonlijk, actueel en rechtstreeks zijn. De verzoeker kan enkel de ongrondwettelijkheid van regelgeving aanklagen die betrekking heeft op zijn persoon, een actio popularis is dus niet toegestaan. Een verzoek is niet actueel indien het probleem reeds in het verleden is opgelost of enkel gevreesd wordt in de toekomst. De inbreuk is rechtstreeks, wanneer de aangevochten bepaling op zichzelf, zonder andere bepalingen, de schending van een grondrecht veroorzaakt.
c) De schending moet veroorzaakt worden door een publieke autoriteit. Dit begrip moet ruim geïnterpreteerd worden; het behelst alle organen van de wetgevende, rechterlijke en uitvoerende macht (gaande van de federale regering t.e.m. de individuele politieagent).
d) De verzoeker moet eerst alle andere rechtsmiddelen uitgeput hebben.

Om gegrond te zijn, moet de klacht een schending van een grondrecht inhouden. Dit kan voor onduidelijkheid zorgen indien het over een klacht ingediend tegen rechterlijke beslissing gaat. In 1964 heeft het Hof dan ook in een arrest gespecificeerd dat het zich enkel ontfermt over klachten tegen rechterlijke beslissingen die een daadwerkelijke schending van een grondrecht inhouden. Het is aan de normaal bevoegde rechtbanken voorbehouden om het proces te organiseren, de feiten te beoordelen en de wet te interpreteren en toe te passen. Het Bundesverfassungsgericht is dus geen "super-beroepsinstantie". Als het Hof vaststelt dat de aangevochten wet ongrondwettig is, dan zal het deze nietig verklaren (art. 95, §3 BverfGG). Dit is in principe een nietigheid ex tunc. Wanneer het een aangevochten rechterlijke beslissing betreft die ongrondwettig wordt bevonden, dan zal het Hof deze vernietigen en doorverwijzen naar de bevoegde rechtbank (art. 95, §2 BVerfGG).

2. Konkrete Normenkontrolle (concrete normencontrole)
Wanneer een rechtscollege vaststelt dat een wetskrachtige norm, waarvan haar/zijn oordeel afhangt, mogelijk ongrondwettig is, zal het de procedure schorsen en is het verplicht om de kwestie voor te leggen aan het Landesgericht indien de norm mogelijk onverenigbaar is met de Grondwet van een Land, of om de kwestie voor te leggen aan het Bundesverfassungsgericht indien de norm mogelijk strijdig is met de federale Grondwet (art. 100, §1 GG). Het Bundesverfassungsgericht beslist enkel over de geldigheid van de norm in kwestie, en oordeelt niet over de grond van de zaak die voorligt aan de verwijzende rechter. Deze concrete normencontrole is dus min of meer vergelijkbaar met de Belgische prejudiciële procedure.
De prejudiciële vraag moet van doorslaggevend belang zijn voor het geschil dat ter beoordeling aan de rechter voorligt. In dat geval is de rechter verplicht om een vraag te stellen aan het Hof, behalve wanneer de wetskrachtige norm in kwestie reeds gold vooraleer de Grondwet van kracht was. In dit geval mag de gewone rechter zelf vaststellen of deze al dan niet in strijd is met de Grondwet. Dit is zo omdat hierdoor de scheiding der machten niet aangetast wordt, want de huidige wetgevende organen waren toentertijd nog onbestaande en aldus kan hun gezag niet ondermijnd worden door een dergelijke beslissing.
Indien er in de loop van het geding twijfel ontstaat over de vraag of een regel van internationaal recht een integraal deel uitmaakt van de federale wet en of deze rechtstreeks rechten en plichten creëert voor het individu, dan zal de rechter deze vraag verwijzen naar het Bundesverfassungsgericht (art. 100, §2 GG).
Indien het constitutioneel hof van een deelstaat, bij het interpreteren van de federale Grondwet, voorstelt om af te wijken van een beslissing genomen door het Bundesverfassungsgericht of genomen door het constitutioneel hof van een andere deelstaat, dan is het verplicht om een prejudiciële vraag te stellen aan het Bundesverfassungsgericht (art. 100, §3 GG).

3. Abstrakte Normenkontrolle (abstracte normencontrole)
De Grondwet voorziet krachtens art. 93, §1, nr. 2 GG in een procedure waarin de toetsing door het Hof van een norm het doel is van de procedure, los van de concrete toepassing van de norm in een zaak. Het Hof beslist "bij meningsverschillen of twijfel over de formele en inhoudelijke bestaanbaarheid van federaal recht of recht van deelstaat met deze Grondwet, of de bestaanbaarheid van recht van de deelstaat met enig ander federaal recht, op daartoe strekkend verzoek van de Bondsregering, de regering van een deelstaat of een vierde van de leden van de Bondsdag". Aan de abstracte normencontrole mogen onderworpen worden alle federale en regionale wetten, ordonnanties en verordeningen; uitgesloten zijn de wetten die vóór 1949 in werking getreden zijn, die van de bezettingsmacht na WOII, de verordeningen en richtlijnen van de Europese Gemeenschappen en de kerkelijke normen.
De abstracte normtoetsing is geen procedure op tegenspraak; er zijn wel verzoekende partijen, maar geen verwerende. Het betreft een rechtsprocedure van objectieve toetsing in het algemeen en openbaar belang. Daaruit volgt dat de verzoekende partij geen specifiek, individueel en subjectief belang hoeft te hebben of aan te tonen. Ze handelt enkel en alleen in het belang dat het publiek erbij heeft dat de rechtsorde overeenstemt met de Grondwet. Dit wordt geïllustreerd door het feit dat het Hof zelf kan beslissen om met een procedure voort te gaan, ook nadat de verzoekende partij haar verzoek heeft ingetrokken, omdat het Hof de zaak dermate belangrijk vindt voor het openbaar belang. Natuurlijk is het vaak zo dat de verzoekende partij eigen doeleinden of belangen nastreeft. Vooral de minderheid binnen het parlement – de oppositie – bedient zich van deze procedure om met andere middelen de politieke strijd voort te zetten die ze in de Bondsdag of de Bondsraad verloren heeft.
Het betreft een toetsing a posteriori. De norm moet eerst worden afgekondigd, dat wil zeggen dat de wetgevende procedure volledig voltooid dient te zijn. Het is evenwel niet noodzakelijk dat de norm al van kracht is geworden. De indiening van het verzoekschrift is bovendien niet aan een tijdslimiet gebonden.
Voor alle procedures voor het Bundesverfassungsgericht geldt het principe van het officiële gerechtelijk vooronderzoek, waarin het Hof alle noodzakelijke bewijsmiddelen verzamelt nodig om de waarheid te achterhalen (art. 26, §1 BVerfGG). Regels voor de beoordeling van de bewijsmiddelen zijn er niet; het Hof beslist volgens zijn/haar overtuiging of het geleverde bewijs deugdelijk is.
Het eindarrest heeft niet het gezag van gewijsde onder partijen, omdat die er niet zijn. Het rechtsgevolg van een beslissing in de procedure van abstracte normtoetsing is abstract en zuiver objectief. Ze betreft alleen de norm als zodanig, het definitieve einde van die procedure, de geldigheid of de ongrondwettigheid en de nietigheid (ex tunc) van de norm en de gevolgen voor de geadresseerden van de norm: de bestuursautoriteiten, de gerechtshoven en rechtbanken of de particulieren.

4. Organstreit (geschillen tussen constitutionele organen)
Het Hof oordeelt over de interpretatie van de Grondwet in geval van geschillen over de rechten en plichten van een constitutioneel orgaan of andere partijen door de Grondwet of de procedureregels van dergelijk constitutioneel orgaan met eigen rechten bekleed (art. 93, §1, nr. 1 GG en art. 63-67 BVerfGG). Deze bepaling zorgt ervoor dat het Hof kan controleren of geen enkel staatsorgaan zijn bevoegdheden overschrijdt. Zo heeft het Hof bijvoorbeeld op 12 juli 1994 geoordeeld dat de beslissing genomen door de Bondsregering over deelname van Duitse soldaten aan de NAVO- en VN-missies in voormalig Joegoslavië en Somalië, niet regelmatig gebeurd is, daar de Bondsregering daarvoor de toestemming nodig had van de Bondsdag.

5. Bund-Länder-Streit (geschillen tussen de federale staat en een deelstaat of tussen deelstaten onderling)
Het Bundesverfassungsgericht beslist over geschillen die ontstaan tussen de federale staat en een deelstaat of tussen deelstaten onderling over hun respectievelijke rechten en plichten en zorgt er dus voor dat de bevoegdheidsverdelende regels gerespecteerd worden (art. 93 §1 nr. 3 GG).

6. Parteiverbotsverfahren (procedure van partijverbod)
Op grond van art. 21, §2 GG en art. 13, §2 BVerfGG kan het Hof partijen, die, wegens hun doelstellingen of gedragingen van hun leden, de vrije democratische orde willen afschaffen of verminderen, of die het bestaan van de Federale Republiek Duitsland in gevaar willen brengen, ongrondwettelijk verklaren. Dergelijk verzoek kan overeenkomstig art. 43 BVerfGG ingediend worden door de Bondsdag, de Bondsraad, de Bondsregering of een deelstaatregering (zo de partij zich enkel op dat niveau situeert). Sinds het bestaan van het Bundesverfassungsgericht heeft het Hof twee partijen ongrondwettelijk verklaard, dit betreft enerzijds de Sozialistische Reichspartei in 1952 en anderzijds de Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands in 1956.

7. Verbeurdverklaring van de fundamentele rechten
De verbeurdverklaring van grondrechten betekent zoveel als het verlies van individuele grondrechten, middels een specifieke procedure die in art. 18 GG geregeld wordt. De aanvraag tot verbeurdverklaring van grondrechten kan enkel door de Bundestag, door de Bundesrat of door de Bundesregierung ingediend worden. Krachtens art. 18 GG kan men het recht op vrije meningsuiting (in bijzonderheid de vrijheid van pers, onderwijs, vergadering, vereniging en het briefgeheim) alsook het recht op asiel of het eigendomsrecht verliezen als men deze vrijheden of rechten misbruikt heeft om de democratische basis van Duitsland aan te vallen. Merk op dat enkel de hierboven opgesomde rechten en vrijheden verbeurd verklaard kunnen worden, alle andere (mensen)rechten blijven onaantastbaar. Deze verbeurdverklaring kan in de tijd beperkt worden, of naderhand weer ingetrokken worden. Enkel het Bundesverfassungsgericht is bevoegd om hierover te oordelen, en tot nu toe heeft het dit nog maar in een viertal zaken gedaan. Er zijn zo weinig zaken voorgekomen omdat het Hof heel strenge eisen stelt in een prejudiciële procedure waar het de ontvankelijkheid en de opportuniteit toetst (zo moet de verweerder nog steeds een dreiging voor de democratische basis uitmaken). In geen van de vier voorgekomen zaken werd er tot een verbeurdverklaring overgegaan. Al deze zaken waren gericht tegen Duitsers die het Nationaalsocialistische gedachtegoed aanhingen.

8. Het Bundesverfassungsgericht als verificatiebureau
Het Bundesverfassungsgericht is de tweede en laatste instantie in beroep bij zaken over de geldigheid van de verkiezingen voor het parlement van de Bondsrepubliek Duitsland en voor het Europees parlement (voor de verkozenen uit Duitsland). In eerste instantie oordeelt de Bundestag zelf als zelfstandig orgaan.

9. Aanklachten tegen de Bundespräsident.
Dit is een specifieke procedure krachtens art. 61 GG. Dit artikel zegt zoveel als dat de Bundestag of de Bundesrat de Bundespräsident wegens een opzettelijke schending van de grondwet of van een andere federale wet bij het Hof kan aanklagen, waarna het Hof hem uit zijn ambt kan ontzetten. Er is tot op heden nog nooit zo'n aanklacht voor het Bundesverfassungsgericht gekomen.

10. Minnelijke schikkingen
Minnelijke schikkingen zijn bij het Hof niet voorzien. Toch is dit ooit eens voorgevallen: er is een minnelijke schikking voorgesteld in de zaak Lebensgestaltung-Ethik-Religionskunde-Unterricht. Het doel van deze minnelijke schikking was dat een conflict tussen de Staat (en diens godsdienstonderwijs) en de religieuze gemeenschappen vermeden werd.

11. Juridisch advies
Enkel in de beginjaren was het mogelijk om het Hof om advies te vragen, dit krachtens het oude art. 97 BVerfGG. Zo'n advies is maar tweemaal ingewonnen; in 1951 over het instemmingsrecht van de Bondsraad over wetgeving inzake de zeggenschap over de inkomsten- en vennootschapsbelasting (BVerfGe 1, 76) en in 1954 over federale bevoegdheid een Bouwbesluit vast te stellen (BVerfGE 3, 407).

12. Voorlopige maatregelen
Zoals voor elke andere procedure kan het Hof voorlopige maatregelen opleggen.

13. Andere procedures
Hiernaast heeft het Hof nog andere bevoegdheden die het toegewezen zijn door de federale wetgeving. Een voorbeeld hiervan is de wet op het referendum en de volksraadpleging die een procedure bij het Hof beschikbaar stelt tegen een afgewezen petitie tot oproeping van een referendum. Een voorbeeld hiervan is het "Lübeck-Urteil".

Externe link
 Officiële website

Grondwettelijk hof
Rechterlijke macht in Duitsland
Karlsruhe


Our Team - Charity Organization "I'm a mom"
Our mottor - HAPPIER TO GIVE!
Borovskaya Natalia – head of the public organization "YA-MAMA!" Founder, married, mother of three children, has a degree in economics.
Trohlebova Olga – organization administrator, married, has higher economic education, deals with the administration.
Irina Belous – chief specialist in fundraising, has a law degree and has a son.
Vlasyuk Elena – coordinator of Public Affairs, married, has a daughter, has two degrees (psychologist, economist).
Irina Nikolaevna Belous – Coordinator of International Cooperation.


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WATCH: 1,000 Andy Warhol sketches offered for $250 each -- but only one is real
Published in Weird News
(UPI) A New York art collective announced it will be selling 1,000 Andy Warhol sketches for $250 each -- but 999 of them are elaborate forgeries.
The Brooklyn-based MSCHF collective announced its "Museum of Forgeries" project involves a single Andy Warhol sketch titled Fairies and 999 copies made by a machine with artificially aged paper to match the original.
The real artwork was randomly mixed in with the forgeries, so one buyer of a $250 sketch will receive the real deal, while 999 others will receive copies.
Daniel Greenberg, chief revenue officer of MSCHF, said the sketch was sold for $8,125 by auction house Christie's in 2016, and the artwork's current value is estimated at about $20,000.
MSCHF's website says the project is aimed at making a statement about famous works of art only being accessible to the wealthy.
"By burying a needle in a needlestack, we render the original as much a forgery as any of our replications," the site states.
Copyright 2021 by United Press International

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Manchester United vs Aston Villa Betting Tips: Latest odds, team news, preview and predictions
class="article_teaser__2t5do">Looking shaky at the back but unstoppable in attack, Al Hain-Cole expects the Red Devils to get the better of Smith's men in a high-scoring clash
Manchester United will be aiming to bounce back from defeat when they welcome Aston Villa to Old Trafford for Saturday's Premier League clash.
The Red Devils were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by West Ham in midweek, having beaten the same opposition in the league just three days before.
Manchester United vs Aston Villa latest odds
However, Man Utd are 4/11 (1.36) favourites with bet365 to put that behind them by coming out on top against an opponent they have not lost against in the last 18 encounters.
Indeed, Aston Villa have lost 14 out of 18 meetings since winning here back in 2009 and are 7/1 (8.00) outsiders to cause an upset with a shock win.
Dean Smith's side suffered a penalty shootout defeat at Stamford Bridge after a 1-1 Carabao Cup draw on Wednesday and can be backed at 19/4 (5.25) to earn another creditable draw in this game.
Manchester United vs Aston Villa team news
Edinson Cavani remains highly doubtful to feature, while Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo are both definitely ruled out.
Matt Targett, Trezeguet, Morgan Sanson, John McGinn, Keinan Davis and Leon Bailey are all injury doubts, with the on-loan Axel Tuanzebe ineligible to face his parent club.
Manchester United vs Aston Villa preview
Having found the net against a Chelsea defence that had only conceded once in their six previous games this season, the Villans will be confident of causing plenty of problems for the hosts at Old Trafford.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men have kept just one clean sheet in seven matches so far this season, relying on their star-studded attacking line-up to fire them level on points with leaders Chelsea in the league table.
With nine goals to their name in the first two league matches in front of their own fans, they will certainly back themselves to extend their strong record against this opposition even if they do let in a goal or two themselves.
Manchester United vs Aston Villa tips & predictions
In fact, odds of 15/8 (2.88) seem fairly generous on United coming out on top and both teams scoring for their third successive league game, as well as a third meeting in a row with a Villa team that have failed to score just once in seven games this season.
All odds correct at time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
← Brentford vs Liverpool: Betting odds, tips, predictions, TV channel & team news
Chelsea vs Manchester City: Betting odds, tips, odds, TV channel & team news →


Place 3 tablespoons sugar in each llanera. Heat the llanera over the stove on low heat. Make sure the sugar is melted and golden. Use tongs to move the llaneras and to make sure that the heat is well-distributed. Once melted, remove from heat and let the caramel to be cool and firm.
Using a medium bowl, mix egg yolk, evaporated milk, and condensed milk. Slowly stir in circular motion until well-blended. Strain egg-milk mixture using a cheesecloth. Transfer the strained mixture to the prepared llaneras. TIP: Do not beat the egg! Thoroughly stir in one circular motion to avoid bubbles. It takes time, but totally worth it!
Cover the llaneras with foil and place the llaneras in a wide, baking dish with 1-inch water. Bake for about 50 minutes to 1 hour. To check: Prick the flan in the middle with toothpick. It should come out clean.
Remove from oven. Let it cool and refrigerate to set.
Turn the flan on a serving plate or container to serve.
Try your favorite egg salad sandwich with our Purefoods Salami. This dish is perfect for any meal occasion and as baon in school or offices.
Give your favorite adobo a refreshing twist by combining beef and gata in this dish. Tip: Why not add a bit of chili for a spicy treat!


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Sadie Hawkins
On Saturday September 5th the last in club tournament of the season was held.
The Sadie Hawkins tournament is traditionally the club tournament season closer and very much a fun event. Club members enthusiastically entered into the Sadie Hawkins theme with some very colorful clothing and some fine hats (Ann Tough's being very creative) but that's as far as it went. There were no lady members chasing men around Victoria Park!
In the last two years the tournament has been bedeviled by rain but no such problems this year. Indeed it was quite the reverse as the hot and humid weather of the last few days made conditions rather uncomfortable and in view of the heat the tournament was reduced from three ten end games to three eight end games.
Ten triples teams competed with different formats in each of the three games. Additionally the usual team positions were reversed with leads playing as skips and skips playing as leads.
In the first game the jack was placed in a certain spot on the green and could not be moved - normal scoring applied. In the second the game was "Yard On" and all bowls within a yard of the jack scored points. The final game was 4321.
It was an inauspicious start for the winning team of Shirley vander Schaaf, Thelma Eastcott and Bill Arthur as they were eight points down in their first game after only 4 ends. However they recovered well to win 10-9 and then went on to win their second game by 7 points. After two rounds the only other team with two wins was Ken Wren, Helen Beaton and Eve Gorringe and those two teams met in the final round to decide the tournament winners. In a close game Shirley's team was down by 4 points going into the final end but scored a maximum ten points to take the trophy.
Thanks as usual to all those members who volunteered in some capacity during the day. Just as a footnote, Bill Arthur was supposed to be on kitchen duty but was asked to play to make up the numbers and not only was he on the winning team , he won first prize in the 50/50. Much better than being on kitchen duty!
For full results click here. For photos click here


This session will focus on how some companies are changing their world with intelligent automation (IA) while others are failing. Learning where others have struggled and where they have succeeded can open doors for you and your company. These doors are labelled: improved profitability, higher employee satisfaction, improved customer experience and reduced risk.
The path to automation success includes applying the right combination of technologies to solve the right problems. This means not too many nor too few technologies, plenty of clear thinking and a heavy dose of working together with people. Done right, intelligent automation systems can sense and synthesise vast amounts of information and enable you to automate entire processes or workflows. Moreover, the intelligent systems will continually learn and adapt.
At this session, we will focus on three proven approaches to intelligent automation, and we will compare and contrast each of them so you can find the approach that fits your unique business and team.
Target group: Leaders who make the decisions, their trusted advisors and those who can help the leaders see the future. Participants should understand the basics of automation.
Automation failures and successes – learn from the experience of others.
Realise the potential of IA and get excited about the opportunities ahead.
Understand the difference between the IA hype and the reality.
Jørgen is one of the leading experts on intelligent automation in Denmark. His expertise covers strategic sparring and design of operating models for application of RPA, BPM and cognitive technologies, including chatbots.


Q: I have a hard time believing in Wall Street (and the U.S. government's policies by either party) again this time around. A bubble has driven the U.S. economy every decade, and each time it got bigger and the consequences more dire. In the 80s it was leveraged buyouts (LBOs). In Po Bronson's book, "What Should I Do with My Life"), I read the confession of a former investment banker who left because he was disgusted being pressured by his superiors to do an LBO deal even though the company to be acquired did not meet his calculated criteria. In the 90s, it was the tech IPOs. I work in technology and I heard from Webvan managers how big investment bankers were fighting each other to take them public, for a slice of the IPO fee. While Webvan investors lost all, the bankers pocketed their commission. Most recently, it's the mortgage backed CDOs, CDSs and whatever complex derivatives the i-bankers came up with, making money out of money, and driving money into unproductive speculative investments yet again, and finally dragging down the slowly accumulated savings of people like me and my wife, who have been doing everything "by the book." We would have been better off putting our money under the mattress since 2000. Ordinary, boring funds that we invest in are also getting hit. To add insult to injury, our tax dollars are being used to bail out the bankers who caused the troubles. Until the incentive system is corrected on Wall Street, where bankers' ethics succumb to the pressure of chasing after the latest "innovative" fad, the same story will happen again, maybe even more frequently. Yet, you are still advising people to invest in stocks. But, why should I ever invest in equities again?
A: I hear and understand your frustration. And I do know that others share your concerns.
Change has come and will continue to come to investment banks. With the financial crisis of 2008, the industry has already undergone enormous change. The remaining independent larger investment banks now are commercial banks and subject to regulatory oversight and the leverage restrictions of the banking industry.
Economic cycles are hardly new and they've existed for far, far longer than simply the last three decades. Excesses of expansionary periods are undone in recessions.
As a young teenager, I first began my investing experiences back in the mid-1970s when my father was laid off from his job and was handed a modest balance that he had to direct. Back then the Dow Jones Industrial Average was vacillating between 800 and 1,000 if you can believe that!
I remember 1974 well. That time period made a major impression on me. Stocks got hammered and experienced a waterfall decline as they did in 2008. From a peak of 1,000 in late 1973, the Dow plunged under 600 by the late summer of 1974. The country and economy had many problems. Folks were highly disillusioned with government after Vice President Agnew resigned and then so did President Richard Nixon.
There was a war raging in the Middle East, oil supplies were being cut off due to the Arab Oil Embargo (drivers back then remember the long lines at gas stations). Inflation was surging and broke 10 percent annually. The unemployment rate was surging to 9 percent.
While I don't wish to diminish the difficult times some folks are going through right now, I find all the hyperbole about this being the worst recession since the Great Depression to be out of touch. The recessions of the mid 1970s and early 1980s featured equally or more severe economic problems than what we've faced thus far in this recession.
To be a successful stock market investor, you need the ability to see the glass as half full and filling up rather than half empty and draining. We have a resilient economy, productive workforce and now, low inflation and low interest rates. Consumers are reducing their debt burden. Things will get better and handsome returns will accrue to those who accept sensible risks and are patient investors.


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Custodian - GOV | LAAFB Custodial in El Segundo, CA at Goodwill Southern California
Goodwill Southern California (GSC) prepares and places thousands of individuals into sustainable employment through programs and services throughout Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. As one of the leading non-profit brands in the world, and the largest non-profit in Southern California, we have been transforming lives through the power of work for over 100 years. Goodwill Southern California supports its mission with proceeds generated from over 78 retail stores and over 44 attended donation centers, as well as from charitable donations and grants from the public and private sectors. Goodwill SoCal is a rapidly evolving organization and yet we have never been more focused – on our mission, on our people, and on our future. It's always a GOOD day in SoCal!
Primary Responsibility / Summary
Performs a full range of custodial services throughout Commissary store and warehouse.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
1.Performs daily cleaning tasks throughout Commissary as assigned, including floor stripping and waxing, window washing, pressure washing and restroom cleaning.
2.Maintains clean and sanitary conditions throughout.
3.Performs cleaning in Meat Room, when assigned. The Meat Room requires particular attention to sanitation to avoid cross contamination of meat cutting equipment.
4.Maintains custodial equipment and supplies in neat, orderly condition.
5.Interacts cooperatively with Government Commissary personnel and customers.
6.Immediately advises supervisor when Government staff directs changes in contract requirements.
•Shift flexibility and overtime when needed.
•Ability to work with minimal supervision.
•Punctual and dependable attendance.
•Free from alcohol and drug abuse.
•Understands the basic philosophy of Goodwill and participates fully in carrying out its mission.
•Adheres to Goodwill's values of Respect, Integrity, Service, & Excellence.
Goodwill Industries in Southern California is an equal opportunity employer and gives consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you'd like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please click here: http://www1.eeoc.gov/employers/upload/eeoc_self_print_poster.pdf
Goodwill gives preferential consideration to persons with barriers to employment. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Goodwill is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity for applicants and employees. Employment decisions will comply with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination in employment including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Immigration and Nationality Act, and any other characteristic protected by federal or state law.
Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disabilities
In furtherance of our commitment to end discrimination against qualified disabled individuals, and in accordance with the provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and all regulations properly issued thereunder to protect the rights of qualified disabled persons, it is Goodwill's policy that no program or activity administered by it shall exclude from participation, deny benefits to or subject to discrimination any individual solely by reason of his or her disability. Equal employment opportunity will be extended to qualified disabled persons in all aspects of the employer-employee relationship, including recruitment, hiring, upgrading, training, promotion, transfer, discipline, layoff, recall and termination. We further affirm that we will provide reasonable accommodation to the known physical or mental limitations of an otherwise qualified disabled employee or applicant.
It is the policy of Goodwill to provide reasonable accommodations for qualified persons with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. If you need assistance for accommodations to interview because of a disability, please notify the Human Resources Department. Employment opportunities will not be denied to anyone because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a disability.
Other details Job Family Trades and Labor
Pay Type Hourly
Janitor Jobs
Jobs in Los Angeles, California
Janitor Jobs Los Angeles, California


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Start Me Up! A profile of IdeaPlane
By Graham Charlton	 October 15th 2012 17:14
IdeaPlane is a startup that brings enterprise social networking to companies in regulated industries, such as finance, that might otherwise have been reticent about embracing social technologies.
I caught up with CEO and founder James Fabricant, himself a former executive at MySpace, to find out more about his vision for the company and the future of the industry.
In one sentence, what is IdeaPlane?
Built in partnership with one of the world's biggest investment banks, IdeaPlane is an enterprise social network that provides the best of both worlds: easy-to-use social tools combined with enterprise-grade security, compliance and privacy controls.
What problems does IdeaPlane solve?
I truly believe that enterprise social networking (ESN) can aid collaboration and knowledge sharing among employees in the financial sector and in regulated companies such as law firms.
While ESNs are catching on quickly in many kinds of businesses, improving internal collaboration, it has been difficult for companies in regulated industries to tap into this trend because of concerns over security, compliance and privacy controls. Until now.
When and why did you launch it?
We launched about two years ago. As a former MySpace International executive, I experienced first-hand the power of social networking. However, I was always intrigued to find out how this power could be harnessed in a business environment.
Nowadays most of us use social tools regularly, whether it's LinkedIn for professional networking or Facebook for socialising with friends. But the use case for businesses has never been entirely clear.
How are you funding the company?
The company is privately funded at the moment; we have a number of high profile investors such as Kevin Eyres and Clare Flynn Levy are currently looking to complete a first major funding round.
I believe that most businesses will be able to extract significant value from enterprise social networks. With our focus on security and control, we are specifically looking to target regulated industries such as those in financial industries, banks, law firms, and life science companies.
What are your immediate goals?
The market for ESNs is growing fast. IDC has forecast that spending will grow at a compound annual rate of 42.4% from $0.8 billion in 2011 to $4.5 billion in 2016. McKinsey also estimates that the use of social technologies within enterprises could contribute $600 billion to $867 billion in value annually.
We think we have identified a gap in the market and so will be looking to educate companies in these sectors as quickly as possible to secure first mover advantage. From the conversations we are having at the moment, it seems as though there is significant appetite out there from companies that, until now, would have been cautious.
What were the biggest challenges involved in building IdeaPlane?
Education is a big part of what are looking to achieve at the moment. This is a disruptive technology and challenges businesses to think and act in new ways. One we have proved the business case and demonstrated that IdeaPlane is built with security and compliance as part of its DNA, the decision to deploy is relatively simple.
How will the company make money?
We operate a simple licence model that allows companies to deploy and implement IdeaPlane across the business very quickly and are currently running an exclusive Alpha Programme for a select number of forward thinking companies looking to work with us to shape the future of enterprise social networking.
We will offer our solution to these special companies at £100 per month for the first year of deployment.
Who is in the team and what does it look like?
I lead a fantastic team of 13 people that have significant experience in start-ups, technological development and compliant industries. Prior to founding IdeaPlane, I was an executive at MySpace International and played an integral part in its global expansion, including launching MySpace in 17 languages across 30 countries.
Our CTO, Francesco Bovoli, oversees the engineering and development of our platform. He brings 10 years of experience in technology development and more than six years experience in financial services consulting. Prior to joining IdeaPlane, he worked as a technology consultant at Accenture, Google and Cisco.
Customer experience is very important to us and our VP of product and user experience, Edward Kind, has over 10 years experience working for My Space and Mubi. He lives in San Francisco and is an active member of Silicon Valley's startup community.
Where would you like to be in one, three and five year's time?
We expect to see a massive shift as broad adoption of enterprise social networks takes hold across financial services companies. Eventually we expect all companies to have a 'social engine' at their centre, where users will discover information most relevant to them.
Regulated industries have only scratched the surface in terms of harnessing the power of social networking. Once companies know there are secure, compliant solutions with the necessary control to reflect working habits in highly regulated environments, then the potential to unlock corporate value will begin to be realised.
Blog Interviews Social Start Me Up Startups Strategy
Blog Multichannel Marketing
Five things brands can learn from Lance Armstrong's fall from grace
The allegations that the world's most famous cyclist, Lance Armstrong, became the most accomplished athlete ever in his sport through the use of performance enhancing drugs has stunned the world.
And the scandal that has erupted has sent shockwaves through the offices of the brands associated with Armstrong.
Not surprisingly, Armstrong's sponsors are cutting ties with the now zero-time Tour de France winner as the sports world comes to grips with the tactics he allegedly employed to win.
October 22nd 2012 23:37
Blog Strategy
Email: the forgotten social network
When we think of social media in the US, we think of popular channels such as Facebook and Twitter.
However, there is one that is often overlooked but is just as important in your integrated marketing mix: email.
Email marketing's intent and the behavior it tries to produce is similar to the other social channels and this will prove why the rumors of email marketing's demise are greatly exaggerated.
Blog Ecommerce
What is responsive design and do you really need it?
Last week I published a review of the new BBC News mobile site, which was apparently built using responsive design.
It's a decent site and is easy to use, however there was some debate in the comments section over whether the approach the BBC has used is definitely responsive design.
In fact a vast majority of commenters were adamant that the BBC's site is adaptive design rather than responsive.
So to bring some clarity to the situation, I asked three mobile experts what responsive design in mobile means, what the benefits are and also for their opinion on the BBC News site…
October 26th 2012 14:36
A day in the life of… a creative production manager
Is the life of a production manager a stressful one?
July 15th 2019 13:21
Blog Process and Project Management
Agencies: How to avoid the trap of 'feast or famine'
Last year, my young family and I relocated from Brighton to the Leicestershire countryside.
Blog Social advertising
Should travel brands move their media spend from Google to Facebook like Lastminute.com?
Last month, The Drum reported that Lastminute.com would be moving the vast majority of its digital spend from Google to Facebook after trialling the effectiveness of each platform for customer acquisition over three months.
Four ways Ugly Drinks is aiming to disrupt the soft drinks industry
The global soft drinks industry is reportedly worth around $392.6 billion, with Coca-Cola and Pepsi taking the majority of market share.
Jobs by MW


We work with Cogent Communications, Equinix and Internap.
Cogent Communications (NASDAQ: CCOI) is a multinational, Tier 1 facilities-based ISP, operating one of the largest capacity IP networks in existence with lit capacities ranging from 80 to 240 Gigabits per second. Cogent specializes in providing businesses with high speed Internet access and point-to-point transport services. Cogent's facilities-based, all- IP network backbone provides IP services in over 110 markets located in North America and Europe. Since Cogent's inception, Cogent has unleashed the benefits of IP technology, building one of the largest and highest capacity IP networks in existence. This network enables Cogent to offer large bandwidth connections at highly competitive prices. Cogent also offers superior customer support by virtue of its end-to-end control of service delivery and network monitoring.
Equinix is the leading global provider of network-neutral data center and interconnection services, offering premium colocation, traffic exchange and outsourced IT infrastructure solutions. Global enterprises, content companies, systems integrators and network service providers look to Equinix Internet Business Exchange (IBX®) centers for world-class reliability and network diversity. Equinix IBX centers serve as critical, core hubs for IP networks and Internet operations worldwide. With 41 IBX centers located in 18 strategic markets across North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, Equinix enables customers to reliably operate their mission-critical infrastructure on a global basis.


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Overlooked No More: Donors invest in African changemakers to maximize impact
Proximity matters in improving lives. African-led organizations are best positioned to deliver impact because their leaders are deeply rooted in the communities they serve. They were born there, went to school there, and they live there. They understand their local community, and they know what works and what doesn't. Yet they are often being overlooked by international funders. Segal Family Foundation and the African Visionary Fund aim to change that paradigm. They are making significant investments in African leaders and African-led organizations and are spotlighting high-impact opportunities to transform development across the continent.
Research shows that only a small fraction of international funding for humanitarian and development initiatives in Africa goes to locally-led organizations. The vast majority of funds still goes to their foreign-led counterparts—organizations with easier access to capital, social networks, and the donor-speak that funders prefer. Not only is this unjust; it is also ineffective.
Local actors use resources and funding more efficiently and sustainably than their foreign-led counterparts. Solomon King, founder of Fundi Bots, a robotics training nonprofit in Uganda, shares that foreign-led organizations fail just as often as African-led organizations—but they fail later since they have more funding. "Risk capital—funding provided to an organization in its early stages—is something donors need to embrace. The impact that funders seek could be greater if they believed in African-led organizations."
We believe in local leadership
"We believe in local leadership and impactful work," says Cher-Wen DeWitt, Director of Partnerships at Segal Family Foundation, a New Jersey-based family foundation which works with a network of more than 200 organizations in East and Central Africa. "Unfortunately, locally-led organizations only get a tiny piece of the pie compared to the work they are doing and the ubiquity of their presence, due to problematic inequity issues in Western philanthropy."
To recalibrate this imbalance on the funding side, Segal connects grantmakers and grantees, and introduces funders to a country or geography where familiarity is lacking. Sharing lessons learned, the family foundation inspires other grantmakers to join them and helps solve some of the logistical hurdles that impede direct giving.
"That's where we work in partnership with KBFUS. They provide fiscal sponsorship solutions to many of our local nonprofit partners, enabling them to accept donations as a 501(c)(3) public charity would, without going through the lengthy registration process," DeWitt explains.
Finding impactful organizations
Funding African–led organizations is at the core of Segal's mission. During a trip to East Africa in the early 2000s, founder Barry Segal witnessed firsthand how local organizations performed meaningful and impactful work. However, those organizations were unable to access the right audiences for their funding needs. He began funding projects in Rwanda and Tanzania and soon expanded regionally.
Locally-led organizations only get a tiny piece of the pie compared to the work they are doing and the ubiquity of their presence, due to problematic inequity issues in Western philanthropy.
– Cher-Wen DeWitt
What grew out of a personal interest has since developed into a 19-person team. The entire grantmaking staff is African and based in the countries where they work. "Frankly, they are the driving factor in our strategy and in our keen focus on local leadership," DeWitt says. They help establish the foundation's grantmaking strategy, determine how it will grow its networks, and brainstorm ways to support nonprofit partners beyond grants.
To find new, reputable organizations in which it can deploy capital, Segal relies heavily on its existing African partners. "Their opinions really go a long way. We trust their feedback. And we value their recommendations on new funding opportunities, especially in fields that have been neglected or underfunded because they're not in fashion in philanthropy," DeWitt explains.
KBFUS's keen eye for finding impactful organizations in Africa has also been noticed at Segal. "KBFUS has a wonderful roster of talent in its portfolio," DeWitt says, "and we have partnered with them to highlight the importance of local leadership and the disparities in funding, and encourage candid conversations around philanthropists' responsibility in balancing the scales."
Investing in African visionaries
Katie Bunten-Wamaru was still working at Segal in 2016 when the team completed an impact measurement report that found that foreign-led organizations grew twice as fast as those led by Africans – because local, African leaders were not the direct recipients of donors' funding to the continent.
The following year, Segal launched its African Visionary Fellowship, which provides local leaders with exposure, mentorship and access to donor networks. During her first two years overseeing the fellowship, Bunten-Wamaru continually ran into the same issue: funders understood the interest of funding local talent, that it was more sustainable and more impactful, but they faced a number of logistical barriers and bureaucratic hurdles to do so.
African Visionary Fellow Brian Ssozi, founder of the youth empowerment organization Rockies in Uganda, summarizes some of the challenges that African-led organizations face: funders' lack of trust in unfamiliar organizations; geographical distance; language barriers; minimum budgetary requirements; and specific eligibility requirements in terms of the organization's structures and systems. "Segal is a totally different funder. When they come to you, they want to grow with your organization—to build capacity, internal systems, and professional development."
Seeking value alignment
Building on her experience at Segal, Bunten-Wamaru launched the African Visionary Fund in 2020 to pool donor contributions and drive unrestricted funding to high-impact African changemakers. She makes her case very eloquently: "By giving to the Fund, you are funding local visionaries who are deeply rooted in the communities they serve and who will ensure that the hopes and aspirations of those communities inform the solutions being developed—and not the other way around." Led by an independent advisory board, the Fund has raised $2.75 million so far, out of a $10 million target that it plans to hit by 2023. In addition to Segal Family Foundation, founding donors include Imago Dei Fund, Peery Foundation, Skoll Foundation, thank you, and Umsizi Fund.
The African Visionary Fund is structured as a 'purpose fund', hosted at KBFUS. "What's been remarkable about working with KBFUS is that there's a lot of alignment on values," says Bunten-Wamaru. "They are really intentional about the way they interact with their partners, and their approach is based on building real relationships."
"African visionaries on the ground have been able to pivot and deliver more impact faster than their Western counterparts, because they're just so tapped into what's happening."
Katie Bunten-Wamaru
The pandemic's silver lining
A silver lining of the ongoing pandemic, Bunten-Wamaru says, is that it has further fueled the need to provide funding to African-led organizations. "When you look at the way Covid has shaped the conversations in philanthropy this year, and when you look at our African visionaries on the ground, they've been able to pivot and deliver more impact faster than their Western counterparts because they're just so tapped into what's happening. And they're able to navigate a changing context so quickly," Bunten-Wamaru says.
That was the case for Rockies in Uganda. "Proximity gives you the advantage of being swift. Already being on the ground meant that we could immediately redirect our education budget—since the schools were closed—to initiatives focused on the preservation of life," explains Ssozi.
"Locally-led organizations are proximal to the people and places most affected by disaster," confirms African Visionary Fellow Mercy C. Kafotokoza, founder of Wandikweza, a healthcare outreach initiative in Malawi. "The pandemic highlighted the critical role that a robust, local civil society sector plays. Our proximity to the people enabled us to minimize interruptions for the communities we serve. When the schools had to close, we kept our library open so that students could still study."
The King Baudouin Foundation United States (KBFUS) is the leading resource for philanthropic giving to Europe and Africa – a trusted advisor for U.S. donors seeking to support their favorite causes and non-profits overseas.
To learn more about our donor-advised funds, legacy funds
and KBFUS ART, please visit kbfus.org.
Or contact us at (212) 713-7660 or [email protected]
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(I'm including contests that may or may not be open at the time of posting, and which may or may not close before you see them. However, most are quarterly or annual, and have varying dates, so be sure to verify details and submission deadlines; these things change on a regular basis. If a contest is no longer running, please let me know!)
Bath Short Story Award
A British contest — £1,200 first prize, smaller second and third prize. Entry fee £8; 2200 max word limit. Any theme or subject. Adult or young adult readers. Previously unpublished. Must not have won any previous prize. However, simultaneous submissions are accepted. Winning and short-listed stories published in annual anthology.
Boulevard's Short Fiction Contest for Emerging Writers
Open to writers who've not yet published a book of fiction, poetry or creative non-fiction with a nationally distributed press. 8K word count. $1,500 prize + publication. Entry fee $16.
Raymond Carver Short Story Contest
Opens 4/1 through 5/15 each year. Five cash prizes totaling $2,500. Prizewinners are published in the October issue of Carve Magazine.
The Crazyhorse Prizes in Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry
Open from January 1 through January 31. Winners in each genre receive $2,000 and publication. All entries receive a one-year subscription to Crazyhorse.
Emerging Writer's Contest
Open to writers who have yet to publish or self-publish a book. Winners receive $2,000. Fiction, nonfiction, poetry. Open submission periods vary. Under 6K words. One entry per year. Previously unpublished. Entry fee $24 (waived for subscribers).
Glimmer Train Awards
Offers a plethora of contests, each with a specific focus. First prizes run from $2,000 to 3,000. Read the magazine to see what they are looking for. NOTE: Glimmer Train will be ceasing publication in 2019. Until then, their contests and submission periods remain in effect. Check their website for details.
Gris-Gris Flash Fiction Contest
Starts May 15, 2018. Submit fiction of no more than 1,000 words by July 30, 2018. The winner receives $500 and publication in Gris-Gris. Pulitzer Prize winner, Robert Olen Butler, will select the winner. All submissions will be considered for publication. There is a $10 entry fee per submission. Winners will be announced in the fall.
Lorian Hemingway Competition
Pays $1,500 first prize, and publication of winning entry in Cutthroat: A Journal of the Arts. Second and third place each get $500. Entrants limited to writers whose fiction has not appeared in a nationally distributed publication with a circulation of 5,000 or more. Writers published in on-line magazines or who have self-published are considered on an individual basis. Word Limit: 3,500 words or less. Entry fee. Open submission periods vary; check website for details.
Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction and Essay Contest
Open between 10/15 and 4/30. $2,000 for top fiction and top essay. Ten honorable mentions of $100 each. Top twelve entries will be published online. All themes accepted. Entries may be published or unpublished. Limit 6,000 words. Fee: $20 per entry.
Indiana Review's Half-K Prize
First prize of $1K and publication. Up to three pieces, up to 500 words each. No genre or form restrictions.
Innovative Short Fiction Contest
Sponsored by The Conium Review. Prize is $500, publication, comp copies and a copy of the judge's latest book. Looking for a fresh idea, not the same old story concepts. Must have a "wow" factor. Open submission periods vary; check website for details. Entry fee $15. Submissions through Submittable. Must be previously unpublished, but simultaneous submissions are acceptable. (no refund)
Open for the month of January. Winner: $1,500; first runner up: $750. Accepts submissions through Submittable; fiction/prose up to 25 pages, double-spaced. Entries must be previously unpublished.
Curt Johnson Prose Award
Run by December Magazine. Open to stories up to 8K words. First prize $1500; 2nd prize $500. Both are published. Also prizes for non-fiction. No simultaneous submissions. Submit through Submittable. Entry fee $20, includes copy of awards issue. Open submission periods vary; check website for details.
Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize
Australian contest sponsored by Australian Book Review; winner announced at Melbourne Writers Festival. First prize is $9,000 (AUD$12,500), runner up prizes and judge's commendation prizes as well. Word count must be between 2k and 5k words, written in English. Previously unpublished. Exclusive submission. Entry fee.Open submission periods vary; check website for details.
Manchester Fiction Prize
Entry fee £17.50. Prize is £10,000. Up to 2,500 words. Open submission periods vary; check website for details.
Masters Review's Short Story Award for New Writers
Only open to new writers who have not yet published a book. 7k word limit. First prize $3,000 + publication and agency review. Second and third place prizes as well. Open submission periods vary; check website for details.
Howard Frank Mosher Short Fiction Prize
Sponsored by Hunger Mountain, the Vermont College of Fine Arts Journal for the Arts. First prize is $1,000 and publication. One runner up receive $100. $20 entry fee. Must be previously unpublished, and under 10,000 words. Open submission periods vary; check website for details.
Nelligan Prize for Short Fiction
Winner receives $2,000 and publication in the fall/winter issue of Colorado Review. Literary Fiction. $15 entry fee per story; unlimited entries. Word count between 2,500 and 12,500. Open submission periods vary; check website for details.
Nelson Algren Literary Award
Sponsored by the Chicago Tribune. One winner ($3,500), four finalists ($1,000 each), five runners-up ($500 each). All stories considered for publication in Printers Row, the Tribune's digital literary journal. Entries for this contest go through Submittable. The link herein is for the 2017 contest rules; apparently the link changes each year. Check out Chicago Tribune's page and search for Nelson Algren Award. Runs from late fall through early spring. Check for dates.
Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction
Recognizes outstanding collections of short fiction. Collections may include long stories or novellas; however, novels or single novellas will not be considered. Unpublished MS between 40K and 75K words, may include long stories or novellas. Authors One prize of $1,000 and publication by the University of Georgia Press under a standard book contract. Must be residents of North America. Open submission periods vary; check website for details. Entry fee: $30.
Philosophy through Fiction
Sponsored by the American Philosophical Association; first prize is $500 and publication in Sci Phi Journal. Entries close 2/1. (NOTE: As of 7/10/18, this contest looks defunct.)
Premium Edition Contest
Open 10/1 through 11/15 each year. Three genres: fiction, nonfiction, poetry. One prize of $1,000 in each genre and publication in Premium Edition of Carve Magazine.
Robert and Adele Schiff Awards
Sponsored by the Cincinnati Review and the University of Cincinnati. Open between June 1 and July 15 to stories, poems and literary non-fiction. $1,000 prize each for poetry and prose. Entry fee $20 (includes a one-year subscription to the Cincinnati Review).
John Steinbeck Short Story Award
Fiction up to 5K words. First prize of $1,000 and all entries are considered for publication. Entry fee: $15. (As of 7/10/18, I see no mention of another of these contests, only acknowledgement of the 2018 winners.)
Sunday Times Short Story Prize
World's richest short story competition. Winner receives £30,000. Open from June through September. ONLY OPEN TO WRITERS PUBLISHED IN THE UK AND IRELAND.
WC&C Scholarship Competition
Sponsored by the Association of Writers and Writing Programs. $500 scholarships in workshop fees, retreats or conferences to emerging writers. For fiction and creative nonfiction, up to 25 pages. Double-spaced, 12-pt font. Open from December 1 through March 30. $10 entry fee.
Pays FANTASTIC benefits, and honors winners all the way up to 25th place! Entry fee. Open submission periods vary; check website for details.
Zoetrope All-Story's Annual Fiction Contest
First prize $1,000; second prize $500; third prize $250. Winner and runners up are forwarded to leading literary agents. 5K word limit. Open July 1 to October 1. $30 entry fee.


Recently, CO_2 emission regulation in automobile industry has been started and improvement of fuel consumption is required from the view points of global warming and energy problems. Weight reduction is one of the ways to solve these requirements. Aluminum alloy with superior strength and high specific gravity will be a candidate material for reducing the weight of automobile structural components. As automobile components, high fatigue strength and toughness as well as tensile strength are required. However, improvement of strength tends to decrease toughness. In the present study, effects of microstructure on fatigue strength and toughness of 6000 aluminum alloys have been reported.
Recently, aluminum alloys have been applied to more structural parts of automobiles. In order to imove the reliability of the automobile furthenriore, it should be verified 1ether the stress concentration due to the scars influences on the fatigue strength. Fatigue test and stress simulation were carried out to obtain cpantitatively hemispherical pits effect on fatigue strength for extruded thick plates of 6000 series aluminum alloys. As the size effect of the pit, the relationship between strength reduction factor and volume of stress concentrated area was shown.
The cooperation between industry and the academic work in Japan has been working well recently. In this article, the cooperation through my experiences on industry and academic sides was described.
In hot extrusion, tearing plays an important role on surface quality of profiles. In this study, extrudability of 7075 aluminum alloy without tearing was quantified by extrusion limit diagram, which is a relationship between temperatures and speeds. Tearing appearance and distribution of elements were investigated to assess tearing mechanism. According to the diagram, tearing easily occurrs at high temperature and high speed conditions. Micro-solid bridge was observed at tearing surface to indicate the localization of melting of soluble Al2CuMg and MgZn2 compounds because temperature increased by friction coupled with tension stress at a die region. During hot extrusion, recrystallization affects the grain growth, intermetallic compounds were formed at grain boundaries reducing bonding strength between grains promoting tearing sensitivity. Zinc and magnesium concentration is high at the vicinity of grain boundaries because of diffusion into aluminum-matrix whereas insoluble Al7Cu2Fe particles were large and remained at grain boundaries resulting in tearing. Grain refinement can decrease a size of insoluble compounds and promote scattering of soluble compounds. Therefore, to reduce tearing sensitivity, grain refinement has to be controlled during hot extrusion process by controlling chemical composition of billet and friction at bearing region. This causes temperature to increases and thus, induce recrystallization.
Precise determination of argon isotopic ratios was made on twenty-seven historic lavas from Japan. Their isotopic ratios were mostly mass fractionated from that of the atmospheric argon toward the enrichment in lighter isotopes. This suggests that the correction for the mass fractionated initial 40Ar/36Ar ratio is very important for the K-Ar dating of volcanic rocks younger than 0.1 Ma. The limit of measurable K-Ar age is estimated to be 0.03 Ma for a normal andesitic lava having a fractionated initial argon.


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#ifndef __MAL_FINETIME_LIST_H_INCLUDED__
#define __MAL_FINETIME_LIST_H_INCLUDED__

#ifdef __cplusplus
extern "C" {
#endif

mal_finetime_list_t *mal_finetime_list_new(unsigned int element_count);

void mal_finetime_list_clear(mal_finetime_list_t * self);

void mal_finetime_list_destroy(mal_finetime_list_t **self_p);

unsigned int mal_finetime_list_get_element_count(mal_finetime_list_t *self);

bool *mal_finetime_list_get_presence_flags(mal_finetime_list_t *self);

mal_finetime_t *mal_finetime_list_get_content(mal_finetime_list_t *self);

int mal_finetime_list_add_encoding_length_malbinary(mal_finetime_list_t *self,
    mal_encoder_t *encoder, void *cursor);

int mal_finetime_list_encode_malbinary(mal_finetime_list_t *self,
    mal_encoder_t *encoder, void *cursor);

int mal_finetime_list_decode_malbinary(mal_finetime_list_t *self,
    mal_decoder_t *decoder, void *cursor);

//  Self test of this class
void mal_finetime_list_test(bool verbose);

#ifdef __cplusplus
}
#endif

#endif

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Welding careers are red hot. If you are willing to work hard to develop your skills in this field, you will find a variety of lucrative job opportunities. Our students learn the latest techniques in joining, fabricating and repairing metal. We have top-notch instructors and state-of-the-art facilities that prepare graduates to enter this exciting field. The OCTC Welding Program is accredited by American Welding Society and offers associate degree, diploma and certificate programs. Ignite your potential today.
OCTC's Welding program is accredited by the American Welding Society (AWS) which offers National welding certification credentials. You can choose to earn an AAS degree or select from a variety of certificate options. Classroom knowledge and lab skills are combined with the appropriate welding techniques and the practical application of those techniques. Welding career opportunities are available in our region through a variety of employers including: Titan and Modern Welding and many regional fabrication companies. Check the catalog or see your advisor for a complete list of courses and descriptions. Use the contact info on this page to learn more!


We have been fortunate over the years to build many wonderful business to business relationships! We thank all of you for your continued patronage, information on how we can better serve your needs and the education you offer on the many facets of this industry. Historically, we have offered a wholesale discount with a minimum per purchase order value. In response to your insights, we will be transitioning to a program which will not require a minimum per purchase, but instead will be a self perpetuating discount specific to your account, based on meeting value thresholds over the course of time. You will need to open account on the site, complete the application and when approved, we will grant you access to the B2B sub-domain. The subdomain will be restricted to only users who have an account, and have been approved by our staff.
To apply simply create an account which can be done here, and then fill out the application page which can be found here. It is important to have an account beforehand, as we will provide your account with a 'key' to access this subdomain, which you will login to using the same username and password as the WWC site. We will be launching the B2B sub-domain shortly, so please keep an eye on our Blog for updates.


← is the unknown safer than the known?
I hear ya, sister! Wanna hear something crazy? A man found me via online dating…he CALLED to talk, stating he found it more personal than texting. THEN he took me on a date to a very fancy restaurant and followed up with me a few days after requesting another. Well, I was so uncomfortable with the whole situation it just turned me off! He was so different from what I was used to….ok, I'll also blame all the FWBs I'm collecting for jacking up the experience, but honestly I felt like being spoiled a little and treated politely felt a little off….like it was too high class for comfort….and yet…..THAT'S HOW I WANT TO BE TREATED!! I don't get myself sometimes…And to top if off, the guy looks great on paper. Everything is right with him qualification-wise. So why don't I like him?
Gosh so true… I know the feeling, you feel like you're meant to like them because they treat you well and they look great on paper. We have become so accustomed to being treated poorly that when we get too much attention it's a turn off. We can't win!
That is so very sad but I think if you push yourself beyond your comfort zone and expect the best and accept nothing less then you will get over the uncomfortable feeling of being treated with the dignity and respect that you deserve. Good luck on your journey.
Ladies teach your sons chivalry and the "old ways" because your daughters deserve more than the "modern man"! And jodeybear … don't feel bad for not liking him. You cannot control your feelings and if you have to search for them, they are not good enough. But that does not mean that you need to settle for a "modern man" … hold out for the guy who looks good on paper, who wants to talk to you, and who makes your heart skip a beat! He is out there!
Would be interesting to hear your take on 'The Modern Woman' – I think they too exist although perhaps there are fewer of them!
Have a read of my new post'the modern woman' … I wrote it especially for you!
Sadly, I understand what you mean by the "modern man" phenomenon. It's pitiful. There are decent ones amid the ruins, so keep on keeping on until you find some. Guys think they can get away with buying a couple drinks and that's enough to get them laid. Then they're onto the next. Sadly, it must work often enough. Women need to put the bar back where it belongs.
I dated a younger guy (or I should say one my age) and all they want to do is party party party or play video games or smoke pot!
Cannot really complain! All very true for the majority of us menfolk, unfortunately. Yet your post on the modern woman rings very true as well, to a hapless romantic like myself! I wrote a letter to a modern woman whom I'd liked for a number of years, detailing my feelings. To which she texted me asking if it was me who sent it (I sent it anonymously), and when I said yes she completely blocked me from her life for EIGHT MONTHS! I thought it was a little harsh..


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Kürti Imre (1931–Budapest, 2015. február) magyar nemzeti labdarúgó-játékvezető. Polgári foglalkozása hivatásos katona, ezredes.

Pályafutása

Nemzeti játékvezetés
1964-ben Budapesti Labdarúgó-szövetség (BLSZ) I. osztályú minősítéssel rendelkezett. Az országban egyedülálló módon 1972–1997 között elnökként vezette a Budapesti Labdarúgó-szövetség (BLSZ) Játékvezető Bizottságát (JB). Megyei vizsgabizottság elnöke, megyei és NB III-as játékvezető ellenőr.  Ember központú gondolkodása lehetővé tette, hogy szakmai irányítása mellett játékvezetői korosztályok képviselhették a fővárost a nemzeti bajnokságok, a nemzetközi mérkőzések játékvezetői között. Szakmai felkészültsége, pedagógiai készsége és empátiája a mai napig példa rengeteg futballvezető és bíró számára. Számos egykori játékvezető (például: Bede Ferenc, Hornyák Lajos, Juhos Attila, Kiss Béla, Szabó Zsolt, Tóth Vencel, és még sokan mások) tanítómesterének tekintette. 2007-ben a BLSZ elnöksége egyhangúlag elfogadta, hogy Kürti Imre a BLSZ tiszteletbeli elnökségi tagja, illetve tiszteletbeli JB elnök legyen.

Források

További információk

Magyar labdarúgó-játékvezetők
1931-ben született személyek
2015-ben elhunyt személyek

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Dialysis may be used when kidney disease develops into ESRD (end stage renal disease). However, there is a fact that no one are willing to undergo dialysis because its numerous side effects and expensive costs. Then, is there any new treatment for dialysis patients? If you are interested in this topic, please read on and find out the answer.
New treatments for dialysis patients is to avoid dialysis. At our center point, many new and characterized therapies are created by our experts. Here we will recommend two major treatments for dialysis patients.
It is an innovation based on TCM (traditional Chinese medicine). And it also combines advanced Western technology. Our doctors will elect suitable and effective Chinese medical herbs according to patient's individualized illness condition. Under the help of western osmosis devices, active ingredients of micronized Chinese herbs can be permeated into kidney lesions. Chinese medicine plays the role of removing waste products and toxins and repairing kidney damage, because this medicine can expand blood vessels, promote blood circulation and enhance renal function. They can provide enough oxygen and nutritions for the body needs. After a period, patients will get an obvious improvement. And compared to dialysis, it is a more safe, convenient, and effective treatment. Also, it has won good fame from patients who come from different countries due to its good therapeutic effect and no side effects. All in all, it is a natural and alternative treatment for dialysis patients.
For any renal diseases, they all can induced the polluted blood. Fortunately, Blood Pollution Therapy aims to clear blood, provide nutrition to blood and restore blood, thus enhancing renal function. During the process, different blood purification methods are used to remove wastes and toxins in the blood. And only the blood get purification, nutritions can be supplied and renal function can be enhanced to a large extent. More details about this therapy, you can talk with our online doctor directly or leave a message below.
The early treatment is applied, the better chance of avoiding dialysis and stopping progress of illness condition. Other unique therapies such as Medicate Bath, Circle Therapy, Hot Compress Therapy and Stem Cells Therapy are available for kidney disease patients which can help them to avoid dialysis. Wanna more info? Please attach your medical report to renal-disease@hotmail.com and we will recommend an individualized treatment so as to help you to avoid dialysis.


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By Darrell Etherington Funding August 1, 2012
ShopLocket Raises $1M, Wants to Lead the Emerging Simple Selling Market
Toronto-based startup ShopLocket today announced its first institutional funding, a $1 million seed round led by Rho Canada Ventures and Peter Thiel's Valar Ventures. The round also includes BDC Venture Capital, Relay Ventures and Extreme Venture Partners as well as private investors, and will help ShopLocket grow its team and extend the availability of its simple ecommerce platform, which allows anyone to create single-item storefronts they can embed on any website quickly and easily.
For the young startup, which just launched in private beta back in February 2012, the funding will be instrumental in helping it add employees in both the marketing and engineering departments.
"The main use of the funds will be to grow the team, both for marketing and development," ShopLocket co-founder Katherine Hague said in an interview. "Up until now we were a team of three; Andrew Louis my co-founder, Dan Kalmar our Community Manager, and myself. Already we've added two team members, Jaclyn Konzelmann for business development and Sumanth Ravipati as our second developer. We expect to be adding a full-time designer and a third developer later in the year."
For Hague and her team, bringing that new talent on board will be the key to scaling quickly. But the startup is no stranger to doing things quickly; Hague says that the entire process of raising this round took place over just two short months, "from pitches to money in the bank." She credits a lot of that speed to the company's participation in the Extreme Startups accelerator program, a Toronto-based program which selects five startup teams for each 12-week cohort it runs, providing each with $50,000 in capital upfront, and another $150,000 on successful completion of the program, provided by BDC Venture Capital.
"Four of our five institutional investors are also investors in Extreme Startups," Hague said. "They've seen us develop since we joined the program in March. Throughout that time we were able to develop strong relationships with all of them, they've been incredibly supportive."
As for ShopLocket's final investor, Valar Ventures, that resulted from a trip Hague made to San Francisco in June. Hague says that ShopLocket "couldn't have found a better partner" as an ecommerce startup, and that definitely seems to be the case, as Valar President Peter Thiel co-founded PayPal. Thiel's support will definitely help with ShopLocket's long-term goals, which include coming out at the top of the heap among the recent crop of startups tackling simplified online buying and selling, including Gumroad, Kout and Sellfy.
"I think that the key to coming out ahead in this market will be rapid iteration and staying top of mind with consumers," Hague explained about her company's approach. "When we started ShopLocket nine months ago, this segment of companies really didn't exist. There is a massive opportunity here with more then enough room for multiple players, [but] ultimately, I think that we will see a leader emerge in the next couple years and we plan to be that leader."
gumroadkoutone-click sellingshoplocket
0 replies on "ShopLocket Raises $1M, Wants to Lead the Emerging Simple Selling Market"
RocketRez closes $20 million CAD Series B to fuel European tourism expansion
Vector Institute, Communitech partner to expand AI training program across Canada
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Smithers Quality Assessments (SQA) is a "Best in Class" quality and environmental management systems certification body. They serve large, medium and small clients in North America and Europe in several industrial, commercial, service and government business sectors. Founded in 1993, SQA has sustained a growth rate that ranks among the best in the industry.


On March 5, 2004, the Grand Master Fiddler Championship Inc. corporation was formed as a Tennessee nonprofit corporation by Howard Harris and Ed Carnes with advice and support from Charlie Bush. It was granted IRS 501(c)(3) status as a charitable organization on July 28, 2004. No salaries or bonuses are paid to any board members or volunteers.
The corporation was originally formed as a vehicle to re-start the prestigious competition held annually from 1972 through 1997 in Opryland U.S.A. theme park as part of CMA Fan Fair. As organizing activities progress, work is being done to further expand to add support for education about fiddling, and to allow donations of money and support to other charitable groups such as the Grand Ole Opry Trust Fund (which helps country musicians in need) and The Bluegrass Trust Fund (which helps bluegrass musicians in need). The Articles of Incorporation stipulate that any proceeds remaining upon corporate dissolution will be donated to other charities.
The company is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee.