Megan McLoda

Abstract: This article is about retiring to Panama. Panama is the new Florida. It discusses the benefits of moving down there as well as the negatives.

Map of Panama

This article is of applied and report research. It informs the reader the benefits of moving down to Panama and it also applies the article to actual real life subjects and gets their opinions on living there. It had primary and secondary sources, the primary being the first hand information from the people that live in Panama, the secondary being the information that was gathered on Panama’s economy.

The article discussed many benefits about moving down to Panama after you retire. It talked about how cheap the cost of living is, how amazing the health care is at a low cost, and it even mentioned that retirees do not have to pay property taxes for the first 20 years (which for some may mean they never have to pay property taxes). It also talked about how properties go for a lot less in Panama than they do in the United States, for example, a couple bought a 3,000 square foot house for $250,000 that would have cost them over $3 million in Miami. They did mention that it is not all fabulous. Some negatives about living down in Paradise is that once you live down there you start to see some of the cracks in paradise that you would not see by just visiting there for a week or two. The article mentioned that things move VERY slowly, you may not get a repairman to your house until days after he said he would be there, and also sometimes the electricity can be very spotty. Those were the only negatives that the article mentioned. The article was very good at mentioning the benefits of moving down to Panama but I feel that it could have mentioned more of the negatives. If I were thinking about moving down to Panama I would need and want to know more about things that are not so wonderful to decide if they are worth dealing with. One negative that I can think that should be added is the fact that if you move down there, you are leaving behind your children as well as your grandchildren, so you won’t see then as often as you would if you were living back home.

The articles data collection and analysis was very good. They talked to actual retirees that have moved down there from the United States. One couple talked about how the house they are able to go out a lot more than they ever would have in California.  They can go out for margaritas and a nice meal for only $20 for the both of them. I think it is important to get firsthand accounts on the topic you are discussing because that makes it even more real for the reader or audience.

This is a very meaningful study because it shows retirees as well as upcoming retirees that there are other options for them besides either retiring with minimal benefits and money or maybe not even retiring at all. It shows them that you are able to go live some place that is super beautiful but still be able to live like a king or queen.

http://0-web.ebscohost.com.maurice.bgsu.edu/ehost/detail?vid=3&hid=19&sid=2fa139c4-c8e2-41dd-bad5-4833e778f4c5%40sessionmgr15&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=a9h&AN=42872709

London has not had the Olympics there yet, but I do think that they will benefit from the games a great deal. My article discussed that the Olympic Stadium is completed and it was under budget and was finished earlier than scheduled. London is a World City; it is already known by everyone and is a popular destination for travelers and businessmen. The games will only help their image more and attract more people to the city.  I also believe that London will have a Legacy Effect because the structures that are being built for the games, they already have plans for their use after they are finished. Which is what Atlanta did with their facility; Centennial Olympic Stadium is now home to the Atlanta Braves Baseball team. The Dome in Sydney, Australia is now home to the Gladiators, which is Australia’s equivalent to the American Gladiators. The Nippon Budokan in Tokyo was used for martial arts during the 1964 Olympics, now it is home to numerous rock concerts and it also hosts martial art competitions, puroresu, which is a Japanese professional wrestling. These cities that I have just mentioned are also World Cities, with possible the exception of Atlanta, however Atlanta will always be known for having the 1996 Olympic Games, this is its Legacy Effect.

Nippon Budokan-Tokyo, Japan

Centennial Olympic Stadium-Atlanta, Georgia

London Olympic Facility-London, England

The Dome-Sydney, Australia

https://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/17488   

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/sports/2011-03/30/c_13804943.htm

                                          Bad  Locker Room

          Good Locker Room

1. This locker room is nice and spacious
2. Lockers are big enough for the players to fit all of their equipment
3. Stools by each locker for the players to sit and rest
4. Sitting area to relax at after a game
5. Trash cans everywhere to ensure the room stays clean
6. Plenty of mirrors
7. Room for extra tables when there is a little celebration after a game
8. Nice Carpeting for a more homier feel
9. Wood paneling around to give it a finished look
10. Plenty of lighting throughout

BGSU Ice Arena

The flooring in the Ice Arena needs to be a special mat type that does not ruin ice skates as they are walking across them. The rubber mats are put all over the building where the skaters need to go. This is efficient so that the skaters do not have to take their skates off every time they need to walk somewhere when not on the ice. The locker rooms, in the shower have a flooring that is resistant to mold and moisture, so that is better for the players and skaters. The ceiling, in the lobby is a drop ceiling, and the part that the zamboni, drives under has no ceiling and has exhaust fans above so that the fumes of the zamboni don’t linger in the lobby with guests around.

My overall impression of the BGSU Ice Arena was a very good one. They are making a lot of improvements to help things be more efficient for the students and public as well as the employees. The only drawback is that they are renovating and updating as money comes to them, which poses the risk that they may be paying more money in the long run.

     I always like to go see behind the scenes in facilities to see how things are actually run. It was really cool to see the compressors and to learn what they do and how they work. It was interesting to learn that there is only, at most, and inch and a half of ice on the rink. I would have guessed a lot more; at least a foot was my thought. I think that this Ice Arena meets the needs that we need here in Bowling Green. It works perfectly for the hockey team and other teams that use it, and it works perfectly for the public that come and use it as well. I think that our guide was right when she said that they size of the facility is where it should be, if it was built any bigger than they would have trouble filling up to keep it running. Bowling Green is a small community and it doesn’t need a huge facility.

 Technology has come a long way over the years. Computers used to be huge systems that were only used for business and now they can fit in the palm of your hand, as either the Android or the iPhone.

There are many benefits of technology in the field of tourism, leisure, and event planning. One is that with the new computer and software systems, hotels are able to check guests in and out, plus do other transactions at the drop of a hat. Nothing has to be done by hand; everything is done through the computer. Another is that buildings structures are more advanced than they were 50 years ago. Newer buildings are able to withstand tornados and hurricanes a lot better.

Now, on the other side, there are drawbacks to having technology in the field of tourism, leisure, and event planning. One is that since everything is done by computer, if the power goes out in the building, or something is wrong with the computer system, you are done for the day, or until they can get the computer system back up because nothing can be done, no date can be updated, no new clients added into the system. Another is that because technology is always changing and at a rapid pace, the new, best thing is always coming out. Laptops are old the second you buy them and take them home. People always feel that they need the newest and the best thing out there even if that means buying a new Android phone this month and when they come out with a new one the next month they must go buy that one as well. This goes for facilities as well, companies and even campuses want the best that is out there, so they will build a new facility on their campus, with the best technology that is out there, however since facilities take a long time to build it is possible that by the time that particular facility is built, it will have outdated technology. It seems that you can win when it comes to technology.

The software system that I have chosen is called      Visual One™ PMS by Agilysys, or just Visual One™. This program is used by hotels for their front desk operations. You can make reservations through this system, and you also check guests in and out, move guests to different rooms, and pretty much everything else that is needed to run the front desk. Some strengths and weaknesses of this system is that it is versatile and meets the front desks needs, it is easy to learn, but at the same time it is a little hard to learn, at times it can be a little temperamental. Overall I think it is a good system.

http://www.agilysys.com/home/Hospitality/Solutions/visual_one_pms.htm

1. I feel that in the Steinbach article in the example where an athlete hit another athlete in the head with a shot-put while he was picking up the shot-out that he threw is a form of negligence. The second athlete was not paying attention to the fact that they other player had not gotten out of the way yet, he was being careless in his actions.

2. I think that the facility plays a major role in the prevention of negligence. The facility needs to be set up in a certain way for the track meets to flow. You don’t want events in an area that requires the players and spectators to cross in front of another event and mess the payer up. Risk management can be included in the design of a facility by putting up signs, if you put them in the right place and have it made a certain way to get people’s attention, it will help direct athletes and spectators to the proper areas. Also, if you are able to build a brand new track facility you can take into consideration traffic flow and the proper materials needed to have the safest environment possible.

Stroh Center

     The presentation on Capital Planning for BGSU was very interesting. I never realized how much planning or even time it took to build something like the Stroh Center. The amount of time that they have been working on the Wolfe Center is crazy, you never think about how long it will take for people to accept your idea or to get the funds to even start.

     The challenges that I saw that can come from facility design and construction is that first you have to get someone to think your idea is great and wants to take it forward. Then next you have to design what it is that you want in the facility, and if there are more than one department like the Wolfe Center, then you need to have meetings where everyone can come to an agreement or compromise of how the building should be laid out. Another challenge is getting the funding for the facility, are you getting it from a donor like the Stroh Center or is it coming from the state? When the building finally gets underway, you have to decide the materials that you want to you, and also, if problems come up you have to deal with those. Also, if you start to go over budget, then you have to decide what you really need and what can go.

     Rewards that can come from building a new facility are that when it is finished and it starts being used for its purpose and everyone is just so thrilled that they have this building, you get to feel important that you helped bring this facility to the community for everyone’s use. You get to say to yourself “Wow, I actually helped make this facility a reality” and that can be a great feeling.

     BGSU is not the only University that is adding new facilities to improve the feel of their campus. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY has spent $715 million on construction since 2000. The President of the school says that they are getting their payoff in the amount of undergraduate applications they are receiving. In the past 10 years they have doubled their numbers to 14,000 applications. Indiana Institute of Technology, since 2008, has built three new residence halls, a new athletic center, renovated their administration building, added state-of-the-art labs for life sciences, computer sciences, and energy engineering, and they have also become a test site for an innovative geothermal system.

     This to me shows that Universities and Colleges all around the country are upgrading their campuses. They are hoping to attract more students as well as more talented students and also more donors to help fund other things around campus. It is hard for campuses to be running now because of the recession, so they are trying everything they can to get more money to keep going.

http://www.universitiesintheusa.com/campus-improvements-news.html

http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/print-edition/2010/11/12/colleges-and-universities-hope.html

Positive:

1. Wheelchair ramps going into buildings on campus

2. Elevators inside buildings

3. Wide halls in most buildings to allow easy access to classes

4. Sidewalks all over campus to allow students to easily get from one building to another

5. Handicap Parking near every building on campus

6. SunDial is very wide, with plenty of room to move around

7. First floor rooms for easy access in and out of dorms

8. Have your own room in the dorm (if you prefer a single)

9. Rec Center has a ramp and adequate flooring in weight room area

10. Sidewalks are plowed in a timely manner when it snows

Negatives:

1. Access to buildings isn’t always easy

2. Wheelchair ramps are usually on opposite side of where students usually enter building

3. Not every building has wide enough halls

4. Restroom doors are not automatic

5. Sorority Houses do not have accessible rooms

6. In lecture halls disabled students are forced to sit in the back of the class

7. In small classrooms it is not easy to move around

8. Not easy for disabled students to get to the basement of the Rec Center to use those facilities

9. Food Court counters are at a normal height which is hard for disabled students to see

10. Forced to have a single (if you preferred to have a roommate)

Eppler

Objectives:

• Instructional
• Educational
• Easy Access
• Athletics
• Recreational Sports
• Office Space
• Others

Basic Assumptions

• Facility will provide classrooms for education, offices, recreational and other sports.
• Fix existing problems
• Various design considerations
• Possible facility expansion

Comparable Facility Analysis

• Tour other facilities that are similar that have been recently reconstructed
• Compare the cost, design, attributes

Factors Affecting Planning

• State regulations
• Classes in session
• Systems approach in design and construction
• New products
• Heating because of the cold weather in Ohio

Explanation of Current and Proposed Programming

• Instructional
• Exercise Classes
• Club Sports
• Office Space
• Recreational Programs

Preliminary Data

• Is it economical to expand, or should it be torn down and rebuilt?
• Should the whole building be updated?
• How does the community feel about it?

Space Needs and Allocation

• Make sure there is enough seating in classrooms
• Space for the various sports classes and events
• Enough restroom facilities throughout the entire building
• Office Space for the Professors and Secretaries

Service Facilities

• Enough restroom facilities
• Adequate office space for professors
• Vending machines for snacks and drinks

Environmental Necessities

• To get the building as green as possible
• Recycling bins throughout the building
• Movement Sensor lighting
• Use green materials for the building process

Equipment and Furnishings

• Trash cans throughout the building
• Desks for classes and offices
• Sports equipment for different classes

Recreation Center

When you start your college career you know that usually there will be some kind of recreation center for students to use while attending school. It is never shown but almost always mentioned on a tour as a kind of “bonus” for students to use. I feel I can say with confidence that pretty much every student attending BGSU has stepped into the Rec Center at least once. We all know where the weights are and where to go for our daily dose of cardio, however, most of us don’t know what is beyond that. I think that the tour we took was very good; we were able to see parts of the Rec that otherwise we would not be able to see, and also we got a better understanding of how things work and why they are done a certain way. Until the tour, I did not even know that there are four levels, and I also didn’t know that it was like going through a maze to get to the group exercise area. It amazes me how the Rec Center has so many racquet ball courts that are not being used for anything. It would be nice if something could be thought of to utilize that space. Another interesting feature are the windows in the pool. It would be really cool to be able to go down there during a diving match and watch the divers from the bottom.

     All in all, I think that the tour was very interesting and informative. It gave us the opportunity to see things around the Rec Center that we may otherwise have never seen, and to learn a little history about it as well.