My Family History Essay Example for Free

My Family History Essay In all of us there is a hunger, marrow deep, to know our heritage to know who we are and where we came from. Without this enriching knowledge, there is a hollow yearning. No matter what our attainments in life, there is still a vacuum, emptiness, and the most disquieting loneliness. † –Alex Haley This quote explained to me the importance of my grandparent’s legacy and their history. A long twisting family tree inspires one who does not know where their roots originated. My grandfather Frank Douglas and my grandmother Delores Jones gave me a reason to find out where our legacy started. My grandfather Frank Kelow was adopted into a four person white family, which gave him the last name of Douglas. My grandfather was born on February 12, 1902. Frank was raised in Greenville, Mississippi with dozens of cousins, which gave him comfort. Frank’s biological parents did not attend college; in fact, they didn’t even graduate from high school. In Mississippi, â€Å"I was surrounded by racism, slavery, and poverty, which gave me the inspiration to give my father a better life† (Douglas). As a young kid Frank often hung out in the streets with his friends and partied a lot. He was a heavy smoker with a tiny taste for alcohol. â€Å"Growing up in a poor neighborhood I was introduced to a lot of bad things such as drugs, gambling, and fighting† (Douglas). Around the house, Frank was responsible for mowing the lawn, taking out the trash, and cleaning the pool. At the age of 21 my grandfather entered the army and decided to fight in World War II. After the war concluded, my grandfather married and moved to Queens, New York. Frank and his wife made history that day because they were the first black couple to move into the neighborhood, which they lived. This was the birthplace of my father Lance Douglas Sr. My grandmother Delores Jones was born on December 14, 1906, into a family of four. She was also raised through poverty, but with the help of her brother and cousins she found a way to stick it out. She was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana where her parents worked several jobs to maintain the tiny shack she was raised in. â€Å"Back in my day society consisted of smoking cigarettes, drinking beer, and partying heavily† (Jones). At the age of 13, she was required to work to earn extra money around the house. Some chores my grandmother had around the house was to clean the house, wash the dishes, wash clothes, and pull weeds from the lawn. The relationship between my grandmother and her parents was quite the opposite of mine with my parents. â€Å"After completing my chores, I was allowed to do basically whatever, as long as I was in the house at a reasonable hour† (Jones). Delores was a very social person. â€Å"I rarely spent time with my grandparents† (Jones). During her high school years she was often looked at as beautiful, ambitious, and persistent. At the age of 18 she was elected as prom queen for her senior dance. Although she was often free to do what she wanted, she was also held responsible. Delores was sometimes whooped and grounded for disobeying curfew rules and not completing her chores. This gave her everlasting the mentality of you must work for everything you want in life. I was born in Mississauga, Canada on the date of February 23, 1993. The name Kobie was given to me by my mother, it means warrior. Raised in a family with both parents, one-brother, and one sister, I was surrounded by people who loved me. My brother, Lance Douglas, was born four years earlier than me. Likewise, my sister was born two years prior of my birth. At the age of two, my parents decided to move to Plano, Texas, a beautiful city with the population of about 700,0000 people. As usual, around five I attended Kindergarten at the local school where my brother and sister attended elementary school. Being the youngest in the family provided both advantages and disadvantages. My brother and sister inherited my father’s gene of aggravating me to the point of physical confrontation, which later led to me getting beat up. Although women are usually on the feminine side, my sister was completely different. When my teenage years came around that’s when my siblings began to lighten up on the bullying. During my high school years I was considered the man on campus. I was an all-star at basketball, football, and baseball. During my senior year I only participated in football and was offered a scholarship to play for the Louisiana Lafayette, Ragin Cajuns. Now, as a freshman at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette I am living the life I once dreamed about; experiencing things I never thought I would. For example, going to the club on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. A student athlete who is enrolled in 17 hours and is also committed to football. Waking up at five a. m to workout on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Most of all, living the dream people told me wasn’t meant. All across the world there are families who have their own original legacies. In all of us there is a hunger, marrow deep, to know our heritage to know who we are and where we came from. Without this enriching knowledge, there is a hollow yearning. No matter what our attainments in life, there is still a vacuum, emptiness, and the most disquieting loneliness (Haley page 1). Its up to one to figure out how and where their family started. My grandfather Frank Douglas and my grandmother Delores Jones gave me a reason to find out where our legacy started. My grandparents have told me many things I never thought I would know about which has expanded my knowledge for the better.

Characteristics Of The Hospitality Industry

Characteristics Of The Hospitality Industry Explain the unique characteristics that separate service businesses from other business the deal with tangible product. Discuss what should a person prepares if he/she wants to become an hotelier. Question 1 The hotel industry is also known as the service sector. The reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers with liberality and good will. Hospitality industry is a board of category about the service industry also including event planning, theme park, restaurant, lodging and also tourism industry. A hospitality unit such as a restaurant, hotel, or even an amusement park consists of many groups such as facility maintenance, direct operations management, marketing, and human resources. Therefore, hospitality industry also includes accounting, tradesman ship, computer services, restaurants, and tourism.To be a successful manager in the hospitality industry, you must exhibit many skills and command much specialized knowledge all directed toward achieving the managerial objectives such as make the guest feel welcomed, make sureproductsor serviceswork for the guest and make sure the operation continues to provide service and make a profit. Besides that, the hotel industry is a multibillion-dollar industry, mainly depends on the availability of leisure time and disposal income. Therefore, that hospitality industry also include service sector. Answer Hospitality industry has many characteristics such as intangible, perishable, inseparable, simultaneous, variable, shift work, graveyard shift and guest satisfaction. Intangible servicecharacteristic in hospitality industry mean cannot see and touched but can felt. In addition, sales or service owned by the person, but it cannot be opened, from the service providers to service consumer. Example, a service only can be sold and owned by the person, but it cannot be opened, from the service providers service consumers. Sole proprietorship, provide services, can be entrusted to the service provider, you must generate and provide services in the different requirements of the authorized service consumers. Perishable service characteristic in hospitality industry mean wont last long and wont experience the same experience. When this service has been fully rendered to the requesting service consumer irreversibly disappear, because it has been consumed by service consumers. For example, service resource allocation processes and systems to provide services within a certain period. When the service has really given to users of the service request, this particular service irreversibly vanishes as it was used by the service users. Inseparable service means production, and from the customers experience. The indivisibility requirements, consumer service is to interact with its manufacturer to accept its benefits. Because someone must timely produce and the services provided by service providers is essential to provide services require service consumers. Performed automatically in many cases, but the service provider to provide the service must be prepared to allocate resources and systems, and active conditions and the ability to maintain appropriate services. Example, the service consumer must be sitting in the shops and hair stylist chair, or aircraft and seating, to the hairdresser or the pilot must in the same store or aircraft, respectively, to provide services. Simultaneous service means the service is some kind of horse, and at the same time consumption. As long as the service requirements of service consumers, especially the service must start from scratch generated without any delay and friction and services, consumers instant consumption rendered interests, for the implementation of his upcoming events or tasks.Example, waiter in the restaurant, or the cashier at the bank, is an integral part of the services provided. The client also participates in a certain degree of service, and the service may affect the results. People can be part of the service itself; this could be a service marketing advantage. Variable service is a service which means disposable generating, rendering, and consumption can never be accurately repeated time points, locations, and the case, under the conditions of the current configuration information and alocation of resources is different from the coming up delivery, even is the same kind of service to the same service consumers request. Example, Taxi service from his home to the opera, the consumers of transport services is different taxi service, transportation service consumers from opera to his home another point in time, the other direction, might be another route, may be another taxi drivers cab. Shift work in hospitality industry means an employment practice, use of, or the provision of services across, all 24 hours of the clock each day of the week. Shift work is the way hours of work are organized for an organization to operate outside regular hours. Different types of shifts includeshifts that rotate or change, shifts that are split apart by several hours, permanent shifts (day or night) and also changing shift lengths (8, 10 or 12 hours). There is few effect of shift work, for example, shift work can course such as digestive problems, including ulcers, stomach and intestinal problems reduce appetite, diabetes, epilepsy, asthma and depression. People need to sleep. Shift work can affect how much sleep and sleep, the kind you get. Sleep during the day and sleep at night is not deep or refresh. Shift workers time to sleep when the bodys natural activities gear. When you do not sleep, you might always feel tired. Especially the night shift, night shift or third shift (3 shifts) means to change their work throughout the early morning, morning, and transfer to midnight to 08:00 or 23:00 to 07:00. Example, employee will make day shift and night shift in hotel when the time is alternative. Guest satisfaction in hospitality industry means that the guest was satisfy with the service of the employee. Guest satisfaction depends on hotel service because guests have rising expectation for hotel, but their overall satisfaction with service. Guest can be satisfied hotel rates hotel service.Example, guest feel satisfy with the service and what they expect to hotel. Conclusion At the end, as an employee must have a good service to any customer. Guests satisfywith the service and will be happy with the good service.The hotel industry will contributes employment and economic growth of the country. The government is very lenient regulatory and licensing of hotel, because the increase in the average daily rate of foreign tourists. Question 2 The hoteliers mean a people who supervise or manage the hotel. He or she may be established owner, operating a hotel, the Chief Executive of the hotels location, or chain, or in the hotels general manager, the Chairman of the Board. Hoteliers responsibility will vary according to how the word is applied. Who owns a hotel will be responsible for the care of all matters of common ownership of real estate, as well as the implementation of the ultimate liability for any and all taxes and appropriate compliance-run hotel building codes and local laws. The title hotelier Chief Executive will supervise the publicity and general business operations, and facilities responsible for the profitability of the owners or owners. Hotelier who is the Chairman of the Board will provide the current status of the communication line, investors and the owners of the hotel, and the hotel manager will provide oversight of a variety of functions, affect the day-to-day operation of the hotel.As a hotelier has responsible to handle each problems such as public relations, guest service, maintenance of facilities, reservation procedures, build relationship with customer and marketing. No matter what department you work in the hotel we also call hotelier. Depending on how the term is applied, the responsibilities of a hotelier of department is difference. A success hotelier must have good relationship with guest especially regular customer. Answer To be a successful hotelier in the hospitality industry you should be discipline, manners, good services, more experience, responsible and so on. As a hotelier has responsible to handle problems such as public relations, guest service, maintenance of facilities, reservation procedures, build relationship with customer and marketing. Hotel operators managing the property and, in some cases, they can also be the owner of the hotel. Hotel managers supervise other hotel, and they work long hours during peak travel and when events are scheduled at the hotel. They are often called upon to handle emergency situations and disputes. For good performance, hoteliers should have the skills required for the position.Therefore, as a good hotelier must be very discipline during working time. Besides that, to be a good hotelier also need to be responsible. It will show that you are good employee and good staff. First of all you must make the guests feel welcome and also be friendly because it is manner. You must be discipline and good service in front of the guests. To be a good hotelier you should know what their guests want and are willing to go that extra mile to put them at ease. Secondly, to be a good hotelier you should be hard working. Willing to work hard is always a plus point for a people who want to be successful hotel management line.Therefore, it is the opportunity to build a good relationship with the guest and enhance the reputation of hotel. HOW TO BECOME A GOOD HOTELIER The hotelier is a good diplomat, patience, tolerance, generosity and good intentions. A good hotel operator must have self-discipline staff, quick workers, and quick thinkers and always to help client and manager at all times. Diplomat Diplomat mean is a person who appointed by the national diplomacy with other countries or international organizations. Representation and protection of the people are the main functions of diplomats around the state and sent, as well as the promotion of information and friendly relations.As a diplomat can easily build an own relationship with the customer and day by day they will become a general customer of hotel. Patience Patience in hospitality industry means whatever the guest scold you, you cannot scold them back.Resistance state in difficult circumstances, this may mean that persist in the face of delay or provocation, no worries, anger, a negative exhibit patience when under pressure, particularly when faced with a long-term problem. Tolerance Toleration in hospitality industry means a person who tolerates something or somebody unpleasant. Toleration is meaning the practice deliberately allowing or permitting the things one does not agree. Many people are sometimes dont know how to behave themselves and also dont know show some respect to other people; so thats why we have to be tolerate and patience. To be a hotelier everyday will face difference temper of guests, so as a hotelier should be tolerate and not to argue with them. Also, as a hotelier should give what they need to make them feel satisfy. Guests always are the right whatever happens so as a hotelier should be toleration and also patience. Liberality When employee facing any high demand guests, we should need to be liberality and keep smile to serve our customer until they satisfy with the service. Any guest that is high demand, we shouldnt complain it because it will affect the whole hotel and will give a bad image and impression to the hotel. As a good hotelier must be professional during working time. Good Will Good will means willing to help each other when facing problem. Good will is one of the important things to any hotelier because it always reminds us to be helpful to our guests and also help them to solve problem. Front office staff is the first employee to serve the customer. So that why good will is very important to any front office staff. Conclusion It is not easy to become a hotelier, but it is not so difficult. It depends on how to treat customers, if you use your heart to your guests, they will feel. Most of the students have chosen the hotel management, because working in the service sector is very interesting and funny. Enterprise management is very useful for our future operations, but it is very boring, which is why I chose the hotel management. Another reason to select the hotel management, we can see so many different customers and increase our knowledge. When you have experience in the service industry, and then set the target a certain extent, the growing knowledge does not always stay in the same place, become one industry professionals. Peter Drucker pointed out that, today, the centre of our social productive forces, knowledge workers. In other words, knowledge is the key to success, do not know is equal. Unfortunately, remain forever in the failure. Thus, learning as an important part of our comprehensive preparat ory work supervisor or manager career.

Germanys Sex and Gender Roles Essay -- Sociology Sociological Papers

Germany's Sex and Gender Roles What is it that makes up our identities? I mean us, not only Americans but other cultures as well, the entire world. When tracing back my family tree I learned that I am of half-German descent with a quarter French and another quarter Irish in me. I also think it is safe to say that a majority of the population reading this is of European lineage. I don’t say this to discriminate, only to be specific in the telling of my story. The story I am about to recite is about humans and about one of our basic needs for survival. Some will argue, saying that sex is not at all a basic need but let’s face it, without sex you wouldn’t be reading this intriguing article right now, and the world would be less fulfilled without the human reproduction process. Now that I have probably scared off the more ethical readers with my dirty talk I shall proceed. My story deals with the sex and gender roles that occur in the country of Germany. Why did I choose to study these roles in Germany? Well, it seemed like a good place to start, and being that I am 50% German maybe I can relate to some of these roles. We’ll see. When one chooses to study the sex and gender roles of a country it is quite easy for me to relate to the male population of the region. I believe that all heterosexual males desire the same common denominator from a relationship with another women. Yes, companionship is part of the desire but I have to be honest here, sex plays a major role in finding the right woman. So that was easy, I think most men in Germany agree with those two easy-to-read sentences stated above. Now here comes the difficult part, trying to figure out what women desire in a relationship. Being... ...n feel like she is in good hands. Can men who do housework protect their wives just as good? Maybe, but the West German women subconsciously saw these men as less â€Å"macho† than their eastern countrymen. So, did a cement wall allow one side of men to be more housewife like and the other side to be more manly? I believe it was not only the wall but also the government placed over the people. The easterners were frozen in a time where the men dominated and when that wall came down so did the western woman’s view of what a male should be. Their primal instincts drove them towards those dominating â€Å"macho† men of the East, and suddenly the fad is to acquire a man who will provide the maximum amount of protection, even if these men expected to be waited on by their newly conquered women.

STD PREVENTION Essay -- essays research papers

Abstinence And STD Prevention Today’s world is full of worries and problems which did not affect teens a generation ago. New problems keep appearing in today’s world, such as STDs, increased pregnancy rates, and other factors facing teens who choose to have sex. Emotionally and physically teens and getting less developed before having sex and are not prepared for the serious problems which come along with their decision to have sex. No longer is it a matter which will just go away if we ignore it, but teen health and the health of our society depend on choices which today’s teens make regarding sex. With so many diseases and problems facing today’s world, abstinence is the only way to protect ourselves. Abstinence is a safe choice in preventing the possibility of pregnancy. One-tenth of young women between the ages of 15 and 19 get pregnant every year, 83 percent of these pregnancies are unwanted or unplanned. Half of the unmarried teens who get pregnant do so within six months of their first sexual experience. In fact, between 1986 and 1990, teen childbearing increased by 16 percent. What’s worse, pregnant teenagers often don’t see a doctor until the time of delivery. Another serious problem surrounding teen sexual intercourse is the probability of AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Each year, three million teens are infected with STDs. Among 14- to 20-year-olds, chlamydia is the most common. It has no obvious symptoms, and can cause infertility i...

Comparing Women in The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Gilman and The Chr

Comparing Women in The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Gilman and The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck Talents and dreams, hopes and desires, shunned by the husbands and times of the women in The Chrysanthemums and The Yellow Wallpaper. The wife, Elisa, in the Chrysanthemums, reflects an internal struggle to find her place in a world of definite gender roles. The Yellow Wallpaper traces the treatment of a woman who descends from depression to madness in the male-imposed psychiatric confinement of her room. The mirror-like situations that hinder the protagonists in both stories call the women to conduct themselves in demeanors drastically different from one another. Elisa Allen of the Chrysanthemums and the narrator of the Yellow Wallpaper both have husbands who fancy the idea of knowing what their wives want and need. On the way to dinner, Elisa asks her husband about the fights and his immediate reply is, ?We can go if you want, but I dont think you would like them much.? He cannot fathom the idea that she may actually enjoy this non-feminie event. The narrators husband also assumes that he kno... ...Their husbands, the fence, and the wallpaper, are all constraints that must be depleted. Their strive for happiness and zest for a life far more exciting than the present is what gives the narrator and Ellisa Allen an AWAKENING to which they must react. Works Cited: Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. The Yellow Wallpaper. New York: Feminist Press, 1973. Steinbeck, John. ?The Chrysanthemums.? Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Ed. Edgar V. Roberts and Henry E. Jacobs. 2nd Compact ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2003. 359-366.

Marine Bio Essay

You can determine the turtle’s species by the upper shell brown/reddish brown color, the lower shell creamy/yellow color, body skin brown/yellow color, the rusty brown scales on their head, and the weight and length of the turtle varying from 77-227 kilograms and 1. 2 meters. b) You can determine the sex by many features. The turtle’s sexual maturity isn’t achieved until they are 15-20 years old. Adult males have longer tails and are much larger than adult females. A pair breads at sea and the female come to shore to nest her eggs. Loggerheads nest from April to July. Usually, there can be 105-120 eggs laid in a clutch. Single females of the species can have many clutches during a season. Some nest every year, whereas others alternate years. The incubation period can last from 55 -60 days. Like most sea turtles, they nest at night. c) The age of a sea turtle is determined by growth of in length and weight gain. d) Loggerheads also bury themselves in the mud during winter months. 2. The most common reasons turtles become sick or injured in Florida are because lights on coastal highways and housing developments disorient the hatchlings often causing them to move away from the water and be killed by automobiles or predators. 3. The specific type of turtle rescued was The Loggerhead Sea Turtle or â€Å"Loggerhead† 4. The type of food we will need to feed the rescued turtle is a variety of crabs, jellyfish, shellfish, and sponges. 5. This species needs to stay around fresh-water for means of drinking and stay at seas for breading (if more than one is in rehabilitation). 6. The rehabilitation area should be kept at a warm temperature and should be no smaller than 39ft.

Virtual Banks

Introduction Continuous innovation in technology has altered the way in which business is conducted in each industry. This is especially true for that of financial services or banking. The banking world has evolved tremendously since its inception with most recent trend being towards the development of an online platform. Most Institutions currently offer financial solutions via branches as well as over the Internet. The appeal of online activity has in turn led emergence of online only or â€Å"virtual† banks. Virtual Banks DefinedA virtual bank is one that exists online only in which nearly all financial transactions are conducted over the Internet. The differentiating factor for online banks is the absence of physical branches and ATMs. Also referred to as direct banks, these entities offer identical products and services to its compared to traditional â€Å"brick and mortar† institutions. This includes opening checking and high interest savings accounts with which b ill payments, transfers, deposits and withdrawals can be made. Client’s can access money via partner ATMs or attain cash back at point of sale at certain merchants.Deposits are made directly, by mailing a check, and partner ATMs. Moreover, investments, lending products and professional advice can be acquired through the respective website. Furthermore, most virtual banks are insured by the FDIC (Federal Depository Insurance Corporation). Brief History Banks began to move online with the commercialization of the Internet in the 1990s. Traditional brick and mortar banks were seeking ways to reduce costs simultaneously providing quality products and services. The solution was discovered by the development of an online system.Considering the success of the launch of online banking, institutions began to expand their online presence through website innovation and improvements as well as by diversifying their online product and services offerings. Following the establishment of an easily accessible and profitable online banking structure, virtual online only banks emerged. These entities were successful in overhead cost reduction having only to support the costs of a single online computer network rather than those of operating physical branches and ATMs. This enabled the provision of higher returns to their clients.The first fully functional direct bank insured by the FDIC was the Security First Network Bank, based in Atlanta, It began operations on October 18, 1995 and was eventually bought out despite having been the first to prove the viability of virtual banks. Competition The rise of online only banks has stimulated further competition within the financial industry. These institutions face heavy competition from traditional counterparts who excel in both online and personal customer service experience. Each provides respective benefits and drawbacks however; clients may choose to utilize both options and make transfers between the two.Major Players Ther e are several major players within the virtual banking segment of the financial services industry. INGDirect, is currently ranked first amongst competitors. HSBCDirect follows ranked second. Others include: Ally Bank, Banco Best, Discover Bank, First Direct etc. Use Amongst Canadians: Some Statistics Online banking is experiencing continuous and rapid growth. It has become the most popular means of conducting financial transactions. According to the Canadian Bankers Association, more than half of Canadians have used online banking within the last year.Its use is increasing amongst all age groups as the ease and convenience of these innovations is valued. ? 47 per cent of Canadians now use the Internet as their main means of banking, up from only eight per cent 12 years ago. ? 53 per cent of young Canadians between the ages of 18 and 34 say online is their main way of banking as do 45 per cent of those 55 or older. ? 41 per cent of Canadians report that their use of online banking ha s increased, while only four per cent say it is on the decline. (According to the Canadian Bankers Association) Benefits vs.Drawbacks of Virtual Banks Online banking websites are widely used in today’s society. The way in which individuals conduct transactions is dependent on accessibility and time constraints. One must also consider desired return and the importance of lower interest rates. Customers must weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each option using these criteria when choosing between a traditional branch system and an online only bank. There are both advantages and disadvantages in respect to virtual banks Advantages There are several benefits to using an online only bank.These include convenience, higher returns, ease of use and environmental friendliness. A. Convenience Online only banks are convenient for those subject to time constraints such as working long hours, attending school and caring for a family. Most branches are limited to open hours of between 8 a m and 5 pm, and are closed on weekends. These conflict with the work and school hours of many people. For this reason, numerous individuals are unable conduct their required banking transactions at a branch. Moreover, branches may be difficult to reach for the elderly and physically impaired.Virtual banks solve these issues by being accessible and operable 24hours a day, 7 days a week. Further, with the development of smart phone applications, Virtual banks have become even more advantageous in terms of convenience and accessibility. With the creation of a bank application the customer can easily access his bank account balance with a touch on his phone. B. Higher Returns and Lower Transaction Fees Customers can benefit from competitive rates by bringing their business to virtual banks. Lower rates are offered on loans as well as higher returns on savings accounts and investments.Direct banks can afford to provide their customers with these advantages due to the reduction of overhea d costs caused by the elimination of branches and ATMs. These institutions spend significantly less on human resources and equipment than do traditional banks. In addition to competitive rates, virtual banks do not charge fees for financial transactions. A client may conduct an unlimited number of transfers, bill payments, deposits and withdrawals free of charge creating big savings for customers in turn. Compared to traditional banks, customers will pay less for more. C. Ease of UseThe ease of use of virtual banking products and services is another major benefit. This is facilitated by the clarity, design and value added features of the respective bank’s website. Opening an account can be easily done on the institutions’ website submitting all required documentation over the net. The steps for each desired transaction are included and help is provided upon request. Once familiar with the internet and website navigation, virtual banks are extremely easy to use. D. Envi ronmentally Friendly Finally, Online-only banks prove to be an eco friendly alternative to traditional institutions.Paper waste is almost entirely eliminated as all required documents are directly uploaded and submitted through the respective bank’s website. There is no longer the need for transportation lower fuel emitted by vehicles. Also, the elimination of branches and ATMs decrease requirements for technological equipment and thus lower energy consumption. Disadvantages Although the technological advancements of virtual banks have created much needed solutions for today’s banking industry, some of its benefits are offset by several drawbacks.These include; the lack of a personal experience, transaction problems, service issues, the learning curve and online security. A. Face-to-Face Banking Relationship Virtual banks eliminate the face-to-face relationship that is created in the traditional banking environment. Building a relationship with bank representatives suc h as account managers, loan officers or tellers facilitate the process in which customers fulfill banking needs and are important to many people. Bank representatives resolve issues such as changing terms in their banking agreements or reversing undeserved fees.As well, these representatives get to know their clients better, and are able to tailor the banking services to their unique needs and personal circumstances. B. Transaction problems Complex transactions or errors may require direct and timely assistance from bank representatives. A traditional bank can be called for support or a visit to the branch can quickly solve the issue at hand. Customers of virtual banks do not have the option of attaining timely aid, as this requires waiting on the phone for a representative in hopes of solving the issue at hand.C. Service Issues Another disadvantage stems from the lack of human resources amongst virtual banks. Regardless of accessibility, certain transactions may require signatures or stamps from a financial institution in order to be processed. These are transactions, which cannot be processed through a virtual bank. As well, traditional banks thrive on the provision of excellent customer service. This is a major factor in customer loyalty and retention as well the acquisition of new long-term client relationships.Virtual banks cannot compete on this matter as only standard services are provided to all clients equally over an impersonal online venue. D. Learning Curve Most of the individuals who visit a branch regularly will find the transition to virtual banks quite complex at first. This is due to the fact that virtual banking pages can be hard to navigate and might be complicated for those who are unfamiliar with the virtual bank page or the Internet in general. Consequently, time may be required for traditional bank users to adjust to this technologically advanced service.E. Online Security As a technological society, security has become a primary concern to all Internet users across the globe. Issues ranging from fraud to identity theft decrease consumer confidence in the Internet driven services offered in today’s economy. Virtual banks are governed by the same laws and regulations implemented by the FDIC within the traditional banking sector. Online banking accounts can be subject to hackers, phishing or malware that may disrupt processes or allow the processing of unauthorized activities within these accounts.Traditional banks offer solutions such as scanned copies of cleared checks to its clients in order to prevent fraud. Virtual banks cannot offer substantial record keeping measures as such to identify and prevent such interferences. Implementation of Virtual Banks in Canadian Banking System Given the advantages that online banks provide, it is widely believed that most of retail banking operations will be done through electronic means in the near future. Does that necessarily cause established banks in Canada to look outdated and force them to go out of business?In our point of view, those banks will remain the major players in the future and the only change that we believe is going to take place is the adaptation of these banks to changes in technology and emergence trends. Let’s recall the introduction of access cards in the banking system. Though this introduction brought a large amount of advantages with it, it was still confronted with considerable resistance. Today, we are to some extent in the same position. The trend of virtual banks is inevitably coming, but it also brings disadvantages into play, as previously discussed.Since it takes time for people to get comfortable with new innovations, banks can establish a plan with short and long term goals to accommodate the changes in the industry. We believe the plan below will help modernize the big banks in Canada towards the trend of Direct Banking. †¢ Create a parallel direct bank for the sole purpose of virtual banking Our fi rst suggested step is the creation of a banking line that solely operates online similar typical virtual banks. Customers are expected to move their funds from conventional accounts to the online-only accounts because of their convenience and advantages.The cost of maintaining such virtual accounts is considerably lower; hence banks can offer competitive rates as a tangible incentive for customers to switch to direct banking. †¢ Increase the number of ATM machines Banks should make it more convenient for their customers to access and deposit cash without having to go to a teller. ATM machines should be more available to stakeholders; either through direct investment of the bank or through outsourcing to one of the established ATM Machine providers operating in Canada.This was the strategy of American Direct Banks to ameliorate their service and attract even more customers. After all convenience is a key aspect clients look for when it comes to their banking choice. †¢ Redu ce the number of branches In order to meet required profit margins, and given the incurred expenses caused by the additional benefits they will be offering (more competitive rates), banks are expected to cut their costs. Since operations will take place in a virtual environment, brick and mortar branches will become less necessary.Banks at that point can start merging their branches and close-down others. Downsizing of some locations could also be an option. For the above plan to be successful, it is essential to monitor the change in consumer preferences and implement each step accordingly. After establishing a plan, it is essential to study the feasibility of it given the circumstances. The literacy rate in Canada has been 99% in 2003 and is close to perfect score nowadays (Gordon, 2003). Moreover, In 2010, close to 80% of Canadian households had access to the Internet (Statistics Canada Web, 2011).The country possesses one of the most advanced communication networks in the world making direct banking technically easy to introduce and more importantly, logical. References Canadian Bankers Association. How Canadians Bank. November 9, 2012. http://www. cba. ca/en/media-room/50-backgrounders-on-banking-issues/125-technology-and-banking. Accessed November 18th, 2012 Canadian Internet Use Survey, May 25th, 2011. Statistics Canada Web. http://www. statcan. gc. ca/daily-quotidien/110525/dq110525b-eng. htm, accessed November 18th, 2012. Gordon, Elaine H. Gordon, Edward E. (2003). Literacy in America: historic journey and contemporary solutions. New York: Praeger. p. 255. ISBN  0-275-97864-8. Investopedia. The Pros and Cons of Internet Banks. April 14, 2011. http://www. investopedia. com/articles/pf/11/benefits-and-drawbacks-of-internet-banks. asp. Accessed November 18th, 2012 Weisbaum, Herb. Looking for Better Rates? Visit a Virtual Bank. July 29, 2009. http://www. msnbc. msn. com/id/32206206/ns/business-consumer_news/t/looking-better-rates-visit-virtual-bank/#. U KRTuxzok1A. Accessed November 18th, 2012