text:
Talk:Esri

Significant Esri Wikipedia changes to follow
To all this may concern: in regard to some concerns that the overall Esri Wikipedia article contains content that is written like an advertisement, I have been tasked by the company to help it improve the page by removing promotional content and inappropriate external links, and by adding encyclopedic content written from a neutral point of view.

While I am affiliated with Esri in this regard, I am not a company employee and have received no instructions on how to proceed. In fact, I've insisted on operating in a vacuum to ensure objectivity and an absence of company promotion.

Any concerns or suggestions for improvement can be addressed to me through Wikipedia or my personal email, ibram001@gmail.com.Ibram001 (talk) 13:01, 6 January 2018 (UTC) Ian -Ian ( talk | contribs ) 13:01, 6 January 2018 (UTC)

propose merge
190.71.125.149 (talk) 14:27, 3 August 2010 (UTC)ESRI Main: Environmetal System Research Institute. The ESRI in the article is another entity. Unless someone cares to write more about Jack Dangermond, I propose we merge his entry with ESRI (as per an earlier vote on the subject). 14 Dec 05 ucsbalan
 * Oppose. Doesn't make sense to me, to merge. The article about Jack Dangermond is more biographical, with details that aren't appropriate in the ESRI article, which is about the company.  --Aude 03:39, 15 December 2005 (UTC)

 * Oppose. The ESRI article should be separate from the bio article on the owner/founder. --Ray 13:21, 21 December 2005 (UTC)

I now agree with Aude and Ray. The Jack Dangermond has been expanded; it's appropriate as an independent article. I rescind the MERGE proposal. --ucsbalan

ArcGIS Version
ArcGIS 9.2 has not been released and will probably not be out for another four months. I think this is premature. IRing2s 20:45, 2 February 2006 (UTC)
 * You are right about that, so I have reverted the article back to saying 9.1 is the current version.-Aude ( talk | contribs ) 21:40, 2 February 2006 (UTC)

Naming
I've added a sentence on the naming, to include "ArcMap" as this is the name on the application most users will run, the name they see on the splash screen as it fires up. I've been an ESRI user for years, and I am CONFUSED with all the names
 * It is confusing. I'll give it a try and others can correct my mistakes.  When you buy a licences of Arc (either ArcView, ArcEditor, or ArcInfo) you actually get three programs, ArcMap, ArcCatalog, and ArcToolbox.  The level of licence (ArcView, ArcEditor, or ArcInfo) determines what level of functionality you get with the programs (ArcMap, ArcCatalog, and ArcToolbox).  So, if I buy ArcView, I get ArcMap, ArcCatalog, and ArcToolbox, just like the person who buys ArcInfo.  However, when I open my ArcMap, I will be able to do less analysis on the data than the person who has ArcInfo when they open their ArcMap.  So, everyone gets the three programs, ArcMap, ArcCatalog, and ArcToolbox, you just get different functions/features with the different licences levels.
 * Are you more or less confused now? Dodgens 16:35, 1 August 2006 (UTC)

 * No, I think you've just about cracked it, 3 programs, called ArcGIS collectively. 3 Licence levels that control what each can do. All programs interact with the others.  Now to put that into Wiki terms for the article! --C Hawke 18:30, 1 August 2006 (UTC)

ArcGIS 9.2 released
I've amended the page to update it for the fact that ArcGIS 9.2 shipped in November 2006. I've also clarified the product naming and history a little. I stress that although I work for ESRI, I'm posting here as an private individual with an interest in the GIS and mapping industry, not speaking for the company.

ESRI pronunciation
I've amended the page a little to reflect the apparent fact that the preferred pronunciation is to speak the letters. My experience is that an ESRI-ite will upon hearing "ezri" be careful in the reply to spell out the name of the company. I have no idea if this is a request from the company for branding or some other purpose, but it's definitiely the custom. I just re-ordered the two pronunciations to make the preferred one first. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Jlhollin (talk • contribs) 18:37, 19 December 2008 (UTC)

Requested move
Move Parsecboy (talk) 14:50, 25 August 2010 (UTC)

ESRI → — The company has changed its name from ESRI to Esri. Redlands (talk) 20:17, 10 August 2010 (UTC)

pronunciation
The conference article had the pronunciation as /ɛzriː/ rather than /ɛsriː/. This one erroneously had a double /ss/ - was that an attempt to avoid the /z/? — kwami (talk) 22:34, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

Market share citation points to a document that does not support this fact
In the second paragraph, the line "In 2009 Esri had approximately a 30 percent share of the GIS software market worldwide, more than any other vendor." is cited with article #[3]. Article #[3] is from 2002 and does not include any facts or figures from 2009. There is no revision history indicating that it has been updated anytime after the initial release.

Cited document: 3.>"COTS GIS: The Value of a Commercial Geographic Information System". www.esri.com. http://www.esri.com/library/whitepapers/pdfs/cots-gis.pdf. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.57.144.20 (talk) 14:46, 4 February 2011 (UTC)

Using "aka" is not a good writing style
In the very beginning where the abbreviation is explained in brackets aka is used. This is highly unsuitable for an article and sadly I have noticed that such expressions are used quite often here.

External links modified
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External links modified (January 2018)
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 * Added archive https://archive.is/20130209095417/http://www.webmapsolutions.com/arcgisonline to http://www.webmapsolutions.com/arcgisonline

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Updated Copy for Review

 * As of this date, 1/24/18, I no longer an affiliation with Esri, but I have put a significant amount of time and effort into researching materials for an updated Wiki, so I will persist. As is, here's all the copy I intend to apply changes to as well as any new content to be added. **

Introduction

Esri (/ˈɛzriː/, a.k.a. Environmental Systems Research Institute) is an international supplier of geographic information system (GIS) software. It conducts “The Science of Where™”, according to its corporate brand. Esri provides web GIS and geodatabase management applications as well.

The company is headquartered in Redlands, California. It was founded in 1969 as Environmental Systems Research Institute, a land-use consulting firm. Today, its products are used in more than 200 countries by over one million users. Their primary offering is the ArcGIS platform. As of 2014, Esri’s location technology suite held approximately 43 percent of the global GIS software market.[4]

Esri operates 10 separate offices in the U.S. and maintains partnerships across a network of over 80 international distributors.[5] Privately held by the founding ownership throughout, the company employed over 3,200 domestically in 2017.

A 2016 Investor's Business Daily article indicated Esri's annual revenues could be estimated at $1.1 billion, up from $660 million 10 years prior in 2006.[6] The company reports 350,000 clients in their customer base, which makes it the world’s largest GIS vendor.

Esri User Conference

Every year Esri hosts the annual Esri User Conference (Esri UC) in San Diego, California. It does so congregate GIS users from around the world, demonstrate the latest innovations in the field, announce new products and services, provide hands-on training sessions, and captivate attendees with inspirational speakers.

The first Esri UC was held on the Redlands campus in 1981 with 16 attendees. Esri UC has been held at the San Diego Convention Center since 1997. An estimated 20,000 users from 131 countries attended in 2017.[8]

What is GIS?

GIS is location technology designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and display spatial or geographic data. The acronym GIS is sometimes used to refer to the academic discipline that studies geographic information systems[1] and is a large domain within the broader academic discipline of geoinformatics.[2]

In general, the term describes any information system that integrates, catalogs, edits, analyzes, shares, and displays geographic information. Geographic information science is the science underlying geographic concepts, applications, and systems.[5] Esri refers to this scientific process as The Science of Where™.

GIS relates often unrelated information by using location as a common denominator. Given that most data describes an event or information tied to a specific location and a moment in time, the accumulation and visualization of multiple data sources in a single platform reveals insights that may have not have been apparent otherwise.

Modern GIS technologies use digital information, which is primarily created from the digitization of hard copy maps or other static information sources, ortho-rectified imagery from satellites, aircraft, and UAVs (drones), and, increasingly, live Internet of Things (IoT) sensors or inputs.

Esri founder Jack Dangermond has described GIS as follows:

“GIS is about uncovering meaning and insights from within data. It is rapidly evolving and providing a whole new framework and process for understanding.”

GIS applications

GIS applications are tools that allow users to form custom searches, upload geographic information, dissect spatial data, edit data in maps, and visualize the results of these inquiries.

These tools have the potential to positively impact many different types of operations, explaining their presence in fields such engineering, planning, management, supply chains, insurance, telecommunications, and commerce.[4] As such, GIS and location intelligence applications serve as the foundation for many location-based services that rely on its analysis and visualization.

With GIS, users can track the movement of GPS-enabled mobile devices, in real time or over defined periods, to display their location in relation to fixed objects (landmarks, nearby businesses, hospitals, specific gas stations, individual city lights, etc.) or mobile objects (police vehicles, municipal buses, employees conducting work in the field, tracked wildlife). Doing so relays the position, as well as any other information being measured, of objects and assets to an operation for display and analysis through GIS.

Many GIS applications integrate with preexisting technology, such as enterprise software like SAP[34], enhancing the standalone product with increased locational awareness. Examples of GIS apps interoperable with Esri’s platform include Collector for ArcGIS, Survey123 for ArcGIS, and ArcGIS Business Analyst.

Spatial analysis

Spatial analysis concerns the measurement, study, and application of locational geographic, geometric, or topological properties. GIS users increasingly rely on spatial analysis to understand natural and built environments. Given the presence of accurate spatial information, a wide range of real-world data can be analyzed, visualized, and interpreted.[16] If precise, authoritative data can similarly explain past events and inform predictions about the future.

The inclusion of location-based analysis reveals patterns of real-world behaviors that may not be recognized otherwise. Doing so adds with a commercial scope adds a new dimension to business intelligence termed spatial intelligence.

This spatial or location intelligence can be multiplied with the use data mining. Partially automated scans of large databases have shown an ability to uncover patterns in even greater yields. Customized algorithms seek spatial correlation between measured inputs, resulting for more efficient data analysis.[33] This approach lends value to efforts such as logistic or environmental monitoring.

GIS technology and spatial analysis gives researchers the ability to examine the variations in Earth processes over days, months, and years. As an example, the changes in targeted vegetation through a growing season can be animated to determine when factors such as drought were most extensive as well as provide measurements of overall plant health.

Digital transformation

At times, Esri has been linked to the concept of digital transformation. It is worth noting that this is not a product sold by the company though.

Digital transformations entail an organization’s adoption and application of technology and data science to most, if not all, aspects of operations to increase efficiencies and identify opportunities for growth. Simply updating organizational technology alone, such as transitioning from static paper maps to data-rich GIS maps, would not typically qualify as a digital transformation.

More than the use of any technology, digital transformation is catalyzed by executive leadership and a culture of innovation within an organization.

Esri sells software that supports organizational digital transformations by providing location intelligence. It does so with GIS mapping that draws from tied Internet of Things components. The software allows people to view relevant big data spatially and draw conclusions that inform their decision making.

Both publicly and privately, Esri partners with various governments and companies to realize their own digital transformations.

While the company assists in the digitization of an organization’s workflows and internal systems, its aim is to produce actionable intelligence. What an organization does with that intelligence ultimately defines the extent of their digital transformation.

Ownership

Jack and Laura Dangermond founded Esri in 1969. Jack Dangermond remains and has always served as acting president.[9] Laura interviews all prospective full-time hires and manages company finances. Together, the couple co-founded their company in 1969 with $1,100 in personal savings. Today, Jack and Laura are noted philanthropists, contributing millions of dollars over their lifetimes to assorted environmental and charitable causes.

In 2016, they joined the Giving Pledge, created by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates. The pledge “asks only that the individual(s) give the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes or charitable organizations either during their lifetime or in their will,” according to its website.

Esri and the history of GIS

Copy currently being developed

Pronunciation of company name

According to the company, Esri is pronounced as a word, 'ez-ree'.[10]

Some distributors outside of the USA such as Esri Canada market themselves with the 'ess-ree' pronunciation followed by the country name.

Products

''Product copy to be developed, but not yet addressed. Finding third-party citations for Esri's product line has not been simple.''

Data formats

Geospatial data is information detailing geographic locations and stored in data formats that can be used with GIS. Geospatial data can be stored in a shapefile, a coverage, a raster image, file geodatabase, a spatially enabled database not registered as a geodatabase, or as an enterprise geodatabase stored in a database management system.

Esri software uses both proprietary and industry-standard data formats. Some include:

Vector[edit] •	Shapefile – Esri's partially open, hybrid vector data format using SHP, SHX and DBF files. •	Coverage – Esri's closed, hybrid vector data storage strategy. This format caters to legacy ArcGIS Workstation / ArcInfo platforms with reduced support in ArcGIS Desktop lineup. •	Geodatabase – The geodatabase is the native data structure for ArcGIS and is the primary data format used for editing and data management. While ArcGIS works with geographic information in numerous GIS file formats, it is designed to work with and leverage the capabilities of the geodatabase.

Raster[edit] •	Esri grid – binary and metadataless ASCII raster formats. •	Mosaic - data structure for managing and analyzing multidimensional raster and imagery data, including netCDF, GRIB, and Hierarchical Data Format

Esri Conservation Program

In 1989, the Esri Conservation Program was founded to help change the way nonprofit organizations carried out missions of nature conservation and social change. This program provides nonprofits GIS software, data, and training, as well as assistance coordinating multiorganizational efforts (e.g. The Society for Conservation GIS).

The company continues to promote the preservation of natural spaces by partnering with environmental organizations like the Jane Goodall Institute, emphasizing Geodesign, and philanthropically supporting conservation efforts.

 * Flagging any information that seems objectionable, even given the presence of citation from beyond Esri sources (which will be applied in my next steps), would be appreciated. ****

ArcGIS Pro
"ArcGIS Pro" redirects to the "ArcGIS" article, but it is a separate product from the traditional ArcGIS suite (ArcMap, etc) of products. –Zfish118⋉talk 12:53, 20 August 2019 (UTC)

Edits to Description and two new sections

 * What I think should be changed (include citations):

Esri (/ˈɛzriː/;[5] Environmental Systems Research Institute) is an American multinational geographic information system (GIS) software company. It is best known for its ArcGIS products. With about 40% GIS marketshare, Esri is a leading supplier of GIS software, web GIS, and geodatabase management applications. The company is headquartered in Redlands, California.

Founded as the Environmental Systems Research Institute in 1969 as a land-use consulting firm, Esri currently has 49 offices worldwide including 11 research and development centers in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Africa and Asia Pacific. There are 10 regional U.S. offices and almost 3,000 partners globally, with users in every country and active users in more than 350,000 organizations. These include over 90% of Fortune 100 companies, most national governments, 30,000 cities and local governments, all 50 US States and thousands of universities. The firm has more than 4,000 total employees from 73 countries and is privately held by its founders. Strategic partners include Microsoft, Salesforce, Amazon Web Services, and SAP, among others. . In a 2016 Investor's Business Daily article, Esri's annual revenues were indicated to be $1.1 billion. Local, state, and federal governments are Esri’s largest customers, accounting for approximately 55 percent of its U.S. revenue. Esri invests 30% of its annual revenue to research and development.[8]

The company hosts an annual International User's Conference, which was first held on the Redlands campus in 1981 with 16 attendees. The 43rd User Conference was held in San Diego at the San Diego Convention Center. In 2022, 31,590 users from 142 countries attended either in person or digitally.

History
In the 1960s, Jack and Laura Dangermond envisioned technology that could help decision-makers balance human development with environmental stewardship. While Jack attended Harvard, they both worked in the university's Lab for Computer Graphics and Spatial Analysis. Inspired by the early mapmaking software in development at the lab, the pair conceptualized using computer-powered mapping and analysis for complex problem-solving. In 1969, they cofounded Esri, known then as Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI), in their hometown of Redlands, California.

In 1982, Esri released Arc/Info, the first commercial GIS program, containing maps tied to a relational database. Esri re-engineered Arc/Info in the late-90s, developing a modular and scalable GIS platform. Esri moved from being a provider of contract mapping services to a developer of mapping software products. The first ArcGIS software offering (8.1) was unveiled at the Esri International User Conference (Esri UC) in 2000. ArcGIS 8.1 was officially released on April 24, 2001.

Corporate Identity
Esri describes the company culture as “collaborative and supportive. It’s an open, friendly environment, and employees are invested in each other and the work they’re doing.” In an interview Jack Dangermond describes the culture as “customer focused” and a “learning organization.” The organization is run as a “network of teams” built on respect and collaboration. A majority of Esri employees are hourly based.

The company believes that a diverse workforce is key to helping meet their customer needs. Online reporting metrics suggest that 39.4 percent of Esri staff are women and 50.2 percent are of diverse ethnic backgrounds.

Esri was named Fast Company Magazine’s 2017 list of World's Most Innovative Data Science Companies and Forbes Magazine’s 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 lists of America's Best Midsize Employers.

We would like to suggest the proposed changes to the introduction reflect transparency and accuracy with up-to-date statistics and citations.
 * Why it should be changed:

Edits: We would like propose adding the history and corporate identity sections to aid prospective hires.

Update existing citation six
 * References supporting the possible change (format using the "cite" button):

Citations for History

Citations for Corporate

JustTheDroid1 (talk) 19:29, 21 April 2023 (UTC)

 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: Reviewing the addition to the history I see issues that need addressed. For instance, " envisioned technology that could help decision-makers balance human development with environmental stewardship" is promotional tone and cannot be added. The reference used for the second sentence (starting with "While Jack attended Harvard" is being used improperly. Yes, it confirms he went to Harvard but is being used as WP:SYNTH by inferring he was in Harvard at the time it was founded the company. The section also uses a reference to the company website which should never be used for content in the article itself. As far as the section "what I think should be changed (including citations)" should point out specifically what is being changed. It currently only shows what you want the content to be.  CNMall41 (talk) 01:34, 9 June 2023 (UTC)

 * Hi thank you so much. We can edit the first sentence you mentioned. For the second note about "While Jack attended Harvard" reference can you give direction on how to properly cite this section or examples of an article that would be acceptable for citing this? As far as the the "what I think should be changed," can you provide an example of how to format the request? Is it a line by line ex: "remove this word and replace with this word" scenario? JustTheDroid1 (talk) 19:44, 14 June 2023 (UTC)

Edit request
Why it should be changed: To offer full transparency on the revenue data that is already cited.
 * What I think should be changed: Would like to add a sentence after the sentence about Esri revenue in the introduction, second paragraph "Local, state, and federal governments are Esri’s largest customers, accounting for approximately 55 percent of its U.S. revenue"
 * References supporting the possible change (format using the "cite" button):

JustTheDroid1 (talk) 01:04, 29 July 2023 (UTC)

 * The Bloomberg source is paywalled and can't be reviewed. Kindly provide the information from the article which sources the proposed statement via the refnote's quote parameter. Regards, Spintendo  07:29, 29 July 2023 (UTC)

title: Talk:Esri


text:
Indian Army ranks and insignia

The Indian Army, the land component of the Indian Armed Forces, follows a certain hierarchy of rank designations and insignia derived from the erstwhile British Indian Army (BIA).

1947–1950
Upon the establishment of India's independence in 1947, the country became a dominion within the British Commonwealth of Nations. Nevertheless, the armed forces, namely, the British Indian Army (IA), the Royal Indian Navy (RIN) and the Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF) - under the helm of King George VI as the Commander-in-Chief - retained their respective pre-independence ranks and corresponding insignia. In the Army's case, the service retained its pre-independence insignia, comprising the Tudor Crown and four-pointed Bath Star, called the pip.

1950–present
In May 1949, Lord Mountbatten, the inaugural Governor-General of India, dispatched a note to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, titled Names and Insignia of Indian Armed Forces, containing a list of suggestions regarding the nomenclature of the armed forces that were to be enforced upon the dominion's conversion to a republic. In the note, Mountbatten proposed that the Tudor Crown, worn on the epaulettes of ranks of Majors and above should be replaced by the Lion Capital of Ashoka and that the pip should be replaced by the Star of India or another form of star.

In September 1949, Nehru forwarded the proposals to the country's minister of defence, Baldev Singh, recommending Mountbatten's suggestions, which were consequently enforced upon India's emergence as a republic on 26 January 1950. Simultaneously, the King's Commission, which was granted to commissioned Indian officers of the BIA was also changed to Indian Commission on the same date; and at a subsequent date the King's Colours of the various armed regiments were laid to rest at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun.

Structure
Presently, the Army's rank hierarchy is divided into three broad categories:

Group-A: Commissioned Officers (Officers)

Group-B: Junior Commissioned Officers (JCO)

Other: Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO)

Commissioned Officers
The Army has ten commissioned officer (officer) ranks, which are designated as Group-A service ranks and are equivalent to the All India Services.

The highest attainable rank in the Army's officer cadre is that of the Field Marshal, a ceremonial five-star rank immediately superior to full General. It is awarded exclusively to deemed recipients for recognition of exceptional service and leadership during wartime; however, it does not feature in the Army's organizational structure. In the Army's history, only two four-star officers have ever been promoted to the rank: Gen. S. H. F. J. Sam Manekshaw in 1973 and Gen. K. M. Cariappa in 1986. Recipients are considered to be serving officers until their death.

The highest operational rank is General, which is held exclusively by the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS). The first Indian to be promoted to the rank was then-Lt. Gen. K. M. Cariappa, following his appointment as the second Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) of the Army in January 1949.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), a rotational position deemed the highest uniformed designation-cum-professional head of the armed forces, is also held by four-star officer drawn from the Army or the Navy or the Air Force. However, CDS appointees do not wear the corresponding insignia of their respective service, but are rather allotted a unique insignia independent of that service's rank hierarchy: a crimson-colored epaulette, adorned with the tri-service emblem of the armed forces. As of 2024, only two four-star officers from the Army have been appointed to the position.

Junior commissioned officer and non-commissioned ranks

 * The title Risaldar replaces Subedar in ranks in cavalry, armored regiments, Remount Veterinary Corps and animal transport battalions of Army Service Corps.
 * Naib Risaldar was called Jemadar until 1965.
 * Daffadar, Lance Daffadar and Acting Lance Daffadar - these ranks replace the titles of Havildar, Naik and Lance Naik in cavalry, armored regiments, Remount Veterinary Corps and animal transport battalions of Army Service Corps.
 * Sowar replaces the rank Sepoy in cavalry, armored regiments, Remount Veterinary Corps and animal transport battalions of Army Service Corps.

Former ranks
The rank of Second Lieutenant is no longer in use; all new officers are commissioned as Lieutenants.

The appointments of Regimental Quartermaster Havildar and Regimental Havildar Major are no longer used in the Indian Army (except for the Regiment of Artillery and Army Air Defence) and those duties are now performed by JCOs.

Notable holders include 2Lt. Arun Khetarpal, 2Lt. Rama Raghoba Rane, CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat and CQMH Abdul Hamid.

Rank descriptions

 * Indian Army Ranks can be classified into three categories.
 * Commissioned Officers who are equivalent to All India Services & Group "A" Service officers.
 * Junior Commissioned Officers who are equivalent to Group B Gazetted officers.
 * Other Ranks comprising non-commissioned officers and soldiers.

Officers
Commissioned officers are the leaders of the army and command anywhere from Platoon, Company, Battalion, Brigade, Division, Corps and the whole army.

At the time of joining, all Indian Army officers are inducted as officer cadets. The rank of officer cadet is denoted by an officer's uniform with no insignia.

Indian Army officers are continually put through different courses and assessed on merit throughout their career, for promotions and appointments. Substantive promotions up to Lieutenant Colonel or equivalent (subject to clearance of Part B and Part D exam for Major and Lieutenant Colonel) and are based on time in service whereas those for Colonel and above are based on selection, with promotion to Colonel also based on time served. Due to steep hierarchy and few vacancies, most of the officers retire at the rank of Colonel and only a few make it to the rank of Brigadier and above. Civilian equivalents are in accordance with government policies on functional allocation of duties in staff billets, otherwise the rank structure of the armed forces is different from the civilian with regard to years of service and vacancies available.

Indian Army officers undergo various courses such as Young Officers Course, Junior Command Course, Defence Services Staff College course at DSSC Wellington, Management Development Programme: Senior Defence Management Course, Higher Defence Management Course at the College of Defence Management (Secunderabad), Higher Command Courses, NDC courses at various premier institutions of Armed Forces for promotions. The same is applicable to officers other two services namely Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.

In the Indian Army, officer cadets are known as Gentlemen Cadets or Lady Cadets. Gentlemen Cadets (GCs) join the National Defence Academy (NDA), Indian Military Academy (IMA)/Officer's Training Academy (OTA) after going through the Service Selection Board (S.S.B.) interview. Gentlemen Cadets undergo a pre-commission training programme at NDA,IMA/OTA, which is equally divided into terms.

Junior commissioned officers
Junior commissioned officers are promoted from non-commissioned officers and are broadly equivalent to warrant officers in the British Army. Senior non-commissioned officers are promoted to JCO rank on the basis of merit and seniority, restricted by the number of vacancies. In between the Commissioned Officer and the NCOs lies the Junior Commissioned Officers. They are treated with great respect as they have a minimum of 28 yrs and over service and are referred to as Sahab by all ranks.

The current living recipients of the Param Veer Chakra are all from JCO ranks namely Bana Singh Retd, Sanjay Kumar, and Yogendra Singh Yadav.

JCOs are entrusted with supervisory roles and the three JCO ranks are Subedar Major, Subedar and Naib Subedar. JCOs are equivalent in status to Group B (Gazetted) of Government of India.

Junior commissioned officers are treated as a separate class and hold many additional privileges. In the army, they have a separate mess (the JCO's mess), get well-furnished family quarters, and are authorized to travel in AC II-tier on the railways.

JCOs are currently enrolled as jawans and few of them get promoted to officers over a period of time-based on their performance and on their ability to clear promotion examinations. A few JCOs are directly enrolled as religious teachers and in certain technical arms such as the Corps of Engineers. As of 2021, the Indian Army is discussing a proposal to directly enrol Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) in all arms of the service to address the shortage of commissioned officers. According to the proposal, the Indian Army will directly induct JCOs who have cleared the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview. The UPSC will conduct an entrance examination, which would be followed by an SSB interview and a medical examination. Selected candidates would then be trained for one and a half years before joining the units as JCOs. Subsequently, they would be promoted to officers up to the rank of Colonels based on their length of service and qualifications.

Other ranks
Other ranks in the Indian Army include Non-Commissioned Officers ("NCOs") and Soldiers ("sepoys" or "jawans")

Non commissioned officers
Non-Commissioned Officers ("NCOs") are soldiers promoted to positions of responsibility and are equivalent to junior non-commissioned officers (sergeants and corporals) in Western armies.

Soldiers
A sepoy is a rank equivalent to Private in most Commonwealth armies. Many regiments and corps use other distinctive and descriptive names instead of sepoys. These distinctive equivalents for Sepoy include:

Brevet
Honorary ranks and honour, also called brevet, are granted in the Indian Army, and its branches such as India Territorial Army (TA), for various reasons. These ranks may not entitle the rank holder to pay, pension, or perks (e.g. ranks given to celebrities).

Retiring Soldiers
Since the time of the British raj, exemplary soldiers who are about to retire are given honorary ranks, usually a few days before their retirement, although these ranks can be granted at any time. Examples include the grant of the rank of Field Marshal, which is rarely granted. Most frequently, honorary ranks that are granted are those of junior commissioned officers, which are granted 1 or 2 weeks before retirement.

Prominent citizens as brand ambassadors
In order to inspire Indian youths to join the Indian Army, and to acknowledge contribution towards the nation, honorary ranks are awarded to the accomplished and eminent personalities who act as brand ambassadors for the defence forces. The following were awarded honorary titles:

 * Indian Army's Territorial Army (TA)

 * Kapil Dev, 2008, Lieutenant Colonel, TA,(Punjab Regiment) cricketer
 * Mohanlal Viswanathan, 2009, Lieutenant Colonel, TA,(Madras Regiment), Malayalam actor and filmmaker
 * Mahendra Singh Dhoni, 2011, Lieutenant Colonel, TA (Parachute Regiment), cricketer
 * Abhinav Bindra, 2011, Lieutenant Colonel, TA (Sikh Regiment), sport shooter and politician
 * Deepak Rao, 2011, Major, TA (Parachute Regiment), military trainer and author

Foreign trainees of India's military academies
Trainees of foreign nations who are trained by the military academies of India, such as the National Defence Academy (NDA) or the Indian Military Academy (IMA), are sometimes awarded honorary ranks in the Indian Army. The trainees are usually from friendly armies, such as the Singapore Army.

Nepal
Since 1950, when former Indian Army Chief General K. M. Cariappa visited Nepal, awarding the highest reciprocal honorary ranks to the newly appointed serving chiefs of each other's armies is a practice followed by India and Nepal. For example, in 2009 the newly appointed Nepal Army Chief General Chhatra Man Singh Gurung was decorated with the honorary rank of General of the Indian army at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi by the President of India who is also the Supreme Commander of Indian Army. Similarly, in 2010 the newly appointed Indian Army Chief General V. K. Singh was awarded the honorary rank of General of Nepal Army at Shital Niwas in Kathmandu by the President of Nepal who is also the Supreme Commander of Nepal Army.

British Colonial era: Indian Army ranks to British Army
Some members of the ruling families of Princely states were given ceremonial honorary ranks during the colonial era.

An 1832 journal reports that during the colonial British raj era, the Commander-in-Chief of British Army (ex officio role of the serving Monarch of Britain) promulgated an order directing that the Lieutenant Colonel of H.M. (Royal British Army) can not be superseded by the East India Company's Indian Army's Lieutenant Colonel. Whenever an Indian Army's Lieutenant Colonel was promoted to Colonel, all the British Army's Lieutenant Colonels who were deployed with the Indian Army and had the equal date and rank with the newly appointed Colonel of Indian Army were also mandatorily given the local Indian Army's honorary rank of Colonel from the date of his Lieutenant Colonelcy with British Army. This unfair system preserved the fictional equivalency of British Army officers with Indian Army officers while denying the officers of the Indian Army their hard-earned honours and ranks within their peculiar service. This was not a reciprocal system, i.e. Lieutenant Colonel of East India Company (EIC) (Indian Army) were not promoted to Colonels rank when a British Army Lieutenant Colonel of equal date and rank was promoted to Colonel's rank in Indian army. For example, when a ranked Lieutenant Colonel of Bengal Presidency's Indian Army was promoted to Colonel he was ranked 34th on the general list, he superseded 33 other Lieutenant Colonels of Indian Army, along with him all of the British Army's Lieutenant Colonel serving with the Bengal Presidency were also given the honorary rank of Colonel of Bengal Presidency and they superseded 33 Lieutenant Colonels of Indian Army who were their seniors. The army officers of EIC appealed against this derogatory and non-reciprocal system in EIC's Court of Directors. EIC directors had no authority to revoke or amend the order issued by the British monarch.

Retired officers: form of address
On 21 July 2014, the Indian Army issued a circular for retired personnel informing them that the correct form of addressing a retired officer is "Rank ABC (Retd) and not Rank (Retd) ABC", a correct example is: "Brigadier Sant Singh (Retd)". The stated rationale of army was, "Rank never retires, it is an officer who retires." This form of address applies to both living and deceased officers.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Indian Army ranks and insignia


text:
Michael Lucas (political activist)

Michael Lucas (born Michael Lukac; March 7, 1926 — May 4, 2020) was an artist, designer and political activist based in Toronto, Ontario. He was the Chair of the executive committee of the Canadian Friends of Soviet People, founded in 1991, and was formerly the chair of the USSR-Canada Friendship Association from 1972 until 1991. He was also the chair of the International Council of Friendship and Solidarity with Soviet People, operating out of Toronto. He was also a longtime leader of the Carpatho-Russian Society and was a longtime member of the Communist Party of Canada since his youth. He was also editor-in-chief of the Northstar Compass, the monthly magazine, published from 1991 until 2017, first by the Canadian Friends of Soviet People and then by the International Council of Friendship with Soviet People.

Lucas was born in Vyšná Jablonka in the Carpathian Mountains of eastern Slovakia. He came to Canada as a child in 1938 to join his father, who had emigrated several years before to work in the nickel mines in Sudbury, Ontario, and become a union activist. The reunited family settled there initially before moving to Toronto.

Later, Lucas attended what is now the Ontario College of Art and Design and pursued a career in graphic design. In his professional life, Lucas was at various times the art director of CFTO-TV in Toronto, the director of the art department at Southam Newspapers, and led artistic and design teams at various advertising agencies.

Lucas visited Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union many times in his life. He was in Czechoslovakia during the Soviet invasion that ended the Prague Spring and vocally supported Moscow's intervention upon his return to Canada.

Lucas died in Canada at the age of 94. He is survived by his wife Helen Lucas, the financial secretary of Canadian Friends of Soviet Peoples and their two children.

authors: Now I am become contributor, the editor of articles

title: Michael Lucas (political activist)


text:
Reno-Sparks Indian Colony

The Reno-Sparks Indian Colony in Nevada was established in the early 1900s by members of related tribes who lived near Reno for work; they became a federally recognized tribe in 1934 after forming a government under the Indian Reorganization Act.

With its base in Reno, Nevada, the RSIC consists of 1,134 members from three Great Basin tribes: the Paiute, the Shoshone and the Washoe. The reservation lands have been limited, consisting of the original 28-acre Colony located in central-west Reno (39.69194°N, -119.74556°W) and another 1,920 acres put into trust for the tribe in 1984 in Hungry Valley, which is 19 miles north of the Colony and west of Spanish Springs, Nevada, in Eagle Canyon.

In November 2016, the Barack Obama administration announced transfer of 13,400 acres of former Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land to the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony. This was achieved under the Nevada Native Nations Lands Act. It authorized the transfer of more than 71,000 acres of BLM and U.S. Forest Service lands into trust status for six Nevada tribes. This will provide the tribes with more sustainable bases for their peoples, as well as enlist other parties with an interest in conservation of animals and resources.

The RSIC uses both traditional teachings and practices as well as contemporary business methods and governmental practices. The tribe employs more than 300 people, with around half of those being tribal members.

History
The people who inhabited the Great Basin prior to European settlement were the Numa or Numu (Northern Paiute), the Washeshu (Washoe), the Newe (Shoshone), and the Nuwuvi (Southern Paiute). In each of these groups' language, their autonyms (names for themselves) meant "The People."

Bands within these groups were often known by names that referred to their geographic location or characteristic foods. For example, the Agai Ticutta referred to the trout eaters near the Walker River; the Toi Ticutta referred to the tule eaters near the Stillwater Marshes. The People continue to recognize their special place on Earth and all the life cycles.

Traditionally, The People lived a well-planned, harmonious life which was predicated on their immediate surroundings and nature. Time could not be wasted. Knowing what the land would offer was a matter of survival, thus The People's migration patterns were strategic and well-thought-out. The People followed the food and over the years, each band evolved as an efficient, social and economic unit that could comfortably inhabit the land.

Living in cycles with the seasons, the Numu occupied the strip now known as Western Nevada, Eastern Nevada, Eastern Oregon, and Southern Idaho. The Washeshu gathered annually at Lake Tahoe and dispersed for several hundred miles throughout the remainder of the year. The Newe were found in what is today called Eastern Nevada, Utah, and Southern California. The Nuwuvi inhabited the Colorado River Basin, where they cultivated corn, squash, and beans (the three sisters), and wheat. Each group believed that the animals of the Great Basin, on which they depended for many for food, also gave insight to creation and wise guidance on how to live. Each group spoke a different language: Washo is a Hokoan derivative; and the other dialects are of Uto-Aztecan origin. They lived in relative peace with other tribes, as all had territory for procuring resources. Much trade and commerce occurred among the original inhabitants of the entire continent. Conflicts occurred when a group raided or confiscated the resources of another group.

Archeological evidence places the earliest residents of Nevada as living here about 10,000 years ago. In 1994, the Nevada State Museum carbon-dated remains which were unearthed in 1940 near Fallon. According to modern science, the burial remains of the Spirit Cave mummy prove that he lived in the area more than 9,400 years ago.

Because Indian land in the Great Basin was one of the last major frontiers to be explored and settled by European-Americans, The People sustained their way-of-life and ethnic identity much longer than most Tribes in other parts of the country. When first contact occurred between Europeans and indigenous peoples in what would become Nevada, hundreds of other Tribes in areas of earlier settlement were already enduring the fourth major shift in U.S. Government policy toward American Indians.

From 1492-1828, or during the Colonial Period, Indians were dealt with as sovereign nations. Many treaties and agreements were negotiated with France and England, as these countries recognized that the Indians had their own form of government, their own leaders, and their own homelands.

Around 1830, the Spanish Trail opened in southern Nevada and explorers and trappers made their way into the arid landscape. In the beginning, many tribal groups were curious about these newcomers and The People attempted to establish relationships with them. Yet, as time went on, cohabitation was difficult.

Spanish records have little documentation of their explorers or traders being in Washo territory, but The People's oral history suggest there were encounters. Non-Indians first recorded being in Washo lands in 1826. The Shoshone and Northern Paiute also encountered non-Indians about this time.

The explorers and settlers did not understand how The People survived well in this area, using seasonal bounty and living lightly on the land. Settlers struggled to establish farms or ranches according to their known models.

The 1848 discovery of gold in California led to dramatic changes, as it attracted thousands of miners and merchants.

From 1778-1871 or during the Treaty Period, the U.S. government developed 370 treaties in an attempt to legally negotiate with Indian Tribes. During this era of nearly 100 years, these treaties often benefited those who were moving westward and not the tribes. The only treaty to impact Great Basin Indians was the Treaty with the Western Shoshoni [sic]. This agreement of "Peace and Friendship" was ratified in 1866.

By the middle of the 1800s, so many settlers inhabited the People's land that the Indians struggled to find food. Within five years, close to 250,000 people made their way across Nevada. This encroachment extremely limited and in some areas exhausted the food supply. Even the introduction of the horse to the Great Basin served as competition for food for the Indians. Cultural clashes soon developed, too. There was a significant difference in perspective regarding land occupation versus land ownership. The settlers believed in land ownership, meaning that once they chose an area in which to live, they tended to stay in that one location. Meanwhile, The People used the land seasonally and occupied limited areas for a short term.

As The People struggled to adapt, the federal government shifted its policy towards Indians again. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 halted any future treaties with tribes and it gave Congress the authority to isolate the People in order to allow economic growth throughout the United States. This was done through the creation of reservations.

The United States wanted to settle The People on reservations to extinguish their title to other lands and encourage them to adopt the western model of subsistence farming to assimilate to majority culture. The federal government believed that separating The People from the rest of its citizens would solve land disputes and reduce tensions between cultures. The development of reservations was a campaign promise of U.S. President Andrew Jackson. His administration set aside Indian Territory in lands west of the Mississippi River, far from the traditional homelands of the American Southeast and other areas from which they forced tribes.

In 1859, the Department of Interior recommended that land be set aside for Indian use north of the Truckee River and including Pyramid Lake. Though an executive order was issued in 1874 to establish the Pyramid Lake Reservation, the legal year of establishment is 1859.

During the Reservation Period, Nevada gained residents but it was approved for admission to the Union during the American Civil War, when President Abraham Lincoln wanted to forestall Confederate influence here. While the population did not meet regulations, the administration approved Nevada as a state in 1864.

In 1871, the Indian Appropriations Act gave the U.S. Congress (rather than the states) exclusive right and power to regulate trade and affairs with the Indian tribes. The U.S. Supreme Court legally designated Indians as domestic dependent nations and wards of the federal government.

In 1873 President Ulysses S. Grant established the Moapa River Paiute Reservation and the Walker River Paiute Indian Reservation by executive order.

From 1887-1934, the U.S. federal government, under the Dawes Act, allotted 160-acre plots to enrolled members of western reservations. (They were registered on what are known as the Dawes Rolls, which records are often integral to tribal membership documentation.)

In the early 20th century, the U.S. government commissioned a study to evaluate the conditions of Indian communities. The Meriam Report described the failures of the Dawes Act, finding that the overwhelming majority of Indian people on reservations were extremely poor, in bad health, living in primitive dwellings, and without adequate employment. It concluded that the Indians' societies could not thrive in the conditions forced onto them, and they should be encouraged to revive their traditional governments.

To improve conditions and encourage revitalization of self-government, Congress passed the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 during the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was called the Indian New Deal. The IRA permitted tribes to organize their own governments and incorporate their trust land. This is how the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony was established.

Focus on Numa, Washo
At the turn of the century, many Numa and Washo lived in the Reno-Sparks area, not only because this was the aboriginal lands for The People, but more and more Indians moved to the area to find jobs. The transition to colonies represented another adaptive strategy for the Indians. Often, The People not living on a reservation were considered "scattered or homeless." These Indians tried to maintain some of their old ways by building traditional homes, sometimes with modern materials, in camps in urban areas, often near the Truckee River.

In 1917, the federal government purchased 20 acres for $6,000 for non-reservation Indians of Nevada and for homeless Indians. This land is the core of the present-day Colony. Most of the land was not cultivatable. The BIA dug irrigation ditches to provide some drinking water, but most of the Indians collected drinking water from a spring about a quarter of a mile away.

Initially, the Numa lived on the north side of the Colony, while the Washo lived on the south side of Colony. The Reno-Sparks Indian Colony and all colonies received some governmental services and were most often considered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to be under their jurisdiction. For example, the purchase of additional land in 1926 was part of an effort to improve the water supply for the Colony. Plus, from 1920-1930, a nurse and a police officer, paid from federal government funds, were stationed at the Colony. Further, in 1938 the United States Supreme Court ruled that there was no distinction between a colony and a reservation which meant that the superintendence of the Colony fell to the federal government.

To that end, an additional 8.38 acres was added to the Colony in 1926. Purchased for about $4,000, this strip of land allowed for a day school. For many years, residents of the Colony sent their children to this local government operated school instead of a boarding school about 40 miles away. However, the Colony school was closed in the early 1940s because the building was in such disrepair. The Indian children's only option was to attend public school.

In 1945, Grace Warner, the principal of Orvis Ring School, invited the Indian students to attend her school. This arrangement which included bussing the Colony students to Orvis Ring, lasted until 1975 when the public school system required the Indian students to attend the school closest in proximity to the Colony. (Former Orvis Ring students may view history and reconnect on the Orvis Ring Facebook Group.)

As permissible under the IRA, the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony established its first formal council in 1934. On February 9, 1934 the elected council included three Paiute---Cleveland Cypher, Thomas Ochiho, and George Hooten, and three Washos---Willie Tondy, Jack Mahoney, and George McGinnis. Harry Sampson was selected Chairman of the Council.

In a letter to Nevada Senator Key Pitman, the new council supported the IRA, writing that the bill would be of lasting benefit to the progress of all Indians in the United States. Additionally, the new Colony leadership with input from Acting Bureau of Indian Affairs Superintendent John H. Holst, conducted a vote in which the IRA was overwhelmingly supported by the Colony residents.

Five men: Sampson, Cypher, Mahoney, Tondy, and George Hunter, drafted a constitution for the Colony. Additional assistance crafting the constitution came from George LaVatta, a Northern Shoshone from the Fort Hall Reservation who worked as a federal government field agent.

The Colony's constitution was adopted on December 16, 1935 and was approved by a vote of 51-1.

In 1936, the Colony tried to adopt a charter, but the BIA's field superintendent, Alida Bowler, delayed submitting the paperwork to the federal government. Bowler did not believe all the signatures were authentic as many Colony members who could not write, had someone else sign his or her name. Bowler returned the petition with instructions to have persons who could not write, make a cross or a thumbprint, but that action had to be witnessed by two other persons.

Most often charters enabled tribes to get credit which would assist the Indians with economic development. Bowler did not think the RSIC could get credit because it had no agricultural resources.

However, the Colony's charter, which was approved on January 7, 1939, included plans for the tribe to establish a cooperating laundry, a store, a meat market, a gas station, arrangements for the raising of poultry, and a harness repair shop for individual Indian members who wanted to do business for themselves.

Also under Sampson's leadership, the RSIC tried to take advantage of a provision in the IRA to purchase more land for the Colony.

With input from E. M. Johnstone, a BIA land field agent, LaVatta, and Bowler, a proposal for the purchase of 1,080 acres between Highway 40 and the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks in the Truckee Canyon was submitted to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs on January 25, 1937. This land purchase was never accomplished.

While the RSIC continued to build its sovereignty and explore economic opportunities, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower changed the federal government's policy toward American Indians and began the Termination Era.

To deal with the Indians nationwide, Eisenhower sought complete elimination of the U.S. government's trust responsibility to the tribes. This meant that scores of tribes lost their federal benefits and support services, along with tribal jurisdiction over their lands. All told, the Termination Era, which lasted from 1945 to 1968, eliminated 109 tribal governments and reservations. Fortunately, no tribes in Nevada were terminated.

Finally, in 1970, U.S. President Nixon developed the latest national policy toward Indians, Tribal Self-Determination. Self-Determination gave autonomy to tribes by allowing the Indians to control their own affairs and be independent of federal oversight and still allow access to entitlements and money which is more sought after than true autonomy and independence.

2016 ''Today, the RSIC has expanded its original land base to just over 2,000 acres. The Colony employees over 350 employees and more than half are The People.''

''The tribe also maintains a tribal court system, a police force and a health clinic, and it provides full government services to its membership. The tribe's other governmental departments include administration, education, public works, social services, utility district, planning, prevention coalition, enrollment, human resources, economic development, and the chairman's department.''

The tribal court has a judge, a clerk, an appeals clerk, a bailiff, and three other administrators who provide judicial services for criminal and civil proceedings pertaining to the tribe's jurisdiction and the enforcement of tribal ordinances.

''This court manages the Tribal Court Advocate Services, which provides advocates to members accused of violating tribal laws. Its appeal procedure is handled by the Inter-Tribal Appellate Court of Nevada, which consists of a three-justice panel that meets each quarter during the year. It also has a probation program to supervise juvenile offenders.''

The 11-person police force, which shares cross-jurisdiction with the State of Nevada, engages in community policing.

Business Enterprises and Economic Development Department The Reno-Sparks Indian Colony Business Enterprises and Economic Development Department manages the business enterprises for the benefit of all Colony and community members residing in the Reno and Hungry Valley communities. The business enterprises include the Colony's smoke shops and other commercial enterprises.

The Colony funds its tribal government from revenue generated by its enterprises, including tribal taxes levied on retail transactions occurring on Colony land. All five smoke shops assess sales/excise tax on tobacco product sales at a tax rate equivalent to the State of Nevada.

Recently, the Colony has been diversifying from reliance on declining tobacco revenues, concentrating on other types of commercial operations to enhance return and security. However, the tribal smoke shops and other commercial properties have helped generate revenues to provide and expand governmental services to Colony members, residents and neighboring communities.

Commercial Property Management

In an effort to diversify the Colony's general fund from sole reliance on tobacco revenues, the Colony has leased and developed its commercial sites. Tenants include Mercedes Benz of Reno, Acura of Reno, Infinity of Reno, Wal-Mart, and many other locally owned and operated businesses. Revenues from the Colony's real estate projects provide funds for the Colony's government which provides essential services to its members, residents and other urban Indians.

Economic Development

Creating a diverse economic base in support of the growing self-sufficiency of the Colony's members has been the principal focus of its economic development activities since the Tribal Council initiated its diversification efforts.

For over two decades, the Colony assembled development sites in Reno, Sparks and Washoe County. Located in urban, suburban and high-growth areas, this land has been acquired for development and redevelopment.

In addition, the Economic Development Department carries out design and development services for community projects such as construction of the $20 million Reno Sparks Tribal Health Center on Kuenzli Street along the Truckee River. The Tribal Health Center provides health care services to its members and Washoe County's urban Indians.

Other community and regional facilities currently are in the planning stage for construction in the next several years.

Through its development plans, the Colony seeks to partner with private businesses and with municipal, regional and state governments. One recent example of the latter partnerships is the Colony-funded installation of a new traffic signal system and roadway improvements at the cost of $509,000 on South Virginia and McCabe streets.

The Colony participated in the development of the floodwall and levee along the south bank of the Truckee River, prior to the construction of Wal-Mart on East Second Street in Reno. That undertaking involved the RSIC partnering with the Washoe County Flood Control Project, the Washoe County Public Works Department, the Nevada Department of State Lands, and Wal-Mart.

At the Colony's expense, the RSIC completed a $1.3 million environmental cleanup of the site with the assistance of a Brownfields Loan, administered by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection.

Revenue Sharing

The Colony proposed legislation that will result in the Colony sharing revenue from its Wal-Mart project. The proposal, which was passed unanimously by the Nevada Legislature, will result in the Colony funding the design and construction of a new Northern Nevada Transitional Housing Center for the Nevada Department of Corrections. The Colony will also make annual payments to the Washoe County School District in the future.

The redevelopment of Reno's East Second Street neighborhood where half of the Colony's residents live, near Route 395, is another goal of economic development.

The tribe's residential community is surrounded by industrial land uses. In some instances, the Colony has purchased surrounding parcels which were redeveloped to provide a buffer between the residential and industrial land uses.

For instance, the Wal-Mart site was assembled by purchasing 12 industrial and commercial parcels. By redeveloping the site, and changing the land use to retail, other less desirable land uses were eliminated. Plus, walking paths along the Truckee River's floodwall and levee were constructed to provide public access to the river.

The Colony's development program is assisted by various federal incentives and agencies. For example, the Indian Employment Tax Credit is available to non-tribal employers who locate their businesses on Colony lands and hire tribal members. The Indian Accelerated Depreciation Schedule is available to those non-tribal businesses who conduct business on tribal lands.

Sites and Tenants

Each of the Colony's development sites consist of federal land held in trust for tribal benefit. These properties are available on a ground lease basis. The Colony manages four business development sites, is landlord to 20 commercial tenants and operates five Smoke Shops.

title: Reno-Sparks Indian Colony


text:
Kenneth Calman

Sir Kenneth Charles Calman, HonFAcadMEd (born 25 December 1941) is a Scottish doctor and academic who formerly worked as a surgeon, oncologist and cancer researcher and held the position of Chief Medical Officer of Scotland, and then England. He was Warden and Vice-Chancellor of Durham University from 1998 to 2006 before becoming Chancellor of the University of Glasgow. He held the position of Chair of the National Cancer Research Institute from 2008 until 2011. From 2008 to 2009, he was convener of the Calman Commission on Scottish devolution.

Early life
Kenneth Calman was born on 25 December 1941 to Grace Douglas Don and Arthur McIntosh Calman. He was educated at Allan Glen's School and the University of Glasgow. He began medical training and took an intercalated BSc in biochemistry while studying for his MB ChB, the general medical degree. He undertook a PhD in dermatology and also received an MD with Honours in organ preservation.

Calman became Hall Fellow and Lecturer in Surgery at the University in 1969, and between 1972–74, was a clinical research fellow at the Chester Beatty Research Institute in London, funded by the Medical Research Council.

In 1974, Calman was appointed to the chair of clinical oncology and became dean of postgraduate medicine at The University of Glasgow in 1984.

Career
Calman was appointed chief medical officer for Scotland, at the Scottish Office in 1989. He was then appointed chief medical officer for England, by the United Kingdom government, at the Department of Health in 1991–98, a period that included the BSE crisis.

He was the UK Representative at the World Health Organisation and chaired its executive committee 1988/9.

In 1998, he was appointed vice-chancellor and warden of Durham University. His time as vice-chancellor saw the expansion and integration of the campus at Stockton-on-Tees, with two colleges being established there in 2001 and the campus being renamed Queen's Campus during the 2003 Golden Jubilee celebrations. A new college was also opened in 2006, Josephine Butler College. There was also a return to the teaching of medicine at Durham, with students doing their pre-clinical studies at Queen's Campus before transferring to Newcastle to complete the clinical part of their degrees. His time as vice-chancellor also saw the closure of the Department of Applied Linguistics in 2003 and Department of East Asian Studies in 2007. Professor Calman retired as Warden in 2006 and was succeeded by Professor Christopher Higgins.

Calman was a member of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics from 2000–2008. He chaired its inquiry on the Ethics of research related to healthcare in developing countries from 2000–2002, and was a member of the Working Party on Public health from 2006–2007.

On 23 January 2006, it was announced Calman had been elected Chancellor of the University of Glasgow by the General Council of the University, taking around 60 percent of the vote against opponent Professor Sir Neil MacCormick, a former MEP, jurist and son of John MacCormick, former Rector of the University.

Calman was Chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Trust for Scotland from 2010 to 2015. On 1 October 2016 he took up the position of chair of the Board of National Library of Scotland.

He has written 15 books, mainly on medical topics, and many papers on medicine, health and science.

Calman Commission
Calman was the chair of a commission established by the Scottish Parliament in March 2008 to review Scottish devolution, commonly referred to as the Calman Commission. Other Commission members include former Lord Advocate Colin Boyd, former Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace, and Mona Siddiqui, Professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Glasgow. The Commission published its first interim report in December 2008, and published its final report on 15 June 2009. The Commission recommended, amongst other things, that the Scottish Parliament receive greater tax-raising powers as well as control over the regulation of airguns, the administration of elections, drink-driving limits and the national speed limit.

Honours and awards
Calman has received honorary degrees from the universities of Glasgow, Strathclyde, Aberdeen, Nottingham, Newcastle, Birmingham, Stirling, Paisley, Westminster and Brighton, the Open University and Glasgow Caledonian University.

He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1979. He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Academy of Medical Educators. He is a Deputy Lieutenant in the City of Glasgow.

He holds fellowships of several Royal Colleges including
 * Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, 1971
 * Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, 1985
 * Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 1989
 * Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, 1989
 * Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health, 1989

Personal life
He was President of The Boys' Brigade from 2007 until 2012, and addressed his first council meeting as president at Tulliallan Castle in September 2008.

He likes to write poetry. In 2013, he graduated MLitt at the University of Glasgow with a thesis on Scottish Literature and medicine. This was subsequently published as a book, A Doctor's Line, in 2014.

He married Ann Wilkie in 1967, and has a son and two daughters, one of whom is the comedian Susan Calman. He enjoys collecting cartoons and sundials.

title: Kenneth Calman


text:
Talk:Gwerin y Coed

Changed this to a redirect, as the alternate name is already mentioned in the main article. --Dvyost 18:21, 3 October 2005 (UTC)

title: Talk:Gwerin y Coed


text: User talk:66.244.202.70

title: User talk:66.244.202.70


text:
Umar Din

ʿUmar Dīn (عمر الدين), reigned 1526–1553, was a sultan ruling over the Sultanate of Adal in the Horn of Africa. He was the younger brother of Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad. According to historian Richard Pankhurst, Umar was of Harari background.

Reign
After his brother Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad was killed by Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi (1506–1543) in 1526, Umar Din was made sultan by Imam Ahmad. He ruled as a puppet king, with Imam Ahmad wielding true power.

The Futuh al-Habasa of Sihab ad-Din records that the Sultan and the Imam quarrelled over the distribution of the alms tax at some point between the Battle of Shimbra Kure and the Battle of Amba Sel, which led to Imam Ahmad leaving Harar to live amongst the Somalis in Zeila for some time.

He was succeeded by his son Ali ibn Umar Din in 1553, who in turn was succeeded by his brother Barakat ibn Umar Din, the last member of the Walashmaʿ dynasty, in 1555.

title: Umar Din


text: User talk:80.176.162.18

title: User talk:80.176.162.18


text:
User talk:MichaelMazour

Welcome
Welcome to Wikipedia, the greatest encyclopedia on Earth! You seem to be off to a good start. Hopefully you will soon join the vast army of Wikipediholics! You may wish to review the welcome page, tutorial, and stylebook, as well as the avoiding common mistakes and Wikipedia is not pages. The Wikipedia directory is also quite useful. In addition, you might want to add yourself to the new user log; if you made any edits before getting an account, you may wish to assign those to your username.

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Finally, here are some open tasks:

Hope to see you around the Wiki! And if you have any questions whatsoever, feel free to contact me on my talk page! Neutralitytalk 18:24, 3 October 2005 (UTC)

title: User talk:MichaelMazour