Neura. net Alerts Neurology Professionals to Neurodegenerative Disease News, Resources

Neura. net Alerts Neurology Professionals to Neurodegenerative Disease News, Resources

Neurology professionals now have access to a valuable new online resource with http://www. neura. net, a comprehensive online portal that provides a range of information on degenerative diseases of the central nervous system, including multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson’s disease.

Washington, DC (PRWEB) March 4, 2006

Neurology professionals now have access to a valuable new online resource with http://www. neura. net (http://www. neura. net), a comprehensive online portal that provides a range of information on degenerative diseases of the central nervous system, including multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson’s disease.

By offering research reviews and coverage of scientific congresses, commentaries on clinical issues, and patient education materials, Neura. net is becoming one of the leading online resources for neurodegenerative disease information. Neura. net’s extensive content offers healthcare professionals knowledge and awareness to help them better care for their patients with these illnesses. Site content includes:

 Neura: Perspectives on CNS Disease Management, a Professional Digest: Online and archived issues of Neura: Perspectives on CNS Disease Management, a quarterly publication for practicing neurologists that includes articles related to research and treatment of CNS diseases.

 Congress Coverage: Timely reporting from major neurological meetings, both in the US and abroad.

 Nurse Network: Resources for neurological nurses who care for patients with neurodegenerative diseases. The offerings include MS Scan: Your Eye on the MS Literature, as well as a comprehensive audio/slide kit and updated monographs on disease-specific nursing practice.

 Downloadable Patient Materials: Educational publications that give patients valuable information on living and coping with neurodegenerative disease, including Making Strides: Perspectives on Living With MS, a quarterly newsletter for people with MS and their families and caregivers.

Neura. net also includes links to related scientific publications, government resources, and major neurodegenerative meetings.

Neura. net and its publications are developed, reviewed, and overseen by an editorial board of well-respected experts, including healthcare professionals from the country’s leading medical centers.

"I'm very proud to be involved in Neura. net,” said Patricia K. Coyle, MD, Neura editor-in-chief, and professor and acting chair of neurology, State University of New York at Stony Brook “This is a unique and multidimensional source of information for neurologists, and for health care professionals interested in neurology. Neura. net provides high-quality cutting-edge information, but translates it to make it easily understandable."

Neura. net can be accessed online at http://www. neura. net (http://www. neura. net). The site is supported by an educational grant from Teva Neuroscience and Eisai Inc.

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Getting Help with Initial Social Security Disability Application Can Speed Access to Benefits

Getting Help with Initial Social Security Disability Application Can Speed Access to Benefits

Allsup survey finds almost nine in 10 SSDI recipients would have found it useful to know representation options before filing their application.

Belleville, IL (Vocus) May 11, 2010 —

Many people with disabilities apply for Social Security disability benefits on their own, only to have their application denied, according to Allsup. The Belleville, Ill., company represents tens of thousands of people nationwide in the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) application process each year.

More than 60 percent of initial disability applications are denied, with many of these filed by individuals on their own without expert representation. However, the Social Security Administration (SSA) reports that 90 percent of disability applicants have representation at the hearing level, after their application has been denied at least once, showing the importance of seeking representation.

Unfortunately, many people are unaware they can have representation from the outset. In fact, a national survey found that 85 percent of applicants would have found it useful for the SSA to inform them in advance of their options for receiving help with their SSDI application. The survey was conducted with nearly 300 successful SSDI claimants who came to Allsup after having their initial disability applications rejected.

“You put yourself at a disadvantage if you wait until after you’ve been denied to get assistance with your disability claim,” said Mike Stein, assistant vice president of claims at Allsup.

For example, Stein noted, technical errors or mistakes in the original application – common among people applying on their own – typically remain with that application throughout the appeals process, up to the hearing level.

“Having representation, such as Allsup, can mean receiving your disability benefits much faster because your disability and the claim are well-researched, well-documented and thoroughly completed before being submitted,” Mr. Stein said. For example, more than one-half of those who hire Allsup for SSDI representation from the beginning receive their benefits at the initial application level. This is significantly higher than the national average approval rate of just 36 percent.

Additional advantages of choosing SSDI representation early in the process include education, service and support throughout the disability benefits application.

More About Social Security Disability Benefits
SSDI is a federally mandated insurance program overseen by the Social Security Administration that operates separately from the retirement and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. SSDI provides monthly benefits to individuals under full retirement age (age 65 or older) and who can no longer work because of a disability (injury, illness or condition) that is expected to last for at least 12 months or is terminal. Individuals must have paid FICA taxes to be eligible. Find more about Social Security disability applications on Allsup. com.

To help educate and explain the options for people with disabilities, Allsup has outlined eight benefits of SSDI.

Why You Want Social Security Disability Insurance
1. Regular monthly income: SSDI provides you with a regular monthly payment based on the taxes you paid while you were employed. It also typically provides annual cost-of-living increases and a portion of your benefits may be tax free.
2. COBRA extension: You may be able to continue your COBRA benefits an additional 11 months if you receive SSDI benefits. This can help ensure you have coverage until you become Medicare eligible.
3. Healthcare coverage: Regardless of your age, 24 months after your date of entitlement to SSDI benefits, you become eligible for Medicare. The means you have coverage through Part A (hospital benefits) and Part B (medical benefits). You also have the option of choosing from a variety of Medicare Advantage plans.
4. Prescription drug coverage: With Medicare eligibility because of your disability, you also become eligible for Medicare Part D, the prescription drug plan.
5. Long-term disability (LTD) benefits: If you have private long-term disability insurance, your provider may require you to seek SSDI. LTD coverage is designed to correspond with SSDI benefits, and applying for SSDI could help protect your ability to receive LTD income.
6. Protected retirement benefits: By receiving Social Security disability benefits, you “freeze” your Social Security earnings record during your period of disability. When you reach retirement age, SSDI ends and you transition to Social Security retirement benefits. Because the years in which you collect SSDI benefits are not counted when computing future benefits, your Social Security retirement benefits may be higher than if your earnings were averaged over a greater number of years.
7. Dependent benefits: If you receive SSDI benefits and you have a dependent under age 18, he or she also may be eligible for benefits.
8. Return-to-work incentives: Social Security offers several programs, while still paying you disability benefits, to support you if you become able to return to work.

For more information, answers to your questions or a free Social Security disability evaluation, contact the Disability Evaluation Center at (800) 279-4357.

ABOUT ALLSUP
Allsup is a nationwide provider of Social Security disability, Medicare and workers’ compensation services for individuals, employers and insurance carriers. Founded in 1984, Allsup employs more than 600 professionals who deliver specialized services supporting people with disabilities and seniors so they may lead lives that are as financially secure and as healthy as possible. The company is based in Belleville, Ill., near St. Louis. For more information, visit http://www. Allsup. com.

Contacts:
Rebecca Ray
(800) 854-1418, ext. 5065

Gail Rucker
(800) 854-1418 ext. 8504

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OCI Analytic Study Finds Increase in Benefits Cost and High-Risk Claims Following Fortune 500 Company Workforce Reduction

OCI Analytic Study Finds Increase in Benefits Cost and High-Risk Claims Following Fortune 500 Company Workforce Reduction

Data Integration and Software Services Provider – OCI, develops statistical model to identify and mitigate high-risk claims resulting from a corporate reduction in force.

Denver, CO (PRWEB) April 1, 2010

A recent study by OCI found that a Fortune 500 Company incurred over $890,000 in increased benefits cost from high-risk claims that were filed by employees after a 10% reduction in force. OCI conducted the study to understand the impact of a company's downsizing on the high-risk claims of its employees and the net cost impact to the company. (OCI's model defines high-risk as those claims that are difficult to assess and/or have the potential for long duration.)

OCI analyzed the company's costs per employee for http:short-term disability, http:long-term disability, http:workers' compensation, healthcare, and prescription drug over a 32-month period during the recent recession, which included a 10% employee force reduction. The results included:
In the 14 months after the company decreased its workforce by 10%, it realized an increase in benefits cost of $11.1 million. Prior to the 14 months of increase, the company was realizing a steady decline in benefits costs.

To identify the increased risk of high-risk claims, OCI developed a proprietary algorithm to determine if a positive relationship existed between a reduction in workforce and employees filing high-risk claims. OCI used their Risk Predictive Early Referral Application (RPERA) model, which identifies high-risk claims that could potentially be mitigated with targeted intervention and proactive case management. Had the employer identified these cases and managed them proactively, the increase in benefits costs could have been less drastic:
The percentage of employees who had complex or high-risk claims increased in the 14 months following the reduction in workforce. Proactive management of the complex and high-risk claims could have saved the company as much as $890,000 of the $11.1 million in increased medical cost. "Companies should work closely with their insurers and plan administrators to anticipate and develop programs to mitigate increases in health care conditions, injuries and claims that may result from a workforce reduction," said Archie Anderson, President of OCI. "Proactively initiating programs on safety, early diagnosis of chronic conditions, effective disease management and job rotation for repetitive movement prior to a workforce reduction, and case management and return to work programs following a reduction in force is a benefit to both employees and the company's bottom line."

To read the full whitepaper on this study, Company Downsizing and the Impact on Complex/High Risk Medical Claims, please visit www. oci. com.

This press release was distributed through PRWeb by Human Resources Marketer (HR Marketer: www. HRmarketer. com) on behalf of the company listed above.

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Ski Swap to Benefit Snow Trails Patrol

Ski Swap to Benefit Snow Trails Patrol

What’s better to usher in the winter season but a great sale? Snow Trails and Snow Trails Ski Patrol bring you the annual SKI SWAP on November 11th-13th benefiting the volunteer Ski Patrol organization. For those that have never been to one, picture it as a large Ski & Snowboard Tag Sale. The event will be held this year as a fund raiser for the non-profit group that operates in cooperation with Snow Trails.

Mansfield, OH (PRWEB) November 10, 2005

What’s better to usher in the winter season but a great sale? Snow Trails and Snow Trails Ski Patrol bring you the annual SKI SWAP on November 11th-13th benefiting the volunteer Ski Patrol organization. For those that have never been to one, picture it as a large Ski & Snowboard Tag Sale. The event will be held this year as a fund raiser for the non-profit group that operates in cooperation with Snow Trails.

The event gives skiers and snowboarders a chance to buy, or sell, new or gently used equipment. The event is free and open to the public. The cost to the seller is one dollar per item with 20% of the sale price going to the Snow Trails Ski Patrol. For the best selection, sellers and shoppers should arrive early. The Patrol will also be providing brats and beverages on Saturday starting at 11:00am. The event is free and open to the public the following hours:

-November 11th - 13th, 2005

-Friday: 5:00-9:00pm

-Saturday: 10:00-6:00pm

-Sunday: 11:00-5:00pm

The Snow Trails Ski Patrol consists of over 100 dedicated volunteers providing on-hill safety and off-hill education at Snow Trails. They are members of the National Ski Patrol system. Their mission is to serve the skiing public, without charge in the rescue and first aid treatment of the injured, offering this service in a courteous manner, affording the best public relations possible for Snow Trails and the skiing/boarding public.

The National Ski Patrol (NSP) was founded in 1938, and has evolved into one of the largest outdoor-winter rescue organizations in the world. It is composed of more than 28,500 members serving over 600 patrols including volunteer, paid, alpine, snowboard and Nordic throughout the United States and certain military areas in Europe. The NSP membership provides countless years of service and devotion to the skiing community by providing safety education, emergency care, and rescue services.

In 1980, the National Ski Patrol was recognized as a Federal Charter by the United States Congress. This is a coveted endorsement that only a few other American institutions, such as the Red Cross, the YMCA, and the Boy Scouts, have earned. The Charter stipulates the promotion of safety and health in skiing and other outdoor winter recreational activities. The NSP reports directly to Congress.

Snow Trails Ski Resort has been serving Ohio since 1961. There are seven lifts serving 16 runs, including three terrain parks on 50 acres. The Resort boasts being Ohio’s first and finest since it has a reputation of many Midwest firsts, including being Ohio’s first ski area. The ski season runs December through March, weather and skier traffic permitting. The resort is located off Interstate 71 south of Mansfield, OH on Possum Run road.

For more information call 800-OHIO-SKI or visit the website at www. snowtrails. com

Snow Trails

PO Box 1456 Mansfield OH 44901

419-774-9818

800-OHIO-SKI

Snowtrails. com

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Blue Stuff Inc. Signs Web Reseller Agreement with Infomercial. TV, Inc

Blue Stuff Inc. Signs Web Reseller Agreement with Infomercial. TV, Inc.

Blue Stuff, Inc., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma based manufacturer of health, beauty, skin care and nutritional supplement products, has signed a reseller agreement authorizing Infomercial. TV, Inc. to resell Blue StuffÂ’s product line on the web.

(PRWEB) October 26, 2003

VENICE, CA – Blue Stuff, Inc., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma based manufacturer of health, beauty, skin care and nutritional supplement products, has signed a reseller agreement authorizing Infomercial. TV, Inc. to resell Blue Stuff’s product line on the web. Brian White, Blue Stuff’s Director of Internet Marketing states, ”Infomercial. TV represents an effective means to increase our reach on the web. While we expect the bulk of our orders to continue to be driven to our call center, and our own website, Infomercial. TV’s incremental business is a welcome and profitable addition to our marketing efforts.”

Infomercials represent a growing sales medium for a wide variety of products. Web-based sales of these products are predicted to rise dramatically over the next few years, compared with orders taken via telemarketers on traditional 800 numbers. Infomercials provide the opportunity to highlight product features and benefits in ways not possible with 30 or 60 second advertisements. Through repeated showing of an infomercial, product sales continue at a highly profitable rate over long periods of time. Obtaining a greater percentage of orders over the web means decreased costs per order for infomercial advertisers, and increased opportunities for organizations such as Infomercial. TV, Inc.

August Kleimo, CEO of Infomercial. TV states, "As we deliver synergy between and amongst infomercial advertisers, Blue Stuff products represent a significant addition to our product lineup. Personal care products such as Blue Stuff have a terrific following, and we’re proud Blue Stuff has chosen Infomercial. TV as a worthy outlet of their products.”

Blue Stuff, Inc. is a manufacturer and distributor of health, beauty, skin care and nutritional supplement products, including its signature pain relief product, SuperBLUE. Blue Stuff was started to find a more effective way to relieve pain, and has grown into a line of products that have received worldwide attention. Contact – Brian White at 405-840-7888 or bwhite@bluestuff. com.

Infomercial. TV, Inc. is a full service web-based marketing and sales organization providing a variety of web-based promotional vehicles combining many years of technical expertise with industry experience. Infomercial. TV now represents over 14,000 different products on its shopping website http://shop. infomercial. tv (http://shop. infomercial. tv).

Contact:

Michael W. Frishberg, 310-314-0891

Infomercial. TV, Inc.

Fax: 310-396-8448

Http://infomercial. tv/ (http://infomercial. tv/)

Holiday Secrets Cookbook is Ready for the 2010 Holiday Season

Holiday Secrets Cookbook is Ready for the 2010 Holiday Season

Recipes, color photos and tips are ready now to make the 2010 holiday season from Halloween to the New Year easier, more cost effective and healthier for every person, no matter their kitchen skill.

Fort Lauderdale, FL (PRWEB) October 5, 2010

Holiday Secrets is a brand new cookbook by Chef Judy Doherty, PC, II, that contains the most creative, healthy holiday recipes. This is not just another chef's favorite recipe book - it is meant to teach you how to make many holiday creations from appetizers to gravy to desserts no matter your kitchen skill. We promise you will have the most wonderful time making great dishes that taste great, look good and are healthy every time.

5 things you can learn and share right now from http://foodandhealthbooks. com from the Holiday Secrets cookbook:
how to make Witch’s slaw and blue cabbage witch’s hats – just in time for Halloween with complete recipe sheets how to make a pumpkin pie that is less than 100 calories per slice – brand new tulip crust method that cuts calories in half how to cut pecan pie calories in half how to make a beautiful fruit bombe for appetizers or desserts how to make low-cost appetizers and gifts from your kitchen

Your readers will want to use this book over and over during the holiday season. Recipes have 2 color photos on every page and they are easy to make and work every time. There is no other source of healthy holiday cooking recipes that is as comprehensive, healthy or creative as Holiday Secrets. The recipes and secrets given are for Halloween to New Year’s time. But there is a bonus section, too. Gain great meals for Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and all of the Patriot Summer holidays.

About the book:

 70+ of the most creative, healthy holiday recipes from appetizers to desserts  Pictures show HOW in easy steps  Desserts that wow - pies, cookies, puddings  Look like a professional chef with presentation tips and photos  Holidays and weight gain - what does the research say?  Tips for persons with diabetes  Holiday Lifesaver Meals - put a healthy meal on the table in 15-20 minutes  Includes nutrition facts analysis for recipes - they are all low in fat and sodium  Buying tips for ingredients  ISBN: 978-0-9829486-2-0  8.5" X 11" 114 pages  Available on amazon. com and from foodandhealthbooks. com

8 chapters: Secrets, Appetizers, Holiday Meal, Turkey Leftovers, Holiday Lifesavers, Holiday Desserts, Gifts from Your Kitchen, More Holidays

Watch videos, get sample recipes and photographs now at:
Http://foodandhealthbooks. com

Reprints are encouraged for all media. Author appearances and demos are provided upon request. High-definition videos are provided upon request.

About the author:
Judy Doherty, PC II is the chef and Publisher of Food and Health Communications. Judy became interested in cooking at an early age, when she helped her grandmother in the kitchen.

She graduated 2nd in her class from the Culinary Institute of America. Judy attended the Fachschule Richemont in Lucerne, Switzerland, where she studied pastry arts and baking. She has many awards including the prestigious American Culinary Federation Gold Medal. She has ProChef II Certification from the CIA.

Food and Health Communications is a private publishing company that is dedicated to making nutrition education look and taste great. They have been in business for more than 17 years and have a wonderful site at foodandhealth. com. 

For more information, visit http://foodandhealthbooks. com

Media assets: http://foodandhealthbooks. com/media-holidays/

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Cookshack Features Frank Terranova at the National Restaurant Association Show

Cookshack Features Frank Terranova at the National Restaurant Association Show

Cookshack, Inc., manufacturer of smoker ovens, announces that Chef Frank Terranova of Johnson & Wales University, Providence, RI will prepare a variety of smoked food dishes in the Cookshack booth at the NRA Show, May 20 to 23 in Chicago.

Ponca City, OK (PRWEB) May 11, 2006 –-

Cookshack, Inc., is proud to announce that Chef Frank Terranova, associate instructor at Johnson & Wales University’s prestigious College of Culinary Arts, will prepare a variety of smoked foods dishes in Cookshack booth 1585 at the 2006 National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago. Terranova is the host of Cooking with Class, a daily television cooking segment on Channel 10, the NBC affiliate in Providence, RI.

Terranova’s culinary career began at the popular Twin Oaks Restaurant in Cranston, RI, where he worked as a chef for 15 years. Prior to joining the faculty at Johnson & Wales, he was a culinary instructor at high schools in Massachusetts. Terranova also was executive chef of the Culinary Arts School at Rhode Island School of Design.

A seafood and grilling specialist, Terranova has been named the grand prize winner in national seafood and smoked foods competitions. He is the recipient of numerous other medals and awards for his culinary accomplishments. With a culinary career that spans 30 years, Terranova is a certified executive chef and a certified culinary educator through the American Culinary Federation (ACF). He resides with his family in Cranston, RI.

Frank Terranova is the co-author of “New Paradigm Cooking: A Tasteful Shift in Healthy Eating”, published by Favorite Recipes Press (1996). The book was developed to feature healthy foods that taste great. Registered dietician Nancy Sandbach co-authored the book, and recipes include a nutritional profile and a wine selection is provided for each entrée. “New Paradigm Cooking” is available at www. amazon. com, as well in bookstores throughout Rhode Island, or by calling 401-942-3215.

Cookshack, Inc. has manufactured fine quality smoker ovens for over 40 years. Its product lines serve residential customers, commercial operations and competition cooks. Cookshack offers barbecue sauces, dry spice blends and rubs, woods for smoking and barbecue accessories. In late 2003, Cookshack added the Fast Eddy’s by Cookshack line of 100% wood burning pits to its selection. To learn more about Cookshack and Fast Eddy’s by Cookshack products, call 1-800-423-0698 or visit www. cookshack. com.

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Cox Smith Matthews Welcomes 17 New Associates

Cox Smith Matthews Welcomes 17 New Associates

Cox Smith Matthews, the largest business and business litigation firm based in South Texas, announced it has hired 17 new associates.

San Antonio (PRWEB) December 8, 2005

Cox Smith Matthews Incorporated, the largest business and business litigation firm based in South Texas, today announced it has hired 17 new associates in a variety of departments and practice areas. The additions further solidify Cox Smith Matthews’ position as the premier law firm in the South Texas region, coming on the heels of the firm’s recent announcements that it has opened a Dallas office and hired a resident attorney for its McAllen office.

“The depth and the aptitude of the seventeen men and women we have recently hired complements and enhances the firm’s status in the legal and business communities,” said Managing Director Jamie Smith. “We proudly welcome these new associates to the Cox Smith Matthews team and expect great achievements from them in the future.”

The firm’s new associates include:

Jared G. Andersen

Christopher Briggs

Casey A. Burns

Meagan M. Gillette

J. Javier Gutierrez

Matthew M. Jennings

Jessica K. Lombardi

Bryan A. Lopez

Timothy A. Million

Michelle C. Moreno 

James M. Oliveros

Eileen Y. Passmore 

Jamie M. Rose

Paul P. Santoyo

Jonathon Schleuter

Tracy L. Tallon

Andrew J. Yoder 

The new associates come from varied backgrounds and bring a wide variety of experiences to the firm. Lopez is joining the firm with four years of experience in real estate and litigation, which he earned while practicing at Hughes & Luce in Dallas, and more recently with Loeffler Tuggey Pauerstein Rosenthal LLP in San Antonio. Schleuter practiced at Ball & Weed, a San Antonio civil litigation firm, while Gutierrez and Yoder have spent the last year in judicial clerkships. Anderson and Briggs received LL. M.s in Taxation from New York University School of Law in 2005 and will join the firm’s Tax department.

The remainder of the new associates come from the top law schools in Texas and in the country and are working in a range of departments and practice areas including Tax, Estate Planning, Litigation, Intellectual Property, Real Estate, Bankruptcy, Corporate, and Energy and Natural Resources.

Cox Smith Matthews Incorporated is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, with offices in Austin, Dallas, and McAllen. With 19 practice areas and more than 120 attorneys, the Firm provides a full spectrum of legal services to regional, national and international clients. Its major practice areas include Business Litigation, Corporate and Securities, Creditors' Rights, Corporate Restructuring and Bankruptcy, Energy and Natural Resources, Estate Planning, Employee Benefits, Health Care, Intellectual Property, Labor and Employment, Public Law, Real Estate, Tax, and many other areas of specialization. For more information please visit www. coxsmith. com.

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Exotic Wood Salvaged From Ships Finds New Life as Flooring

Exotic Wood Salvaged From Ships Finds New Life as Flooring

Pioneer Millworks recently introduced Malacca Straits, a reclaimed wood floor that offers a tapestry of hues unlike any other. This dynamic mix of Indonesian hardwoods was salvaged from the containerized shipping industry and given new life as precision milled solid 3” planks, resulting in a mosaic floor with colors ranging from deep red-browns, blondes, tans, light oranges to fawn and soft reds.

Farmington, NY (PRWEB) November 20, 2009

Pioneer Millworks recently introduced Malacca Straits, a reclaimed wood floor that offers a tapestry of hues unlike any other. This dynamic mix of Indonesian hardwoods was salvaged from the containerized shipping industry and given new life as precision milled solid 3” planks, resulting in a mosaic floor with colors ranging from deep red-browns, blondes, tans, light oranges to fawn and soft reds.

The hardness rank for Malacca Straits ranges from 1100 – 3500 on the Janka scale, and therefore withstands heavy foot traffic, and pets. As flooring Malacca Straits sells for $9/sq. ft. It is also well suited for paneling, furniture, and exterior decking and siding.

Malacca Straits takes its name from one of the world's most important shipping lanes — a narrow, 500 mile stretch of water between West Malaysia and Sumatra, and the main channel between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

“When you stop and think about where this wood comes from, the diversity in the species in this medley pays homage to the diversity of shipping vessels that pass through the strait each year. With such a variety of color and extreme durability we’re excited to add this to our eco-friendly products,” says Jered Slusser, wood expert at Pioneer Millworks.

If you’re interested in the character, story, and eco-friendliness of this or other reclaimed wood, visit www. pioneermillworks. com/Pages/Malacca-Straits. html (http://www. pioneermillworks. com/Pages/Malacca-Straits. html) or call 800-951-9663.

As the name reflects, Pioneer Millworks was a pioneer in the salvaged and reclaimed antique wood industry. They’re proud to give old wood new life as flooring, millwork, cabinetry, and more. They fully source and manufacture in the USA in Oregon and NY, in a way that’s healthy for you, their employees, and the environment. Their products offer ecologically conscious homeowners, designers, and builders an alternative to non-sustainable flooring without compromising quality, character, or selection. Pioneer Millworks is FSC certified and Green America approved. All of their products are LEED® point eligible.

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Fair Trade Surfwear-Who Cares?

Fair Trade Surfwear-Who Cares?

Fair trade. The only trade. The fair trade movement is old news. People have been talking about it for a long time, but have we as surfers and snowboarders really been listening?

(PRWEB) October 10, 2005

Fair trade. The only trade. The fair trade movement is old news. People have been talking about it for a long time, but have we as surfers and snowboarders really been listening?

Surfers lead the way.

Surfers are usually out there on the front line when it comes to environmental issues but the same cannot always be said for the big Surfwear brands. Young, environmentally conscious surfwear and snowboarding retailer ZooZoo2 is determined to do more.

We are all used to fair trade products such as coffee, tea, and cocoa used in thousands of good cafe's and restaurants across the developed world. But what about surfwear and surf related products? What are we wearing, how was it made and who actually made it?

Fair trade is a system of economic relations in which: sweatshops are eliminated; workers earn a living wage; the rights of workers, producers and local communities are respected; labor, health and safety, and environmental laws are followed; and trade is conducted on a level playing field, truly free and fair'.

[extract from bangornews / PICA article]

Fair trade works to ensure producers in the developing world receive a fair price for the goods they make and that these goods are produced by workers in sweatshop-free environments. It is no longer acceptable for global brands including surfwear brands to benefit at the cost of poor producers who have no voice of their own.

Fair trade involves practices that give producers a voice, either by collecting them into cooperatives or by ensuring minimum support prices for them which will allow them enough resources to invest in further producing the raw material that goes into producing consumer goods says Fair Trade: Market-Driven Ethical Consumption.

“In simple terms, Fair Trade represents a new approach to buyer-supplier transaction which aims at equality of exchange within a partnership approach, underpinned by a developmental, rather than confrontational, agenda. Fair trade recognises the power discrepancy between the developing and the developed worlds and aims to forge long-term partnerships. A firm focus on the producer rather than the consumer, has been central to Fair trade.”

[extract from Finacialexpress India]

Child Labour Facts

The ILO estimates that 120 million children aged 5-14 work full-time, and a further 130 million work part-time.

About 61% of working children live in Asia, 32% in Africa and 7% in Latin America. More and more children in Europe are working.

Africa has the highest incidence of working children. Approximately 40% of all its five to 14 year olds work full or part-time. In both Asia and Latin America, about 20% of five to 14 year-olds are engaged in the job market. [source: www. volunteernow. ca]

ZooZoo2 is committed to supporting the principles of third world fair trade.

Prohibition of child labour (children should be children, to learn and play and have fun)

Prohibition of forced labour (no sweatshop labour)

Prohibition of harassment (no sweatshop labour)

Regulated work hours

Prohibition of discrimination

Health and safety (no sweatshop labour)

Preservation of the environment

Concern for fellow human beings as well as concern for the health of our planet seem to us to be a natural step for all surfers and snowboarders.

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ELAvate: Neighborhood America's Collaborative Technology Solution Helps Public Sector Meet Rising Demand for Citizen Engagement

ELAvate: Neighborhood America's Collaborative Technology Solution Helps Public Sector Meet Rising Demand for Citizen Engagement

Collaboration and problem solving just got easier for the public sector. ELAvate enables customers in government, health care, education, and not-for-profit to engage citizens through enterprise-appropriate Web 2.0 technologies. This latest release of Neighborhood America's award-winning platform enables the public sector to "elevate" internal communications and speed the flow of information.

Naples, FL (PRWEB) March 12, 2008

Neighborhood America announces the release of the latest version of its Software as a Service solution, which leverages Web 2.0 technologies to tackle the challenge of both online and offline engagement of citizens and public officials.

Known as ELAvate, the trademark is significant in that it represents the company's tagline, "Engage. Listen. Act." More importantly, it describes a growing need for public sector customers in government, health care, education, and not-for-profit to "elevate" internal communications and speed the flow of information. This type of collaborative technology (http://www. neighborhoodamerica. com) encourages diverse stakeholders and citizens to come together to solve problems and participate in public policy making.

"By enabling collaborative technologies that meet citizen-government communication standards, the public sector can gain thoughtful input, increased knowledge and build consensus from the citizens they serve," said Dan Bevarly, Neighborhood America's Senior Director of Business Development. "Enabling opportunities to interact through a multitude of structured Web and mobile technologies provides positive economic and political results."

Recognizing that technology needs are not a 'one-size-fits-all' proposition at an enterprise level, ELAvate enables customers to select the technology components that can best help them achieve their goals. Consider a state transportation department that seeks public involvement (http://www. neighborhoodamerica. com) to gain support and funding approval; a local agency that needs to reach a mass audience quickly with an emergency alert; or a health care entity that wishes to build an online community to enable members to share in discussions. Each of these scenarios represents a common need to engage citizens, but the means by which they accomplish that may vary greatly.

ELAvate components that are available to meet the needs of the public sector include:
Team collaboration and project management - manage internal work teams and workflow process with full content, document and image management system Immediate feedback and public comment - create public comment and feedback forms that support multiple forms and types of questions Integrated mobile platform - engage citizens beyond the Web, quickly reach mass audiences with broadcasts, alerts or special promotions Reporting and analytics - measure performance, geographically map participation, and support decisions with credible data Enterprise-appropriate infrastructure - Software as a Service delivery provides data storage and hosting in a state-of-the-art Tier IV environment with limitless ability to scale, maintain security controls and authentication with full individual rights management Full community platform - support rich interaction through profiles, the sharing of multimedia content, ratings and rankings, tagging, community mapping, contextual searches Community discussions - facilitate through discussion boards, blogs or forums with the ability to moderate content

For a full list of the benefits that ELAvate offers, visit: http://www. neighborhoodamerica. com/elavate (http://www. neighborhoodamerica. com/elavate).

Prior to the release of ELAvate, Neighborhood America focused on serving public sector customers with its Public Communications System, which supports internal team collaboration as well as public outreach and the management of public comment (http://www. neighborhoodamerica. com/index. cfm? content=whatwedo). ELAvate enables the Company to offer solutions that further extend its customers' ability to meet the rising demands for citizen participation and inclusion.

"We are committed to servicing the public sector's growing needs to more efficiently collaborate with enterprise solutions that they can rely upon," said Kim Patrick Kobza, President and CEO of Neighborhood America. "ELAvate provides the right engagement solutions that are unique to public sector organizations to help them meet their goals more cost-effectively and with more participation from the communities they service."

About Neighborhood America
Neighborhood America's 'Software as a Service (http://wwwneighborhoodamerica. com/elavate)' solution is designed for organizations that want to capitalize on collaboration and citizen engagement. Since 1999, the company has been enabling its customers to build online and mobile communities to engage citizens, facilitate ongoing dialogue around their objectives, and gain continued social intelligence. Customers select Neighborhood America for its award-winning technology and commitment to guide them through the entire process - from strategy, through implementation, to ultimate success. Learn more about Neighborhood America by visiting: http://www. neighborhoodamerica. com (http://www. neighborhoodamerica. com).

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McClatchy-Tribune Adopts Smartlogic’s Semantic Search Tool to Maximise their News Service

McClatchy-Tribune Adopts Smartlogic’s Semantic Search Tool to Maximise their News Service

McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), the online news and image provider, has adopted Smartlogic’s open semantic search platform, Semaphore, which will enable users to access broader and more comprehensive news content based on specific topics, geography, companies and industry sectors.

(PRWEB) July 26, 2010

McClatchy-Tribune Information Services, the provider of comprehensive online news and image services, has maximised their existing news search service by adopting Smartlogic’s Open Semantic Search Platform, Semaphore (http://www. smartlogic. com). The new online content classification tool is expected to save MCT’s subscribers considerable time when searching for news and carrying out searches based on specific topics, geography, companies and industry sectors.

Semaphore is an innovative ontology-driven solution that uses a semantic search model. It will work alongside MCT’s existing search engine and information management capabilities. This unique way of searching, filtering and discovering content will determine, more specifically, what those news stories are about.

Jeremy Bentley of Smartlogic comments: “The power of ontology is groundbreaking and offers users innovative ways to explore content. An ontology is basically a set of words and concepts that are related to one another, and those relationships help define the precise topics of stories. Essentially it automates content classification so that it is fed to the appropriate person at a quicker rate. We think of Semaphore as turning a search engine into a find engine as it quickly determines the subject matter of any given story.”

Bentley continues: “It’s the difference in having to wade through thousands of results from a Google search and doing one search with the confidence so that every story returned to you will be only the subject you’re interested in.”

The rollout will initially be implemented internally by MCT’s sales team to help them discover new markets and more targeted sales team, but will later be offered to MCT’s subscribers as a value-added information management service to increase customer satisfaction and retention.

Company profile:

About Smartlogic – www. smartlogic. com (http://www. smartlogic. com)

Smartlogic are the UK-based creators of Semaphore, a semantic search platform that adds advanced content classification capabilities to information management systems.

Adopting a semantic content classification approach to information management delivers findability, improves the accuracy and efficacy of applying metadata and enables content integration across disparate sources.
 Media companies use Semaphore to improve the quality of their information feeds  Government authorities use Semaphore to tag information according to their standards  Investment banks use Semaphore to consolidate their information costs  Online directories use Semaphore to increase their advertising revenues  Intranets and websites use Semaphore to boost their use  Knowledge managers use Semaphore to manage their taxonomies and ontologies

Clients include NASA, The National Health Service, ABN Amro, Bank of America and The Office of Public Sector Information.

Contact: 
Jeremy Bentley
Smartlogic, 14 Greville Street, London EC1N 8SB, UK
+44 (0)1223 451 046
Www. smartlogic. com

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New CEO Named At Summit Energy

New CEO Named At Summit Energy

Summit Energy's President, Steve Wilhite, was named President and Chief Executive Officer of Summit Energy.

Louisville, KY (PRWEB) March 8, 2007

Summit Energy's President, Steve Wilhite, was named President and Chief Executive Officer of Summit Energy, succeeding Jim Headlee who will continue as the company's Chairman of the Board.

Wilhite, a six-year employee of Summit Energy, has served as the company's President since 2002. "I continue to be excited about the future at Summit. Our people, services and clients are all world-class, and I am honored to be a part of this team. I look forward to ongoing growth at Summit as we continue providing industry leading energy management services to companies around the world."

"It gives me great personal pleasure to see this company led by such a capable and honorable man," says Headlee, who founded Summit Energy in 1991, and has served as President and CEO since that time. "One of the things I am humbled by is how capable our people are. We have some of the most talented and trustworthy people I know involved in our company. I believe that the leadership Steve has already exhibited will continue into the future."

When Mr. Wilhite came to Summit Energy in 2001, he served as the company's executive vice president. Before joining Summit Energy, Wilhite provided energy-consulting services to several Fortune 500 companies. Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Marketing and Operations for FPL Energy Services, Vice President of Marketing for Duke-Louis Dreyfus and Manager of Energy for International Paper.

Wilhite received his MBA from Duke's Fuqua Business School and a bachelor's degree in Mathematics from Wheaton College.

As Chairman of the Board, Headlee will continue to be involved in the business and accessible to clients, as well as help to oversee Summit Energy's strategic agenda. "I continue to be active here, particularly as it relates to our global growth plans," says Headlee.

About Summit Energy

Summit Energy is a pioneering provider of energy management services for business and industry. Summit manages more than 9,000 industrial and commercial sites, with a combined annual energy spend of more than $12 billion, for clients in industries ranging from aerospace and automotive to government, chemical, food manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, healthcare and others. Its growing staff of more than 230 energy professionals is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, with additional offices in Texas, Illinois, Belgium, Italy, France, Germany and The Netherlands. Summit serves clients in all 50 U. S. states, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Singapore and Europe.

For more information, visit www. summitenergy. com.

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Diversified Acquires UDM Services Inc

Diversified Acquires UDM Services Inc.

Diversified Information Technologies, Inc. today announced the completion of its acquisition of United Data Management (UDM) Services, Inc., a nationwide provider of online backup and disaster recovery services serving small businesses up to enterprises.

Scranton, PA (PRWEB) August 24, 2006

Diversified Information Technologies, Inc. today announced the completion of its acquisition of United Data Management (UDM) Services, Inc., a nationwide provider of online backup and disaster recovery services serving small businesses up to enterprises.

The acquisition of UDM adds additional business continuity and disaster recovery services to Diversified’s comprehensive range of information management offerings, which include front-end mailroom services, forms processing, document imaging, data capture and indexing, and records management.

“We are pleased to be able to provide our customers with complete cradle-to-grave document and information management capabilities,” Janice Thyren, senior executive vice president and chief operating officer for Diversified, emphasized, “particularly the ability to ensure the continuous availability of their data through vaulting, distributed operations and alternate business-continuity sites. The acquisition of UDM allows us to expand on these services and take advantage of the extensive knowledge and experience of UDM.”

The new data services will be branded as Diversified Availability Solutions or DAS. Offerings will include data vaulting, server mirroring, managed hosting, secondary office locations and consulting services. Diversified is currently integrating UDM operations and account management processes into the company’s downtown Scranton headquarters to assure a smooth transition for UDM customers and partners.

Work is also progressing on Diversified’s new secure, state-of-the-art business continuity and data vaulting center, located in Gordonsville, Va.; which will be the operations hub and secondary site for many of the new data protection services offered via the acquisition.

About Diversified Information Technologies

Headquartered in Scranton, Pennsylvania and founded in 1982, Diversified Information Technologies helps clients transfer paper-based file management systems to a secure, electronic environment, allowing its customers to access and share files, invoices and other documents. In addition, Diversified provides availability solutions, electronic mailroom processing, automated forms and healthcare claims processing, and archival records storage. For more information, visit www. diversifiedweb. com.

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The Melting Pot Restaurants Team Up with Gluten Intolerance Group To Launch Gluten-Free Menu

The Melting Pot Restaurants Team Up with Gluten Intolerance Group To Launch Gluten-Free Menu

In recognition of Celiac Awareness Month in May, The Melting Pot fondue restaurants have partnered with the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) to launch a new gluten-free (GF) menu available in all locations May 10.

Tampa, Fla. (Vocus) May 10, 2010

In recognition of Celiac Awareness Month in May, The Melting Pot fondue (http://www. meltingpot. com) restaurants (http://www. meltingpot. com (http://www. meltingpot. com)]) have partnered with the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) to launch a new gluten-free (GF) menu available in all locations May 10.

“Considering one in 100 people have celiac disease, guests have been requesting a gluten-free option for about two years, so we worked with GIG to help find a solution,” said Laura Lachapelle, director of training and education for The Melting Pot restaurants. “With GIG’s help, we developed an easy-to-read version of the menu that tells guests exactly what is gluten free and how to request gluten-free items.”

GIG analyzed The Melting Pot’s menus, products and ingredients by checking labels and nutritional facts to determine items that contained gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley, and then advised accordingly.

The gluten-free menu includes the following revisions:
Cheese course – Considering The Melting Pot cheese is normally floured, guests requesting the gluten-free option must request for the cheese to be made with cornstarch. Also, instead of the guest receiving bread, cauliflower, carrots and celery, he/she will receive more veggies and broccoli. Salad course – All salads are gluten free. The only items that need to be removed are croutons. Entrée course – Most of the items on the entrée list are gluten free. Items that need to be substituted out include the teriyaki sirloin and spring vegetable dumplings. Dessert course – Two of the chocolate fondues contain gluten: Cookies n' Cream Marshmallow Dream and the Chocolate S'mores because of the Oreo cookies and graham crackers. A specialized dessert plate is also prepared to include strawberries, bananas, plain marshmallows and pineapple. Cheesecake, pound cake, Rice Krispie treats and brownies all contain flour and are not included on the GF menu. Beverages – All wines and mandatory specialty drinks are gluten free. Red Bridge, a gluten-free beer by Anheuser Busch, is used as a substitution base for some of the cheeses. To make reservations, find locations or view the GF menu online, visit http://www. meltingpot. com/locations (http://www. meltingpot. com/locations).

About Gluten Intolerance and Celiac Disease:
Gluten intolerance occurs when a person is unable to digest the protein called gluten found in wheat, rye and barley. A person with gluten intolerance can have health issues because he/she suffers damage to his/her intestines while eating foods containing gluten. This damage does not allow proper nutrient absorption and ultimately leads to a number of complications including slow starvation. Gluten intolerance includes gluten sensitivity and celiac disease. Between 6-9 million people currently suffer from gluten intolerance.

Celiac disease, affecting all ages from infants to adults, is a genetic digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with the absorption of nutrients from foods. Ingestion of gluten for a person with celiac disease has long-term health consequences and puts him/her at risk for complications including, but not limited to, malnutrition, failure to thrive, malignancies, loss of bone density, neurological problems, anemia and infertility.

For more information about gluten intolerance or celiac disease, visit http://www. glutenfreerestaurants. org (http://www. glutenfreerestaurants. org).

About The Melting Pot Restaurants Inc. (http://www. meltingpot. com)
With 145 restaurants in North America, existing locations in 36 states and Canada and over 13 locations currently in development, The Melting Pot Restaurants Inc. is the premier fondue restaurant franchise. At The Melting Pot, fondue becomes a memorable four-course dining experience where patrons can dip into something different. Guests enjoy a choice of four fondue cooking styles and a variety of unique entrées combined with dipping sauces. The menu also includes cheese fondues, salads, fine wines and chocolate fondue desserts. Founded in 1975, The Melting Pot’s corporate headquarters are in Tampa, Fla. For more information, visit www. meltingpot. com] or email info(at)meltingpot(dot)com.

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New Article: New Managers Must Know Legal Basics

New Article: New Managers Must Know Legal Basics

Impact Achievement Group article series on new manager training emphasizes key strategies to grow into management

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) May 27, 2010

Understanding labor laws is a big challenge for new managers (http://www. impactachievement. com/SupervisoryBasicsOverview. pdf). Training is critical since new supervisors (http://www. impactachievement. com/articles. html), at all times, are agents of the company, according to Impact Achievement Group.

Federal, state and even company policies regarding employment laws are complex and are a key focus for human resource professionals. They must communicate the basics of employment law to the newly promoted, as violation can cost the manager – and the company – dearly.

The Law: Compliance Basics (http://www. impactachievement. com/labor_law_compliance_basics. html), the fifth in a 12-part article series, is a handy reference for new managers regarding key employment legal issues and pitfalls. The articles are derived from Supervisory Basics™, 12 individual, yet linked, two-hour training modules, delivered in leader-led or eLearning formats that help managers understand the management behaviors and tactics required to ensure their and their company's success.

Legal concerns can and will vary by organization, location, and state or province or country. But every manager must know the basics, including:
Sexual harassment laws cover all employees. Managers have a responsibility to inquire into any rumors regarding sexual harassment or issues regarding a hostile work environment. Organizations can be found guilty if they knew, or reasonably should have known, about illegal acts. For instance, they can be guilty of allowing sexual harassment even when the supervisors and managers have no knowledge of the offending behavior. Health insurance is not a legal right but a benefit. If it is offered to any full-time employee, it must be offered to all full-time employees. Sexual harassment or hostile work environment protections extend to employees and also customer, vendor and supplier relationships. An organization is usually considered "guilty until proven innocent" when accused of illegal labor practices. The burden of proof usually falls on the employer.

"New managers must know legal basics for those employees they supervise," said Lee Klepinger, president. "Ignoring the issue puts the manager and the organization at legal risk."

The Law: Compliance Basics is available for download at http://www. impactachievement. com/compliancebasics. html (http://www. impactachievement. com/compliancebasics. html)]. Article six will discuss performance review skills.

About Impact Achievement Group
Impact Achievement Group provides assessment, coaching, customer loyalty and leadership development (http://www. impactachievement. com/solutions_management. html) training that focuses on employee selection, retention, employee engagement and customer engagement. By integrating and blending the world's best assessment and recruiting processes, workshops and eLearning training, coaching and measurement programs, Impact Achievement Group helps organizations improve human performance to achieve bottom line results.

Contact:

Lee Klepinger
888/248-5553
Leek(at)impactachievement(dot)com

Gail DeLano
Fisher Vista/HRmarketer
831/685-9700
Gdelano(at)fishervista(dot)com

This press release was distributed through PR Web by Human Resources Marketer (HR Marketer: http://www. HRmarketer. com (http://www. HRmarketer. com)) on behalf of the company listed above.

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