S. A. Nichols Brokerage Endorses ProspectZone Internet-Generated Health Insurance Leads

S. A. Nichols Brokerage Endorses ProspectZone Internet-Generated Health Insurance Leads



Applauds ProspectZone's commitment to delivering high-quality leads in real time; Promotes ProspectZone leads to its member agents



Chicago, IL (PRWEB) September 10, 2008



S. A. Nichols Brokerage, an Ohio-based health insurance general agency, has endorsed ProspectZone, the leading provider of health insurance leads (http://www. prospectzone. com) and will promote ProspectZone's high-quality health insurance leads to its member agents.



"Successful agents understand the importance of lead quality, and their ability to deliver highly qualified health insurance leads is why we endorse ProspectZone," said Scott Nichols, president of S. A. Nichols Brokerage. "Their commitment to lead quality is obvious throughout their lead generation system, from the way they develop health insurance leads to their real-time delivery and generous return policy."



ProspectZone specializes in providing Internet-generated leads to health insurance agents throughout the U. S. These lead prospects are never incentivized with special gifts or offers to fill out a lead form. And because their leads consist of only online health insurance shoppers, ProspectZone clients are able to contact prospects just seconds after they've requested to speak to an agent.



"S. A. Nichols shares the same dedication we do to making sure agents can access the right tools, resources and support they need to succeed," said Jeremiah Desmarais, vice president of marketing for ProspectZone. "We're honored to partner with them and empowering their agents with the kind of health leads that will help them boost their production and sales."



To screen out bogus leads, ProspectZone also validates each lead against national phone and address databases immediately before delivering the lead to the appropriate agent in real time. It then stands behind their lead quality with an industry-leading 10-day return window for any invalid leads.



An added benefit that ProspectZone offers to all its clients is a complimentary BrokerOffice subscription. Normally valued at over $1,100, BrokerOffice is the premier lead management system for health insurance agents and brokers. It combines powerful customer relationship management (CRM) capability with automated lead import and easy integration with leading health insurance sales automation tools, such as the LeadMiner (drip marketing) email autoresponder and the Norvax Quote Engine and agent websites.



For more information about ProspectZone's selection of insurance leads, including its new live transfer and Medicare leads, please visit www. ProspectZone. com].



Contact:

Joy Scott

818.610.0270

Joy@scottpublicrelations. com



ABOUT PROSPECTZONE

Chicago-based ProspectZone works with the insurance industry as the nation's leading source of high-quality health insurance leads. ProspectZone achieves the highest level of lead quality by generating search-engine-driven health leads (http://www. prospectzone. com) through its network of popular consumer-oriented health insurance resource sites and never incentivizing prospects to become leads. By delivering validated and qualified leads in real time, ProspectZone connects interested insurance consumers with insurance agents who can provide them competitive quotes on insurance products. Learn more at www. ProspectZone. com].



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MediSend International Joins The Clinton Global Initiative with The Afghanistan Health and Human Resource Initiative

MediSend International Joins The Clinton Global Initiative with The Afghanistan Health and Human Resource Initiative



The Initiative was presented at the Clinton Global Initiative's 5th Annual Meeting that took place September 22nd through September 25th in New York City.



Dallas, TX (PRWEB) September 29, 2009



MediSend International has joined The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) with an initial Commitment to Action, a unique feature of CGI membership that translates practical goals into meaningful and measurable results. Through its Afghanistan Health and Human Resource Initiative, MediSend will provide biomedical equipment repair training, comprehensive repair and maintenance kits, technical support and the distribution of medical supplies and biomedical equipment to hospitals and clinics in Afghanistan. The Afghanistan Health and Human Resource Initiative was presented at the Clinton Global Initiative's 5th Annual Meeting that took place September 22nd through September 25th in New York City.



According to General Richard B. Myers, retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and MediSend Advisory Board member, "One of the most difficult challenges that Afghanistan faces in community health is the lack of skilled human resources in the area of trained technical personnel. MediSend has a focused program that will help overcome this challenge in hospitals and clinics in Afghanistan."



The Afghanistan Health and Human Resource Initiative will train Afghan nationals in MediSend's Biomedical Repair Program to return to their community hospitals and clinics with the skills to install, maintain and repair life-saving biomedical equipment. MediSend will also provide each graduate trainee's hospital with MediSend's Mobile Biomedical Equipment Test and Repair Kit™. Ongoing customer and technical support for the participating hospitals and clinics is a major part of the program.



"We are proud to present a program that will make a positive difference in the lives of many thousands of men, women and children in Afghanistan," says Nick Hallack, President and CEO of MediSend International adding, "To be a part of The Clinton Global Initiative with the opportunity to share ideas and explore solutions with other like-minded organizations will further inspire and reinforce our commitment."



Partnering organizations such as The Exxon Mobil Corporation, Philips Medical Systems, Phoenix Data Systems (AIMS. NET®), Nida Corporation, Baylor Health Care System, International SOS, Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, Mercy Ships, Save the Children, Broadlane and National Freight Industries enable MediSend to implement programs such as The Afghanistan Health and Human Resource Initiative worldwide.



For more information on MediSend International, go to www. medisend. org.



About MediSend

MediSend is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, humanitarian organization that supports under resourced hospitals in developing countries with a multi-dimensional approach to improving community health. Medisend's mission includes education, training, technical support and management technologies in Biomedical Equipment Repair, as well as the distribution of life-saving medical supplies and biomedical equipment. MediSend is a proud member of The Clinton Global Initiative.



About The Clinton Global Initiatives (CGI)

Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 100 current and former heads of state, 14 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made more than 1,400 commitments valued at $46 billion, which have already improved the lives of 200 million people in 150 countries. Commitments made at the 2008 Annual Meeting are expected to affect almost 160 million people. The CGI community also includes CGI University (CGI U), a forum to engage college students in global citizenship; CGI Asia; and MyCommitment. org, an online portal where anybody can make their own Commitment to Action. CGI held its Fifth Annual Meeting September 22-25, 2009, in New York City. For more information, visit www. clintonglobalinitiative. org.



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SSB BART Group Announces its Accessibility Management Platform (AMP) Spring 2009 Release Offering More Functionality, Increased Ease of Use

SSB BART Group Announces its Accessibility Management Platform (AMP) Spring 2009 Release Offering More Functionality, Increased Ease of Use



The AMP Spring 2009 release combines a new complementary toolbar and updates to the InFocus automated testing component for a complete accessibility auditing solution.



San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) July 24, 2009



SSB BART Group (SSB), known for its products, training, and consultative services to the accessibility market announced today an updated release of its Accessibility Management Platform (AMP). AMP is the first on-demand solution that integrates the business and technical aspects of compliance with Section 508, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), and other international standards, such as the Japanese Industry Standards (JIS) and Korean Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (KWCAG). The enhancements to AMP offer developers and testers significantly increased functionality and a streamlined interface for easier workflow.



With AMP, developers and testers are able to bring their accessibility programs in-house, easily integrating a scalable, unified methodology into existing systems. This turnkey system offers the ability to assess the current state of systems' accessibility compliance, facilitates the training of staff on the latest requirements, and tracks compliance over time. Current enterprise level clients using AMP include: Wells Fargo Bank, the Veterans Health Administration, and the Social Security Administration.



The latest release of AMP includes the InFocus Toolbar - a browser based plug-in that enables users to test and review the accessibility of content directly in Internet Explorer. The InFocus toolbar includes the ability to capture rendered page content as it exists in the browser allowing for the easy creation of custom test sets that form the basis of formal audits. This feature, in addition to other improvements to the current feature set of the AMP Report Wizard, significantly reduces the time to create and capture a test set for systems that require formal auditing.



"We are excited to release the InFocus Toolbar to the public," said Timothy Springer, SSB's CEO. "With this enhancement, developers and testers have a simple way to access the power of AMP to perform formal accessibility audits without having to spend a large amount of time capturing the audit sample data. Users can continue to provide highly detailed results and compliance metrics while minimizing the amount of effort to capture pages that need to be audited. This translates into a clear time and cost savings for our clients with no negative impact on the accuracy or quality of audit results."



InFocus is an integrated solution that allows for the implementation and monitoring of accessibility initiatives for web sites and web applications that include testing and analysis tools, a rules builder, a checking engine, and content spidering. As part of the Spring 2009 release, the entire InFocus interface has been expanded to allow full access to the audit methodology in AMP. These improvements are oriented towards providing rapid, powerful validation results to users across large web properties.



For additional information on the enhancements to AMP detailed in this release, contact Karl Groves or visit www. ssbbartgroup. com.



About SSB BART Group

Founded in 1997 by engineers with disabilities, SSB BART Group has offices in Silicon Valley and Washington D. C., and offers a wide range of cutting-edge products, training, and consultative services to help create accessible IT solutions. The proven Accessibility Management Platform (AMP) from SSB BART Group is the industry's first on-demand solution that integrates the business and technical aspects of complying with regulations such as Section 508, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).



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Fosina Appoints CPA Ad Network Vet to Head Marketing

Fosina Appoints CPA Ad Network Vet to Head Marketing



Performance-Based Online DR Agency Looks to Maintain High Growth with New Marketing Hire.



Danbury, CT (PRWEB) August 3, 2010



Fosina Marketing Group (http://www. fosinamarketinggroup. com), the leading performance-based online direct response agency specializing in serving continuity-based brands, today announced the appointment of Mason Wiley to SVP Marketing. In this role, Wiley will lead the Account Management and Media teams and contribute to Creative to maintain a high level of service to Fosina clients, as well as head up the Agency’s own Marketing efforts.



“We are excited to have such an accomplished marketer as part of our team,” said Jim Fosina, CEO of Fosina Marketing Group. “Wiley’s background in branding, DR and customer experience management in addition to his hands-on experience in leading successful, performance-based digital ad campaigns will help us deepen the level of service we provide to our branded direct response clients.”



Wiley will focus on maximizing results of the customer acquisition campaigns Fosina manages on behalf of its clients and providing strategies to improve customer lifetime value. Also by deepening Fosina’s executive bench, Wiley’s hire will support the agency’s rapid growth. At its current 2010 run rate, Fosina projects to double the size of its business versus 2009.



“I’m thrilled to be a part of such a successful, high-growth company,” said Wiley. “Fosina is playing a central role in evangelizing the performance-based DR model, and making it work for leading brands.”



Previously, Wiley worked as SVP Marketing at Hydra, the largest pure performance-based digital ad platform. In that role he led Marketing efforts for Hydra, as well as served as chief consultant for the performance-based customer acquisition campaigns mounted by Hydra on behalf of its cost-per-action (CPA) advertiser clients, including Fosina Marketing Group. Wiley’s 25-year experience also includes stints managing customer experience projects for the nation’s largest health insurer (Wellpoint) and the nation’s largest provider of private student loans (First Marblehead). Prior to that Wiley served as Vice-President/Creative Director for Hollywood-based agency The Cimarron Group where he led advertising efforts for a wide range of clients including Universal Studios Hollywood, numerous Disney Brands, Countrywide and Lotus Automotive. In that time he also created TV ads for Arnold Schwarzenegger’s successful gubernatorial campaign.



“Working on literally thousands of performance-based digital ad campaigns on behalf of Hydra advertisers gave Wiley incredible insight on what’s required to successfully drive customer acquisition,” said Jim Fosina. “We’re excited to bring that experience to Fosina Marketing Group, as well as enhance our customer experience management capabilities to help improve customer LTV post-acquisition for Fosina’s clients.”



About Fosina Marketing Group



Founded by successful client-side pioneers in club, continuity, catalog, and subscription marketing, Fosina Marketing Group today is a leading full-service direct response agency that helps world-class brands integrate performance-based digital marketing into their business models to acquire and retain customers. Uniquely expert in applying time-tested direct response principles to online channels, Fosina provides product management, media and creative services focused on improving return on marketing investment and increasing customer lifetime value. Learn more at www. fosinamarketinggroup. com.



For more information, contact:



Mason Wiley, SVP Marketing

Fosina Marketing Group

98 Mill Plain Road, Suite 1A

Danbury, CT 06811



Phone No. 203-790-0025

Fax No. 203-790-0031



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Adolescent Growth Plate Injuries May Be Related to Overuse

Adolescent Growth Plate Injuries May Be Related to Overuse



Early diagnosis and immobilization of growth plate injuries is key to putting an adolescent athlete back in the game, according to a recent study published in the May/June issue of Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach.



Rosemont, IL (Vocus) May 6, 2009



Early diagnosis and immobilization of growth plate injuries is key to putting an adolescent athlete back in the game, according to a recent study published in the May/June issue of Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach. (http://www. SportsHealthJournal. org)



“Overuse injuries in immature athletes are commonly seen in orthopaedic practices. Our analysis illustrates that early recognition and treatment of common overuse injuries such as stress fractures and 'Little League Elbow' can lead to quicker recovery and may prevent season or even career ending events from occurring,” said lead author, Todd J. Frush, MD, orthopaedic surgeon and clinical fellow at Cincinnati Sports Medicine.



The study analyzed more than 75 published clinical, outcome and biomechanical studies of adolescent growth plate and overuse injuries through 2008 in order to increase recognition and provide treatment recommendations.



Current research shows that adolescent athletes are more prone to overuse injuries, especially in the wrist, elbow and foot due to their immature musculoskeletal system and not completely fused growth plates. According to researchers, these growing regions in the growth plates allow for the impacts of certain sports such as gymnastics, running and baseball to be absorbed and cause injury at an increased rate.



“Even though growth plate overuse injuries occur frequently in adolescents, it is equally important for clinicians and parents to realize that not all overuse injuries are related to the growth plate and will be something that a child will 'grow out of' or play through. Certain growth plate injuries may continue to be symptomatic over a long period of time. If early diagnosis is missed, then healing and significant restrictions on athletic participation can occur. Neglect may also result in long-term problems,” said Frush.”It’s important for athletes to work with trainers and their sports medicine specialists to create a rehabilitation program that safely returns them to an appropriate level of play once healing occurs.”



Published bimonthly, Sports Health (http://www. SportsHealthJournal. org) is a collaborative publication from the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM), the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM), the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), and the Sports Physical Therapy Section (SPTS). Other organizations participating in the publication include the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine (AOASM). For more information on the publication or to submit a manuscript, visit www. sportshealthjournal. org.



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Dr. David Sniezek Recounts Successful Volunteer Medical Relief Mission in Haiti

Dr. David Sniezek Recounts Successful Volunteer Medical Relief Mission in Haiti



American physician Dr. David P. Sniezek, a pioneer in integrative rehabilitation medicine in the Washington, D. C. area, spent nine days in May volunteering in Haiti.



Washington, DC (PRWEB) June 10, 2010



Dr. David P. Sniezek (http://www. AdvancedIntegrativeRehabilitation. com), a medical staff consultant at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC and the medical director of the Advanced Integrative Rehabilitation and Pain Center (http://www. AdvancedIntegrativeRehabilitation. com) in Foggy Bottom, spent nine days volunteering his integrative medicine skills in Haiti.



A pioneer in integrative rehabilitation in the Washington, D. C. area, Sniezek specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation, pain management, and integrative medicine, including acupuncture.



Sniezek traveled with a small team of professionals providing relief from pain and post-traumatic stress suffered from the catastrophic earthquake that virtually leveled Port-au-Prince last January.



Sniezek, along with three other members from Acupuncturists Without Borders (http://www. acuwithoutborders. org/) (AWB), treated over 700 patients in need of care. They treated hundreds of displaced Haitians, including many orphans, living in tent cities in Leogane and Port-au-Prince. They also treated many medical volunteers from the American Red Cross, Hands On Disaster Relief, and at the General Hospital.



"There was no acupuncture being performed until AWB arrived,” said Sniezek, 54. “We quickly realized that we cannot see every person in need, relieve every pain, nor completely eliminate the stress and sadness.”



Sniezek performed the first integrative medicine treatment in Haiti at the General Hospital in Port-au-Prince on a young girl with a leg injury who responded so well to treatment that she was able to participate in rehabilitation and walk with much less pain the same day.



AWB was formed in September 2005 in the immediate aftermath of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina. AWB provided free community acupuncture treatments to survivors of the hurricanes in Louisiana, including evacuees, residents, first responders, emergency personnel, volunteers and other care providers.



Sniezek said working with a credible relief organization, such as AWB, is crucial in a disaster zone. People that travel alone without support, knowing the language, or understanding the social infrastructure in Haiti can easily become a liability.



"For me the biggest challenge was the language and environment," said Sniezek. Fortunately, AWB provided drivers and translators which made their jobs much easier. As a result, his team was able to take their work to the countryside where there were cities of tents.



Another goal for this mission and AWB was to develop a school to provide training for this treatment method to the Haitian people.



"AWB is working with government health officials to make this dream a reality," said Sniezek. "One of the organizational challenges facing AWB is funding. AWB needs a steady flow of funds to continue their work.”



Each member for this mission was hand-picked and each assigned tasks based on skills needed for this particular disaster. "On this mission medical first aid knowledge was required and, fortunately, we were stocked with the appropriate medications and supplies,” said Sniezek.



Sniezek recalls an incident in the field when a construction worker approached him on foot with a fairly deep and lengthy laceration to his hand requesting medical attention. "We were far from any medical facility and he was bleeding through a dirty shirt that he wrapped around his hand. As far as supplies were concerned, we did not have everything that I wanted, but we had everything that I needed to clean, repair, and dress the wound," said Sniezek. "Before we leave the safe house in the morning we prepare by bringing filtered water and rations for two days in the event that we experience another disaster, such as an aftershock," says Sniezek.



Sniezek says their success was based on the support of their parent organization, AWB, and the unique set of skills and personalities of his team. "We are very proud of what we were able to accomplish here in Haiti," said Sniezek, "And we plan to stay together as a team ready to deploy when and wherever the next disaster strikes."



Sniezek's team provides impartial help to people in need without discrimination and independent of political power. "We do not expect to change the world. We work alongside people that struggle to survive violence or neglect and we constantly aim to improve the quality of care we provide," says Sniezek.



If going to a disaster zone is not an option, donations to reputable aid agencies working on the ground can be just as valuable.



About Dr. Sniezek

David P. Sniezek, DC, MD, FAAMA, FAAIM is a 1989 graduate of the Rehabilitation Medicine program at the George Washington University Medical Center, the Harvard Medical School Structural Acupuncture for Physicians program, and the UCLA School of Medicine Medical Acupuncture for Physicians program. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture, a Fellow of the American Academy of Geriatric Medicine, and American Association of Integrative Medicine. Dr. Sniezek has been recognized by the Washingtonian Magazine as a “Top Doctor” in the field of Rehabilitation Medicine.



For more information you can contact Dr. Sniezek's office at 202-296-3555 or visit his website at Advanced Integrative Rehabilitation and Pain Center. (http://www. AdvancedIntegrativeRehabilitation. com)



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Internet Marketing Goes Beyond Cyberspace: Laserlinx Launches

Internet Marketing Goes Beyond Cyberspace: Laserlinx Launches



Odin Media, LLC announced today the launch of its new line of affinity marketing products called laserlinx® – the first products to take Internet marketing beyond cyberspace and into the world of promotion marketing. laserlinx are custom-branded, CD-ROM-published, best-of-the-Web guides on a wide variety of consumer-focused topics – giving marketers the opportunity to integrate their multimedia, interactive marketing message into the most important information in their customers' lives, and to deliver it directly into the hands of their target consumers via direct-mail, magazine insert, event premium, gift-with-purchase, in-pack/on-pack, and special programs like distribution in schools. One of the country’s largest cable companies has retained Odin to produce a laserlinx guide called “100+ Essential Websites for Small Business Owners,” which the cable giant is using in a direct-mail campaign seeking new subscribers for its business services. Odin has also entered into a deal with Custom Promotions, Inc., a New Jersey-based advertising specialty and marketing consulting firm, specializing in the pharmaceutical, medical device, and insurance industries.



New York, NY (PRWEB) July 27, 2006



Odin Media, LLC announced today the launch of its new line of affinity marketing products called laserlinx® – the first products to bring Internet search-based marketing into the $340+-billion-world of promotion marketing. Laserlinx are a series of custom-branded, CD-ROM-published, best-of-the-Web guides on consumer-focused topics – which serve as a platform for marketers to deliver a variety of marketing messages and tools, ranging from video ads to coupons and sweepstakes. According to Usher Winslett, Odin’s CEO, “laserlinx is a promotion marketing tool designed around the key principles behind Internet search-based marketing’s amazing success. Like the creators of search-based marketing, we believe that information seekers are active consumers who will welcome non-intrusive marketing messages. But we’ve improved on the concept. With laserlinx, we give marketers the opportunity to ‘own’ an information category, to brand it, and to deliver it directly to their target consumers along with their multimedia marketing message. And we’ve designed laserlinx guides to be produced in many different sizes, shapes, and packaging styles, to accommodate any type of promotional campaign – direct-mail, magazine insert, event premium, gift-with-purchase, in-pack/on-pack, and more.”



As an example, one of the country’s largest cable companies has retained Odin to produce a laserlinx guide called “100+ Essential Websites for Small Business Owners,” which the cable giant is using in a direct-mail campaign seeking new subscribers for its business services, including high-speed Internet and Internet telephone (VoIP) services. Along with reviews, ratings, and rankings of over 100 Internet resources, the guide features multiple video ads, information request forms, static ads, and many links to the sponsor’s Web pages.



Odin has also entered into a deal with Custom Promotions, Inc., a New Jersey-based advertising specialty and marketing consulting firm, specializing in the pharmaceutical, medical device, and insurance industries. Regarding the new partnership, Joe Blewitt, Custom Promotions’s chief operating officer said, “laserlinx is the most original new marketing tool we have seen in a long time, and we believe it is perfect for the healthcare industry. When people have health problems, the first thing they seek is reliable information, and laserlinx guides provide that information in a clear, concise, user-friendly format – giving our clients the opportunity to integrate their brand and marketing message into the most vital information in their customers’ lives.”



Summing up why he believes laserlinx to be a breakthrough, Winslett noted, “While countless companies have spent billions of dollars to mold the Internet into an advertising medium, we are the first company to package digital and Internet technologies into a marketing tool that can reach outside of cyberspace and pull customers back in.”



About Odin Media:



Odin is a new company and laserlinx a new product, but they are born out of Odin's founders’ combined 40+ years of diverse marketing experience. Odin is based in New York City and serves marketers of all kinds who are looking for a way to deliver a multimedia marketing message to a pinpoint-focused audience. For more information on Odin or laserlinx, please contact Usher Winslett at 646.495.4888 or visit www. laserlinx. com.



About Custom Promotions, Inc.:



Founded in 1988 and headquartered in North Brunswick, New Jersey, Custom Promotions is a full-service advertising specialty and premium company, providing marketing consulting and advertising specialty gifts to many industries and government organizations. Custom Promotions specializes in the pharmaceutical and financial industries. For more information on Custom Promotions, please Contact Joe Blewitt at 888.878.5880 or visit www. custompromotions. com.



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Astor Ridge Nutrition Launching Zylorin™ into China for 2007

Astor Ridge Nutrition Launching Zylorin™ into China for 2007



Astor Ridge Nutrition, Inc. announced today that they are finalizing plans to bring their revolutionary weight loss product Zylorin™ into the Chinese retail marketplace within mid 2007, company officials said on Tuesday.



Henderson, NV (PRWEB) January 6, 2007



Astor Ridge Nutrition, Inc. announced today that they are finalizing plans to bring their revolutionary weight loss product Zylorin™ into the Chinese retail marketplace within mid 2007, company officials said on Tuesday.



The nutraceutical giant revealed that their launch into China will include a $15 million public awareness campaign that will focus on both infomercial and print advertising efforts to coincide with the retail sales of the product. Astor Ridge Nutrition hopes that the strategic media roll out of their product into China will continue on the heels of success that Zylorin™ has achieved within North America and Europe.



In China's urban areas the rate of overweight individuals is skyrocketing. In urban China 30% are overweight while 12.3% are obese. Health officials say that children in urban China are becoming obese at an alarming rate. At the moment 8.1% of Chinese kids are obese. Wang Longda, Vice-minister of Health, said overweight and obesity rates are expected to grow by a large margin in the near future. According to the National Survey on Chinese Residents' Nutrition and Health, the urban Chinese person lives much better than in the past -- the greatest improvements have taken place over the last ten years as the incidence of disease has fallen. On the other hand, rates for hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes and obesity have been rising significantly. 160 million people in China have high blood pressure (high blood pressure patients). Hypertension is rising fast in rural areas, so fast, in fact, that there is no difference in the rural and urban rates. 2.6% of the adult population is diabetic -- about 20 million people.



One of the most talked about and sought after weight loss products available today, Zylorin™ has achieved noted status as the leading product in the nutraceutical science for safe and effective weight loss management. Zylorin™ was developed with nutraceutically approved and clinically efficacious ingredients that are contained in a proprietary blended combination. In China people are getting fat fast, says a new survey -- 22.8% of the country's population are overweight while 7.1% are obese. Over 200 million are overweight and approximately 60 million are obese.



According to Roger Halberstram, VP of Marketing for Astor Ridge Nutrition, "This is certainly a tremendous opportunity for us. We are quite confident in our abilities to accomplish some really great things in China and beyond that region. At the end of the day the unmatched effectiveness of the Zylorin™ product has put it in a class by itself. Consumers buy this product because it works and that makes our job that much more rewarding. We feel truly fortunate that we've been able to positively impact people's health and lifestyles for the better. The fact that Zylorin™ is going to be enjoyed by the rest of the International marketplace very shortly is really exciting to us."



Available now, Zylorin™ can be ordered through the website, www. Zylorin. com or through the toll free number (866) 213-3875.



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Ecopave Australia GEO320 Technology Improves Shell Bitumen

Ecopave Australia GEO320 Technology Improves Shell Bitumen



Environmental issues feature increasingly in today's social and commercial world as less harmful and better ways are sought to manufacture and use a wide variety of products. This is why GEO320 is such an important invention, not only is it the first commercial development of a binder for the manufacture of asphalt that is made from non-petroleum based renewable resources eg sugar and molasses but it also possesses increased mechanical and rheological properties to that of normal road grade residue.



Melbourne (PRWEB) December 21, 2005 -–



Environmental issues feature increasingly in today's social and commercial world as less harmful and better ways are sought to manufacture and use a wide variety of products. This is why GEO320 is such an important invention, not only is it the first commercial development of a binder for the manufacture of asphalt that is made from non-petroleum based renewable resources eg sugar and molasses but it also possesses increased mechanical and rheological properties to that of normal road grade residue.



Ecopave Australia developed the GEO320 MRH (Mastic Roller Hybrid) bitumen technology already back in the nineties to address some of the residue bitumen’s non fit for purpose problems such as fuming, low durability, fuel resistance and slipperiness on the road. GEO320 was originally designed to be a hydrocarbon based bitumen replacement that was safer to use with higher durability, solvent resistance and with increased structural road performance.



The increasing global environmental awareness and demand for safer non-toxic products was a key factor in Ecopave choosing to completely replace the traditional hydrocarbon bitumen model in 1997 with non-petroleum based ingredients made from renewable resources such as Sugar and Molasses.



Ecopave Australia performed a highly successful GEO320 “clean hydrocarbon” bitumen field trial in 2000 with Boral’s keen participation, the prototype field trial was designed to be a precursor for the up-coming sugar and molasses product and would establish pavement durability, strength and mix design specifications.



The Royal Dutch Shell lodged an international patent application twelve months after the Boral field trial in 2002 titled “Pigmentable Binder Composition” PCT/EP03/00585 and the claimed raw material ingredients in the application are remarkably identical to GEO320 bitumen, the list of claims admits to not having performed any field trial testing of the binder and says that “the above are data provided under laboratory conditions” only.



GEO320 MRH Asphalt Bitumen has gone through vigorous testing since 1987 and presented here are the latest findings made by ARRB on 16 August 2002. GEO320 MRH was tested by ARRB Transport Research to compare its performance properties with normal road grade residue bitumen, in this case the (Shell Class 320). Standard tests used to characterize bitumen to Australian Standard AS2008 were applied to both products. 1) "GEO320 was less soluble in standard laboratory solvents, the reduced solubility is noted to be advantageous to the end-user" 2) "The GEO320 durability is significantly better than typical class 320 bitumen.



Normal residue bitumen requires hot storage to remain in a viscous suspension until the time of asphalt mixing process. GEO320 MRH bitumen on the other hand is stored in a dry granulated form which is added to the hot aggregate mix at the time of asphalt manufacturing, this not only eliminates wastage (oxidized) bitumen and fuming but saves on fuel costs. The environment and the health of asphalt workers in the road construction industry was a high priority consideration in the twenty years that it took to research and develop GEO320 asphalt bitumen in Australia.



The emergence of ethanol and bio-diesel as alternative fuel sources has only answered half of the road to non-oil dependence and for the society to be totally free from the oil monopoly and be self-sufficient and non co-dependent on fossil fuels, it therefore has to be able to produce an economical environmentally friendly method of constructing roads to support infrastructure, bitumen made from renewable resources such as GEO320 is the newly found missing link.



Ecopave Australia was established in 2002 to commercialize the GEO320 MRH asphalt bitumen technology, their mission



Is to research and develop asphalt and bitumen alternatives that are made from non-petroleum based renewable resources and by doing so supporting the industries that endeavor to help our planet by engaging in sustainable production and environmentally sound practices. The Developing countries with vast natural resources of sugar beet and cane will be the biggest beneficiaries of the GEO320 bitumen technology since they will be able to boost their economies as well as construct their roads from a bitumen made from local renewable resources. Ecopave Australia is also seeking financial participation from non-profit organizations willing to assist in the manufacture and export of GEO320 bitumen with the view to fighting hunger and poverty around the world.



  Article by Damian Johnson



Contact 



Ecopave Australia



Phone: +61 3 9395 1285



Mobile: 0431 218 632



Web: http://www. ecopave. com. au (http://www. ecopave. com. au)



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Choose from Four New Health Insurance Plans on KaiserQuotes. com

Choose from Four New Health Insurance Plans on KaiserQuotes. com



Information and applications are now available for Kaiser Permanente's newest and most affordable California health plans



Santa Rosa, CA (PRWEB) January 13, 2009



Kaiser Permanente, the leading HMO provider, is now offering four new deductible health insurance plans that make comprehensive health care available to more people. The goal of these plans is to provide affordable insurance for individuals, the self-employed and small business owners.



"In these tough economic times, Kaiser Permanente (http://kaiserquotes. com) is doing its part to see to it that no one goes without health insurance. They have created plans with lower premiums and varying deductibles that are manageable for just about anyone," said John Hansen, a spokesperson for KaiserQuotes. com.



Two of the new plans allow for Health Saving Accounts that are of great benefit to subscribers. HSAs allow individuals to deduct healthcare expenses on their federal taxes and enjoy significant federal tax savings. There have never been more affordable California health insurance (http://kaiserquotes. com/california-health-insurance. php) options.



The plans are as follows:

 $40/$3,000 Deductible Plan NM  $50/$5,000 Deductible Plan NM  $40/$4,000 Deductible Plan NM with HSA  $0/$5,000 Deductible Plan WM with HSA (provides maternity coverage) Kaiser Permanente offers different plans for small businesses. Those who are self-employed or own a business often are able to obtain California group health insurance (http://kaiserquotes. com/california-health-insurance/group. php) from Kaiser Permanente. "This option is particularly beneficial for people with pre-existing conditions who might otherwise be denied private health insurance coverage. It is an outstanding plan for a great number of people," said Hansen.



To apply for any of these new plans, a paper application must be submitted which can be found online at www. KaiserQuotes. com.



Kaiser Permanente offers comprehensive health insurance coverage that includes doctor visits, maternity care, prenatal care, hospital care, emergency services and prescription drugs. Individuals and families can get quotes online and receive advice about plans that meet their specific needs. Great emphasis is placed on preventative medicine and the importance of good nutrition and exercise. To that end, Kaiser offers discounts on massage therapy, health club memberships and chiropractic services. Additionally, some plans include Weight Watchers and vision care.



Kaiser Permanente serves 8.7 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. There are about 13,700 physicians, over 500 medical offices and centers and hundreds of pharmacies in-network. Members have 24-hour access to a toll-free customer service number to get assistance with medical questions and/or ask questions about benefits.



About KaiserQuotes. com

KaiserQuotes. com is an authorized agent that offers free instant quotes online and enrollment assistance for Kaiser Permanente health insurance coverage; this website is not directly affiliated with Kaiser Permanente. It is a convenient resource for information on Kaiser Permanente insurance all in one place. Georgia residents can visit KaiserQuotes. com for individual or group eligibility, health plan information, quotes and applications.



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Efficient Customer Service: BKK Hoesch uses ICW CareManager for DMP Management

Efficient Customer Service: BKK Hoesch uses ICW CareManager for DMP Management



The BKK Hoesch insurance company will implement its new disease management program (DMP) for asthma patients with the ICW CareManager by InterComponentWare AG. With this new software solution, BKK employees can win over patients for the DMP program and subsequently provide them with optimum care. This ensures the efficient and customer-oriented processing of the programs for patients suffering from chronic diseases.



Walldorf/Dortmund (PRWEB) April 20, 2006



The BKK Hoesch insurance company will implement its new disease management program (DMP) for asthma patients with the ICW CareManager by InterComponentWare AG. With this new software solution, BKK employees can win over patients for the DMP program and subsequently provide them with optimum care. This ensures the efficient and customer-oriented processing of the programs for patients suffering from chronic diseases.



The ICW CareManager provides a clear structure for the introduction and maintenance of DMP programs: the tool provides the current status of the performed DMP measures at a glance together with the entire communication history for all registered patients. Automatic test processes will inform the service employees about administrative or medical peculiarities in due time. For example, if the documentation of an intended doctor's visit is missing or a patient did not attend one of the necessary trainings, this is pointed out automatically by the ICW CareManager to the employees, who can then check this with the patient or the physician in charge (reminding). With such a rule-based evaluation of the DMP data, it is possible to provide optimum service to a larger number of insured patients with fewer employees. Patient compliance increases, the risk of unnecessary secondary diseases or complications is reduced, and less patients have to be excluded from the DMP.



René Thiemann, Head of Controlling at BKK Hoesch: "The new disease management program BKK Med Plus Asthma will support the optimum management of this chronic disease as of the fall of 2006 and therefore contributes to increasing the quality of life of patients suffering from asthma. We therefore expect a great deal of interest on behalf of the persons insured with our company, just like with our other programs. In order to service the future participants in the new DMP program efficiently and personally, we have selected the ICW CareManager after intense market research."



Thorsten Kellermann, DMP Project Manager at BKK Hoesch, emphasizes: "With the ICW CareManager, we can structure the workflows of our DMP program and will also gain more time to care for the people insured with our company thanks to the efficient support tools."



ICW CEO Peter Reuschel adds: "With ICW's CareManager, whose development was also made possible thanks to the long-standing experience of 4sigma GmbH, BKK Hoesch opted for an expandable platform and innovative care management. Due to the possible integration of the personal health record LifeSensor with its wireless interfaces to medical homecare devices, we have now created the possibility to perform efficient remote medical service and intense case management."



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Heaven on Earth -- Moving into Sonoma County

Heaven on Earth -- Moving into Sonoma County



Sonoma County Real Estate, a new web site, promises to move you many steps closer to your dream home in fabulous Sonoma County.



Windsor, CA (PRWEB) September 11, 2008



Sonoma County Real Estate, a new web site, promises to move you many steps closer to your dream home in fabulous Sonoma County.



"There are few places so famed for natural beauty, a gentle climate, and creative arts and commerce as Sonoma County," says Mark Luzaich of Sonoma County Real Estate (http://www. sonomacountyrealestate. us). "Now, with our new web site, owning a home in this fabulous location has come one step closer to reality."



Sonoma County Real Estate provides a wealth of information about real estate and economics in Sonoma County. A regular real estate news feed provides updates on homes for sale in Sonoma County (http://www. sonomacountyrealestate. us), and a powerful search function filters homes by cities, price ranges, bedrooms, and property types.



A further useful function also allows users to perform a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), to value their home.



But the web site includes more than just real estate information - because, as Luzaich says, "quality of life goes far beyond the walls and windows of your home." A section about "Living in Sonoma County" details every aspect of daily life, from education and health care to dining and nightlife.



Sonoma County Real Estate devotes a special section to wine and Sonoma's vineyards. "In the rolling, golden hills where glistening green vineyards emboss the summer landscape, Sonoma Wine Country truly beckons travelers from all over the world," says Luzaich.



"Each year millions of people visit this idyllic land to enjoy the Sonoma County wineries, historic sites and recreational venues," says Luzaich. "But you can be one of the privileged few who get to live the North Coast dream every blissful day of the year."



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WheyUP To Be Sold At Vitamin World

WheyUP To Be Sold At Vitamin World



Sports beverage company signs marketing deal with retail chain



Gilbert, Ariz. (PRWEB) April 28, 2008



WheyUP, the Original Protein Drink with Energy, continued its aggressive distribution campaign by signing a deal with Vitamin World, which owns and operates more than 450 retail stores throughout the United States. As part of this agreement, WheyUP will be sold at select stores throughout the country. Vitamin World is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NBTY.



"Part of our distribution strategy is to increase the number of retail locations where WheyUP is sold, so we're pleased to be partnering with Vitamin World," said WheyUP's inventor and co-founder Erik Rothchild. "Vitamin World is a true heavyweight in the nutritional supplement industry."



WheyUP represents a breakthrough in the sports drink market. It combines 20 grams of whey protein with an energy formula in a sugar-free, non-carbonated beverage. WheyUP will be sold in ready-to-drink 16-ounce plastic bottles and 12 packs in two flavors: wild berry and tropical citrus.



The fitness industry recommends consuming a minimum of 20g of whey protein prior to working out. Many individuals are also seeking a boost of energy -- whether it's coffee, an energy drink or caffeine pills -- to intensify their workout. With WheyUP, getting energized and adding healthy protein to a diet has never been easier.



WheyUP is targeted toward health-conscience individuals and fitness enthusiasts. It is ideal for fat-loss programs, exercise programs, weight-training programs, athletic activities, and as part of a healthy, active lifestyle.



"With 20 grams of protein, zero fat and only 1 gram of carbs, WheyUP is the perfect drink for people on carb-conscience diets," Rothchild said. "It's a great way to add protein to your diet and energy to your day."



For more information, visit www. wheyup. com.



To schedule an interview with WheyUP founder Erik Rothchild, for a product sample, or a high-resolution product image, please contact Curt Blakeney, Edge Public Relations at 480-628-1611 or edgepr@cox. net.



# # #

UCSF Appoints New Leader for Finance and Administration

UCSF Appoints New Leader for Finance and Administration



The University of California, San Francisco has appointed a 30-year financial veteran to oversee the fiscal and operational management of the life sciences university. The appointment of John Plotts as UCSF senior vice chancellor–finance and administration was approved this morning by the UC Board of Regents.



San Francisco, CA (Vocus) January 22, 2010



The University of California, San Francisco has appointed a 30-year financial veteran to oversee the fiscal and operational management of the life sciences university. The appointment of John Plotts as UCSF senior vice chancellor–finance and administration was approved this morning by the UC Board of Regents.



Plotts’ financial and operations career includes roles in private industry and academia. Until this appointment, he has been assistant vice president of financial management at the UC Office of the President (UCOP), in Oakland, where he has served for 13 years. During that time, he worked closely with the UCSF campus on several key projects, including the financial arrangements for UCSF Medical Center during the process of demerger with Stanford, and the initial development of the UCSF Mission Bay campus.



“Mr. Plotts has extensive financial and operational experience, in addition to an in-depth knowledge of the University of California system, which made him a clear leader among a pool of stellar candidates for this position,” said Chancellor Susan Desmond-Hellmann, MD, MPH, who launched the national search for the position when she arrived at UCSF in August. “I feel fortunate to have such ready access to this talent within our own UC system.”



Plotts said he was attracted to UCSF for its commitment to “absolute excellence” in research, education and clinical care, and for the chance to play a closer role in the success of the campus.



“I am very excited and proud to be joining an organization of such high caliber that contributes so much to the well-being of society,” Plotts said. “One thing I’ve learned at UC is that it’s the people who make UC great. I look forward to working closely with UCSF’s very talented and dedicated leadership, faculty, students and staff to make sure that our financial and administrative operations meet and support their level of excellence.”



During his tenure with UCOP, Plotts has been directly responsible for leading and implementing the financial and business strategies in the areas of financial accounting and reporting for the University, academic medical centers, endowments and investments. In that role, he also oversaw federal costing policy and overhead proposals, federal taxes, and employee benefits/retirement system financial services.



Broader responsibilities include interaction with all functional areas at UCOP, campuses, retirement system and campus foundations that require administrative or financial involvement related to non-routine business transactions entered into by the University.



Prior to his employment with the University of California, Plotts held a variety of financial and administrative positions in the retail industry, including senior vice president of administration for the Northern California Division of Lucky Stores, Inc., in Dublin. He also worked for the international accounting firm Price Waterhouse in the late 1970s and early 1980s.



Plotts earned his B. S. in business administration and accounting from California State University, Chico, and is a certified public accountant. Plotts lives with his wife, Roxanne, in Pleasanton, where they raised two sons.



Desmond-Hellmann said the campus financial and administrative functions have been operating since mid-2008 with an interim organizational structure that temporarily divided responsibilities. With this appointment, these responsibilities will be united again under one senior leader.



As senior vice chancellor, Plotts will report directly to the chancellor. He will begin his new role as soon as possible, with consideration for a suitable transition at the Office of the President.



Plotts will receive a base salary of $350,000, with an additional 10 percent incentive potential based on meeting designated university performance expectations. The proposed salary is in alignment with senior leaders at UCSF. In addition, he is eligible for standard pension and health and welfare benefits for senior leadership.



UCSF is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. For further information, visit www. ucsf. edu.



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Avanquest Partitioning Software Lets Even Novice Users Protect and Organize Data

Avanquest Partitioning Software Lets Even Novice Users Protect and Organize Data



Avanquest Software, a leading developer and publisher of business and consumer software for the global PC market, today announced the release of Partition Commander 10, a feature-rich upgrade to its award-winning hard disk partitioning and maintenance utility. Partition Commander 10 features a new look and feel to give PC users of all skill levels the power to separate, protect and organize their data and system files while optimizing PC performance.



Pleasanton, Calif. (PRWEB) September 7, 2006



Avanquest Software, a leading developer and publisher of business and consumer software for the global PC market, today announced the release of Partition Commander 10, a feature-rich upgrade to its award-winning hard disk partitioning and maintenance utility. Partition Commander 10 features a new look and feel to give PC users of all skill levels the power to separate, protect and organize their data and system files while optimizing PC performance.



Disk Partitioning is a powerful solution that improves data security, enhances system performance, provides better file organization and supports multiple operating systems. With the addition of several helpful “wizards,” Partition Commander 10 automates this complex process, allowing even the most novice PC users to take advantage of increased productivity and hard disk reliability.



By offering a safer, more secure method for segregating program files, personal data, media files and backup files into individual partitions, Partition Commander 10 serves as an ideal tool for coping with difficulties frequently associated with operating system upgrades. With partitioning, users installing a new operating system (OS), such as Microsoft Windows Vista or Linux, can maintain their original configuration while continuing to make needed adjustments to the new system. Partitioning also ensures that in the event a virus or crash were to delete the OS, the partition containing data files would remain intact.



Offering the ability to handle today’s large 500 GB+ drives as well as supporting external, USB and FireWire drives, Partition Commander 10 provides an “insurance policy” against an array of system threats. The software includes built-in safety technology to protect against system failures by resuming partition operations after power failure. In addition, BootFixer restores boot records in PCs that can no longer initialize an operating system. Lost or accidentally deleted partitions are easily restored with the partition recovery tool.



Slow hard-drive performance also can be dramatically improved with Partition Commander’s built-in disk defragmenter that reorganizes programs and data.



“Partition Commander 10 provides a new intuitive and enhanced Windows interface for those who want to maximize the organization of data stored on their PC, while protecting their computer’s operating system,” said Frank van Gilluwe, president, Avanquest Software Utility Products. “Designed for use with computers with large hard drives, Partition Commander 10’s comprehensive hard disk partitioning and maintenance functions offer users of all skill levels worry-free partitioning tools.”



Features new to Version 10 include:



Advanced Hard Disk Partitioning Operations



Enlarge existing partitions without rebooting Windows. Recover any accidentally deleted partition by using the undelete hard disk partition wizard (for Windows FAT, FAT32, NTFS, Linux EXT2, EXT3). Convert OS hard disk partition from primary to logical and vice versa. PowerShield Technology



Built-in safety technology protects against system failures by resuming critical partitioning operations after power failure. Advanced Wizards



Create, Copy, Merge, Resize, Delete, Redistribute Free Space and Undelete Partition Wizards. Virtual Partition Preview



Preview partitioning changes before applying those changes. This fail-safe feature protects users from making unintended partitioning mistakes. Boot Fixer & Boot Corrector



Fix and restore non-booting Windows system back to normal health.



Partition Commander Professional 10 works with desktop or laptop PCs using Microsoft® Windows® 95/98/Me/2000/XP or Linux operating systems. Priced at $49.95, it is available at thousands of retail outlets across North America and online at www. avanquestusa. com.



Existing Partition Commander 9 users will be able to upgrade to version 10 directly from the following website: http://www. v-com. com (http://www. v-com. com).



About Avanquest Software



Avanquest Software is a global developer and leading publisher of best-selling personal and professional software designed for PC maintenance, office productivity, communications and mobility worldwide. Avanquest Software products are marketed in over 100 countries, through e-commerce, OEM partnerships and IT resellers. Founded in 1984 as BVRP Software and listed since December 1996 on Euronext (ISIN FR0004026714), Avanquest Software forms part of the Eurolist, NextEconomy segment and SBF 250 index. Additional information on Avanquest Software is available at http://www. avanquest. com (http://www. avanquest. com).



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Regency Hospital Company Opens in Indiana

Regency Hospital Company Opens in Indiana



Regency Hospital of Northwest Indiana began taking long term acute care patients this week.



(PRWEB) July 25, 2003



ALPHARETTA, GA (PRWEB) July, 2003 – Regency Hospital Company today announced the opening of its newest hospital Regency Hospital of Northwest Indiana located in East Chicago, Indiana. Regency Hospital is a 38-bed hospital which is located within St. Catherine Hospital. Regency Hospital is a Long Term Acute Care (LTAC) hospital that will treat medically complex patients who have suffered recent catastrophic illness or injury and require an extended length of stay, typically longer than 14 days, in an acute care environment.



“We are delighted to be working with St. Catherine Hospital. They are part of the Community Healthcare System and we are honored to have a relationship with them,” commented Rod Laughlin, President and CEO of Regency Hospital Company.



St. Catherine Hospital Administrator Jo Ann Birdzell says she is pleased about the new development. “Regency Hospital brings to Northwest Indiana and the south suburban Chicago communities an important service that will help local residents stay close to loved ones in need of long term acute care,” Birdzell said. “By providing ancillary and other support service to this ‘hospital within a hospital,’ we are helping to ensure that our communities have access to the finest care available.”



Regency Hospital Company has appointed Mr. David Berkey, Chief Executive Officer of the hospital. “David Berkey is an excellent choice for Regency Hospital of Northwest Indiana. His vast healthcare experience coupled with his knowledge of the healthcare marketplace make an excellent fit for this market,” stated Mr. Laughlin. “Mr. Berkey is highly experienced in Business Development and Physician Relations and will guide the hospital in creating an outstanding clinical LTAC program,” he continued.



Regency Hospital of Northwest Indiana is planning a grand opening celebration to introduce the hospital to the healthcare community.



Regency Hospital Company is a rapidly growing national network of Long Term Acute Care (LTAC) hospitals throughout the United States.

Denver-based Cosmetic Acupuncture Expert Dr. Martha Lucas Conducts Intensive Seminar Sessions for Physicians in Istanbul

Denver-based Cosmetic Acupuncture Expert Dr. Martha Lucas Conducts Intensive Seminar Sessions for Physicians in Istanbul



Martha Lucas, Ph. D., L. Ac., author of Vanity Calamity, recently taught Mei Zen™ Cosmetic Acupuncture to medical doctors in Istanbul. MDs in Turkey are trained in Acupuncture but don't necessarily have specialty training like that offered by Dr. Lucas.



Denver, CO (PRWEB) September 17, 2009



Denver-based Cosmetic Acupuncture specialist and author Martha Lucas, Ph. D., L. Ac., has recently returned from a teaching tour of Istanbul. The announcement is made by Dr. Lucas, who says "The interest in safe, natural, non-invasive cosmetic procedures simply spans the globe now. MDs in Turkey are trained in acupuncture but don't have the specialty training like I offer in cosmetic protocols."



A physician from Antalya, Turkey, had attended one of Dr. Lucas' cosmetic acupuncture seminars in the States last year and asked if she would teach Mei Zen™ Cosmetic Acupuncture in Turkey this year. According to Dr. Lucas, it is apparent women all over the world are searching for safe, natural, non-invasive cosmetic procedures of which Cosmetic Acupuncture is becoming one of the most popular.



Dr. Martha Lucas, whose Acupuncture practice and seminar business are based in Denver, says the best way to look younger is to prevent the effects of aging in the first place. "Traditional Chinese Medicine is the perfect anti-aging medicine and people all over the world, including physicians, are starting to look at it as their anti-aging tool," Dr. Lucas explains.



About TCM and Cosmetic Acupuncture



One of the specialties in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is Cosmetic Acupuncture. Cosmetic Acupuncture practitioners use the basic theory of TCM to balance the patient's overall energy, clear the meridians, and build weak Qi before placing very small needles into the face and/or neck. Hence, patients receive a double benefit: their overall energy is healthier plus the state of Qi and Blood and collagen in their face is improved. The procedure is very safe. When received by a trained practitioner about the only potential negative side effect is a bruise. There are hardly any modern cosmetic procedures that can claim such a low potential for negative side effects.



Dr. Lucas calls TCM "the true anti-aging medicine" because Cosmetic Acupuncture is not only about needling the face. It is about an anti-aging lifestyle. The Mei Zen™ practitioner advises patients about foods that can help the skin look more vibrant, how to improve their digestion which will enhance the skin, QiGong or other meditative techniques for reducing the signs of aging, and other pieces of advice for reducing the negative signs of aging. As far Dr. Lucas can tell, Cosmetic Acupuncture is the only cosmetic procedure that improves the person's health while also giving cosmetic results. "Procedures like chemical peels, injections, and surgery don't improve a person's general health; they only address one thing rather than addressing the person's entire body and energetic state" says Dr. Lucas.



About Martha Lucas, Ph. D., L. Ac.

An internationally known instructor, Dr. Lucas leads seminars for TCM practitioners about both Cosmetic Acupuncture and Pulse Diagnosis theory. In her seminars, Dr. Lucas teaches practitioners how to use Cosmetic Acupuncture to help their patients stay young looking and energetically vibrant. She teaches acupuncture protocols and supporting information that are used to reduce the visible signs of aging on the face and neck as well as abdominal acupuncture for weight loss and abdominal toning. For more information visit: http://www. cosmeticacupunctureseminars. com (http://www. cosmeticacupunctureseminars. com) or http://www. pulseseminars. com (http://www. pulseseminars. com)



In addition to her latest book, Vanity Calamity, Dr. Lucas recently re-released her meditation CD, QiGong Meditations for Life: Basic Maintenance. The CD is a powerful guided meditation that helps people balance their own Qi; it is energetic self care. Her patients use it to relieve pain, sleep better, reduce anxiety and mild depression, and more. Visit http://www. acupuncturewoman. com/cd. html (http://www. acupuncturewoman. com/cd. html)



Dr. Lucas received her Ph. D. in Research Psychology from the University of Louisville in Kentucky, and her degree in TCM from the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Denver. Besides her formal TCM training, Dr. Lucas interned with Jim Ramholz, O. M.D. in Advanced Pulse Diagnosis, with Master Doctor Zheng Gao Yao in QiGong Medical Massage, and Timothy McGee, L. Ac.. Dr. Lucas sees patients at her private practice located in the Capitol Hill area of Denver, specializing in serious chronic illness, male and female fertility issues, weight loss, and cosmetic acupuncture. Additional information about Dr. Lucas is available at http://www. AcupunctureWoman. com (http://www. AcupunctureWoman. com)



Purchase Vanity Calamity (ISBN: 9780578026299) at: http://www. amazon. com/gp/offer-listing/0578026295 (http://www. amazon. com/gp/offer-listing/0578026295)



Contact:

Martha Lucas, Ph. D., L. Ac. -- http://www. AcupunctureWoman. com (http://www. AcupunctureWoman. com) -- 303-947-6224



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Chicago on Alert for West Nile Virus

Chicago on Alert for West Nile Virus



Mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus have been confirmed in Chicago and surrounding suburbs. Immediate precautions help preserve family health.



CHICAGO (PRWEB) July 25, 2005



The West Nile virus has been reported in 11 states already this summer, with one fatality in Missouri.



According to U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) spokesman Tom Skinner, 10 states reported cases of West Nile virus in 2004.



So far this year, 25 individual cases of human West Nile virus-related illness have been verified by the CDC via double confirmation testing.



In 2004, the CDC recorded a total of 2,539 human cases of virus-related illness including 100 deaths.



Although there have not been any reported human cases of West Nile virus related illness in Illinois so far this year, there have been confirmed West Nile virus infections in neighboring states including Indiana.



The virus is typically transmitted to humans by mosquitoes, and mosquitoes infected with the virus have been confirmed in Illinois this season.



“The number of mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile virus has increased dramatically in Cook County and surrounding counties in June and July,” advises Dr. Tom Sweder, a family health expert.



Data compiled by the U. S. Geological Survey shows 36 confirmed mosquito infections in Cook County so far this year.



As that the virus is transmitted by mosquitoes, late summer and early fall are considered peak periods.



“Remember, when the sun goes down, the mosquitoes come out,” advises Sweder. “If you are outdoors between dusk and dawn, avoid bites by wearing long sleeves and pants, and using mosquito repellent containing DEET on exposed skin.”



As the lead physician at Andersonville Family Medicine, Sweder is an authority on the differences in preventative medicine for children and adults.



“When applying mosquito repellent to a child, spray it on your own hands then rub it on the child. Avoid the child’s eyes, mouth, and hands,” advises Sweder.



Mike Szyska, director of the Northwest Mosquito Abatement District, states that the culex mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus are a concern because of their ability to breed in hot, dry weather.



Szska states that ChicagoÂ’s recent temperatures mirror those of 2002 in which the first-ever West Nile virus outbreak was reported in Illinois. That outbreak resulted in 884 cases of West Nile virus that resulted in 67 deaths.



Under Chicago’s current temperatures Szska indicates that culex mosquitoes can go from eggs to adult biting mosquitoes in seven to 10 days – a relatively fast gestation period.



To combat any potential threat, the Northwest Mosquito Abatement District has crews armed with maps of potential culex mosquito breeding grounds. The crews use insect growth regulators and target areas of standing water such as retention ponds and storm water drains.



Not all people infected with West Nile virus become severely ill, only approximately one in 150. However for those who do become ill, the results can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness, and paralysis.



Because children are more prone to extended outdoor activity during Summer months, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises that Pediatricians be on the alert for symptoms but realistically notes that the population at the greatest risk of illness complications from West Nile virus infection are adults over the age of 50.



The official position of the CDC is that it is unknown if immunocompromised people are at any greater risk for contracting serious illness as a result of West Nile virus infection, however the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians endorse recommended immunization schedules as a means to help ensure general good health standards.



Illinois schools also require proof of immunization for all students each year. The general academic year resumes in August and September for most Cook county schools, meaning parents will need to have their up to date records.



To help parents track compliance with recommended and school mandated immunizations, as a public service Anderson Family Medicine provides a free Passport to Immunization



The interactive information guide, available free by calling (773) 878-4740, allows parents to track immunizations on each child, schedule upcoming inoculations, research diseases and immunization types, and track other vital safety and child health information. Call (773) 878-4740.



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DisabilityInfo. gov and GovDelivery Celebrate 18th Anniversary of ADA

DisabilityInfo. gov and GovDelivery Celebrate 18th Anniversary of ADA



DisabilityInfo. gov and GovDelivery mark the 18th anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act



St. Paul, MN (PRWEB) July 24, 2008



DisabilityInfo. gov (www. DisabilityInfo. gov (http://www. disabilityinfo. gov)) and GovDelivery (www. govdelivery. com (http://govdelivery. com)), the world's leading email and digital subscription services provider for the public sector, are marking the 18th anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act. Through GovDelivery, DisabilityInfo. gov has sent more than 2.7 million email messages regarding benefits, education, employment, housing and health.



DisabilityInfo. gov, a federal interagency portal managed by the U. S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, uses GovDelivery to offer free subscription services. This allows users to sign up to receive DisabilityInfo. gov Connection (http://www. disabilityinfo. gov/digov-public/public/Search. do), the site's quarterly newsletter, and other email alerts tailored to individual interests.



"DisabilityInfo. gov was launched almost six years ago as a resource for the nearly 50 million people with disabilities in the United States," said Kevin J. Connors, Program Director, U. S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (http://www. dol. gov/odep/), on the 18th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. "We are proud that more than eight million visitors, including nearly 27,000 people who have signed up for email subscriptions, have benefited from the information DisabilityInfo. gov offers."



GovDelivery provides a software as a service (SaaS) platform for government-to-citizen communication that offers proprietary personalization, automation and delivery technology. Individuals choose topics based on their interests, and then personalized emails are sent directly to them. Government entities use GovDelivery to manage their electronic communication with minimal effort and to realize an immediate return on investment.



"GovDelivery is proud to provide DisabilityInfo. gov with an instant communication platform to reach the public," said Scott Burns, CEO of GovDelivery. "DisabilityInfo. gov provides valuable information to people with disabilities, and we are pleased to be of service to them."



About DisabilityInfo. gov

DisabilityInfo. gov is managed by the Labor Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy. The site is easy to navigate and organized by subject areas that include benefits, civil rights, community life, education, employment, health, housing, technology and transportation.



About GovDelivery

GovDelivery is the world's leading provider of government-to-citizen communication solutions. GovDelivery's Digital Subscription Management solution is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform that provides organizations with a fully-automated, on-demand public communication system. Organizations using GovDelivery provide citizens with better service and access to relevant information by proactively delivering new information through email, wireless alerts, and RSS. Clients include the British Parliament, the U. S. Departments of State, Commerce, Labor, Transportation, Treasury, Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services, the California Department of Insurance, the cities of Washington, D. C. and Minneapolis, Orange County, California, and hundreds of other organizations across the public sector. For more information, visit www. govdelivery. com.



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Beaumont Hospitals Expands Relationship with Broadlane

Beaumont Hospitals Expands Relationship with Broadlane



Broadlane announced today the signing of an exclusive agreement with Beaumont Hospitals, a tri-county health system based in Royal Oak, Michigan. The agreement is to provide comprehensive and advanced supply chain services customized specifically for Beaumont Hospitals in order to maximize savings and efficiency for the system’s $300 million annual spend. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.



Dallas (Vocus) March 18, 2008



Broadlane announced today the signing of an exclusive agreement with Beaumont Hospitals, a tri-county health system based in Royal Oak, Michigan. The agreement is to provide comprehensive and advanced supply chain services customized specifically for Beaumont Hospitals in order to maximize savings and efficiency for the system’s $300 million annual spend. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.



After realizing cost-savings opportunities as a Broadlane GPO client, senior management at Beaumont determined that Broadlane’s operational expertise and advanced technology could help improve other areas of the health system’s supply chain.



A Broadlane client since 2003, Beaumont will continue to have full access to Broadlane’s national contract portfolio, and beginning April 1, Broadlane will assume day-to-day responsibility for hospital procurement operations and management of its Value Analysis Teams (VAT).



Broadlane will leverage its scalable Procurement Services infrastructure to centralize Beaumont purchasing functions, transaction management and Item Master maintenance. Broadlane’s proprietary technology, including OnRamp (Broadlane’s client portal) and BroadLink™ (Broadlane’s e-commerce exchange), will be utilized to streamline the purchasing processes.



Beyond national GPO participation, Beaumont will also utilize Broadlane for sourcing of supplies and purchased services, which are typically contracted locally. In addition, Broadlane will provide comprehensive Capital Equipment Services, including Live Group Buys and Quote Reviews.



“Since we began working with Broadlane, they have demonstrated a sustained ability to provide significant savings and supply chain improvements,” said Ken Matzick, president and chief executive officer, Beaumont Hospitals. “After careful examination of other Broadlane Procurement Services clients, we realized we could increase clinician engagement in supply chain decisions, accelerate savings and improve internal procurement controls by partnering fully with Broadlane for management of our procurement, data management and VAT activities.”



"We are excited about the opportunity to expand our relationship with Beaumont Hospitals,” said David Ricker, president and chief operating officer, Broadlane. “They are – and will continue to be – a valuable Broadlane client, and we look forward to providing them even greater supply chain improvements and savings. Broadlane has developed the industry’s leading technology platform and associated infrastructure to centrally manage procurement for multi-location health systems, and Beaumont Hospitals will have real-time visibility into system-wide spending and the ability to manage it.”



About Beaumont Hospitals

Beaumont Hospitals is a three-hospital regional health care provider in southeast Michigan with a total of 1,696 licensed beds, 18,000 employees and 3,000 physicians in Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties. In addition to its hospitals, Beaumont operates numerous community-based medical centers in Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties, five nursing centers, a research institute, home care services and hospice. Visit Beaumont on the Web at www. beaumonthospitals. com.



About Broadlane

Broadlane is a leading supply chain services company serving thousands of acute care hospitals,

Ambulatory care facilities, physician practices and other healthcare providers throughout the United States.



Broadlane provides comprehensive supply chain services including:

High-powered national & custom contracting Innovative Procurement Services & technology Informatics – benchmarking, analytics and reporting Deep clinical & operational expertise Supply Chain Management Services Broadlane is the nation’s leader in providing comprehensive supply chain management solutions to health care systems.



Broadlane's clients include leading providers such as Advocate Health Care, Ascension Health, CHRISTUS Health, Continuum Health Partners, Kaiser Permanente, Kindred Healthcare, MedCath Corporation, New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System, St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System, Tenet Healthcare, The Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati, US Oncology, UMass Memorial Health Care and Beaumont Hospitals.



The company is headquartered in Dallas with offices in Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, New York City and Oakland. For more information, visit www. broadlane. com.



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Tego Calderón and Aventura to Perform as Part of LIFEbeat’s “Hearts & Voices,” Reggaetón Explosion, AIDS Benefit Concert Series on March 31st at New York's Spirit

Tego Calderón and Aventura to Perform as Part of LIFEbeat’s “Hearts & Voices,” Reggaetón Explosion, AIDS Benefit Concert Series on March 31st at New York's Spirit



Tego Calderón and Aventura to perform as part of LIFEbeat’s “Hearts & Voices,” Reggaetón Explosion, AIDS benefit concert series on March 31st at New York's Spirit. General admission tickets will be $30 while VIP tickets are $50 and can be purchased at online at www. ticketweb. com or by calling Ticketweb at (866)468-7619. Doors open at 7pm. Showtime is 8pm. All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit LIFEbeat – The Music Industry Fights AIDS - and E. A.R. S. Foundation. For more information on LIFEbeat and the concert, please visit www. LIFEbeat. org.



New York, NY (PRWEB) March 12, 2005



After a very successful launch of last year’s “Hearts & Voices” Benefit Concert Series featuring performances by Kanye West and Bad Boy Records’ Mario Winans, Carl Thomas, and 8Ball and MJG, LIFEbeat – The Music Industry Fights AIDS - will team up again with the E. A.R. S. Foundation for “Reggaeton Explosion,” the third Hearts & Voices AIDS Benefit Concert Series featuring performances from two of Latin music’s hottest stars, Tego Calderon and Aventura. The benefit concert will be held Thursday, March 31st at Spirit (530 West 27th Street – between 10th & 11th Avenue). Doors open at 7pm, Showtime is 8pm. The event is produced by Tonya Lewis for E. A.R. S. Entertainment Group and hosted by Power 105 personality, Tony Touch, and co-sponsored by New York radio station, WPRW-FM Power 105.1.



Tego Calderón is the face of the Reggaetón movement, a relatively new sub-genre of reggae music that originated in Puerto Rico and has become the ultimate music dance craze in clubs across the United States. Derived from the dancehall riddims of Jamaica which influences reggaetón's beat, the genre blends reggae, salsa, hip-hop, and African rooted bomba with fast paced lyrics to create a rap/dancehall reggae hybrid that some speculate will soon eclipse salsa, merengue and other pop music among Hispanic youth. A forefather of the Reggaetón genre, the success of Tego Calderón’s, debut album, El Abayarde, which sold over 350,000 copies and his sophomore album, El Enemy de los Guasbiri, which debuted at No.5 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums Chart has spirited a major label bidding war for Calderón next album which expected to expand his popularity to the world stage. Tego Calderón has recorded with artists like 50 Cent, Roselyn Sanchez, Wyclef Jean, and Cypress Hill.



Aventura is the first “Bachata-boy band,” to fuse the essence of bachata with R & B, hip hop and other traditional American music styles. The members of Aventura: Anthony Santos (lead singer and featured composer), Leny Santos (musical producer and guitarist), Max Santos (bassist and rap artist) and Henry Santos Jeter (singer and composer) have been embraced by young Latinos worldwide in much the same way rock & roll captivated teenage audiences in generations past. Since 2002, Aventura has dominated the overseas charts beating out nearly every other major artist along the way. Their upcoming album, God’s Project, will be released April 26, 2005 and features Nina Sky and Don Omar.



“This Hearts & Voices Benefit Concert is the perfect opportunity to reach the Latino community with important HIV/AIDS prevention information,” explains John Cannelli, LIFEbeat’s Executive Director. He adds, “Latinos in the United States have been disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS epidemic representing 14% of the U. S. population yet accounting for 19% of diagnosed AIDS cases. In New York City, we have the highest number of Latino adults/adolescents living with AIDS, more any other state in the country. We are extremely thankful that Tego Calderón and Aventura are using their talents to help raise awareness among this at risk population.” AIDS remains the second leading cause of death among Americans between the ages of 25 and 44, with 50 percent of all new HIV infections among people under 25. As AIDS has continued to ravage the urban community, LIFEbeat has focused its message in the neighborhoods most affected by the devastating disease.



“Hearts & Voices,” began with performances by some of the music industry’s brightest stars as a way to uplift those already living with AIDS in healthcare facilities around New York City. It expanded into a concert series whose purpose is to utilize the power of music and the stars who create it to spread the important message to young and old alike that each of us can make a difference in slowing the spread of HIV/AIDS through prevention education.



Past participants in the Hearts & Voices Concert and program at facilities across the city include such incredible artists as Norah Jones, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, and Destiny’s Child to name a few. The 2004 Hearts & Voices Concert featured performances from Roc-A-Fella’s Kanye West, The Young Gunz, Rell, Memphis Bleek, Allen Anthony, and State Property. The next Hearts & Voices concert coined “The Bad Boy Takeover” included performances from Bad Boy artists like Carl Thomas, Loon, Mario Winans, 8 Ball and MJG and Sean “P Diddy” Combs who has been a longtime supporter of LIFEbeat..



General admission tickets will be $30 while VIP tickets are $50 and can be purchased at online at www. ticketweb. com or by calling Ticketweb at (866)468-7619. Doors open at 7pm. Showtime is 8pm. All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit LIFEbeat – The Music Industry Fights AIDS - and E. A.R. S. Foundation. For more information on LIFEbeat and the concert, please visit www. LIFEbeat. org.



For more information on Aventura, please visit http://www. aventuraworldwide. com (http://www. aventuraworldwide. com).



For more information on Tego Calderón, please visit www. Tegocalderon. com.



About LIFEbeat:



LIFEbeat - The Music Industry Fights AIDS, is a national non-profit organization dedicated to reaching AmericaÂ’s youth with the message of HIV/AIDS prevention. LIFEbeat mobilizes the talents and resources of the music industry to raise awareness and to provide support to the AIDS community. For more information visit: www. lifebeat. org



About The E. A.R. S. Foundation:



The E. A.R. S. Foundation, deeply rooted in the urban community, provides employment opportunities for urban youth in the music and entertainment industry and develops up and coming talented artists in addition to mentoring urban youth with a desire to break into the music and entertainment industry. TEAM E. A.R. S and its founders Tonya Lewis and J. P Taylor serve as the producers of the Hearts & Voices Concert Series.



About Hearts & Voices:



Hearts & Voices is a music therapy program that shares the healing power of music through live entertainment for people living with AIDS in healthcare facilities across New York City. Past participants in the Hearts and Voices program at facilities across the city include such incredible artists as Norah Jones, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, and DestinyÂ’s Child to name a few. The 2004 Hearts & Voices Concert featured performances from Roc-A-FellaÂ’s Kanye West, The Young Gunz, Rell, Memphis Bleek, Allen Anthony, and State Property and Bad Boy artists Carl Thomas, Loon, Mario Winans and 8 Ball and MJG.



Contacts: 



Jody Miller



Jackie O. Asare



JLM PR, Inc.



(212)431-5227



Jody Miller - jody@jlmpr. com



JACKIE O. - jackieo@jlmpr. com



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New Community Organizing How-To Book Published: 'The Grassroute Guide: A Leadership Manual for Reluctant Grassroots Community Leaders'

New Community Organizing How-To Book Published: 'The Grassroute Guide: A Leadership Manual for Reluctant Grassroots Community Leaders'



Economic necessity and political disenfranchisement are driving a nationwide surge in local grassroots community service group organizing. Many groups are lead reluctantly by neighbors who lack the necessary leadership skills to deal with the complexities of their efforts. “The Grassroute Guide” (http://www. grassroute. org) offers hundreds of techniques and structural points to make any group more effective, self-sustaining and less dependent on individual leaders to stay on course.



West Stockbridge, MA (PRWEB) February 2, 2010



Organizational consultant Paul Deslauriers battle-tested his blend of group structure and focused communication for over 25 years, in over 90 advertising agency creative departments and TV stations, where backbiting, power struggles, and egos smash-up to create some of the toughest group environments around.



Now, with the need so great in so many communities, Deslauriers has tooled his organizational program specifically for nonprofit, grassroots community groups and regional coalitions.



"We show how to set up a grassroots community group and run it effectively," says Deslauriers. "We provide a direct route to success, but if issues and barriers do arise, we show how the group itself can work them out."



”Painful cuts in Federal, State and County program funding are spurring community groups to take over established initiatives such as: Food Banks, Ride Shares, Shelters, After School Programs, Day Care, Senior Care, and Clothing Exchanges. At the same time, a growing population is looking to simplify their lives and actively disengage from institutions that they feel are no longer aligned with their best interests,” says Deslauriers, “a shift from globalized Wall Street to localized Main Street. New forms of ‘off-the-grid’ programs are emerging: Transition Towns, Eco-Villages, Local Currencies, Time Banks, Community Gardens, and Alternative Energy Cooperatives.”



The Grassroute Guide (http://www. grassroute. org) is a detailed manual designed to meet the leadership and organizational demands of these growing community trends. The offer includes a 120 page E-Book and Paperback, Videos, Webinars, Workshops and Direct Consulting. Topics include: Image Branding, Facilitating Meetings, Coalition Building, Local Media, Staging Events, Neutralizing Disruptors, Funding, Diversity, Surveys and Assessments.



Deslauriers is currently applying his program in Western Massachusetts as Director of Berkshire Co-Act (http://www. co-act. org), which is establishing a coalition of 30 regional food support programs, a local currency, a media group and time bank. He is also actively developing a regional hydro-electric cooperative, as well a coalition of health and human service organizations.



Paul Deslauriers on YouTube Video (http://www. youtube. com/watch? v=_tYdWnTHjjU)



More YouTube Videos on The Grassroute Guide (http://www. youtube. com/watch? v=3ZcnVdHUPS8)



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“Good Works” Survey Receives Special Recognition During Women's History Month

“Good Works” Survey Receives Special Recognition During Women's History Month



The Good Works Survey being specially recognized this year during WomenÂ’s History Month are programs that have been in existence 1 to 15 years and continue to grow bigger and better. Their commonality rests in that each was started as the brainchild of one woman.



(PRWEB) February 22, 2005



The WomenÂ’s Good Works Survey being specially recognized this year during WomenÂ’s History Month are programs that have been in existence 1 to 15 years and continue to grow bigger and better. Their commonality rests in that each was started as the brainchild of one woman. These women include a former public school teacher, a public relations practitioner, author/lecturer, yoga instructor, actress, public health advocate and licensing expert.



· Among the “good works” is a New York City Reads Together program inspired by a similar effort in Chicago. Brenda Rezak, a former public school teacher, brought the idea to the New York WomenÂ’s Agenda and created a broad program that also took in the New York Public Library and New York City Department of Education. Through these groups a fundraising process begins so that children in the participating schools can receive free copies of the chosen book. A website has been created, www. nyreadstogether. org, so that children and adults can receive instructional guidance as to how to involve themselves in the program which is now in itÂ’s third year.



· A priority today in almost every field of endeavor is social responsibility. However 15 years ago that was not so and no formal recognition was given to those in the workplace. It was in this climate that Norma Lee, president-elect of Women Executives in Public Relations, decided a special recognition should be given for works being done on clientsÂ’ behalf in this area. The Foundation of WEPRÂ’s Crystal Obelisk Award has spurred many agencies and companies to increase their assistance to groups that do “Good Works.” It was the first award of its kind in the PR field. More than 60 non-profits, foundations, government groups, corporations and their PR have been recognized for these campaigns that have made a difference in peoples lives, here and around the world.



· Donna Dees-Thomases, author/lecturer, founded “The Million Mom March”, which has now achieved national fame. It was started to prevent violence, particularly among children. The first march took place MotherÂ’s Day 2000. Members meet with local elected officials, prominent members of the community as well as staging public demonstrations.



· Ellen Freudenheim, public health advocate, founded New Yorkers Against Gun Violence in 1993, when she organized a rally following the fatal shooting of a young drama teacher who had been bicycling through Prospect Park in Brooklyn. The group is a non-profit advocating for changes in local, state, and federal laws in order to reduce gun violence. The group now has an education arm, which sponsors a youth group designed to teach young people about advocacy.



· Ms. Ross Ellis, actress, founded Love our Children in 1999 and today is the leading national organization based in New York city that concentrates on promoting positive changes in parenting and family attitudes. Love Our Children USA works to empower and support children, teens, parents, and families through information, resources, advocacy, and online youth mentoring.



Full details on these programs are available upon request.



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Instructor Magazine Names Weekly Reader AbleNet Editions a "Teachers' Pick"

Instructor Magazine Names Weekly Reader AbleNet Editions a "Teachers' Pick"



The results are in! Weekly Reader AbleNet Editions, have -- by unanimous decision! -- been voted a "Teachers' Pick" by Scholastic's Instructor magazine.



St. Paul, MN (PRWEB) October 10, 2007



Scholastic Instructor magazine has announced its 2007 "Teachers' Pick" in the area of Assistive Technology and Reading Supplements - and AbleNet and Weekly Reader are pleased to announce that eight out of eight of the magazine's teacher-reviewers gave the Weekly Reader AbleNet Editions a glowing review, unanimously calling the publications "Best for Saving Time on Special Lessons."



Weekly Reader AbleNet Editions debuted this fall. They are classroom periodicals specifically designed for students with moderate to severe disabilities using picture symbols. AbleNet, long known for its expertise in the development of research-based curricula and assistive technologies for special education classrooms, developed the publications in partnership with Weekly Reader, one of the country's most respected publishers of materials for elementary and secondary schools. The three Weekly Reader publications now available in AbleNet adaptations are Weekly Reader Edition 2, Current Health 1, and Know Your World EXTRA.



The reviewers of the magazines were very enthusiastic about its benefits for teachers. "Weekly Reader AbleNet Editions will save time, as teachers usually need to create alternative versions of written material with picture symbol support," noted "Teachers' Pick" judge Brenda Britton.



Kathy Enselein added, "This product will reduce time needed to create curriculum specific to the population of mild to significantly cognitively impaired, while addressing content standards in meaningful and relevant ways."



A classroom subscription to Weekly Reader AbleNet Editions includes the standard edition Weekly Reader print publication, the teacher's guide, specially designed content for students with moderate and severe disabilities, lesson reproducibles, student worksheets and activities, picture symbols from Boardmaker® and the Action Dictionary to help teachers integrate differentiated instruction.



When presented with the news that Weekly Reader AbleNet Editions had been honored as a Scholastic Instructor "Teachers' Pick" for 2007, AbleNet CEO Jen Thalhuber said, "Receiving positive reviews from teachers is the highest compliment we could ever hope for. This is a product we're extremely proud to offer. Whether it's used in regular inclusion classrooms, self-contained special education classrooms, or by parents who home school their children, the Weekly Reader AbleNet Editions have been met with a lot of excitement and enthusiasm. We simply couldn't ask for anything more and we are truly honored to have been named a "Teachers' Pick."



To view the Scholastic Instructor Teachers' Pick page, featuring the Weekly Reader AbleNet Editions, visit the AbleNet Press Center at http://www. ablenetinc. com/press/inthenews. aspx (http://www. ablenetinc. com/press/inthenews. aspx).



For more information about Weekly Reader AbleNet Editions, or to order a classroom subscription, visit http://www. ablenetinc. com/weeklyreader/ (http://www. ablenetinc. com/weeklyreader/).



About AbleNet:

AbleNet offers a complete line of assistive technology products, including communication aids for non-verbal students; access aids, such as switches and wheelchair mounting devices for students who require physical supports; and classroom tools that can be used by any individual student or during group activities. The company is also recognized for developing research-based special education curricula that meet state and federal mandates.



Located in Roseville, Minnesota, AbleNet is an ESOP company that employs 35 people and sells its products through a network of distributors in 49 countries. AbleNet's products and programs have been used in tens of thousands of classrooms nationally for more than 20 years. For more information, visit www. ablenetinc. com.



About Weekly Reader:

Weekly Reader Periodicals is part of the Weekly Reader Publishing Group (WRPG), a leader in educational publishing. Founded in 1902, Weekly Reader publishes 15 magazines for students in every grade from preschool through high school, in both print and electronic formats. Weekly Reader magazines have been recognized for their engaging content and proven effectiveness in improving student performance. Every one of the magazines has won awards for excellence in educational journalism. Weekly Reader magazines currently serve over five million students and 240,000 teachers nationwide. Weekly Reader Publishing Group is part of the Reader's Digest Association, Inc.



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