news-releases

Scott & White Hospital-College Station Marks Milestone

2012-02-09T15:48:00.001-08:00

- Celebrates topping out of new facility -

College Station, TX (myPressManager.com) February 09, 2012

Scott & White Healthcare announced today the completion of the erection of the structure on its new, 143-bed acute care hospital in College Station. The milestone was marked with a “topping out” ceremony at the facility, located at the intersection of Texas Hwy 6 and Rock Prairie Road.

Measuring 365,000-square-feet, the six-story facility represents the collaborative work of Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc., Kitchell, and Adams Architecture. About 275 trade workers are currently employed at the site and that number is expected to increase to 400 as the project progresses.

Scott & White Hospital-College Station will house an emergency department, cardiac services including cardiac catheterization labs, neonatal intensive care unit, operating rooms, maternity services suites, endoscopic procedure suites, inter-operative robotics and other specialty services, all supported by a pharmacy, comprehensive state-of-the-art imaging technology and other diagnostic capabilities.

With a projected completion date of the summer of 2013, the new hospital will cover roughly eight acres of enclosed space, supported by 25,000 cubic yards of concrete and 700 tons of steel. The facility façade will be composed of stone and brick veneer, with architectural cast stone trim and curtainwall.

Scott & White Hospital-College Station will open initially with 119 beds and can be expanded to accommodate another 24 beds when the need arises “The magnitude of such an enormous undertaking and what it means to the future of patient care in College Station hits me each time I step foot on the site,” said Jason Jennings, chief executive officer, Scott & White Healthcare College Station.

“This facility symbolizes Scott & White’s commitment to the community and will foster our unrivaled ability to deliver a continuity of care to the Brazos Valley,” said William Rayburn, M.D., chief medical officer, Scott & White Healthcare College Station.

iKeepSafe and ConnectSafely Announce The Launch Of The 2012 Edition Of “A Parents’ Guide To Facebook”

2012-02-07T17:47:00.001-08:00

Arlington, VA (myPressManager.com) February 07, 2012

In coordination with Safer Internet Day, iKeepSafe is thrilled to announce the launch of the revised 2012 edition of “A Parents' Guide to Facebook”, written by ConnectSafely.org’s Larry Magid and Anne Collier. As Facebook continues to change, the authors updated the parent guide’s content to reflect the most recent features and policies on Facebook. The free Guide can be downloaded in PDF format at www.FBparents.org.

Designed to teach parents how to help their teens use Facebook safely and constructively, the guide features important topics such as how to parent Facebook users, managing reputation in the digital age, actual risks in social media, managing your privacy on Facebook, reporting problems, and more. The guide is already being translated into Arabic and Spanish, with other languages and international distribution to follow.

The revised 2012 edition features a number of new sections, including social reporting, the new timeline, and Facebook-related computer security. The social reporting section walks parents through this new way of reporting problems on Facebook, highlighting best practices for specific incidents or situations that may occur.

“As Facebook is constantly changing its features and policies, it is important that we continue to update helpful resources such as the Parents’ Guide to keep parents up to date on the most recent privacy and security threats and risks that exist on Facebook”, says Marsali Hancock, president of iKeepSafe. “The guide allows parents and teens to discuss skills and safeguards to utilize Facebook safely and securely, while creating a generation of responsible, ethical and resilient digital citizens.”

"Facebook is a valuable resource for youth around the world, and most are using it safely and responsibly," said ConnectSafely.org co-director and Guide co-author Larry Magid.

"Our goal is to help parents understand what Facebook is all about and give them hands-on instructions in how to optimize it with their children," said co-author Anne Collier, co-director of ConnectSafely.org

ConnectSafely and iKeepSafe hope that the Parents’ Guide will ignite discussions and collaboration among social media users of all ages. To learn more about how to strengthen your teens’ privacy and safety on Facebook, view the 2012 Edition of “A Parents’ Guide to Facebook.”

About the Internet Keep Safe Coalition

The Internet Keep Safe Coalition is a broad partnership of governors and first spouses, attorneys general, public health and educational professionals, law enforcement and industry leaders working together for the health and safety of youth online. The Coalition provides innovative resources, including parent tutorials and educational materials like the Faux Paw the Techno Cat® Internet safety book series and animated films for children. iKeepSafe uses its unique partnerships to disseminate the safety resources to families worldwide, including its Generation Safe™ pilot programs launched in China, India and Australia. To learn more, visit http://www.ikeepsafe.org/.

About ConnectSafely

ConnectSafely is for parents, teens, educators, advocates—everyone engaged with and interested in the impact of the social Web. The user-driven, all-media, multi-platform, fixed and mobile social Web is a big part of young people's lives, and this is the central space—linked to from social networks across the Web—for learning about safe, civil use of Web 2.0 together. ConnectSafely’s forum is also designed to give teens and parents a voice in the public discussion about youth online safety begun back in the '90s. The organization also has a variety of social-media safety tips for teens and parents, the latest youth-tech news, and many other resources. To learn more, visit http://www.connectsafely.org or http://www.facebook.com/connectsafely.

TTARA Research Foundation Releases Revised Report on School Finance in Texas

2012-01-20T13:01:00.001-08:00

Austin, TX (myPressManager.com) January 20, 2012

The TTARA Research Foundation has released an update of its award-winning publication, “An Introduction to School Finance in Texas.” This latest version describes changes made by the 82nd Legislature and provides the information needed for citizens and taxpayers to understand the issues raised by pending lawsuits. The previous report, also authored by Sheryl Pace, won the 2011 award for Most Effective Education from the nationally respected Governmental Research Association.

“The public education system in Texas consumes over $47 billion each year educating 4.8 million young Texans. Even though education is the most important public service provided in this state, few understand how Texas finances it. This report is written to allow those of us who are not school funding ‘insiders’ to fully grasp the issues and play an informed role in developing state policy. With four lawsuits challenging the state’s school finance system, education finance will certainly be at the front of the public consciousness this year. There may never have been a more important time for citizens to be well informed. This report will make that possible,” said Bill Allaway, the TTARA Research Foundation’s President.

Copies of the report may be obtained by contacting the TTARA Research Foundation and are available on our website.

The TTARA Research Foundation is a non-profit educational entity organized to make factual analyses and studies related to economic, fiscal and public policy in Texas. It has conducted research that has enlightened the development of public policy in Texas for more than 50 years and has won numerous national awards in the process, including this year’s top award from the Governmental Research Association for its report on school finance in Texas.

For more information on the TTARA Research Foundation please visit us online at www.ttara.org

http://www.mypressmanager.com/PressRelease.aspx?PRId=2117

Health Equity Initiative Receives Approval by National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE) as a Provider of Certified in Public Health Continuing Education (CPH CE) Credits

2012-01-11T18:04:00.001-08:00

CPH CE credits available for eligible public health professionals who participate in HEI’s professional development workshops, mini-courses and other training events

New York, NY (myPressManager.com) January 11, 2012

Health Equity Initiative (HEI), a NY-based nonprofit organization dedicated to building community, capacity, and communication resources for health equity, announces today that it received approval by the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE) as a provider of Certified in Public Health Continuing Education (CPH CE) credits, which are required for maintaining the certification in public health issued by the NBPHE. Eligible professionals who participate in HEI’s professional development workshops, mini-courses and other training events can earn CPH CE credits after completing a multiple choice test.

The CPH certification is administered by the NBPHE after successful completion of an exam, which is open to graduates of and students at CEPH-accredited schools and programs of public health. CPH certification recognizes the complexity and evolving nature of public health challenges, and addresses the need for public health professionals to stay at the forefront of their field. CPH maintenance requires the completion of CPH CE credits via participation in continuing education activities.

As one of its core action areas, HEI helps other organizations succeed by increasing their effectiveness in serving vulnerable populations and developing sustainable health interventions in diverse settings – via its consulting and technical assistance services, and capacity building programs. HEI’s training events focus on a variety of topics and competencies in the public health, global health and healthcare fields, with a specific emphasis on implications for health equity. “We are very pleased with this important milestone and look forward to a long-term relationship with the NBPHE,” says Dr. Renata Schiavo, HEI’s Founding President and CEO.

For additional information on HEI’s capacity building and training services as well as upcoming 2012 professional development workshops, go to: www.healthequityinitiative.org

About Health Equity Initiative (HEI)
Health Equity Initiative (HEI) is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to building community, capacity and communication resources for health equity. At the crossroads between a non-profit public health management consulting agency, and a research- and programs-driven organization, Health Equity Initiative seeks to help advance health equity through partnership, community engagement, and evidence-based solutions.

HEI focuses on three strategic priorities and relevant action areas: 1) Helping other organizations succeed; 2) Establishing a road map for health equity; 3) Encouraging community ownership of priorities and progress toward health equity.

Visit our website at www.healthequityinitiative.org. Tweet HEI @HlthEquityInit. Join HEI on Linkedin. Like HEI on Facebook.

About the NBPHE
The National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE) was established in September 2005 as an independent organization, the purpose of which is to ensure that students and graduates from schools and programs of public health accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) have mastered the knowledge and skills relevant to contemporary public health. This purpose will be accomplished by administering a voluntary certification exam and maintenance of certification program. For additional information go to: www.nbphe.org

A Timely New Book To Help The Millions On Unemployment The Unemployment Budget - Your financial survival plan.

2012-01-09T08:41:00.001-08:00

Buffalo, NY (myPressManager.com) January 09, 2012

Only after the author stared bankruptcy in the face was he prepared to do the unthinkable, create a budget. Not only did he avoid bankruptcy, he survived his own financial nightmare and seasons of unemployment. The author also learned and fine-tuned the budget process. After getting his own house in order, Patrick Mellody, started sharing his easy budget process with others. In this book Patrick uses real life stories from his 17 years as a volunteer budget coach to walk the reader through this timely new book.

Over 14 Million Americans are unemployed and need a plan to survive, now! With incomes slashed and assets on the line families need help prioritizing their limited funds. This book includes two budgets.

The Crisis Budget – For anyone that needs help today! When life is down to the wire and families need to make quick but informed decisions, this budget is for them. The reader learns how to protect their personal triangle of basic needs and can utilize the solid list of referral services in the book to work with their creditors.

The Unemployment Budget – This budget is more detailed and will help the reader get more organized. They will have a solid foundation on which they can not only survive but be able to move forward. Financial stress will be reduced and allow them to focus on finding their next job.

Each short chapter starts with a story of someone Patrick helped develop a budget over his seventeen years as a volunteer budget coach. Every story is unique and has a part to play in the budget process. At the end of each chapter there is a simple form to fill in that will help the reader on their way.

Here is what the reader can expect from this book:
- a complete understanding of where their money is going on a monthly basis.

- exactly how much they are over/under spending in every category of life. Housing, food, auto and so on. They will also know how much they are over/under spending totally per month and what to do about it.

- have “New Found Money” that was saved by adjusting their spending habits.

- a web site where they can download all the forms in this book for no charge.

- a solid contact for a non-profit organization that will create a debt re-payment plan that will help relieve financial stress.

- discover how to survive this temporary season of life.

Please join me in helping the millions of unemployed Americans by promoting this book in your sphere of influence. Thank you.

The book is affordably priced at only $2.99 for the e-book version, and $6.99 for the paperback version. To read a chapter for free, or to purchase the book, visit http://budgetsthatwork.com.

For interviews, contact Patrick Mellody at (716)997-2522 or patrick@budgetsthatwork.com.

Illinois Recycling Association Alerts Residents To A New Electronics Recycling Law Effective January 1, 2012

2011-12-28T08:18:00.001-08:00

A variety of electronics are banned from landfills

Oak Park, IL (myPressManager.com) December 28, 2011

The Illinois Recycling Association announces a ban on the disposal of electronics in Illinois landfills as of January 1, 2012. This is in accordance with a new Illinois State Law SB2106 (P.A. 97-0287), signed by Governor Quinn in August 2011, that has drastically limited the types of items that can be disposed in landfills.

The Illinois Recycling Association worked with the Environmental Law and Policy Center to ensure that this new law did not result in extra costs to consumers, while addressing the increasing amount of electronics in the waste stream. USEPA estimates that 85% of electronics are currently not recycled; these items contain mined materials that can be reclaimed, reused and recycled. Recycling rather than dumping these items saves resources and creates jobs, many of them right here in the US.

“Many members of the Illinois Recycling Association are electronic recyclers and since 2010, they have been working with electronic manufacturers to fund the recycling of residential items. With the passage of the 2011 law, more items are included and the goals for recycling are higher. This ensures recycling opportunities throughout the State of Illinois,” said Paul Jaquet, President of IRA.

The law requires manufacturers to pay the cost of recycling; therefore, residents using drop-off sites will not be charged.

“The glass in televisions and monitors is expensive to handle and some of the plastics are difficult to separate. There is a cost to recover these items, but the environmental benefits far outweigh any disadvantages,” explained Mike Mitchell, Executive Director of IRA.

IRA was part of a statewide task force that worked to improve the law passed in 2009, originally setting the Jan. 1, 2012 disposal ban. The new law, signed this past summer, bans 17 specific items although most electronic recycling programs accept more than what is listed here.

Televisions - Electronic Keyboards - Video Game Consoles - Digital Converter Boxes
Monitors - Facsimile Machines - Electronic Mice - Videocassette Recorders
Printers - Scanners - Small Scale Servers - Portable Digital Music Players
Cable Receivers - Satellite Receivers - Computers (including desktop/laptop/tablet)
Digital Video Disc Recorders & Players

For information on recycling locations, check the Illinois Recycling Association website at www.illinoisrecycles.org.

About us:

The Illinois Recycling Association (IRA), a not-for-profit organization, was formed in 1980. It currently has 250 members consisting of municipal, county, and state recycling coordinators, businesses, haulers and processors, not-for-profit organizations, consultants, and manufacturers of recycled-content products. Our mission is to encourage the responsible use of resources by promoting waste reduction, re-use, and recycling through all venues. We also provide educational leadership through forums, programs and materials for the exchange of information and ideas and promote market development that encourages sound recycling initiatives.

http://mypressmanager.com/PressRelease.aspx?PRId=2110

NARCA Offers Attorney Workshop In Newport Beach

2011-12-26T17:06:00.001-08:00

National Association to Focus on Law Practice Management

Washington, DC (myPressManager.com) December 26, 2011

The National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys (NARCA) is hosting its 2012 Attorney Workshop on January 15th and 16th, 2012, in Newport Beach, California. The program begins with dinner on Sunday evening featuring an expert on employee motivation and continues on Monday with educational sessions and informal roundtable discussions.

Unlike the educational programs offered at the NARCA Spring and Fall Collection conferences, which focus primarily on legal updates, ethics and compliance, the NARCA Attorney Workshop is dedicated to law practice management issues. Topics include:

• Strategic Planning
• Associate Attorney Retention and Advancement
• Managing Attorney-Client Relationships
• Employee Motivation and Compensation

Registration is limited to NARCA member attorneys who may register through January 10th with early registration discounts available only through December 29th. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For further information about the NARCA Attorney Workshop, please contact Christina Salley of the NARCA staff at 941-373-1305 or christina@narca.org.

Contact Information:
Eric Rosenkoetter
NARCA Director of Government & Public Affairs
Direct: 512-914-5696
Email: eric@narca.org

The National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys (NARCA) is a nationwide trade association of over 700 skilled debt collection law firms and in-house counsel of creditors. NARCA members are committed to the fair and ethical treatment of all participants in the debt collection process. www.narca.org

http://mypressmanager.com/PressRelease.aspx?PRId=2111

Stanley Freed, author and curator at the American Museum of Natural History in NYC releases new book: "Anthropology Unmasked, Museums, Science, and Politics in New York"

2011-11-21T10:07:00.001-08:00

New York, NY (myPressManager.com) November 21, 2011

Stanley Freed, author and curator at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York City has just released his newest book, Anthropology Unmasked, Museums, Science, and Politics in New York City (Orange Frazer Press, $80).

In two volumes, illustrated with 220 black and white and color photographs from worldwide archives, Freed tells the story of how the AMNH began, from a single building in a rough isolated tract surrounded by vagabonds and drifters, and gradually evolved into one of the world’s preeminent scientific and cultural institutions. Today it remains a leader in basic research and one whose permanent exhibits are unmatched anywhere. Each volume is filled with fascinating stories about famous anthropologists such as Franz Boas, Clark Wissler, Waldemar Bogoras, and Margaret Mead, who all journeyed to remote and dangerous regions. Their field studies, and those of their colleagues, made major contributions to anthropology.

Stanley Freed has worked at the AMNH for over fifty-two years. When Freed was asked what he enjoyed the most about being an anthropologist at the AMNH he replied: “For me, three qualities of life in the AMNH were irresistible. First, there was the extraordinary freedom of research and publication enjoyed by all curators in the Department of Anthropology. Second, fieldwork was part of a curator’s role. A curator does not have to wait for a sabbatical year or a summer’s vacation to do field work. One can go to the field at almost any time and stay for as long as necessary. Finally, the department has been able to maintain its initial, clublike ambiance until the present day, despite a staff of strong-minded and fascinating characters. This fortunate circumstance helped to make it one of the happiest places to work in all of American anthropology.”

When asked why he wrote the book, Freed said: "In the 1980s, I joined the small group of anthropologists who were writing about the history of their subject. I believed that I could add some balance to American anthropological history, and that the best place to start was with museums - where the story began. The more I delved into the archives, the more I was fascinated. I was hooked."

The book will be available in December and copies can be purchased via www.amazon.com and www.orangefrazer.com. Call Sarah Hawley at Orange Frazer Press for more information. 937.382.3196.

New Free Website Kicks Off For Youth Sport & Interscholastic Coaches

2011-11-18T05:46:00.001-08:00

Reston, VA (myPressManager.com) November 17, 2011

Youth sport and interscholastic coaches can now access the Coaches Toolbox, a new free website on hot-button issues regarding sport and coaching at http://www.aahperd.org/naspe/publications/teachingTools/coaching/. Produced by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), the website will be updated three times a year for winter, spring and fall sports, and will provide the latest must-have information and resources about safety and injury prevention, skill development, strength training, peak performance, post-workout recovery, nutrition, sport health care, sport psychology, professional development and college recruiting.

Sponsored by Refuel: “got chocolate milk?” from the Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP), website contributors include American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP), National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA), National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education (NCACE), National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), National Strength and Coaching Association (NSCA), Special Olympics, United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).

“An optimal sport experience requires caring, knowledgeable and professionally trained coaches,” said NASPE President Dennis Docheff, professor in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, MO. “Through the Coaches Toolbox, we are offering a one-stop shop where coaches can learn what the experts are recommending on a multitude of sport-related topics. In addition, we are providing pertinent information that aligns with the National Standards for Athletic Coaches, NASPE guidelines and position statements.”

“MilkPEP is pleased to have helped make the Coaches Toolbox a reality for the members of NASPE/AAHPERD. Additionally, we hope coaches find the resources we’ve provided on the recovery benefits of lowfat chocolate milk useful for their high school athletes,” said Julie Buric, MilkPEP Vice President of Marketing.

From establishing the first position paper on Standards for Youth Sport Coaches (1984) to publishing the second edition of the National Standards for Sport Coaches (2006), NASPE is an advocate for quality sport programs. In 2008 NASPE partnered with NFHS to release the National Coaching Report, the only comprehensive report addressing both youth and interscholastic sport coaching education requirements in the United States. With over 50 million children under the age of 18 participating in organized sport programs, the purpose of the report was to educate the American public about the training and qualifications currently required to coach athletes whose quality sport experience is of number one concern.

The new Coaches Toolbox brings together all of NASPE’s and contributing organizations resources to help improve the sport experience. Parents across the country send their children to practices and events with the expectation that adult supervision will bring positive sport outcomes, maximal learning and skill development. Yet horror stories persist about dramatic increases in winning-obsessed parents, sport injuries, over-specialization of young athletes, and children quitting sports because they simply aren’t fun anymore.

Executive editor of the Coaches Toolbox is Andrew Mead, NASPE program manager. Members of the Reviewing Committee: Dave Allen, Mount Holyoke College, MA; Kim Bodey, Indiana State University; Mark Cole, Western Illinois University; Kristen Dieffenbach, West Virginia University; Tim Graham, Tumwater School District, WA; Rick Howard, The School District of Philadelphia, PA; Patrick McHenry, Castleview High School, CO; Melissa Murray, University of Southern Mississippi; Linda Schoenstedt, Xavier University, OH; and Mark Stanbrough, Emporia State University, KS, believe the new Coaches Toolbox will help good coaches become even better because quality coaches are the key to successful athletic programs.

National Association for Sport and Physical Education

The preeminent national authority on physical education and a recognized leader in sport and physical activity, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) is a non-profit professional membership association that sets the standard for practice in physical education and sport. NASPE’s 15,000 members include: K-12 physical education teachers, coaches, administrators, researchers, and college/university faculty who prepare professionals in these areas. NASPE seeks to enhance knowledge, improve professional practice, and increase support for high-quality physical education, sport and physical activity programs. It is the largest of the five national associations that make up the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (AAHPERD). For more information, visit http://www.naspeinfo.org.

NEANY Inc. Chooses Florida For Fourth Office Location

2011-11-16T07:07:00.001-08:00

Business development and government relations activities will be prime focus

Hollywood, MD (myPressManager.com) November 16, 2011

North Eastern Aeronautical Company Inc. (NEANY), headquartered in Hollywood, MD, announces the opening of its newest office in Niceville, FL. Recently ranked third in the nation for 8(a) Prime Contractors by Washington Technology, NEANY is a minority owned 8(a) certified research, design, test and evaluation firm specializing in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), sensors and electro-optics.

“I am thrilled to see the plans for our fourth location come to fruition,” said NEANY Inc. President Steven Steptoe. “Florida is well known for its robust business climate. With Eglin and Tyndall Air Force Bases, the Pensacola Naval Air Station, and numerous universities all located in the panhandle, I believe the area is a perfect fit for NEANY.”

NEANY’s Florida office will be the hub for the company’s business development and government relations operations. Lisa Mogensen, Director of Military Sales, will lead NEANY’s business development activities. Formerly with DRS Technologies and Lockheed Martin, Lisa brings over 25 years of business development and program management experience with her. Jenny Humbert, Director of State and Congressional Affairs, will oversee NEANY’s government relations and corporate communications efforts. Jenny brings fifteen years of government and public relations experience to NEANY, seven of those spent with the Florida Department of State and the Office of the Attorney General. The Florida office will be administered by Lisa Little.

NEANY Inc. has quickly grown from a small startup company to a significant force in the federal contracting arena. Certified as an 8(a) company in 2005, NEANY has been supporting the government and private industries in areas including Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Unattended Ground Stations (UGS), ground-based sensor integration, prototype fabrication, and UAS pilot training, field deployment and logistics. NEANY scientists and engineers partner with universities and national laboratories to build and deploy enhanced sensor and system capabilities to satisfy ISR missions supporting the global war on terror. NEANY supports numerous UAS efforts including Persistent Ground Surveillance Systems (PGSS), High-Performance Engagement Lightweight Integrated Optical System (HELIOS), Persistent Surveillance Unmanned Aerial System (PSUAS), TigerShark, Copperhead, and their own UAS, the Arrow. In addition to the Florida office, NEANY is located in Patuxent River, Maryland, Arlington, VA, and Scottsdale, AZ. They also manage and operate a state-of-the-art UAS training facility in Yuma, AZ. NEANY employs 225 people and of those nearly 50% are deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan theaters of operation and provide UAS support to the U.S. warfighter.

http://www.mypressmanager.com/PressRelease.aspx?PRId=2082

Easing the Stress of Divorce for Los Angeles Veterans

2011-11-15T08:43:00.001-08:00

Redondo Beach, CA (myPressManager.com) November 15, 2011

Honoring America’s military families, South Bay Mediation in Torrance, is offering divorce mediation services at no cost to military personnel, veterans and their spouses. Because mediation reduces the stress and expense of divorce for all involved, this service to military personnel is South Bay Mediation’s way of giving back to those who have served.

Eric Piety MA, founder and lead mediator, explains that South Bay Mediation helps couples manage their own divorce rather than turning it into an expensive legal battle. “With a skilled mediator, issues like child custody, spousal support, and division of property can be handled respectfully and without giving up decisions to a judge. Most importantly, the emotional trauma can be minimized for both spouses and children, and by the way, there’s no risk since mediation is a 100% voluntary choice for all parties. Both spouses must agree to any arrangements and therefore both spouses maintain control over the outcome. “

Asked why his agency started the Veteran Family Program, Piety responded “Military families, like all others, face the difficulties of maintaining a marriage in our modern world and in the midst of a suffering economy and high unemployment. In addition, military families must cope with the daunting stresses that deployment and long periods of separation have on a marriage. As proud as we are of our military families and the resilience they demonstrate, marital dissolution is a reality that cannot always be avoided. South Bay Mediation wishes to share its expert skills in order to ease the burden for those who have decided divorce is their only option.”

Mediation is rapidly becoming popular as an alternative to expensive and often damaging litigation. According to Piety, “Mediation is rapidly becoming the first choice for divorcing couples, especially those with children. To accommodate the new veteran family cases, South Bay Mediation has set aside specific time each week for the Veteran Family Program. Anyone who has served or is now serving in the armed forces will receive five (5) hours of divorce mediation at no cost. If there are still unresolved issues to be settled after five (5) hours have been completed, clients using this service may choose to continue mediation at a 50% hourly discount or may complete their divorce without the need for further assistance from South Bay Mediation. There is no obligation and absolutely no fees will ever be charged unless clients choose to do so after free services are completed.”

About South Bay Mediation: With 20 years of experience as a Behavior Therapist, Eric Piety brings highly developed skills in human interaction to the mediation table. Where legally oriented minds may find impasse, Eric is able to facilitate discovery of creative solutions based on the broad interests of each party. In addition to his MA in psychology, Eric received mediation training at the Loyola Law School - Center for Conflict Resolution in Los Angeles. Eric is the Director and Primary Mediator at South Bay Mediation.

To learn more about the Veteran Family Program, or any of the services offered at South Bay Mediation, contact: Eric Piety at South Bay Mediation (866-405-2219) or go online and fill out a free consultation request at: www.southbaymediation.org.

If you'd like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Eric Piety, please call Mr. Piety at 310-720-4264 or e-mail epiety@southbaymediation.org.

iKeepSafe’s Partner South West Grid for Learning Wins Another Prestigious Award

2011-11-14T18:26:00.001-08:00

Washington, D.C. (myPressManager.com) November 14, 2011

The Internet Keep Safe Coalition (iKeepSafe) is thrilled to announce that partner South West Grid for Learning (SWGFL) has won yet another prestigious award for their 360 Safe Tool: The British Computer Society’s Community Project of the Year Award.

The British Computer Society and Computing UK IT Industry Awards provide a platform for the entire IT profession to celebrate best practice, innovation and excellence. This year’s awards featured 23 categories covering projects, organizations, technology and individual excellence.

Other finalists from the award gala (attended by 1,200 people) include: Tesco.com, BT, JP Morgan, Shell Aviation, Beam SRC, Community Gateway Association, Go ON Adopt, MSM, UK Safer Internet Centre, World Vision UK, WORLDwrite, and the Zoological Society of London.

Like the Generation Safe™ 360 Self-Assessment Tool—which is a customized version of South West Grid for Learning’s 360 Tool—schools use the tool to find out where they lie on the digital citizenship spectrum. Once they receive their results, they’re directed through the next steps for achieving Gold Medal School certification.

“We are delighted to have received this further prestigious national award, the 4th this year, for 360 degree safe,” David Wright, SWGFL e-safety consultant said. “It is clear from this and also the judge’s comments that the tool has significant impact in schools to the benefit of the children and staff. Preparing and improving online safety provision is an increasing priority for schools and their leaders and it is fantastic that 360 degree safe can help in this very regard.”

The three additional prestigious awards that Mr. Wright refers to include the: BETT (British Education Technology Tradeshow) Award, ISPA (Internet Services Providers’ Association) Award, and Nominet Award.

Across the United States and in Asia Pacific, teachers using the Generation Safe™ 360 Self-Assessment Tool have expressed their enthusiasm for the tool—clearly indicating that the awards are well deserved.

“Before Generation Safe, we talked about how to address issues of digital citizenship, but we had no common framework to drive our decisions,” explained Senior Director of Instructional Technology from Tamalpais Union High School District, Joel Hames. “Now that we have completed the 360 assessment, we have been able to develop specific action plans, and to involve a broader group of stakeholders. All of this is contributing to a more robust and impactful digital citizenship program in our district.”

iKeepSafe congratulates SWGFL for their impressive achievements this past year and looks forward to a continuous and successful partnership moving forward.

About the Internet Keep Safe Coalition

About the South West Grid for Learning

The South West Grid for Learning is a not for profit, charitable trust company, funded by 15 Local Authorities across the South West of England. The organization provides maintained schools and many other educational establishments throughout the region with safe, secure and reliable broadband internet connectivity; broadband-enabled learning resources and services and help, support and advice in using the internet safely.

10 Year Old College Football Fan Releases Roster App For iPhone

2011-11-14T08:08:00.001-08:00

Tallahassee, FL (myPressManager.com) November 14, 2011

A fifth grader from North Florida has released a college football app for iPhones. An avid college football fan, 10 year-old Jack Templeton came up with the idea for a college football roster app when he received an iTouch for his birthday. The 99 cent app provides users with all 120 Division I college football team rosters and schedules, as well as 13,152 player profiles. Jack and his father, Tim Templeton, believe Jack’s Rosters (the name of the app) is the fastest and most user friendly roster app on the market.

“My app is so easy to use and has so much cool information, every college football fan should download it,” said Jack. The inspiration for Jack’s app came from another idea he had when he just seven. Traveling to Gator games with his dad, Jack always wanted to know what players were in the game. Jack asked his dad to print an easy to read roster off his computer and his mom to laminate it. This evolved into 9” x 3½” durable laminated roster, attached to lanyard that father and son wore around their necks. While Jack’s laminated roster was convenient and useful, it was limited to one team and only included the player’s number, name, position, height, weight and year.

Jack’s passion for sports is turning into a fun family business. Jack’s younger sister Ellie (8) and brother William (6), help produce and count the laminated rosters, while Jack is the spokesman for his App. Mom, Dad and friends get the word out about Jack’s App through social networking and any other cost effective means they can come up with, like airplane banners at college football games.

Jack says he hopes to make enough money from his App sales to take his family on a trip to New York City and wants to buy a Mac computer so he can make “a bunch of cool Jack’s Rosters commercials,” to further promote his business. “I made my first sports video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9eofXEkdFs ) on my little brother’s iTouch, but would like a Mac computer so I can make real cool commercials, videos and movies with all kinds of special effects,” Jack says beaming.

What’s next for Jack’s Rosters? Well, a droid version will be released for the 2012 College Football season, as well as an NFL version and a high school football roster is being considered. As for his family, younger siblings Ellie and William are developing ideas for their own apps and are sure to follow in their big brother’s footsteps.

Jack’s Rosters can be downloaded by searching “Jack’s Rosters” in the iTunes App Store or visiting his website at www.JacksRosters.com.

ATTACHMENTS / LINKS

Local (Tallahassee, FL) Television News Story about Jack:

Link to Jack’s Rosters App on iTunes Preview page:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jacks-rosters/id465811227?ls=1&mt=8

Jack’s Rosters Website:
www.JacksRosters.com

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