West Seeks to Bolster Law Firms' Pro Bono Efforts and Assist Lawyers Affected by Layoffs

West Seeks to Bolster Law Firms' Pro Bono Efforts and Assist Lawyers Affected by Layoffs

Free Access to Westlaw for Firms' Pro Bono Work and www. betweencases. com are at center of West's new, expanded outreach initiatives.

Eagan, Minn. (PRWEB) July 1, 2009

West today announced a new pro bono outreach initiative and a Web site to help lawyers displaced by recent layoffs manage the transition to their next assignment. West is a business of Thomson Reuters and the leading source of intelligent information for law firms, corporate legal departments and government agencies.

Do Justice (http://west. thomson. com/westlaw/do-justice/) is a new client-focused initiative that supports law firm pro bono activities. The heart of this program is a relationship with the Pro Bono Institute that makes more than $12 million in Westlaw access available to law firms to support pro bono outreach in the communities they serve.

Between Cases is a new online resource for displaced legal associates seeking employment and networking opportunities. The site includes job search tools, legal education offerings from West LegalEdCenter, information and resources for setting up a private practice, and special offers from Westlaw and other West services. The goal of the site is to help job seekers in the legal industry stay connected with their peers and with prospective employers as they navigate the transition to their next assignment.

Between Cases also offers free resources for displaced attorneys seeking to initiate or continue pro bono work while looking for permanent employment.

Peter Warwick, president and chief executive officer of Thomson Reuters, Legal, said the initiatives reflect West's longstanding commitment to the legal industry, and to the humanitarian and social justice causes that attract many to the profession in the first place.

"Across our organization, our primary mission is to help the legal system perform better - every day, worldwide," said Warwick. "These new initiatives support our customers' efforts to make their communities and the organizations they care about better through pro bono work, and allow us to put important tools and resources in the hands of attorneys as they transition to private practice or their next role."

"In addition to supporting our customers, Thomson Reuters has a steadfast commitment to equal justice and equal access to representation in the manner that the constitution demands," Warwick added. "In a society where the rule of law trumps everything, we are proud to be a part of our clients' efforts to ensure the ideals of justice are upheld for all, and that those rights aren't forfeited because a wronged party is poor."

Last year, West gave more than $12 million in Westlaw access to law firms to support pro bono outreach and hopes to increase the number significantly in 2009 through these two initiatives that are geared toward both firm-level and individual support. Likewise, Thomson Reuters supports international pro bono outreach through TrustLaw, a new program from the Thomson Reuters Foundation that will also serve as a forum for lawyers, accountants, judges, journalists, governments and NGOs focusing on specific areas of the law, such as good governance and anti-corruption.

"In this time of severe economic turmoil, the need for pro bono services is greater than ever before," said Esther Lardent, president and CEO of Pro Bono Institute. "The services that West is supporting with initiatives like Do Justice and offering free Westlaw for pro bono work to attorneys between appointments play a critical role in the effort to offer quality legal representation and due process to public interest organizations and low-income individuals dealing with a crisis in their life, such as eviction, child custody or abuse. Also, it's imperative that people see due process and accessible courts in order for our society to have a real sense of the rule of law and democracy. This is a collaborative effort, and West is a really important part of that team."

Learn more about Between Cases and the Westlaw Do Justice program by visiting www. betweencases. com or http://west. thomson. com/westlaw/do-justice/ (http://west. thomson. com/westlaw/do-justice/), or by calling your Thomson Reuters sales representative.

About West:
Headquartered in Eagan, Minn., West is the foremost provider of integrated information solutions, software and services to the U. S. legal market. West is part of Thomson Reuters. For more information, please visit the West Web site at west. thomson. com.

About Thomson Reuters:
Thomson Reuters is the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals. We combine industry expertise with innovative technology to deliver critical information to leading decision makers in the financial, legal, tax and accounting, scientific, healthcare and media markets, powered by the world's most trusted news organization. With headquarters in New York and major operations in London and Eagan, Minnesota, Thomson Reuters employs more than 50,000 people in 93 countries. For more information, go to www. thomsonreuters. com.

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Boycott Backlash?: Nativo Lopez Explains the Immigrant Movement: Internet Video (9 min)

Boycott Backlash?: Nativo Lopez Explains the Immigrant Movement: Internet Video (9 min)

Who are the forces behind the immigrant boycott? In a two-part, one-hour interview with Nativo Virgil Lopez, Full Disclosure Network™ host Leslie Dutton discovers the motivation and the forces behind the immigrant boycott. You can watch a nine (9) minute preview, click here: (http://www. fulldisclosure. net/flash/462-463_Navito. php) This preview is available free now, “on demand” 24/7, as a public service of the Full Disclosure Network™. Also featured are video clips of recent immigrant demonstations/rallies and counter protests. The programs will be available on 43 cable systems starting June 12, 2006.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) June 12, 2006

Who are the forces behind the immigrant boycott? In a two-part, one-hour interview with Nativo Virgil Lopez, Full Disclosure Network™ host Leslie Dutton discovers the motivation and the forces behind the immigrant boycott. You can watch a nine (9) minute preview, click here: (http://www. fulldisclosure. net/flash/462-463_Navito. php (http://www. fulldisclosure. net/flash/462-463_Navito. php)) This preview is available FREE now, “on demand” 24/7, as a public service of the Full Disclosure Network™. Also featured are video clips of recent immigrant demonstrations/rallies and counter protests. The programs will be available on 43 cable systems starting June 12, 2006.

Some of the revelations from Nativo are:

Labor unions and Catholic Church:

What role have these groups had in the organization of immigrant demonstrations and boycotts? Nativo Virgil Lopez tells Full Disclosure how he began his activism in 1968, organizing high school “walk-outs” to bring about educational opportunities for students. Nativo says he was inspired by Bert Carona and Cesar Chavez, who taught him to listen to the peasant people. He attributed the 1986 citizenship program for three million immigrants to the efforts of Bert Carona, a student/organizer under Harry Bridges, founder of the Longshoreman’s Union.

Capitalism vs Socialism:

Nativo explains that the balance of power between capitalism and socialism was at its peak during the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. He says that is not the case today, where only 12% of the work force is union organized. He notes that today there is a lack of health care coverage and lack of benefits in spite of the value that is being created by workers. He points to greedy ranchers for responsibility for what he says is a current imbalance.

Illegal Immigrants vs “Migrants”:

Nativo is featured in a confrontation with Lou Dobbs on national television, he explains on Full Disclosure why certain words describing people who come to the United States illegally are unacceptable and offensive. He gives examples to Host Leslie Dutton, the words “wop, nigger, kike” are just as offensive as "illegal immigrant," according to Nativo. And, in his opinion migrant workers should be appreciated for their value and should “share in the bounty” resulting from their labor.

What is ATZLAN and MECHA?:

Nativo describes the “mythical” yet possibly ancient land of Atzlan is the territory located in the Southwestern United States and which many Mexican nationals believe should be returned to Mexico or should become independent from the United States. He describes the Mexican student organization known as MECHA that was formed here in the United States for that purpose. Prominent political leaders who are a part of that group are Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villargairosa, State Senator Gil Cedillo and Congressman Joe Baca. Nativo, describes his friendship with Mayor Villargairosa since they were seventeen years old, noting that while the Mayor is not an immigrant he indeed has cleaned toilets during his career, and refers to that experience to underscore the importance of such menial labor.

Groomed for Political office:

At the urging of others Nativo was elected to office and served six years on the School Board in Orange County, California. He was recalled from office at the behest of a multi-millionaire named Ron Unz who was the financial supporter of California Proposition 227, to prohibit bilingual education programs. Among the issues that surfaced during the campaign were audits of an organization headed by Nativo which resulted in demands that taxpayers funds were to be repaid. Nativo told Full Disclosure that matter has not yet been resolved.

Open Borders vs Labor Regulation:

As an open border advocate, Nativo Lopez describes the need for “government regulation” of labor in the United States. Stating that and open border is necessary to allow the flow of capital goods and labor in order to create a “common market” like in Europe so that Canada, the United States and Mexico could compete with Europe.

Moderated by Leslie Dutton, the Full Disclosure Network™ is an independent public affairs television program, billed as “the news behind the news” and featured on 43 cable systems and the worldwide Internet at http://www. fulldisclosure. net/ (http://www. fulldisclosure. net/). In 2002 the program was presented with a public affairs Emmy Award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Channels and airtimes can be found on the website.

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New Patient Financial Services Guide Now Available

New Patient Financial Services Guide Now Available

BridgeFront announces its new Patient Financial Services (PFS) Resource Guide, available for immediate download. Authored by nationally recognized experts, Dyan Anderson and Rose Dunphy, the guide leads PFS managers though an extensive amount of issues addressed on a daily basis.

Portland, OR (PRWEB) December 3, 2009

BridgeFront announces its Patient Financial Services (PFS) Resource Guide - now in its 3rd edition. The guide covers a wide variety of revenue cycle subjects including AR management, regulatory guidelines, patient access and registration, credit and collections, and more. Introduced at 60% percent off the retail price of $495, this offer is only valid through the month of December.

“At the heart of Shore Health System’s PFS training model is both our PFS Guide and online PFS courses,” says Kent Lane, COO of BridgeFront. “Since adopting the new model, the training time required by supervisors and trainers has been reduced by nearly 50% - that is huge in today’s economy.”

As the healthcare industry constantly challenges today’s revenue cycle staff, the PFS Resource Guide offers consistent, concise information on basic, fundamental processes that never change.
Written and maintained by industry experts Dyan Anderson, MSHCA, CPAM, FACHE and Rose Dunphy, CPAM, this guide includes current regulations, technology and metrics, and best-practice PFS material.

BridgeFront offers online training solutions for over 10,000 healthcare clients nationwide. The BridgeFront Revenue Cycle library consisting of over 80 courses is an example of advanced online training techniques used by many organizations today struggling to optimize their revenue from patient billing.

"BridgeFront's Revenue Cycle education program delivers exceptional skill building eLearning courses,” says Sandi Green, System Director of Patient Access at CHRISTUS Health. “We value the support BridgeFront has given us to make our program a success in our organization."

For more information about BridgeFront’s Revenue Cycle online education, visit www. BridgeFront. com or call 866-447-2211.

About BridgeFront:
Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, BridgeFront works with healthcare organizations to simplify and strengthen their staff education with a suite of targeted skill building products, augmented by learning services – for a creative blended learning experience. BridgeFront is redefining healthcare education for thousands of healthcare providers around the world. Learn more by visiting www. BridgeFront. com.

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Vigilar Joins Metro Atlanta ISSA as a Platinum Sponsor

Vigilar Joins Metro Atlanta ISSA as a Platinum Sponsor

Sponsorship fosters information exchange between Metro Atlanta's IT prefessionals.

ATLANTA, GA (PRWEB) May 27, 2005

As a non-profit association, the success of the Metro Atlanta Chapter of Information Systems Security Association (ISSA) depends on the generosity of local expert organizations such as Vigilar, Inc., an Atlanta-based leading information security consulting firm. Sponsorship at any level – platinum, gold, or silver – enables Metro Atlanta ISSA to provide educational and networking opportunities to the area’s IT professionals and helps make the chapter successful in its mission. ISSA is pleased to announce that Vigilar has agreed to join the Metro Atlanta Chapter of ISSA as a Platinum Sponsor.

Metro AtlantaÂ’s ISSA Chapter is the largest ISSA chapter in the world. Through this chapter, Vigilar has access to IT professionals engaged in various information security functions in organizations throughout Georgia. Through ISSAÂ’s partnership with leading firms such as Vigilar, the metro Atlanta IT community benefits through exposure to new and recurring educational and networking events attended by ISSA sponsors. Since VigilarÂ’s core business is to consistently stay a step ahead of the next information security threat, the Metro Atlanta ISSA Chapter benefits from VigilarÂ’s sponsorship by having access to the latest trends in the information security industry.

Pam Sanders, Vigilar’s Vice President of Marketing, said, “Vigilar strives to support the Atlanta community, our home town, on multiple levels. This knowledge sharing enabled by our relationship with the Metro Atlanta ISSA Chapter can only have positive results for Vigilar, ISSA and our community’s IT professionals. Through the Metro Atlanta ISSA Chapter, Vigilar will continue to cultivate our various relationships within the local IT community and we look forward to establishing new relationships as well.”

“The benefits of ISSA sponsorship are double-sided. Both sponsors and members can network with one another while transferring knowledge of new security technologies, challenges, solutions and trends,” added Lenny Levy, Metro Atlanta ISSA Chapter President.”

About Vigilar

Since its inception in 2000, Vigilar, the leading information security consulting firm, has focused solely on establishing organization-wide optimal security postures for its clients. VigilarÂ’s security expertise is all-encompassing and includes regulatory compliance services, risk assessments, IT security audits, managed security services, security architecture design, product selection and delivery, implementation services, technical support and training. Vigilar partners with more than 90 leading security technology innovators to meet the diverse needs of its client base, which numbers in the thousands and spans a broad range of industries. To learn more about Vigilar, visit www. vigilar. com.

About Metro Atlanta ISSA

The Metro Atlanta ISSA is one of the largest chapters of The Information Systems Security Association (ISSA); a not-for-profit, international organization of information security professionals and practitioners. It provides educational forums, publications and peer interaction opportunities that enhance the knowledge, skill and professional growth of its members. The ISSA has over 13,000 members in nearly 100 chapters around the world. ISSA members are consistently recognized as experts on critical issues in all areas of information security, and the group is seen as an important resource for small businesses, global enterprises and government organizations, focused on providing a single source of leadership and maintaining its position as The Global Voice of Information Security.

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EventBuilder™ Completes Microsoft Office Live Meeting 2007 Certification for Audio Conferencing

EventBuilder™ Completes Microsoft Office Live Meeting 2007 Certification for Audio Conferencing

Encounter Collaborative, the provider of EventBuilder™ web event management services, today announced that it was the first partner to complete Microsoft Office Live Meeting 2007 certification for its audio conferencing offerings.

Portland, Ore. (Vocus) October 30, 2007

Encounter Collaborative, the provider of EventBuilder™ web event management services, today announced that it was the first partner to complete Microsoft Office Live Meeting 2007 certification for its audio conferencing offerings. Certification of EventBuilder audio conferencing means users can take advantage of new capabilities in Live Meeting 2007 while using EventBuilder to manage their online events.

Encounter was the first partner to integrate audio conferencing and receive certification for Microsoft Office Live Meeting 2005 and continues that trend with Live Meeting 2007, completing the work in record time and passing the certification process quickly and efficiently.

Using EventBuilder with Live Meeting 2007 provides users with the ability to build professional web events in under an hour for web-based meetings, online training and large customer events. New audio communication features supported by EventBuilder in the new release include:
 Two-way phone or VoIP offers participants a choice for integrating conference audio.  Break out sessions, called audio sub-conferencing, that allow multiple topics within the event to be covered more efficiently.  Support for both Live Meeting 2005 and Live Meeting 2007 customers.

“With EventBuilder and Live Meeting anyone can build a professional online event quickly, using powerful tools to produce great results,” said Ian Widger, Encounter’s president and chief executive officer. “The integration with Live Meeting 2007 is a great example of how EventBuilder combines industry standard software with high-quality event services to offer our customers choice and flexibility in how they deliver outstanding events to their customers, partners and employees."

Organizations seeking to produce professional online events turn to web event service providers, like EventBuilder, to build, manage and host online events. Using a web event service provider combines the ease and speed of use they expect from Internet marketing technologies, like Live Meeting 2007, with the complex and feature rich experience they need to deliver to their customers.

A single source solution for web, audio conferencing and online registration tools, EventBuilder is the standard organizations demand for web event services. Those services can either be delivered with on-demand, self-service tools, like those found at www. eventbuilder. com or can be provided live, by an event specialist, such as those available from EventBuilder’s Build It For Me™ service.

About Encounter Collaborative and EventBuilder™
Encounter Collaborative uses its innovative EventBuilder™ service to revolutionize how organizations build, manage and host online events. EventBuilder allows users to build professional events in under an hour with fully integrated audio and web conferencing as well as online registration, email invitations and event web pages. Organizations use EventBuilder self-service tools online to create and manage their events or they use the Build It For Me™ service to have events produced and managed seamlessly by EventBuilder professionals. Customers using EventBuilder to build the best possible online events are found in all industries, including Technology, Medicine and Education; customers like Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, Northwest Medical Team, Kaiser Permanente, University of Alaska and the Graduate School of Banking. EventBuilder is a wholly owned subsidiary of Encounter Collaborative, a privately held corporation headquartered in Portland, OR. For more information, please visit www. eventbuilder. com or call 1-800-290-5900.

Media Contact
Patchen Noelke
Vice President of Marketing
206-708-6257
Patchen@eventbuilder. com

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Security Rated Most Important Public Building Feature

Security Rated Most Important Public Building Feature

A nationwide survey conducted by the Society for Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) shows building security to be Americans' most important feature in public buildings. Other features which ranked lower included comfort, fire safety, environmental friendliness and other amenities. In addition to protection from crime and terrorism, buildings must also offer strong fire safety features to provide maximum building security. Security concerns sometimes conflict with fire safety needs.

Bethesda, MD (PRWEB) March 19, 2009

A nationwide survey conducted by Bethesda, MD-based Society for Fire Protection Engineers (http://www. sfpe. org/) (SFPE) reveals that building security topped a list of characteristics as Americans' most important feature in public buildings. The list included comfort, fire safety, environmental friendliness and other amenities.

"The findings are not surprising given the threat from crime and terrorism that we face today," says Chris Jelenewicz, engineering program manager at SFPE. "However, Americans should recognize that thousands of people die each year in fires, and fire safety features are critical to protect people and property."

This survey revealed 28 percent of Americans feel security is the most important feature, while 12 percent of respondents indicated that fire safety is the most important aspect of a building's design. Americans also ranked comfort and amenities higher than fire safety.

The results are similar to SFPE's 2006 survey, in which the same question was asked.

"Throughout history, the desire for increased building security has contributed to countless deadly building fires. The most notable fire occurred at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City in 1911, where locked exit doors contributed to 146 fatalities," said Jelenewicz. "Although the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire occurred almost 100 years ago, the threat can still exist today if security is not balanced with fire protection."

The survey also revealed that when compared to natural disasters, 45 percent believe fire is the event that will most likely cause harm to them or their family. Included in this list were lighting strikes (18%), hurricanes (15%), earthquakes (12%) and floods (10%).

These findings support statistics that show people are more likely to be harmed by fire when compared to natural disasters. Although natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes are covered widely in the national news media, many more people die each year as a result of fire.

Another noteworthy finding reveals that over 58 percent of those surveyed worry about the dangers of fire less than once a year. At the same time, wealthy Americans think about the risk of fire less frequently than those with lower incomes.

"As a nation, we face widespread misconceptions about fire safety, and that's worrisome," said Jelenewicz. "That is why it is important that fire protection engineers devote their careers to protecting people and property from fire." 

The survey commissioned by the Society for Fire Protection Engineers and conducted in February, 2009 by Synovate, polled more than one thousand American adults. The findings have a margin of error of plus (+) or minus (-) three percent.

What is a Fire Protection Engineer?
According to the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, a fire protection engineer applies science and engineering principles to protect people, homes, workplaces, the economy and the environment from the devastating effects of fires. Fire protection engineers analyze how buildings are used, how fires start and grow, and how fires affect people and property. They use the latest technologies to design systems to control fires, alert people to danger, and provide means for escape. Fire protection engineers also work closely with other professionals, including engineers of other disciplines, architects, state and local building officials, and local fire departments to build fire safe communities. Fire protection engineers are in high demand. The number of available jobs far exceeds the supply.

About Society of Fire Protection Engineers
Organized in 1950, the Society of Fire Protection Engineers is the professional society for engineers involved in the field of fire protection engineering. The purposes of SFPE are to advance the science and practice of fire protection engineering, maintain a high ethical standing among its members and foster fire protection engineering education. SFPE's worldwide members include engineers in private practice, in industry and in local, regional and national government. Chapters are located in Canada, China, France, Italy, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden and the United States. More information about SFPE can be found at http://www. sfpe. org (http://www. sfpe. org).

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Executive & Professional Education Announces Program Schedule for 2007

Executive & Professional Education Announces Program Schedule for 2007

Executive & Professional Education, the professional education and development branch of Florida International University, is pleased to announce its 2007 program schedule.

Miami, FL (PRWEB) October 18, 2006

Executive & Professional Education, the professional education and development branch of Florida International University, is pleased to announce its 2007 program schedule.

The 2007 program offerings that are posted on the EPE website at http://epe. fiu. edu (http://epe. fiu. edu) are separated into six groups – Accounting & Finance, Human Resources, Project Management, Leadership, Executive Leadership and Sales, Marketing & Communications. Anyone not able to attend an EPE program this past year will be happy to know that many of the most popular programs are back for 2007 with multiple dates. Some programs in demand are: Financial Analysis for Non-Financial Managers, Extraordinary Administrative Support, Presentation Skills for Managers, Skills for Effective Management, Writing for Business, Advanced Project Management, The PMP Comprehensive Review Course, Crisis & Emergency Response Management, Managing the Media, Customer Relationship Management and Managing Interpersonal Communications. There are also a few programs that will be offered at EPE for the first time. These include the S/PHR and GPHR Certification Preparation Course and Human Resources Management. All of the programs that EPE offers give participants a competitive advantage with a combination of conceptual knowledge, academic theory and practical, real world application.

Executive & Professional Education also offers a variety of programs that can be delivered at an organization’s location and that can be customized to meet a specific need or objective.

“Our faculty has very good relations with local businesses and are able to propose courses that are very practical and have rich content,” says Robert Garcia, Director of Executive & Professional Education. “Some businesses may not have the resources to offer such programs in-house. They can now look to EPE to provide them with the skills to deepen the expertise of their employees and senior leadership people.”

Under the umbrella of Florida International University’s College of Business Administration, Executive & Professional Education fulfills its commitment to providing the community with ongoing opportunities to continue their education and professional enrichment. EPE’s programs draw from university faculty and industry experts to create a dynamic learning environment and deliver the kind of critical knowledge and skills that both broaden perspectives and advance careers. To view a full list of the programs that are offered in 2006 and 2007, please visit http://epe. fiu. edu (http://epe. fiu. edu). 

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