The Marine Mammal Center Prepares for Seal-Pup Rescues

The Marine Mammal Center Prepares for Seal-Pup Rescues

A harbor seal pupÂ’s best chance for survival is with its mother, not with humans. The Marine Mammal Center rescues seals along 600 miles of northern and central California coastline. The Center urges the public to leave harbor seal pups alone and to call its 24 hour rescue hotline if a pup looks to be in danger or in need of help.

Sausalito, CA (PRWEB) February 28, 2005

The Marine Mammal Center is preparing for the annual harbor seal pup season and it needs the publicÂ’s help in safe guarding these beautiful animals. Each year, The Center, a rescue and rehabilitation hospital in Sausalito, responds to approximately 100 reports of stranded harbor seal pups during the months of March and April. Sadly, about 20 percent of those calls are in response to pups that have either been illegally picked up or harassed by the public. Under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, it is a crime to harass or injure marine mammals; to do so is punishable with heavy monetary fines and potential jail time.

The Center strongly encourages the public to leave harbor seal pups alone. Once picked up, itÂ’s difficult to find the harbor sealÂ’s mom and to return the pup back to her and the ocean. For a pup on the beach, its best chance of survival is to stay near its mother to be fed and to learn survival techniques. If you should come across a marine mammal on a beach in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, call The CenterÂ’s 24-hour rescue hotline at (415) 289-SEAL. If you are in the greater Monterey or Santa Cruz areas, call (831) 633-6298.

“It’s important for us to assess each call we receive by going out and observing the pup to see if the seal really needs our help,” said Shelbi Stoudt, The Center’s Stranding Manager. “Female harbor seals often leave their pups on the beach while they go out to forage for food. The pup may be just waiting on the beach for its mother to return; if this is the case, we’ll observe it for 24 hours or even longer, before attempting a rescue. It’s frustrating for us to respond to preventable strandings due to human interaction. We really ask the public to leave seals alone and instead, call us if they see one in trouble”

What to do if you come across a harbor seal on a beach:

Stay at least 50 feet from it. Its mother may be just around the corner. Keep other people and dogs away. Call The Marine Mammal CenterÂ’s 24-hour hotline at (415) 289-SEAL.

Celebrating its 30th year in 2005, The Marine Mammal Center is a nonprofit hospital dedicated to the rescue and release of ill and injured marine mammals, and to research about their health and diseases. Volunteers and staff have treated more than 10,000 California sea lions, elephant seals, porpoises, and other marine life. In fact, The Center treats more marine mammals than any other institution of its kind in the world, uniquely combining its rehabilitation program with scientific discovery and education programs to advance the understanding of marine mammal health, ocean health and conservation. 

On the Web: www. marinemammalcenter. org

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Collection Agency Gets More Green By Going Paperless With A Document Management System

Collection Agency Gets More Green By Going Paperless With A Document Management System

The agency saves as much as $2,000 a month using the Document Locator document management system so collection agents can answer questions faster, and recover debt quicker.

Portland, OR (PRWEB) January 5, 2010

Pacific Northwest Collections has improved the efficiency of its debt recovery efforts by using the Document Locator document management system (http://www. documentlocator. com/Solutions/Document-Management-System/) to help agents retrieve files and answer debtor questions in a manner of seconds. The system, developed by document management software company ColumbiaSoft, allows collection agents to search the content of debtor files and retrieve documents electronically while payers are on the phone.

"Before using Document Locator, each person in the department spent approximately two hours a day dealing with issues related to paper files - pulling paperwork, typing, copying, re-filing," said Shannon Puaokalani, manager at Pacific Northwest Collections. "That works out to about $2,000 a month in associated costs to the company and its employees that we can now save."

The collection agency uses Document Locator to scan all of its clients’ debtor documents into text-searchable digital files that can be quickly searched and retrieved later by collection agents while actively engaged in the recovery process. Payers can now get answers to questions from agents in real-time while on the phone, without having to wait and hear back from customer service agents later after documents are manually researched and pulled from filing cabinets. The entire process streamlines business, eliminates time wasted on document filing, and improves customer service.

"Filing and retrieval of paperwork is sometimes overlooked as a significant cost factor for business," said ColumbiaSoft executive vice president, David Pogue. "In the case of Pacific Northwest Collections, they not only realized the value of making a key business process more efficient, but now they’re really seeing the reward with about a six-month ROI on their collections document management program."

Case study details end to paper-chase
A recent case study highlights the success Pacific Northwest Collections has had with its document management program in its collection department, and company-wide. After the initial success in the collection department, the company extended document management further to other areas of the business, including legal, sales, and bookkeeping. The complete story can be found online in a document management case study (http://www. documentlocator. com/Products/Case_Studies/) library at: http://www. documentlocator. com/Products/Case_Studies/ (http://www. documentlocator. com/Products/Case_Studies/)

Pacific Northwest Collections has been helping healthcare offices, banks and financial institutions, property landlords, and other businesses recover delinquent debt since it was first opened in 1934. The agency is located in Tacoma, Washington, and serves customers throughout the Pacific Northwest.

About ColumbiaSoft Corporation:
ColumbiaSoft is a leader in document management software (http://www. documentlocator. com/) and services designed to enhance efficiency, reduce risk, and improve collaboration. Information workers use ColumbiaSoft software to manage and share paper and electronic documents, e-mail, faxes, and other electronic files to reduce costs, increase productivity, automate business processes, and meet compliance requirements. As a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, an Autodesk Authorized Developer, and an Adobe Solutions Network partner, the company’s products fully integrate with popular applications such as Microsoft Windows, Office, Outlook, SharePoint, Adobe Acrobat, AutoCAD, and more. ColumbiaSoft is a privately held company based in Portland, Oregon and was founded in 1998. For more information, visit http://www. documentlocator. com (http://www. documentlocator. com).

All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their respective owners.

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'Donor Child' Finds Work at Sperm Bank Rewarding

'Donor Child' Finds Work at Sperm Bank Rewarding

Gretchen Heinrich's parents used a sperm bank almost 30 years ago. Today, she is helping other women find solutions to fighting infertility as an employee with the European Sperm Bank USA. By Chris Gamache

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) December 10, 2010

Gretchen Heinrich is uniquely qualified to work as a biological analyst at the Seattle-based sperm bank, European Sperm Bank USA. Almost 30 years ago, she was conceived with the use of donor sperm. Gretchen finds her current job “perfect for someone who truly understands what it’s like to be a donor-conceived child.”

Gretchen’s story touches on many of the issues faced by couples considering donor insemination. Her parents decided to use donor sperm after discovering they were both carriers of a rare genetic mutation making it impractical to have a child on their own. The year was 1982. There were no donor catalogs, no donor numbers, no special testing and no open donors. The physician who performed the insemination advised Gretchen’s parents that he would do his best to match ethnicity, that the donor was likely a medical student, and that they would never know the donor’s identity. 

Even as a child, Gretchen knew something did not “feel” quite right. But her parents never shared their secret about her conception. Instead, Gretchen discovered she was conceived with donor sperm when she was 21. She firmly believes “skeletons that big rarely stay in the closet.” The news did not come as a complete shock to Gretchen, but has caused heartache. “Learning that everything you were told as a child wasn’t exactly truthful is a hard pill to swallow,” reflects Gretchen. While she sympathizes with the struggles her parents endured, she believes “the healthiest relationships are built on honesty and trust.”

Although her parents have helped her fill in the gaps, Gretchen will likely never be able to identify her donor or donor siblings. She doesn’t blame her parents but rather the clinic they used, for not taking into consideration the life it was helping to create. That clinic has long since closed and all records have been destroyed. Gretchen reluctantly accepts this reality. “While many of my questions were answered, the really big ones will probably never be solved. I read somewhere it’s hard to start a book without having read chapter one. I agree. It’s difficult not knowing my chapter one.”

In her position with European Sperm Bank USA, Gretchen recognizes that even though sperm bank practices have changed dramatically since the early 80’s, many of the issues faced by prospective parents remain the same. Gretchen states “it’s a very rewarding feeling to know that I am helping create miracles and helping couples that perhaps struggle the way my parents did in starting a family.”

The fact that European Sperm Bank USA only uses Open ID donors (donors who have agreed to the release of their identity when offspring reach age 18) makes Gretchen’s employment there all the more fitting. The policies of European Sperm Bank USA give her confidence that children conceived with its donor sperm will at least have an opportunity to know their donors when they become adults and to connect with their donor siblings. “Knowing that I’m contributing my time and efforts to future children that will never have to wonder about their own chapter one makes me more passionate about my work.”

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Amby Baby Earns ASTM Safety Market & Accreditation for Amby Baby's Motion Bed - High Quality, Safety and Sound Design

Amby Baby Earns ASTM Safety Market & Accreditation for Amby Baby's Motion Bed - High Quality, Safety and Sound Design

Amby Baby’s popular baby hammock, the patented Amby Baby Motion Bed, has passed ASTM safety mark and accreditation from the American Society for Testing and Materials (“ASTM”) for its high quality, safety and sound design.

Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) June 27, 2005

http://www. ambybaby. com (http://www. ambybaby. com) – Amby Baby™ is proud to announce that its popular baby hammock, the patented Amby Baby Motion Bed, has passed ASTM safety mark and accreditation from the American Society for Testing and Materials (“ASTM”). The ASTM accreditation underscores Amby Baby’s ongoing commitment to safety, product quality and overall excellence. Only products of the highest quality and safety receive ASTM standards. Amby Baby’s hammock has passed the ASTM Section F2194-02.

Upon learning that Amby Baby had received ASTM accreditation, CEO, Craig Patnode had the following to say: “This approval is the highest ranking standard in the U. S. It shows that our Amby Baby Motion Bed product design and engineering meets the strict testing methods applied by the American Society for Testing and Materials”

ASTM is a highly regarded non-profit organization and the leading testing authority in the United States. It tests products using a rigorous set of safety standards developed by the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, industry members, consumer groups and other stakeholders.

The Amby Baby Motion Bed is a natural alternative sleeping bed designed to help infants sleep peacefully during their first year of development. Parents and healthcare professionals alike use it to help infants get the sleep they need. The Motion Bed mimics the natural movements found within a motherÂ’s womb, creating a feeling of security that promotes longer, deeper sleep for babies. The Amby Baby Motion Bed has an upright, angled position that aids babies with natural sleep, and alleviates the symptoms colic and reflux.

For more information about Amby Baby please go to the company website http://www. ambybaby. com (http://www. ambybaby. com)

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Taking Charge: A Community Empowerment Health Forum Year long focus on health care disparity on Long Island

Taking Charge: A Community Empowerment Health Forum Year long focus on health care disparity on Long Island

Taking Charge: A Community Empowerment Health Forum Year long focus on health care disparity on Long Island

Garden City, NY (PRWEB) March 21, 2004

The National Coalition of 100 Black Women has included "health care disparities" as one of the initiatives for the national organization. The Long Island Chapter of National Coalition of 100 Black Women has taken on the initiative by partnering with 100 Black Men of Long Island, and SUNY Stony Brook School of Medicine, to present a year long focus on health care disparities on Long Island, TAKING CHARGE: A Community Empowerment Health Forum.

Kick-off for this initiative will be held on Saturday, April 10th, 8:30-2:00, at Suffolk County Community College, Grant Campus in Brentwood. Keynote speakers will be Ms. Terrie Williams, and Dr. Gerald Deas. Ms. Williams is a noted author, owner of the Terrie Williams Agency and one of America's most successful African-American publicists. Dr. Deas, an internist, broadcaster, author of numerous books and weekly columnist for the Amsterdam News, "House Calls" is widely respected for his special gifts in medicine and communications.

The day will be chock full of experiences for all ages and many opportunities will be offered through a talented roster of workshop presenters; life skills for taking charge of one's health. Throughout the year, forums will be held in various communities, each with a different focus of taking charge of health care.

National Coalition of 100 Black Women-LI, 100 Black Men of Long Island and SUNY Stony Brook School of Medicine will engage other organizations for support and participation in future events.

Community members will have opportunities for screenings, and follow-up. Healthcare representatives, will learn more about the needs of the communities that they serve. At year's end, the steering committee, for this initiative, will prepare a report about the findings of health care in our communities. Additionally, the report will include solutions and resources to insure a more comprehensive and community sensitive delivery of health care services.

Workshops:

Preventative Health - Taking Charge of Your Lifestyle

Witness Project - Breast Cancer Awareness for African American Women

Youth Health Career Forum - Future Leaders in Our Health Community

Health Access - Taking Control: Building Clinical/Organizational Trust

Health Literacy - Obtain, Process and Understand Basic Health Information

Presenters include:

Dr. Greta Rainsford

Dr. Scott Rankin

Dr. Jedan Phillips

Dr. Mary Watson

Dana Lopez

Dr. Brian Harper

Dr. Hector Sepulveda

Dr. Aldustus Jordan

Dr. Lindamichellebaron

Gini Booth

For more information:

(631) 851-6268

Contact Person: Gini Booth

(631) 725-5239

NoJailForPot. com Website Launches New Kind of Internet Activism

NoJailForPot. com Website Launches New Kind of Internet Activism

Leaving traditional political activities to such groups as Norml and The Marijuana Policy Project, the newly Re-Launched website www. NoJailForPot. com seeks to build political consensus.

North Hollywood, CA (PRWEB) May 19, 2006

Leaving traditional political activities to such groups as Norml and The Marijuana Policy Project, the newly Re-Launched website www. NoJailForPot. com seeks to build political consensus.

“I accept and declare to the world my support for the idea that no one in the United States of America be in prison for any non-violent activity related to the use, possession, cultivation, transportation or sale of hemp / marijuana.”

So reads the “Declaration” on the front page of the NoJailForPot. com website.

Visitors are invited to “sign” the Declaration by listing their name and city, and then are allowed a space for comments. All names and comments are viewable by the public.

“This is for people who are willing to stand up and be counted when it comes to opposing the use of incarceration to deal with marijuana.” said Jake Bottero, webmaster of NoJailForPot. com since its inception in the year 2000, who reports that nearly 8000 people have already signed, with the number growing daily.

“This is not just a political poll designed to trace public opinion at a particular time on a particular issue. This is designed to be a permanent statement.”

NoJailForPot. com was conceived by Lawrence D. Goldberg, author, businessman and ex-political activist with the Libertarian Party. “I was doing a course through Landmark Education called the Self Expression Leadership Course, which encouraged us to take on a project to help the community. I have always felt that putting people in jail for smoking pot – and anything non-violent relating to it – was morally reprehensible and a total waste of taxpayer dollars.”

“Most of the people I know – including many health freaks, health professionals, and high skills professionals who use no drugs at all – agreed with me that marijuana prohibition - like alcohol prohibition, is counterproductive. So, I decided to create a website where people could post their opinion. When enough people stand up and post their name, politicians will realize that it is politically safe to do the right thing, and the laws will change – just like they recently changed in Mexico of all places.”

NoJailForPot. com is structured around an interesting concept relating to American History. There are slots for fifty-six “Founders” who pay $100 each to help sponsor the workings of the website. The number fifty-six was chosen because it is the same number of people who signed the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America.

“Just like the Founders of our Nation, The people who were willing to put their names and their money forward on the NoJailForPot. com website are pushing in the direction of freedom and human rights. We have not even filled all the Founder’s slots, but we are progressing very nicely considering all of our growth was just word of mouth. We did no formal promotion – until now.”

“Our whole concept is based on the simple idea that when enough people sign the Declaration, the laws will change.”

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Media Logic Introduces the Z-Pac(sm) for Business, a Starter Bundle for Companies Ready to Make the Jump to Social Media Marketing

Media Logic Introduces the Z-Pac(sm) for Business, a Starter Bundle for Companies Ready to Make the Jump to Social Media Marketing

Media Logic today announces Z-Pac(sm) for Business, a new product “bundle” that packages the discoveries of the early adopters of social media into a learn-by-doing 3-month program designed to help the next wave of businesses join the social media revolution.

Albany, NY (PRWEB) February 10, 2010

Tighter budgets, emerging technologies and empowered consumers have dramatically and permanently altered the marketing landscape for companies of all sizes in all industries. As traditional marketing models collapsed, many companies began to experiment with social media. These early adopters quickly discovered that social media is more than just a new way to do marketing, it is a “positively disruptive” force that generates new and more effective ways to organize, operate and communicate.

Media Logic introduces Z-Pac(sm) for Business (http://www. mlinc. com/products/zpac), a new product “bundle” that packages the discoveries of the early adopters of social media into a learn-by-doing 3-month program designed to help the next wave of businesses join the social media revolution.

Media Logic’s new Z-Pac for Business bundles its Brand Amp(sm) (http://www. mlinc. com/products/brandamp) and Zeitgeist & Coffee(sm) (http://www. mlinc. com/products/zeitgeist) products into a “short shot” program designed to make business brands conversation-ready and conversation-worthy and to help get those businesses and their advocates really talking about it – through all its social channels and brand communities.

Through Z-Pac for Business, MediaLogic will help businesses uncover brand and asset value, and implement a system of in-house control and guidance to “optimize” those assets, create coherent communication strategies, and schedule, share and promote content. Using its Brand Amp process, Media Logic will quickly and effectively position a business, department or program in a truly authentic and very engaging way. Then through its revolutionary web-based social media management and collaboration product, Zeitgeist & Coffee, Media Logic will assist with strategic planning, content development, content approval, post scheduling and post archiving for all owned online media channels.

The result after three short months on Media Logic’s Z-Pac for Business will provide businesses with not only an entry into the new world of social media marketing, but a foundation for branding, marketing and communication going forward. Media Logic is offering special pricing on the Z-Pac for Business bundle through 3/31/10. Visit www. mlinc. com/products/zpac (http://www. mlinc. com/products/zpac) for more information today.

Media Logic is an innovative conversation-centric marketing (http://www. mlinc. com/model) firm with revolutionary products (http://www. mlinc. com/products) designed to integrate and leverage traditional and social media. Founded in 1984, Media Logic is headquartered in Albany, N. Y., with a West Coast office in Oakland, Calif. The agency provides integrated marketing communications programs across industries. Its clients include Visa, Barclays, Healthways, Carnegie Mellon University, MVP Health Care and Fortitech.

Media Logic is ranked by Advertising Age as one of the nation’s top 250 advertising agencies and a top 100 agency by PROMO magazine. Visit www. mlinc. com (http://www. mlinc. com) for more information.

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