Current News

Announcing the formation of the McLuhan & Davies Center for Communication Studies (in partnership with Think on Your Feet America) based in Vermont.
The Center will hold its first annual conference the week of June 1-5, 2004, and feature special sessions of McLuhan & Davies communication-skills workshops.
This special event will allow participants to participate in McLuhan & Davies’ internationally acclaimed communication-skills training at a center in the United States.
“We wanted a US-based Center to make it more convenient for the American market to take our training workshops,” says Think on Your Feet America, President John Dames.
McLuhan & Davies is a world leader in communications training and consulting. It is represented globally by over 100 Affiliates, and many of the world’s major executive institutes.

Vermont Pure Holdings, Ltd announced that it has sold its retail production assets, located in Randolph Center, Vermont to Micropack Bottled Water of Natick, MA. Included in the sale are the bottling facility and spring sites in Randolph Center and the associated business.
"This is one of a series of steps Vermont Pure is taking to strengthen and expand our core home and office delivery business," states Tim Fallon, Chairman and CEO. "The divestiture of the single-pack retail segment of the business is a strategic and logical evolution for Vermont Pure. We believe that this business change will provide the necessary capital, expertise and attention so that all aspects of the Vermont Pure brand reach their full potential."

Ani DiFranco’s latest CD, Evolve, just won a 2004 Grammy for the Best Recording Package. This innovative package, constructed of FiberMark’s Skivertex® Alloy®, expresses and elevates brand image with a feel and visual depth that invites interaction. This duplex material combines strength and rigidity with the high-impact aesthetics needed to create an award-winning package.
This distinctive design comes as no surprise to Ani DiFranco’s loyal fans, who recognize packaging as an important extension of the artist’s vision. The CD was co-art directed by Ani DiFranco and Brian Grunert.
“In its look and feel, this material is key in designing a package that expresses the unique qualities of Ani’s music,” said Grunert. “Not only is it eye-catching on the shelf, but it invites people to touch the package, pick it up, examine it, and hopefully take it home with them.”

Sector Systems, a provider of organization-wide software solutions for nonprofits, in partnership with the New England Network for Youth, Child and Family Services, a nonprofit organization that works collaboratively with child and youth service organizations in New England to strengthen social services and promote best practices, have announced a collaborative effort to help child- and youth-serving agencies effectively collect, analyze and report their outcomes to their funders and the communities they serve.

The Vermont Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations presents the Spring 2004 Technical Assistance Program (TAP-VT) Workshop Series. This spring, VANPO will offer over forty (40) TAP-VT workshops designed to enhance and expand the management and technical skill of nonprofit employees in the following areas:
Advocacy and Public Policy, Board Development, Financial Management, Fundraising, Marketing and Public Relations, Personal Development and Leadership, and Organizational Development and Management for the nonprofit sector.
The Spring 2004 TAP-VT Workshop Series has sessions scheduled March through June in the following Vermont towns:
Barre, Brattleboro, Burlington, Colchester, Lyndonville, Middlebury, Montpelier, Randolph, Rutland, Springfield, St. Albans, St. Johnsbury, Waterbury, White River Junction.
Full workshop descriptions and registration information is available at www.vanpo.org.

Discussions are underway in the Senate General Affairs Committee to direct the Vermont World Trade Office to be managed under the Vermont Chamber's existing international trade program, in conjunction with Champlain College, the U. S Department of Commerce and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. These partners collectively will strategically collaborate to encourage international trade on behalf of Vermont businesses. Funding would come through a memorandum of understanding and initially would be a $100,000 grant.
While this is a significantly different model than the current World Trade Office, this new business entity will be driven by the concerns of the business community while having capital knowledge input from the educational community as well as state and federal government.

Maponics, LLC. (www.maponics.com), the premier provider of ZIP Code maps and custom mapping solutions, announced today the release of its Nationwide ZIP Code Map CD.
State level ZIP Code maps are used to identify existing and prospective customers by ZIP Code, and to take advantage of steep USPS bulk mail discounts for mailing by ZIP Code. These maps are equally invaluable for managing sales/service territories, and exploring new site locations. For companies working in multiple states, the Maponics Nationwide ZIP Code CD offers unique value, providing access to the entire U.S. for less than the price of seven individual state maps.

98.9 WOKO and its sister station AM1230 WJOY are pleased to announce
$4,900, the most amount of money in 13 years, was raised for the Fletcher
Allen Health Care Breast Care Center during Bridal Expo 2004 on February
1st at the Sheraton Hotel & Conference Center in Burlington.
Bridal Expo 2004 admission proceeds will be donated to the Fletcher Allen
Breast Care Center during a check presentation at the Breast Care Center
in the University Health Center on UVM’s campus before the end of
February.
The Fletcher Allen Breast Care Center will be using the money to produce
free information books for women who have recently been diagnosed with
breast cancer.
This is the 7th year 98.9 WOKO and 1230AM WJOY have donated their Bridal
Expo proceeds to the Breast Care Center.

Champlain College’s Dr. Nancy Nahra has learned seven of her poems will be published in the March/April issue of the North American Review, a prestigious literary journal founded in Boston in 1815. Nahra teaches humanities courses at Champlain and directs the Honors Program.
Dr. David Whitmore, director of the Global Networks and Telecommunications degree program at Champlain College, contributed a chapter to the newly published Internet Encyclopedia, released in December by Wiley publishers. Whitmore wrote about multiplexing, an electronic technique for combining multiple digital signals on one medium, such as fiber optic cable.

Middlebury College received the Excellence in Energy Efficiency Award Feb. 11 from Efficiency Vermont, a statewide energy efficiency utility. According to Blair Hamilton, managing director of the utility, the award was developed to recognize an organization that has effectively partnered with Efficiency Vermont to fully integrate energy efficiency into its organizational practices. Middlebury has consulted with Efficiency Vermont on a number of construction projects, including a new library that is currently under construction, a new dining and residence hall, and a chilled water plant.
“This is the most prestigious award that Efficiency Vermont gives out each year. Middlebury College won because it is an outstanding partner in energy efficiency and a leader in the field. Middlebury incorporates environmental responsiveness and sustainability into the evaluation of every project,” said Hamilton.

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced a new legislative proposal that is expected to add at least $3 billion in lending authority to the 7(a) loan program this year. If enacted, the bill would allow the agency to increase lending authority by more than 30 percent, providing money for thousands more small loans in fiscal year 2004. The bill would also remove the current lending cap of $750,000, and allow loans up to $2 million.
"This proposal builds on the success of the SBA Express program, and by significantly increasing 7(a) lending authority, will allow the SBA to reach out to tens of thousands more small business owners every year," SBA Administrator Hector V. Barreto said. "The legislation provides more money for small business loans this year, at a time when the program is facing unprecedented demand."

Sonnax Industries Inc. has received a Worksite Wellness Award from the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
Sonnax was one of 17 companies around the state recognized for their efforts to promote the wellness and health of their employees. Gov. Jim Douglas presented the awards at a ceremony in Montpelier on Jan. 27. He said it was important to recognize businesses that are taking a proactive approach toward creating a healthier workforce.
"These annual awards honor employers that provide opportunities for employees to take responsibility for their health both on and off the job," Douglas said.
Douglas added that these companies also reap the benefits of such efforts, through lower health care costs, greater productivity, greater employee retention and less absenteeism.