The Rebirth Brass Band, among the world's top brass bands, will perform at Ruta Maya in Austin, TX April 18th, 2008. Doors open at 8 p.m., show at 9 p.m. Proceeds to benefit the Capital Area Food Bank.

The Rebirth Brass Band, with their signature brand of heavy funk, is a favorite among the younger generation. The band upholds the tradition of brass bands while incorporating modern music into their show. The band has shared the stage with notables such as the Greatful Dead and the Meters, played major concert venues like Madison Square Garden, and every major festival worldwide including the Montreaux Jazz Festival.

The Colorado Shakespeare Festival, the Colorado Music Festival, a 2da0 nd the Colorado Chautauqua Association announce today the launch of the Summer Arts Partnership (SmARTS). SmARTS combines the resources of three established, statewide arts organizations in a collaborative effort to effectively provide companies with a unique option to reach a larger audience at a greater return on investment.

Companies may join at one of three SmARTS Player levels -- Einstein ($10,000), Brainiac ($5,000), or Savvy ($2,500). Customized for each level, each SmARTS Player receives a package of marketing opportunities and benefits with all three organizations ? from visibility in promotional materials and program guides, Web site exposure, free tickets, and other discounts.

WeddingPearl.com is pleased to announce the introduction of a dynamic new Affiliate Program. WeddingPearl.com now offers generous referral bonuses to affiliate members who refer new subscribers via VIP cards, marketing materials and banner ad clicks. By reaching out to the friends, professionals and merchants who have direct contact with engaged couples, WeddingPearl.com is able to provide these exciting opportunities to partners and offer the value-packed subscription benefits to even more brides and grooms than ever before.

Amidst an explosion of commercially-viable semantic technologies, Semantic Universe (a joint venture of Wilshire Conferences and Semantic Arts) announces the call for presentations for their 4th annual Semantic Technology Conference, May 18-22 at the Fairmont San Jose, in San Jose, California. Building on the success of the 2007 event--the largest event ever dedicated to the commercialization of semantic technologies and the Semantic Web--the 2008 conference takes its cue from current research detailing the exponential growth of the semantic market. Gearing up to provide business and technology professionals with the most up-to-the-minute information on the emerging opportunities derived from semantic technologies, the 2008 event highlights the wide-spread effects this third stage of the semantic wave will have on business, technology, and on the one billion global Internet consumers.

Skywire Software, a leading global provider of software and services for the insurance industry, today announced it has formed a partnership with insurance software vendor SISTRAN. The two companies will work together to offer improved capabilities across a range of key functions to insurers operating in multilingual environments.

SISTRAN offers core systems and services, including policy and claims administration, to the insurance industry worldwide. Skywire Software offers components, including rating, rules, underwriting, business intelligence, and customer communications management (CCM), that wrap around core systems. The two companies are working together to provide global insurers with a wider range of functionality and empower them to better manage the policy lifecycle in any language.

KidzArt, a children's art education franchise company, today announced the sale of its first international and sole regional developer in Shanghai, China. Drawing on an increase in demand for children's creative educational services in Asia, Mr. Jacky Tan has purchased exclusive rights to open a minimum of 10 KidzArt locations in China, starting in Shanghai and continuing throughout other regions of the country. The first location has a targeted opening date of April 2008.

"It's wonderful to witness the expansion of KidzArt into the largest growing market in the world. China is now poised to embrace educational programs like KidzArt which focus on igniting the imagination and developing the innovators of tomorrow," says KidzArt CEO, Shell Herman. "We're thrilled to be the first art education franchise in China and appreciate being recognized as the highest quality brand available. We are inspired by Jacky Tan's dedication to bringing this concept to his country and could not have asked for a better business partner."

Window Book, Inc. is pleased to announce that Ms. Norine Butte, PhD. has joined our WBI Corporate Team as Sr. Manager in Marketing & Communications. "Window Book intends to continue to educate and enable our clients to profitably utilize all the latest developments at the US Postal Service. Norine has b50 the industry knowledge and ability to communicate how mailers can best stay ahead in the ever changing mailing world," said Jeffery Peoples, Window Book's CEO.

Norine brings a wealth of postal and direct mail industry knowledge, hands-on-management experience and fortitude with Marketing and Business Development for the Standard and First- Class commercial mail providers and mail owners; as well as hands-on project-account management and operations of large and mid-size letter-shops, print facilities, and US Postal regulations and relations.

Liberty League International, a leading developer of personal development systems announced today that they are now to offer a simple, content-only version of their website http://www.libertyleague.com. The text-only version of the site improves accessibility and is friendlier to those with special needs. Text only web sites are free of the potentially confusing code which may otherwise confuse screen readers used by the blind or those with low levels of vision.

“Accessibility of our web site to all individuals is an important value of the Liberty League organization,” said Shane Krider one of the co-founders of Liberty League International. Our goal is to ensure that any groups of people who access our website do not find it more difficult to use than others. We felt strongly that we should address the needs of all the individuals that make up our extended community.”

Proposed immigration reform legislation making its way through Congress could have some costly ramifications for U.S. employers, especially those in states with large numbers of illegal residents.

"Nearly all the legislation pending in Congress will increase the burden of employment verification for employers," says attorney Ashley Kaplan, head of the labor law research team at Sunrise-based G.Neil Corp.

"Recent federal crackdowns on illegal workers have resulted in serious criminal action against companies and executives," she continued, "and the proposed legislation carries even harsher penalties, so smart employers should start taking corrective measures now."

WebmasterWorld's Search Engine & Internet Marketing Conference, PubCon, being held in Las Vegas, November 14th to 17th, 2006, features a keynote speech by Jon S. von Tetzchner, Opera Software's Chief Executive Officer.

"The Web is ready to go everywhere - from the cell phone to the TV and many places in between. Webmasters are the critical component to this revolution. After all, they make the sites. In addition to the Webmasters, browsers must share that responsibility by creating tools to make this a bloodless revolution," commented Jon. "I'm looking forward to sharing many ideas about how both groups can work more closely together. And, if you've ever been to Oslo in November, you know another reason why I'm excited to be in Vegas. I can't wait," concluded Jon.

Small business expert Michelle Nichols recently published her 125th Savvy Selling column in BusinessWeek.com, but her husband Ron never thought it would happen. "Five years ago when I told him about the column, he said, 'Won't you run out of things to say?'"

Nichols reply? No. "First of all, I'm a woman and we never run out of things to talk about. And second of all, I'm writing about my favorite topic in the whole world - selling."

Today, Nichols has loyal readers from more than 50 countries representing every industry. "My readers are not only full-time sales professionals, they are also business owners, lawyers, doctors, teachers and even an orthodontist in Australia!"

"Ms. Savvy Selling," as she is often called, says she was well-prepared to write about sales. She has served as a sales professional for five different companies, and as an entrepreneur, she created two businesses. Over the years, she has founded four different chapters of the National Association for Professional Saleswomen. "These experiences have provided me with the experience, education and passion to write my Savvy Selling column."

The BusinessWeek.com columnist has also transformed herself into a professional speaker, earning membership in the prestigious National Speakers Association (NSA). She has been the chairperson of the sales experts group for the organization. Recently, BusinessWeek hired Nichols to create a series of Savvy Selling podcasts.

Nichols says it didn't take her husband long to become a believer in Savvy Selling International, the company she founded in Houston in 2001, now based in Reno, NV. Nichols. The columnist says she framed a copy her first published column and her first paycheck, "and today, both hang proudly on my office wall.

"If anyone had ever asked me to write 125 columns, I would have told them, 'You're crazy!' But writing one every two weeks has been easy and here I am years later with ideas for hundreds more."

To read some recent Savvy Selling columns at no charge or to learn additional information about Savvy Selling International's speaking, writing or consulting services, go to www.savvyselling.com or call toll-free (877)352-9684 or call direct, (775) 303-8201.

Lansare Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of its on-demand platform which supports the post-sale identification of unsuitable variable annuity transactions.

Lansare's VA Compliance Platform enables surveillance analysts at Broker-Dealers, carriers, and other distributors of variable annuities to proactively monitor their entire book of business for inappropriate sales activity.

"We provide an easy to use platform that simplifies post-sale compliance by highlighting trends and patterns that won't appear in any single sales transaction, yet expose the organization to potential fines and regulatory compliance problems associated with unsuitable VA transactions", states Paul Nowak, President of Lansare. "Our platform monitors potential problem areas - such as unsuitable exchanges and cookie-cutter sales practices - and brings these issues to the attention of analysts."

Mimosa Systems™, a leader in unified information management solutions for enterprise content, today announced that TNCI, a leading national provider of voice and data telecommunications solutions, has deployed the Mimosa NearPoint™ for Microsoft® Exchange Server software to archive and protect its Microsoft Exchange email environment.

NearPoint's next-generation email archiving and information management capabilities have enabled TNCI to centralize nearly 100 GB of Microsoft Exchange email data that was previously dispersed across servers, desktops and laptops into a central, protected live archive which can be easily searched by users using NearPoint's Self-Service Access™ email search from within their own Outlook or Outlook Web Access accounts.

Kids and families in Ferndale, Washington, need an outpouring of help at the beginning of this new year. The Boys & Girls Club in their community had to shut its doors after a New Year's Day fire caused extensive damage to the building.

The Ferndale Boys & Girls Club is the second largest Boys & Girls Club in Whatcom County, located between Seattle, WA, and Vancouver, B.C., serving more than 1,400 kids. About 70 to 100 kids come to the club before and after school.The Club is the number one youth-serving agency in Whatcom County, offering programs in health, life skills, art, technology, athletics and character and leadership development.

A new study from Eduventures - Optimizing School Web Sites as a Marketing and Recruitment Tool (Part II) - indicates that while prospective adult students generally believe that college and university continuing and professional education (CPE) Web sites are effective in assisting them with their enrollment decisions, a number of areas need improvement, chief among them content, multimedia features, and search functionality.

The first-of-its-kind report is based on survey results, interviews, and analysis of real-world trial visits to CPE Web sites by more than 500 prospective adult students. Study participants' experiences indicate that CPE Web sites generally feature strong calls to action, navigation, and aesthetics, but often come up short with respect to content, multimedia features, and search functionality.

Cendyn, a leading provider of interactive marketing solutions to the hospitality industry, and Arcaneo, developers of Metron™ the preferred strategic meetings management solution for Global 2000 Companies and Third-Party Service Providers, today announced their partnership to create a next-generation meeting venue sourcing solution for the hospitality industry.

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The new offering from Cendyn and Arcaneo will enable all stakeholders from both the corporate and hotel sectors to more effectively manage venue sourcing. Users will now be able to visually research venues, issue RFPs, negotiate business terms, and manage the payment process in a visual, easy-to-use and integrated manner from within Metron™. Hotels will now have the ability to manage the RFP process from prospective corporate customers in a more efficient and standardized manner, thereby enabling them to improve service levels while gaining insights into customer purchasing behaviors.

Mililani, Hawaii March 27, 2006: When Brian Conant applied to be contestant on the American Inventor Show; his approach was from a professional level. Conant is the inventor of the Flatulence Deodorizer (U.S. Patent 6,313,371) and President of Flat-D Innovations, Inc. Conant and his invention (The Flatulence Deodorizer) were featured on the March 23rd episode of the American Inventor show (the new reality TV show, produced by Simon Cowell, that will take one inventor from rags to riches). Conant’s presentation, although professionally presented, was taken completely out of content and edited in such a way that it not only degraded the product but also took away the products creditability.

If summertime is synonymous with family vacation, then comfort is synonymous with The Marriott Village in Lake Buena Vista. Enjoy summer rates that won't break the bank at any of the Village's family-friendly Orlando hotels: SpringHill Suites, Courtyard by Marriott, and Fairfield Inn, which is currently revamping to be Fairfield Inn and Suites.

Filled with both leisure and business amenities, stay the Orlando, FL hotels in the Marriott Village for the best rates in Orlando. Book 14 days in advance and enjoy rates from $89 at SpringHill Suites, from $84 at Courtyard, and from $74 at the Fairfield Inn and Suites.

In Prefab Green, award-winning green architect and sustainable living expert, Michelle Kaufmann, michellekaufmann.com, shares her vision of creating thoughtful sustainable design for everyone. Since 2002, Michelle Kaufmann Designs, Kaufmann's full-service design/build architectural firm, has been a pioneer in using off-site modular technology and prepackaged green solutions as the means to creating beautiful, eco-friendly homes and multi-family developments.

Prefab Green by Michelle Kaufmann and Catherine Remick

René Geneva Design showed their third wholesale season at WWDMagic last week in Las Vegas. Though they have been around since 1997 doing custom corsets and bridal, they entered the high fashion arena with more well rounded designs in 2005. (As a small designer) "We chose a common's area this (Spring/Summer 09) season to display our clothing rather than our custom booth that we usually set up" to help ease the burden of a media defined 'slowing economy'. But Rene Geneva Design's 'area' was anything but slow. Showing in the Ecolleciton section, it was bustling with cliental that were seeking fashions that were in line with what Geneva's designs offer.