| Surveillance, Schmurveillance?
Wal-Mart's apparent research and surveillance activities geared toward shareholders raises troubling, but perhaps fleeting questions about trust. SocialFunds.com -- The recent scandal involving Wal-Mart's surveillance activities raises complex questions about the level of trust that must exist between publicly traded companies and their stakeholders.
Although the current situation is the latest in a list of revelations that include the head of Hewlett-Packard ordering surveillance of some of HP's Board members and Cintas's lawsuit against shareholder Tim Smith, the Wal-Mart (ticker: WMT) case is fundamentally different. In this case, the scandal may have little consequence for company-stakeholder relations.
The story initially broke when the Wall Street Journal reported on April 4 that Wal-Mart runs a "Threat Research and Analysis Group" at its Bentonville, Arkansas headquarters.
Green Isn't Gold for MBAs
The students expected to be leading the green revolution apparently wouldn't mind making some green first. A company's record on environmental issues ranked at the bottom of factors MBAs are using to select employers, according to a study released Jan. 16 by the public relations firm Hill & Knowlton. Also close to the bottom were other so-called company value issues such as corporate ethics, social responsibility, and community involvement. At the top of the list: career opportunities, corporate culture and working environment, and benefits. MBAs also expressed a strong preference for companies that produce high-quality products and allow their employees to balance work with their personal life. Show Me the Money According to the study, which surveyed 527 MBA students at 12 top-ranked international business schools, 95% of the students ranked career opportunities as "extremely" or "very important" factors in selecting an employer.
Dukas Public Relations Expands Technology Practice 60 Percent With Six ...
NEW YORK, Jan. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Dukas Public Relations (DPR) announced today that it expanded its technology practice by more than 60 percent in the fourth quarter 2007 after being retained by six innovative technology companies including Auctionblip, buy at, Inc., Sepaton and Zeta Interactive, among others. "The DPR tech team's explosive growth is a testament to our strong commitment towards providing superior client service and consistent media results," said Todd Barrish, senior vice president and head of the agency's technology practice. "We have a dedicated team with passion for our work. We make it our business to become an integral part of our clients' organizations, thereby helping them to achieve their goals and objectives. It's this dedication that allows for continued success and growth, both for our clients and for DPR itself." Auctionblip, a Web site "created by collectors for collectors," is an international auction network delivering personalized auction information to collectors on a limitless variety of collectibles from elite auction houses.
CIOs still excluded from the boardroom
A seat in the boardroom remains elusive for most CIOs as businesses continue to exclude IT chiefs from high-level strategic planning, according to new research. The picture is even bleaker for European companies who lag behind organisations headquartered in north America and Asia-Pacific when it comes to putting an IT executive at the top table. The research, A Missing Competency: Boardroom IT Deficit, by public relations company Burson-Marsteller reviewed Fortune Global 500 organisations to determine those with a technology expert - either a current or former CIO - on their boards. It is the second time the research has been carried out and, compared to the earlier 2003 findings, it showed an increase from five per cent to eight per cent in the number of organisations globally with a CIO on the board.
Robert Grupp Installed as President of IPRA, The Global Network of ...
NEW YORK, Jan. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Public Relations Association (IPRA) today installed Robert W. Grupp as its President. Grupp brings 30 years of public relations experience to IPRA, with special expertise in international corporate communications. IPRA is an association of nearly 1,100 individual public relations executives in 100 countries. As President of IPRA, Grupp's role is to expand the organization's global network and to advance the public relations profession in both established and emerging markets. Public relations education, ethics, transparency, and demonstrating and measuring the value of public relations to companies and organizations are central themes in IPRA initiatives. In remarks today to more than 100 leaders of the public relations community, Grupp said his leadership priorities include improving communications with members, publicly promoting the public relations profession, international member recruitment and retention, and providing intellectual leadership to the profession.
September 2007
Percy was born Nov. 28, 1911, in Watertown, son of Peter and Ida (Koch) West. He married Mena Berkvam on June 22, 1935, in Bonnet Prairie.Percy worked as a maltster at Ladish Malt in Jefferson for 30 years, retiring in 1975. He also worked as a security guard for Badger Ordinance Works and was also a harness maker. Percy was a member of St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Watertown.Survivors include a daughter, Marjorie (Don) Reichardt of Watertown; two sons, Donald (Marlene) West of Watertown and Dick (Kay) West of Delavan; six grandchildren, Todd (Chris) Reichardt, Sue (Kelly) Pochop, Lea (Charles) Fisher, Andrew (Gerren) West, Aaron and James F. West; nine great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; seven brothers; four sisters; and his son and daughter-in-law, James P.
Where can you smoke?
It is hard for me to believe that you had gone into 2 restaurants and there were people smoking in it, and this is in less than a few weeks of the smoking ban. In my years of going into restaurants or anywhere that was non smoking even before the ban, I have never EVER seen a smoker disrespect an establishment and just light up. And for it to happen to you twice in a 2 week span, again, I find that hard to believe. Which restaurants were these anyway? Or is this just a way for you to justify your dine and ditch plot? " .
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