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A great big "Thank You" is in order for all of the Phone Card Collectors and Dealers that made The John Kirby Transplant Fund a success. John Kirby received his transplant a couple of weeks ago. The real story here is YOU helped make it happen!!! When the call came, at 4 AM, that a kidney was available in Minnesota, an emergency flight had to be arranged. The airline would not offer a special rate or an exception to get them on the first flight out so...a high dollar flight had to be arranged.
Your donations of Phone Cards and Money helped pay for the very expensive, last minute flight to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. The transplant was a success and there is still not rejection!!!
Okay, now let's bring them back home. John has a 6 week recovery time and will be able to fly home the second week of December. There are still a few of the specially donated cards available. Let's get going and sell these cards out!!! Donation amounts are listed but no reasonable offer will be refused. DONATE and receive some beautiful Phone Cards for Your Collection. Already have the cards? I think the you should have at least two of each don't you??!!
Go here http://www.pcicom.com and click on the Kirby Fund.
The ITA/ITF solicits applications for a candidate for a summer internship.
This person must have completed at least one-year of college, and be recommended by a member in good standing of the ITA. Other qualifications include high moral standards, computer literacy, a good telephone presence and a basic understanding of prepaid phonecards.
The ITA will provide a basic stipend of $1,200 for the 8-week program; and we are flexible on the beginning and concluding dates.
One project will be to further develop relations with various state public utility regulators to teach them to rely on the Association and Foundation when it comes to prepaid phonecard regulations and consumer protection. In addition, we will expect the intern to do research in Congress (7 blocks away) -- particularly with regard to the McCain bill to repeal the federal excise tax on telecommunications.
In addition, the intern will participate in and help organize possible ITF July Seminar, and other events sponsored by the Association or Foundation.. Not to over-state the job, of course, when in the office, he'd be expected to help answer the phones, and chip-in on other routine work, but an internship certainly shouldn't be just grunt work.
Finally, we will make time available for the intern to participate in the Heritage Foundation summer program for interns -- occasional lectures from Washington VIPs, academics and policy analysts. Our very humble offices are six blocks from Heritage and the intern could walk there. We will cooperate with the intern's institution of higher learning for any possible credits that might be granted as a result of the internship.
Of course, Washington is also full of free concerts, summer baseball leagues, and other things to keep a student busy.
Regarding housing, a former ITA staffer makes an extra room available to summer interns, and for young ladies, there is also a YWCA dorm six blocks away..
We'll require a letter and resume from the young person and a letter from parent or guardian (if different from the ITA member/sponsor). r Applications will close in January if a suitable candidate is found..
WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 12, 1998--Don't know what to get this holiday season for Uncle Harry who lives 1,500 miles across the country and never lets you know what he needs? Puzzled about the perfect gift for your college kids who hate everything you buy them? Want to avoid the agony of returning the gift you bought your mother-in-law? First USA is making holiday gift giving easier this year with its new Gift Card: a pre-paid Visa® card created expressly for gift giving.
The First USA Gift Card is the first-ever Visa card designed to serve as a universal gift certificate. The Gift Card can be used anywhere Visa is accepted. It's easy to send and easy to use. Call First USA and give the recipient's name and the dollar amount you want loaded onto the card. First USA will take care of the rest.
With 11 card designs -- including four created specifically for the holidays -- the First USA Gift Card carries the gift giver's personal touch, from the choice of dollar amount to the card's design to the addition of a personal greeting on the front of the card.
Gift Cards -- available in amounts from $50 to the gift-giving Cardmember's available credit -- can be purchased using any First USA credit card. Every time the recipient uses the Gift Card, the purchase amount is deducted from the gift total. Gift Cards can be sent directly to the recipient or to the purchaser, within 10 days of the order. Expedited delivery within four business days is also available for an additional fee.
First USA Gift Cards can be ordered by calling 888/378-GIFT (888/378-4438). There is a $5 service fee for amounts up to $200. For Gift Cards loaded with $200 or more, there is no fee. Gift Cards expire six months from the date of issue.
``The First USA Gift Card is a great way to give the perfect present every time,'' said Ben Brake, senior vice president, marketing, First USA. ``In consumer tests, we found people really liked this concept. Each time the Gift Card is used, the recipient remembers the giver. It's a distinctive and personalized way to give friends and family exactly what they want. We are offering this unique card just in time for the holidays, but Gift Cards can be used throughout the year to honor birthdays, anniversaries and other occasions.''
The four holiday Gift Card designs are: Holiday Gingerbread; Holiday Poinsettia; Holiday Snowflake; and Winter Collage. Gift Cards for other occasions include: Congratulations; Floral; Baby; Festive Presents; Happy Birthday; and Rings (weddings/anniversaries).
Apart from the Gift Card, First USA is making the holidays easier by offering FREE SHIPPING for items purchased from premier catalogs like JC Penney® ``Best Gifts'' Catalog, Omaha Steaks®, Orvis® and The Company Store®. For more information about our FREE SHIPPING offer, consumers can call 800/451-2491.
Customers may purchase, from their computer screen, prepaid cards in denominations of $20, $50, or $100 and select the calling card plan that meets their specific needs. After filling out an electronic form that debits either their checking account or credit card, the customer receives the calling card number via e-mail within 24 hours. The new web site home page also features a monthly contest for a free $100 prepaid calling card.
Arnie Goodstein, President of RSL COM Primecall, said, ``Through the 'callrsl.com' web site, we are able to sell one of America's most popular line of prepaid calling cards directly to consumers. The web site also attracts agents and dealers as a result of which we expect will generate much larger sales volumes. Visits to the site have increased significantly since the launch of the new site at the beginning of last month.''
Mr. Goodstein added, ``Our customers asked that we automate the process of buying RSL COM prepaid cards. We responded to our customers and also found a way to provide high quality service at the same time.''
One example of the focused cards offered on the website is the Latinos Card. This card allows calls from the United States to any country, although the cost structure is tailored for Central America, South America, and Mexico. It has rates of 39 cents a minute to Brazil, 47 cents a minute to Argentina, 59 cents a minute to French Guinea, 15 to 26 cents a minute to Mexico and only 8 cents a minute to Puerto Rico.
RSL COM U.S.A., Inc. provides a wide variety of telecommunications services for carriers, calling card providers and users, and small to medium size businesses. It includes LDM Systems, acquired in 1997, and Westinghouse Communications, acquired earlier this year. RSL COM U.S.A. has its own modern, reliable, flexible network, including eight major switching centers from coast-to-coast.
www.callrslcom was developed in cooperation with RSL COM by Planet Net Media (www.pnetmedia.com) which maintains and markets the site. Planet Net Media is a New York-based, full service Internet marketing company headed by Julius Engel IV, Richard Scott Devoti and Matthew Bello.
RSL Communications, Ltd. is a global facilities-based telecommunications company that provides international services, including long distance, calling card, private line, value-added and Internet-based services for businesses, consumers and other carriers worldwide. The Company operates on four continents in twenty countries that account for more than 70 percent of the world's international traffic.
The value-added prepaid card will offer Hawaiian Airlines' frequent flier members comprehensive domestic and international long-distgnce service.
Edward M. Spector, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Trident Media Group stated, ``The agreement with Rebel is part of our continued growth in providing Prepaid Telephone Services and a direct result of our existing successful agreements with facilities in the gaming, convenience store, and tourist attraction industries. I believe that the roll out of equipment to service Rebel Oil will expand our distribution coverage in the field by over thirty five percent and reinforces our strong presence in Nevada.''
Additionally, the company has also secured multi-year agreements with Harrah's Hotel and Casino in Laughlin and the Circus Circus Casino in Reno. All of the new equipment is expected to be installed and operating in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1998.
Spector added, ``We are pleased to have an opportunity to work with Rebel, whose reputation for quality, economy and convenience for its consumers is a match for our prepaid telephone products. We expect to continue to cross market our family of products and services to leverage our presence in gaming jurisdictions like Nevada to secure additional distribution for our telephone services group.''
``Microsoft's entry to the smart-card market validates the market for stored-value cards in the United States and represents a breakthrough in cashless payment technology on an international scale,'' said Thomas K. Burke, vice president for CyberMark. ``As the market leader in North American stored- value systems, we anticipate rapid acceptance of Smart Cards for Windows in our market segments and look forward to a very successful pilot program.''
CyberMark has been a pioneer in the smart card industry, ascending to its industry leading position by providing customers with multiple application smart cards to solve basic business needs. Microsoft's entry to the market is seen by many as a significant milestone in the history of the smart card industry. ``For CyberMark,'' says Mr. Burke, ``Microsoft's involvement provides this industry a partner with unequaled credentials and resources.''
``Smart Cards for Windows was developed to assist organizations such as CyberMark in delivering more economical smart card solutions while supporting evolving industry standards,'' said Philippe Goetschel, Microsoft's Smart Cards for Windows product manager. ``The system takes full advantage of proven software development tools such as Visual Basic, enabling applications to be developed quickly to meet business needs. CyberMark will play an important role in establishing Smart Cards for Windows in several North American markets, starting with our pilot systems in key CyberMark accounts in higher education and corporate markets.''
CyberMark (www.cybermark.com) develops smart card solutions for education, corporate, financial, government and entertainment markets. One-half million individuals utilize CyberMark's multi-application smart cards at installations including the University of Toronto, the University of Kansas, University of Arizona and more than a dozen additional sites. Cardholders conduct smart card based payments using their cards at locations displaying the SmartWorld™ logo. SmartWorld™ is a registered trademark of CyberMark.
The announcement of the new members comes as the Forum holds its latest Educational Institute and Work Group Meetings in Tampa. SCF Work Groups -- including education, health care, interoperability, legal and public policy, multi-application, network applications, retail, technology, telephony, transportation, and travel and entertainment -- serve the specific needs of several key sectors and reflect the diversity of both the Forums membership and the new applications being developed and implemented by them.
Centura Software, CIARSE S.A., Dione Plc, First Data Corporation [NYSE:FDC - news] and Iridium LLC all have joined as auditing members of the Forum, while Greater Cleveland RTA and Ministry of Transportation of Ontario each come on board as government members. Both classes of membership offer the organizations access to several Smart Card Forum member services.
Centura Software was the first company to create fully relational client/server embedded database management solutions for the personal computer.
CIARSE S.A. specializes in tailored software developments, with a strong focus on smart card advancement in the credit card and banking environments.
Dione Plc are worldwide market leaders in smart card integrated electronic cash register terminals.
First Data Corporation is one of the worlds leading providers of transaction processing services -- including credit, debit and pre-paid card processing; payment systems; electronic commerce and information-based services -- to both businesses and consumers.
Greater Cleveland RTA is an industry leader in the use of modern technology to improve transit.
Iridium LLC is a company established by Motorola in 1991 to develop and deploy a network for global wireless communications.
Ministry of Transportation of Ontario plays a large role in ensuring that transportation supports local job creation and facilitates trade and commerce, and has developed 100 initiatives to keep this Canadian provinces highways safe.
The Smart Card Forum (www.smartcardforum.org) is a non-profit, multi-industry organization of 200 members working to accelerate the widespread acceptance of multiple application smart card technology by bringing together, in an open forum, leading users and technologists from both the public and private sectors.
The company gave no further details.
The company reported after the close of trade on Thursday a third quarter loss of $22.5 million, or $0.82 per share, compared to a loss of $2.3 million, or $0.14 per share, a year ago. That is well below Wall Street's forecast of a profit of $0.02 per share for the quarter, according to First Call.
Until Next Time,
Alan
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