The company Trilegiant counts itself among the best known third party North American service providers overseeing club membership services. In partnership with several names, a significant proportion major companies in shopping, health, entertainment, consumer protection services in addition to others - Trilegiant sets out to improve your buying experience.

This firm isn’t new, remember. Operating out of the town of Norwalk in Connecticut, the business started trading in the early seventies and its growth since has reached schemes in a full six states, 8 locations, and just over 3000 well trained employees. Today, they provide services to over twenty five million customers distributed throughout America. The business made its name for its risk free packages which make it easy for consumers to make savings, access high quality services, as well as making your shopping smoother. Examining one example, the Buyers Advantage scheme offers cheaper insurance on extended warranties, guaranteed returns, and repair costs, thus ensuring their confidence as regards their purchase. Other projects such as HealthSaver provide quality healthcare on a decent budget, and that only covers a pair of the great programs that the company oversees.

It is those times when the company gives back to the neighborhood that Trilegiant and Nathaniel Lipman’s dream can shine. Individual events organized inside the company even by small groups of workmates can generate charitable donations of $30.000 in around 5 days - certainly a result worth paying attention to.

Every bit as essential to Trilegiant is educating members. Had you read that in 2005 there were roughly 6,420,000 recorded automobile accidents just in the United States? The company does - and they’ve given it some thought. The real figure is significantly higher - we can’t measure the undocumented collisions, and “accidents” don’t include incidents of “road rage”. As a way to help prevent motor users from becoming part of these numbers, a car discount club called Autovantage commenced publishing its yearly “road rage” data two years ago. In these surveys, they reveal essential and carefully compiled summaries compiled to raise your awareness about these important topics.

Lipman’s Trilegiant is a perfect example of a firm which comprehends the significance of its subscribers and community. Nathaniel Lipman’s staff members marry devotion to charitable goals and their efforts to educate the populace with their projects aimed at improving the general public’s buying experiences. They’re every bit what you’d desire from a customer subscription based company.

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Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co (KKR) was founded by Henry Kravis and his business partner George Roberts in the 1970’s with support from the First Chicago Corporation. But recently they have established a novel project that centers not solely on how lucrative a company is, but likewise on how environmentally aware each of the companies in their portfolio currently are. Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co’s Henry Kravis and the non-profit Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) joined forces a year ago, intending to make green business practices a widely accepted principle. They was forged to campaign against critical environmental matters, for instance toxic emissions, hazardous chemical use, overblown water consumption, and toxic waste.

To follow through with these goals, they utilize eco-efficiency which uses techniques like increasing the durability of products, fuel economy, and reducing the waste of resources. Although the project was an enormous success, no-one realized how incredible the effects were until Ken Mehlman, the executive responsible for the program, carried out the first annual review. Capping all expectations, Ken learned that the Green Portfolio Project not only enhanced environmental responsibility, but also increased the profitability of each business organization as well. At the time of writing, Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co and Ken Mehlman have virtually all of their companies engaged in the program. Still, when you consider that the group has a 2009 business portfolio with a value of 86,000,000,000 dollars, you can be sure this was no easy see what an enormous feat this is. KKR with the Environmental Defense Fund along with Ken Mehlman are further extending the Green Portfolio project. For instance, Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co got together with the EDF’s Climate Corps Program which instructs MBA interns how to encourage financially sound, green principles. Moreover, Ken Mehlman has been in close collaboration with Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co to develop analytic tools that business organizations can employ to quantify and oversee a number of resources. These products allow employees to measure their progress and identify any practices which may need some work. Henry Kravis, the KKC, and the Environmental Defense Fund have encouraged all sorts of businesses to go green. Their developments have made decreasing their ecological impact less problematic for organizations in every sector and demonstrated that running a profitable business need not entail the hefty price of damaging the environment.

Are they really free? Are they actually helpful?

Why do writers subscribe to these lists?

Why do people start lists for writers?

While there’s no definite answers to any of those questions, I can share some opinions of other writers, who have participated in discussion lists, and links to websites with more information so you can make your own decision!

First let’s start with the basics. An email discussion list is not the same as an ezine, an email newsletter or an announcement list.

A discussion list is different because it allows you as a subscriber to post your own messages, as well as read and reply to messages from other subscribers. The ability to interact with other people is the defining feature of email discussion lists.

Many such lists exist - some with as few as 5 subscribers and others with more than 500 subscribers. The number of posts each day varies just as much depending upon the list.

For example, Childrens-Writers List which is dedicated to the discussion of writing (and illustrating) for children, including such topics as creativity, work styles and techniques, marketing and promotion, dealing with rejection, etc. - has more than 500 members and had more than 1,200 postings last month.

While the Romance Writers Support Group, which was created to discuss romance writing and offer encouragement and advice to romance writers, had less than 100 messages posted between its 34 members in the year 2000.

This is one of the reasons that most email discussion list hosts offer subscribers the option to receive individual emails or a daily digest of all messages. Some hosts also allow subscribers to read the list only on the web (by logging into the list archives at the host site, subscribers can choose how often they read the postings).

You never know what you may learn from others, who share your interests and goals. By communicating with other writers via discussion lists, you can potentially find support, advice, ideas and new resources.

Just as list size and posting frequency varies, the content and quality of messages are equally diverse depending upon the other participants and list owners. But the only way you’ll find out if discussion lists can be beneficial to you, is by giving them a shot! You have nothing to lose - most are free! And you’re usually not required to post messages or respond to others’ messages, if you choose not to.

You can just sign up, read postings at your leisure and then decide whether you want to contribute or cancel your subscription!

Selecting a discussion list that will deliver what you want is obviously a subjective process. However, you may want to read some opinions of other writers, who have participated in various lists.

So why do writers subscribe to discussion lists?

“Subscribing to a writers list is the same as shopping for new shoes,” says “Shydove.” “It takes trial and error, but then you find the right group, the ‘write’ answers of which you can pick and choose at will.”

“I chose a diverse group of writers in A Writing Parent as I am a stay at home grandmother.” Shydove added. “New to online writing, and still seeking my muse and genre, there are varied questions I ask that someone is ready to answer. They have been more than willing to share their experience with me.”

“I generally subscribe because I want to be kept in touch but will not remember to visit as a favourite as mine are so many,” says Jennifer Francis, who is currently subscribed to a few lists. “I am a member of two or three good ones covering public relations, sponsorship and sometimes the others present interesting articles and/or links. But convenience is the main issue for me to be kept in touch. I think it is an efficient way of being informed of a variety of thing that would take days of scanning newspapers, magazines and the fabulous opportunity of getting another take from likeminded people around the world.”

“I’m a debut historical romance author, or at least I was when I joined the Tobeez email loop,” says Cheré Coen, Online features editor for The Advocate Online. “Tobeez stands for To Be Published. The group began when a few newly published romance authors began chatting online and realized there were many things new authors needed to know and that other new authors could benefit from such a network. This list has been my saving grace. I have learned so many things that only come from going to conferences, chapter meetings of the Romance Writers of America (which I’m a member) and from doing a lot of reading in industry magazines, none of which I have much time or money for. We exchange information about promotions, booksignings, contract negotiations, agents, editors, press kits, personal fears and good reviews, among much more. The list contains members from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and most of the United States, and because of this we are also able to share information on research for upcoming novels.”

“I’m subscribed to a half dozen lists related to books, writing, and publishing,” says Peggy Tibbetts, Author of Carly’s Ghost and Rumors of War. “Booklocker’s online promotion kit and “Secrets of Our Success” both recommend discussion lists as a good way to promote online to a broad audience. What I’ve found to be rather curious in reality is that there is a surprisng number of list subscribers who deeply resent promotional posts by other subscribers, some to the point of calling them spam. As a result lots of posts are generated arguing and complaining about the propriety of promotional posts. In the end, what’s more aggravating, deleting one promo post that doesn’t interest you or eight to ten posts bickering over it? Seems like a no brainer to me. I don’t understand why someone would subscribe to a list and then complain about promo content related to the subject matter. In my mind, part of the purpose of subscribing is to learn what’s new and what others are doing online–a means of sharing. If that involves promo posts, then so be it. Perhaps it’s incumbent on the list moderators to clarify for their subscribers whether promo posts are acceptable. Obviously everyone agrees that a promo post about a new weight loss program on a publish list is inappropriate. But as for promo posts related to the list topic, there’s currently a good deal of ambiguity, even controversy.”

“I began an “Intranet” site rather than a listserv, as I felt that this would enable people to chime in on their own accord, rather than filling an inbox …” says Julie Selman, Seattle Writergrrl, Webgrrl, Techwr-L’er, Woman of the Woods… “My husband is an active member of a listserv that has been a real community for him for years. These people share the same passion, and they are very, very involved. They will be meeting in the spring for the first time at a conference that they are setting up. I know that he and I will be looking forward to it. Drawbacks that we have both seen is that we feel guilty if we have not read all of the listserv — and we both subscribe to listservs in digest form. Cross postings do happen, especially if you belong to several listservs for the same community. Managing them is more time than either of us usually have. People on some of the lists are not aware of the “etiquette” of cut and paste — or don’t know how to sign up or get off, or how the communication works — or about propriety … some things you just don’t post to an entire list! Lurkers are an issue — how do you know what you are posting won’t get back at you in some way? Who is listening, anyway? On the more positive side, it is a constant source for information and contacts in areas that interest us. They can be deleted, and often the archives can be visited on some associated web site. Like the early days of bulletin boards, I would imagine that these lists will evolve, and some of the issues will “fall away.”

© Danielle Hollister (2004) is the Publisher of the Free Ezine for Writers featuring news, reviews, and continuously updated links to the best resources for writers online like - freelancing & jobs, markets & publishers, literary agents, classes & contests, and more… Read it online at - http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art157.asp

Facebook has reached the 350 million-user mark now. The social networking site that is a hugely popular way to interact with friends, relatives, colleagues and even strangers was started five years ago by Mark Zuckerberg. The hugely popular site has now become an indispensable part of social life for millions of people across the world.

The social networking site is now used by about of the total number of broadband users worldwide. Reports from GigaOM show a slight drop in the new user signup rate though. The latest 50m users signed up in over 77 days, as against 62 days taken by the previous 50m sign up. Even as this slowdown is evident in the sign up figures, the site has reported positive cash flows for the first time in September.

Given these developments, Zuckerberg and his team is paying some serious attention to making Facebook a successful business venture and focus on future growth. According to reports from Computer Weekly, Facebook stocks rose by 42 per cent in the July to November phase. Shares on private exchanges were going for $21, taking the value of common shares to about $9.5bn. Some stocks may be sold over the next one or one and a half year period.

In his open letter announcing Facebook’s 350m user mark, Zuckerberg also revealed some new features and privacy control settings that will be implemented across the site soon. These will allow users to control their content better in the sense that each individual piece of content can be given different privacy settings. In addition, privacy control settings will be made much simpler and easier to use.

Whether you are concerned about internet safety or just the safety of your download limits getting the broadband deal that is right for you can be a juggling act. If you choose your broadband provider through Broadband Genie, you will be given all the information you need about each supplier on their easy to use comparison table to help you choose the best broadband for you.

Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co (KKR) was founded in the 1970’s and initially their main business was in highly leveraged transactions. But just last year they have set up a novel green proposal which focuses not solely on profitability, but also on the environmental impact of the companies they invest in.

Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co’s Henry Kravis and the non-profit environmental advocacy group Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) joined forces a year ago, with the goal of making environmentally friendly business practices an acknowledged idea. These companies was forged to oppose fundamental environmental issues, including water pollution, soil contamination, inordinate water consumption, and toxic waste.

To accomplish these goals, they employ eco-efficiency; this involves concepts like improving fuel economy through vehicle fleet maintenance, optimizing data centers for efficiency, and reducing the dispersion of toxic chemicals. Although the project was a tremendous success, managment just didn’t understand how far reaching the results actually were until Ken Mehlman, the executive in charge of the Green Portfolio Project, carried out the first annual review. Only then did Ken Mehlman discover that using eco-efficiency wasn’t solely helping to preserve the local environment, but in addition it was saving firms a significant sum of money. These days, Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co and Ken Mehlman have nearly all of their firms participating in eco-efficiency techniques. When you think about the fact that this portfolio of businesses is worth $86 billion, you can see what an enormous accomplishment this is. The original Green Portfolio project has evolved far beyond its initial remit and today encompasses new opportunities. The Climate Corps Program administered by the Environmental Defense Fund is an example of this, it advances eco-efficient techniques to students studying for an MBA. Of Late, Ken Mehlman has collaborated closely with Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co to create metrics and other applicable products that companies can employ to quantify and oversee assorted resources. These metrics allow employees to measure their progress and discover any problem areas. Henry Kravis, the KKR, and the Environmental Defense Fund are genuine visionaries in the business world. In summary, these systems have made green business techniques not only viable, but commercially desirable, and their novel ideas are setting a new standard in today’s world.

We all know that giving your time as a volunteer lets you strengthen the bonds of your community and at the same go assist the needy. Of course, freeing up the time to volunteer is liable to to consume some of that very same free time. Obviously, if you volunteer as part of a group effort with friends or co-workers, it’s likely to be more enjoyable. This is a call, then, for other companies to follow the lead of far-sighted firms like Connecticut’s Adaptive Marketing LLC. As well as programs like Passport to Fun (MVQ*PASSPRT2FUN) created for the benefit of consumers, Adaptive Marketing organizes local volunteer activity so that its employees have more time to reach out to the community. If you were asked for examples of company-backed volunteer work, you’d most likely talk in terms of blood drives, maybe a Christmas call for donations, nothing more, but this is simply no longer true. The employees of Adaptive Marketing have been provided with opportunities to get involved in community initiatives. Once all the information — date, location, time, specifics, etc — had been clearly posted it has become very simple for employees to settle the specific amount of time they could give and what they’d be doing as they did so.

Giving volunteers their say in which drives the company sponsors is important. Staff members from Adaptive Marketing, the company that offers the membership program Passport to Fun (MVQ*PASSPRT2FUN), can select from a great many events. You’ll soon see your staff helping out young adults, community projects in culture, green initiatives etc. The result is that Adaptive Marketing volunteers have the opportunity to use their time as efficiently as possible and enjoy joining in the process. Usually a company-supported volunteer initiative — fundraising with a homeless shelter, for example, or assisting at a local school — is either done on a regular schedule or as a one-off event. No matter how little time you have, there’s going to be some program to suit, which makes time no block against volunteering. Turning their profit-making skills to the benefit of the community around them is a practice with a long pedigree at many commercial enterprises. Adaptive Marketing supports volunteer programs in part to spread goodwill through the local community as a result of the efforts of its staff members. Something that volunteer work is sure to do is provide your staff with a reason to feel good, which creates a motivated company.

Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co (KKR) was founded by Henry Kravis and his partner George Roberts in the mid-seventies with the assistance of the First Chicago Corporation. But going on, aiming to make the companies in their portfolio greener and more profitable to boot, they have set up an extraordinary green enterprise that has completely transformed the method by which business concerns and environmental activists function.

When Henry Kravis from KKR and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) merged in 2008 environmental issues all of a sudden turned into a mainstream concern. The coalition was forged to help resolve some fundamental environmental matters, for example depletion of the ozone layer, toxic chemical use, enormous consumption of water resources, and hazardous chemicals. Eco-efficiency (a term initially used by the WBCSD) is the method employed to achieve these objectives, applying techniques such as increasing the durability of products, reducing the dispersion of toxic chemicals and using clean energy. Irrespective of the fact that the project was an enormous success, no-one understood how far reaching the consequences truly were until Ken Mehlman, the executive responsible for the project, reviewed the numbers for the first 12 months.

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Ken Mehlman who practiced environmental law for Akin Gump Stauss Hauer & Feld, has also served as Chief of Staff for Texas 12th Congressional District Representative Kay Granger, was appointed to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council in 2007 and currently serves as a member of the executive leadership cabinet of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Foundation, the Council on Foreign Relations Climate Change Task Force, and the board of directors at the National Endowment for Democracy, discovered that eco-efficiency was not solely lessening environmental impact, but it was also helping to save a colossal range of businesses a great deal of money, making the program virtually an immediate success. Up to now, KKR and Ken Mehlman have virtually every associated company involved in eco-efficiency. If you think about the fact that the group is valued at virtually $100 billion dollars, you can imagine what an enormous achievement this really is. The Green Portfolio project has developed far beyond its basic purpose and nowadays includes new opportunities. To illustrate, Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co got together with the Environmental Defense Fund’s Climate Corps Program an organization that teaches students studying for a Master’s degree in Business Administration how to introduce cost-effective, environmentally friendly practices.

KKR and Ken Mehlman have been creating metrics which quantify and manage resources. Systems like these can assess an organization’s environmental impact and identify any underlying problems. The business world has been changed by the environmentally centered work of Henry Kravis, the KKC, and the Environmental Defense Fund. These fresh ideas have made reducing their ecological impact less complicated for business organizations in any industry and shown the world that running a profitable business need not entail the hefty price of negatively impacting our planet.

Pass into your nearest city early in the daybreak and you’ll see a number of applied sweepers on the roads tidying up the mess left from all the shenanigans of last night. It’s a typical early morning scene, especially the beeping noise! We don’t actually give rubbish a second thought as we feel keeping the streets unlittered is not our problem.

Yet, there is a sometimes imperceptible yet substantial impact litter plays on human psychology. Individuals are more likely to think an area is lacking law and order if litter is lying around, and therefore felons see litter as a potential indication for a chance of a break-in, a mugging, or car-theft. The same signal creates some fear in other individuals who are concerned they may be walking through a more risky area and are concerned about possibly being assaulted.

There’s also the impact on the aesthetic attraction of an area. Litter strewn around can make an area seem unkempt even if it’s only been trashed by party revellers from the night before. This can hurt the reputation of a location if individuals are only within the location for this specific short period of time and only view it in its littered state.

There’s no purpose to drop rubbish if there are empty litter bins within the area. If there are no rubbish bins, or the rubbish bins that are there are stuffed, this is a problem to take up with the local council. Trashing an area has a damaging impact on everybody.

Most very successful entrepreneurs are very active in philanthropy nowadays. You will most likely have encountered Mr. Naveen Jain as being the CEO as well as co-founder of Intelius, Inc. the information commerce market leader. As well as making the Forbes 400 Richest in America list in 2000, this enterprising businessman has received a number of distinguished awards, most notably the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the WSA Industry Achievement Award, and the Albert Einstein Technology Medal. Nevertheless things absolutely grow out further from there. This is because Mr. Jain and his relations are just as impassioned about philanthropy and will seek to assist wherever possible. All our hopes for the years to come are carried in our young generation. They are moreover a crucial focus of attention for this enterprising man and he takes advantage of any opportunity available to help them. This is why he is assiduously taking advantage of every chance available to offer help if it seems even remotely doable. So, Naveen Jain, his relations and his staff at Intelius dedicate their time to charities as, for example, TreeHouse, the Vedic Cultural Center, and Child Rights and You (CRY). Of course they will assign ample monetary aid, but most importantly, they devote a lot of time and care to the youth who require it the most. Furthermore, Naveen Jain donates to the Children’s Hospital in an effort to restore children’s health too. As Jain is a former student of XLRI Jamshedpur and the Indian Institute of Technology, it’s not at all astonishing that education constitutes a vital pivot point in his philanthropic endeavors. This also includes causes and voluntary organizations that will range from neighborhood programs to the global. Thus it only stands to reason that Intelius and its head are actively helping deserving causes and establishments such as United Way, the Overlake Service League and the University Preparatory Academy. Feeding the planet’s destitute represents another central challenge to Naveen Jain and his folks and he undertakes no differentiation as to whether the individual in peril is a newborn or mature, or where they live, be it the greatest conurbation or the gloomiest hovel. While he is acutely conscious that the goal of feeding every destitute person in the world can look like an overwhelming task, he is also aware that the unachievable can actually be accomplished when each person struggles towards a common end. If this entrepreneur obtains his objectives, there will come a unquestionable cessation to destitution and hunger everywhere at some point. One could think that as the headman of a flourishing company on top of being a dedicated family man would allow him no spare leeway for charity and helping others. However, Naveen Jain makes certain that all of his philanthropic enterprises is given all the help he can plausibly contribute. This energetic businessman is undeniably much more than merely a business captain. In fact, he is an exceptional individual and a genuine community champion.

Today, philanthopy is as important as ever. You will very likely have come across Mr. Naveen Jain in connection with him being the co-founder and CEO of Intelius, Inc. the acclaimed information commerce company. Beyond having made the Forbes 400 Richest in America list 2000, this prosperous entrepreneur has collected a whole range of coveted awards, foremost the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the WSA Industry Achievement Award, and the Albert Einstein Technology Medal, to name only a small selection. But that is certainly not where it ends. For Mr. Jain and his family are by the same token as passionate about philanthropy and will undertake to assist wherever possible. Children are certainly humanity’s most prized resource. This enterprising man regards - and treats - young people as a pivotal focus of his charitable organizations and he tries to make the best of every occasion available to support them. This, of course, is the main reason why he is so assiduously using every chance available to him to aid needy young people, wherever it seems at all possible. So Naveen Jain, his relatives and the employees at Intelius, Inc. give their time to philanthropical associations such as the University of Washington, United Way, and Child Rights and You (CRY). They assign ample financial support but most importantly they commit their time and care to those kids who require it the most. He also donates to the Children’s Hospital, dedicated to advancing children’s health too. Seeing that Jain is a former student of the Indian Institute of Technology and XLRI Jamshedpur, it is hardly astounding that professional training is also a critical focus in his charitable works. This includes campaigns and charitable foundations that are local, state, and nationwide. Therefore, Intelius and its CEO are funding support agencies and charities like the Vedic Cultural Center, the Rotary Club and Hopelink. Providing for the world’s destitute is yet another important challenge for Jain and his relations and to him, it makes not one iota of difference. Although he is conscious that the mission of getting food for all the world’s starving is a phenomenal one, he also believes that the impossible can factually become realistic provided the whole world labors together. If this CEO should really have his way, there will be a definite cessation to impoverishment and hunger everywhere in the future.

Readers might probably be pardoned for thinking that being the man in full operative control of a highly thriving company in addition to being a devoted spouse and father would leave him little free time for benevolent projects. Nonetheless he makes certain that every one of his benevolent undertakings is given as much assistance as he can feasibly marshal. To wrap it up, this idealistic man is undeniably way more than a mere steersman of web commerce. He is, moreover, an eminently humane person and a veritable pillar of his community.