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Clients Served Kepler Associates has served its clients in a wide variety of ways. You can click on selected client names to see samples of our work and to read what others have had to say about the quality of our work product.
American Scholar, Phi Beta Kappa Healthcare Abbott Laboratories Corporations and professional firms Aratex Division, ARA Services Not-for-profit organizations Association of Real Estate Appraisers American Medical Association Untitled. Case-bound, encyclopedic, reference book detailing more than one hundred alternative therapies and the disorders for which they are recommended as treatment. To be published by Random House. AMA Pocket Guide to Back Pain. Mass market-size, illustrated, paperback book published by Random House. "We very much appreciate your promptness in meeting our tight deadline. You'll be pleased to hear that our medical editor for this series, an internist, reviewed your manuscript and diagnosed it to be 'impressively well written.' I look forward to the opportunity to work with you in the future." Pat Dragisic, Managing Editor Excerpt from AMA Pocket Guide to Back Pain: PREVENTING OSTEOPOROSIS Another source of back pain is a condition called osteoporosis, a loss of bone tissue and weakening of the bones. (Osteoporosis means "porous bones.") Throughout life, your body replaces old bone tissue with new. During childhood, new tissue forms faster than old tissue breaks down. This enables children's bones to grow. At around age 35, however, bone tissue begins to break down faster than it is replaced, and bone loss begins. Eventually, the loss may lead to a condition called osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is diagnosed when the bones have become so fragile and weak that a minor fall or even a vigorous hug can fracture a bone. The bones most commonly affected are the vertebrae, ribs, wrists, or hips. People most often affected are women, particularly in the years after menopause because of lowered levels of the female hormone estrogen, which helps prevent bone loss. Although osteoporosis can affect men, women are more likely to develop it, in part because they have less overall bone matter than men and, therefore, lower calcium reserves. Can you slow the rate of bone loss or even prevent it? Yes. The key is the mineral calcium. Bone is the storehouse for calcium, and it is calcium that keeps your bones firm and strong. If your calcium intake is low, your body takes calcium from your bones to compensate, leading to loss of bone density. How much calcium do you need each day? The recommended dietary allowance for adults 25 and older is 800 milligrams (mg) per day, although many experts believe that 1,000 mg is needed. Adolescents and young adults 11 to 24 need 1,200 mg to 1,500 mg every day, as do women who are pregnant or breast-feeding. Studies have shown that the average calcium intake for middle-aged and older women is between 400 and 550 mg per day. This is one reason why osteoporosis is more prevalent among older women. Women past menopause should get 1,000 mg to 1,500 mg of calcium every day; women over 65 should get 1,500 mg per day. The best source of calcium is milk or milk products. To reduce saturated fat intake, choose low-fat or nonfat milk. One cup of milk contains approximately 300 mg of calcium. If you are unable to digest milk easily, ask your physician about commercial products that replace the missing enzyme lactase that your body needs to digest milk. Other good sources of calcium are calcium-fortified orange juice, broccoli, dark green vegetables, canned salmon and sardines (including the bones), and tofu. Vitamin D is also necessary for calcium absorption. Although vitamin D is not present in many common foods, your body manufactures most of the vitamin D it needs when you are exposed to sunlight. In addition, most brands of milk are fortified with vitamin D. Along with diet, weight-bearing exercise, in which bones work against muscles or gravity, helps increase bone density and slow bone loss. Exercise does not have to be complicated and difficult to fit into your schedule. Walking, dancing, and running are good exercises; swimming is not helpful in preventing osteoporosis because your bones do not bear weight in water. Walk on your lunch hour three or more times per week. Run in place for at least five minutes four or five times per week. Climb stairs rather than use the elevator. Get off the bus several blocks from your destination and walk the rest of the way. Walk when you run errands or at least park your car at the far end of a parking lot. Every bit of exercise helps. Hormone replacement therapy can also minimize the risk of osteoporosis in women after menopause. Women reaching menopause should not wait for problems to occur; hormone replacement therapy is most beneficial when given early. Discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks of hormone replacement therapy with your physician. Fire! Survival and Prevention. Mass market-size, illustrated, paperback book ghostwritten for Chicago Fire Commissioner William Blair. Selected as a pro bono offering to members of Book-of-the-Month and Doubleday Book Clubs. A Guide to Pregnancy & Childbirth. Paperback, illustrated guidebook. Drug store and professional sales in excess of one million copies. Excerpt: AMNIOCENTESIS Amniocentesis is a method of obtaining a sample of amniotic fluid by inserting a long, hollow needle through the mother's abdomen into the amniotic sac. The fluid contains cells sloughed off by the fetus, and the cells can be analyzed for genetic and chemical makeup. This procedure can detect several abnormalities, as well as growth patterns; researchers are making progress in detecting other problems by amniocentesis. The fluid sample will also show the sex of the baby, which is important to know when a sex-linked hereditary disorder (such as hemophilia, a blood disease found almost only in males) is suspected. However, this test is never performed simply to learn a baby's sex. The procedure is usually done around the 14th to 16th week of pregnancy and should not be any more painful than an injection. However, the results are often not available for about three weeks, and the wait can be difficult. Fortunately, about 95 percent of the procedures that are performed show results that are normal. Amniocentesis is more accurate than ultrasound but has a higher risk: about one in 100 women who have this test miscarries. Much of the risk, however, has been reduced by using ultrasound to locate the fetus before the needle is inserted. (A still experimental test, chorionic villi sampling, is being developed. Cells are taken from the outer layer of the amniotic sac, and therefore it is less invasive. It also can be done earlier in the pregnancy, and the results are available within days.) Amniocentesis can also be done at the end of pregnancy; the fluid is examined in a 15-minute test that reveals if the baby's lungs are mature enough to survive outside the uterus. "As part of Kepler Associates' responsibility with CCI, they have written policy and procedure manuals for the consumer affairs departments of major Fortune 500 companies. They have done this with meticulous concern for detail as well as skillfully crafting the language to meet the corporate culture. It is my pleasure to recommend Kepler Associates for the above or any other writing assignment." Helen W. Horton, President Family Medical Guide. Case-bound, illustrated, lay-level, healthcare reference book. Managed and completed entire project, from concept to bound books, in five months. Assigned and coordinated input from authors (nine authors, three consulting physicians, one consulting pharmacist); medical illustrator; two production editors. Children's Medicine: A Parent's Guide to Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drugs. Trade-size paperback reference book; rereleased by NAL/Signet books in mass market size. The After-50 Pharmacy: An Easy-to-Understand Guide to Prescription and Nonprescription Medications. Case-bound reference book; rereleased as trade paperback. "Thank you for the fine job you did on Follett's social studies workbooks. With your productive efforts, the manuscript phase of the workbook program was completed in a very short time. In addition, our reviewing author was quite pleased with your manuscript, a fact that will make our in-house task all the easier." Anne M. O'Malley, Editor "Just a note to thank you for the fine job you did at our year end meeting. As you know, we hold a full firm meeting annually and really depend upon an effective speaker. You were well prepared and, because of this, were able to hold the interest of our somewhat diversified group very well. "What we were able to take back to the office were the tools required to serve both our internal and external clients more effectively through the use of written communication, the proper use of grammar, effective proofreading methods, and better organization of one's time. I would not hesitate to recommend you to any group who was interested in furthering this same cause." Geri A. Karol, Personnel Manager
Society of Technical Communications Award of Merit for combined college catalog and campus view book. Overall concept, writing, vendor selection (designer, photographer, printer), project management. "Please accept my thanks for producing for us an outstanding school catalog, of which we are very proud. Your patience in shepherding this project through its many stages, through thick and thin, to its ultimate conclusion is most appreciated. Needless to say, we couldn't have done it without you. I look forward to working with you on future projects and staying in touch." Robert C. Marks, Dean Writer of three series of practice-building, subscription newsletters sold nationwide to physicians and healthcare institutions. Topics: general health, child care, and older adults. "We have always found your work to be imaginative, accurate, and inviting to read. We regularly receive compliments from our clients on the quality of our publications, and we account for this in large measure by the quality of your work. We have been pleased to recommend you to colleagues who purchase writing, and you've never let us down. You're a consummate pro, and in our book that's a term we reserve for only the very best." David Levinsohn, Publisher Excerpt from: THE ROLE OF VITAMIN E IN SKIN CARE Introduction Since the skin is the outermost layer of protection for the body, it is constantly exposed to chemicals and environmental influences that affect its health and appearance. Skin can be exposed, to a greater extent than other body tissues, to excessive cold or heat and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The surface of the skin is especially vulnerable to damaging free radicals generated by a number of physiological and biological processes. Free radicals are believed to have an important role in skin aging and in development of disorders such as skin cancer. Free radicals have also been shown to be involved in UV-induced and ionizing irradiation damage to epidermal cells.Antioxidant Defense Systems The epidermis is the first line of defense against free radicals and contains a variety of antioxidants. Antioxidant defense mechanisms in the skin include the lipid-soluble antioxidants vitamin E and ubiquinones, the water-soluble antioxidants vitamin C and glutathione, and the enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase. These antioxidants remove free radicals and thus counteract their potentially damaging effects. Therefore, it is possible to reduce or prevent skin damage associated with free radicals by use of agents that inhibit lipid peroxidation. A number of researchers have investigated the role of vitamin E in skin care and protection. Data show that vitamin E inhibits the oxidation of cell lipids in the skin. Vitamin E has also been studied in treatment of various skin diseases and disorders, with variable results. Vitamin E has been added to cosmetics as a natural moisturizer and has been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory effects in animal and human studies. There is also growing evidence that vitamin E protects the skin against damage from UV radiation, prevents drug-induced skin damage, and promotes healing of surgical wounds. Ultraviolet Radiation The skin is constantly exposed to UV radiation, and it is well accepted that alterations in skin lipids due to exposure to UV rays result in membrane damage. UV irradiation leads to erythema (skin redness) and alterations in mechanoelectrical properties of skin. Chronic exposure to UV radiation also leads to acceleration of the skin aging process and increased risk of skin cancer development over time. Sunlight components responsible for photoaging are wavelength regions arbitrarily defined as UVB and UVA irradiation, which are in the range between 290 to 320 nm and 320 to 400 nm, respectively. UVB light normally penetrates through the epidermis. Although UVA is less damaging at a given dose of irradiation, it penetrates much more deeply into the skin. It has been demonstrated that vitamin E protects the skin from damaging effects of UV irradiation and inhibits inflammations. However, even with higher antioxidant concentrations in skin, strong pro-oxidant factors such as UV light can overwhelm the protective capacities. Studies have shown that the antioxidant systems are weakened in the skin due to the effect of exposure to UV light. A decrease in skin vitamin E concentrations occurs after UVB irradiation; this appears to be a response to the increased oxidative stress due to free radical generation initiated by UV irradiation. Vitamin E decreased significantly in the skin of hairless mice exposed to a single dose of UV radiation. In a study of long-term UV exposure in mouse skin, the total lipid-soluble antioxidant capacity has been shown to decrease with chronic exposure (up to 24 weeks). Since vitamin E participates in a number of photo-oxidation processes, the influence of vitamin E on phototoxic effects of UV irradiation has been studied in humans and animals. Vitamin E provided a protective effect against erythema and mechanoelectrical changes when applied to the skin of rabbits and humans prior to irradiation. However, application of vitamin E after UV radiation treatment gave no protection from phototoxic effects. The observed protective effect of vitamin E was maximal at intermediate vitamin E concentrations and high radiation doses. In another study in rabbits, application of topical vitamin E and BHT before and within two minutes following irradiation greatly inhibited the erythemal response of skin to UV light. Treatment of the skin with antioxidants five hours after irradiation had almost no effect on the minimal erythemal dose (reddening observed in 20 to 24 hours after irradiation). Web site design: http://www.kishauwau.com Web site design: http://www.kittleman.net Excerpt from capabilities brochure: About Our Utilities Group Our Services [Firm Name] provides the full range of traditional business management skills financial planning; consulting; and audit, accounting, and tax services. In addition, we are the comprehensive source for up-to-date industry and technology-based knowledge of the telecommunications field and its compliance regulations. We know the unique requirements of closely held businesses and the necessity to conserve revenue and maximize profits. We have the resources of our extensive network of affiliate offices to apply to your specific needs. Why We Are Qualified Clients We Have Served [Firm Name] is extremely proud of the record we have achieved by serving our clients with imagination, innovation, and dedication. As companies change, grow, refocus direction, and experience industry transitions, they can rely upon our flexibility to adjust our services to meet their expanding needs. Among those companies with whom we have established long-term relationships are: [Client List] Our Telecommunications Industry Services Resource Allocation Manuals [Firm Name] develops comprehensive, quick-reference manuals to help our clients determine and substantiate real costs, both primary and secondary. We help companies identify and differentiate direct and indirect expenditures so that they can allocate and consolidate their resources most effectively. Our manuals provide guidelines for weighing cost/return relationships both for immediate and long-term investment. Accounting System Review and Implementation [Firm Name] has a history of creating innovative, technology- and industry-based systems that ensure timely, accurate, and comparative reporting and review of assets and resource allocation. From our founding as a full-service accounting firm through our natural development into one of the telecommunication industry's leading consulting firms, we have led the way in systems reliability, performance improvement, team building, and information monitoring. Our goal has always been to put our expertise to work for our client companies. Information Systems [Firm Name] has planned, designed, and installed countless computerized information systems and procedures for performing business functions ranging from the mundane to highly sophisticated and sensitive operations. We have the experience and proven know-how to develop efficient software for accounting, tax, bookkeeping, and payroll applications as well as industry tracking and reporting. Our integrated approach to constructing information systems allows our clients to follow their company's progress both internally and within the context of their industry. Installation and Review of Work Order Procedures [Firm Name] calls upon a breadth and depth of historical knowledge and experience unsurpassed in the industry to design and assess work order policies and procedures that produce measurable benefits. We build professional and support staff teams of people who are trained and proficient both in accounting procedures and telecommunications industry-specific practices. In addition, we organize and conduct internal studies to ensure optimum performance and economical labor costs. The Total Utility Group The [Company Initials] Utility Group has already achieved an outstanding record of accomplishments in the short time since it was established in 1996. Among the research and applications projects that it oversaw was a major benchmarking program for 18 members of the Alabama Electric Cooperative. The [Parent Company] Network • to the very latest information technology: customized computerized systems installation and monitoring, including data processing and voice/data communications • to operations interruption, crisis management, and recovery planning: in-place safeguard and contingency plans in the event of disaster or other business disruptions • to operations analysis and consulting: operational, productivity, and economic improvements; day-to-day and long-term controls; and profit maximization • to human resources structuring: staff hiring, training, and retention; compensation, benefit, and advancement planning; policies and procedures • to private and family business counseling: succession and ownership planning, conflict management, internal and external relationships Three-time winner of Award for Excellence from the Society for Technical Communication. Total production: content, assignments, writing and/or editing, design, typesetting, layout, advertising. EDITORIAL Recently we had a bright idea: Let's host a dinner party, but let's invite only people who have never met each other before. Of course, we would be acquainted with the guests, but they would all be strangers to one another. It sounded a little risky at first—would they be able to find any common ground to talk about? But we thought it was worth taking the chance.Not to worry. The evening was a resounding success! Dinner itself turned out to be incidental. These folks were hungry all right, but more for conversation than food. Our guest list included a university professor of architecture and design who's also a computer junky, a ceramicist and stained glass artist, a septuagenarian playwright steeped in Judaica, a business journalist and futurist, a structural engineer with a marketing MBA and a keen interest in eastern philosophy, and a graphic artist and amateur musician. Rarely has our home been so filled with debate, inquiry, laughter, and genuine good cheer. Our guests certainly found common ground: They all wanted to learn. They're creative people who know the value of ideas and thinking about ways in which to bridge disciplines, analyze, theorize, and synthesize just for the fun of it! A few weeks ago Western Society of Engineers concluded its annual, six-week-long Young Engineers Forum. As usual the forum's final presentation was "A View from the Top," in which a panel of senior management-level engineers talked about the roads they've traveled in order to reach their current positions. And as usual this year's speakers advised their audience to be open to ideas, to look beyond their immediate job responsibilities, and to become involved in the world around them. Every year this wrap-up session generates more interest and questions—good, probing questions—than any of the other YEF dinnertime discussions. It's a unique opportunity for young people who have only recently entered the engineering profession to learn directly from those who have long ago achieved noteworthy successes. Without exception the speakers have been truly outstanding. Their forthrightness and willingness to share their personal and professional experiences have been revealing and, judging from audience reactions, extremely helpful to these recent university graduates. There are recurring themes in each year's advice: look for mentoring opportunities and make a point of learning from the finest, think about earning another degree in either a technical or business applications area, seek recognition and advancement based on your own merit rather than political connections, find personal growth by volunteering to help others through community organizations, become active in professional organizations such as Western Society of Engineers. Above all, according to every speaker who has spoken at every YEF "View from the Top," be open to new ideas and never pass up a chance to learn. This universal characteristic of curiosity and openness to new ideas would seem to be the primary factor that determines whether an engineer is to become truly successful in his or her field. Such credible advice, coming as it does from outstanding senior-level engineers, commands attention. Their reliance upon ideas their own as well as those of the people with whom they surround themselves keeps their perspectives bright and fresh. [ACQUISITION STUDY] [Publisher] is a small specialty publisher that was founded in 1975 by [founder], a retired vice president of [company], Chicago. {Company} publishes a wide spectrum of books, and [founder's] area concerned religious titles. He had a previous association with Curtis Distribution (Saturday Evening Post ) and also was an independent management consultant for three years. Currently he serves as president of [publisher] and handles all production and advertising. He is the principal stockholder in the company. [Chair] is a minority stockholder and serves as chair of the board. [Founder] operates a pre-prep shop in which he is able to perform all production steps prior to the actual printing of his books. He does his own typesetting, photographic preparation, art work, layout, design, and mechanicals. This allows him the flexibility of easily and inexpensively correcting any typographical errors or altering format. He maintains full control of all functions up to the moment his books are sent off to the printer. Because of this he is able to go to press for a new title with an initial press run, if necessary, as low as 1,000 copies and still break even, thus providing an opportunity to test the sales potential of that title. The in-house facilities of the company have enabled it to take a short manuscript through to bound books in ten days. [Publisher] accepts outside jobs in addition to its own books (magazines, brochures, etc.). [Founder] took printing courses eight years ago to increase his technical knowledge of publishing. The company uses various printers in the Winter Park/Orlando area and maintains its own supply of paper. {Founder] has had a long personal relationship with [chair] and offered him a small ownership in exchange for business that [chair] could direct to the company. [Chair] has long been active in the National Chamber of Commerce, Rotary International, and many other civic and business organizations. He is a past official of the Great Lakes States Corporation in Cleveland, and [publisher] lists an office in Hudson, Ohio, that is, in fact, [chair's] office. The association has proved beneficial for [publisher]. [Chair] recently directed an international police association to the publisher, and [publisher] is now producing a book detailing fitness, strength, and suspect handling training for police officers. A Teaneck, New Jersey, office of [publisher] is part of a company that records and sells tapes of meetings and conferences and makes motion pictures for churches and religious organizations. [Publisher] produces transcripts of some of the recordings and films. A third office in Newark, New Jersey, is actually that of a consulting firm offering educational services to state manpower training programs through a federal government agency. [Publisher] produces training materials for the program participants as well as instruction manuals and related items for products turned out by trainees. Publications [Publisher] is primarily involved in the production of paperback books (5" x 8" trim size) in the field of sports medicine. The books are attractively designed with four-color covers and combined photo and line drawing illustrations; they range in length from 56 to 128 pages and are priced competitively. [Founder] states that sports medicine is a relatively new field of specialization and that [publisher] is one of a very few companies publishing in this area; a check of Books in Print bears out his claim. To date the company has announced and/or released thirteen titles in its Physical fitness and Sports Medicine Series: [Titles List] According to [founder] the last title has not yet been released but is now ready to be sent to press. He says all of the titles have done well with the exception of The Knee in Sports, which the company cannot seem to get off the ground and will allow to go out of print. Press runs are moderate, usually approximately 10,000 copies initially, but the flexibility of the company, as discussed above, allows for rapid reprints. [Founder] claims that his books have the approval both of the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, but neither group is mentioned anywhere in the books. In addition to the titles listed, [publisher] also publishes two texts for use at the junior college level. One is a sewing techniques book, and the other is a management text dealing with effective communications for group leaders. Both are large format (8" x 11"), spiral bound, soft cover books and sell for "about $10." As stated previously, the company also publishes one-shot subsidy books for various agencies and companies. Sales and Distribution The company has no sales force. [Publisher's] authors, all of whom are freelance, are frequent speakers at various meetings, workshops, and conventions of team physicians, trainers, and physical educators. The principal author, and editor of the Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine Series, [author], is referred to by [founder] as "probably the best known name in the field" and, as such, travels and speaks widely. He is the director of research for [Equipment] Sports/Medical Industries, a manufacturer of equipment designed for physical fitness and weight training gyms and commercial spas. (The company supplies apparatus to the Chicago Health Spas.) It is that company's equipment that is pictured, when appropriate, throughout the various books published by [publisher]. Coincidentally, [author's] affiliation provides an outlet for [publisher] since [equipment manufacturer] orders books from the publisher in 500-copy quantities per title for free distribution to its own customers. When an author addresses a meeting or workshop, orders are taken for [publisher's] books, either individual titles or complete sets. The company sets up booths at some conventions, trade shows, and other gatherings in order to display its titles. Retail store sales are all handled through a Chicago-based publisher. [Publisher] has no control over or knowledge of what retail outlets might carry its books or what titles that firm chooses to stock in its warehouse. The distributing firm simply acts as a wholesale jobber buying from [publisher] and reselling to its various customers. The distributing firm currently stocks eight of [publisher's] thirteen titles and supposedly lists them on its order forms by title without referring to them as being part of a line or even mentioning the publisher. In reality, only five titles are actually listed on the distributing firm's order form, however. The books now being carried are: [Title List] A recent direct mail campaign was undertaken offering the complete set of titles to a mailing list of 1,000 general practitioners. The campaign resulted in four responses. [Publisher] is currently doing no advertising although an institutional advertisement was placed in Sporting News magazine at one time. The company has made some premium sales, the [equipment manufacturer] deals being illustrative. In those cases the books are sold as is, that is, the covers and imprint are unchanged. In another instance 5,000 copies of the Little League book were bought by an insurance company as a giveaway item; for that run the [publisher] imprint was replaced by the purchaser's name. Textbooks are sold by direct mail to junior college faculty members. Mail order or workshop sales are charged at net while (unstated) discounts are allowed for quantity orders. Obviously wholesale and premium sales must be made at substantial discount. Texts are sold at 20 percent discount. While not revealing whether or not [publisher] has a specific returns policy, [founder] claims they "have never had to take back any books." Text books are returnable up to 25 percent of the sale, a policy customary in the industry. • • • It appears [publisher's] sales techniques are unsophisticated and inefficient. [Founder] states that the bulk of the company's sales are generated at the various meetings its people attend. Those sales, however, are usually single copies of individual titles or occasionally single full sets of all titles. Multiple sales are rare. [Founder] says that they receive "many" orders with payment enclosed by mail for one or two copies of a book or, infrequently, for a full set, but he has no idea where the buyers are coming from. He assumes they previously attended a meeting where [author] or another speaker appeared or heard of the books by word of mouth from another attendee. Premium sales apparently are helpful (exactly how helpful is unknown since the discount was not revealed), but could perhaps be more lucrative if [equipment manufacturer] could be induced to underwrite part of the production costs as advertising for its products, something not currently being done. [Founder] says he would like to sell his nutrition book to a fast food chain since its author takes the stand that so called health foods are not necessary for proper nutrition and that a balanced diet can be achieved by eating at McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, etc. However, [founder] further says that he has no idea of how to go about making such a sale. The direct mail campaign to physicians would seem to have been a good idea except that it was undoubtedly aimed at the wrong market. It would probably have resulted in much higher sales than the 0.25 percent achieved if a mailing list of team physicians instead of general practitioners had been used. Even a list confined to orthopedists would have been preferable. Also, a mailing of only 1,000 is probably not worth the effort. A larger and better planned effort could prove successful. On the basis of a single advertisement in Sporting News that produced no discernible results, no further print advertising has been undertaken. That would appear to be a reasonable decision. The same amount of money would probably be better spent in designing and distributing mailing pieces or some other similar material that would go directly into the hands of potential buyers. The effect of institutional advertising is practically impossible to gauge and, with a limited advertising budget, an unnecessary drain on resources. Although the company's major business comes from individual sales, such a method of selling is generally uneconomical. Processing single copy orders, even when accompanied by full payment, is costly and cumbersome. Not knowing where customers are coming from prevents a proper evaluation of results obtained from each conference attended, the effectiveness of mailing pieces, and the establishment of a valid cost of sale for budgeting purposes. Some of the mystery could be eliminated through the use of coded advertising pieces and order forms. It is unknown whether one-time customers' names are added to any mailing lists, but that would appear to be a potentially profitable step, especially for announcements of new titles. Concerning retail/wholesale sales, [publisher] would probably be better off presenting its line directly to chains of specialty and sporting goods stores instead of relying upon the vagaries of "distribution" through jobber outlets that prohibit control of sales. Since books are rarely the principal product sold in stores where [publisher] is represented (sports departments in department stores, etc.), the tendency for store personnel often is to overlook an empty book pocket and instead reorder higher ticket items. By selling direct to large chains of stores, it would be possible to set up an inventory system of pocket reorder cards or monthly check sheets that could involve only a few minutes of a salesclerk's time to handle. Relying upon a jobber for all distribution eliminates this personal attention to any single line. In lieu of a direct sales force, this approach could also prove helpful in dealing with [distributing firm's] books: periodic reminder telephone calls or mailings of check sheets could serve the dual purposes of replenishing low stock supplies and keeping the [publisher] name prominent in the list of the 65 publishers' lines currently carried by [distributing firm]. Naturally, continued sales to [distributing firm] or any other jobber could be beneficial to [publisher] as a fill-in source for the chain stores or as the sole supplier for smaller stores. Summary There seems to be, at first appearance, the possibility of a mutually advantageous arrangement being developed between Milex's Budlong Press Division and [publisher]. Further investigation is certainly warranted. [Founder] appears willing to consider suggestions of a joint venture undertaking but states emphatically that he is not interested in selling his company. He has no objection, however, to publishing under another imprint, perhaps on a contract basis. [Founder] claims to have the wherewithal to develop new titles directed toward a specific market: his editor-in-chief is also a bodybuilder (a former Mr. Universe, in fact) and is familiar with fitness training; [author], the series editor, is a trainer, says [founder], who not only writes well and speaks widely but also knows potential markets. The board of Advisors for the series is composed of (according to [founder]) well known experts in the field of physical education and sports medicine. Also, [chair] has the facilities available to do large-scale direct mailings. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of a potential association is the similarity of markets for both Milex and [publisher]. The major difference, of course, lies in the fact that Milex has a sales force that can go to the marketplace and systematically service its accounts whereas [publisher] is in a position more of making its name and products known and then waiting for the customers to come to it. The best [publisher] can hope for is that its wholesaler will seek out new markets, although, as has been shown, that is a slim hope. Finally, there seems to be some common ground for the two companies to explore. There is the possibility that direct discussions could develop an arrangement favorable to both parties.
"It is with great pleasure that I recommend the services of Kepler Associates in all aspects of publication writing, editing, and consulting. Kepler Associates [functioned as] the associate editor for the full range of publications for the National Association of College Admission Counselors. Their many duties included writing and proofreading articles for the monthly newsletter, supervision of writing and production of all National College Fair publications, and writing or editing a wide variety of promotional publications and press releases for multiple audiences. Their consultation was especially valuable in assembling information for the copyright procedures for all NACAC publications. They also developed and created a style manual for all of our publications—a manual which we continue to use in the association. "Kepler Associates' writing was incisive and definitive, their organizational talents were exemplary, and their proofreading and editing skills were simply superb. I can think of no publication that would not benefit from the distinctive Kepler touch. "Kepler Associates ended their consultancy with the association only when we moved to the Washington, DC, area. Their presence and contributions are sorely missed. Whatever your publication needs, I am confident that you could make no better choice than Kepler Associates." Lawrence M. Mohr, Director of Communications Traffic Safety magazine. Excerpt from DRUG TESTING: Jay A. Miller, executive director of the Illinois ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) takes a different view. "If you take urine from my body as a condition of my employment, that's an intrusion into my life. We consider it a search under the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution. It's so obvious. You're taking my bodily fluids and searching them." Former Secretary of Transportation Elizabeth Dole declares, "Where the safe transportation of the public is concerned, there can be no tolerance of drug and alcohol abuse." Where is the balance? Do the rights of the individual have to give way to considerations for public safety in matters of drug use and drug testing or vice versa? How effective and acceptable are the tests anyway? Just as no one is opposed to protecting citizens driving or riding on the nation's highways from the menace of impaired truck, bus, or automobile working drivers, so, too, no one associated with the public transportation industry is so naive as to think testing for substance abuse or even casual use is the answer. The hard truth is that there is no easy answer. Federal Guidelines One of the problems facing managers of fleet drivers is the nature of the federal regulations now in place. Currently the Department of Transportation (DOT) requires a biennial physical examination as part of its certification program for over-the-road drivers. Employers may elect to perform a drug screen in conjunction with the exam. Connour, whose company, Schneider National, Inc., began testing its 5,000 drivers in 1985, would prefer to see strengthened and clarified regulations: "Right now they're pretty ambiguous. They should say very definitely that you have to test [for drugs], at what time and what it is that you should test—blood, urine or both. They should tell you what to look for down to what sensitivity levels for marijuana, cocaine, or whatever and that your findings have to be confirmed at such-and-such amounts. In short, tell me what to do, and tell me how to do it." As part of their recurrent DOT examinations, members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters are blood- or urine-tested for residual amounts of a variety of drugs that may be in their systems. The guidelines for these kinds of testing are explicitly laid out in the National Master Freight Agreement, written by a joint committee made up of representatives from Teamsters and the trucking industry. The DOT earlier this year issued a notice of proposed rule making within the aviation industry that will spell out various kinds of testing, including those for drugs, and will call for rehabilitation programs for persons found to be drug users. Rules are already in place that require pre-employment and post-accident drug tests for railroad workers in safety sensitive positions. According to a DOT spokesperson, the department sees these as among the first of what they hope eventually will be a whole series of proposed rules that will require the private sector to institute similar programs for employees in safety- and security-related positions. The DOT would not actually perform the testing but would mandate private industry programs that, in turn, would be required to follow departmental guidelines in their own procedures. All tests would be performed under U.S. Department of Health and Human Safety standards for laboratories standards that have yet to be determined. Web site design: http://www.sphillips.com
RavensWord magazine. Excerpt: WHY DO I NEED A PEDIATRICIAN? Joe and Annie Powell were thrilled when they discovered that Annie was pregnant. Since they both believed that prenatal care was important for their baby's future, they were careful to follow their doctor's recommendations and instructions during the pregnancy. When their daughter Katherine was born, healthy and robust, they were ecstatic. As with all new parents, the first few days at home were hectic and at times bewildering. They soon began to adjust to their new roles, however, and remembered their doctor's recommendation that their baby receive regular checkups and preventive health care. Yet they weren't certain about what they should do.This is where Ravenswood Hospital Medical Center's pediatric services were a help. The Powells contacted the pediatrician recommended by Annie's obstetrician and received guidelines to help them keep their baby healthy and happy. Establishing a relationship between your child and a pediatrician, a doctor who specializes in treating children from birth to 18 years of age, is an important step in safeguarding your child's health and in learning what to expect in terms of your child's growth and development. "Pediatricians have specialized training in evaluating children and diagnosing childhood conditions," states Ann Doege, M.D., a Ravenswood pediatrician, adding that "a pediatrician has a special sensitivity to the needs of children." Another Ravenswood pediatrician, Mukesh Doshi, M.D., confirms Dr. Doege's opinion and continues with three additional reasons why he feels parents should seek out a pediatrician for their child. "Pediatricians are qualified to care for children because they deal with children all the time and thus are familiar with child development," Doshi said. "Secondly, pediatricians understand the psychological side of children, and, thirdly, they help children view the pediatrician as their own doctor." Dr. Doshi feels that for some children it may be important to perceive that his or her doctor is special and not the same doctor the parents consult for themselves. This can be the beginning of a child's assuming interest in and responsibility for his or her own health as an adult, Doshi suggests. In general, pediatricians divide their patients into four developmental age groups:
Each age group has special needs in terms of health care, both physically and mentally.
"Kepler Associates were instrumental in helping us organize, manage, and control [a set of guidelines for the planning, design, and construction of distribution facilities for medical supplies for Central American governmental agencies (social security, public health, etc.) at the national, regional, and local levels of distribution]. They always fulfilled their responsibilities on time and continuously demonstrated the highest degree of professionalism. "The manual contains approximately 550 pages of text that are integrated with more than 300 equipment and equipment installation graphics, 65 engineering drawings of buildings and building systems, and a variety of project schedules and similar supportive graphic information. "It will be our pleasure to work with Kepler Associates at any time we may again require professional editing resources." Thomas D. Evans, President "As a final step before I send out engineering proposals and reports, I like to have them 'Keplerized.'" Thomas D. Evans, President Stubborn About Quality: The Wells Lamont Story Case-bound, illustrated, two-color corporate history cowritten by Monty Wells and Robert M. Knight. Editorial, design, vendor selection, project management supervised by Kepler Associates. Winner of the Society for Technical Communication's Award of Merit for book production. "Because of my delays in getting a job done, it has taken me a long time to complete writing the Wells Lamont Story. However, on the positive side, I cannot begin to express my satisfaction with the final product produced by you—Ann, Jim, and Tom Kepler. "Every aspect from cover to cover certainly is rated Triple A. The imagination and skills in producing this product carry exceptionally high commendations. "Since receiving the book...I have shown it to [the] president of Wells Lamont. His comments were expressed with excitement and praise for your skills used in the book's art and layout. "With sincere appreciation to all of you." Maurice Lamont [Monty] Wells, President (ret) Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Service as editors of Midwest Engineer magazine since 1991. |
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Market, audience, member development and retention