July 31, 2007

Desks Worth Earning

Worthington Direct knows that schools work hard to provide quaility education in an environment that is suited to enrich the student's time spent their.  Visit www.WorthingtonDirect.com today and find trusted classroom desks from Virco, Smith System, Scholarcraft, Royal Seating and more- that are all worth earning.

http://worthingtondirect.com/images/90390.jpg 

On the first day of school, with permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she took all of the desks out of the classroom. The kids came into first period and there were no desks.

They obviously looked around and said, “Ms. Doe, where’s our desk?” And she said, “You can’t have a desk until you tell me how you earn them.” They thought, “Well, maybe it’s our grades.” “No,” she said. “Maybe it’s our behavior.” And she told them, “No, it’s not even your behavior.”

And so they came and went in the first period, still no desks in the classroom. Second period, same thing, third period too. By early afternoon television news crews had gathered in Ms. Doe’s class to find out about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of the classroom. The last period of the day, Jane Doe gathered her class. They were at this time sitting on the floor around the sides of the room. And she says, “Throughout the day no one has really understood how you earn the desks that sit in this classroom ordinarily.” She said, “Now I’m going to tell you.”

Jane Doe went over to the door of her classroom and opened it, and as she did 27 U.S. veterans, wearing their uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. And they placed those school desks in rows, and then they stood along the wall. And by the time they had finished placing those desks, those kids, for the first time I think perhaps in their lives, understood how they earned those desks. Jane said, “You don’t have to earn those desks. These guys did it for you. They put them out there for you, but it’s up to you to sit here responsibly to learn, to be good students and good citizens, because they paid a price for you to have that desk, and don’t ever forget it.”

Friends, I think sometimes we forget that the freedoms that we have are freedoms not because of celebrities. The freedoms are because of ordinary people who did extraordinary things, who loved this country more than life itself, and who not only earned a school desk for a kid at the American High School, but who earned a seat for you and me to enjoy this great land we call home, this wonderful nation that we better love enough to protect and preserve with the kind of conservative, solid values and principles that made us a great nation.

“We live in the Land of the Free because of the brave.” continue reading

July 27, 2007

Worthington Direct Presents New Whiteboards That Offer Educators a Fresh Teaching Environment.

Worthington Direct weighs in on the hottest topic in education- which is better, the classic chalkboard or modern whiteboards?

(
(PRWEB) July 27, 2007 -- Worthington Direct (http://www.worthingtondirect.com) a supplier of school, church and early childhood furniture for over 10 years has seen the trend in classroom writing surfaces shift from the classic chalkboard to the sleeker whiteboard. Whether old-school or new-school, Worthington Direct sells both quality chalkboards and whiteboards that are perfect teaching tools, each in their own "write".

In the past, it was common to pass along the school hallways at the end of a day and see teachers with white hands and dusty clothes. This wasn't the era of the Dust Bowl, but the era when chalkboards took center stage in every classroom.

Technology and materials have advanced and teachers today have moved the majority of their daily lessons onto the modern dry-erase, or whiteboard. They are more common and less dusty, but some still argue the value of the classic chalkboard.

Chalkboards

Chalkboards have been a standard teaching tool in schools for years. Educators have maintained that the chalkboard is still an ample teaching device for students, commenting on how it seems to help with the student's handwriting. Chalk seems to be easier to hold for younger students. Educators have found that students are not developmentally ready to grip with their thumb, index and middle fingers. Instead, holding writing tools with more of a fist can be easier for young learners, thus making chalk an easy writing tool.

While students are using chalk, it doesn't slip once it's on the chalkboard as a dry-erase marker would on a whiteboard's smooth surface. The chalkboard is also ideal for students learning cursive handwriting. Best-Rite, a manufacturer of quality writing surfaces, make their porcelain steel chalkboards with a fine-tooth abrasive surface for easier writing with chalk. http://worthingtondirect.com/brands/bestrite.htm

Originally made of slate, most chalkboards today are made from porcelain enamel and can be manufactured in a variety of sizes, styles and colors. They can be mobile, mounted to walls or hand-held. The porcelain steel products sold by Worthington Direct are strong and very sturdy, and are guaranteed to last 50 years or more.

Maintenance is a simple process. The chalkboards and their trays can simply be wiped down with a damp cloth, which makes them look good and new. Chalk can easily be replaced and doesn't dry out. The cost of chalk is also far less than the cost of replacing markers.

The chalkboard does have its share of disadvantages, as well. For one, the chalk, which is simply compressed dust, can bother some educators and students with allergies. With the growing use of technology in the classroom, dust can be especially damaging to expensive equipment like microscopes and laptops.

The chalkboard still has plenty of benefits today, despite the relatively recent advances of whiteboards. Many teachers are fighting to keep them in their classrooms because they think the chalkboards are such a great benefit for their students and the entire learning process.

Whiteboards

For the past 20 years, many schools have chosen to replace the familiar chalkboard with high-tech and advanced whiteboards. These particular whiteboards, whose surfaces are smooth, use dry-erase markers. Teachers and students like the option of using whiteboards because they don't require chalk and there is no dust.

Whiteboards offer a clean, modern, businesslike look, making them more appealing than darker chalkboards. Some whiteboards manufactured by Best-Rite have pre-printed lines and lettering to help in certain classes, such as music and geometry. The popular Pale-Riter, available through Worthington Direct, includes a grid pattern embedded in the board surface that is visible to the user, but remains nearly invisible to an audience. http://worthingtondirect.com/school_furniture/dry_erase_boards/paleriter_grid_line_board_by_bestrite.htm

Like with the chalkboards, whiteboards are available with porcelain steel surface consisting of low-gloss magnetic steel surface laminated to a thick MDF substrate for extra strength and moisture resistance. Teachers often prefer the magnetic surface because it allows them to easily display other teaching aids, such as maps or color wheels, with the use of small magnets.

Marker ghosting is not a problem with the Best-Rite porcelain steel surface, which offers superior erasability. The reduced surface light distortion enhances visibility to provide optimum eye comfort. Worthington Direct sells the full line of quality boards made by Best-Rite. http://worthingtondirect.com/brands/bestrite.htm

One drawback of using whiteboards in classrooms is that they are slick, so students end up writing faster than their brains can think, making handwriting not as clear. Also, shading in an area on the whiteboard is difficult with the dry-erase marker as the felt-tip will begin to erase itself if over passed a couple of times.

Whiteboards far outnumber chalkboards in classrooms today, but for many there is nothing better than dusting out those old erasers.

Worthington Direct offers Best-Rite products such as:

Deluxe Porcelain Steel Marker Boards:
http://worthingtondirect.com/school_furniture/dry_erase_boards/half_inch_deluxe_porcelain_steel_marker_board_by_best_rite.htm

Porcelain Steel Magnetic Chalkboards:
http://worthingtondirect.com/school_furniture/dry_erase_boards/porcelain_steel_chalkboard_by_bestrite.htm Vinyl Tack Boards:

http://worthingtondirect.com/school_furniture/dry_erase_boards/vinyl_tackboard_by_bestrite.htm

Reversible Freestanding Boards:
http://worthingtondirect.com/school_furniture/dry_erase_boards/deluxe_reversible_board_by_bestrite.htm Easel on Wheels:

http://worthingtondirect.com/school_furniture/av_equipment/easel_on_wheels_by_bestrite.htm About Worthington Direct: After spending over 10 years in the school supply, church and equipment industry, Worthington Direct (http://www.worthingtondirect.com) knows what is important - selection, service, price and timing.

Our goal is to make your purchasing job easier. With competitive pricing, knowledgeable sales associates, and "In Stock" products for quick, efficient shipping, Worthington Direct is committed to be your furniture resource. Schools and churches look to Worthington Direct for competitive pricing for school furniture, church furniture, preschool furniture, early childhood furniture, library furniture, desks, wholesale furniture, computer furniture, classroom furniture, chalkboards, office furniture, room dividers, storage cabinets, easels, display cases, cafeteria tables, activity tables, classroom desks, computer tables, desk chairs, lecterns, literature racks, office desks and risers among its large stock.

For more information contact Wren Ovard at 800-599-6636.

###

July 23, 2007

School Teaches Three Languages

A new charter school that will teach children in three languages -- Mandarin Chinese, Spanish and English -- is scheduled to open in September in the North Sacramento School District with about 120 children in kindergarten through third grade. 

Teaching new languages and multicutural awareness can be as easy as uno, dos, tres when you shop with Worthington Direct, www.WorthingtonDirect.com.  We carry multi-language classroom carpets such as LengualLink by Joy Carpets or Amigos by Flagship Carpets.  Sudents can listen to language CD's or tapes using Califone's audio learning centers at the Blanca Table by Jonti-Craft.

Blanca Table by Jonti-Craft

Students at the Lindsay Global Language Academy, as the charter school is called, will learn all their subjects in the three languages from teachers who are native speakers. And they'll practice conversation skills by participating in video conferences with students in Beijing, Shanghai and Mexico City, said Linda Ventriglia, a former Sacramento City Unified educator who created the school. "Kids that don't get out of Sacramento now are going to see people around the world," Ventriglia said. "We're trying to create a 21st century school."

It's an unusual program in a school district that predominantly serves children from poor families, many of whom speak little English. About 83 percent of students in North Sacramento qualify for subsidized lunches, and 39 percent are not fluent in English. About 50 percent of the district's students are Latino and 12 percent are Asian. The Lindsay charter school is designed to teach the three languages to students who speak any one of them at home. Students will spend half the day working in English and the other half in Spanish and Mandarin.

"I think that is the best thing since the ice cream cone," said Maxine Sullivan-Pepper, school board president. "It is such a wonderful opportunity for children in the north area." But the Lindsay Academy has generated a deep rift in the school district. It has divided the school board, pitted the district administration against the charter backers and -- some people believe -- even contributed to the recent firing of Superintendent Dennis Tillett. "I support the concept and I support the school," said board member Linda Fowler. "I just don't support the volatility they have created."

The disagreement concerns where the Lindsay charter school will be located. Both parties agree that it should be on the campus of Dos Rios Elementary School, just south of the American River near Richards Boulevard. But they disagree about exactly where on the campus Lindsay will be sited, because it must share the grounds with another charter school -- the Smythe Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Ventriglia and her supporters want Lindsay housed in the campus' permanent building, while district officials say it should operate out of several portable classrooms. Sullivan-Pepper said the school board will try to resolve the conflict at its July 30 meeting. Ventriglia -- who has support from three of North Sacramento's five school board members -- said she is optimistic the issue can be resolved before school opens Sept. 4. But Patty Smart, who has been serving as superintendent since the board fired Tillett last month, said the district and the charter have been unable to agree on a memorandum of understanding - or MOU -- that would spell out the details of their relationship. "It would be legally OK to open it without the MOU," she said. "Although highly unadvisable."

Ventriglia said she has hired six teachers for the Lindsay school, but has not yet selected a principal. She developed the charter with grant money from the federal government intended to boost the number of schools teaching languages -- such as Mandarin -- considered crucial to national security and commerce. The grant is part of President Bush's National Security Language Initiative. continue reading

July 20, 2007

Time Well Spent at the Science Table

Worthington Direct has school furniture down to a science.  We have popluar science tables by Inwood, Allied and Diversified Woodcrafts that range in use for Earth science all the way to Chemistry classes.  Seat your science students on the perfect height Stools or Stack Chairs.  Call or Visit our website, www.WorthingtonDirect.com,  today to find great deals on all of your school and institutional furniture needs. 800-599-6636

Allied Hardwood Science Table

In the sprawling complex of high-tech labs, researchers diligently tamper with DNA. Others apply precise computer programs to reconfigure the tiny, complicated strands. New Basha High science teacher Sharon New is spending her summer here, at the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, so she can bring back to her classroom some of the most rigorous course work available for high school students.

For six weeks this summer, the Chandler Unified instructor became the first public school teacher to intern with Professor Hao Yan, sitting where her students will this fall - behind desks, lab tables and computers. "This is about bringing the cutting-edge research back to my classroom," New said. She has been learning about one of the fastest-growing scientific fields, nanotechnology, and how the microscopic particles can be applied to such fields as medicine.

New will offer her students a course called Introduction to Biotechnology, which the teens will be able to take for college credit through Chandler-Gilbert Community College. Biodesign Institute researchers offered New one of the first internships for educators this year. The institute's high school student program has grown from 16 students last year to 24 this summer. "I've been working on DNA origami computer manipulations," said Alex Brown, 17, who will be a senior at Central High School in Phoenix. "The two DNA strands come together like a zipper."

The Biodesign Institute opened four years ago on ASU's Tempe campus. The first two of four interconnected buildings, which will eventually have a total research space of 800,000 square feet, have been built. Professors strive to get students excited about science and help them develop the skills needed for science careers. "This place has equipment that my school does not have, so it has been great," said Brown who wants to become a science researcher. continue reading

July 18, 2007

School Lunches Just Got Lighter

Soy protein tortillas. Chipotle-lime sunflower seeds. Garbanzo bean dip. Yum.

The lunch menu may be new, but schools have can still count on great prices and service that have always been served up by Worthington Direct.  Buy Virco Mobile Cafeteria Tables at wholesale prices with fast delivery.  Shop for Mobile Bench Tables or Stool Tables by Midwest Folding Products available in every color.  Visit www.WorthingtonDirect.com today and set the lunch table right.

These healthy foods were among the options for public school menus presented Tuesday at the national School Nutrition Association's conference at McCormick Place. With schools emerging as the frontline in the fight against childhood obesity, more than 7,500 food service directors, cafeteria managers and so-called "lunch ladies" have been attending the conference since Sunday, taste-testing recipes that could end up in cafeterias by the fall.

Asparagus guacamole, anyone? The annual conference, which ends Wednesday, offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse at how school menus are shaped and how hundreds of vendors compete for lucrative school food contracts. Though they haven't received the same negative attention as fast-food chains such as McDonald's, schools across the nation serve nearly as many meals as the hamburger giant, experts say. And schools often struggle to figure out how to get kids to eat healthier.

Last year, school districts implemented new "wellness policies" mandated by the federal government to help promote nutrition and physical activity for students. Though they follow U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines, which call for eating a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, most schools determine what they'll serve in the cafeteria.

In some cases, states set additional nutritional standards. In Illinois, where there's a ban on junk food in cafeterias and school vending machines, school districts, including Chicago Public Schools, select their menus.

As school officials prepare for a new school year, a national report released in April and requested by Congress recommends even stricter standards to cut calories, fat and sugar in snacks and drinks sold in school vending machines, at fundraisers and as a la carte items in cafeterias. continue reading

Schools Aim to Fill IT Job Demand

Worthington Direct has all the information technology furniture your school needs to train the future IT work force.  Find great deals on Flat Panel Workstations by Paragon or lead the class with the popular Sit-Stand Computer Workstation by Bretford.  Visit www.WorthingtonDirect.com today and find the perfect platform on which to grow your technology education program.

Employers across the nation are finding it increasingly difficult to fill information technology (IT) positions, mainly because of a shortage of qualified entry-level and advanced employees, according to industry experts. Contrary to what many people believe--that available IT jobs are on the decline--businesses throughout the United States say the IT sector offers more job opportunities than ever, and they're struggling to find employees to fill these many openings.

Industry insiders point to a few reasons for the shortage, including the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) education law and lingering perceptions from the dot-com bust that occurred earlier this decade. Now, experts are trying to change these perceptions--and they're looking to schools for help.

Part of the reason many people think the IT field holds little promise is they don't understand things have changed since 2000 and 2001, when the IT field took a hit, said Gene Longo, senior manager of U.S. field operations for Cisco Systems' Networking Academy program. "In 2000 and 2001, when the dot-com bust happened, and then [immediately after] September 11, we saw lots of layoffs in the IT and tech industries," Longo said, adding that many students and professionals shied away from the IT field when they saw jobs were scarce. But that was then.

Job opportunities in areas such as computer software engineering, computer support, and systems administration are expected to increase must faster than the average for all occupations, with computer software engineering projected to be one of the fastest-growing occupations through 2014, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' "2006-07 Occupational Outlook Handbook."

According to the federal agency, computer systems analysts are expected to see a 31-percent increase in total employment from 2004 to 2014. Network systems and data communication analysts are expected to see a 55-percent increase in total employment during that time, and computer software engineers should see a 48-percent increase in employment.

Longo believes another reason for the lack of qualified IT employees in the United States can be traced to high school reform and NCLB, which puts the focus squarely on core skills such as reading, science, and math--and therefore might not give students the chance to explore IT courses or electives while in high school. continue reading

July 16, 2007

A Safer Chair

Worthington Direct knows that not all chairs are created equally, which is why they only sell quality classroom chairs from trusted brands.  Browse thru their extensive Chairs & Seating catagory and find great deals on chairs from Virco, Royal Seating, Smith System, Scholarcraft and many more!  Visit and get a quote today at www.worthingtondirect.com.

 

http://worthingtondirect.com/images/90110.jpg

 

A motley collection of 13,700 firearms was ceremoniously dumped Monday at a giant foundry where the weapons will be melted down and forged into chairs for schoolchildren.

The symbolic gesture in this gun-besotted nation afflicted for more than a half century by civil conflict and plagued by drug-related crime was co-sponsored by the United Nations. Colombia has one of the world's highest firearm homicide rates: 26 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, nearly double the average for Latin America and the Caribbean and about eight times the global average, according to a recent report by the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime. continue reading

July 09, 2007

Worthington Direct to Offer New Flat Panel Digital Kiosks from Bretford

Worthington Direct (www.worthingtondirect.com), a supplier of school and church furniture and equipment for over 10 years will offer new flat panel digital kiosks from Bretford. Bretford, Inc., the leading supplier of high quality technology and media furniture that improves how people work and learn, introduced two new Flat Panel Digital Kiosks designed to provide secure network data access or general information to people in virtually any public location. The FPDK Series debuted last month at InfoComm International in Anaheim, Calif.

The new Flat Panel Digital Kiosks feature a unique keyboard tray that folds up and out of the way when not in use for safety and space-savings. Both of the kiosks allow easy access to data by attaching directly to the wall at walk-up height but can also be mounted lower on the wall for wheelchair access. Additionally, the monitor and keyboard tray both mount independently on the track, which allows users to easily adjust the monitor and keyboard for comfort and ease of use.

The FPDK01 includes a 31.5" aluminum alloy wall track, while the FPDT02 includes two 31.5" wall tracks -- one to support the CPU holder (measuring 63" in total height). Both kiosks include mounts that are VESA 75mm and 100mm compatible for use with essentially any 15-19" flat panel monitor. Other user convenience features include an expandable tray for various keyboard sizes with an integrated, ergonomic wrist rest and mouse pad. As well, the kiosks offer left- or right-handed mouse capability to accommodate all users.

Worthington Direct also offers other Bretford products such as:

Multi media presentation carts

 http://www.worthingtondirect.com/images/22076.jpg

Yoke-style television wall mounts:

http://www.worthingtondirect.com/images/22209.jpg

Mobile projector carts

http://www.worthingtondirect.com/images/22458.jpg

 About Worthington Direct:

After spending over 30 years in the school supply, church and equipment industry, Worthington Direct (www.worthingtondirect.com) knows what is important - selection, service, price and timing. Our goal is to make your purchasing job easier. With competitive pricing, knowledgeable sales associates, and "In Stock" products for quick, efficient shipping, Worthington Direct is committed to be your furniture resource. Schools and churches look to Worthington Direct for competitive pricing for school furniture, church furniture, preschool furniture, early childhood furniture, library furniture, desks, wholesale furniture, computer furniture, classroom furniture, chalkboards, office furniture, room dividers, storage cabinets, easels, display cases, cafeteria tables, activity tables, classroom desks, computer tables, desk chairs, lecterns, literature racks, office desks and risers among its large stock. continue reading

July 06, 2007

Students of The Stage

Ramp up your Shakespeare in the Park this year with Midwest Folding Portable Stages.  Portable and durable, these stages can be just the lift your students need to deliver those lines with perfection.  Visit Worthington Direct's online store at www.worthingtondirect.com to find the stage or riser that's just right for your production.

http://worthingtondirect.com/images/4808C.jpg

Each summer the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival demonstrates the timelessness of Shakespeare's works to kids of all ages with its free educational outreach programs. They are conducted this year in collaboration with the Nevada Shakespeare Company, the only professional, non-profit theatre company in the state.

Beginning July 24, the D.G. Menchetti Young Shakespeare performances are held at area amphitheaters, community centers and parks throughout Reno-Sparks, Carson City and Lake Tahoe communities and this year feature the enduring masterpiece Romeo & Juliet.

"Educating youth about theater and the importance of arts in the community is a driving force of our organization and we're very excited to be expanding our Young Shakespeare outreach so significantly this season, especially in collaboration with the Nevada Shakespeare Company," said Catherine Atack, executive director of the Festival. "By presenting such a well known classroom favorite this year with Romeo & Juliet, and by offering the InterACT Workshops, our goal is to appeal to a wider youth audience and provide workshops using text from this year's educational curriculum in order to best aid regional teachers."

Advance reservations are required for all performances. The Young Shakespeare program is made possible in part by Chair Emeritus, Geno Menchetti, the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival and the Nevada Shakespeare Company. All performances are free for children and chaperones. To reserve space for the Young Shakespeare performances, visit LakeTahoeShakespeare.com or call (775) 832-1616.

New for this year, the festival has expanded its educational program to include in-school outreach with its InterACT Workshop Series offered free to qualified schools and youth organizations. InterACT, available for booking throughout the academic year and summer holiday season, is a series of dynamic humanities-based workshops that are highly interactive and feature activities to help students understand the themes of Shakespeare's works as well as the world of theatre.

Combining the skills of a licensed classroom teacher with that of seasoned theater professionals, InterACT workshops are carefully crafted to meet the specific needs of the students by engaging them in acting games and discussions, with the culmination of the course being a live performance of selected scenes. Through the workshops, students develop critical and creative thinking skills as they bring Shakespeare's written word to life. continue reading

July 05, 2007

Nutrition Education Gets A Rotten Tomato

Students may not always make the healthiest food choices, but schools can maintain a slim budget when they buy from Worthington Direct.  Visit our website today and browse our great selection of school furniture products that are all low carb and tasty! www.worthingtondirect.com. http://worthingtondirect.com/images/98177.jpg

The federal government will spend more than $1 billion this year on nutrition education -- fresh carrot and celery snacks, videos of dancing fruit, hundreds of hours of lively lessons about how great you will feel if you eat well. 

But an Associated Press review of scientific studies examining 57 such programs found mostly failure. Just four showed any real success in changing the way children eat -- or promise as weapons against childhood obesity. "Any person looking at the published literature about these programs would have to conclude that they are generally not working," said Dr. Tom Baranowski, a pediatrics professor at Houston's Baylor College of Medicine who studies behavioral nutrition. Among the results:

 

  • Last year a major federal pilot program offering free fruits and vegetables to schoolchildren showed 5th graders became less willing to eat them than they had been at the start. Apparently they didn't like the taste.
  • In Pennsylvania, researchers gave prizes to schoolchildren who ate fruits and vegetables. That worked while the prizes were offered, but when the researchers came back seven months later the students had reverted to their original eating habits: soda and chips.

The forces that make children fat "are really strong and hard to fight with just a program in school," said Dr. Philip Zeitler, a pediatric endocrinologist and researcher who sees "a steady stream" of obese children struggling with diabetes and other medical problems at The Children's Hospital in Denver. Kate Houston, deputy undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, oversees most federal funds -- $696 million this year -- spent on childhood nutrition education in this country.

Houston insists the programs are successful. "I think the question here is how are we measuring success, and there are certainly many ways in which you can do so and the ways in which we've been able to measure have shown success," she said. continue reading

July 02, 2007

Virco Honored for Being "Good Corporate Citizens"

Certificates of Recognition were sent to 435 companies by the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County for being “good corporate citizens” for the year 2006. These companies were consistent in their compliance with all their industrial wastewater discharge requirements in 2006. They met their limits for wastewater discharge, they were free from any notices of violation, they maintained their environmental equipment and they fulfilled their permit requirements.

Virco, one of the companies to receive the certificate, is a manufacturer of quality educational furniture products and has one of its two warehouses located in Torrance, CA.  Worthington Direct proudly carries all of their products at low wholesale prices.  Visit www.WorthingtonDirect.com today and browse by manufacturer, Virco.  Worthington Direct carries a variety of their products, ranging from Classroom Stack Chairs to Mobile Cafeteria Tables. http://worthingtondirect.com/images/90259.jpg

Sixty-one of the companies have received this recognition consecutively for the last five or more years. “These 435 businesses are our industrial role models,” notes Steve Maguin, Chief Engineer and General Manager of the Sanitation Districts. “We appreciate their effort because it makes our job of running a huge wastewater collection and treatment system so much easier.”

Mr. Maguin announced the certificate awardees at the meetings of the Boards of Directors of the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County. “We hope this will become an award that is sought after by industry and recognized by the public,” notes Sam Bell, Vice President of Metal Surfaces, Inc., of Bell Gardens and chair of the Industry Advisory Council. “It provides further incentive for companies to meet Districts’ limits and regulations.

The Sanitation Districts have always worked closely with industry, and recognizing industry for conscientious compliance is a further step to encourage companies to comply with regulations and protect the environment.” Paul Martyn, head of the Sanitation Districts’ Industrial Waste Section, adds that the monitoring, inspection and compliance records of these facilities were carefully checked to verify that every requirement was met during the year.

The idea for the Certificates of Recognition originated with the Sanitation Districts’ Industry Advisory Council, an advisory group of 18 representatives from different industrial sectors. The Council and the Sanitation Districts felt it was important that industries with good compliance records be recognized.

The Recognition Program is now in its eleventh year. "This is a great example of private industry working with regulators for economic and environmental benefits," said Ron Wood, President and CEO of the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership. "Their determination and innovation show that we can have a diverse and growing economy while maintaining our quality of life." continue reading