REMINDER/NJ-NIRI to Hold Seminar on August 7th

Business Wire, August 7, 2002

Business Editors

REMINDER...for Wednesday (Aug. 7)

MADISON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 7, 2002

The New World of Corporate Responsibility: How Investor Relations

can Maintain and Enhance Your Company's Corporate Reputation in

Today's Demanding Market Environment

The New Jersey Chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI), in partnership with the Corporate Communication Institute (CCI) at Fairleigh Dickinson University, today announced that it will present a seminar -- "The New World of Corporate Responsibility: How Investor Relations can Maintain and Enhance Your Company's Corporate Reputation in Today's Demanding Market Environment."

It will be held on Wednesday, August 7th, from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm in the Hartman Lounge, The Mansion, at Fairleigh Dickinson University's Madison, New Jersey campus.

      WHO:
          The New Jersey Chapter of the National Investor Relations
        Institute (NIRI), in partnership with the Corporate
        Communication Institute (CCI) at Fairleigh Dickinson
        University.

      WHAT:
          SEMINAR: The New World of Corporate Responsibility: How
        Investor Relations can Maintain and Enhance Your Company's
        Corporate Reputation in Today's Demanding Market Environment.

      WHEN:
          Wednesday, August 7th, from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm

      WHERE:
          Fairleigh Dickson University, Madison, NJ campus, The Hartman
        Lounge in The Mansion

      FOCUS:
          The seminar will be of particular interest to directors, chief
        executive officers, chief financial officers, investor
        relations officers, senior corporate management and others who
        must deal with the practical issues surrounding investor
        relations and corporate reputation management in the current
        market environment.

      FEES:
          The cost for this seminar is $35.00 for NJ-NIRI and CCI
        members/$50.00 for all others, including lunch.

      PRESS:
          Complimentary admittance for the press. Please contact Van
        Negris / 212/396-0606.

"NJ-NIRI's seminar -- The New World of Corporate Responsibility -- will be a very stimulating and thought-provoking day for investor relations professionals and corporate management," said Van Negris, Senior Managing Director of Kehoe, White, Van Negris & Company and a member of NJ-NIRI's Executive Committee.

Mr. Negris continued: "With the government's commitment to bringing a new era of integrity to American business in the wake of the continuing scandals roiling the financial markets, investor relations professionals are on the front lines of corporate reputation management and corporate disclosure practices. They are being challenged, as never before, to maintain trust in their companies with Wall Street, investors, communities, government officials, the media, and the general public.

"This seminar will offer practical approaches that investor relations professionals and corporate management can take to ensure that their companies' financial reporting reflect a more transparent picture of earnings, accomplishments and anticipated future performance that will contribute to investor confidence and enhance their companies' credibility and integrity."

SEMINAR AGENDA

The Realities of Investor Relations in 2002; Philip J. Denning, Kehoe, White, Van Negris & Company -- Publicly-traded corporations have a special obligation to disclose accurate and timely information to their investors. In the new world of corporate reporting in 2002, traditional reactive approaches to investor relations won't do the job. Mr. Denning will explore how a proactive approach to investor relations, rooted in the responsible application of financial marketing techniques, can enhance a company's profile in the investment community and contribute to the ability of investors to make informed investment decisions

Systematic Outreach: Best Practice Methods for Reaching the Buy-Side and Sell-Side; Paul Marcus, Director; Corporate Investor Relations Sales, Bigdough.com - The turbulent financial markets have resulted in a massive restructuring of the buy-side and sell-side on Wall Street. Mr. Marcus discusses how investor relations professionals can effectively use state-of-the-art profile-based, peer-based, sector buying and quantitative targeting techniques to achieve greater research coverage and institutional ownership in these turbulent financial markets.

Corporate Reputation Management and the Impact of Corporate Citizenship Activities; Dr. Michael B. Goodman, Director, Corporate Communication Institute at Fairleigh Dickinson University -- The role of corporate citizenship as an essential component in rebuilding trust in corporations. Dr. Goodman explores Reputation Management in this context, and uses information from the annual CCI Corporate Communication Practices and Trends Study to illuminate and support courses of action.

Issues at the Forefront of the Investor Relations Industry: An Overview of Proposed and Current Complex Reporting Issues Domestically and Abroad; Michael Becker, Manager, Global Disclosure Services, Business Wire -- Reporting material items in a timely manner has become an increasingly difficult task for today's IRO. Knowing what myriad items are material, when to report, and geographically where to report has become a necessity to a fluid and comprehensive IR program. With disclosure becoming a global initiative rather than a domestic item, Mr. Becker will present an overview of global disclosure and reporting requirements for multinational corporations, an update of proposed SEC Regulations for Disclosure, a review of the SEC's EDGAR system and potential new filing requirements.