LAFAYETTE, Ind. — An information session and rally for participation is being planned to spur the creative imaginations of area residents.

At 6 p.m. Oct. 16, an informational call-out meeting for the “Tippecanus Rex” project will be held at the Tippecanoe Arts Federation, 638 North St., Lafayette. The project will highlight visual, performing, musical and literary art that addresses invented natural history of the Tippecanoe County region, through imaginative interpretation and fantastic fabrication.

All interested artists, writers and performers, as well as all arts and culture organizations in the Region 4 Arts Partnership, are invited to attend, hear about the project, and brainstorm ideas for participation and collaboration.

“Tippecanus Rex” will be presented from April 1 through May 10 at the Tippecanoe Arts Federation. In conjunction with its “Urban Legends and Rural Myths” exhibition, Purdue Galleries is partnering with the Tippecanoe Arts Federation to present this community-wide celebration of the “(un)natural” history of Tippecanoe County. Residents of all 14 counties in the Indiana Region 4 Arts Partnership served by TAF will be invited to submit entries to the project.

For more information, contact Craig Martin from Purdue Galleries at cdmartin@purdue.edu or (765) 496-7899; or contact Abigail Props from the Tippecanoe Arts Federation at taf@tippecanoearts.org or (765) 423-2787. All Purdue Galleries and TAF exhibitions and events are free and open to the public.

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Small Business Administration today unveiled a new Web site geared to the 50-plus entrepreneur, providing useful information, links and resources vital to starting, growing and expanding a small business.

The new Web site at www.sba.gov/50plusentrepreneur features interactive information and links to help 50-plus entrepreneurs consider the benefits and rewards of business ownership, and to help them make informed choices about business ownership.

“The SBA is working hard to increase opportunities for small businesses of the baby boomer generation at every stage of their business development through better technology tools and effective services through the agency’s district offices and resource partners,” SBA Acting Administrator Sandy K. Baruah said. “We believe 50-plus entrepreneurs will drive significant new business growth in the coming years.”

Components of the new Web site include a self-assessment feature to help the aspiring entrepreneur determine his or her business readiness, information on borrowing and credit, and inspirational success stories from baby boomer entrepreneurs. The Web site will help users evaluate the reasons for business ownership after age 50, the risks involved, and how to devise a plan of action at every phase of business development.

This is the first new offering under the structure of the re-launched Office of Entrepreneurship Education (OEE). OEE combines SBA’s online education programs, business and community initiatives, and outreach to underserved markets under a single umbrella.

As baby boomers consider career and lifestyle shifts that extend beyond their work careers, tapping into the world of business ownership can allow them to leverage their flexibility, know- how and business acumen to go into business for themselves. Many have already joined the ranks of the nation’s self-employed and small business owners.

The SBA provides financial, management and technical assistance to thousands of small business owners throughout the country. The Web site can be accessed at all times, as well as the SBA’s other online resources and free online training at www.sba.gov.

NEWTOWN, Conn. — The Obama campaign in Indiana, on September 27, unlawfully obtained and made unauthorized use of a proprietary media list belonging to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) – the trade association for the firearms industry. Sen. Obama used this list to e-mail a press release (http://www.nssf.org/share/PDF/100808-003.pdf) concerning National Hunting and Fishing Day.

Earlier today, NSSF sent a “cease and desist” letter (http://www.nssf.org/share/PDF/100808-001.pdf) to the Obama campaign demanding that they immediately stop any further unauthorized misuse of its proprietary media list.

The list contains the names and addresses of members of the media that attended the NSSF Shooting Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show) – the world’s largest firearms trade show and the 23rd largest trade show of any kind in North America.

The list can only be obtained from NSSF and its use is tightly controlled by NSSF (http://www.nssf.org/share/PDF/100808-002.pdf). Neither the Obama campaign, nor its operations in Indiana, obtained any rights from NSSF to use the list.

NSSF’s letter also demands that the Obama campaign destroy all copies of the list, identify how they obtained the list and pay monetary damages to NSSF for its misappropriation and unauthorized use of the association’s intellectual property. NSSF demanded an immediate response from the Obama campaign and has threatened to file a lawsuit against the campaign if its demands are not met.

“NSSF will not sit idly by while its legal rights are harmed, particularly for partisan political gain,” said NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane.

NSSF is also encouraging sportsmen and gun-owners to visit the NSSF Voter Education Web-site (http://www.nssf.org/VoterEd/) and educate themselves about the candidates’ records and positions on issues important to them in this election.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The St. Elizabeth School of Nursing will hold an information day, starting at 2 p.m. EDT on Friday, Oct. 31 for anyone interested in a nursing career.

The program will cover registration, curriculum, financial aid and admission information for the St. Elizabeth School of Nursing. Tours of the facility will also be provided.

The St. Elizabeth School of Nursing–Saint Joseph’s College Consortium Nursing Program offers an integrated diploma/bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) curriculum that prepares the graduates to become eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN).

The program includes:

• A nursing educational program based in the diploma/hospital tradition of early “hands on” clinical experiences and approved by the Indiana State Board of Nursing; and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC).
• A regionally accredited college authorized to offer the BSN.

The St. Elizabeth School of Nursing is approved by the Indiana State Board of Nursing and is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. Admission to the school is based on the applicant’s ability to meet the admission requirements without discrimination.

The school is located at 1508 Tippecanoe St., Lafayette, on the St. Elizabeth Medical Center campus. To register for the program or for more information, please call (765) 423-6400.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. -– The Sisters of St. Francis Health Services Inc. (SSFHS) announced October 13 that its contract with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Indiana is set to end November 2, 2008.

Reasons for the termination include Anthem’s lack of accurate and timely claims payment and the inability to secure contract terms comparable to other hospitals in the area, SSFHS officials said.

The termination will cover the following SSFHS hospitals and physicians:

• St. Elizabeth Regional Health, including St. Elizabeth Medical Center and Home Hospital in Lafayette;
• St. Clare Medical Center in Crawfordsville;
• St. Francis Hospital & Health Center in Indianapolis;
• St. Francis Hospital & Health Center in Beech Grove;
• St. Francis Hospital & Health Center in Mooresville;
• St. Anthony Medical Center in Crown Point;
• St. Anthony Memorial Health Center in Michigan City;
• St. Margaret Mercy Healthcare Center in Hammond;
• St. Margaret Mercy Healthcare Center in Dyer;
• Franciscan Physicians Hospital in Munster; and
• More than 300 physicians in the different SSFHS service areas.

“SSFHS is a good partner that works closely with payers to resolve claims problems when they occur,” said Greg Yust, SSFHS vice president of managed care contracting. “We recently forged successful long-term agreements with Aetna, Humana, Sagamore and CIGNA. The Anthem claims issues have been ongoing for more than a year with no progress whatsoever.”

St. Elizabeth hopes to work out a new agreement with Anthem. In the event SSFHS is unable to reach an agreement, it will continue to work with Anthem, patients and employers to limit the impact the contract dispute might cause.

MISHAWAKA, IND. — The Sisters of St. Francis Health Services (SSFHS) is pleased to announce that James C. Sparks, Ph.D. has been appointed vice president for Innovation for SSFHS.

Dr. Sparks received his bachelor’s of science and doctorate degrees in biology and biochemistry from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and he received his post-doctoral training in clinical laboratory science at the University of Tennessee Memorial Research Center and Hospital in Knoxville. Dr. Sparks is an associate fellow of the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry and has more than 35 years experience in health care operations, primarily in the clinical laboratory arena.

In his new role, Dr. Sparks will work with SSFHS’ senior leadership and with system and hospital medical, quality and performance improvement leaders to identify and share operational and clinical best practice standards and processes throughout the system. He will also facilitate a system-wide approach to new and emerging health care technology identification and evaluation using existing technology assessment teams and processes to develop transparent and consistent approaches and strategies in this key capital investment arena.

Dr. Sparks previously served SSFHS as the president and CEO of their seminal central laboratory venture and was instrumental in leading the merger of its operations with the laboratory operations of two other health care systems in the Chicago area – Provena Health and Resurrection Health Care. Prior to his service at SSFHS, Dr. Sparks was a member of senior leadership at Specialty Laboratories, Genzyme Genetics, Nichols Institute and SmithKline Beecham Clinical Laboratories. He also served as an independent consultant to pathology practices and to biotechnology entrepreneurs and investors.

“Purposeful, worthwhile work and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others have all been part of my experience over the years I have been part of SSFHS. Our mission of continuing Christ’s ministry in our Franciscan tradition is the best descriptor of a healing mission as I can imagine, and we who work in this ministry are blessed to be able to participate in this mission. All of our employees are part of our system to do well by doing good, and we are continuing to find ways to bring our collective attention to patient-centered care that is safe, effective, efficient, timely and equitable. It is a deep honor and privilege for me to be a part of this community of servant-leaders and to make whatever contribution I can to further its mission and values.”

Dr. Sparks and his wife have lived in downtown Chicago for the past 10 years and are active in neighborhood and charitable organizations and functions.