Since Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, Louisiana, has been working feverishly to replace both resident homes and community fixtures that help make New Orleans a great place to visit. To back this effort, American Express has pledged $400,000 to help nine historical sites that have played a crucial role in bringing together the New Orleans community. American Express recently partnered with the National
Trust for Historic Preservation to launch a community-based historic preservation initiative, supporting New Orleans as part of the American Express Partners in Preservation program.

Two of the nine sites under consideration for grant money are worship facilities: St. James A.M.E. Church (original construction 1848-1851; renovation 1903) and St. Augustine Church and Parish Hall (built 1841-1869).

St. James A.M.E. Church
The church is connected to the recruitment of the first African American soldiers for the Union Army in Louisiana, was involved in the initial organization of the Black YMCA, and contributed to successful advocacy for the establishment of the Bienville School for Black Children in 1903, now known as the Albert Wicker School. At present, services are not being held in the sanctuary due to the damage from Hurricane Katrina. However, the building is secure, has electricity, has been cleaned, and is accessible to visitors. Until its restoration is complete, services and activities are being held in an auxiliary building.

The St. Augustine Church and Parish Hall
As the second oldest African American parish, St. Augustine is a significant part of the city's African American heritage. The church currently serves as a community gathering site and supports a multitude of services and programs for the local community. Rotting and damaged wood and roofing contribute to the parish hall’s state of disrepair.

"Anyone who has visited New Orleans knows how the city’s diverse collection of historic buildings contributes to its unique charm," says Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, based in Washington, D.C. "New Orleans is struggling to maintain its authenticity in the aftermath of Katrina, and a top priority for the National Trust for Historic Preservation is helping to preserve its rich cultural heritage."

For more information, visit www.partnersinpreservation.com.

Religious Facilities Building Remains Robust as Architecture Billings Index Drops in Other Sectors

As various building sectors struggle in the overall economy, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) dropped two points in March 2008 and fell to its lowest level since the survey's inception in 1995. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI shows an approximate 9-12 month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) in Washington, D.C., reported the overall March ABI rating dropped to 39.7, following a 9-point decline in February (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings).

Of the sectors identified in the ABI report, only the institutional sector―which includes worship facilities―scored above 50, at 50.8. In comparison, the commercial/industrial sector came in at 38.3 while multi-family residential came in at 31.7.

For more information on the ABI, visit www.aia.org.

CWorks Systems Launches Global Facility Management Campaign

CWorks Systems is going Hollywood with the topic of facilities management. Earlier this year, the company, a global provider of maintenance information software, began a worldwide market campaign called "CWorks Aware."

As part of the campaign, CWorks showcases two industries using its facility maintenance software in commercials being televised hours around the world. The first commercial televised features Leeds Castle in Great Britain, which uses CWorks software for its 14th century property. (Click LINKBACK to watch video)

The second commercial highlights Kauai BackCountry Adventures, an eco-tourist company in Hawaii that uses CWorks software to meet the safety requirements of its zip lines and to reduce repair costs of its fleet of cross-terrain Jeeps. (Click LINKBACK to watch video)
According to CWorks executives, the campaign not only brings awareness to the company but to facilities managers everywhere and to the scope of their day-to-day business operations.

To check out the videos and get an idea of what the software can offer houses of worship, visit www.cworks.com.my or click the Link Back buttons provided above.

Security Industry Association Awards JVC’s IP-network Security Camera

JVC Professional Products Company of Wayne, New Jersey, announces winning the 2008 New Product Showcase Award at Security Industry Association's (SIA's) New Product Showcase competition on April 2, 2008, at ISC West in Las Vegas, a tradeshow geared toward security professionals. JVC was awarded for the category "IP Devices, Products and Software" for its new VN-V686WPU outdoor Pan Tilt Zoom IP-network security camera.

"SIA's New Product Showcase is the most coveted award in the industry. JVC [is] a strong supporter of the SIA NPS process, and we are very proud of the achievement of the VN-V686WPU camera," says Geoff Anderson, national marketing manager for JVC security products.

As part of JVC's V.Networks lineup, the VN-V686WPU is an outdoor IP66 rated vandal-proof IP surveillance camera that features a 36x optical zoom lens with a direct drive mechanism to provide fast, accurate pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) functionality. The camera's optical zoom capability is complemented by an image stabilizer for clear visibility even with tight shots. The feature that reportedly grabbed the NPS judges' attention was the hot swap camera head, designed to reduce time and cost for camera maintenance, upgrade, and repair.

More than 100 new products and technologies competed for honors at the annual awards program honoring excellence in security product design.

www.pro.jvc.com/prof/main.jsp

Eastridge Christian Assembly Teams with Financial Partner to Build for the Future

When Eastridge Christian Assembly in Issaquah, Washington, caught a vision to impact future generations, staff at the church southeast of Seattle became intentional about embracing the community. In response, the community flooded into the church and weekly attendance swelled beyond what the church’s facilities could accommodate. "We had no room to grow," says Senior Pastor Steve Jamison, "but we grew anyway."

That growth prompted an expansion project, now under construction, that strategically positions Eastridge in its community. Located in a highly traveled corridor near the interstate, the new facility will attract people through its convenient location and a high-tech design with a cozy Northwest feel. The church’s commitment to children and families is also reflected in features such as tube slides for kids to glide through to reach destinations like KidZone and Adventure Land.

The road to construction, however, was not an easy one. As Jamison reports, "When it was time to build, we faced many hurdles. We're located in the most difficult county in America to get a building permit. And securing the right financing program was frustrating, even after our record-breaking capital campaign."

So the church contacted Kevin Bates, a ministry development officer with Evangelical Christian Credit Union (ECCU) of Brea, California. ECCU specializes in developing financial solutions for evangelical Christian ministries. "It was a pleasure to sit down with the Eastridge ministry team, and hear their vision to have a long-term impact in Issaquah," Bates says. That first meeting started a relationship that has proven to be mutually fulfilling.

"After looking at our financials," Jamison says, "Kevin [Bates] said that ECCU would be glad to work with us. Instead of feeling like we were begging for support … we found in ECCU a group of people who treated us as a true partner in ministry."

To learn more about the Eastridge Christian Assembly expansion project, go to www.ecaonline.org.

www.eccu.org

BG Radia Pro-32 Offers Patented Technology for Sound Solutions

Radia Pro is now offering the Pro-32, a high-performance speaker designed for demanding professional applications. The Pro-32 utilizes the company's patented planar-ribbon technology for high resolution and controlled directivity, good for any venue where sound dispersion needs to be focused on a targeted area with no unwanted reflections. The Pro-32 is available in a black or white enclosure.

The Radia Pro-32 concept, based on a woofer line array, features front-mounted drivers on a durable extruded aluminum enclosure with a coaxially positioned ribbon tweeter array. The LF section consists of 6 x 5.25" (13.34 cm) drivers, while the tweeter array consists of 9 x 3" (7.62 cm) proprietary planar-ribbon drivers.

As with all Radia Pro loudspeakers, the Pro-32 is hand-crafted from materials such as high-grade steel and aircraft-grade aluminum. According to Gary Rilling, sales consultant for Radia Pro, "Controlling directivity of loudspeakers has always been one of the most important goals in professional sound reproduction. Being able to aim and deliver sound energy precisely at one area and avoid intruding onto another is one of the biggest challenges that sound system designers face."

www.bgcorp.com

Interactive Worship Live Offers Music Backing Tracks and Video

Worship leaders are no longer stuck with a fixed musical arrangement. Instead, Interactive Worship Live enables worship teams to download Interactive Backing Tracks from its website. With a Mac or PC laptop and Ableton Live music software provided at the website, users can open the multi-track versions of live/studio recordings and re-recorded songs and add or subtract elements such as drums, bass, pianos, click tracks, strings, acoustic guitars, multiple electric guitar parts, and backing vocals. With the click of a button, worship teams can
use any or all of the instruments and direct the song in real time.
Interactive Worship Live's latest offering is video that can be synced with the corresponding Interactive Backing Track. So when a worship leader loops particular sections in a song, the video and words will be in sync.

www.interactiveworshiplive.com

Pantel Features Outdoor Weatherproof LCD HDTVs

Pantel offers two LCD HDTVs in 32-inch and 42-inch screen sizes (additional sizes TBA) for use in any weather. "Every season, consumer interest in residential outdoor luxury and commercial A/V applications continues to grow," explains Joe Pantel, chief executive officer of Surfside Concepts and Pantel Corp. "Our Pantel line of outdoor weatherproof TVs is revolutionizing the way back yards, sports stadiums, restaurants, golf courses, as well as many other commercial and residential applications take advertising and standard cable or satellite TV viewing outdoors."

Outdoor residential and commercial entertainment used to be a very concerning and expensive project due to the threat of unpredictable weather. High definition TVs used outdoors had to be utilized under canopies or other types of overhangs, but that still did not always protect them from cold, heat, wind, and dust.

Beyond being weatherproof, Pantel TVs come complete with an 802.11a wireless package that allows the user to broadcast audio and video wirelessly up to 150 feet.

Pantel has designed and tested its line of outdoor TVs in both extremes…the searing heat of Arizona desert summers, and the bitter cold of Minnesota winters. Pantel's proprietary dual flow ventilation system keeps Pantel TVs cool when it's hot and its state-of-the-art heating system creates heat to keep Pantel TVs working in colder climates. Pantel also has an anti-reflective glass screen that projects the sun's glare out of the viewing angle.

Additionally, Pantel offers customizable packages, such as mounting solutions, outdoor wireless speakers, and dust covers for its line of outdoor LCD HDTVs.

www.panteltv.com

Peavey Debuts Architectural Acoustics PHR Series Ceiling Loudspeakers

Architectural Acoustics by Peavey introduces the new PHR Series loudspeakers,
designed specifically for compact, in-ceiling operation in permanent installations.
The Architectural Acoustics PHR Series ceiling-mount enclosures are ideal
for high-intelligibility voice, program music, and versatile signal reproduction in commercial, industrial, and institutional applications. A tap selector switch allows for easy system tuning and configuration for 70-volt or 100-volt distributed systems, and a full selection of taps up to 60 watts (model dependent) and an 8-ohm transformer bypass setting are included for maximum system versatility. The UL-compliant enclosure is constructed of high-impact, injection-molded plastic
and includes a press-fitted grille design that blends well with contemporary architecture. PHR Series enclosures are housed in steel-backing cans and include two color-coded, screw-locked flying leads in a wiring chamber to allow for easy system wiring and daisy-chain wiring to additional PHR enclosures. A C-shaped backing plate support and tile bridge brackets are included.

aa.peavey.com

Bug-Juice Offers New Approach to Insect Control

Due to the constant use of worship facilities, answers to safe and effective insect control are ongoing issues. Bug-Juice Insecticide Paint Additive is the first and only product of its kind to receive an EPA registration (No. 47332-11) for both interior and exterior applications. Use it to control insects in and around worship facilities, kitchens, restrooms, and garbage areas. It mixes easily with water-based and oil-based paint, stains, or sealers.

Bug-Juice minimizes airborne pollutants related to pesticide sprays; kills ants, mosquitoes, silverfish, cockroaches, and many other crawling/flying insects. It is also odorless and lasts the life of the coating (minimum two years).

www.wwenvironmental.com

Shure Introduces Micro-BodyPack

Shure unleashes the new UR1M Micro-Bodypack. Offering superior wireless audio in an ultra-compact package that is about half the size of most standard bodypacks and weighing just three ounces with two AAA batteries, the UR1M is designed to be easily concealed and worn comfortably by actors, performers, musicians, and public speakers.

Operating with the premium Shure UHF-R wireless microphone system, the subminiature device uses the patented Shure Audio Reference Companding technology to deliver crystal-clear audio and a 60-75 MHz tuning range (region dependent).

During the manufacture of each UR1M, the circuit board is specially treated to greatly enhance the sweat resistance and durability of the device, allowing it to be worn close to the skin. Additional features include a choice of TQG or Lemo-3 connectors and selectable alkaline, lithium primary, or NIMH battery curves for accurate power metering.

www.shure.com

Special-Lite Corporate Video Available on DVD

This new DVD from Special-Lite, Inc. introduces viewers to the company’s unique approach to producing entrance systems. The 10-minute DVD details how Special-Lite's innovative design, manufacturing process, construction materials, attention to detail, craftsmanship, and personal commitment to quality contribute to the company’s ability to create custom, longer-lasting, heavy-duty entrances for commercial, institutional, and industrial entrances.

For a copy of the Special-Lite Corporate Video (Item # 4504), please order online.

www.special-lite.com

Kamyeung Showcases Remote Control Curtain System

Kamyeung specializes in the field of electrical curtain systems. All of their products including motors and main accessories are imported in order to provide optimal performance as well as the ability to support heavy loads.

For the open and close curtain, the track is guaranteed to support and drive up to 80 KGS, and the track length up to six meters. In addition the system is easy to install and quiet when operating (45 dBA at 1 meter).

Other products that the company offers include roller blinds, Roman blinds, vertical blinds Venetian blinds, and skylight shades.

www.kamyeung.com