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The swearing in ceremony for Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks, Q. Todd Dickinson, was held on Tuesday, November 23. Secretary of Commerce William M. Daley presided at the ceremony, which took place at the main headquarters of the Department of Commerce.
The nomination of Q. Todd Dickinson as Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks was approved by the Senate on November 10, 1999.
Dickinson has been serving in an acting capacity since January 1, 1999. He was nominated to the top spot by President Clinton on July 1, 1999.
When asked about serving in the position, Commissioner Dickinson said, "It's a great privilege to have the opportunity to serve the President, Secretary Daley, and the nation as PTO Commissioner. This is an extraordinary time in the history of our Nation's intellectual property system. We're currently experiencing what is arguably the greatest period of invention in human history, and these new technologies have sustained the longest peacetime economic expansion in U.S. history.
Economic vitality and effective intellectual property protection are inextricably linked in our new digital economy. In this information age -- with massive expenditures on research and development, continued emphasis on marketing and advertising to promote brand name identification, and rapid international exchange of digital information -- America's intellectual property and its creators, large and small, must be nurtured and safeguarded.
The United States' intellectual property system is the greatest in the world, and I am deeply committed to ensuring that we retain -- and build upon -- that status well into the 21st century."
The PTO family extends its congratulations to Commissioner Dickinson!
As we go to press, the "American Inventors Protection Act of 1999" was signed into law by the President on November 29, as part of the Conference Report on H.R. 3194, Consolidated Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2000. The new law makes a number of reforms to the patent law and establishes the PTO as a Performance Based Organization (PBO).
Be sure to read the January issue of the PTO Pulse where we'll take a closer look at the new law and the impact of the PBO.
By Eleanor K. Meltzer
The last Visiting Scholars Program (October 18 - 29, 1999) of this millennium was a tremendous success, thanks to a combination of outstanding volunteer speakers, Patent Academy employees, the Patent and Trademark Office Society (PTOS), and a record 37 Visiting Scholars from 21 different countries.
The Visiting Scholars Program was established in 1984 as a means for sharing the PTO's expertise with representatives from various industrial property offices worldwide, with the goal of enhancing global standards of intellectual property protection. Through the Visiting Scholars Program each year, employees of the PTO expose participants to the highest levels of professionalism in patent and trademark examination.
The following PTO employees participated as speakers in the program: David Abraham, Vicki Allums, Betty Andrews, Richard Apley, Paul Bell, Leslie Bishop, Lois Boland, Stephen Browning, Ray Chen, Mary Critharis, Elizabeth Dunn, Michael Hamilton, Nancy Hankin, Gary Harkcom, Stephen Kunin, Mary Lee, James Gandy, Alethea Long-Green, Linda Lourie, James Lynch, Eleanor Meltzer, Prima Mertz, David Moore, Craig Morris, Terry Rupp, Mahshid Saadat, Ellen Seeherman, Brian Weber, and Frances Wolfson.
In addition, Caroline West arranged for the Visiting Scholars to meet with Judge Rader of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Joycelyn Gaskins and Jennifer Lucas of OLIA worked closely with the Visiting Scholars to ensure smooth operation of the program.
During the two-week course, the Visiting Scholars received a variety of presentations on: conditions for patentability, automation, patent and trademark search techniques, design protection issues, international patent and trademark issues, as well as issues involving copyright protection. The Visiting Scholars were also given tours of the White House, Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the Copyright Office.
This year's Visiting Scholars Program included a mentor program and round-table discussion organized by the PTOS. The roundtable luncheon, held in the Patent Theatre on October 21st, gave PTO employees a chance to ask the Visiting Scholars questions about IP protection in other countries. Several highlights of the two-week program included other events sponsored by the PTOS. For the first Friday, the PTOS hosted a dinner/dance cruise. On October 25th, members of the PTOS treated the Visiting Scholars to the annual "Members Night on the Hill" event, providing our foreign guests with an opportunity to meet and mingle with Congressional Staff.
The next Visiting Scholars Program is tentatively scheduled for October 2000. If you would like further information regarding the program, please contact Eleanor Meltzer at 306-2960.
As all of us know first-hand, business at the PTO is booming. Patent filings are up 25% in the last two years and trademarks applications are up nearly 25% this year alone. In fact, our workload is up over 60% since the beginning of the Clinton Administration.
This year we received 270,000 patent applications and granted 161,000 patents. We received 290,000 trademark applications and registered 104,000 classes.
The challenges of managing this growth, improving the quality of the work we do, and preparing our intellectual property systems for the demands of the global electronic marketplace are significant -- and often stressful. Thanks to the dedication and commitment of all our employees, however, the PTO is rising to meet these challenges.
Our overarching goal at the PTO is to provide our customers with the highest level of quality and service in all aspects of our operations. Quality, of course, is determined by our customers.
That is why for the last four years we've mailed out comprehensive surveys to our patent and trademark customers. This year, for example, we mailed out more than 7,500 patent surveys and received responses from 35% of those surveyed. About two-thirds of the respondents were from law firms, followed by large businesses (16%) and individual inventors (11%).
The results? Well, I am very pleased to report that our customers have given us good news: quality is up at the PTO -- in virtually every area. Overall, customer satisfaction in the patents and trademarks areas increased by five percentage points and six percentage points, respectively.
In the patent area, overall satisfaction stands at 57%, up from 52% a year ago. That's the largest increase in the history of the surveys. Not only that, the dissatisfaction rate dropped five percentage points -- to below 20%. Responses to 27 of 29 items in the patent area improved from last year, and the majority of the improvements are in the six to ten percentage point range.
Satisfaction with the quality of our patent searches increased eight percentage points. In fact, we have seen a nearly 20 percentage point increase in search quality in the last three years.
In the trademark area, overall satisfaction increased by 6 percentage points to 69%. This is the largest increase we've every seen in trademarks. 87% of the respondents expressed satisfaction with the courteousness of their treatment, and 77% indicated satisfaction with the clarity of our communication.
I want to share some actual quotes from some of the surveys:
Needless to say, these are outstanding comments, and they wouldn't be possible without the dedication and hard work of every member of the PTO community.
I am very proud of our Examining Corps and all PTO employees. We all should take great satisfaction in the accomplishments we've made. I know it hasn't been easy, especially in light of our increased workload.
So, as we get ready to close out the 20th century -- a period of unprecedented invention and innovation -- congratulations! Your work has helped fuel the longest peacetime economic expansion in US history. Keep up the good work!
By Kristin L. Yohannan, Linda Moncys
Isacson and Maximilian R. Peterson You may contact Linda, Max or Kristin by E-mail or phone at 305-9035 with specific questions. Full text versions of the cases are available on the Internet at www.law.emory.edu/FEDCTS/.
Anticipation by Inherency: In Mehl/Biophile Interntional Corp. v. Milgraum, 52 USPQ2d 1303 (Fed. Cir. 1999), the Federal Circuit affirmed the district court's finding that US Patent No. 5,059,192 was invalid as anticipated. The claimed invention was directed to a method for removing hair using a laser. Hair grows out of hair follicles, tubular apertures in the skin. The collection of germ cells from which hairs grow, known as the papilla, lies at the base of the follicle. The '192 patent claims a method for destroying the papilla using a Q-switched ruby laser, thereby preventing hair regrowth.
The district court granted Milgraum's motion for summary judgment that the '192 patent was invalid as anticipated by an instruction manual for the Spectrum RD-1200 laser. The manual teaches the use of a Q-switched ruby laser to remove tattoos. Milgraum argued alternatively that the '192 patent was anticipated by an article by Dr. Luigi Polla. The Polla article documents "the tissue damage induced by Q-switched ruby laser pulses in black, brown, and albino (control) guinea pigs . . . in an effort to define the nature and extent of pigmented cell injury." However, since the district court found that the '192 patent was anticipated by the RD-1200 manual, it rested its decision on that reference.
The Federal Circuit held that the RD-1200 manual could not anticipate the '192 patent because it did not teach all of the limitations of the claimed invention. Claim 1 of the patent requires a step of "aligning a laser light applicator substantially vertically over a hair follicle opening." The Court found that the manual did not discuss hair follicles and thus, did not teach alignment substantially vertically over a follicle opening. Nor did the manual inherently teach this limitation of the claimed invention. In order to establish inherency, one must show that "the natural result flowing from the operation as taught would result in the performance of the questioned function, it seems to be well settled that the disclosure should be regarded as sufficient."
The Court then considered Milgraum's alternate invalidity argument, that the '192 patent was anticipated by Polla. The Court found that the Polla article did not suffer from the same "aligning" step deficiency as the manual. The Court stated that Polla was replete with references to the irradiation of hair follicles. The remaining question related to whether Polla taught that laser was substantially vertical over the hair follicle. The Court held that the "record shows that holding the collimated laser in contact with the skin would align it perpendicular to the skin surface and therefore substantially vertically over the follicle openings." Thus, viewed as a whole, the Polla disclosure shows that the "natural result flowing from the operation as taught would result in alignment of the laser light over the hair follicle, as claimed." This was true even though Polla did not mention the goal of hair removal. Therefore, the Court held that the '192 patent was invalid as anticipated.
After NAFTA Geographically Deceptively Misdescriptive Marks Are Not Registrable, Even With a Disclaimer of the Geographic Term: In In re Wada, 48 USPQ2d 1689 (Fed. Cir. 1999), the Federal Circuit affirmed the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, concluding that the TTAB did not err in refusing to register the mark NEW YORK WAYS GALLERY. Wada filed an intent-to-use application for the mark NEW YORK WAYS GALLERY for goods including leather bags, luggage, back packs, wallets, tote bags, and the like. The examining attorney refused to register the mark under 15 U.S.C. 1052(e)(3), finding that it was primarily geographically deceptively misdescriptive for the goods identified. The examiner found that Wada failed to demonstrate any connection between the goods identified and the city or state of New York.
The TTAB affirmed the examiner's refusal to register the mark because it found that the evidence established that the mark was primarily geographically misdescriptive. In particular, the Board pointed to evidence that showed 1) New York was a well-known geographic place and 2) New York is well-known as a place where leather handbags are designed and manufactured. The TTAB rejected Wada's assertion that the mark is intended to evoke a "New York style," and thus is not primarily geographic. Furthermore, the TTAB rejected Wada's argument that the disclaimer of NEW YORK allowed the mark as a whole to be registered. Because of the NAFTA amendments to the Lanham Act, the disclaimer of geographic terms no longer salvages registrability of such marks.
On appeal, the Federal Circuit noted that New York is not an obscure geographical term, and that the type of goods at issue here are designed and manufactured in New York. Given the deferential standard of review, the Court declined to disturb the TTAB's factual findings. Turning to the second part of the test, the Court upheld the TTAB's determination that consumers would view the mark as identifying a place connected with the goods based on evidence that New York is a world renown fashion center and is well-known as a place where goods of this kind are designed, manufactured, or sold, thus establishing a goods/place association.
Wada also argued on appeal that the disclaimer of NEW YORK should permit registration
of the mark as a whole. The Federal Circuit disagreed. The Court noted that
prior to the implementation of the NAFTA amendments to the Lanham Act, marks
that were primarily geographically deceptively misdescriptive could be registered
if they acquired secondary meaning or if the owner of the mark disclaimed the
primarily geographically deceptively misdescriptive term. However, the Court
upheld the PTO's determination that with the incorporation of the NAFTA amendments,
primarily geographically deceptively misdescriptive marks were precluded from
registration under all circumstances. Neither the statute nor the legislative
history address the practice of disclaiming primarily geographically deceptively
misdescriptive terms, but shortly after the NAFTA implementation, the Commissioner
stated that the geographic disclaimer practice was no longer viable. The Federal
Circuit noted the Commissioner's broad flexibility in implementing disclaimer
policies and rejected Wada's assertion that because the NAFTA amendments did
not specifically address the matter, the disclaimer is still available. The
Court found that "primarily geographically deceptively misdescriptive marks,
like deceptive marks, mislead the public even with a disclaimer . . . If Wada
were permitted to use the mark NEW YORK WAYS GALLERY with NEW YORK disclaimed,
the public would still be likely to believe mistakenly that products bearing
the mark are connected with New York."
By Frankie Cox
What better time to try on a new and improved appearance than at the start of a new century?
Your monthly PTO Pulse publication has taken this occasion to make a few changes in the way it looks in the coming year. The first change we hope you notice is a splash of color. The color should brighten up the publication and make it more visibly appealing. Another change will be the size of the individual pages. In the new year, the size of the pages will be reduced to 8-1/2" x 11" which is a far more standard size than the current one of 8-1/4" x 11-11/16". Every effort will be made to ensure that you receive the Pulse in a timely manner. The schedule for publication is the first week of each month.
The PTO Pulse will be sporting a new look and we certainly hope it pleases you. As always, your opinions are welcome.
What will never change is the sincere commitment to provide you with the latest and most factual PTO information possible. Remember that the PTO Pulse is your publication and cannot exist without your input.
I've enjoyed my first few months as editor of the PTO Pulse and certainly look forward to working with all of you in the new millennium. Please continue to send your news articles and information to Frankie.Cox@uspto.gov by the 5th of each month to be published in the next issue. Articles may be edited. All submissions should include the writer's name, phone number, and office. Remember that this publication is for you and about you, and again, that means your input is vital.
Please let me take this opportunity to thank all of the PTO employees who have taken the time to faithfully read and make great comments and suggestions about various issues. It is very much appreciated!!
Anne H. Chasser was nominated by President Clinton to the position of Assistant Commissioner for Trademarks on July 27, 1999. Her nomination was then approved by the Senate on November 10.
On Tuesday, November 16, the swearing in ceremony for the Assistant Commissioner for Trademarks took place here at the PTO. Ms. Chasser has spent 25 years in the trademark and licensing field and knows firsthand how critically important the work of the Trademark Office is.
The PTO family wishes to extend its congratulations to Ms. Chasser!
By Bernard Berger
December is a very busy month for people because of the hustle and bustle of the many holiday celebrations. This can be a very stressful time because of financial demands, time commitments, expectations, disappointments, family issues, and other feelings that come up during this time of year. The push and pull in different directions, the clash of family customs and traditions, the endless commercials and commercialism add to the stress at this time of year.
However, there are things you can do to lessen your stress during this hectic month. The following are suggestions to reduce your stress level for this holiday season:
* Make a realistic budget and stick to it.
* Plan ahead during this time of year.
* Include your child's/children's input into planning.
* Post a calendar with all holiday activities for your family to see.
* Give homemade foods and hand-made items as gifts.
* Lower your expectations about the Holiday Season.
* Do Not Drink and Drive.
* Do not over commit to more activities than your schedule allows.
* Stick to the traditions that you enjoy.
* Create your own new traditions when applicable.
* Give to others less fortunate than yourself -- volunteer or invite someone
that is alone to your house for holiday dinner.
* Take time out for yourself to enjoy the holidays.
Remember that December 1 is World AIDS Day. Think of those still suffering and give a contribution or volunteer your time to help make a difference.
The monthly EAP workshop will address Y2K issues. Check the What's New e-mail to find the time and location of the workshop. The PTO EAP web page is in the making and should be ready to unveil by the time you read this. Check out our web page at http://ptoweb1/patents/projects/kids/eap on the PTO intranet system. There will be information on the EAP for employees, as well as, supervisors and managers. Direct links for information on such issues as depression, stress, cigarette smoking, and many other topics can be found on our website.
If you have any suggestions, comments, or input for this column, please make sure you take the time to e-mail them to Bernard.Berger@USPTO.gov.
In the spirit of giving during this holiday season, PTO's Chapter of Blacks in Government (PTO-BIG) is sponsoring a Sock Drive. The socks will help individuals from getting hypothermia during the winter months. All sizes of socks will be accepted for men, women and children. The drive begins December 1 and ends December 17. Please bring your donation of socks, as many as possible, to any of your co-workers listed:
Brenda Carswell - 305-9127
Jeanette Devins - 305-8292
Bonnie Holloman - 305-8960
Barbara Smith - 308-4477
Anita O'Neal - 305-8509
BIG "thanks you" for all your help!
By BCCP Committee
The PTO's primary approach for ensuring that critical automated information systems can accommodate the Year 2000 date change has been the replacement or modification of systems and major components of the information technology infrastructure.
At the end of March 1999, 34 of PTO's 35 mission critical systems had been verified as being Year 2000 compliant. The only remaining system, Classified Search and Image Retrieval (CSIR), was replaced in June 1999.
In addition to the testing and verification of automated systems and information technology infrastructure components, PTO also successfully conducted "Day 1" end to end testing during July 24th and 25th. At that time, PTO tested eighteen of its most critical systems, individually and in combination, in a simulated Year 2000 production environment, with no incident of system failure.
In response to OMB directives, the OCIO guided the PTO through the preparation of an enterprise-wide Business Continuity and Contingency Plan (BCCP), which was completed in August 1999. The BCCP covers all PTO facilities and the enterprise-wide information technology infrastructure that supports business operations and the critical systems that operate on it. Under the umbrella of the BCCP, the OCIO developed an individual System Contingency Plan for each critical system within the PTO. These plans define the procedures, roles, responsibilities, and technical measures that will be implemented to restore failed automated systems and services to the impacted business area should a failure occur on or after January 1, 2000. Additionally, the BCCP identifies risks and threats, establishes mitigation strategies for identified risks and threats, and provides contingencies in the event that risk mitigation efforts fail.
In addition to providing input to the BCCP, each PTO business area also produced a detailed Business Continuity Plan (BCP). These plans define procedures, roles, and responsibilities that determine how the business area will conduct limited operations in the event of a year 2000 related failure in one or more critical systems.
The Patents Business Area developed separate BCPs for eight business processes: Pre-Examination, Examination, Post-Examination, Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Operations, Scientific & Technological Information Center (STIC), Office of Patent Program Control, Classification Operations, and Office of Patent Policy.
A Business Continuity Team and Business Continuity Team Leader were selected for each business process, and each Team conducted brainstorming sessions to help develop a personalized Business Continuity Plan. The Teams also developed a BCP Implementation Plan to identify key personnel, ensure each could be made aware of a disaster in an appropriate time frame, and provide guidance for enacting the BCCP.
BCP testing exercises were successfully completed in September 1999. Further "live" tests were conducted in Classification Operations and Pre-Examination in July and October 1999, respectively. No major procedural problems were found in the test results.
More information regarding the BCCP and the impact of the Year 2000 date change will be made available throughout the month to inform all staff of individual process plans and to answer questions.
By Gregory Mullen
As the Commissioner proudly informed employees in his Commissioner's Corner, responses from the overall surveys mailed by PTO to our customers have brought good news. And specifically, the results of the annual PTO Customer Satisfaction Survey for Patents make us proud indeed. Overall customer satisfaction in the Patent area increased 5% and dissatisfaction declined 5% over 1998 levels. Additionally, all the key drivers of customer satisfaction showed significant improvements (between 7% & 11% improvement). Responses to 27 of 29 items on the survey improved from 1998 to 1999 and most of the improvements are in the 6-10% range. Only one item declined, and one remained the same.
The survey was conducted and final results compiled by Westat, a survey research firm, located in Rockville, Maryland. Almost 2500 surveys were completed and returned to PTO between May and August of 1999. Of the respondents to the survey, 80% were from law firms and large businesses. About 75% of the respondents contact the PTO often during the year. Over 80% of the respondents are continuous customers and another 7% are frequent customers.
Respondents were given the opportunity to write-in their comments about both positive and negative experiences with PTO services. Over 76% of respondents took this opportunity, which is a very high percentage for a survey of this type. This year, 12% more respondents wrote comments compared to last year (76% vs. 64%). Those who responded were very interested in having their voice heard and expressing their feelings. The comments are consistent with the quantitative findings of the survey. Some comments from respondents include the following:
"I am pleased with the customer approach to processing patent applications as opposed to the previous, sometimes adversarial approach."
"Examiners are accessible, reasonable people. I am really pleasantly surprised by recent experiences."
"Examiners seem flexible and interested in working with applicants to allow patentable subject matter to grant."
"Examiners are making more phone calls and examiner's amendments to clear up minor problems. This is an enormous help to both of us."
"PTO staff are more friendly and knowledgeable; are willing to help you; if they don't know the answer, they'll refer you to the correct person."
In looking at the survey overall, respondents were most satisfied with the courtesy of the PTO staff, the application process, the outcome of the examination process, and examination quality. All of these key items are indicative of the high level of interest Patent employees have demonstrated in providing good customer service. Respondents were least satisfied with the handling of problems, timeliness of the process and certain time standards (status letters, faxes and filing notices).
In comparing survey results to 1998, over one-third of respondents reported better service in the timeliness of filing receipts, the timeliness of the patent grant and in the proactive individualized service they now experience. The only area in which about one third reported inferior service was in the accuracy of filing receipts.
Westat made the following recommendations (The Vital Few) for improving customer satisfaction at PTO: (Note: Some of these recommendations are planned or are already being implemented.)
Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Patent Process Services, Nicholas P. Godici, was tremendously pleased and excited about the survey results and stated, "I want to thank and congratulate all of the employees in the Patent Organization for their achievements in improving our customer service over the past year. This has been accomplished not only through a series of targeted initiatives, but more importantly through the efforts of each individual in the organization to focus on providing our customers with the highest levels of quality and service. I look forward to working with our managers, employees and unions on plans to improve those "vital few" factors identified as areas for improvement in the coming year.
I am proud of our achievements and our employees' dedication and commitment to serving our customers."
1999 Customer Survey Data
Patents
|
1995
|
1996
|
1998
|
1999
|
|
| Overall Satisfaction |
51
|
50
|
52
|
57
|
| Thorough Search |
47
|
45
|
57
|
64
|
| Clear Written Communications |
45
|
41
|
55
|
63
|
| Direct Promptly |
44
|
42
|
52
|
63
|
| Return Calls |
49
|
47
|
49
|
58
|
If you haven't done it yet, you better check out the Kids' Pages on the USPTO website. The Kids' Pages were made available at the end of August as part of the l999 National Inventor's Month activities and have been receiving high praise ever since.
One of the wonderful things about the website is that it changes themes to suit what's happening in a young person's world. During October, the site was filled with patent and trademark information about Halloween. Halloween puzzles and games made the site even more appealing for kids of all ages.
The Kids' Pages did not forget the Thanksgiving holiday. Fun pages of patent and trademark Thanksgiving themes filled young adult minds and whet appetites for further learning.
Appropriately, the website is taking on a "winter" theme for the remainder
of the year that makes learning just plain fun. So, if you haven't checked out
the Kids' Page, do it! You and your kids will be happy you did.
By Anita M. O'Neal
"Kids Have The Right To Read" was the chosen theme for a recent book drive jointly sponsored by the Asian Pacific American Employment Program (APA) and the Hispanic Employment Program (HEP) Subcommittees of the PTO's Office of Civil Rights. The book drive was conducted to benefit the children of The Campagna Children's Center which is located in the heart of Alexandria.
One of President Clinton's education initiatives is to improve the reading abilities of children by the third grade. Everyone, not just parents and teachers, should be concerned and willing to participate in helping our children become much more literate, especially in the new millennium. Thanks to the generous contributions of PTO employees, 15 boxes of books were delivered to the center's headquarters.
The Campagna Center provides a cadre of programs that help community families flourish in challenging times. The programs at the center supply a boost for preschoolers, cares for latchkey kids, provides tutoring for underachievers, handles crisis intervention for troubled teens and offers meaningful opportunities for seniors. These services are available throughout Alexandria.
The APA and HEP Subcommittee members wish to extend their appreciation to their PTO colleagues for contributing a variety of books from classic tales, to popular paperbacks, to fun books dealing with science, to humorous tales and others. The Campagna Center's Director, Joan Starr, called the PTO's donation "a veritable treasure trove." The books were distributed among the center's eleven locations, adding to the reading choices available to the kids.
The Campagna Center needs individuals to volunteer as "reading tutors." Those interested in volunteering should call the center directly at (703) 549-0111.
The Lutrelle Parker Law Library, located in room 3D62 in Crystal Plaza 3/4
has new hours of operation. The Library is now open Monday through Friday from
8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The Law Library was dedicated in 1995 in the memory of Lutrelle
Parker, the first African-American to hold the position of Deputy Commissioner
of Patent and Trademarks. Mr. Parker was also one of the first African-American
patent examiners, one of the first four African-Americans accepted at Georgetown
Law School, as well as being the first African-American Examiner-in-Chief on
the Board of Patent Appeals.
By Judy Swann
Hurricane Floyd. Hurricane Irene. Major highways and towns flooded, businesses and homes lost. Earthquakes of major magnitudes in Japan, Mexico, Turkey, Southern California. Rescue squads from all over the world flying to the sights of major disasters to help save lives.
The six o'clock news is full of disasters, close to home and all over the world. In an instant, these events change the lives of millions of people. It is impossible to hear of these disasters and not want to help somehow-but what can you do?
One of the answers is to think of the Combined Federal Campaign. There are many disaster relief organizations listed in the Catalog of Caring which are members of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD). Some organizations include:
Adventist Community Services
The American Red Cross
Catholic Charities USA
Church World Service
International Relief Friendship Foundation
National Organization for Victim Assistance
The Salvation Army
Second Harvest National Food Bank Network
United Methodist Church Committee on Relief
Volunteers of America
World Vision
By providing financial assistance to organizations such as these, we can ensure trained rescue workers, doctors, food, clothing, and medical supplies will be available when the next disaster strikes.
In addition, the Catalog of Caring can be used to find disaster relief agencies that may know how to utilize non-financial contributions. Relief groups in the catalog may have the ability to collect, store, ship and distribute canned food, bottled water, or other items. Be sure to coordinate collections with the agency of your choice, so that the right goods are collected and handled in the most efficient manner.
The bottom line is that there are many ways we can help victims of these terrible
tragedies. Through CFC, you can make a difference!
By Jessie Marshall
During this past summer, the trademark operation began a monumental effort to reduce the pendency to first action - that is, the time it takes between the filing of a trademark application until it is first examined and acted on by an Examining Attorney and an office action is mailed. In a short time, and through the efforts of all of the trademark employees, the average pendency to first action was reduced from 6.7 to 4.6 months.
Such an achievement merited some kind of recognition. And recognition was given in the form of a picnic and recognition ceremony - an event that came to be known as the Pendency Picnic. A working group was created to organize the event that consisted of Jessie Marshall, Kim Dixon, Howard Smiga, Gary Holliday, Susan Dubois, Dorcella Randolph and Dawn Mills.
The Pendency Picnic was held on October 19 at Fort Hunt Park. The park has a large open space with playing fields for softball, soccer, volleyball or football. It also has a large covered pavilion with a stage, picnic tables and a large central wood-burning fireplace (that no one was able to start and keep burning although many attempts were made!). Softball and volleyball games were organized before the event. Traditional cookout fare was offered and all agreed it was of excellent quality and there was plenty to go around.
But the most significant part of the day was the recognition ceremony. The original plan was for Bob Anderson, Acting Assistant Commissioner for Trademarks and Anne Chasser, Assistant Commissioner for Trademarks nominee, to officiate at the recognition presentations. But at the last minute, Commissioner Dickinson found he was able to attend the recognition portion of the day's events. Individuals and sections of the trademark operation were recognized for their significant contributions to reducing the pendency goals of the organization. As everyone came to the stage to receive their certificates of recognition, they were greeted by Acting Commissioner Dickinson, as well as Mr. Anderson and Ms. Chasser, and had their pictures taken with all three.
The Pendency Picnic was a great success and provided a truly enjoyable way
to recognize the achievement of an office goal through the efforts of the dedicated
individuals who make up the Trademark operation!
By Rebecca Radcliffe
Have you had trouble surviving the holidays in previous years? Has the classic 5-7 pound weight gain happened to you? The holidays certainly present a very social time for most people. Naturally, that involves a lot of eating and drinking and not enough exercising. There's good news! You can enjoy this season of celebration without any weight gain disasters.
The following party tips will help you avoid some festive over indulgences:
* One reason for weight gain stems from a lack of moderation. Plan ahead for social gatherings. Eat light meals and snacks on party days so that you may enjoy some richer foods at the event. You do not have to eat everything offered - choose unique foods to sample or fill up on the healthiest foods and savor a smaller portion of the less healthy foods.
* Avoid thinking about the food before the party, during the party and even after. You'll make yourself hungry.
* Try focusing on the people, conversations, and the festive surroundings as opposed to the food. Too often a party only equals food and the rest becomes secondary.
* Sip a low calorie drink and fill up with salad or veggies to take the edge off your hunger.
* Be aware that alcohol increases your appetite and lowers your inhibitions. This could make you care less about making wiser food choices.
* Plan to exercise. This is huge! Due to grocery shopping for any parties, shopping for presents, cleaning, and decorating, exercise frequently is the last thing on your to-do list. Make time to exercise - it will be the best way to fight the weight gain potential.
Following these party tips shouldn't hinder you from having a great time at
holiday events. Instead, they should help you feel good about yourself and your
health while enjoying the festivities. Remember the key is to keep things in
moderation, and that includes eating and drinking. So, enjoy the parties, savor
the atmosphere, and focus on friends and family.
We are off to a good start! The PTO has raised $125,000 for the CFC so far this year. That's 25% of the goal!
Thank you to everyone who supported the PCT hot-dog sale, the OIPE barbecue, the TC 3700 bake sale, and all of the other CFC events. Watch for other events coming your way soon.
The 1999 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) held a Kickoff Celebration on September 29. The Kickoff Celebration was hosted by Commissioner Dickinson and featured representatives from an array of charities represented in the CFC's "Catalog of Caring."
This year, Q. Todd Dickinson is the Vice Chair for the entire Department of
Commerce (DOC) CFC campaign. The collective fundraising goal for all the agencies
within DOC is $2.4 million. The goal for the Patent and Trademark Office this
year is to exceed last year's impressive total of $700,000. With the help of
all cost centers of the PTO working together, we know we will reach the PTO
goal and do our part to achieve the DOC goal.
The PTO's traditional November observance of Native American Heritage Month
was held at the Sheraton Crystal City Hotel on November 4, 1999. The 1999 theme
was "Preserving Traditions in the 21st Century." Robert "Swift Arrow" Rose (Cherokee-Seneca-Iroquois)
was the keynote speaker and his remarks centered on time honored traditions
of the American Indians. Mr. Rose demonstrated handmade instruments and played
very melodic Native tunes. More than 120 sixth graders from Virginia Run Elementary
School of Centreville, Virginia, were guests at this year's observance.
People are fascinated with height. Architects in ancient Egypt designed the first tall structures--memorial obelisks. Ancient Roman architects designed five story blocks with shops at ground level and balconied homes above. As businesses and cities expanded and populations increased, space became precious and suddenly the only way to go was up.
Icon of 20th century American architecture and symbol of corporate power, the skyscraper's origin is firmly rooted in the 19th century industrial revolution. Inventions and innovations have made tall buildings practical and ever taller...steel and iron manufacturing, elevators, fire safety, artificial lighting, concrete, and more.
Visit the museum and learn about today's tall, taller, and tallest buildings
and about the inventors that built them. The Patent and Trademark Museum exhibit
will run through June 2000.