New Direct Marketing Trends to Grow Your Business

<!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } -->

Earlier, Direct marketing simply involved sending a mail or brochure to a list of people. But with the emergence of social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, rules for direct marketing services have changed. Your existing and potential customers expect a more personal conversation. The technology used today makes this new type of direct marketing possible in ways you may have never imagined.

Now-a-days, it is possible to rent lists that have much more personal information about your potential customers like their profession, interests, etc., rather than simply knowing their name and address. You can shortlist people who are looking out for your products and interested in buying them.

You can develop direct marketing campaigns where individuals that you are interested in are targeted specifically and the content is completely personalized to reflect the preferences of the targeted individuals. Once you have created a Direct Marketing Campaign, it is easier to push your marketing message out to your potential customers through their preferred network. For people preferring electronic communication, you can send a personalized email that drives them to a Personalized URL (PURL) where a compelling offer will allow them to subscribe to future marketing communications from you. For those who prefer print communication, you can print a direct mail package using variable on-demand printing that contains a personalized letter and the information about the products in which they have expressed their interest. This direct mail package can drive them to a PURL to sign up for ongoing marketing communications.

These new direct marketing tools are very successful in helping you to have a relevant conversation with your potential and existing customers, and in driving them to action.

About the Author

For additional information on Direct Mail Services, digital printing and commercial printing services, visit - http://www.dcgwest.com

Smart Marketing by Early Express

Rain-X Weatherbeater Wiper Blade - 22 $6.61 Rain-X Rx30222 Rain-X Wiper Blades 22 Each...

Case Logic PLS-13 Neoprene 13.3-Inch Neoprene Laptop Sleeve (Black) $15.00 Notebook Case - Black...

6in USB 2.0 Extension Adapter Cable A to A - M/F $0.05 Startech Fully Rated USB 2.0 Extension Cable USBEXTAA6IN Cables...

3M Privacy Filter - 3M PF19.0W Widescreen Monitor privacy screen $63.61 3M PF19.0W Privacy Screen Filter 98-0440-4483-6 Glare Screens & Filters...

The Next Step in Database Marketing: Consumer Guided Marketing: Privacy for Your Customers, Record Profits for You $64.95 First there was direct mail. Then came the database marketing revolution. Now comes Consumer Guided Marketing- a new kind of marketing that combines the personal approach of direct mail with the processing power of the modern marketing database to create one-to-one marketing that is far more personal, and consequently much more powerful, than any type of marketing that has preceded it. Solving the privacy problem inherent in the use of third-party databases by involving each customers as an equal partner and co-participant from the very beginning of the marketing process itself, Consumer Guided MArketing predetermines whether a potential buyer is actually interested in the seller's product before the mailing decision is made. The results? Mailing costs drop to all-time lows, response rates rise to all-time highs, and customer loyalty reaches levels never thought possible. Written by direct mail expert Dick Shaver, this practical resource contains all of the information you need to understand and implement this dynamic new database marketing method. Going beyond the one-shot sell, The Next Step in Database Marketing shows you how to establish and develop an ongoing Mailing Dialogue with your customer that maximizes sales both now and in the future. With real-life examples such well known companies as American Express, General Electric, Marion Merrell Dow, MCI, Reader's Digest and many others, this books takes you step by step, through every element involved in creating consumer-specific mail.

Direct Mail in Salt Lake City Utah: How To Get Good Results In A Bad Economy!

Buy Wholesale by Mail 2001: The Consumer's Bible to Shopping Online, by Mail, by Phone $7.00 Save Hundreds By Shopping From Home!A consumer's favorite for more than two decades, this bestselling guide shows you how to find incredible bargains when you shop by mail, phone, or mouse click. No matter what you're looking for, you can get it cheaper and delivered right to your doorstep: carpeting, caviar, snow tires, organic citrus, kitchen gadgets, clothing and footwear, jewelry, cameras, pet...

Recession resilient: Utah's direct selling industry is up and running.(Business Trends): An article from: Utah Business $9.95 This digital document is an article from Utah Business, published by Olympus Publishing Co. on March 1, 2009. The length of the article is 1037 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.Citation DetailsTitle: Recession resilient: Utah's direct sell...

The use of coercive conduct by newspapers to enhance their competitive position against shared mail ...

Direct Info Marketing The Complete Vision $9.99 4+~~Wide Media, LLC~~WideMedia, LLC~~http://itunes.apple.com/app/direct-info-marketing-the/id405241879?uo=5~~2010 Wide Media, LLC~~1.0~~3174032~~828083~~http://ebookapp.com/directinfo-marketing-the-complete-vision~~http://ebookapp.com/contact-us

Calling all 99ers Jackson needs your help

Representive Jessie Jackson Jr. from Illinois needs your resume. As of January 7, 2011 he has been accepted resumes from the unemployed and underemployed. These are direct quotes from his website:

"Today, I began an effort to mobilize the unemployed, the under-employed and the economically desperate. I will be collecting resumes of out-of-work Americans in order to submit them for the Congressional Record as a way of putting a face on the jobs crisis we confront. By sending their resumes to me, the unemployed will be permitting me to use their stories as we fight for jobs and enter their curriculum vitae into the Record.

"Of course, sending me a resume will not put anybody first in line for a job. It will not be forwarded to anybody who is hiring. But it will put the jobs issue front and center before the government so that we can remind elected officials that we need to go to work everyday for those who aren't allowed to go to work everyday, but want to," Jackson concluded.

Resumes can be emailed to ResumesforAmerica@mail.house.govThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or sent by mail to:

Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr.
2419 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC, 20009

Please send in your resumes A.S.A.P. We need to send as many resumes as possible. If you would like more information then check out his website here.

for more info check out this site http://www.examiner.com/unemployment-benefits-in-detroit/call-all-99ers-jackson-needs-your-help

About the Author

TV Nation - Donations for Jeffrey Dahmer

Free cover letter templates Microsoft

If you simply copy a free resume letter from outside the network, you're relying on the same template most other job applicants. You need a way to make the letter unforgettable.

Free Microsoft Letter Templates

Here are some quick tactics that will help.

Best Letter Tool Click here

1. Tell an interesting story about you. Start with the sample resume cover letters, of course. But add a story about about yourself. People tell stories over and over again. Short excerpts and anecdotes that they think they look more interesting or simply give them the opportunity to interact with others. What story could tell an interviewer about what?

For example, imagine Saj, the director of human resources, standing around the fountain of water at the end of the day. He decides to break the ice by saying: "Therefore, I will be interviewing this man who is teaching your child to radio control aircraft completely from scratch. "

Instantly, the man who tells the story is more interesting to yourself. Your situation arises because it is talking to someone that others fascinating. Not only that, is willing to talk to you. And you can bet that the story will come up and you will have an opportunity to connect on some other level of business.

2. The issues. Seems like a small point. But it is important for two reasons. The carriers have a reputation among sellers direct mail to pull the cards to lighten his load. Especially when you think that letters are junk mail. I know it sounds extravagant, but it happens and not just on rare occasions. You keep track of how it affects the delivery rate.

Second, you do not want the interviewer to receive a letter from you that looks like an eighty-seven that just mass production, even if it is.

Get a blue felt pen or a stamp in red ink and print something and capture relevant Eye on the front of the envelope. Even "FIRST CLASS" catch a recruiter's eyes. But you can do better. Try "For (name of recruiter)."

Be scrupulously honest. Do not get personal (Your Eyes Only). And if you promise something special or custom, do not forget to send your interior.

3. Do not just to think they do. Your competition. Therefore, it is a great way to set yourself apart and feel like the obvious candidate.

Cover Click Letter Examples

About the Author

Cover Letter Creator Click here

Microsoft Virus Direct Mail

Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 with Business Contact Manager [Old Version] $79.95 Microsoft Outlook w Business Contact Mgr 2007 Win32 English CD...

My Mail List and Address Book $24.99 Looking for the perfect way to organize all of your contact information and mailing lists? Look no further than MyMailList & AddressBook. Affordable and easy-to-use, MyMailList & AddressBook works seamlessly with popular database managers to effortlessly import and sort your personal and business contacts information, design and print custom labels, postcards and envelopes, and send personalized e...

Doc Reader $0.99 4+~~Jayanti Katariya~~Jayanti Katariya~~http://itunes.apple.com/app/doc-reader/id377889745?uo=5~~Moon Technolabs @ 2010~~2.0~~3840781~~1078208~~~~http://docreader.moontechnolabs.com

Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 with Business Contact Manager - Complete Product - 1 PC - Mail Management Retail - PC $109.95 Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 with Business Contact Manager offers powerful customer and contact management to help you save time, improve sales and marketing, and deliver better customer service. Organize and manage all your contact, prospect, and customer information in one place. Track leads and opportunities throughout the sales cycle. Easily create, personalize, and track direct marketing campaigns in-house. And centralize your project-related information so you can stay organized and monitor tasks with automated reminders.

A person of the best options that I built in my 62 years of existence on this planet to become my chief of staff in an area that is in no way awkward, often difficult and inherently intriguing. It was an early conclusion. Was not really about to enter the field until just after he had already spent ten years as a photographer specializing. It happened in a strange way, as a good factor Casual few do. But regardless of how it came to be, consider that the selection of the individual who paved the way for me to pass the relaxation of my existence comfort and performance in a great measure of safety.

Given that I found that very few individuals meet with a similar course, using locks only after the acquisition is unhappy in other jobs. I'm not sure how or why so many find this company in particular in the search for interesting work. In my case it was a totally natural evolution of a part-time profession that had formed distinctive enough for me: the installation of mere spectators door and carry out this door to door. My clients repeatedly ask if I could set locks for them while I was in it, and just after falling dollar a dozen cases last but not least intelligent received and visited a community provider locksmith who gave me an installation kit and a guide Address. From what I can say, other people come through this idea by conducting searches of the property equity firms, especially because in the end This qualifies as such if, like me, you run out your property and the frame as a sole proprietorship. In any event, it is clear locksmith that has become a joint decision to a probability of self-employment.

Shortly after tiring of canvassing (which does not need much time to do so), I stayed at the thought of cold calling. It was, however taking into account, both small, yet he did not know. Lesson number 1: Do not do this. I was doing again in 1981 or so when the stigma that such efforts were not really that robust. I fear that calling people on the mobile e-book and asked if they would like have created locks just do not fly in the current era of terrorism and organized scams.

However, I owe to this period of difficult hits a very good offer. I came in force to put in locks, rekeying locks, and key duplication. It was during this year a single period I scrounged together adequate money to buy a small duplicator kit also crucial and exchange of security keys. I brought these products into the trunk of my of car and drove home when my client are essential. It also obtained numerous pictures of the most important internal spaces and the generalized time I had accumulated all this stuff about my car trunk was full and I was looking for a room much more. Also, and most essential, I came to understand that driving around in a car without identification and development of the trunk did not lend itself well to my credibility.

Lesson Two: Quantity: Start out with credibility. Acquire some will operate, or a substantial part 1 if you can find the money for it. buy and indicators have shown painted on it. Use no matter what the power of electric loan you have, you can be with banks or with family members, to locate a car, have created employment and signage up, even if this is the type of magnetic indicators. This program suggests that begins as a legit company, and this is just my scenario. Produce a name for your organization (Assuming long and hard about this, as you drop any credibility that could attract at first if current speed), have indicators and types and letterheads produced and dive

There are also consulting with the law. This is a difficult issue to one topic to another, as the legality of the organization by a jurisdiction particular, one can vary more widely, even violently. It is up to you to do research and decide it does not matter whether or not the competition requires a locksmith certified, bonded, and / or license. You will almost definitely know that licensing is the main obstacle, and that is usually served with the signing of a couple of types and payment a modest annual fee. Certification is something else. Not all jurisdictions involving this. In my situation I identified the state in which they lived then - Utah - Not needed. Neither was expected to join, but chose to do it for extra protection (it is widely and incorrectly guessed that the union protects the buyer of the locksmith, whereas in truth is the locksmith that is guaranteed by the bond).

Lesson Three Rank: homework required to determine whether the acquisition of a license the company is all that is essential to set the lockout service. A phone call to the prosecutor the workplace baseline condition likely to be solution.

After you have lined up a low-cost motor vehicle and place a reasonable indication of experts on it, you should start equipping it. This should, and must, be performed only before advertising their services due to the fact if you're like I was at this point to get to know absolutely nothing about the company and not significantly more about the place. We will strive to educate ourselves in this position. Locksmith is in fact a stage of only the number of professions in this world where formal training is totally useless. I've talked to couple very specialist for the duration of my work that has be that way through school locksmith "or a university. This is definitely not to say that formal training is not desirable. If you can handle, if you have the states, then by all means get the route. This guide is for those of you who can not.

The vehicle that you buy in identifying areas how substantial is going to be equipped. I have often preferred a full-size truck (he had the designs of Ford, Chevy and GMC in my profession), but there are several locksmiths you just adore the Astro Van Safari Van or produced by GM. These vans are preferable to a lot of different professions and are everywhere. You certainly can come through a variety of price. Possibly so, the initial purchase of the company is to build a workbench that will substantially room as possible. Better than the bank on one aspect of the truck and out the opposite side of the shelves or storage bins. That is tough! There's almost nothing worse than a wobbly bench when you is trying to reintroduce the locks. Do the same degree of explanation.

You require a power supply. It is forgivable to cables chain extension until finally you can find the money for something better, but keep in mind that this detracts from their professionalism. The biggest is probably the purchase of a generator RediLine leaking 12V power his truck. This is not a power inverter, is really a power generator and kicking 110-115V. They are wonderful sources of AC power, and you can even run a bank of fluorescent lamps such a person for lighting store interior. There are many designs to select with different outlets, but they are expensive. If you can find a rebuilt so significantly the best so far. An investor very possibly might do the trick if you can not pay for a RediLine, but be careful. Some essential equipment (and you're going to have to have one), will not run with an inverter.

You now have access to energy, you need to start with at least one critical duplicator his desk and preferably as well as a code of good cutting machine. The latter is desirable but not necessary at the outset that the strategy not to immediately start locksmith automobile, in which situation where a challenge to find no one to get along. We will touch on that in a second. critical machines are almost too difficult to find used. Probably going to stop until I get a little Speedex HPC simply because they are considerably less expensive very important duplicator excellent envelope. Expect to pay about $ 500. Best if you incorporate this in your first mortgage. A key duplicator is the bread and butter for any locksmith, mobile or otherwise, by I do not even feel about the launch until one.

Equip yourself with a key change kit very good. I always favor "universal" because the kits that make the role of dozens of other particular slot games and are simple to use. LAB tends to make the best of them, hands down. If you have the space, Try to get a traditional metal kit. If not, you can start with a solo mini-lab equipment or Durex, the largest, the miniature edition of the game Universal (Or LMK LMK-005-003). You just can not reintroduce the locks without having one, and if you get a universal not merely to introduce one or two manufacturers. . . you be able to take care of them all. Do not know how to reintroduce the locks? Pick up an instruction manual on the World Wide Web or on Amazon.com. Are available and it is one of the fastest locksmith capabilities to choose up. While you're at it, get at least one follower plug, pin a pair of pliers, and ideally TRUARC a pair of pliers. It's about time you accumulate a lot more tools for changing passwords, but these basics are almost important.

Even before I was closings producing key change, which was being called to unlock cars. If you intend to promote himself as an emergency service, you have to enter this type of operating profits. Let me tell you now, this is the easiest money I've made. It is well worth finding the essential knowledge to open cars, but usually means spending a couple hundred dollars in tools and a very good handbook. Lockouts, at least in my case, almost I support a long time. If an account is in medium and large cities, the call blocking reception day and night, even if you only have a small ad somewhere (a topic for later). There are several good access lock kits on the web, to suit any price, and so does the manual lock. Do a search Google for "tools for self-opening" or "blocking tools" and have no difficulty in obtaining suppliers. Are exactly where you stay legal? Again. . . that is until determined. The provider can not and will strive to police this feature advertising and marketing, and that is simply not feasible. I am not advocating getting something that is not legal where you live!

blocks of residence and business are also profitable sources of revenue for the locksmith, but they involve a unique experience, different tools. This is where it becomes necessary to discover the ability to pick locks - probably the most fundamental trade talent. It is so easy to find out how to open vehicles and lock rekeying, but is not generally harsh environments, both. It takes practice and patience, and generally requires excellent resources. Do not do it right cheap here. There are tons of blocking economic instruments for the sale. You to discover in the car magazines, including. Stick with the established business tools such as HPC, SouthOrd, Lockmasters, and so on. Get a beginner set with a pair of peaks and one or two sources of pressure to start, unless you have a massive expenditure budget, then go to a very hard group, while one. Alternative spring steel or stainless steel is largely a matter of individual choice. Anyone who start as likely be the guy to follow due to the fact that guy goes to a file attached to this variety and will train you for the ideal of it. Much more essential is the notion practice. Get Insurance practice. By the time you've collected all the locks on his house which is starting to want more problems, and now that Insurance Practice are an accepted instructional support in this area would be effective to choose a handful. Practice several times until finally you can choose the most Insurance hard practice and then practice more.

Did I mention that the service lockouts most likely the most rewarding service you provide your potential customers? I think so. Excellent!

Other factors for the provision of a lockout service and among them is the ability create sets of locks on the properties and organizations. Primarily you will be prompted to create locks, but later, as his company gets older, he wants to trade business and real goods companies the option to change all their old equipment for new lock hardware safer. Once again, the practice is known as and should be prepared to install a couple of bolts knobsets unnecessary and at the gates of his own residence, it is not necessary to have them. After running this a dozen times, be easy to go to the 1 st series with self confidence. You need to add a couple of important equipment of your toolbox, such as a drill 1/two inches, a couple of hole saws (2-one/eight inch and one inch), an inch or two without interest bits, and an excellent wood chisel. With these tools, you can install locks on doors metal or wood. Total installation kits are available and are the best alternative if you can operate them in your budget. Require manual? Books abundance of access Amazon.com or any bookstore substantial scale in the metropolis.

Once you have collected the car and the team, and some knowledge gleaned from practice and reading, you can start considering on purchasing your feet wet. The best way to start is at the old fashioned way and that is to appeal to their loved ones and friends to make and for referrals. Talk Network with everyone you know and let them know that we are significant and are easily available. Action of two is to promote and this is certainly essential, even if you start out just like a Yellow Pages ad. This is exactly where 99% of people will need a locksmith. Classifieds in newspapers, advertising flyers (Yucchhh!) email immediately and the radio do not work for locksmiths unless of course you have a massive spending budget in particular. Attempt to justify a modest 1-8 or a single room page Yellow Pages ad if feasible. Even in the face of fierce competition will receive calls and time of identification are spread everywhere, if you do a very good race. Indeed, they will spread all over, if he does as well, but would do well to avoid that.

This is how I did. This is how countless others have done, give or receive a detail or two. Be sure to cover the legal bases, particularly because if you jump on it and find out later that he is acting outside the law, do not come to me! This is the part of his study. It is not so difficult to acquire certification and comply with district regulations that may belong to this company. If you keep the business small, and maintain itself as a single operator will be out proper advantage of the stick, because the above with a cell phone service is nil.

It is within your reach if you are 18 or 58.

For more information about "locksmith", you should go to locksmith

About the Author

Administrator

Oaxaca de Guidxa

With increased customer base and inadequate communication facility, the Conventional marketing has taken a whole new day. When you think about expanding your business sales, it is important that the diversification of their point of sale of locations as I can. This is to enhance easy accessibility, customer interaction and strengthen future relations. Multi-channel e-commerce solution is making all these possible. And it is not necessary to create any physical store or operate from multiple locations to take such marketing solutions.

Before we understand what e-commerce and multichannel solutions Multichannel retail is concerned, we will explain these terms of retail, electronic commerce, multichannel, etc. in order.

Retail: Sale of goods or merchandise from a fixed location as the department store, boutique, kiosk or by parcel. Retailers are individuals who purchase products directly from manufacturers or importers bulk or through wholesalers and then sell a smaller volume of buyers.

E-commerce: E-commerce and e-commerce is the case purchase and sale of products and services through electronic (Internet and other computer networks.) The modern e-commerce applications include a range Solutions - internet marketing, managing the supply chain, electronic funds transfer, online transaction processing, EDI, inventory management, etc.

Electronic commerce can take place both in B2B and B2C format. B2B e-commerce applies to stakeholders commodity exchange. B2C e-commerce solution is carried out by companies like Amazon.com, e Bay.com etc, acting as intermediaries for product vendors end manufacturers. Through its interface vendors can connect their business solutions to customers and transactions.

Multichannel: Refers to ticket purchase for customers. This may be of different marketing channels and website, shop, mail order catalogs, direct mail, and e-mails to reach customers.

multi-channel marketing: This refers to cross-channel sales through different media. The goal is to offer customers convenience so you can check product availability, characteristics, parameters of quality, variety and price comparison website trade mail before driving to brick and mortar store.

It also helps vendors to understand what information and facilities customers are waiting. process of multi-channel marketing is very interesting. The retailer issued a sales catalog by mail with the coupon has to be redeemed in store brick and mortal business. This promotional offer will boost the traffic to the store and increase sales.

Once they are well equipped with the basic terms, reached the stage of strategy and execution of the same-multichannel e-commerce solution.

Multichannel solution Electronic Commerce:

Single integrated platform to expand its business through a number of other e-commerce stores, several websites, home shopping, wholesale, e-Bay, Amazon and other channels of the franchise.

Ebay Amazon Integration and tie ups have made this concept convinces online store more accessible to customers. They get a handful number of products from other brands category, pricing, product analysis, all trusted payment gateways.

Therefore all small businesses or the company has begun to realize the potential and diversification of its sales locations. From managing product inventory to prepare the catalog of products, promotions, pricings and delivery structure all the time can be given through this e-commerce solution.

About the Author

This article is written by Daniel Smith a multichannel retail solution provider. She is also involved with Drop shipping solutions. As per her idea http://www.ritecart.co.uk/ a e-commerce solution providing company is doing great with their service profiles.

Speakers@Google: Nathan Seidle

AppleCare Protection Plan for Portable Apple Computers 13 Inches and Below (OLD VERSION) $220.00 Because Apple makes the hardware, the operating system, and many applications, the Mac is a truly integrated system. And only the AppleCare Protection Plan gives you one-stop service and support from Apple experts, so most issues can be resolved in a single call. Extend the complimentary service and support on your Mac to three years from the original Mac purchase date with the AppleCare Protect...

DYMO LabelWriter 4XL, 4 x 6 Label Printer $256.17 Sanford Brands LabelWriter 4XL Thermal Label Printer 1755120 484...

DYMO LabelWriter 330 Label Printer $149.99 The DYMO LabelWriter 330 is a compact printer designed to print labels directly from your PC, so there's no more fussing with trying to load label sheets into your normal document printer. With the LabelWriter's resolution of 300 dpi, your labels will come out crisp and clearly legible, whether you're printing nametags, address labels, or barcodes. The 330 can print directly from many standard bus...

General Motors

Company overview

General Motors GMT800 truck assembly line.

In 2009, General Motors employs approximately 244,500 people around the world. The Renaissance Center located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, is the global headquarters of General Motors. In 2008, GM sold 8.35 million cars and trucks globally. GM is the majority shareholder in GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. of South Korea and has collaborations with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation of China, AvtoVAZ of Russia, and most recently, UzAvtoSanoat of Uzbekistan. GM has had collaborations with various automakers including Fiat (see GM/Fiat Premium platform) and Ford Motor Company.[citation needed] GM retains various stakes in different automakers. General Motors' best success internationally has unquestionbly been its performance in China, GM sales rose 66.9% in 2009, selling 1,830,000 vehicles and accounting for 13.4% of the market.

GM received loans from European governments in 2009, and has reduced its ownership stake in European operations as part of its reorganization." As of July 10, 2009, the new GM has over $40 B in cash, with the company's reorganized liability total of $48.8 B which includes $24.4 B to be paid to the Voluntary Employee Benefits Association (VEBA) trust, $9 B to the U.S. and Canadian governments, and $15 B in liabilities to suppliers and other bills. GM is slated to pay $10 B to the VEBA trust in December 2009, with the remainder being paid in increments from 2012-19. GM isn't required to make contributions to its pension fund until 2013, but it may elect to if needed, since the company contribued $15.2 B to its pension fund in 2003. Stock market conditions cause the fund value to fluctuate. In February 2009, GM's combined pension fund had about $85 B in assets, $56B in assets for hourly pensions and $29B in assets for salaried pensions. The domain name gm.com attracted at least 7 million visitors annually by 2008.

GM worldwide vehicle sales by country 2008

(thousands)

Rank

in GM

Country

Vehicle

sales

Market

share (%)

Rank

in GM

Country

Vehicle

sales

Market

share (%)

1

 United States

2,981

22.1%

9

 Australia

133

13.1%

2

 China

1,095

12.0%

10

 Republic of Korea

117

9.7%

3

 Brazil

549

19.5%

11

 France

114

4.4%

4

 United Kingdom

384

15.4%

12

 Spain

107

7.8%

5

 Canada

359

21.4%

13

 Argentina

95

15.5%

6

 Russia

338

11.1%

14

 Venezuela

91

33.3%

7

 Germany

300

8.8%

15

 Colombia

80

36.3%

8

 Mexico

212

19.8%

16

 India

66

3.3%

Top 4 markets/regions by vehicle sales in 2008 (thousands)

1

North America

3,552

21.9%

3

European Union

905

12.3%

2

China

1,095

12.0%

4

South America

815

20.8%

Structure

See also: Cadillac, Buick, GMC (automobile), Chevrolet, List of GM factories, and List of GM engines

General Motors is structured into the following operating groups:

Group

Number of employees

March 2009

GMAP (GM Asia-Pacific)

33,000

GME (GM Europe)

55,000

GM LAAM (GM Latin America, Africa and the Middle East)

33,000

GMNA (GM North America)

112,000

Other operations

2,000

Total number of employees

235,000

Management

The Renaissance Center in Detroit, Michigan, is the world headquarters of General Motors.

On July 23, 2009, GM announced its new Board of Directors: Daniel F. Akerson, David Bonderman, Robert D. Krebs, Patricia F. Russo and Ed Whitacre (GM Chairman & Interim CEO) Board members who are not GM employees will be paid US$200,000 annually.

As of December 1, 2009, The General Motors Board Of Directors accepted Frederick Henderson's resignation. In January 2010, chairman Ed Whitacre was appointed permanent CEO after previously serving in an interim capacity.

On December 4, 2009, GM announced leadership changes in a press release.

Edward Whitacre, Jr. - Chairman of the Board of the Directors and CEO

Robert A. Lutz - Vice Chairman, advisor on design and global product development

Chris Liddell - Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer

Thomas G. Stephens - Vice Chairman, Global Product Operations

Mark Reuss - President, GM North America

David N. Reilly - President, GM Europe

Timothy E. Lee - President, GM International Operations (Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Africa, and Middle East)

Ray Young - vice president, International Operations

Edward T. Welburn - Global Vice President of General Motors Design, current and only the sixth head designer.

For additional Senior Management see GM Senior Leadership Group

General Motors is a conglomerate.

History

Main article: History of General Motors

General Motors was founded on September 16, 1908, in Flint, Michigan, as a holding company for Buick, then controlled by William C. Durant. It acquired Oldsmobile later that year. In 1909, Durant brought in Cadillac, Elmore, Oakland and several others. Also in 1909, General Motors acquired the Reliance Motor Truck Company of Owosso, Michigan, and the Rapid Motor Vehicle Company of Pontiac, Michigan, the predecessors of GMC Truck. Durant lost control of GM in 1910 to a bankers' trust, because of the large amount of debt taken on in its acquisitions coupled with a collapse in new vehicle sales. A few years later, Durant started the Chevrolet Motor car company and through this he secretly purchased a controlling interest in GM. Durant took back control of the company after one of the most dramatic proxy wars in American business history. Durant then reorganized General Motors Company into General Motors Corporation. Shortly after, he again lost control, this time for good, after the new vehicle market collapsed. Alfred P. Sloan was picked to take charge of the corporation and led it to its post war global dominance. This unprecedented growth of GM would last into the early 1980s when it employed 349,000 workers and operated 150 assembly plants.

GM previously led in global sales for 77 consecutive years (1931 to 2008), longer than any other automaker.

Chapter 11 reorganization

Main article: General Motors Chapter 11 reorganization

On July 10, 2009, a new entity, NGMCO Inc. purchased the ongoing operations and trademarks from General Motors Corporation. The purchasing company in turn changed its name from NGMCO Inc. to General Motors Company, marking the emergence of a new operation from the "pre-packaged" Chapter 11 reorganization. Under the reorganization process, termed a 363 sale (for Section 363 which is located in Title 11, Chapter 3, Subchapter IV of the United States Code, a part of the Bankruptcy Code), the purchaser of the assets of a company in bankruptcy proceedings is able to obtain approval for the purchase from the court prior to the submission of a re-organization plan, free of liens and other claims. It used in most Chapter 11 cases that involve a sale of property or other assets. This process is typical of large organizations with complex branding and intellectual property rights issues upon exiting bankruptcy. The new company plans to issue an initial public offering (IPO) of stock in 2010.

GM's remaining pre-petition creditors' claims are paid from the remaining assets of Motors Liquidation Company, the new name of the former General Motors Corporation, although the directors of that company believe its debts far outweigh its assets. This means that while the former GM's bondholders may recover a small portion of their investment, former GM shareholders (now shareholders of Motors Liquidation Company) will likely not receive anything.

Also on July 10, 2009, GM announced plans to trim its U.S. workforce by 20,000 employees as part of its reorganization by the end of 2009 due to economic conditions.

The following table is a comparison (estimates) of the new GM and the old GM:

Old GM (before July 10, 2009)

New GM (after July 10, 2009)

Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMDaewoo (48.2%), GMC, Holden, Hummer, Oldsmobile, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall

Brands

Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMDaewoo (70.1%), GMC, Holden, Opel, Vauxhall

5,900

US Dealerships

3,600

Common shareholders, bondholders and secured creditors

Ownership

The United States Treasury, the Crown in Right of Canada, Old GM bondholders, and UAW union

47

US Plants

34

US$94.7 B

Debt

US$17 B

91,000

US employees

68,500

North America

Core brand focus

In North America, GM will focus primarily on its four core brands Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, and GMC while selling, discontinuing, or scaling back its other brands. The White House characterized the GM restructuring as a shift toward a new leaner, greener GM, which will aim to break even with annual sales much lower than previously stated. President Obama declared that the restructuring "will mark the end of an old GM, and the beginning of a new GM; a new GM that can produce the high-quality, safe, and fuel-efficient cars of tomorrow; that can lead America towards an energy independent future; and that is once more a symbol of America's success."

In the middle of 2005, GM announced that its corporate chrome emblem "Mark of Excellence" would begin appearing on all recently introduced and all-new 2006 model vehicles produced and sold in North America. However, in 2009 the "New GM" reversed this, saying that emphasis on its four core brands would dictate downplaying the GM name.

Production of SUVs and trucks vs. cars

In the late 1990s, the U.S. economy was on the rise and GM and Ford gained market share producing enormous profits primarily from the sale of light trucks and sport-utility vehicles.

Following the September 11 attacks, a severe stock market decline caused a pension and benefit fund underfunding crisis. GM began its Keep America Rolling campaign, which boosted sales, and other auto makers were forced to follow suit. The U.S. automakers saw sales increase to leverage costs as gross margins deteriorated.

In 2004, GM redirected resources from the development of new sedans to an accelerated refurbishment of their light trucks and SUVs for introduction as 2007 models in early 2006. Shortly after this decision, fuel prices increased by over 50% and this in turn affected both the trade-in value of used vehicles and the perceived desirability of new offerings in these market segments. The current marketing plan is to tout these revised vehicles extensively as offering the best fuel economy in their class (of vehicle). GM claims its hybrid trucks will have fuel economy improvements of 25%.

Sales

U.S. sales figures

Calendar Year

Total U.S. sales

Chg/yr.

1998

4,603,991

1999

5,017,150

9.0%

2000

4,953,163

1.3%

2001

4,904,015

1.0%

2002

4,858,705

0.9%

2003

4,756,403

2.1%

2004

4,707,416

1.0%

2005

4,517,730

4.0%

2006

4,124,645

8.7%

2007

3,866,620

6.3%

2008

2,980,688

22.9%

2009

2,084,492

30.1%

In 2005, GM promoted sales through an "employee discount" to all buyers. Marketed as the lowest possible price, GM cleared an inventory buildup of 2005 models to make way for its 2006 lineup.

SUV sales

In 2008, rapidly rising gasoline prices resulted in a 30% drop-off of sales of SUVs. These had been GM's most profitable product, often returning profits of US$10,000 to US$15,000 per vehicle. Sales of SUVs had been decreasing since 2004, and in May 2008, a US$2 billion investment program for a new SUV platform, the CXX program, was canceled. During the first 6 months of 2008, GM lost $18.8 billion; by late October, its stock had dropped 76%, and it was considering a merger with Chrysler. In only 12 months (October 2007-2008), GM sales in the US dropped 45 percent. GM's concentration on SUVs as a profit center dated from the 1990s.

General Motors plant in (in Arlington, Texas) produces its largest SUVs. On Tuesday, December 23, 2008, the Janesville, Wisconsin plant, which produced the Chevrolet Tahoe, the Suburban, and the GMC Yukon, and the Moraine, Ohio plant which produced the Chevrolet Blazer and the GMC Envoy idled production. GM has yet to confirm future product plans for the idled facilities.

Small car sales

"As part of General Motors Company (GM)'s restructuring, it plans to revive one of its idled U.S. factories for the production of a small car (the factories under consideration included one in or near the cars in busville and Orion Township areas of Michigan, one in Wisconsin, and one in Tennessee; the factory in Michigan was ultimately selected to be revived, but only 1,200 out of a former 3,400 jobs will be left). The new small car will add to a group of small and fuel-efficient vehicles that the company is planning to roll out in the near future. The retooled plant will be capable of building 160,000 cars annually, including both small and compact vehicles.

Canada

In March 2005, the Canadian Crown-in-Council provided C$200 million in incentives to General Motors for its Ontario plants to expand production and provide jobs, according to Jim Harris.[citation needed] Similar incentives were promised to non-North American auto companies like Toyota. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, said the money pledged for the project by the provincial Crown of Ontario and by the federal government was well spent.

China

The Buick brand is especially strong in China, led by the Buick Excelle subcompact. The last emperor of China owned a Buick. The Cadillac brand was introduced in China in 2004, starting with imports from the United States. GM pushed the marketing of the Chevrolet brand in China in 2005 as well, moving the former Buick Sail to that marque. The company manufactures most of its China market vehicles locally through Shanghai GM, a joint venture with the Chinese company SAIC, which was created on March 25, 1997. The Shanghai GM plant was officially opened on December 15, 1998, when the first Chinese-built Buick came off the assembly line. The SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile joint-venture is also successfully selling trucks and vans under the Wuling marque (34% owned by GM).

GM plans to invest $250m to create a research facility in Shanghai to develop hybrid cars and alternative fuel vehicles.[citation needed]

Labor relations

Main article: 2007 General Motors strike

On September 24, 2007 General Motors workers represented by the United Auto Workers union went on the first nationwide strike against GM since 1970. The ripple effect of the strike reached into Canada the following day as two car assembly plants and a transmission facility were forced to close. Overnight a tentative agreement was reached, however, and UAW officials declared the end of the strike in a news conference at 4 a.m. on September 26. By the following day, all GM workers in both countries were back to work.

A new labor contract was ratified by UAW members exactly one week after the tentative agreement was reached, passing by a majority 62% vote. In the contract are several product and employment guarantees stretching well into the next decade. One of GM's key future products, the Chevy Volt, was promised to the GM Poletown/Detroit-Hamtramck plant in 2010. Also included is a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association) which will transfer retiree health care obligations to the UAW by 2010. This eliminates more than $50 billion from GM's healthcare tab. It will be funded by $30 billion in cash and $1.4 billion in GM stock paid to the UAW over the next four years of the contract. It also eliminates 70% of the labor cost gap with GM's Japanese rivals.

A strike at American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc. will result in lost production of an additional 230,000 vehicles in the second quarter, with an estimated $1.8 billion impact on earnings before tax, and a total strike cost of $2.81 billion.

Together with the United Auto Workers, GM created a joint venture dedicated to the quality of life needs of employees in 1985. The UAW-GM Center for human resources in Detroit is dedicated to providing GM salaried employees and GM UAW members programs and services related to medical care, diversity issues, education, training and tuition assistance, as well as programs related to work and family concerns, in addition to the traditional union-employer health and safety partnership.

2008 Canadian Auto Workers bargaining

In an unusual move, GM Canada and the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union ratified a new collective bargaining contract in May 2008, four months before the expiration of the existing contract. As part of the agreement, among other production commitments, GM pledged to maintain production at the Oshawa, Ontario pickup truck plant. Less than three weeks later, GM announced that rising gasoline prices and falling truck sales made it necessary to close certain truck and SUV plants, including the Oshawa pickup plant. In response, CAW members staged a 12-day blockade of the GM Canada headquarters. After further discussions with the CAW, GM agreed to compensate workers at the truck plant, as well as making product commitments for the Oshawa car assembly plant.

Labor costs

GM announced elimination of lifetime health benefits for about 100,000 of its white collar retirees at the end of 2008.

Auto racing

General Motors has an extensive history in numerous forms of racing. In particular, the Chevrolet Corvette has long been popular and successful in international road racing. GM also is a supplier of racing components, such as engines, transmissions, and electronics equipments.

GM's Oldsmobile Aurora engine platform was successful in the Indy Racing League (IRL) throughout the 1990s, winning many races in the small V-8 class. GM has also done much work in the development of electronics for GM auto racing. An unmodified Aurora V-8 in the Aerotech, captured 47 world records, including the record for speed endurance in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. Recently, the Cadillac V-Series has entered motorsports racing. GM has also used many cars in the American racing series NASCAR. Currently the Chevrolet Impala is the only entry in the series but in the past the Pontiac Grand Prix, Buick Regal, Oldsmobile Cutlass, Chevrolet Lumina, Chevrolet Malibu, and the Chevrolet Monte Carlo were also used.

In touring cars (mainly in Europe), Vauxhall is a key player and former champion in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) series and competes with a Vauxhall Vectra in Super 2000 spec, although have announced plans to withdraw at the end of 2009. Opel used to participate in the DTM series and also in the 1980s in the World Rally Championship and other Rally Series with Group B Spec Opel Manta's before this category of Rallying was banned. Chevrolet competes with a Chevrolet Cruze in the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC). Tempus Sport and RML also compete with privately run Lacettis in the BTCC.

In Australia, there is the prestigious V8 Supercar Championship which is battled out by the two main rivals of Holden and Ford. The current Holden Racing Team cars are based on the Holden Commodore and run a 6.3-litre V8-cylinder engine producing 635 bhp (474 kW). These cars have a top speed of 294 km/h (183 mph) and run 0100 km/h in 3.8 seconds. The Holden Racing Team is Australia's most successful team in Australian Touring Car History. In 2006 & 2007, the Drivers championship was won by the very closely linked HSV Dealer Team.

Alternative propulsion initiatives

The company has long worked on alternative-technology vehicles, and has recently led the industry with ethanol burning flexible-fuel vehicles that can run on either E85 (ethanol) or gasoline. The company was the first to use turbochargers and was an early proponent of V6 engines in the 1960s, but quickly lost interest as the muscle car race took hold. They demonstrated gas turbine vehicles powered by kerosene, an area of interest throughout the industry, but abandoned the alternative engine configuration in view of the 1973 oil crisis. In the 1970s and 1980s, GM pushed the benefits of diesel engines and cylinder deactivation technologies with disastrous results due to poor durability in the Oldsmobile diesels and drivability issues in the Cadillac V8-6-4 variable cylinder engines. In 1987, GM, in conjunction with AeroVironment, built the Sunraycer, which won the inaugural World Solar Challenge and was a showcase of advanced technology. Much of the technology from Sunraycer found its way into the Impact prototype electric vehicle (also built by Aerovironment) and was the predecessor to the General Motors EV1.

GM supported a compromise version of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard increase from 27 mpg-US (8.7 L/100 km; 32 mpg-imp) to 35 mpg-US (6.7 L/100 km; 42 mpg-imp), the first such increase in over 20 years.

Hybrid electric initiative

Main articles: Plug-in hybrid and Chevrolet Volt

Plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt.

Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid 2009.

In May 2004, GM delivered the world's first full sized hybrid pickups, the 1/2-ton Silverado/Sierra. These hybrids did not use electrical energy for propulsion, like GM's later designs. In 2005, the Opel Astra diesel Hybrid concept vehicle was introduced. The 2006 Saturn Vue Green Line was the first hybrid passenger vehicle from GM and is also a mild design. GM has hinted at new hybrid technologies to be employed that will be optimized for higher speeds in freeway driving.

GM currently offers two types of hybrid systems. The first type, used in the Saturn Vue, Saturn Aura, and Chevrolet Malibu, is what GM calls the BAS Hybrid system a type of mild hybrid which was canceled in 2009. The second hybrid drive system, co-developed with Daimler AG and BMW, is called a "Two-Mode Hybrid". The two-mode is used by the Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon and will later be used on the Saturn Vue (cancelled), Cadillac Escalade, GM 1/2-ton pickups and possibly other vehicles.

GM's current hybrid electric models:

2009 Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid (discontinued)

2009 Saturn Aura Green Line Hybrid (discontinued)

2009 GMC Yukon Hybrid

2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid (discontinued)

2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid

2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid

2009 GMC Sierra Hybrid

GM has recently introduced the concept cars Chevrolet Volt and Opel Flextreme, which are electric vehicles with back-up generators, powered by gasoline, E85, or fuel cells. According to GM, a production Chevrolet Volt will be available by late 2010 as a 2011 model.

The GM Magic Bus is a hybrid powered bus.

GM sold 843 hybrids of all types during the first quarter of 2008, according to the industry newspaper Automotive News. Compare that with Ford, which sold 5,225 hybrids during that time. CSM Worldwide, expects GM to seriously increase its hybrid output, turning the automaker into a serious contender within the next few years. He expects it to produce 40,000 to 50,000 hybrids this year, more than doubling last year's production.

All-electric vehicles

Main article: General Motors EV1

Electric car EV1 shown plugged into charging station

GM was the first American company (in the modern era) to release an all-electric automobile. In 1990, GM debuted the revolutionary "Impact" concept car at the Los Angeles Auto Show. It was the first car with zero-emissions marketed in the US in over three decades. The Impact was eventually produced as the EV1 for the 1996 model year. It was available through dealers located in only a few regions (e.g., California, Arizona, Georgia). Vehicles were leased, rather than sold, to individuals. In 2003 GM decided to cease production of the vehicles.

General Motors has announced that it is building a prototype two-seat electric vehicle with Segway. An early prototype of the Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility vehicleubbed Project P.U.M.A. -- will be shown off in New York a day ahead of the press previews for the 2009 New York International Auto Show.

Plug-in hybrids

Main article: Plug-in hybrid

On September 16, 2008, as part of its 100th anniversary celebration, GM unveiled the "production" version of the Chevrolet Volt at the GM headquarters in Detroit.

Battery packs for electric vehicles

GM will build battery packs with LG Chem in Michigan. GM also plans to build an automotive battery laboratory in Michigan. GM will take full responsibility for all the battery management systems and power electronics. The company will build a new factory in Michigan, but a specific site has yet to be announced, in part because negotiations are ongoing with state and local authorities on the usual financial incentives and approvals. LG Chem's US subsidiary, Compact Power of Troy, Michigan, has been building the prototype packs for the development vehicles and will continue to provide integration support and act as a liaison for the program.

Hydrogen initiative

Sequel, a fuel cell-powered vehicle from GM.

GM has prided its research and prototype development of hydrogen powered vehicles, to be produced in early 2010, using a support infrastructure still in a prototype state. The economic feasibility of the technically challenging hydrogen car, and the low-cost production of hydrogen to fuel it, has also been discussed by other automobile manufacturers such as Ford and Chrysler.

In June 2007, Larry Burns, vice president of research and development, said he's not yet willing to say exactly when hydrogen vehicles will be mass produced, but he said it should happen before 2020, the year many experts have predicted. He said "I sure would be disappointed if we weren't there" before 2020.

Flexible-fuel vehicles

North American market

The E85, FlexFuel, Chevrolet Impala LT 2009.

GM produces several flexible-fuel vehicles that can operate on E85 ethanol fuel or gasoline, or any blend of both. Since 2006 GM started featuring a bright yellow gas cap to remind drivers of the E85 capabilities, and also using badging with the text "Flexfuel/E85 Ethanol" to clearly mark the car as an E85 FFV.

GM is the North American leader in E85 flex fuel vehicles, with over 3 million FlexFuel vehicles on the road in the U.S. As of 2009, GM offers 18 ethanol-enabled FlexFuel cars and trucks in the US, and produce more than one million new FlexFuel vehicles. GM's goal is to have half of their annual vehicle production be E85 or biodiesel capable by 2012.

Despite the significant amount of flex fuel vehicles sold in the US and Canada, the percentage of users actually using ethanol has been very low as many owners are not aware they owned an E85 flex or not enough E85 fueling stations are available nearby, except for the Corn Belt states, where there is a great concentration of E85 stations, as most corn ethanol is produced there. A 2005 survey found that 68% of American flex-fuel car owners were not aware they owned an E85 flex. Several critics have argued that GM and the other American automakers have been producing E85 flex models motivated by a loophole in the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) requirements, that allows for a fuel economy credit for every flex-fuel vehicle sold, whether or not in practice these vehicles are fueled with E85. This loophole might have allowed the car industry to meet the CAFE targets in fuel economy just by spending between USD 100 to USD 200 that it cost to turn a conventional vehicle into a flex-fuel, without investing in new technology to improve fuel economy, and saving them the potential fines for not achieving that standard in a given model year.

Brazilian market

Brazilian Chevrolet Celta FlexPower.

GM's largest overseas subsidiary is General Motors do Brasil, which started producing flexible-fuel vehicles since its inception in the Brazilian market in 2003. Like other Brazilian flex-fuel vehicles, GM's flex fuel cars and light-duty trucks are optimized to run on any mix of E20-E25 gasoline and up to 100% hydrous ethanol fuel (E100). GM launched its first flex fuel in June 2003, the Chevrolet Corsa 1.8 FlexPower, just two months after the first flex car was launched by another Brazilian carmaker.

GM do Brasil also introduced the MultiPower engine in August 2004, which was capable of using natural gas (CNG), ethanol and gasoline (E20-E25 blend) as fuel, and it was used in the multifuel Chevrolet Astra 2.0 model 2005, aimed at the local taxi cab market. The Brazilian GM Powertrain unit also developed the EconoFlex technology, used for the first time in the Chevrolet Prisma 1.4, which allows the flex fuel engine to maximize fuel economy and power.

Due to the success and rapid consumer acceptance of the flex versions, GM sold 192,613 flex vehicles and 135,636 gasoline-powered automobiles in 2005, jumping to 501,681 flex-fuel vehicles, while only 949 cars and 6,834 light trucks powered by gasoline were sold in 2007, and reaching new car sales of 535.454 flex fuels in 2008, representing 97 percent of all cars and light duty trucks sold in that year.

Philanthropy

Since 1996, General Motors has been the exclusive source of funding for Safe Kids USA's "Safe Kids Buckle Up" program, a national initiative to ensure child automobile safety through education and inspection. Through 2002, the Pace Awards program led by GM, EDS, and SUN Microsystems, gave over $1.2 billion of in-kind contributions which includes computers to over 18 universities to support engineering education. In 2009, the GM led group has helped the Pace Awards program worldwide. General Motors is a leading contributor to charity. In 2004, GM gave $51,200,000 in cash contributions and $17,200,000 in-kind donations to charitable causes.

Politics

In the 2008 election cycle, General Motors contributed $802,414, with 52% of that amount going to the Democrats and 48% to the Republicans. GM's Saturn division put up a display at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show congratulating Barack Obama on his election as the first African-American president of the United States.

Environmental issues

In the middle of 1999, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) removed 23,000 cubic yards (18,000 m3) of contaminated sediments and soil from the General Motors site in Massena, New York for disposal at a licensed facility in Utah. The amount contained 13,000 cubic yards (9,900 m3) of contaminated sediments dredged from the St. Lawrence River. The sediments had been stored on the site since 1995. There was also 10,000 cubic yards (7,600 m3) of contaminated sludge from the active wastewater treatment plant on the General Motors property. The Political Economy Research Institute ranks GM 18th among corporations emitting airborne pollutants in the United States. The ranking is based on the emission quantity (8 million pounds in 2005) and toxicity.

In September 2006, the state of California filed suit against General Motors, Chrysler, Nissan, Toyota, Honda, and Ford. The companies were accused of producing cars that emitted over 289 million metric tons of carbon per year in the United States, accounting for nearly 20% of carbon emissions in the United States and 30% of carbon emissions in California. This lawsuit was dismissed by a judge in September 2007.

The Union of Concerned Scientists ranked General Motors as seventh out of the eight world's largest automakers in 2007 for environmental performance. The report noted that GM manufactured the most vehicles achieving 30 mpg-US (7.8 L/100 km; 36 mpg-imp) or better, but also the most vehicles under 15 mpg-US (16 L/100 km; 18 mpg-imp).

Brands and subsidiaries

Current brands (as of 2010)

Marque

Years used

Markets

Buick

1908resent

North America, China, Israel, Taiwan

Cadillac

1909resent

Global (except South America, India, SE Asia, Australia)

GMC

1912resent

North America, Middle East

Chevrolet

1917resent

Global (except Australia)

Vauxhall

1925resent

United Kingdom

Opel

1929resent

Europe (except UK), Russia, South Africa, Middle East, Singapore

Holden

1948resent

Australia, New Zealand, Middle East (not Kuwait), South Korea, South Africa, UK

Daewoo

2002resent

South Korea, Latin America, Europe

Defunct brands

Welch (19031911)

Rainier (19051911)

Welch-Marquette (see Marquette)

Cartercar (19051915)

Elmore (19091912)

Rapid Truck (19091912)

Reliance Truck (19091912)

Welch-Detroit (19101911)

Marquette (1912)

Peninsular (1912) (see Marquette)

Samson Tractor (19171922)

Scripps-Booth (19171923)

Marquette (1930)

Oakland (19091931)

Viking (19291931)

LaSalle (19271940)

McLaughlin (19181942)

Yellow Coach (19251943)

Beaumont (19661969)

Envoy (19601970)

Acadian (19621971)

Ranger (19681976)

Bedford Vehicles (19291987)

General Motors Diesel Division (19381987)

Passport (19881991)

Asna (1993)

Geo (19891997)

Oldsmobile (18932004)

Pontiac (1926-2010)

Saturn (19852010)

Hummer (19922010), after a failed sale to Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Company Ltd

Sold brands

Frigidaire (19191979), sold to Ohio-based White Consolidated Industries

Lotus (19861993), sold to Luxembourgish A.C.B.N. Holdings S.A.

Saab (1989-2010), sold to Dutch supercar manufacturer Spyker Cars NV

Former affiliates

Fiat (20002005), GM owned 20% at one time with put option

Fuji Heavy Industries, manufacturer of Subaru (19992006), GM owned 20% at one time

Isuzu (19712006), GM owned 49% at one time

Suzuki (19812008), GM owned over 20% at one time

Spin-offs

GM Defense 19502003 was once part of General Motors Diesel Division and as General Dynamics Land Systems division of General Dynamics

Electro Motive Division of General Motors was also once part of General Motors Diesel Division and now known as Electro-Motive Diesel

Detroit Diesel sold to Penske Corporation; broken up and portion sold to the former Daimler-Chrysler AG (now Daimler AG); now part of Daimler AG

Transit division was sold to Motor Coach Industries and Transportation Manufacturing Corporation

RTS and Classic bus rights owned by MCI And TMC were sold off to Nova Bus; now produced by Millennium Transit Services

Diesel Division of General Motors of Canada Limited spun off and later acquired by General Motors Canada as Diesel Division of General Motors of Canada Limited

EDS Electronic Data Systems

Hughes Electronics (Now The DirecTV Group[Liberty Media]

1999 GM spun off its parts making operations as Delphi

Subsidiaries

AC Delco

Adam Opel GmbH

Vauxhall Motors

GMAC (less than 10%)

General Motors Canada

General Motors do Brasil

General Motors India

Global Hybrid Cooperation

General Motors South Africa

GM-AvtoVAZ

GM Daewoo (70.1%)

General Motors Europe

GM Holden Ltd

GM Performance Division

GM Powertrain Europe

OnStar

Shanghai GM (50%)

SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile Joint venture in China.

See also

Companies portal

Automotive industry

People

Wayne Cherry

John DeLorean

Pierre S. du Pont

William C. Durant

Harley Earl

Robert Lutz

Irving Jacob Reuter

Alfred P. Sloan

Ray G. Young

Books and films

Final Offer 1985 Canadian TV documentary that shows the 1984 GM contract negotiations that resulted in the union split of the Canadian arm of the UAW.

Roger & Me 1989 American documentary film directed by independent filmmaker/author Michael Moore (his first). The film criticizes General Motors for closing down its factories in Moore's home-town of Flint, Michigan, despite record profits. After many Flint residents lose jobs at GM, Moore claims, the town descends into economic chaos.

Who Killed the Electric Car? 2006 documentary film written and directed by Chris Paine that explores the creation, limited commercialization, and subsequent destruction of the battery electric vehicle in the U.S., specifically the General Motors EV1 of the 1990s.

Industry associations

Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers

United States Council for Automotive Research

Competitions

EcoCAR

Lists

List of GM engines

List of GM factories

List of GM platforms

List of GM transmissions

Category

GM vehicles by brand

Lawsuits

GM Instrument Cluster Settlement

References

^ a b Bennett, Jeff; Lublin, Joann (2010-01-26). "Chairman of GM Taps CEO: Himself". Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703808904575024933533722148.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_business. Retrieved 2010-01-26. 

^ a b c d e "GM Reports Calendar Year 2008 Financial Results". http://www.gm.com/corporate/investor_information/earnings/hist_earnings/08_q4/index.jsp. Retrieved 2009-05-07. 

^ a b c Ferguson, Rob; Tony Van Alphen (June 2, 2009). "From General to Government Motors". thestar.com (Toronto Star). http://www.thestar.com/Article/643958. Retrieved September 6, 2009. 

^ , GM company profie. Retrieved 2009-07-010.

^ a b c d Strott, Elizabeth (2009-01-21). "Toyota takes sales crown from GM". MSN Money (Microsoft Money). http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Dispatch/Toyota-takes-sales-crown-from-GM.aspx. Retrieved 2009-06-01. 

^ "Global 500 2009: Industry: - FORTUNE on CNNMoney.com". Money.cnn.com. 2009-07-20. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/global500/2009/industries/19/index.html. Retrieved 2009-10-12. 

^ Kuhnhenn, Jim (May 27, 2009). "Washington Wags Call GM 'Government Motors'". TheStreet.com. http://www.thestreet.com/story/10506245/1/washington-wags-call-gm-governmentmotors.html?cm_ven=GOOGLEFI. Retrieved September 6, 2009. 

^ Ikenson, Daniel J.; Howard Wial (June 5, 2009). "Will Government Motors do better than General Motors?". Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-oew-ikenson-wial5-2009jun05,0,5593785.story. Retrieved September 6, 2009. 

^ King, Neil. "Politicians Butt In at Bailed-Out GM - WSJ.com". Online.wsj.com. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125677552001414699.html. Retrieved 2009-10-30. 

^ Stoll, John D.; David McLaughlin (July 2, 2009). "General Motors Aims for IPO Next Year". The Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124646098696280443.html. Retrieved August 14, 2009. 

^ "GM Decides to Keep Opel, Kills Sale Agreement With Magna". Wardsauto.com. 2009-11-03. http://wardsauto.com/home/gm_keep_opel_091103/. Retrieved 2009-12-05. 

^ http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/news/news_detail.brand_gm.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2010/Feb/0223_Saab

^ "GM Media Online". Media.gm.com. 2009-01-21. http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewmonthlyreleasedetail.do?domain=828&docid=51535. Retrieved 2009-06-01. 

^ "GM's China vehicle sales in 2009 rose 66.9%". 4wheelsnow.com. January 5, 2009. http://www.4wheelsnews.com/gms-china-vehicle-sales-in-2009-rose-669-percent/. Retrieved 2010-01-25. 

^ "Howes: GM's 20-year global plan unraveling". detnews.com. March 5, 2009. http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090305/OPINION03/903050366/1148/&source=nletter-business. Retrieved 2009-06-01. 

^ Burr, Barry S. (February 23, 2009).GM's pension fund. Crain communications, Pensions & Investments. Retrieved on July 15, 2009.

^ "Site Profile for gm.com (rank #1,388)". Siteanalytics.compete.com. http://siteanalytics.compete.com/gm.com?metric=uv. Retrieved 2009-06-01. 

^ "Going Global". New York Times. 2009-06-04. http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2009/06/04/business/04overseas.graf01.ready.html. Retrieved 2009-06-06. 

^ General Motors Company SEC filing 10-Q 1st-quarter 2009, p.94

^ "GM Names Its Government-Appointed Board Members - Automotive * US * News * Story". CNBC.com. http://www.cnbc.com/id/32108453. Retrieved 2009-10-12. 

^ "Senior Leadership Group and Staff Officers". GM. http://www.gm.com/corporate/about/bios/lutz.jsp. Retrieved 2009-12-05. 

^ "Chris Liddell Named GM Vice Chairman and CFO". GM. http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/news/news_detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2009/Dec/1221_Liddell. Retrieved 2009-12-22. 

^ "Senior Leadership Group and Staff Officers - Stephens". GM. http://www.gm.com/corporate/about/bios/stephens.jsp. Retrieved 2009-12-05. 

^ "Senior Leadership Group and Staff Officers". GM. http://www.gm.com/corporate/about/bios/reuss.jsp. Retrieved 2009-12-05. 

^ "Senior Leadership Group and Staff Officers". GM. http://www.gm.com/corporate/about/bios/reilly.jsp. Retrieved 2009-12-05. 

^ "Senior Leadership Group and Staff Officers". GM. http://www.gm.com/corporate/about/bios/lee.jsp. Retrieved 2009-12-05. 

^ "Senior Leadership Group and Staff Officers". GM. http://www.gm.com/corporate/about/bios/young.jsp. Retrieved 2009-12-05. 

^ "Young to Play Key Role in International Operations". GM. http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/news/news_detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2009/Dec/1214_young. Retrieved 2009-12-17. 

^ "Senior Leadership Group and Staff Officers - Welburn". GM. http://www.gm.com/corporate/about/bios/welburn.jsp. Retrieved 2009-12-05. 

^ "General Motors Company 1916 (Pre Bankruptcy) - New Jersey". Scripophily.net. http://www.scripophily.net/genmotcom1.html. Retrieved 2009-07-30. 

^ GM Press release. Retrieved on July 10, 2009.

^ de la Merced, Michael (July 10, 2009). "With Sale of Good Assets, G.M. Out of Bankruptcy". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/11/business/11auto.html. Retrieved July 10, 2009. 

^ Maynard, Micheline (July 10, 2009). "A Primer on the New General Motors". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/11/business/11primer.html. Retrieved July 10, 2009. 

^ a b Stoll, John D., and Neil King Jr. (July 10, 2009).GM Emerges From Bankruptcy.The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved on July 10, 2009. a

^ Evarts, Eric (June 23, 2009). "Consumer groups object to GM bankruptcy". Consumer Reports. http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2009/06/consumer-groups-object-to-gm-bankruptcy-over-lemon-law-and-product-liability-claims.html. Retrieved July 12, 2009. 

^ Harrison, Edward (June 10, 2009). "Is the GM section 363 Bankruptcy Plan Really a Stealth Re-organization Plan?". Naked Capitalism. http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2009/06/guest-post-is-gm-section-363-bankruptcy.html. Retrieved July 12, 2009. 

^ Beene, Ryan (April 1, 2009). "How a 'Section 363' sale creates a new GM". Automotive News (Crain Communications, Inc.). http://www.autonews.com/article/20090401/ANA02/904019958. Retrieved July 12, 2009. 

^ 11 U.S.C. ch.3 subch.IV

^ a b Stoll, John D.; David McLaughlin (July 2, 2009). "General Motors Aims for IPO Next Year". Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124646098696280443.html. Retrieved July 10, 2009. 

^ "Court Documents and Claims Register". Motors Liquidation Company. July 10, 2009. http://www.motorsliquidation.com. 

^ Isidore, Chris. "GM out of bankruptcy as new company is formed - Jul. 10, 2009". Money.cnn.com. http://money.cnn.com/2009/07/10/news/companies/new_gm/?postversion=2009071016. Retrieved 2009-07-13. 

^ GM results 11/16/09

^ "FACTBOX: General Motors bankruptcy filing". Reuters. 2009-06-01. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5502VY20090601. Retrieved 2009-07-09. 

^ "EERE News: Restructured GM to Build a New Small Car in the United States". Apps1.eere.energy.gov. http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/news_detail.cfm/news_id=12550. Retrieved 2009-06-06. 

^ Johnson, Kimberly S. (2009-08-27). "GM to remove its mark from vehicles to emphasize brand". Usatoday.Com. http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2009-08-25-gm-logo_N.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-12. 

^ "mediaOnline". Media.gm.com. 2000-01-05. http://media.gm.com/news/releases/g000105a.html. Retrieved 2009-07-19. 

^ "mediaOnline". Media.gm.com. 2002-01-03. http://www.media.gm.com/news/releases/020103decembersales.html. Retrieved 2009-07-19. 

^ "GM Reports December 2005 and Year Results". Theautochannel.com. 2006-01-05. http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2006/01/05/205609.html. Retrieved 2009-06-01. 

^ "GM Media Online". Media.gm.com. 2007-01-03. http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewmonthlyreleasedetail.do?domain=6&docid=31596. Retrieved 2009-06-01. 

^ "GM Media Online". Media.gm.com. 2009-01-05. http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewpressreldetail.do?domain=2&docid=51161. Retrieved 2009-06-01. 

^ "Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac Post Sales Gains - DETROIT, Jan 5. /PRNewswire/". Michigan: Prnewswire.com. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chevrolet-buick-gmc-and-cadillac-post-sales-gains-80720277.html. Retrieved 2010-02-18. 

^ "GM Cancels All Future Full-Size SUVs". Worldcarfans. http://www.worldcarfans.com/9081028.003/gm-cancels-all-future-full-size-suvs. Retrieved 2009-06-01. 

^ 19:57:37. "@Mail.Ru". Auto.mail.ru. http://auto.mail.ru/text.html?id=27985. Retrieved 2009-06-01. 

^ Vlasic, Bill; Nick Bunkley (2008-10-25). "General Motors, Driven to the Brink". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/business/26jane.html. Retrieved 2008-10-27. 

^ Bunkley, Nick; Bill Vlasic (2008-12-23). "Nearly the End of the Line for S.U.V.". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/24/business/24auto.html. Retrieved 2008-12-23. 

^ "Restructured GM to Build a New Small Car in the United States". United States Department of Energy. June 3, 2009. http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/news_detail.cfm/news_id=12550. 

^ "Canadian auto industry gets bailout too". CNN.com. http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/12/20/canada.auto.bailout/index.html. Retrieved 2009-07-13. 

^ 1:25 p.m. ET (2006-05-15). "In China, Buick bucks the trend - Nightly News with Brian Williams- msnbc.com". MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12801549/ns/nightly_news_with_brian_williams/. Retrieved 2009-10-12. 

^ GM's Cost - Auto News Report

^ "Welcome to the UAW-GM Center for Human Resources". UAW-GM Joint Activity System. Retrieved on June 19, 2007.

^ "GM Media Online". Media.gm.com. 2008-06-03. http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewmonthlyreleasedetail.do?domain=3&docid=46161. Retrieved 2009-06-01. 

^ "This page is available to GlobePlus subscribers". Theglobeandmail.com. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080728.RGM28/TPStory/Business. Retrieved 2009-06-01. 

^ Thomas, Cal. "Cal Thomas Official Web Site - BREAKDOWN". Calthomas.com. http://www.calthomas.com/index.php?news=2427. Retrieved 2009-06-01. 

^ America's First Turbine Car

^ GM workers lobbying for less-stringent CAFE rule

^ Tom Higgs, "Patents General Motors". October 17, 2008

^ "GM's Hybrid Propulsion System for Transit Buses". http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/adv_tech/300_hybrids/index_bus.html. Retrieved 2007-05-22. 

^ Valdes-Dapena, Peter GM gets on the hybrid highway, CNNMoney, April 23, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-06.

^ "GM to roll out two-seat, urban electric prototype | detnews.com | The Detroit News". detnews.com. http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090407/AUTO01/904070332/1148/&source=nletter-business. Retrieved 2009-06-01. 

^ "GM Media Online". Media.gm.com. 2008-09-16. http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewpressreldetail.do?domain=827&docid=48589. Retrieved 2009-06-01. 

^ "EERE News: GM to Buy Lithium-Ion Batteries for the Chevy Volt from LG Chem". Apps1.eere.energy.gov. 2009-01-14. http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/news_detail.cfm/news_id=12177. Retrieved 2009-06-01. 

^ Tom Krisher, "GM steps up work on hydrogen cars", BusinessWeek. June 15, 2007

^ Ken Thomas (2007-05-07). "'Flex-fuel' vehicles touted". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/environment/2007-05-05-ethanolvehicles_N.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-15. 

^ Christine Gable and Scott Gable. "Yellow E85 gas cap". About.com: Hybrid Cars & Alt Fuels. http://alternativefuels.about.com/od/vehiclebuyingguide/ig/Alt-fuels---New-York-Auto-Show/Yellow-E85-gas-cap.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-18. 

^ John Neff (2006-10-06). "More gas cap news: Chrysler going yellow for E85". AutoBlog. http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/10/more-gas-cap-news-chrysler-going-yellow-for-e85/. Retrieved 2008-10-08. 

^ Sam Abuelsamid (2007-03-28). "AFVI: Ford confirms that all 2008 police interceptors will be flex-fuel". AutobogGreen. http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/03/28/afvi-ford-confirms-that-all-2008-police-interceptors-will-be-fl/. Retrieved 2008-10-08. 

^ Christine Gable and Scott Gable. "2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4WD LT2 flex-fuel truck test drive". About.com: Hybrid Cars & Alt Fuels. http://alternativefuels.about.com/od/2008flexfuelreviews/fr/08SilveradoFFV_2.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-03. 

^ Christine Gable and Scott Gable. "2007 Chevrolet Suburban 4WD 1500 LT test drive". About.com: Hybrid Cars & Alt Fuels. http://alternativefuels.about.com/od/flexfuelffvreviews/fr/2007Suburban_2.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-03. 

^ General Motors | Fuel Economy & Alternative Fuels - E85 Ethanol

^ National Renewable Energy Laboratory USDoE (2007-09-17). "Alternative and Advanced Vehicles: Flexible Fuel Vehicles". Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center. http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/vehicles/flexible_fuel.html. Retrieved 2008-08-19. 

^ a b Sperling, Daniel and Deborah Gordon (2009). Two billion cars: driving toward sustainability. Oxford University Press, New York. pp. 73743. ISBN 978-0-19-537664-7. 

^ a b Goettemoeller, Jeffrey; Adrian Goettemoeller (2007). Sustainable Ethanol: Biofuels, Biorefineries, Cellulosic Biomass, Flex-Fuel Vehicles, and Sustainable Farming for Energy Independence. Prairie Oak Publishing, Maryville, Missouri. pp. 5661. ISBN 978-0-9786293-0-4. 

^ a b Alexei Barrionuevo and Micheline Maynard (2006-08-31). "Dual-Fuel Vehicles Open Mileage Loophole for Carmakers". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/31/business/31loophole.html?emc=eta1. Retrieved 2008-10-22. 

^ Inslee, Jay; Bracken Hendricks (2007). Apollo's Fire. Island Press, Washington, D.C.. pp. 153155, 160161. ISBN 978-1-59726-175-3.  See Chapter 6. Homegrown Energy.

^ "Bumpy ride for biofuels". Economist. 2008-01-18. http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10551762. Retrieved 2008-09-14. 

^ "Volkswagen to stop making gas-only cars for Brazil". Automotive News. 2006-03-23. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060323/REUTERS/60323043/1111. Retrieved 2008-10-18. 

^ "Chevrolet Apresenta seu Novo Motor 1.8 Flexpower, mais Potente e Econmico" (in Portuguese). 2005-09-22. http://www.jornalexpress.com.br/noticias/detalhes.php?id_jornal=9095&id_noticia=2275. Retrieved 2009-04-18. 

^ GNVNews (November 2006). "Montadores Investem nos Carros GNV" (in Portuguese). Institutio Brasileiro de Petroleo e Gas. http://www.bigas.com.br/sistema/?modulo=gnvnews&acao=abrir&id=22. Retrieved 2009-04-19. 

^ "Astra lder no segmento dos compactos em 2004: As verses do Chevrolet Astra 2005" (in Portuguese). Journal Express. 2005-01-18. http://www.jornalexpress.com.br/noticias/detalhes.php?id_jornal=9095&id_noticia=1703. Retrieved 2009-04-19. 

^ "1.4 Econo.Flex, o motor que pulsa forte no corao do Prisma, o novo sed Chevrolet" (in Portuguese). Chevrolet (Brazil). http://www3.chevrolet.com.br/noticias/noticia.do?acao=id&idNoticia=534. Retrieved 2009-04-18. 

^ "Tabela 08 - Vendas Atacado Mercado Interno por Tipo e Empresa - Combustvel Flex Fuel - 2005" (in Portuguese) (PDF). ANFAVEA - Associao Nacional dos Fabricantes de Veculos Automotores (Brazil). http://www.anfavea.com.br/tabelas2005/autoveiculos/tabela08_vendas.pdf. Retrieved 2009-04-16.  See Table 08 for flex-fuel sales and Table 07 for gasoline sales.

^ "Tabela 08 - Vendas Atacado Mercado Interno por Tipo e Empresa - Combustvel Flex Fuel - 2007" (in Portuguese) (PDF). ANFAVEA - Associao Nacional dos Fabricantes de Veculos Automotores (Brazil). http://www.anfavea.com.br/tabelas2007/autoveiculos/tabela08_vendas.pdf. Retrieved 2009-04-16.  See Table 08 for flex-fuel sales and Table 07 for gasoline sales.

^ "Tabela 08 - Vendas Atacado Mercado Interno por Tipo e Empresa - Combustvel Flex Fuel - 2008" (in Portuguese) (PDF). ANFAVEA - Associao Nacional dos Fabricantes de Veculos Automotores (Brazil). http://www.anfavea.com.br/tabelas2008/autoveiculos/tabela08_vendas.pdf. Retrieved 2009-04-16.  See Table

About the Author

I am China Manufacturers writer, reports some information about glove usb , cup and saucer holders.

Public Health Informatics

Orange County Personal Injury Lawyer and Law

Personal Injury Cases in California

byJon Mitchell Jackson, Esq.

http://www.JacksonandWilson.com and

http://jacksonandwilson.com

WHAT IS A PERSONAL INJURY CASE IN ORANGE COUNTY CALIFORNIA?

By Orange County personal injury and wrongful death lawyer, Jon Mitchell Jackson (2009 Trial Lawyer of the Year) at http://jacksonandwilson.com

A personal injury or catastrophic injury case occurs when a person has suffered some form of severe physical or psychological injury as a result of another person or company’s wrongful conduct. The wrongful conduct may be simple negligence or intentional, willful, wanton or reckless conduct.

In some instances, a party may be strictly liable for injury to another without the injured person having to show any wrongdoing by the other party.

Personal injury cases we've helped families with over the past 25 years include the following...

Automobile Accident Injuries- Each year in the United States there are more than six million motor vehicle accidents. This year, approximately 10,839 people will die in drunk-driving crashes – one every 50 minutes.

Motorcycle Accident Injuries- Each year, about 4,000 riders sustain fatal injuries in motorcycle accidents. And each year, another 76,000 are injured. Statistically, about 12 motorcycle riders are involved in fatal accidents each day with another 208 riders sustaining injury on U.S. roadways.

Large Truck Accident Injuries- On an annual basis, there are about 5,000 large truck related fatal accidents in the United States.

Slip and Fall Injuries- Most people are not aware of the fact that slip and fall injuries are the second leading cause of injuries in the United States. On an average, they account for about 16,000 deaths every year.

Dog Bite Injuries- Each year across the United States, almost 5,000,000 people are bitten or attacked by dogs and 334,000 dog bite and dog attack victims require emergency medical treatment.

Spinal Cord and Paralysis Injuries- Every year, about 11,000 Americans experience spinal cord injuries, adding up to 200,000 people living with spinal cord injury disability in the United States.

Burn Injuries- Each year in the United States, about 4,500 people die from severe burn injuries. Another 45,000 people are hospitalized. Up to 10,000 people in the United States die each year of burn-related infections. When you look at the total numbers, more than 1.1 million of our citizens experience some type of burn injury each and every year.

Head and Brain Injuries- About 1,000,000 Americans experience major head and brain injuries each year.

Drowning- For any given year, there is one drowning of a child for every 11,000 residential pools in the United States. What this means is that in a country with 6 million pools, roughly 550 children under the age of ten drown each year.

Medical Malpractice- It is conservatively estimated that about 90,000 people lose their lives annually in the hospital because of medical malpractice. Medication errors affect almost 1.5 million people each year.

Other personal injury cases we've helped clients with include animal attacks, boat and watercraft accidents, brain injuries, construction accidents, hazardous products, insurance bad faith cases, medical malpractice, product liability, professional malpractice, railroad accidents, and wrongful death cases.

What Damages are Available in a California Personal Injury Case?

In most catastrophic personal injury cases, a victim may be entitled to monetary compensation for bodily injury and pain and suffering from the person or company whose negligent or wrongful conduct caused the injury. This includes a momentary lapse in judgment, a mistake or simple negligence.

Injuries caused by intentional, willful, wanton or reckless conduct may also allow an injured party to receive punitive damages which are designed to punish the responsible party. Over the past two decades, we've handled both types of case.

The primary damages you may be entitled to if you are a victim of personal injury are called compensatory or actual damages. These damages are intended to provide reimbursement or payment to you for your past and future "out of pocket" expenses or losses. Please keep in mind that an expert is normally required to help prove the full extent of your recoverable damages.

The most common compensatory damages include the following:

Medical Expenses- Past and future bills and expenses for health care services from an ambulance or emergency providers, hospitals, doctors, medication, and related services from nurses or other health care providers related to your injury, care and treatment.

Lost Earnings- If you were unable to work for a period of time after the incident, you are entitled to recover reimbursement of all lost wages.

Impaired Earning Capacity- Any reduction of your ability to earn a living (can't do the same job anymore) is recoverable. In many instances, an expert economist is retained to help determine what the actual loss of income is.

Future Medical Expenses- All reasonably necessary future medical care and treatment is recoverable. Again, this is normally proven with the help of experts.

Pain and Suffering- These damages are awarded to compensate an injury victim for all past and future pain and suffering related to the incident and injury.

Mental Anguish- Personal injury victims who have sustained extreme mental or emotional suffering or distress are entitled to compensation. In some cases, this may also include someone who has witnessed the severe injury or death of a loved one.

Loss of Consortium- If, because of a personal injury, the victim's spouse is unable to enjoy the benefits of marriage (companionship, affection, comfort, or sexual relations), a claim for monetary damages may be sought. Please note that these claims will normally "open the door" to many privacy issues.

Loss of Society and Companionship- In wrongful death cases, these damages are awarded to an heir for the loss of love, comfort, and companionship.

Property Damage- Any property damage to a vehicle or personal items may be recovered by the victim in a personal injury case.

What is the Standard of Proof in a California Personal Injury Case?

The standard of proof in the United States is typically preponderance of the evidence as opposed to clear and convincing or beyond a reasonable doubt. Because proving a case beyond a preponderance of the evidence (slight tipping of scales) is usually easier than a criminal prosecution (beyond a reasonable doubt), most personal injury cases are handled in the civil court system.

Are There Any Special Time Limits to Asserting a California Personal Injury Case?

Yes there are. Time is of the essence in many personal injury actions. In civil personal injury cases, most states have a strict statute of limitations which means that court proceedings must be properly commenced within a certain period of time after the incident or the victim will lose his or her right to bring a claim.

Other time sensitive issues and areas of possible concern involve preserving evidence and identifying defendants, insurance coverage and assets. This normally requires retaining investigators and experts to commence investigations and evaluations as promptly as possible. In fact, our office has a checklist of more than 140 items that we review in every new case that comes in to our office.

For these reasons alone, most personal injury victims agree that hiring an experienced California personal injury lawyer should not be delayed.

Can a Person Who Causes Harm to Another Human Being be Prosecuted for Both the Criminal Harm and the Civil Personal Injury?

The answer is yes. In some instances, a civil and criminal case can both be filed at the same time. People are routinely charged with the crimes of assault, battery, attempted murder and even murder. False imprisonment and fraud are other crimes that sometimes involve civil rights too.

In these cases, we work with the District Attorney's Office to coordinate their prosecution of the crime with our handling of the civil personal injury case.

From a Lawyers Perspective, What Does it Take to Be a Good Personal Injury Lawyer?

Well, first of all it takes many years and many cases before a lawyer "learns" how to properly handle and persuasively argue a personal injury case. By their very nature, the available damages in a personal injury case are not always quantifiable through formulas or expert testimony.

The extent of compensation a personal injury victim may be entitled to recover is normally related to the preparation and artfulness of the lawyers who are retained to help them. Convincing insurance companies and jurors to award all reasonable and necessary damages takes practice and experience. The ultimate amount recovered is normally directly related to the attorney's skills of persuasion and advocacy.

What Happens Next in a Personal Injury Case?

When you or a family member is involved in a personal injury , it’s extremely important to act quickly and make smart decisions from the very beginning of your case.

Being seen and properly diagnosed by an experienced and well respected health care provider shortly after your accident or injury is important for two reasons. First, making sure you get proper medical treatment is important to your short and long-term recovery. Second, it’s absolutely necessary in personal injury cases to have your doctors properly document (medical records, reports, photographs, x-rays, CT/MRI scans…) all of your injuries and treatment. This record or history will be used to confirm all of your injuries and injury related issues later in the claim, litigation, or trial process.

Doctors such as orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, physical therapists and chiropractors may be needed to help you recover as fast as possible. Economists, life-case planners, as well as experts in vocational rehab are sometimes necessary to help calculate, explain and prove your financial losses.

Investigation and Protecting Evidence

When it comes to investigating the incident that caused your injuries and damages, it’s important to keep in mind that evidence can be difficult to locate as time passes. Objects get moved or removed from the accident scene. Skid marks wash away with rain and other evidence such as broken asphalt, walls, and buildings get repaired or replaced. Damage to vehicles may get repaired before being photographed and the memories of defendants and witnesses fade over time (or after being coached by the other side). In some cases these people simply “disappear.”

To avoid having this happen to you, photographs and video should be taken and all evidence preserved. Investigators should be used to talk to and record the statements of the people involved in your incident and to interview all witnesses.

In most cases, experts in areas such as accident reconstruction or bio-mechanical engineering should be retained and used to review the facts and help establish liability, force of impact, and damages in your case.

Claim and Lawsuit Filing Deadlines

In almost every case, you only have a certain period of time to file a claim or lawsuit. If you fail to properly file or serve the required legal documents in a timely fashion, you will forever lose your legal right to pursue a claim or case against the responsible party. The requirements and time period you have to file a claim against a governmental entity such as a city, county or state is different than when dealing with a private party or company in a slip and fall or automobile, motorcycle, or large truck accident case. Medical malpractice cases also have their own unique requirements and limited time periods to take action.

Legal Documents

Legal documents called claims, pleadings, and motions are normally prepared to file with the court to protect your rights and maximize your chances of obtaining a full and complete settlement or verdict. Settlement demand packages are also sometimes necessary to attempt settlement of a case before the need for a lawsuit becomes necessary. Mediation, arbitration and trials are all used to obtain a final decision in a personal injury and wrongful death case.

Who Pays in a Personal Injury Case?

When it comes to recovering damages in most vehicle accident cases, most experienced personal injury law firms look to the responsible party’s automobile liability insurance or homeowners insurance. If the person who caused your injuries was employed with a company at the time he or she caused the accident and, was in the scope and course of employment, we may also pursue a claim against the employer company based upon a legal theory of respondent superior (the employer is liable for the wrongful conduct of its employees while on the job).

Other theories of liability may also be reviewed and pursued which might include a dangerous or defective product claim against the manufacturer or a maker of one of the vehicles parts or components (defective brakes, tires, unsafe/exploding gas tank design…).

If the other party has insufficient insurance or no insurance at all, you may be entitled to bring an uninsured motorist or underinsured motorist claim available against your own insurance company. In these circumstances, we will also use experts to undertake an asset background check to see whether or not there is any real property, bank accounts, home equity, or other significant assets to cover your losses. In many cases where the other party was either uninsured or insufficiently insured, we’ve been able to use these techniques to get payment on a large judgment against the other side.

The bottom line is that no settlement should take place and no settlement releases should be signed until you have full and complete answers to all of the above questions and issues.

Get Your Questions Answered Today!

Since 1986, we’ve truly enjoyed helping people, not big corporations and insurance companies. Our daily focus involves protecting the injured, the wronged, and the voiceless, not large businesses that routinely trample, abuse, and exploit the rights of the less fortunate.

Our drive and motivation has always been devoted to leveling the playing field for our clients and families against the self-serving goals of corporate greed and higher corporate profits.

We truly look forward to answering any questions you may have about your personal injury or wrongful death case. Give us a call or visit our web site for more help and information.

More information, case results, and testimonials can be found at the firm’s web site at www.JACKSONandWILSON.com or also go to http://jacksonandwilson.com

Also feel free to call with your legal questions or needs: 800-661-7044

Copyright 2011 Jackson & Wilson, Inc.

More About Orange County, California

Many of our clients ask us about Orange County. They want to know our history and many of our friends on the other side of the world would like some reference to exactly where we're located in California.

Well, in an effort to answer all of your questions, here you go...

Orange County is a county in California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 2,846,293, while a July 2008 estimate placed the population at 3,010,759, making it the second most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and ahead of San Diego County.

It is the sixth most populous county in the United States as of 2009 while at the same time is also the smallest area-wise county in Southern California, being roughly half the size of the next smallest county, Ventura. The county is famous for its tourism, as the home of such attractions as Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm, as well as several beaches along its more than 40 miles (64 km) of coastline. It is also known for its affluence and political conservatism. In fact, a 2005 academic study listed three Orange County cities as being among America's 25 "most conservative," making it the only county in the country containing more than one such city.

Orange County also became well known for being the largest US county ever to have gone bankrupt, when in 1994, longtime treasurer Robert Citron's investment strategies left the county with inadequate capital to allow for any raise in interest rates for its trading positions. When the conservative residents of Orange County voted down a proposal to raise taxes in order to balance the budget, bankruptcy followed shortly thereafter. Citron later pleaded guilty to six felonies regarding the matter.

Whereas most population centers in the United States tend to be identified by a major city, there is no defined urban center in Orange County. It is mostly suburban, except for some traditionally urban areas at the centers of the older cities of Anaheim, Santa Ana, Orange, Huntington Beach, and Fullerton. There are also several edge city-style developments such as South Coast Metro and Newport Center.

While Santa Ana serves as the governmental center of the county, Anaheim is its main tourist destination, and Irvine its major business and financial hub. Four Orange County cities have populations exceeding 200,000: Santa Ana, Anaheim, Irvine, and Huntington Beach.

Thirty-four incorporated cities are located in Orange County; the newest is Aliso Viejo, which was incorporated in 2001. Anaheim was the first city incorporated in Orange County, in 1870 when the region was still part of neighboring Los Angeles County.

Members of the Tongva, Juaneño, and Luiseño Native American groups long inhabited the area. After the 1769 expedition of Gaspar de Portolà, a Spanish expedition led by Junipero Serra named the area Valle de Santa Ana (Valley of Saint Anne). On November 1, 1776, Mission San Juan Capistrano became the area's first permanent European settlement. Among those who came with Portolá were José Manuel Nieto and José Antonio Yorba. Both these men were given land grants - Rancho Los Nietos and Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana, respectively. The Nieto heirs were granted land in 1834. The Nieto ranches were known as Rancho Los Alamitos, Rancho Las Bolsas, and Rancho Los Coyotes. Yorba heirs Bernardo Yorba and Teodosio Yorba were also granted Rancho Cañón de Santa Ana (Santa Ana Canyon Ranch) and Rancho Lomas de Santiago, respectively. Other ranchos in Orange County were granted by the Mexican government during the Mexican period in Alta California.

A severe drought in the 1860s devastated the prevailing industry, cattle ranching, and much land came into the possession of Richard O'Neill, Sr., James Irvine and other land barons. In 1887, silver was discovered in the Santa Ana Mountains, attracting settlers via the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific Railroads.

This growth led the California legislature to divide Los Angeles County and create Orange County as a separate political entity on March 11, 1889. The county is generally said to have been named for the citrus fruit (its most famous product). However, in the new county there was already a town by the name of Orange, named for Orange County, Virginia, which itself took its name from William of Orange. The fact the county took the same name as one of its towns may have been coincidence.

Other citrus crops, avocados, and oil extraction were also important to the early economy. Orange County benefited from the July 4, 1904 completion of the Pacific Electric Railway, a trolley connecting Los Angeles with Santa Ana and Newport Beach . The link made Orange County an accessible weekend retreat for celebrities of early Hollywood. It was deemed so significant that the city of Pacific City changed its name to Huntington Beach in honor of Henry Huntington, president of the Pacific Electric and nephew of Collis Huntington. Transportation further improved with the completion of the State Route and U.S. Route 101 (now mostly Interstate 5) in the 1920s.

South Coast Metro area in central Orange County- Agriculture, such as the boysenberry which was made famous by Buena Park native Walter Knott, began to decline after World War II but the county's prosperity soared. The completion of Interstate 5 in 1954 helped make Orange County a bedroom community for many who moved to Southern California to work in aerospace and manufacturing. Orange County received a further boost in 1955 with the opening of Disneyland.

In 1969, Yorba Linda-born Orange County native Richard Nixon became the 37th President of the United States.

In the 1980s, the population topped two million for the first time; Orange County had become the second-most populous county in California.

An investment fund melt-down in 1994 led to the criminal prosecution of County of Orange treasurer Robert Citron. The county lost at least $1.5 billion through high-risk investments in derivatives. On December 6, 1994, the County of Orange declared Chapter 9 bankruptcy, from which it emerged in June 1995. The Orange County bankruptcy was the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history.

In recent years land-use conflicts have arisen between established areas in the north and less developed areas in the south. These conflicts have regarded things such as construction of new toll roads and the re-purposing of a decommissioned air base. For example, the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station site was designated by a voter measure in 1994 to be developed into an international airport to alleviate the heavily used John Wayne Airport. But subsequent voter initiatives and court actions have caused the airport plan to be permanently shelved. Instead it will become the Orange County Great Park.

Geography- According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,455 km2 (948 sq mi), making it the smallest county in Southern California. Surface water accounts for 411 km2 (159 sq mi) of the area, 16.73% of the total; 2,044 km2 (789 sq mi) are land. The average annual temperature is about 68 °F (20 °C). Despite its small size as a county, Orange County's total area in square miles is actually just smaller than the State of Rhode Island's land area.

Orange County is bordered on the southwest by the Pacific Ocean, on the north by Los Angeles County, on the northeast by San Bernardino County and Riverside County, and on the southeast by San Diego County.

View of the Santa Ana Mountains from Newport Harbor- The northwestern part of the county lies on the coastal plain of the Los Angeles Basin, while the southeastern end rises into the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains. Most of Orange County's population reside in one of two shallow coastal valleys that lie in the basin, the Santa Ana Valley and the Saddleback Valley. The Santa Ana Mountains lie within the eastern boundaries of the county and of the Cleveland National Forest. The high point is Santiago Peak (5,689 feet (1,734 m)[10]), about 20 mi (32 km) east of Santa Ana. Santiago Peak and nearby Modjeska Peak, just 200 feet (60 m) shorter, form a ridge known as Saddleback, visible from almost everywhere in the county. The Peralta Hills extend westward from the Santa Ana Mountains through the communities of Anaheim Hills, Orange, and ending in Olive. The Loma Ridge is another prominent feature, running parallel to the Santa Ana Mountains through the central part of the county, separated from the taller mountains to the east by Santiago Canyon.

The Santa Ana River is the county's principal watercourse, flowing through the middle of the county from northeast to southwest. Its major tributary to the south and east is Santiago Creek. Other watercourses within the county include Aliso Creek, San Juan Creek, and Horsethief Creek. In the North, the San Gabriel River also briefly crosses into Orange County and exits into the Pacific on the Los Angeles-Orange County line between the cities of Long Beach and Seal Beach. Laguna Beach is home to the county's only natural lakes, Laguna Lakes, which are formed by water rising up against an underground fault.

Residents sometimes figuratively divide the county into "North Orange County" and "South County" (meaning Northwest and Southeast—following the county's natural diagonal orientation along the local coastline). This is more of a cultural and demographic distinction perpetuated by the popular television shows "The OC" and "Laguna Beach", between the older areas closer to Los Angeles, and the more affluent and recently developed areas to the South and East.

A transition between older and newer development may be considered to exist roughly parallel to State Route 55 (aka the Costa Mesa Freeway). This transition is accentuated by large flanking tracts of sparsely developed area occupied until recent years by agriculture and military airfields.

While there is a natural topographical Northeast-to-Southwest transition from inland elevations to the lower coastal band, there is no formal geographical division between North and South County. Perpendicular to that gradient, the Santa Ana River roughly divides the county between northwestern and southeastern sectors (about 40% to 60% respectively, by area), but does not represent any apparent economic, political or cultural differences, nor does it significantly affect distribution of travel, housing, commerce, industry or agriculture from one side to the other.

Incorporated cities- As of August 2006, Orange County has 34 incorporated cities. The oldest is Anaheim (1870) and the newest is Aliso Viejo (2001).

Aliso Viejo, incorporated in 2001

Anaheim, incorporated in 1870

Brea, incorporated in 1917

Buena Park, incorporated in 1953

Costa Mesa, incorporated in 1953

Cypress, incorporated in 1956

Dana Point, incorporated in 1989

Fountain Valley, incorporated in 1953

Fullerton, incorporated in 1904

Garden Grove, incorporated in 1956

Huntington Beach, incorporated in 1909

Irvine, incorporated in 1971

La Habra, incorporated in 1925

La Palma, incorporated in 1955

Laguna Beach, incorporated in 1927

Laguna Hills, incorporated in 1991

Laguna Niguel, incorporated in 1989

Laguna Woods, incorporated in 1999

Lake Forest, incorporated in 1991

Los Alamitos, incorporated in 1960

Mission Viejo, incorporated in 1988

Newport Beach, incorporated in 1906

Orange, incorporated in 1888

Placentia, incorporated in 1926

Rancho Santa Margarita, incorporated in 2000

San Clemente, incorporated in 1928

San Juan Capistrano, incorporated in 1961

Santa Ana, incorporated in 1886

Seal Beach, incorporated in 1915

Stanton, incorporated in 1956

Tustin, incorporated in 1927

Villa Park, incorporated in 1962

Westminster, incorporated in 1957

Yorba Linda, incorporated in 1967

Unincorporated communities- These communities are outside of city limits in unincorporated county territory:

Coto de Caza

Cowan Heights

El Modena

Emerald Bay

Foothill Ranch

Ladera Ranch

Lemon Heights

Midway City

Modjeska Canyon

North Tustin

Orange Park Acres

Rancho Mission Viejo

Red Hill

Rossmoor

Silverado Canyon

Sunset Beach

Trabuco Canyon

Planned communities- Orange County has a history of large planned communities. Nearly 30% of the county was created as master planned communities[citation needed], the most notable being the City of Irvine, Coto de Caza, Anaheim Hills, Tustin Ranch, Tustin Legacy, Ladera Ranch, Talega, Rancho Santa Margarita, and Mission Viejo. Irvine is often referred to as a model master-planned city, for its villages of Woodbridge, Northwood, University Park, and Turtle Rock that were laid out by the Irvine Company of the mid-1960s, pre- Donald Bren.

Adjacent counties- Los Angeles County, California - north, west; San Bernardino County, California - northeast; Riverside County, California - east; San Diego County, California - southeast; Los Angeles County San Bernardino County; Los Angeles County Riverside County

Orange County, California; San Diego County

National protected areas- Cleveland National Forest (part); Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge

Transportation infrastructure- Transit in Orange County is offered primarily by the Orange County Transportation Authority. The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) cited OCTA as the best large property transportation system in the United States for 2005. OCTA manages the county's bus network and funds the construction and maintenance of local streets, highways, and freeways; regulates taxicab services; maintains express toll lanes through the median of California State Route 91; and works with Southern California's Metrolink to provide commuter rail service along three lines - the Orange County Line, the 91 Line, and the Inland Empire-Orange County Line.

Major highways- Surface transportation in Orange County relies heavily on three major interstate highways: the Santa Ana Freeway (I-5), the San Diego Freeway (I-405 and I-5 south of Irvine), and the San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605), which only briefly enters Orange County territory in the northwest. The other freeways in the county are state highways, and include the perpetually congested Riverside and Artesia Freeway (SR 91) and the Garden Grove Freeway (SR 22) running east-west, and the Orange Freeway (SR 57), the Costa Mesa Freeway (SR/SR 55), the Laguna Freeway (SR 133), the San Joaquin Transportation Corridor (SR 73), the Eastern Transportation Corridor (SR 261, SR 133, SR 241), and the Foothill Transportation Corridor (SR 241) running north-south. Minor stub freeways include the Richard M. Nixon Freeway (SR 90), also known as Imperial Highway, and the southern terminus of Pacific Coast Highway (SR 1). There are no U.S. Highways in Orange County, though two existed in the county until the mid-1960s: 91 and 101. 91 went through what is now the state route of the same number, and 101 was replaced by Interstate 5. SR-1 was once a bypass of US-101 (Route 101A).

Bus- The bus network comprises 6,542 stops on 77 lines, running along most major streets, and accounts for 210,000 boardings a day. The fleet of 817 buses is gradually being replaced by LNG (liquified natural gas)-powered vehicles, which already represent over 40% of the total.

Rail- Starting in 1992, Metrolink has operated three commuter rail lines through Orange County, and has also maintained Rail-to-Rail service with parallel Amtrak service. On a typical weekday, over 40 trains run along the Orange County Line, the 91 Line and the Inland Empire-Orange County Line. Along with Metrolink riders on parallel Amtrak lines, these lines generate approximately 15,000 boardings per weekday. Metrolink also began offering weekend service on the Orange County Line and the Inland Empire-Orange County line in the summer of 2006. As ridership has steadily increased in the region, new stations have opened at Anaheim Canyon, Buena Park, Tustin, and Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo. Stations at Placentia and Yorba Linda are proposed for future construction.

Since 1938, the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad and later Amtrak, has operated the Pacific Surfliner regional passenger train route (previously named the San Diegan until 2000) through Orange County. The route includes stops at eight stations in Orange County including San Clemente (selected trips), San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo (selected trips), Irvine, Santa Ana, Orange (selected trips), Anaheim, Fullerton.

Orange County's first public Monorail line is undergoing Environmental impact assessment. This line will connect the Disneyland Resort, Convention Center, and Angel Stadium to the proposed ARTIC transportation hub, in the city of Anaheim.

Sea- A car and passenger ferry service, the Balboa Island Ferry, comprising three ferries running every five minutes, operates between Balboa Peninsula and Balboa Island in Newport Beach.

Air- Orange County's only major airport is John Wayne Airport. Although its abbreviation (SNA) refers to Santa Ana, the airport is in fact located in unincorporated territory surrounded by the cities of Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, and Irvine. Unincorporated Orange County (including the John Wayne Airport) has mailing addresses which go through the Santa Ana Post Office. For this reason, SNA was chosen as the IATA Code for the airport.

The actual Destination Moniker which appears on most Arrival/Departure Monitors in airports throughout the United States is "Orange County," which is the common nickname used for the OMB Metropolitan Designation: Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, California. Its modern Thomas F. Riley Terminal handles over 9 million passengers annually through 14 different airlines.

Demographics- According to Census Bureau's 2006 American Community Survey the racial or ethnic makeup of the county was 64.76% White, 16.05% Asian, 0.33% Pacific Islander, 1.72% African American, 0.38% Native American, 14.32% from other races, and 2.44% from two or more races. 32.89% of the population were Hispanic of any race. 30.49% of the population was foreign born.

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,846,289 people, 935,287 households, and 667,794 families residing in the county, making Orange County the second most populous county in California. The population density was 1,392/km² (3,606/sq mi). There were 969,484 housing units at an average density of 474/km² (1,228/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 64.81% White, 13.59% Asian, 1.67% African American, 0.70% Native American, 0.31% Pacific Islander, 14.80% from other races, and 4.12% from two or more races. 30.76% are Hispanic or Latino of any race. 8.9% were of German, 6.9% English and 6.0% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 58.6% spoke English, 25.3% Spanish, 4.7% Vietnamese, 1.9% Korean, 1.5% Chinese (Cantonese or Mandarin) and 1.2% Tagalog as their first language.

In 1990, still according to the census there were 2,410,556 people residing in the county. The racial makeup of the county was 78.60% White, 10.34% Asian or Pacific Islander, 1.77% African American, 0.50% Native American, and 8.79% from other races. 23.43% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 935,287 households out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.48.

Ethnic change has been transforming the population. By 2009, nearly 45 percent of the residents spoke a language other than English at home. Whites now comprise only 45 percent of the population, while the numbers of Hispanics grow steadily, along with Vietnamese, Korean and Chinese families. The percentage of foreign-born residents jumped to 30 percent in 2008 from 6 percent in 1970. The mayor of Irvine, Sukhee Kang, was born in Korea, making him the first Korean-American to run a major American city. “We have 35 languages spoken in our city,” Kang observed. The population is diverse age-wise, with 27.0% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% 65 years of age or older. The median age is 33 years. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $61,899, and the median income for a family was $75,700 (these figures had risen to $71,601 and $81,260 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[16]). Males had a median income of $45,059 versus $34,026 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,826. About 7.0% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

Average household income by community- Unincorporated communities are included if their population is greater than 15,000. These numbers are estimates from the 2005 Census updates for these locales. Numbers are approximate until a new Census occurs.

Villa Park: $203,091

Anaheim Hills: $157,938

Coto de Caza: $153,118

Laguna Beach: $141,916

Yorba Linda: $138,910

Newport Beach: $137,226

North Tustin: $122,685

Laguna Niguel: $112,241

Irvine: $111,455

Laguna Hills: $103,419

Ladera Ranch: $99,537

Dana Point: $97,615

San Clemente: $94,576

Rossmoor: $93,972

Rancho Santa Margarita: $92,671

Mission Viejo: $84,934

Aliso Viejo: $83,002

San Juan Capistrano: $78,638

West Garden Grove: $78,112

La Palma: $77,177

Cypress: $76,312

Huntington Beach: $75,900

Fountain Valley: $73,504

Lake Forest: $73,293

Los Alamitos: $71,112

Brea: $70,009

Costa Mesa: $69,918

Seal Beach: $66,131

Placentia: $66,083

Orange: $62,760

Fullerton: $61,462

Anaheim: $60,881

Tustin: $60,319

Buena Park: $57,695

Westminster: $57,172

Garden Grove: $50,038

La Habra: $49,612

Santa Ana: $44,505

Stanton: $37,840

Laguna Woods: $31,212

[edit]Economy

Business- The developing urban core in the City of Irvine.

Orange County is the headquarters of many Fortune 500 companies including Ingram Micro (#69) and First American Corporation (#312) in Santa Ana, Western Digital (#439) in Lake Forest and Pacific Life (#452) in Newport Beach. Irvine is the home of numerous start-up companies and also is the home of Fortune 1000 headquarters for Allergan, Broadcom, Edwards Lifesciences, Epicor, Standard Pacific and Sun Healthcare Group. Other Fortune 1000 companies in Orange County include Beckman Coulter in Brea, Quiksilver in Huntington Beach and Apria Healthcare Group in Lake Forest. Irvine is also the home of notable technology companies like PC-manufacturer Gateway Inc., router manufactuer Linksys, and video/computer game creator Blizzard Entertainment. Many regional headquarters for international businesses reside in Orange County like Mazda, Toshiba, Toyota, Samsung, Kia Motors, in the City of Irvine, Mitsubishi in the City of Cypress, and Hyundai in the City of Fountain Valley. Fashion is another important industry to Orange County. Oakley, Inc. is headquartered in Lake Forest. Hurley International is headquartered in Costa Mesa. The shoe company Pleaser USA, Inc. is located in Fullerton. St. John is headquartered in Irvine. Wet Seal is headquarted in Lake Forest. PacSun is headquartered in Anaheim. Restaurants such as Del Taco, Wahoo's Fish Tacos, Taco Bell, El Pollo Loco, In-N-Out Burger, Claim Jumper, Marie Callender's, Wienerschnitzel, have headquarters in the City of Irvine as well.

Shopping- Orange County contains several notable shopping malls. Among these are the world-renowned South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa and Fashion Island in Newport Beach. Other significant malls include the Brea Mall, MainPlace Santa Ana, The Shops at Mission Viejo, The Block at Orange, the Irvine Spectrum Center, and Downtown Disney.

Tourism- Tourism remains a vital aspect of Orange County's economy. Anaheim is the main tourist hub, with the Disneyland Resort's Disneyland Park being the second most visited theme park in the country. The Anaheim Convention Center receives many major conventions throughout the year. Resorts within the Beach Cities receive visitors throughout the year due to their close proximity to the beach, biking paths, mountain hiking trails, golf courses, shopping and dining.

Points of interest- 1965 aerial photo of Anaheim Disneyland, Disneyland Hotel with its Monorail Station. The Disneyland Heliport, surrounding orange groves, Santa Ana Freeway (now I-5) and the Melodyland Theater "in the round," and part of the City of Anaheim.

The area's warm Mediterranean climate and 42 miles (68 km) of year-round beaches attract millions of tourists annually. Huntington Beach is a hot spot for sunbathing and surfing; nicknamed "Surf City, U.S.A.", it is home to many surfing competitions. "The Wedge", at the tip of The Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach, is one of the most famous body surfing spots in the world.

Other tourist destinations include the theme parks Disneyland and Disney California Adventure in Anaheim and Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park. Water parks in Orange County include Wild Rivers in Irvine and Soak City in Buena Park. The Anaheim Convention Center is the largest such facility on the West Coast. The old town area in the City of Orange (the traffic circle at the middle of Chapman Ave. at Glassell) still maintains its 1950s image, and appeared in the That Thing You Do! movie. Little Saigon is another notable tourist destination, being home to the largest concentration of Vietnamese people outside of Vietnam. There are also sizable Taiwanese, Chinese, and Korean communities, particularly in western Orange County. This is evident in several Asian-influenced shopping centers in Asian American hubs like the city of Irvine.

Some of the most exclusive (and expensive) neighborhoods in the U.S. are located here, many along the Orange County Coast, and some in north Orange County.

Historical points of interest include Mission San Juan Capistrano, the renowned destination of migrating swallows, and the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda. The Richard Nixon Birthplace home, located on the grounds of the Presidential Library, is a National Historic Landmark. Other notable structures include the home of Madame Helena Modjeska, located in Modjeska Canyon on Santiago Creek; Ronald Reagan Federal Building and Courthouse in Santa Ana, the largest building in the county; the historic Balboa Pavilion in Newport Beach; and the Huntington Beach Pier. It is also recognized for its nationally known centers of worship, such as Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, the largest house of worship in California; Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, one of the largest churches in the United States; and the Calvary Chapel.

Since the premiere in fall 2003 of the hit Fox series The O.C., and the 2007 Bravo series "The Real Housewives of Orange County" tourism has increased with travelers from across the globe hoping to see the sights seen in the show. However, the former was rarely filmed anywhere in Orange County.

Religion- Orange County is also the base for several significant religious organizations:

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange headed by Bishop Tod Brown; Chuck Smith, early leader in the Jesus People movement and founder of Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa; Reverend Robert Schuller's Crystal Cathedral is in Garden Grove; Trinity Broadcasting Network began as Channel 40 in Tustin, now in Costa Mesa; The Purpose Driven Life author Rick Warren and his Saddleback Church (the largest church in California) are in Lake Forest; The Vineyard Christian Fellowship movement began in Orange County; Family International, AKA "The Children of God" ,was founded in 1968 in Huntington Beach by David Berg; Monasteries of the Vedanta Society and St. Michael's Abbey are located in Trabuco Canyon; Pao Fa Temple in Irvine is one of the largest Buddhist monasteries and temples in the United States; Temple going Mormons are served by the Newport Beach California Temple, among four other temples operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Southern California; The Islamic Center of Irvine

There are about 1.04 million Catholics in Orange County.

Literature- A number of novels by best-selling fiction and horror author Dean Koontz, a resident of Newport Beach, are set in the area.

Several of the stories in Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon's collection, A Model World, are set in Orange County. Chabon studied creative writing at UC Irvine.

Orange County is the place in which Kim Stanley Robinson's Three Californias Trilogy is set. These books depict three different futures of Orange County (survivors of a nuclear war in The Wild Shore, a developer's dream gone mad in The Gold Coast, and an ecotopian utopia in Pacific Edge). Philip K. Dick's novel A Scanner Darkly was also set in Orange County.

From his first novel, "Laguna Heat," to more recent books such as "California Girl," mystery-writer T. Jefferson Parker has set many of his novels in Orange County.

The modern fantasy novel "All the Bells on Earth" by James P. Blaylock is set in Orange.

The classic novel "Two Years Before the Mast" by Richard Henry Dana, Jr. describes journeys along the California coast in the early 19th century and the trading of goods for cow hides with the local residents. The south Orange County city of Dana Point takes its name from the author, as the cliffs around the harbor were a favorite location of his.

San Juan Capistrano is also the home of the first Zorro novellas. It was first called Curse of Capistrano, but was later changed to the Mask of Zorro due to the popularity of the movie.

In popular culture- Orange County has been the setting for numerous films and television shows:

The movie "Beaches" starring Bette Midler and Barbra Hershey was filmed at Crystal Cove State Park in Newport Coast.

The opening scene of Gilligan's Island that shows the S.S. Minnow leaving the harbor was in Newport Beach.

The best known portrayal is as the setting of the popular 2003 Fox Network television drama The O.C. which is set in the Orange County coastal harbor town of Newport Beach.

It is the subject and setting of the eponymous 2002 movie Orange County. However, the film was not actually filmed in Orange County.

It is also the setting of the 2003 sitcom Arrested Development. Most of the series was not filmed in Orange County, but in Culver City and Marina del Rey in Los Angeles County. A running joke in the series that pokes fun at The O.C. is that characters will frequently refer to Orange County as "The O.C.," followed by another character's saying, "Don't call it that" (mirroring the fact that Orange County residents rarely if ever use the term "The O.C.", but rather just, "O.C.").

The closing scene in Rain Man with Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise was shot at the Santa Ana

The film Better Luck Tomorrow was shot and set in the cities of Cypress and Anaheim.

The University of California, Irvine, has been used in many films, most notably Ocean's Eleven (2001 film); others include Conquest of the Planet of the Apes and Poltergeist (film)

The film Accepted had Harmon University shot in Chapman University in Orange.

The film Life as a House was set in Laguna Beach, although it was filmed in Los Angeles County.

The film Brick was shot and set in San Clemente

MTV's Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County was filmed in the Orange County coastal town of Laguna Beach, California.

MTV's Newport Harbor: The Real Orange County was filmed in the Orange County coastal town of Newport Beach, California.

MTV's Life of Ryan is a reality[1] show following the life of pro skateboarder Ryan Sheckler. The title of the show is a play on Monty Python's Life of Brian, filmed in and around the Sheckler household in San Clemente, California.

A key scene in the film Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan was shot and set at The Block at Orange in the city of Orange.

The Christian Slater film Gleaming the Cube was set in Orange County and filmed in several cities, such as Anaheim, Woodbridge High School in Irvine, and John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana.

A plot line in the television drama The West Wing involved a dead liberal Democrat unexpectedly winning a Congressional seat from an Orange County district.

Orange County is the home of the late Republican President Teddy Bridges on the (now canceled) ABC drama Commander in Chief.

Sayid Jarrah from the ABC drama Lost was bound to go to Irvine, where his longtime friend Nadia lives. John Locke, another castaway from the series, is said to have lived most of his life in Tustin. Also Libby told Desmond that she is from Newport Beach.

Orange County was the location of the 1994 Charlie Sheen movie The Chase; the movie, however, was mostly filmed in Houston.

The Park Place, Irvine corporate mall was the location for futuristic scenes in the 1993 film Demolition Man starring Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes.

The 2006 film A Scanner Darkly was set in the city of Anaheim. A freeway scene was shot along the Northbound I-5 in Tustin.

The show The Real Housewives of Orange County is filmed in Coto De Caza.

Costa Mesa is the setting for The X-Files episode "Hungry".

In the 2001 film The Fast and the Furious, the scene when the Johnny Tran and his gang catch up with Vin Diesel and Paul Walker blowing up their car was filmed in Little Saigon, Westminster.

In season six of the HBO drama The Sopranos while in a coma Tony Soprano dreams he is a businessman in Costa Mesa.

The chase scene at the beginning of the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie Kindergarten Cop was filmed at Main Place Mall in Santa Ana.

In "The Incredible Mr. Brisby" episode of The Venture Bros., Hank and Dean Venture Travel to the fictional theme park Brisby Land, a spoof on Disney Land. During the episode, radical Orange County Natives known as the Orange County Liberation Front launch a full-scale assault on the Brisby Land compound out of revenge for the ever increasing size of the Park. Members of the OCLF are easily identified by their helmets that resemble enormous oranges.

The shuttle bay scenes for the 2009 Star Trek movie were shot in the old El Toro base hangars.

A Skanner Darkly The main Character is portrayed as an Undercover Narcotics Agent for Orange County

Orange County has also been used as a shooting location for several films and television programs. Examples of movies at least partially shot in Orange County are Tom Hanks's That Thing You Do, the Coen Brothers' The Man Who Wasn't There, and the Martin Lawrence movie Big Momma's House. All three of which were filmed in or around the Old Towne Plaza in the

City of Orange.

Sports- Huntington Beach annually plays host to the U.S. Open of Surfing, AVP Pro Beach Volleyball and Vans World Championship of Skateboarding.[20] It was also the shooting location for Pro Beach Hockey.[21] USA Water Polo, Inc. has moved its headquarter offices to Huntington Beach.[22] Orange County's active outdoor culture is home to many surfers, skateboarders, mountain bikers, cyclists, climbers, hikers, kayaking, sailing and sand volleyball.

Sports teams- Street banners promoting the county's two major league teams, the Ducks and the Angels. The Major League Baseball team in Orange County is the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In 2005, new owner Arte Moreno wanted to change the name to "Los Angeles Angels" in order to better tap into the Los Angeles media market, the second largest in the country. However, the standing agreement with the city of Anaheim demanded that they have "Anaheim" in the name, so they became the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. This name change was hotly disputed by the city of Anaheim, but the change stood and still stands today, which prompted a lawsuit by the city of Anaheim against Angels owner Arte Moreno, won by Moreno. It has been widely unpopular in Orange County,.

The county's National Hockey League team, the Anaheim Ducks, won the 2007 Stanley Cup beating the Ottawa Senators. They also came close to winning the 2003 Stanley Cup finals after winning three games in a seven-game series against the New Jersey Devils.

The Orange County Flyers are a Golden Baseball League team based in Fullerton, California. The league is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. The Flyers were sold on March 21, 2007 to an Orange County investment group, making them the first Golden Baseball League team to ever be sold. Before their sale, the Flyers were called the Fullerton Flyers, but on March 28, 2007 they became the Orange County Flyers; they kept their team colors (blue and orange) and home games are still played at Cal State Fullerton's Goodwin Field.

The Orange County Blue Star is a USL Premier Development League soccer club. They play at Orange Coast College. Among those who have played for OCBS are Jürgen Klinsmann, the former German star and Germany's 2006 World Cup coach, who played under an assumed name.

The Anaheim Arsenal are an NBA D-League expansion team for the 2006–2007 season. They play their home games at the Anaheim Convention Center.

The Orange County Gladiators are an American Basketball Association (ABA) expansion team starting in November 2007. They will play their home games at Fieldhouse Gym at JSerra in San Juan Capistrano.

Orange County Roller Girls [3] - an All Female Flat Track Roller Derby League formed in 2006 and actively plays (bouts) at various locations in Orange County. Many of the league's bouts are played against teams from other cities throughout the United States.

The Orange County Outlaws are a rugby league team, established in 2010. They are hoping to be part of the AMNRL.

Former and defunct Orange County sports teams- The National Football League football left the county when the Los Angeles Rams relocated to St. Louis in 1995. Anaheim city leaders are in talks with the NFL to bring a Los Angeles-area franchise to Orange County, though they are competing with other cities in and around Los Angeles.

The California Surf played in the North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1981. The club called Anaheim Stadium home.

The Los Angeles Salsa played at Cal State Fullerton's Titan Stadium in 1993–94 in the American Professional Soccer League (APSL), at the time the top soccer league in the U.S. The Salsa, whose general manager was former Cosmos star Ricky Davis and its coach former Brazil star Rildo Menezes, also played some games at East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park, California, and Trabuco Hills High School, Mission Viejo, California attempting a season in Mexico's second-tier Primera A Division. That attempt was cancelled after several games when FIFA and CONCACAF ruled a club could not play in two leagues in separate countries. The Salsa lost to the Colorado Foxes in the 1993 APSL final at Cal State Fullerton.

The Orange County Zodiac, affiliated with MLS's Los Angeles Galaxy, played soccer at Santa Ana Stadium (also known as Santa Ana Bowl) and Orange Coast College from 1997 to 2000.

The county was the home of the Orange County Buzz basketball team of the American Basketball Association (ABA).

Anaheim was also the home of the prior American Basketball Association franchise known as the Anaheim Amigos in the mid-sixties.

The Anaheim Storm was a member of the National Lacrosse League. They folded in 2005 due to low attendance.

The Anaheim Piranhas were a Arena Football League team in 1996-97, but folded due to team board financial problems.

The Anaheim Bullfrogs were a Roller Hockey International team that lasted from 1993–99 and were briefly revived in 2001.

The Anaheim Splash was a soccer team that played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League from 1993 to 1997.

The Los Angeles Clippers played some home games at The Arrowhead Pond, now known as the Honda Center, from 1994 to 1999, before moving to Staples Center, which they share with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Southern California Sun was an American football team based out of Anaheim that played in the World Football League in 1974 and 1975. Their records were 13–7 in 1974 and 7–5 in 1975. Their home stadium was Anaheim Stadium.

The Orange County Ramblers were a professional football team that competed in the Continental Football League from 1967-68. The Ramblers played their home games in Anaheim, California. The team was coached both seasons by Homer Beatty, who had won a small college national title at Santa Ana College in 1962.

Government- Orange County is a chartered county of California; its seat is Santa Ana. Its legislative and executive authority is vested in a five-member Board of Supervisors. Each Supervisor is popularly elected from a regional district, and together the board oversees the activities of the county's agencies and departments and sets policy on development, public improvements, and county services. At the beginning of each year the Supervisors select a Chairman and Vice Chairman, but the administration is headed by a professional municipal manager, the County Executive. The current supervisors are Janet Nguyen, John Moorlach, Bill Campbell, and Patricia C. Bates, with a vacancy in the Fourth District, which was previously occupied by Chris Norby until he resigned to become a member of the California State Assembly.

Seven other public officials are elected at-large: the County Assessor, Auditor-Controller, Clerk-Recorder, District Attorney, Sheriff-Coroner, Treasurer-Tax Collector and Public Administrator. Since 2008, the Orange County Sheriff's Department has been led by Sheriff-Coroner Sandra Hutchens. Her predecessor, Mike Carona, resigned earlier in the year to defend himself against corruption charges.

Pension scandal- On July 12, 2010, it was revealed that Carona received over $215,000 in pension checks in 2009, despite his felony conviction, as the county's retirement system faces a massive shortfall totaling $3.7 billion unfunded liabilities. He is one of approximately 400 retired Orange County public servants who received more than $100,000 last year in benefits. Also on the list of those receiving extra-large pension checks is former treasurer-tax collector Robert Citron, whose investments, which were made while consulting psychics and astrologers, led Orange County into bankruptcy in 1994.[25]

Citron funneled billions of public dollars into questionable investments, and at first the returns were high and cities, schools and special districts borrowed millions to join in the investments. But the strategy backfired, and Citron's investment pool lost $1.64 billion. Nearly $200 million had to be slashed from the county budget and more than 1,000 jobs were cut. The county was forced to borrow $1 billion.

The California Foundation for Fiscal Responsibility filed a lawsuit against the pension system to get the list. The agency had claimed that pensioner privacy would be compromised by the release. A judge approved the release and the documents were released late June 2010. The release of the documents has reopened debate on the pension plan for retired public safety workers approved in 2001 when Carona was sheriff.

Called "3 percent at 50," it lets deputies retire at age 50 with 3 percent of their highest year's pay for every year of service. Before it was approved and applied retroactively, employees received 2 percent. "It was right after Sept. 11," said Orange County Supervisor John Morrlach. "All of a sudden, public safety people became elevated to god status. The Board of Supervisors were tripping over themselves to make the motion." He called it "one of the biggest shifts of money from the private sector to the public sector." Moorlach, who was not on the board when the plan was approved, led the fight to repeal the benefit. A lawsuit, which said the benefit should go before voters, was rejected in Los Angeles County Superior Court in 2009 and is now under appeal.

Carona opposed the lawsuit when it was filed, likening its filing to a "nuclear bomb" for deputies.

Politics- Orange County has long been known as a Republican stronghold and has consistently sent Republican representatives to the state and federal legislatures. Republican majorities in Orange County helped deliver California's electoral votes to Republican presidential candidates Richard Nixon (1960, 1968 and 1972), Gerald Ford (1976), Ronald Reagan (1980, 1984), and George H. W. Bush (1988). Orange County has not voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1936 landslide re-election for a second term. Although Democrats have made inroads in the northern end of the county since the mid-1980s, Orange County politics are still dominated by Republicans. Five of the county's six U.S. Representatives, four of its five State Senators and seven of its nine State Assemblymembers are Republicans, as are all five members of the County Board of Supervisors. Only four Democrats have carried the county in a statewide race in the last 50 years; Jerry Brown in his successful campaign for Governor in 1978, March Fong Eu for Secretary of State and Kenneth Cory for State Controller, both also in 1978 and Kathleen Connell for Controller in 1998.

In Congress, representatives whose districts are completely or partially in the county include Republicans Ed Royce (CA-40), Gary Miller (CA-42), Ken Calvert (CA-44), Dana Rohrabacher (CA-46), and John Campbell (CA-48), and Democrat Loretta Sanchez (CA-47). In the State Senate, Senators whose districts are completely or partially in the county include Republicans Bob Huff (SD-29), Mimi Walters (SD-33), Tom Harman (SD-35), and Mark Wyland (SD-38), and Democrat Lou Correa (SD-34). In the State Assembly, Assemblymembers whose districts are completely or partially in the county in
About the Author

Orange County personal injury lawyer, Jon Mitchell Jackson, was named an Orange County Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association. Mitch is the founding partner and Senior Litigation Partner of Jackson and Wilson, Inc., a top AV rated firm by Martindale-Hubbell. The firm is also listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, an exclusive listing reserved for the best law firms in the United States. This recent award follows several earlier recognitions this year naming Mitch as a Southern California Super Lawyer and, a rating of 10.0 or Superb by the national AVVO lawyer rating system. Mitch also serves as a Judge Pro Tem with the Orange County Superior Court and in his spare time, enjoys Rotary International. Mitch invites potential clients, family, friends, and fellow Rotarians to visit his web site and say hello.
http://www.jacksonandwilson.com
or visit
http://jacksonandwilson.com

Marketing Fun: Orange County California

Direct Mail Marketing now as easy as email

Is the United States Postal Service (USPS) a marketing innovator? As a result, such people in the blue shorts in fact, so easy, even for smaller companies duke it out with its major competitors by USPS Mailing Online (MOL) "direct mail service - check it out at http://www.usps.com/mailingonline

With MOL, can escape the sad part direct mail marketing - print, fill, seals, etc. MOL users simply create a document, upload it to the website of the Ministry of Labour mailing list and credit card information and press "go." Within 48 hours, the members of your mailing list are receiving the marketing message in their emails mailboxes.

Speed and Price

The two best parts of MOL service are speed and price. Jobs risen earlier in the day of business can be printed and shipped the next day. The cost per piece is not much more than the price of a single stamp, as even First Class MOL submitted papers to obtain a "seed" USPS discount.

A 4.24 per 6-inch postcard can be printed and sent by first class mail for only 24 cents. A one-page letter and two business thirds or brochure can be sent "on free" (the last third is needed for the address) for only 56 cents per piece. And the minimum number of pieces that can be sent per job? A. So, while other direct mail companies away to customers with minimal in several thousand, the USPS has all customers and gives them all equally great service.

Before MOL had to create the master document, leave the printer, wait until it got to figure mailing apply postage and addresses, and deliver it to the post office. The whole process could take a month to finish. And if you say the distribution West Coast ... would be a week before the recipients Costa received his copy. Working with the Ministry document is printed and dropped in the mail from several dozen USPS distribution points throughout the country ... so everyone has their paper at the same time, no matter where they live in the U.S..

As easy as write an e-mail

MOL users need to know anything more about creating documents how to write and save a document on your hard drive. Novice users can use your PC computer "Notepad" utility and save the document as a text (TXT). Most users will probably use Microsoft Word and create a document a little more attractive. You may already have access to documents through its company with a more professional appearance. You can also invest in a copy of Microsoft Publisher, as it provides many templates to choose from and makes creating professional documents in an instant.

Content Creation - Keep It Simple

The biggest challenge will be in the generation of content that we think is worth the price of postage. The following types of pieces of content get your creativity .... more or less writes .... and worth reading:

1. Product price and Postcards - Many of you may dream of being able to instantly in touch with your customers and tell them that every time he goes to a new product or price. MOL makes a snap. Just enter a headline word followed by a description 07.05 three-sentence ending with a phone number or web address for more information.

2. Personal Postcards - Remind your customers birthday anniversary, graduation or family occasion. Be sure to include a brief description of any product you want to highlight ... if only a web address.

3. Monthly or quarterly newsletter - Most of you hope to write a monthly newsletter with the emotion the same as having a root canal monthly ..... but the benefits of client retention and business reference to be a smart business decision. The easiest way to make one or two page newsletter would include only one or more of the following:

- Summarize prices and product news ... simply repeat what you send (or should have sent) in the postcards. - A summary of industry news related to your business ... give their views, or if you do not have a view simply reproducing the views the other (with proper attribution of course). - Case Study ... write three paragraphs on a new or existing customer who helped solve a problem ... or experience with one of their products. - Top 10 list .... any of you with any experience in all the years you can write a value of 10 lists in one day. What the 10 benefits of a particular product? What about the 10 reasons for (insert topic)? Or how about the 10 errors made by (insert topic)?

Only ask for references!

If you do nothing else, just send a postcard a month to ask for references. The commitment of a monthly post for two separate things important to you. Keeps your contact information on the front of your customer and are reminded on a monthly basis to have immediate access to a friend in the "ABC" business. And of course, the number one reason not to get referrals is to not ask for references. Well, if you're too shy to ask in person or on the phone, postcard talk!

If you have not tried direct mail marketing earlier because he thought it too expensive, too long or too much work .... think of again. Things have changed in their favor. It's time for you to give it a try.

About the Author

Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications
http://ld.net/mscprez and http://DS3-Bandwidth.com
........delivering choices to both residential and business
consumers for voice and data broadband services. Michael also
authors BroadBand Nation http://BroadBand-Nation.blogspot.com
where you're always welcome to to drop in and catch up on the
latest BroadBand news, tips, and ramblings for the masses.

Website Advertising Sacramento Advertising Your Website

The postcard: a quick, economical way to send a message.(Director Mail Essentials): An article from: Bank Marketing $5.95 This digital document is an article from Bank Marketing, published by Bank Marketing Assn. on September 1, 2004. The length of the article is 521 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.Citation DetailsTitle: The...

Negotiating price: getting a better deal by planning. (Printing).: An article from: The Non-profit Times $5.95 This digital document is an article from The Non-profit Times, published by NPT Publishing Group, Inc. on January 15, 2003. The length of the article is 3054 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.Citation Detai...

Wholesale-By-Mail Catalog 1996/How Consumers Can Shop by Mail, Phone, or Online Service: How Consumers Can Shop by Mail, Phone, or Online Service and Save 30% to 90% Off List Price (Serial) $3.62 Lists more than five hundred companies that offer products by phone, mail, and online service at substantially discounted rates, and includes special reader-only discounts and information about consumer-rights laws. ...

Wedding Proposal & Marriage Advice : How to Make a Clever Marriage Proposal