Commissioner Greg Jergeson of Chinook was re-elected today as Chair of the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC). Commissioner Ken Toole of Helena was elected Vice Chair. The unanimous votes, held during the Commission's organizational session, were the first cast by two newly-elected Commissioners Gail Gutsche of Missoula and John Vincent of Bozeman. Commissioner Brad Molnar of Laurel completes the 2009-2010 five-member panel. All five Commissioners are former legislators, as was the case with the Commission in 2007-2008.

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Globaltel Media Inc. (GTM) will introduce its newest patented technology dubbed Cherple^TM at a press conference at CES Las Vegas. GTM President and CEO Robert Sanchez will make the announcement Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009, at 9:30 a.m. at The Sands, booth 75037.

The Cherple^TM app allows for two-way text communication between online computers and mobile wireless cellular devices worldwide using standard SMS messaging. Unlike other text message platforms, Cherple^TM works to any U.S. mobile wireless cellular device on any network with no special hardware or software needed, and no contracts. Normal text messaging rates apply to the cell phone user, but there is no cost to the PC user who initiates the conversation.

University of Montana researcher Tom Martin has been awarded a $600,000 grant to study the differences between populations of tropical birds in Asia and those in Africa and South America.

Martin, assistant unit leader of UM's Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, earned the three-year grant from the National Science Foundation. His study area will be the mountainous jungles of Kinabalu Park, located in the Malaysian portion of the island of Borneo.

"I'm going there Feb. 15 for five weeks," Martin said. "I'm taking six university graduates who worked with me in South America, so they are all good at dealing with tropical jungles."

HELENA, Mont. -- Sales of organic products have increased annually by an average of 20 percent during the past decade, which has benefited Montana processors and created opportunities for Montana farmers of wheat, peas, lentils and other crops.

To take advantage of this rapidly growing market, some Montana farmers have taken steps to establish certified organic crops on land previously enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, and by transitioning fields from conventional farming practices. Both methods of converting to organic production will be explained during full-day workshops hosted by the Montana Department of Agriculture during February.

Helena - The Montana Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Operating Permit to Big Sky Masonry Stone, Inc. of Belgrade, Montana for two rock collecting sites in Wheatland and Golden Valley counties. The rock will be used for landscaping, masonry and building stone.

The South Shawmut site is composed of about 2,944 acres about 6.5 miles southwest of Shawmut in Wheatland County. Big Sky Masonry will lift rocks from the ground creating a disturbance of about two feet in depth. At this site up to 38 acres could be disturbed at any point in time.

--The Advocate--

Release Date: January 2009

Volume 28, number 1

Internet Address:   http://www.sba.gov/advo/jan09.pdf

The Small Business Advocate is a periodic newsletter that details economic developments and regulatory trends related to small business as well as the latest initiatives of the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy.

Godin tells us the 2 things that need to happen before a big company buys your idea. 

So... if you want to be in the business of selling ideas to industry (as opposed to getting that once-in-a-lifetime idea off your chest and cashing out), the thing to do is find an industry, one where you are likely to be trusted, one where you have a sense that they understand how to buy ideas. Invest in that industry, spend time, speak at trade shows, earn your right to credibility. Then, over time, day by day, you'll have the ability to bring them profitable ideas.