Telecommuting Benefits Outlined At Workshops

Want to work outside of the office? Learn about telecommuting from the experts.

Companies such as Nortel, AT&T Wireless, Sprint PCS, U S West, Nextlink, GTE, TimeStep, Cisco, 3Comm, GST and Graybar will present workshops at a three-day conference which starts Wednesday morning at the Days Inn, 1412 W. Sunset Blvd. For details, call Glenn Metz at (509) 921-4273.

In other events this week:

Today

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission holds a public hearing from 6 to 9 p.m. at Bryant School, 910 N. Ash St., in Spokane to gather comment on a plan to maintain affordable telephone service for Washington consumers. The plan will be presented to the state legislature for consideration in the 1999 session.

Public hearings on a proposed merger of the city of Kellogg’s fire department with Shoshone County Fire District No. 2 are at 4 and 7 p.m. in the Kellogg City Council Chambers.

Tuesday

The Big Bend Economic Development Council sponsors a seminar on building successful chambers of commerce. The meeting is from 1 to 5 p.m. at 226 W. Third Ave. in Moses Lake.

Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee meets in Washington, D.C.

The Conference Board releases results of its monthly survey on consumer confidence.

Wednesday

The Idaho Cattle Association and the Holland & Hart agricultural and natural resource law firm offer a half-day seminar on “Feeding Cattle for Fun and Profit - Is it Still Possible?” from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Canyon Springs Hotel in Twin Falls. For details, call ICA at (208) 343-1615.

Commerce Department releases new home sales for August.

Thursday

The Forest Products Committee of the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce tours the Boise Cascade plywood plant in Kettle Falls, Wash., and the Vaagen Brothers Lumber Mill in Colville, Wash., as well as two forest sites. Participants depart from 801 W. Riverside Ave. at 7 a.m. and at the Wandermere Mall at 7:30 a.m. For details, or to register, call Kristi Fountain at 742-9396.

The Inland Northwest Partners, a non-profit organization that provides education and professional development for business in the region, holds a conference on business recruitment and retention. The meeting is from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lewis and Clark State College in Lewiston Cost: $25 for members, $35 for non-members. For details call (509) 482-4064.

Kaiser Aluminum’s contract with the United Steelworkers of America is scheduled to expire. The agreement covers more than 1,100 workers at Trentwood and Mead.

Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims.

Friday

Labor Department releases monthly unemployment report.

Saturday

The Mennonite Country Auction and Relief Sale starts at 10 a.m. at the Menno Mennonite Church Grounds on Damon Road, 20 miles west of Ritzville, Wash. For more information, call (509) 659-0926. On the shelf Business Week, Sept. 28: Cover story explores the roots, role and priorities of William Clay Ford Jr., who was named earlier this month to become chairman of the automotive giant founded by his great-grandfather. Forbes, Oct. 5: Management guru Peter Drucker says that much of what is taught about management today is either outdated or wrong. Rising tide The Port of Seattle ranked fifth in the nation last year in total value of waterborne trade, while Tacoma came in ninth, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Here are the rankings: 1. Long Beach, Calif., $85.3 billion. 2. Los Angeles, $73.4 billion. 3. New York, $68 billion. 4. Houston, $37.1 billion. 5. Seattle, $33.6 billion.