24 Nov 2015

World AIDS Day December 1.

By Brenda Schwarz
The Project of the Quad Cities is dedicated to raising awareness of HIV/AIDS year round and with World AIDS Day quickly approaching on December 1st, TPQC has planned several community events to commemorate the day.
The Project of the Quad Cities has been working diligently for nearly 30 years to provide services to those at risk of contracting, affected by or living with HIV/STI/AIDS. To kick off the 30th anniversary, TPQC will be hosting Project Chocolate, a fundraising event, at Jumers Hotel and Casino from 6:00PM to 9:00PM on December 1st. Project Chocolate is a chocolate lover's dream that gives attendees the chance to taste a variety of sweet and savory chocolate creations made by local Quad Cities Vendors. Tickets are $10 (children 6 and under are free) and can be purchased at the door or in advance.
Because one in eight Americans do not know they have HIV, to encourage HIV testing, TPQC, the Moline-Davenport Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (MDAC) and Community Health Care in Rock Island are hosting In You Backyard: Knowledge is Power, a free testing event. The event will be held at the Community Health Care in Rock Island, located at 2750 11th Street, Rock Island, IL from 8:30AM to 12:00PM on World AIDS Day. MDAC will be providing food and giveaways.
Lastly, on Wednesday, December 2nd at 7:00PM, Metropolitan Church of the Quad Cities will be holding an HIV/AIDS service in their Sanctuary located at 2930 West Locust in Davenport. The service is dedicated to raising HIV/AIDS awareness and remembering those who have died of the disease. The proceeds from this event benefit The Project of the Quad Cities.
We hope you will join us to raise HIV/AIDS awareness in the community and create a future where HIV/STIS/AIDS is no longer stigmatized and everyone living with, affected by, or at risk of contracting HIV/STI/AIDS has the support they need to succeed. For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/TheProjectOf TheQuadCities or call (309)762-5433.
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24 Nov 2015

Hy-Vee Recognized as a Top 10 Company in National Consumer Loyalty Index

By Tina Potthoff

Temkin Group ranks Hy-Vee seventh out of nearly 300 companies across 20 industries

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (Nov. 23, 2015) – Hy-Vee, Inc. recently ranked seventh in the 2015 Temkin Loyalty Index, which evaluates the loyalty of 10,000 consumers to 293 companies across 20 industries. The annual index was released last week and is based on evaluating consumers' likelihood of repurchasing from the company, recommending it to others, forgiving it if it makes a mistake, trusting it and trying its new offerings.

Overall, the nationwide analysis found that grocery chains, fast food chains and retailers were the most likely to inspire high loyalty levels. Hy-Vee, which has 240 stores across eight Midwestern states, outperformed the industry average with a score of 70 percent. The evaluation also found that Hy-Vee led across all industries in consumers' likelihood to recommend the company to others.

"We are proud to be recognized for the loyalty our customers show," said Sheila Laing, executive vice president and chief customer officer for Hy-Vee. "At Hy-Vee, our brand promise is to provide customers with exemplary service through our employees' helpful smiles. We feel that we have the best customers in the industry, and this honor further demonstrates that they believe in us."

The Temkin Group is a customer experience research and consulting firm. For more information about the 2015 Temkin Loyalty Index, visit http://www.temkingroup.com/research-reports/2015-temkin-loyalty-index.

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Hy-Vee, Inc. is an employee-owned corporation operating 240 retail stores across eight Midwestern states with sales of $9.3 billion annually. Hy-Vee ranks among the top 25 supermarket chains and the top 50 private companies in the United States. Supermarket News, the authoritative voice of the food industry, has honored the company with a Whole Health Enterprise Award for its leadership in providing services and programs that promote a healthy lifestyle. For more information, visit www.hy-vee.com.
24 Nov 2015

Readout of Governor Rauner's Calls with WH Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security

By Catherine Kelly

CHICAGO - The following is a statement attributed to Lance Trover, Director of Communications:

"Governor Rauner and White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough spoke by phone late Friday about the governor's unanswered requests for information related to the Syrian refugee program. The Governor affirmed his commitment to be a partner with the federal government on the resettlement of refugees and noted a growing frustration over the federal government's refusal to address specific security concerns and requests for information.  Mr. McDonough offered to have Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas call the Governor to address his specific concerns. Governor Rauner and Deputy Secretary Mayorkas late Friday spoke by phone in follow-up to the Governor's discussion with the White House Chief of Staff.  Deputy Secretary Mayorkas expressed his interest in helping address the Governor's requests for information about Syrian refugees coming to Illinois but said privacy concerns may preclude the federal government from sharing such information. Deputy Secretary Mayorkas agreed to assemble a team to address the Governor's questions and would follow-up with the Governor's Office to schedule a briefing time."

Additional Background:

 

The Governor's requests for information are as basic as it gets: who's coming and when? As of today, the federal government refuses to provide prior notification to state officials before resettling Syrian refugees in that state and refuses to share the security background check vetting information conducted by federal intelligence agencies with that state's law enforcement officials.  While federal and state law enforcement work closely on a range of security issues, the federal government refuses to cooperate with states on information relating to Syrian refugees.

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24 Nov 2015

Heartland Institute Scholar Assesses Current State of 'Article V' Movement to Amend U.S. Constitution

By Rick Martin

Policy Brief Refutes Fears of a 'Runaway Convention,' Lays Out Strategy to Unite Factions

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL - The Heartland Institute this week published a new Policy Brief that looks at the current state of the "Article V" movement - a growing movement and sometimes contentious debate among conservatives and libertarians about how to rein in a federal government that is larger, more expensive, and more intrusive than anything the framers of the U.S. Constitution could have imagined.

Titled The Article V Movement: A Comprehensive Assessment to Date and Suggested Approach for State Legislators and Advocacy Groups Moving Forward. this 40-page Policy Brief outlines how far the movement has come in the past several years and where it should go in the near future. The author, David F. Guldenschuh, is an attorney who has been intimately involved in the Article V movement for several years. He's a policy advisor for The Heartland Institute's Center for Constitutional Reform, launched earlier in 2015 to support all efforts to restore constitutional order in the United States.

"The desire for power and the influence of special-interest money has so utterly corrupted Washington, DC that citizens no longer feel their leaders and representatives are looking out for the nation's best interests," Guldenschuh writes in the Policy Brief.

Fortunately, Guldenschuh adds, the nation's Founders recognized the national government might some day overreach its authority. That is why they included in the U.S. Constitution Article V, which provides a mechanism for states to propose constitutional amendments to rein in the national government.

Guldenschuh describes four Article V advocacy groups - the Balanced Budget Amendment Task Force, Convention of States Project, Wolf-PAC, and Compact for America - and reports on educational efforts undertaken by those organizations and others. He especially refutes fears of a "run-away convention." And he concludes by proposing a strategy for the movement going forward, noting:

"The Article V movement has the resources, the grassroots support, and the ability to [rein in the national government]. The question is, can leaders within the movement coordinate their efforts and cooperate with each other to accomplish this mighty goal, or will the movement devolve into a circular firing squad as unfortunately happens all too often among conservative groups? Time will tell, if it doesn't first run out on us all."

To interview Guldenschuh for an article or a broadcast, please contact Director of Communications Jim Lakely at jlakely@heartland.org and 312/377-4000, or Kyle Maichle, project manager for constitutional reform, at kmaichle@heartland.org and 312/377-4000.

About David Guldenschuh

David Guldenschuh is a leader in the nationwide movement of states to call a convention of states pursuant to Article V of the U.S. Constitution to propose amendments to the Constitution to rein in our federal government and return a balance of power and federalism to the relationship between our federal and state governments. He is publisher of the Article V Convention Legislative Progress Report, the only nationally recognized tracker of the status of all Article V legislation in the country.

Guldenschuh is former legislative liaison director for the Convention of States Project, where in 2014 he led Georgia to become the first state in the country to pass the CoS Article V application for a convention of states. He presently serves as special counsel to the Balanced Budget Amendment Task Force, and is a member of the Board of Policy Advisors of The Heartland Institute, where he concentrates on constitutional reforms.

Perhaps more than any other individual in the country, Guldenschuh has established working relationships with virtually all groups and individuals working within the Article V movement. He is a 1981 cum laude graduate of the University of Notre Dame Law School, a member of the Bar of the United States Supreme Court, and has on multiple occasions been named one of Georgia's "Top Lawyers" by Atlanta Magazine.

24 Nov 2015

Wells 4 Wellness Fall 2015 Updates

By Chelsea Fray

Moline, IL – Wells 4 Wellness, a local organization with a global effect, announces major strides towards well drilling.

Wells 4 Wellness is pleased to announce the shipment of equipment integral to the well drilling process has just arrived in Cotonou, Benin, Africa. From the port there, the machinery will make its way to Niamey, Niger, Africa. In the next few months, an experienced drilling team will use this equipment to drill wells for the people of Niger.

Pat Herath, Executive Director of Wells 4 Wellness, says, "We are incredibly excited to see all of the hard work and support we have been blessed with move forward". The purchase and shipping of this equipment was the missing link that Wells 4 Wellness needed in order to share this gift with the people of Niger.

Niger, Africa is ranked as being in the poorest region of the Sub-Saharan desert and is ranked as the 7th poorest country in the world. Last February, Wells 4 Wellness purchased a compressor: a vital part of the process of drilling wells in Niger, Africa. Our organization is partnering with Relief Network Ministries/Faith for All Nations Church in Texas in order to maximize the number of wells drilled and to reduce costs.

Wells 4 Wellness credits all of their dedicated volunteers and supporters for their assistance in purchasing a compressor, tools, trailer and the shipping of the drilling rig and container. Herath said, "Our supporters are important to the success of our organization and the completion of our mission. From financial support to expert advice and time, our local community is the driving force allowing us to bring lifesaving water to the people of Niger. The board cannot express our gratitude enough. The people of Niger are not only gaining access to clean drinking water, but also to a better life."

Wells 4 Wellness will host a fundraiser March 6, 2016 at Milltown Coffee to raise awareness of the importance of water. For more information please contact Pat Herath at 309-236-1301 or visit wells4wellness.com.

23 Nov 2015

Senior Star at Elmore Place Hosts Decades of Holiday Desserts Tour on December 4 ~ Popularity Brings Quad Cities Event Back for the Second Year

By Christina L. Maggio-Kellerstrass

Quad City seniors and their families invited to experience a variety of delectables on December 4

 

DAVENPORT, IA (November 23, 2015) - Back by popular demand, Senior Star at Elmore Place is thrilled to host its Second Annual Holiday Desserts Tour for all Quad City seniors and their families from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, December 4 at 4500 Elmore Avenue, Davenport.

This year's free event will feature desserts and other food delights spanning several decades, highlighting delicious treats over the years.  Upon arrival, attendees will receive a Decade Destination Pass and partake in a self-guided tour sampling items prepared by the chefs at Senior Star at Elmore Place.

Decades to be featured include :

·       Roaring 20's: Iced coffee, petit fours, small cheesecakes

·       America's Favorite Pastime Baseball 30's: Corndogs, Charlie's Popcorn, roasted peanuts, Tollhouse cookies

·       Soda Shop 50s: Homemade root beer floats

·       Disco 60s: Saturday Night Live Dance Party with French onion dip, chips and vegetables

Guests will also be treated to entertainment by local jazz sensation Josh Duffee.

"We are thrilled to offer this fun holiday event for our Quad City seniors and their families for a second year," said Marc Strohschein, executive director of Senior Star at Elmore Place.  "Our chefs have created an exceptional representation of decade-inspired tastings which are a highlight of our food offerings at Senior Star."

Completion of the Decade Destination Pass will provide attendees the opportunity to be included in a special drawing for prizes including dinner at Texas Roadhouse and a $100 shopping gift card.

Space is limited so RSVPs are requested on or before December 3 by calling 563.359.0100.

For more information about Senior Star at Elmore Place, call 563.359.0100.

About Senior Star at Elmore Place

Senior Star at Elmore Place, a Senior Star community, features 236 modernly decorated apartments spanning across 20 acres of beautifully landscaped property with many customized amenities to offer its residents three distinctive living experiences: independent living, assisted living and memory care.  For more information, visit www.seniorstar.com.

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23 Nov 2015

Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau Adds New Website Features

By Jessica Waytenick

Quad Cities - The Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau (QCCVB) announced today new features added to their website at www.visitquadcities.com in order to improve visitors' trip planning experience.

The new interactive trip planner option allows visitors to build a personalized "shopping cart" of attractions, hotels and restaurants that they'd like to visit.  As they're browsing the website, each listing has an "Add to My Trip" button so visitors don't have to keep track of the places they are interested in visiting.  Their trip planner can be edited, saved online, printed out, or shared with family/friends on Facebook.

In the Places to Stay hotel section of www.visitquadcities.com, additional filter options have been added to help visitors find the exact hotel that meets their needs.  The user can customize their list by filtering by room rate, number of rooms, hotel amenities (ex. pet friendly, free wi-fi, free breakfast, pool available, meeting space, etc.).  In addition each individual hotel's listing page now has a full list of the same available amenities.

Throughout the website, the QCCVB is integrating more information to help their trip planning process.  Videos from the QCCVB's social media channels have been added.  Each month staff from the QCCVB's social media team visits locally-owned businesses to highlight their special events, unique products, and locally-made products with in-house produced videos.  "The Monthly Bite" is the most popular series.  It features local restaurants and receives 15,000 views per month.

"A website is never finished; you have to keep improving things to meet your customers' needs and to make the experience fresh and inviting.  We think these new additions do just that," says Charlotte Doehler-Morrison, QCCVB vice-president of marketing & communications.  "We have also added a new blog to our site that gives visitors and residents an insider's view of the Quad Cities."

The QCCVB launched a new blog in April 2015 with five local residents regularly blogging several times a month about what there is to see and do in the Quad Cities.  The blog gives visitors a first-hand look at the area.  Now blog posts have been integrated throughout the website sharing topic-related pages, such as a blog post about antique shops is found on the Shopping web section.  Since the launch the blog has had over 37,000 pageviews and gained 50 blog subscribers.

"The website is one of our most important sales tools for promoting the Quad Cities," said Jessica Waytenick, QCCVB public relations & marketing manager.  "I've been so excited about what our bloggers are writing about each month.  It has so much variety from topics such as outdoor recreation options to new boutiques to local bakeries."

So far in 2015 www.visitquadcities.com as a whole has had over 1.3 million page views. The website is built using responsive design, so it automatically resizes to fit whatever device the user has whether it's a computer, tablet or smartphone.

Located on the Mississippi River, the Quad Cities is comprised of Bettendorf & Davenport in Iowa; Moline/East Moline & Rock Island in Illinois; and surrounding communities.  The area is just a 2-½ hour drive from Des Moines, Iowa, and Chicago, Illinois. It is easily accessible via I-80, I-74, I-88 and several major state highways.

The QCCVB is the official tourism destination marketing and management organization for the Quad Cities region.  The organization serves the tourism interests of Scott County in Iowa and Rock Island, Mercer, Warren and Henderson Counties in Illinois. The QCCVB increases visitor expenditures and overnight stays through strategic sales, marketing, and services to customers, members and communities.  Visitors generated an economic impact of $837 million from over 1.6 million visitors to the Quad Cities in 2014.

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23 Nov 2015

Camp Courageous Hosts 33rd Annual Holiday Parties

By Charlie Becker
MONTICELLO, IOWA - Camp Courageous of Iowa, a year-round respite care and recreational facility for individuals with special needs, will be hosting their 33rd annual Holiday Parties for students in special education classes. The parties will be held on Wednesday, December 2 and Thursday, December 3 from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM.
Special education classes are welcome to attend this event and enjoy all camp has to offer - swimming, the rock climbing wall, crafts, games, and a movie, for no cost. In addition, Santa and Mrs. Claus are expected to make an appearance. Refreshments will be provided, and groups are welcome to bring lunch to enjoy after the party.
Throughout the year, Camp Courageous hosts a variety of events for individuals in special education classes. These events are often very memorable for and cherished by the students. In a thank you letter, one special education teacher remarked, "The children talk about this event all school year long." Furthermore, Camp Courageous also hosts events for adults.
The annual adult holiday party will be held on Thursday, December 3 from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM. Besides refreshments, guests can enjoy a performance from The New Horizons Brass Band and a gift from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Camp Courageous is looking for more donations of wrapped gifts.
If you are interested in volunteering at the holiday parties, please tact Shannon Poe at 319-465-5916, ext. 2320. For more information or to RSVP, feel free to contact Jeanne Muellerleile by email - jeanne@campcourageous.org; by mail - Camp Courageous, Box 418, Monticello, Iowa 52310-0418; by fax - (319) 465-5919; or by phone - (319) 465 - 5916 ext. 2300.

Camp Courageous™ is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization run on donations.
PO Box 418, 12007 190th St, Monticello IA 52310-0418 • 319-465-5916
23 Nov 2015

Camp Courageous Celebrates #GivingTuesday

By Charlie Becker
On Tuesday, December 1st, Camp Courageous will celebrate the 4th annual #GivingTuesday. A camp representative will be at Lucky's Market in Iowa City at 1668 Sycamore St. from 11am to 6pm on #GivingTuesday. The public is welcome to make a donation or find out more about camp. Everyone can participate from anywhere by checking out the Camp Courageous web page or Facebook page. This will be the 4th year of #GivingTuesday, a global movement to encourage ordinary people to come together to make extraordinary things happen!
Camp Courageous volunteers and donors have always been the backbone of the camp! Supporters can give their time, help spread the word, skills, or donations. Camp Courageous gives individuals with special needs confidence, friendships, life changing experiences and opportunities to demonstrate what they can do. See a video made for this event at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lSszogA_uM
Camp Courageous started serving individuals with disabilities in 1974 with 211 campers and has grown to nearly 7,000 in 2015. The camp is located at 12007 190th St, Monticello, just five miles southeast of Monticello off Highways 151, Exit 65 & 38.  For more info visit www.campcourageous.org or visit the camp anytime.
Camp Courageous™ is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization run on donations.
PO Box 418, 12007 190th St, Monticello IA 52310-0418 • 319-465-5916
23 Nov 2015

Nick Fahrenkrug earns Promise Scholarship for Iowans from Cornell College

By Jamie Kelly

MOUNT VERNON, IA (11/23/2015)-- Nick Fahrenkrug of Davenport (52803) has been admitted to Cornell College for the Fall 2016 semester and has earned the Promise Scholarship for Iowans.

Cornell College offers qualified Iowa high school students entering Cornell in Fall 2016 the Promise Scholarship for Iowans, worth at least $20,000 per student. The scholarship is renewable for four years, bringing the total value to at least $80,000.

In addition to the grant, Iowa students may qualify for up to $5,000 annually from the state's Iowa Tuition Grant to attend an Iowa private college. Cornell College is using the scholarship to support homegrown talent in the state of Iowa. Cornell's student body currently represents 45 states and 18 foreign countries, with 17 percent from Iowa.

Cornell is nationally recognized for its value, including by Kiplinger's, which included Cornell on its list of the 100 best values in private colleges for 2015, and the Fiske Guide to Colleges, which named Cornell College one of the 24 "Best Buys" among private colleges. Cornell is also one the "Colleges that Change Lives," a select group of schools recognized for their academic quality and the exceptional opportunities they offer.

For more information, visit www.cornellcollege.edu.

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