Davenport, Iowa - Don helps in the Café and walks Main Street. Millie, line dances on Thursday. And each morning, you'll find Jan leading group exercise classes. Just another day until you realize these are older adults, volunteering, exercising and staying active - each playing a role to help Quad City seniors Celebrate LIFE at CASI, The Center for Active Seniors.
The National Institute of Senior Centers (NISC) has deemed September National Senior Center Month and CASI - The Center for Active Seniors is celebrating. More than 5000 older adults will Celebrate LIFE this September at CASI during National Senior Center Month - dubbed A Celebration of LIFE - Learning, Independence, Friends and Energy . And like Don, Millie and Jan, the Quad Cities older adults are invited to participate, come together and Celebrate LIFE during National Senior Center Month.
"The Center for Active Seniors, Inc., CASI, as it is known to most, is the Quad Cities most comprehensive Senior Center. More than 80 events will happen throughout the month of September," said Laura Kopp President/CEO. "We're not your average senior center - we're here when you need us. But, don't take my word for it. Come experience CASI for yourself," added Kopp.
Senior Center Month kicks off on September 1st and 2nd when the Cities of Bettendorf and Davenport will each proclaim September as Senior Center Month. The Honorable Bob Gallagher, Mayor of Bettendorf and the Honorable Bill Gluba, Mayor of Davenport, will each proclaim September as Senior Center Month at their council meetings held September 1st and 2nd respectively. Both cities will recognize CASI's daily contributions to enhance the well-being of the older citizens of our communities.
In addition to CASI's normal schedule of activities, two special events, Laughs on Tap and Caring for the Caregiver tie in with Learning, Independence, Friends and Energy. Both events take place at CASI, 1035 W Kimberly Road, Davenport.

? Thursday, September 17th: Laughs on Tap is a first time event at CASI and serves as a Fun(ds) raising event to benefit activities and programs at Jane's Place CASI's Adult Day Service and CASI. ComedySportz, an Improv Comedy Group, will be onsite at CASI Thursday September 17th with Brews and Heavy Apps beginning at 5:30 followed by Draughts and Heavy Laughs beginning at 6:30 at CASI. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.
To order tickets: www.Eventbrite.com /Laughs on Tap (http://www.eventbrite.com/e/laughs-on-tap-tickets-17834502477?aff=es2)
? Thursday, September 24th: Caring for The Caregiver, presented by Dr. Steve Kopp, PhD, LMFT, LMHC; Genesis Psychology Associates. Often overlooked and forgotten, yet the most important person to care for is the caregiver. When a caregivers needs are met, the person being cared for will benefit, too. Learn more during this special event, Thursday, September 24th. Cost is $10 per person and reservations can be made by calling CASI at 563.386.7477 or emailing info@CASIseniors.org
Here's a sampling of CASI's month long Celebration of LIFE - Learning, Independence, Friends and Energy, will take place during September. For a complete list of all activities is available online at www.CASIseniors.org.
Learning - expand your knowledge. Educational seminars including Caring for the Caregiver, Alzheimer's and Dementia awareness, Documents your kids will need when you're gone, Electronics Clinic and more will occur during September.
Independence - live on your terms. Celebrate your independence by attending the Stand Up to Prevent Falls Balance and mobility screenings, Flu shots and 20th Anniversary Band Concert of CASI's New Horizons Band.
Friends - enjoy life, laughter & feeling connected. A special showing of Still Alice starring Julianne Moore, card games, QC Times Plus 60 Art Intake Wine and Cheese reception, Jane's Place Open House and our feature event, Laughs on Tap starring Comedy Sports, while enjoying adult beverages and appetizers.
Energy - discover health & vitality. Throughout September celebrate with daily, gentle exercise, a Spine Clinic, Zumba Class, Line Dancing, Tai Chi and plenty of other fun & fitness activities.

The NISC's national celebration of senior centers began in 1979, as just a week in the month of May. Since then, thanks to the U.S. Conference of Mayors Aging Task Force, numerous mayoral proclamations have declared Senior Center Week.
In 1985, NISC was instrumental in achieving the first Senior Center Week Presidential Proclamation signed by President Ronald Reagan. In 2007, NISC designated the entire month of September as Senior Center Month to give centers greater flexibility in scheduling celebratory events.
? CASI - The Center For Active Seniors, Inc., established in 1973, serves the needs of older adults by providing a variety of events and daily activities keeping older Quad Citians socially, mentally and physically engaged. As 10,000 baby boomers turn age 65 every day, "senior citizen" is being redefined as is the senior lifestyle. CASI's multi -pronged approach to helping seniors age successfully includes health and wellness initiatives, social engagement opportunities, lifelong learning and volunteer opportunities to keep the older adult active and involved with our Quad Cities community.
? Senior Advocacy programs at CASI help older adults, their families, and caregivers with needs assessment helping partner them with other area agencies and programs keeping them in their own home for as long as is safely possible.
? CASI's Jane's Place, the only adult day services center in Eastern Iowa, provides a comfortable, homelike atmosphere for adults who need supervised care during the day due to stroke recovery, Alzheimer's and dementia. Jane's Place provides just the right amount of personal care allowing maximum independence while at Jane's Place Day Service Center.
? For more information about the programs and services offered through CASI, Jane's Place and/or Senior Advocacy, visit www.CASISeniors.org or call 563.386.7477.
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2015 Theme:  Working. For A Better Life.

QUAD CITIES -- The Quad City Labor Day Parade Alliance will hold their 32nd Annual Labor Day Parade in East Moline on Monday, September 7th. This year's Grand Marshall is Brother Tom Moritz, UFCW #431 1st Vice President and Iowa Vice President for the Quad City Federation of Labor. On Labor Day, more than sixty area unions, community non-profits, businesses, and elected officials will march west on 15th Avenue from 13th Street to 3rd Street in East Moline, IL. Line up begins at 8 a.m. at the John Deere Harvester Works Parking Lot: 1100 13th Avenue, East Moline, IL. The parade begins at 11:00 a.m. and ends at 1:00 p.m. After the parade, join us at the "Salute to Labor Chicken Fry" at Illiniwek Park, Rt 84 Hampton, IL. Serving from 11:30-3:00pm. The picnic tickets are $10 for adults and $6.00 for children under 12 and can be purchased at the event.

This Labor Day, we recognize the incredible achievements of America's working people and celebrate all those who make our country run. Many of us will be busy this weekend with barbecues, festivals and other types of family events. But this is also a time to truly consider what strengthens our families and take a look at how failed public policies have diminished working peoples' ability to sustain a good living and created an economy that is increasingly out of balance. Working people are the backbone of our economy and need to be recognized as such, both in word and deed. Too often, working people have taken a back seat to corporate interests that put profits above their pursuit of a better life?a better life they are perfectly willing to work for. Many hardworking people are frustrated because despite our sweat, our sacrifice and our innovation, too many of us struggle to support our families. We recognize the need for change, because the cost of living continues to rise while employers deny working people the wages and benefits needed to sustain their families.

Born from struggle and driven to find solutions, the labor movement is fighting back to correct this economic imbalance, and these efforts have captured the attention of everyone from the President to the Pope. We are determined to counteract these imbalances because we know they did not come about by chance. They have been the result of failed public policies and a rise in political and corporate attacks on working people. Simply put, it is time to change the rules. Working people are united under the banner of Raising Wages because America should have an economy of shared prosperity that lifts families up and strengthens our nation. By raising wages, providing for paid sick days, paid maternity leave and equal pay for equal work, combating wage theft and other things that stand in the way of economic stability, we can empower working people to not just survive, but thrive. On Labor Day, let us refocus on doing what is best for our families, our communities, our state and our nation. Working people everywhere are standing up and speaking out for fundamental, lasting change, regardless of whether they work in manufacturing, engineering, service or retail. Every day, they work hard and sacrifice to make our country stronger. This Labor Day should be a celebration of working families, because we are ready to speak up together, change the rules and bring lasting economic balance so every family can pursue the American Dream and work for a better life.

A growing number of the 8,000 baby boomers who turn 65 each year are looking overseas in search of a better retirement. They're looking to havens where costs are lower, the climate is often better, the healthcare is top-notch, and property prices deliver good value, report the retire-overseas experts at InternationalLiving.com.

"The traditional age for retirement in the U.S. is 65, but many Americans feel they'll have to keep working into their 70s before they can retire comfortably... if they ever can," says Executive Editor of InternationalLiving.com, Jennifer Stevens.

"As many as 92% of working American households aren't meeting recommended savings targets. But you can't just tell people to save more. For many folks, it's not possible. So retirees face a choice: 1. toil on?perhaps indefinitely, 2. significantly scale back plans for a 'comfortable' retirement, or 3. consider better options overseas. In some of the countries we recommend, a couple could cut their monthly costs to as little as $1,000 and still enjoy a great lifestyle. That would be nearly impossible to do in the States these days."

Expats Duane and Judy Allen, for instance, originally from Tampa, Florida, were able to trade up in retirement by going abroad. They always wanted to live by the beach, and for years, they say, they scoured Florida's coasts looking for an affordable property. But everything was out of reach. Today, though, they're living their dream on a good-value Caribbean island where they live comfortably, right on the water, on a budget of $1,300 a month.

"Our view is breathtaking, no matter what time of day it is," says Judy. "Sitting on our porch watching the sun rise is a daily pleasure."

Expats report that when things cost less, they can do more?thus improving their quality of life. Amanda Walkins, a writer for InternationalLiving.com based in Roatan, says, "My two-bedroom, beachfront apartment runs me about $750 per month with all utilities included. I go out to eat several nights per week, share drinks with friends, and I regularly host barbecues at my house?all without flinching at the cost."

InternationalLiving.com report increasing interest in their products and services among Americans and Canadians looking to maximize their retirements overseas. The number of attendees at International Living's live events, for instance, has increased significantly over the past few years.

The organization's annual Fast Track Your Retirement Overseas Conference, held in Las Vegas every September, has seen the attendee number rise to 650 in 2014. And International Living expects that number to rise again for this year's conference, set for September 25-27, 2015.

For those considering a similar move overseas, International Living's annual Fast Track Your Retirement Overseas Conference covers more than a dozen beautiful places in the world where retirees can live a great lifestyle on a low budget and turn their dreams of a comfortable retirement into reality?for a small fraction of what it would cost at home.

Registration remains open for International Living's Fast Track Your Retirement Overseas Conference 2015. For details about this event, see here: Fast Track Your Retirement Overseas Conference.

(US), CBarron@InternationalLiving.

For 35 years, InternationalLiving.com has been the leading authority for anyone looking for global retirement or relocation opportunities. Through its monthly magazine and related e-letters, extensive website, podcasts, online bookstore, and events held around the world, InternationalLiving.com provides information and services to help its readers live better, travel farther, have more fun, save more money, and find better business opportunities when they expand their world beyond their own shores. InternationalLiving.com has more than 200 correspondents traveling the globe, investigating the best opportunities for travel, retirement, real estate, and investment.

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