The Bettendorf Discovery Shop invites you to join them beginning Thursday, April 9th for their 23rd annual cookbook and kitchenware event.   

We will have a vast collection of new and vintage cookbooks that will be a delight for new and experienced cooks to see.  Healthy cooking books, ethnic cooking, desert ideas, everyday cooking idea books, and the always favorite groups and churches cookbooks are just some of what you will see.  Plus we have a great selection of cooking aids, gadgets, small appliances, pans, and other fun things for you kitchen.  

If you love to cook, or know someone that does, this will be the perfect day for you to shop at the Discovery Shop.  If you have cookbooks or cooking related items that you would like to donate for this event we would be happy to have them. 

 

The Discovery Shop is an upscale resale shop selling gently used items donated by the community and staffed by over 100 volunteers.  Proceeds go to the American Cancer Society for cancer research, education, patient services and advocacy.

 

Donations are accepted anytime the shop is open and a tax receipt is always available.  Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 am to 5 pm., Thursday from 10 am to 7 pm. and Saturday from10 am to 4 pm.

 

We are thankful for all the wonderful donations and excited to have this fun event for our customers.

Quad Cities - With the first day of spring coming up on Friday, we're ready to say goodbye to Old Man Winter.  Although these Quad Cities' organizations might be a little reluctant after a successful winter season with great visitation numbers.  

Ski Snowstar in Andalusia ended their season this past weekend.  Looking back, they opened in November for the first time ever and they were open 85 days which is the longest season since 1995-96.  General Manager Ed Meyer says that they had almost 45,000 visits, and they welcomed their one millionth customer at the end of December.  www.skisnowstar.com  

The Bald Eagles visit the Quad Cities in the winter that, in turn, generates an increase in human visitors to view them.  January is a busy month at the Mississippi River Visitor Center on Arsenal Island due to eagle watching.  Almost 3,500 people visited the center this winter.  Mike McKean, Natural Resource Specialist, says, "We pull in a lot of people from out of town, especially Chicago, coming here to watch eagles.  Both last winter and this winter there were great numbers of eagles to be seen. We heard from a lot of people who are coming back each year because of this."  www.missriver.org  

LeClaire is another popular place to go eagle watching.  LeClaire saw eagle watchers and photographers from all over the U.S. and Canada.  LeClaire Tourism Manager Cindy Bruhn wants people to remember that LeClaire does not "close" in the winter.  "We added an Eagle Watching Event this year and organized a variety of events to encourage winter visitors.  The LeClaire Information Center visitation was higher in January and February this year over last year."  www.visitleclaire.com  

The Quad City Mallards are coming down the homestretch of what has been a highly successful season both on and off the ice.  While the team has battled its way to second place and a playoff position in its first season in the ECHL, the organization has also enjoyed plenty of success away from the ice.  The Mallards again this season have provided exciting hockey and promotion-packed entertainment all year and have been met with an overwhelming response: 

  • ·        The Mallards this season have increased weekend attendance by 25 percent over last season.
  • ·        Group ticket sales this season have increased by 50 percent over last season
  • ·        The team's season ticket base has doubled over the last two years.

 

As a member of the premier "AA" hockey league in North America, the Mallards are able to offer excitement to fans from near and far from October through April and beyond.  www.myqcmallards.net

 

The Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau had two successful promotions this winter.  Be a Tourist in Your Own Backyard Weekend in January saw an increase of 2,000 coupon views to over 24,000 views.  Most recently Quad Cities Restaurant Week had 148,000 pageviews total, compared to 115,000 last year.

Event Announcement:   

Event:           Project Management: The Human and Technical View  

Date:           Thursday, April 2, 2015 and Friday, April 3, 2015  

Time:            8:00 AM - 4:00 PM  

Where:         MRA - The Management Association  

3800 Avenue of the Cities, Suite 100  

Moline, IL  61265  

Cost:             MRA Members: $460; Nonmembers: $645   

This two day program, gain the know-how to lead projects to successful outcomes.  Participants will learn to implement a process for planning and completing any project, using a practical, hands-on approach.  Discuss the roles and responsibilities of a project manager, including managing the human dynamics of the team and stakeholders.  A communication-style assessment guides project managers to an understanding of the power of an adaptable style. Participants will be able to explain how to affect change and influence others as projects evolve.

To Register, or for more details, go to www.mratraining.com, or contact MRA at 309.277.4183 or heatherroberts@mranet.org.  

   

Event Announcement:   

Event:           Affirmative Action Plan Workshop  

Date:           Thursday, April 9, 2015 and Friday, April 10, 2015  

Time:            8:00 AM - 3:30 PM  

Where:         MRA - The Management Association  

3800 Avenue of the Cities, Suite 100  

Moline, IL  61265  

Cost:            MRA Members: $460; Nonmembers: $665  

 

During this two day workshop, you will receive the tools you need to write a federally-sound affirmative action plan from start to finish, including the preparation of all critical statistical analyses.  In addition to writing the plan, we discuss important affirmative action concepts and implementation requirements.  Our approach is unique.  First, the seminar is conducted by MRA's AA/EEO managers.  Second, this is one of the most "hands-on" and "interactive" seminars you will ever attend.  You actually prepare many elements of your plan during the seminar.

To Register, or for more details, go to www.mratraining.com, or contact MRA at 309.277.4183 or heatherroberts@mranet.org.

 

 

Event Announcement: 

Event:           Advanced Communication Series - The Art and Science of Excellence

 

Date:           Effective Communication - Beyond the Basics - Friday, April 10, 2015

Communication From The Inside Out - Friday, April 24, 2015

Right Brain/Left Brain Thinking -  Friday, May 15, 2015

 

Time:            8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 

Where:         MRA - The Management Association

3800 Avenue of the Cities, Suite 100

Moline, IL  61265

 

Cost:             MRA Members: $885; Nonmembers: $1170 

 

During this three day series, you will push your communication skills to higher levels. In this series, participants will learn how humans take in and process language and information and the ways language and information drive our thinking and behavior.  This series will explore current science of the mind and its impact on language, behavior, understanding, and actions.  This highly interactive series seeks to move information to knowledge and then to action.

To Register, or for more details, go to www.mratraining.com, or contact MRA at 309.277.4183 or heatherroberts@mranet.org.

 

 

Event Announcement: 

Event:           Human Resource Professional Certificate Series

 

Date:           Session 1: HR Professional As Business Partner - Friday, April 17, 2015 (8:00 AM - 3:30 PM)

Session 2: HR Metrics: ROI For HR Initiative - Friday, April 24, 2015 (8:00 AM - 11:30 AM)

Session 3: Internal Investigations: A How-To-Guide - Friday, April 24, 2015 (12:30 PM - 4:00 PM)

Session 4: Fundamentals of Compensation - Friday, May 1, 2015 (8:00 AM - 3:00 PM)

Session 5: Finance Essentials For The HR Professional - Friday, May 8, 2015 (8:00 AM - 3:30 PM)

 

Where:         MRA - The Management Association

3800 Avenue of the Cities, Suite 100

Moline, IL  61265

 

Cost:             MRA Members: $1100; Nonmembers: $1490

 

This certificate series is designed specifically for those with at least 3 years of professional level HR experience and for experienced HR Professionals looking to improve their overall technical and management knowledge.  Prior completion of the Essentials of HR Certificate Series is strongly recommended.

During this five session certificate series, you will be building upon the technical skills gained in the Essentials of HR Certificate Series, this certificate series continues to grow your technical HR expertise, while focusing on key HR competencies of business acumen, collaboration, influencing, and work relationships.

HRCI Credit: 16.25 Business (Strategic)

To Register, or for more details, go to www.mratraining.com, or contact MRA at 309.277.4183 or heatherroberts@mranet.org

 

 

Event Announcement: 

Event:           Frontline Leadership Certificate Series

Date:           1. Motivation and Trust Building - Tuesday, April 21, 2015

2. Communication Skills - Tuesday, April 28, 2015

3. Effective Training Techniques - Tuesday, May 5, 2015

4. Resolving Conflict And Handling Difficult People Problems - Tuesday, May 12, 2015

5. Achieving High Impact Results - Tuesday, May 19, 2015

 

Time:            8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Where:         MRA - The Management Association

3800 Avenue of the Cities, Suite 100

Moline, IL  61265

 

Cost:             MRA Members: $1250; Nonmembers: $1700 

 

This five-day series is for those individuals who provide leadership or formal guidance to a work group without the power to hire, to fire, or conduct performance reviews. (They may be called group leaders, team leaders, coordinators, leaders of work groups, "go to" people, etc.) These employees often do the work while providing leadership to their work group. 

This series introduces the important principles of motivation, interpersonal communication, employee training, influencing others to achieve results, meeting organizational objectives, and resolving conflict. Using a combination of discussion, case study, and skill practice, participants are prepared to be more productive within their organization by developing their leadership skills. This series is also effective for individuals that are being groomed for a leadership-type role. 

To Register, or for more details, go to www.mratraining.com, or contact MRA at 309.277.4183 or heatherroberts@mranet.org

 

 

About MRA-The Management Association
Founded in 1901, MRA-The Management is a not-for-profit employer association that serves more than 4,000 employers throughout the Midwest, covering 800,000+ employees. As one of the largest employer associations in the nation, MRA helps its member organizations thrive by creating powerful teams and safe, successful workplaces. MRA conducts more than 2,000 learning events each year. Members of MRA also receive access to expert guidance, best practices, professionally facilitated roundtables, essential tools, and dozens of business services in the areas of human resources and training. MRA is headquartered in Waukesha, Wis., and has regional offices in Palatine, Ill.; Moline, Ill.; and Plymouth, Minn. To learn more and to become a member of MRA, visit www.mranet.org.

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today on the situation regarding the possible deportation of Iowa City Pastor Max Villatoro.  

 

"When talking about immigration reform, which Congress has continually kicked down the road, many numbers and statistics are thrown around. The situation involving Max Villatoro puts a human face on these numbers and amplifies the need for action on comprehensive immigration reform. I feel there must be a realistic and pragmatic but tough system that enforces the rule of law and ensures accountability while not tearing apart families who have been here for many years. Mr. Villatoro is a loving husband and father, model employee and a dedicated member of our community. As a compassionate country, we cannot allow Mr. Villatoro's family to be torn apart."

MOUNT CARROLL, IL -- Timber Lake Playhouse, the professional summer theatre in Mount Carroll, announces their "kick-off" fundraiser, "Lena Las Vegas" Casino Night onSaturday, April 18 from 6:00 - 9:00.  TLP's Casino Night will be held at The Rafters in Lena.  Tickets are $50 per person.

Included in the ticket price is a starting purse, chances to win prizes, roving appetizers, and "Cheezer's Palace" Mac & Cheese Bar.  Casino games include craps, blackjack, roulette, and Texas Hold'em.  Casino games are being provided by U.S. Poker and Casino Parties of Bensenville.

TLP is also looking for sponsors for the event.  Sponsor levels begin at a $150 Casino Table Sponsor and go to the High Roller level at $1000.

For information about sponsorship or tickets, visit www.timberlakeplayhouse.org or call the box office at 815-244-2035 between the hours of 10:00 - 3:00.  Tickets may also be purchased at the TLP administrative offices across from the playhouse at 8216 Black Oak Road in Mount Carroll also between the hours of 10:00 - 3:00.

Coralville, IA - March 18, 2015 - West Music is proud to announce the winners of their 3rd Annual March Music Madness Pep Band Competition.  Fillmore Central, from Harmony, MN won in the 1A/2A division, and Oelwein High School, from Oelwein, IA won in the 3A/4A division.  Both bands will receive a $300 West Music gift card for use in their music programs.

"The Fillmore Central Band Department continues to be humbled and amazed by the tremendous support we receive from our staff, administration, parents, community members, and local businesses.  The communities of Harmony, Preston, and Fountain should be very proud of the commitment to excellence in our schools!" said Lane Powell, Director of Bands for Fillmore Central.

Cory McBride, director of Oelwein's pep band  added, "Our band had a great time participating in the March Music Madness competition and it definitely increased the level of energy and enthusiasm within our school.  The amount of support and excitement we saw from our students, staff, community, and even other schools was tremendous.  All of our students work hard and this was such a great way to showcase their efforts."

The competition was a huge success, drawing over 332,000 votes and over 30,000 social media mentions and shares to all participant videos in a two week voting period.  Voting for the competition began in early March and was hosted on westmusic.com/MarchMusicMadness.  The video with the most votes at the end of each round moved onto the next round.  The contest culminated in the finals that coincided with the Iowa state boys high school basketball tournament in March.  To view the official bracket and breakdown for all votes between schools, visit westmusic.com/MarchMusicMadness.

A total of 13 participating schools competed in the competition including Bellevue Community, Center Point-Urbana, Columbus Community, Easton Valley, Edgewood-Colesburg, Fillmore Central, Independence, Maquoketa Valley, Moline, North Linn, Oelwein, River Ridge, and Western Dubuque.

This event is one of many hosted by West Music throughout the year for students, teachers, friends and the general public. This is a great opportunity for students to come together to showcase their passion for music, their creativity and school spirit. Best of all, this friendly competition brings to life West Music's mission to create musical communities.

About West Music Company

Founded in 1941, West Music continues to fulfill its mission of creating musical communities by providing knowledge, products, and services people need to experience the power of making music!  West Music specializes in pianos, guitars, drums and percussion, band and orchestra instruments, and print music as well as offers music instruction, repair and music therapy services.  West Music has seven retail locations in Iowa and Illinois as well as award-winning ecommerce websites dedicated to servicing music education, percussion, and Latin music communities. For more information, visit westmusic.com or call 1-800-373-2000.

 

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Financial Consultants Say Retirees Can Take Steps To Protect Savings From Vagaries Of The Market

As people creep into the retirement "red zone" - those years just before or right after they retire - it becomes more important than ever that they find ways to keep their savings safe.

Because at that point, their retirement picture will change significantly only if they lose a lot of money, says Chris Bennett, co-founding partner of The Abbott Bennett Group, (www.theabbottbennettgroup.com).

"They are not going to change who they are," Bennett says. "But if they lose a bucket of money, they are not going to go out to eat, they won't travel, they won't be able to leave money to their children and grandchildren. They will end up having to make sacrifices."

In other words, they won't be living the retirement they envisioned all those years they were saving a nest egg.

Having a "safe money" strategy is key to a secure retirement, say Bennett and Michael Abbott, CFO of the firm. It's important to be able to create an income stream that the retiree won't outlive.

There are several areas you and your financial professional can focus on as part of an overall "safe money" strategy, Abbott and Bennett say. Here are two examples:

• Rate of return vs. sequence of return. The average rate of return on an investment can be misleading, they say. That's because in reality how well you hang onto your money depends more on "sequence of return." That is, exactly when do those profits and losses come about?

To see how that might work, imagine a 50 percent loss followed by a 50 percent gain. That would appear to average out to a zero rate of return. But that's not how it would look in your portfolio, Bennett says. If you have $100,000, a 50 percent loss drops it to $50,000. The market rebounds with a 50 percent gain. But a 50 percent gain on $50,000 just increases that investment to $75,000, so you've still taken a loss.

Now consider that kind of activity over the course of your retirement as you are also withdrawing money from your savings to live on. Depending on when market fluctuations happened, you could take major hits. That's especially true if the dips come early in retirement when your savings are at their peak, and the rallies arrive late when there is less left in the account.

"One big downturn and that money could run dry," Bennett says.

Abbott and Bennett say there are tools that a good financial professional uses that can help people reduce the risk created by sequence of return.

• Maneuvering toward tax-free income. "Whatever the tax rates may be in the future, taxes can be a drag on your savings and may adversely impact your retirement security," Abbott says. So it's important to consider the tax implications of how you hold your assets.

Even those Social Security benefits that retirees draw can be taxed, but they don't necessarily have to be, Bennett says. Once again, a financial professional can review strategies that could help reduce or even eliminate the tax on that monthly Social Security benefit.

"It's possible to have tax-free income in retirement," Bennett says. "Talk about being in control. Then you can just enjoy your retirement with your children and your grandchildren."

About Michael Abbott and Christopher Bennett

Michael Abbott has two decades of experience assisting retirees with their 401(k)s and pension plans. He is co-founder of The Abbott Bennett Group, LLC, an independent financial services firm, where he serves as CFO. He is a lifetime member of MDRT (Million Dollar Round Table), an association composed of the world's best financial services professionals, and a member of NAIFA (National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors). He holds a Master of Estate Preservation designation.

Christopher Bennett is a 16-year financial professional who has served as CEO of The Abbott Bennett Group, LLC, since 2003. He holds a Certified in Long-Term Care designation, a Master of Estate Preservation certification, and is a lifetime member of Million Dollar Round Table). Chris is also a member of multiple chambers of commerce, and participates in the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. He has hosted and conducted hundreds of seminars and workshops.

PELLA, IA (03/23/2015)(readMedia)-- Ashley Ramker of Davenport was chosen to present research entitled "Power of Positive Thinking: Effects of Positive Psychology Exercises on Well-Being" with collaborative professor Randall A. Renstrom at the annual Midwestern Psychological Association (MPA) conference in Chicago, April 30-May 2

This year holds a record number of 38 students presenting their scholarly research at the MPA conference. Central graduates were also selected to present research in the professional program alongside Ph.D and graduate students.

Founded in 1853, Central College of Pella, Iowa, is a private, residential four-year liberal arts college known for its academic rigor and strength in global experiential learning, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), sustainability education, athletics success and tradition, and leadership and service. Central continues to value its long-standing relationship with the Reformed Church in America that began in 1916. The college participates in NCAA Division III athletics and is a member of the Iowa Conference. Central is an active part of the Greater Des Moines region and just two minutes from Lake Red Rock, Iowa's largest lake.

Handcrafted pizza and a Hawkeye bar are just a couple of reasons to make your next stop the Mellow Mushroom Coralville.

Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers is now open at 1451 Coral Ridge Avenue, located at the Coral Ridge Mall. From the handcrafted food to the unique and inviting atmosphere, Mellow is a great hangout for all ages.

Owners Drew Knudsen and Kaaren Vargas are thrilled to bring Mellow Mushroom to the Coralville market. "This is an ideal setting for our guests?people who enjoy a family friendly environment along with a one-of-a-kind experience and fantastic food," states Drew.

Mellow Mushroom features a creative menu with an assortment of pizzas, hoagies, salads, calzones, appetizers and vegetarian and vegan options, using only the freshest of ingredients.  Gluten free crust and a kids as well as Vegan menu are also available.

All Mellow Mushrooms are known as places that provide an entertaining experience in a unique art filled environment, and this location carries on that tradition in an astounding way. The flawlessly detailed Cosmos meets the Heartland combined theme is finished off with vibrant splashes of color in the most unsuspected places.

Upon entering the Mellow, a never before seen Herky is displayed at the bar, along with a nod to the history of the Iowa Hawkeye football team, enjoyable for any fan to see. A large spaceship suspends in the air, contrasted with an artistic interpretation of a crop circle, alien invasion, and a disco cow being abducted into the sky.

A full service gigantic bar sits near the entry of the restaurant, with plenty of beverages for any and all tastes. The bar menu features over 200 beers with 48 of them on draft, handcrafted cocktails, and a wine list.

For a great place to catch some sports action, this Mellow has plenty of options with large flat screens and a full audio system. Looking for something unique throughout the week? Catch trivia or just make it a great night out for the entire family!

Mellow Mushroom will operate 7 days a week. For more information on Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers, visit http://mellowmushroom.com/store/coralville and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MellowMushroomCoralville.

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About Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers

About Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers

Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers (www.mellowmushroom.com) was founded in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia. This franchise, operated under Home-Grown Industries of Georgia, Inc., is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. For 41 years, Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers has been serving up fresh, stone-baked pizzas to order in an eclectic, art-filled, and family-friendly environment. Each Mellow is locally owned and operated and provides a unique feel focused around great customer service and high-quality food. For more information on Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers, like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/mellowmushroomHQ, follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MellowMushroom, and follow us on Pinterest at https://pinterest.com/mellowmushroom.

Retirees Should Reconsider Strategies on IRA, 401K Withdrawals, Financial Advisor Says

A government rule on retirement savings may be tricking retirees into looking at their financial situations all wrong, says a financial advisor who specializes in retirement planning.

The rule says retirees can't leave money in their IRA or 401k accounts forever. At age 70½ they must begin making minimum withdrawals, even if they prefer to leave the accounts untouched.

"You are forced to take money out whether you want to or not," says Dave Lopez, a mathematics and computer science major who applies his analytical mind to solving retirement challenges.

And in reality, Lopez says, you should want to take out as much as possible. That's why he likens the rule to a head fake because it causes retirees to look at the situation from the wrong perspective.

"They get fixated on that minimum amount they must withdraw, so that's how much they end up withdrawing, leaving the bulk of their savings right there in the 401k or IRA," he says.

That's a mistake, he says, especially for people who hope to leave a healthy inheritance to heirs.

"If you keep taking out the minimum amount each year, it will just about guarantee you have a large amount in there at your death," Lopez says. "Under the current tax law, if you die and your IRA or 401k is left to your heirs, they are taxed on it at a high rate. With state taxes added in, it could be 40 to 45 percent."

The percentage could end up being even more, depending when you retire and whether tax laws change, he says.

If Congress and the president raise taxes, the government's share of your retirement savings would go up and the amount left to heirs would go down.

That's where it would be good for the middle class to take a lesson from wealthy retirees, who are less likely to fall for that head fake, Lopez says. They understand that they need to withdraw greater chunks from their IRA and 401k accounts, placing the money in tax-friendlier accounts.

"While people in the middle class take out the minimum-required amount, the rich do the exact opposite," he says.

Lopez says a few strategies exist that retirees can take advantage of to make sure taxes don't deplete their legacy to their children. "You have to put these strategies into place early, though," Lopez says. "The later you wait, the less effective they are and the less your savings will be."

• Explore tax-free options. Move the money into a tax-free vehicle, such as a Roth IRA or a specially designed life insurance plan that would allow the dollars to flow tax free to heirs. Lopez says one additional advantage with the life insurance option is that, historically, when laws are changed related to life insurance the old policies are grandfathered in and not affected. "It's a top estate planning trick for the rich," he says. "The challenge is the middle class doesn't know it exists."

• Stretch out inherited IRA withdrawals. Under tax law, when your heirs inherit an IRA they don't have to take money as a lump sum. They can have it paid out over their lifetime, which could keep them in a lower tax bracket, Lopez says. They pay taxes only on what they take out, he says. "There is gamble involved with this plan," Lopez says. "You are gambling that the law that allows heirs to do this will still be in effect when you die. Many people think this law is one of the easiest ones to change because the government could just claim this is a tax loophole and they are closing the loophole."

Ultimately, he says, it will pay off to sit down ahead of time to review options with a financial advisor who understands the intricacies of retirement planning.

"You don't want to be taken in by that head fake," Lopez says. "You want to make sure you and your family get as much benefit as possible from all those years you were saving your hard-earned money."

About Dave Lopez

Dave Lopez is the founder of ILG Financial, LLC (www.ILGFinancial.com) and has been working with individuals and businesses in the Northern Virginia area since 1986. He specializes in strategies that enable his clients to potentially build a retirement nest egg that they can rely on and can never outlive. Lopez has his Bachelors of Science degree from James Madison University with a major in mathematics and computer science. He is an investment advisor representative of AlphaStar Capital Management, LLC, a registered investment advisor.

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