MOUNT VERNON, IA (03/26/2015)(readMedia)-- Students from Cornell College performed in the Steel Drum Ensemble concert March 27 in King Chapel.

Stephanie Campbell of Bettendorf is one of more than 20 members of the Steel Drum ensemble.

Andrew (Drew) Klocke of Coal Valley is one of more than 20 members of the Steel Drum ensemble.

The Steel Drum Ensemble is one of seven of the college's highly regarded ensembles, open to all students by audition. In addition to building group performance skills, the ensembles also offer exceptional undergraduate solo opportunities.

One of the 40 "Colleges That Change Lives," Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, is a national liberal arts college with a distinctive One Course At A Time curriculum. The One Course schedule provides students the chance to dive into their studies, focus more intensely on the disciplines of their choice, and learn authentically with the unique freedom to shed the confines of the traditional classroom to study off-campus, pursue research, or accept an internship--all without missing out on other classes.

Cornell has been recognized by numerous publications for the value its education offers and for academic excellence. This year it was named of the 100 best values in liberal arts education by Kiplinger's, one of the "Best Value Schools" among national liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report, and one of the 100 Affordable Elite Colleges by Washington Monthly. Ninety-three percent of Cornell graduates earn their degrees in four years. In 2013 Cornell was named one of the 25 colleges with the best professors by the Center for College Affordability and Productivity.

For more information, visit www.cornellcollege.edu.

WASHINGTON - Citing an increasing need to ensure safety, security, and stewardship of Arctic waters, member countries of the Arctic Council gathered at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters Wednesday for a two-day Arctic Coast Guard Forum (ACGF) Experts Meeting.

The ACGF is a cooperative initiative between nations with shared maritime interests in the Arctic.  Membership includes Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the Russian Federation, and the United States.  The ACGF will be an operationally-focused organization that strengthens maritime cooperation and coordination in the Arctic.

The Arctic region is gathering increased global attention due to dynamic geo-political factors such as climate change, permanent ice cover, and intensifying competition for undiscovered resources. Such factors provided context as members came together to reach consensus in organizing the Forum's operating principles, strategic objectives, and rules of governance. These foundational steps will allow the ACGF to foster the strong partnerships required support safe, secure, and environmentally responsible maritime activity in the Arctic region.

During his recent State of the Coast Guard Address, Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft addressed the importance of the Coast Guard's role in the Arctic stating, "Unimpeded access and sustained presence while operating in the Arctic are vital to meet the United States Arctic Strategy.  There is a new ocean opening and Coast Guard authorities mandate our presence wherever U.S. national interests require people and ships to operate."

The member countries will formally establish the Arctic Coast Guard Forum at a Summit at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy's Center for Arctic Study and Policy this fall.

More photos of the event can be viewed at https://www.dvidshub.net/image/1839877/us-coast-guard-hosts-arctic-forum

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We hope you will join us this weekend for our fourth annual Eiermarkt Spring Craft Fair! The admission is free to the fair on the fourth floor from 10am -2pmthis Saturday! We will have great vendors including: Pysanky, carved eggs, alpaca products, angora rabbits, pies, cookies, hot cross buns, hot pretzels, spring crafts and Easter baskets, Ostrich eggs, and German sausage!
Don't miss out on this fun free tradition!

Regular admission applies to see the exhibits Kaleidoscopia, A Look at the Book and the German Immigrant Experience.
Modern Woodmen Park Ferris wheel to set a national standard for accessibility
DAVENPORT, Iowa (March 26, 2015) - The City of Davenport, Genesis and the River Bandits will set a new standard for accessibility by partnering to install a gondola which will accommodate wheelchairs on the Ferris wheel at Modern Woodmen Park.
Davenport Mayor Bill Gluba, members of the City Council, City Administrator Craig Malin, Genesis Health System Vice President, Corporate Communications, Marketing and Advocacy, Ken Croken, and River Bandits general manager Andrew Chesser made the partnership announcement  at a press conference Thursday at Modern Woodmen Park.
"Modern Woodmen Park has been named the best park in all of minor league baseball. We want everyone to fully experience everything the park has to offer,'' Gluba said. "This announcement is possible today because of a private-public partnership between the River Bandits ownership, Genesis and the city.''
"Everyone should be able to enjoy one of the best attractions the Quad Cities has to offer,'' says Ken Croken, vice president of corporate communications, Genesis Health System.  "Genesis Health System has one of the largest physical medicine and rehabilitation departments in Iowa and when we think in terms of the needs of our patients, this is a priority.''
The City of Davenport has contracted with McClure Engineering to design an accessible gondola, dedicated for use by two wheelchairs to enjoy a comfortable ride on the 105-foot Ferris wheel that opened in 2014 at Modern Woodmen Park.
"We at the River Bandits love to break new ground and set new and higher standards, and that's exactly what we are doing here," says River Bandits owner Dave Heller. "Together in partnership with Genesis Health System and the City of Davenport, we are setting a new standard for accessibility to a Ferris wheel nationally. People with disabilities in the Quad Cities will be able to access our Ferris wheel more easily and more comfortably than people anywhere in the nation. Working with our good friends at Genesis and the City of Davenport, we are all joining forces to bring the joys of baseball, amusement rides and memorable, family-friendly recreation and entertainment to everyone in the Quad Cities community."
The Ferris wheel is scheduled to re-open for 2015 in May.
UP NEXT: Save money and enjoy exclusive benefits as a ticket plan holder for the 2015 River Bandits season at Modern Woodmen Park. With a ticket plan of 12 to 70 games, receive free parking, merchandise discounts, guaranteed giveaways and more. Call 563-324-3000 to speak with a River Bandits account representative and lock in seats for the upcoming season.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership in 2014 made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 105 feet over the playing field, opened May 24, Space Camp opened June 20; the new Drop'N Twist debuted in July; and the newly expanded 300-foot long zip line also reopened.
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2014 was another strong year financially and fraternally for Rock Island-based Modern Woodmen of America. Life insurance in force grew by nearly $1 billion for the fourth straight year, and assets surpassed the $14 billion mark.  

"Modern Woodmen continues to demonstrate notable financial strength and stability, and our fraternal contributions remain an important part of our organization," said W. Kenny Massey, president and CEO of Modern Woodmen. "Our fraternal member benefits and programs have truly enriched the lives of our members, their families and their local communities, and I am proud to report that we contributed over $19 million in fraternal expenditures in 2014."  

Continued growth in life insurance in force  

Life insurance in force, the total amount of life insurance owned by members to protect their families in case of premature death, increased to over $37 billion.  

"Protection is key for the American family," said Massey. "Through the personalized, knowledgeable support of our financial representatives, members can gain the life insurance coverage they need to protect their loved ones."  

Assets exceed $14 billion  

Modern Woodmen's assets increased 5.5 percent over 2013, reaching over $14.1 billion. Assets are primarily invested in high-quality, low-risk corporate and government bonds.  

"Fiscal responsibility is essential to our continued success," said Massey. "It allows us to protect the promises made to our members nationwide. For that reason, it is our first obligation."  

Annuity assets under management equaled $8.1 billion.  

Total life insurance, annuity and other certificate reserves, which are funds held to guarantee future benefits to members, increased 5.6 percent to slightly over $11 billion.  

Strong operational results

Total premium income was $1.07 billion in 2014.

Compared to 2013, variable annuity certificate sales increased 17 percent, and variable annuity premiums increased by 28 percent.

Payments and benefits to members in 2014 increased 6.1 percent to $803.4 million. This includes death benefits, annuity payments and surrender benefits. An additional $14.8 million in dividend payments was refunded to life insurance and annuity certificates.

Net gain from operations after dividends was nearly $16.2 million with a total net income of $85.4 million.

Total surplus and special reserves were $1.48 billion in 2014. Surplus and special reserves provide additional safety for members and ensure Modern Woodmen's ability to meet unforeseen events, continue the organization's fraternal programs and provide funds for future growth. To protect and enhance the impact of these funds and strengthen the commitment to members, Modern Woodmen set aside additional reserves in 2014.

Modern Woodmen's solvency ratio of 111.69 percent means that for every $100 of liabilities (promises made to members), Modern Woodmen has $111.69 of assets to back up those promises.

Fraternal programs support communities nationwide

Modern Woodmen has a nationwide membership of nearly 770,000. Fraternal expenditures supporting Modern Woodmen's family-oriented member benefits and programs totaled over $19 million. These benefits and programs include disaster relief assistance, college scholarships, social and volunteer service programs by adult chapters and youth service clubs nationwide, and educational programs for schools and youth groups.

Key fraternal results included: 

- More than 1.5 million people attended social, educational and volunteer events sponsored by Modern Woodmen chapters.

- 173,205 hours of volunteer service were recorded by youth service club members and 263,548 hours of volunteer service were reported by adult chapter members.

- 2.3 million children were educated through free Modern Woodmen youth educational programs. 

- $10.8 million was contributed through Modern Woodmen's Matching Fund Program. The Matching Fund Program meets needs in member communities across the country. The fundraising projects, matched by Modern Woodmen, were conducted by the organization's 2,717 adult chapters, 263 Summit chapters (for members age 55 and older) and 790 youth service clubs.

Modern Woodmen of America is a member-owned fraternal financial services organization. Since 1883, the organization has brought people together, supported families and strengthened communities nationwide. Modern Woodmen - touching lives, securing futures.

Securities offered through MWA Financial Services Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Modern Woodmen of America

Subject to change, fraternal benefits are not part of the contract and may have specific eligibility requirements.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE QCSO!
The Quad City Symphony Orchestra has been named 2015 Professional Orchestra of the Yearby the Illinois Council of Orchestras in recognition of its exemplary achievements.  The award will be presented on Sunday, April 12, at Centennial Hall, Rock Island, during the Masterworks VI: Peace and Brotherhood - Ode to Joy performance.

Did you attend Masterworks V: The American Tapestry featuring Joel Fan, the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, and Mark Russell Smith, Music Director and Conductor?  

Your opinion is very important to us, and we hope you will take a few minutes to complete our survey.  Your valuable input will be used to enhance our future concerts.

Click here to take our survey

Fear & Close-mindedness Are Arguably The Real Tragedy Of Death, Says Franciscan Renaissance Man

There are those who just know how they'll react if and when they have to confront their own mortality. They will freely admit that they'll be petrified, and others are confident that they won't be scared at all.

"Perhaps they're right, or perhaps they're projecting how they think they're supposed to feel; in my case, neither fear nor bravery were the dominant notes, but rather one of spiritual and intellectual curiosity and edification," says Ron Walter, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, successful businessman and advocate of ecumenical Franciscan spirituality.

"I recently  had to face my own mortality once again as I dealt with effects of multiple myeloma and ensuing chemotherapy treatment. The encounter led me to a spiritual trek through philosophy, theology and science. In our evolutionary world, I suggest a view of death for we humans as yet another transition into a new form of being."

How does someone become so circumspect when facing death? Walter, author of "Theory of Everything: Franciscan Faith and Reason," (RonaldWalter.com), offers guidance.

•  Allow your spiritual intuitions to unfold. Most people have some kind of belief system on spiritual matters, which may remain untested for years and even decades. Whether you're a devout Catholic, Orthodox Jew, secular Buddhist or one of the growing numbers of "spiritual but not religious," facing death forces a renewed and often harsh look at one's true beliefs. As fallible as the mind can be, it is often attuned to signals emergent from deeper truth when faced with significant circumstances. Do not ignore those signals.

•  Appearances are often misleading. Are reason and faith at odds? How do we really know what will happen to us in death? We might find a clue in death as many of the faithful have in life. Many see the universe entailing a nearly infinite sequence of random events, leading to phenomena such as life on Earth. Most others, however, see a rhyme and reason beyond apparent chaos. Likewise, the apparent silence of death may be just that - apparent. For the spirit experiencing death, a new and unfathomable life may be emerging.

•  Obsessed with one religion, denomination or knowledge base? Death's proposition may have you looking elsewhere. "I find Franciscan theology and spirituality as well positioned to integrate other fields of knowledge and spirituality," Walter says. "While others prefer specific spiritual traditions, I hope they are not blind to the possibilities posed by other traditions. I believe every religion possesses only a  glimpse of God, and disciplines such as science and philosophy capture some of God's content and significance."

"When we hear 'death,' we're conditioned to tremble within," Walter says. "But when we see it for its deeper truth - involving the transformation of body, mind and spirit, recognizing the interchangeability of matter and energy - I think most of us can come away from the inevitable with greater equanimity."

About Ron Walter

Ron Walter (RonaldWalter.com) is an author, commentator and guest speaker with expertise in human spirituality, business management and military leadership. A retired corporate executive with more than 20 years active military service, Colonel Walter currently serves on Boards of Directors for the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Vesuvius Press Inc. in Phoenix. He is a Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM). "Theory of Everything: Franciscan Faith and Reason," recounts Walter's spiritual awakening following chemotherapy in the winter of 2012/2013. It explores the natures of God, humanity and the cosmos from the perspectives of noted philosophers, theologians and scientists. A major conclusion of the book is that finite beings emerge within Trinitarian relations of divine Love.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Women across Illinois may soon have assurance that preventative screenings will be covered in their insurance plans under legislation offered by state Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, which advances in committee today.
"Research has consistently shown that early detection is the key to treating breast cancer," Smiddy said. "The opportunity to detect and fight breast cancer in its early stages should be available to every woman in Illinois."
House Bill 3673 requires that every insurance plan in Illinois include preventative breast cancer screening for women 35 years and older. The bill mandates that the screening centers be certified by the American college of Radiology. For his work attempting to expand breast cancer screening, Smiddy was honored by the Metropolitan Breast Cancer Task Force as the Legislator of the Year earlier this month.
"As a husband to a breast cancer survivor, I know that screenings can save lives and early detection can cut some of the high costs of invasive treatments at later stages of cancer," Smiddy said. "I'm honored to be recognized by the Task Force, and I'll continue to work to expand healthcare for Illinoisans and help allow everyone to get the preventative medicine they deserve."
House Bill 3673 passed the House Human Services committee on March 25.
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Governor Bruce Rauner issued the following statement:  

"I want to thank President Cullerton, Speaker Madigan, Leader Radogno and Leader Durkin for their leadership in fixing this year's fiscal crisis. With their help, a bipartisan group of legislators sent a strong message that the culture in Springfield is changing for the better.  

As promised, we are eliminating a $1.6 billion deficit without borrowing or increasing taxes on hard-working Illinois families. By choosing to make difficult decisions on a bipartisan basis, the General Assembly is helping set a new tone for what can be achieved in Springfield. 

 

While today's action is an important start, many more tough votes and challenging decisions must be made in the weeks ahead to complete the first steps of an Illinois turnaround. I look forward to continuing to partner with the legislature to enact policies that will create more jobs, increase local control and deliver value for taxpayers."

 

Governor Rauner plans to sign the legislation as soon as possible.   

 

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Nova Singers, the region's premier professional vocal ensemble, is currently scheduling auditions for the 2015-16 season.

Singers with extensive choral experience and vocal training are invited to audition. Interested individuals may contact Nova Singers' founder and music director, Dr. Laura Lane, at 309-341-7229 or llane@knox.edu for more information or to schedule an audition.

The award winning Nova Singers have remained committed to the highest artistic standards since their founding in 1986. The ensemble has performed throughout the Midwest, as well as at state, regional, and national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association.

Each year Nova presents an eight-concert season of outstanding choral music in Galesburg and the Quad Cities. Nova Singers has also released eight professional recordings.

  

 

Sincerely,

Nova Singers

P.O. Box 1302

Galesburg, IL 61402

nova@knox.edu

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