Iowa viewed as national model for other states to follow

(DES MOINES) - Today, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds was joined by STEMconnector CEO Edie Fraser, Drake University Athletic Director Sandy Hatfield-Clubb, Iowa Association of Business and Industry President Mike Ralston, and Jana Rieker, Bankers Trust Vice President of Sales and Marketing, at a news conference in the Iowa Statehouse Rotunda.

Reynolds announced a national public-private model on ways to engage thousands of mentors for young girls and women to actively pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education and careers.

The first statewide model of its kind, Million Women Mentors (MWM)-Iowa, targets 5,000 female and male mentors from all 99 counties in the next four years.

"Launching MWM-Iowa is another component of our statewide-strategy to attract individuals to STEM careers. In particular, I believe mentors can guide, encourage, and open doors for girls and young women to be fully equipped for the great jobs of tomorrow in STEM-related careers."

In the United States, STEM is a driving force behind economic growth, stability and educational success.  That's why, we're creating an environment in Iowa that prepares all of our students with the necessary skills to compete in a global knowledge-based economy," stated Reynolds.

Additional announcements made by Lt. Governor Reynolds at the news conference included: naming Ralston and Rieker as MWM-Iowa co-chairs.  She also recognized 12 other individuals as members of the MWM-Iowa Executive Council. 

Rieker emphasized the quality opportunities that await Iowa girls and young women in STEM fields.  "In the past 10 years, growth in STEM jobs has been three times greater than non-STEM jobs.  Also, women with STEM jobs earn 33 percent more than females in non-STEM jobs.

"We know 80 percent of the fastest growing occupations in the United States depend upon mastery of mathematics and scientific knowledge and skills.  Being able to secure 5,000 female and male mentors in Iowa to urge young girls and women to consider STEM fields is a huge step forward in increasing awareness and generating excitement," said Rieker

Co-Chair Mike Ralston agreed. "It's a tribute to Iowa on how many major companies stepped up to pledge mentors in the past 30 days.  We have 13 companies that pledged more than 1,200 mentors together, so we're already well on our way toward our goal of 5,000."

The following companies have made a pledge to MWM-Iowa:  Leading the charge is Hy-Vee with a commitment of 500 employees, as well as commitments from Bankers Trust; EMC; Iowa Association of Business and Industry; Meredith Corporation; Principal Corporation; Pella Corporation; Vermeer Manufacturing; and a tremendous commitment from Iowa's colleges and universities including, Des Moines Area Community College, Drake University, Iowa State University, University of Iowa and University of Northern Iowa," concluded Ralston.

STEMconnector CEO Edie Fraser, who spearheads the national MWM effort in collaboration with more than 22 sponsors and 56 partners, pointed out that Iowa has been at the forefront of increasing awareness and accessibility of STEM.

"We were extremely pleased to receive Iowa's pledge of 5,000 mentors for the MWM national initiative. The MWM-Iowa model will be a great example for other states to emulate in attracting male and female STEM mentors," said Fraser.

In addition to announcing the MWM-Iowa effort, MWM-Iowa Co-Chairs and Executive Council members, the inaugural "Coaches' Mentoring Challenge" for women was unveiled.  The Challenge is designed for basketball coaches across Iowa to collaborate in recruiting mentors for females interested in STEM.  Coaches will reach out to their university, college, or high school campus networks, including their fan base and media in their local communities.

Hatfield-Clubb enthusiastically shared that Iowa State University, University of Iowa, and University of Northern Iowa will be joining Drake University in the Coaches' Mentoring Challenge for women.  In addition, Drake University has pledged 100 mentors to the MWM-Iowa initiative over the next four years.

"Today, I am pleased to share that the first-ever Coaches' Mentoring Challenge for women in Iowa is being launched to recruit mentors for girls and women interested in STEM.  Drake University Women's Basketball Coach Jennie Baranczyk has been named as the official spokesperson of the Coaches' Mentoring Challenge" said Hatfield-Clubb.

She went on to say, "Coach Baranczyk will make a personal invitation to all university, college, and high school coaches across the state to join her and her colleagues in this important state-wide initiative."

The effort officially "tips off" with the start of the NCAA Division I women's basketball season in November.

For more information about the MWM-Iowa effort, MWM-Iowa Executive Council members, MWM-Iowa company and/or organization mentor pledges or the inaugural female Coaches Challenge, please visit www.mwmia.org.

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About Million Women Mentors (MWM)-Iowa. Million Women Mentors (MWM-IA) brings together leaders in business, government, and education to engage girls and young women to understand, develop interest and gain confidence so they can pursue and succeed in STEM courses, degrees, and careers.  Created as part of the national Million Women Mentors movement in 2014, the MWM-Iowa initiative seeks to register 5,000 women (and men) in all 99 counties by 2018 to serve as mentors to achieve these three goals:  Increase the percentage of high school girls planning to pursue STEM careers; increase the percentage of young women pursuing undergraduate degrees in STEM fields; and increase the percentage of women staying in STEM careers.

About Million Women Mentors (National). MWM is an engagement campaign and national call to action that mobilizes corporations, government entities, non-profit and higher education groups, around the imperative of mentoring girls and young women in STEM fields. Since MWM's launch in January 2014, nearly 171,400 pledges have been made to mentor girls and young women in STEM skills.  The web portal is www.millionwomenmentors.org.  Available online is a nationwide call to action to capture pledge commitments from individuals, organizations and companies that have an interest in mentoring.

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Moline, IL  September 29, 2014 -Western Illinois University - Quad Cities (WIU-QC) 3300 River Drive, Moline is the site of the newest green roof in the Quad Cities area.

In addition to providing many environmental benefits, the green roof will give building occupants a gorgeous view. It features a unique sedum base mixture with a variety of accent plants to add seasonal blooms and interest.  The green roof uses the LiveRoof® Hybrid Standard System with 4.25 inches of soil and totals 9,720 square feet.  The pre-vegetated modules were grown by Roof Top Sedums at their location in Davenport, Iowa and then shipped to the building site and installed by LiveRoof® Certified Installer Heritage Landscape Design, Inc.

Like Building One on the WIU-QC Riverfront campus, Phase II buildings are sustainably constructed and operated.  Green amenities include geothermal heating and cooling, emphasis on the use of daylight, native landscaping, green roof treatments, and an emphasis on energy efficiency.  WIU-QC will pursue LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification, which builds on the LEED Silver certification received for Phase 1.

Bill Brewer, WIU Assistant Director of the Physical Plant says, "The green roof system not only assists us in acquiring LEED accreditation for this project, it serves as an ongoing demonstration to our students studying environmental sciences of the importance of storm water management and its effect on our waterways.   We are even planning on coupling an educational kiosk with one of the visible locations of the vegetative roof installation.  Lastly, the green roofs fit very well with the natural beauty of the site and surrounding landscape."

Roxanne Nagel, co-owner of Roof Top Sedums says, "The campus buildings are situated near the Mississippi River and the green roof will act as a sponge to capture and filter the rainwater.  The green roof will help reduce and slow down the storm water runoff from the site.  We are excited to see the sustainable efforts by WIU as well as having another great example of a green roof in the Quad City area."

To learn more about the LiveRoof® Hybrid Green Roof System, visit our website at www.liveroof.com or members of the press may schedule an appointment by calling or emailing Natalie Linville-Mass at (309) 786-5142 or Natalie@medialinkinc.com.

About Western Illinois University: Located along the banks of the historic Mississippi river in Moline Illinois; Western Illinois University- Quad Cities offers commitment to traditional core values and expansive teaching opportunities. Western Illinois University- Quad Cities continues to grow and expand; offering facilities and academics focusing on critical thinking, engaged learning, research, and creativity. In 2003, a donation from Deere & Company of 20 acres of land on the Moline riverfront provided the stimulus for an expanded WIU- Quad Cities. In the spring of 2010 the university began Phase I of a well anticipated renovation and expansion to the 60,000-square-foot building, formerly housing the John Deere Tech Center. On September 3^rd of this year, Western Illinois formally celebrated the completion of Phase II.  The 94,800 square foot complex now houses academic programs in the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Education, Human Services, Fine Arts and Communication, as well as the US Bank Writing Center, a testing center, academic advising and student services.  In addition, Western Illinois has transferred and now houses programs and services from the current WIU 60th Street campus; including the library and classes offered through the Quad Cities Graduate Study Center.

20th Anniversary of President Clinton's call for their "eventual elimination"

Press Release - For Immediate Release

(Washington DC, September 23, 2014) Today's announcement by the United States that it will not use antipersonnel landmines anywhere in the world except on the Korean Peninsula is a positive step, but the geographic exception must be overcome if the US is to ever join the Mine Ban Treaty, said the US Campaign to Ban Landmines.

The US policy announced September 23 commits the United States to not use antipersonnel landmines outside of the Korean Peninsula and commits it to destroy antipersonnel mine stockpiles "not required for the defense of the Republic of Korea." This affirms the de facto US policy against any antipersonnel mine use that has existed since 1991. Yet these indiscriminate weapons pose a danger to civilians no matter where they are used and further use of antipersonnel mines on the Korean Peninsula cannot be justified under any circumstances.

During the 1997 negotiation of the Mine Ban Treaty, the US tried to get a geographic exception for Korea, but was strongly rebuffed by its closest military allies, which concluded that the humanitarian dangers of such mines outweighed any military utility and that permitting one geographic exception would encourage other nations to seek similar exemptions from the ban treaty.

Today's policy announcement also committed the US to not assist, encourage, or induce other nations to use, stockpile, produce or transfer antipersonnel mines outside of Korea. The White House announcement notes that all NATO member states except the US are now party to the Mine Ban Treaty. A total of 162 nations are party to the treaty, which prohibits antipersonnel landmines, requires the destruction of stockpiled mines, and requires clearance of contaminated land and assistance to victims.

Today's White House announcement was made on the eve of the 20-year anniversary of President Clinton's 1994 speech to the United Nations General Assembly when he became the first world leader to call for the "eventual elimination" of antipersonnel landmines.

Previously, on June 27 at the Third Review Conference of the Mine Ban Treaty in Maputo, Mozambique, the US announced an immediate ban on the production and acquisition of antipersonnel mines, but did not address use of the weapons. In both policy announcements, the US has confirmed it is "diligently pursuing ... solutions that would be compliant" with the Mine Ban Treaty and "that would ultimately allow us to accede" to it.

The US Campaign to Ban Landmines has repeatedly urged that the outcome of the policy review initiated in 2009 be a decision to join the Mine Ban Treaty as soon as possible, to immediately prohibit the use of antipersonnel mines, and to begin destruction of all stocks of antipersonnel mines. The US Campaign to Ban Landmines reiterated this call in a September 12 letter to President Obama.

According to US officials, the policy announced today does not represent the final outcome of the landmine policy review initiated by the Obama administration in 2009, but is an interim announcement. The US Department of Defense is currently conducting a detailed study into alternatives to self-destructing antipersonnel mines and the impact of no further use of the weapon on the Korean Peninsula.

The US has a stockpile of about 3 million antipersonnel mines.

The United States Campaign to Ban Landmines is a coalition of more than 400 non-governmental organizations. It is the US affiliate of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, co-laureate with former ICBL Coordinator Jody Williams of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize.

According to the White House announcement, the new policy will "bring U.S. practice in closer alignment with a global humanitarian movement that has had a demonstrated positive impact in reducing civilian casualties" from antipersonnel landmines.

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For more information, see:

• US Campaign to Ban Landmines letter to President Obama, September 12, 2014: http://www.uscbl.org/fileadmin/content/images/Letters/USCBL_Letter_to_Obama_12Sep2014.pdf