IOWA/WESTERN ILLINOIS - Earlier this year, MRA - The Management Association, Inc., asked Iowa and western Illinois residents to nominate businesses in their areas for two community involvement awards. "The response was amazing," said Heather Roberts, Executive Director of the Iowa/Illinois Division of MRA. "As a result of the public nomination process, we are recognizing a total of 15 finalists for the Business Community Award and two Regional Impact Awards."

MRA, a Midwest-based employers association, will host a ceremony recognizing the finalists and the award winners. The public is invited to the 2014 Business Appreciation & Awards Reception, to be held 5 p.m. Monday, October 27, 2014, at the iWireless Center, Moline, Illinois. The theme of the event will be Celebrating Our Past, Growing Our Future. 

The event will start with gourmet appetizers, cocktails, and music provided by Ellis Kell and the Friends of the River Music Experience. At 6:30 p.m., keynote speaker Jim Edgar, former Governor of Illinois, will share his vision on exploring future opportunities in the Midwest. Master of ceremonies Kai Swanson will begin the awards presentation at 7 p.m. Admission is $75 per person, $550 for groups of eight. Dress will be business attire. To register for the awards reception, call 888-516-6357 or email awards@mranet.org

15 Finalists
In the Business Community Award category, five finalists have been chosen. The Regional Impact Awards category has 10 finalists - five For-Profit companies and five Not-For-Profit. 

For the MRA Business Community Award, the finalists are (in alphabetical order):

Arndt Chiropractic Center, Inc.
Bush Construction
DHCU Community Credit Union
Modern Woodmen of America
Royal Neighbors of America

For the MRA Regional Impact Award, the finalists are (in alphabetical order):

For-Profit Finalists:
Alcoa-North American Rolled Products
Group O
KJWW Engineering Consultants
Missman, Inc.
Tennant Truck Lines

Not-For-Profit Finalists:
Ascentra Credit Union
Career Cruising Quad Cities
Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Quad City Botanical Center
Renew Moline

"The finalists are all companies that have touched people's lives and shown support for the community," Roberts said. "Based on the many responses we received, we determined that the Regional Impact category would be better served if we separated it into For-Profit and Not-for-Profit finalists. Anyone interested in entrepreneurship, business growth, networking and leadership will want to attend this inaugural event."

The MRA Business Community Award recognizes a business that has created an impact in the Iowa/Illinois region in three or more of the following areas:
- Has shown significant growth over the past five years and has increased employment.
- Recognized in the community for its 'give back' attitude.
- Has benefited the community by its presence.
- Participates in a variety of volunteer roles within the community.
- Known for outstanding customer service.
- Supports charities that benefit Iowa/Illinois area communities.

The MRA Regional Impact Award recognizes an organization that has created an impact in the Iowa/Illinois area in three or more of the following ways:

- Provides or has influence on the growth of jobs in Iowa/Illinois area communities.
- Recognized as a leader within its industry or service area.
- Recognized outside the Iowa/Illinois area for products, services, and/or changes.
- Provides a positive influence in the Iowa/Illinois area regarding transportation, environment, education, quality of life, and other community issues.
- Has shown commitment to the Iowa/Illinois area through new construction, redevelopment, or expansion.

At the event, MRA will present Visionary Awards to their charter members, who created the association in 1948. MRA will also honor the retirement of employee Debra Carlson after 19 years of dedicated service.

Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, MRA is one of the largest not-for-profit employers associations in the nation. Organizations join MRA as corporate members for the latest information, resources and guidance on recruiting, compensation, benefits, compliance and talent management. Members are supported with a 24/7 HR Hotline and InfoNow e-mail, access to crucial survey data, and HR, management and leadership training. To find out more about MRA, call 888-516-6357 or visit www.mranet.org.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today unveiled a new website documenting his record of legislative achievements and work on behalf of Iowans over a 40-year Congressional career. Since the day he entered Congress in 1975, Harkin has worked tirelessly to create a ladder of opportunity for Iowans, Americans, and millions more around the world.

Harkin has led the passage of some of the landmark laws of the past quarter-century. He has transformed the landscape for people with disabilities and created farm and renewable energy policy to ensure Iowa has one of the most vibrant economies and highest quality of life in the country. With the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, Harkin's leadership has made, for the first time, keeping Americans healthy and preventing illness a key part of the health care system.

The new website also looks at Harkin's 27 years of outstanding bipartisan leadership as Chairman of three Senate committees. As chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee, Harkin has overseen the spending priorities for half of all non-security discretionary spending. His leadership has advanced issues from innovative scientific and medical research, to job training and early childhood education. As Chairman of the Agriculture Committee, he led two farm bills to enactment - each with overwhelming bipartisan votes. Similarly, the website documents the Harkin record as chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, passing 18 bills into law in the current Congress. Harkin's HELP Committee has been the most productive Senate committee during the least productive Congress in 60 years.

Harkin's many priorities over his career are united by the common goal of helping to make our country, and the world, more fair and just, and to ensure that every American has the chance to reach his or her potential. His work has ranged from distinctive achievements in the realm of international human rights, to the creation of new economic opportunities for Iowans. Harkin's leadership ensures that Iowa's workforce is healthy and well-educated, that quality infrastructure promotes a high quality of life, and that businesses and farmers have the infrastructure necessary to move their products quickly, safely, and affordably to markets.

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MOLINE, Ill. (October 8, 2014) - The Quad City Mallards will open their 2014 training camp tomorrow with a double session at the i wireless Center, the Mallards announced today.

The Mallards will begin preparations for their inaugural ECHL season when they take the ice tomorrow morning from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.  Coach Terry Ruskowski's club will return to the ice tomorrow afternoon from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.  Tomorrow is only time during camp the Mallards will practice twice in one day.

After tomorrow, camp will shift to the River's Edge in Davenport.  The Mallards will practice at the River's Edge each day beginning this Friday and continuing through next Wednesday, October 15.  The team will hit the ice from 9:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. this Friday morning; from 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. this Saturday; and from 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.  The Mallards will be on the ice from 9:00 a.m. to 10:45 next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  The schedule for the first seven days of camp is also detailed below.

All training camp sessions are open to the public free of charge.  The i wireless Center is located at 1201 River Drive in Moline, while the River's Edge is located at 700 West River Drive in Davenport.

The Mallards will play their 2014-15 home opener against the Rapid City Rush on Friday October 24 at 7:05 p.m.

Season tickets for the coming campaign are still available.  Ticket packages are available to meet almost any budget.  A limited edition season ticket holder Mallard jersey, 12 additional ticket vouchers per seat and free parking are among a host of exclusive benefits available to season ticket holders.  For more ticket information fans can call the Mallards' business office at 309-277-1364.

About the Quad City Mallards
A proud affiliate of the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild and the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild, the Quad City Mallards are approaching their eighteenth season and their first in the ECHL.  One of the winningest teams in all of minor league hockey, the Mallards competed in the United Hockey League from 1995 through 2007; in the International Hockey League in 2009-10; and in the Central Hockey League from 2010 through 2014.  The Mallards' proud history has seen them capture the UHL's Colonial Cup Championship three times (1997, 1998, 2001) and secure that league's Tarry Cup four times (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002) for the best overall regular season record.  In 2001, the Mallards made professional hockey history, recording their sixth consecutive season with 50 or more wins, a feat that has yet to be matched.  The iWireless Center provides a unique environment for hockey and features one-of-a-kind seating areas such as the Nest for groups and functions and the exclusive Drake Club.  For more information on the Quad City Mallards or for Mallards tickets go to www.myqcmallards.com.  Fans can also follow the Mallards via Twitter at twitter.com/myqcmallards and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/quadcitymallards.

Quad City Mallards 2014 Training Camp
Schedule: October 9-15

Date

Time

Site

Thursday, October 9

9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

3:00 to 4:00 p.m.

i wireless Center

Friday, October 10

9:00 to 10:45 a.m.

River's Edge

Saturday, October 11

10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

River's Edge

Sunday, October 12

11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

River's Edge

Monday, October 13

9:00 to 10:45 a.m.

River's Edge

Tuesday, October 14

9:00 to 10:45 a.m.

River's Edge

Wednesday, October 15

9:00 to 10:45 a.m.

River's Edge

 

Visit every floor, peek into closed rooms, and satisfy curiosity through this all-access pass to the Brucemore mansion during the Nooks and Crannies Tours offered October 23 and 30 at 5:30 p.m. Marvel at the Skinner player pipe organ room, discover the architectural oddities in the attic, and experience the sight and sound of a "rain storm" in the basement Tahitian Room. Examine the superior craftsmanship and learn about ongoing preservation work. The tour is not recommended for children under ten or individuals who have difficulty walking or climbing stairs. Admission is $15 per person and $12 per Brucemore member. Space is limited; purchase tickets online at www.brucemore.org or by calling (319) 362-7375.

The Nooks and Crannies Tour is part of Brucemore's Thursday Night Lineup. Every Thursday night Brucemore will feature a different specialty tour focusing on topics for all interests, including arts and culture, Midwestern industry, gardening, landscape design, architecture, preservation, behind-the-scenes at Brucemore, and growing up in the early twentieth century. For more information on the Thursday Night Lineup or other upcoming tours, visit www.brucemore.org or call (319) 362-7375.

About Brucemore

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

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DES MOINES, Iowa (October 7, 2014) - Sienna Klauer of Davenport was conferred a [DEGREE] during the summer commencement ceremony by Mercy College of Health Sciences, 928 6th Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa at Hy-Vee Hall in the Iowa Events Center on August 15, 2014.

To learn more about the health science programs offered at Mercy College visit our website at www.mchs.edu. Mercy College is the only Catholic college in Central Iowa and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

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CHICAGO - The ECHL announced on Tuesday that the League's Board of Governors has approved the Membership applications of the Quad City Mallards as well as the Allen Americans, Brampton Beast, Missouri Mavericks, Rapid City Rush, Tulsa Oilers and Wichita Thunder for admission to the ECHL.

The seven expansion teams will begin play in the ECHL this season, giving the League 28 teams in 20 states and one Canadian province for its 27th season of operation, which begins on Friday, Oct. 17 and runs through Saturday, April 11.

The applicants were approved at a special meeting of the ECHL Board of Governors in Chicago on Tuesday.

"The ECHL is very pleased to welcome these new Members to the League," said ECHL Commissioner Brian McKenna. "These additions strengthen our base in the center of the country and give the ECHL, for the first time, a true national presence. It expands our ability to act as a development league and more closely aligns our number of teams with both the American Hockey League and the National Hockey League.

"There will be logistical challenges in the short term, however, in the long term, it is certainly in the best interest of the ECHL, the new Members and minor-league hockey in general," McKenna added.

Updates to the 2014-15 ECHL playing schedule, divisional alignment and the format for the 2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs will be released at a later date.

DAVENPORT, IA (October 7, 2014) - All Quad Cities neighbors and friends are welcome to attend a presentation on Medicare Part D - Open Enrollment at Senior Star at Elmore Place at 1 p.m. on October 16 at 4500 Elmore Avenue in Davenport.

The presentation will be made by a Walgreens' pharmacist who will discuss prescription plan coverage options, preferred pharmacy networks and working with your pharmacist as a Medicare Part D information resource.  Time for questions and answers will be available.

All attendees eligible for Medicare Part D - Open Enrollment will receive a special discount day at the Duck Creek Walgreens in Bettendorf.  Attendees will be given a coupon they can redeem on the day of their choice.  Offer expires on November 30, 2014.

Please RSVP no later than October 15 by calling 563.484.5114.

For more information about Senior Star at Elmore Place or to schedule a tour, please call 563.484.5114, or visit the website at www.seniorstar.com.

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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Veterans Affairs hospital officials in Shreveport, La., used bayou magic to conjure up additional linens, stocking their cabinets last weekend after a Watchdog.org investigation exposed the fact that patients were doing without sheets, pajamas and towels.

Three employees at the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center told Watchdog.org that linens were plentiful at the 10-story facility beginning Friday morning, a day after Watchdog's story was published.

This is in stark contrast to the norm, where linen cupboards are bare on weekends while the hospital awaits its regular Tuesday laundry delivery truck, which travels 125 miles, employees said.

"I was just shocked that this happened so fast.. I believed something would change when the story came out, I just didn't think it would happen so soon," one employee said. "It's amazing to open a door and see linen stacked there. Even after the truck comes, it's stocked more than that."

The employees asked to remain anonymous because they feared retaliation at work.

"The head of the linen department was up there checking to make sure they had enough," another employee said. "He was saying, 'We are going to look into getting you fitted bed sheets. We want to make sure you have everything.'"

A third employee offered: "I was surprised to see a cart going down the hall with linen. You never see that this late in the week."

Overton Brooks' linen supply  apparently also is a hot topic at the Department of Veterans Affairs as investigators from its Office of Inspector General showed up Sept. 25 after receiving a call from Watchdog.org requesting comment.

"This is ongoing and we have no comment at this time," said VAOIG spokesperson Cathy Gromek in an email response to Watchdog.org. "This is being worked by our office of Healthcare Inspections."

Employees said the sheets, blankets, towels and pajamas didn't look new, so it's a mystery where they came from.

On Friday, the American Legion blasted the hospital, saying it was angered over poor treatment of veterans and vowed to deliver linens and toiletries, which are also in short supply. The supplies are scheduled to be turned over Tuesday.

"That supply didn't come from us," said William Detweiler, American Legion's past national commander.

Hospital officials say the linen supply has not increased.

"There isn't additional linen," said Tina Taylor Jackson, executive assistant to Overton Brooks' director. "That is not a true statement."

Added VA spokesperson Jessica Jacobsen: "Overton Brooks VAMC has required in circulation inventory based on the needs of the facility."

The fact that linen is scare is nothing new, one of the employees said.

"This has been going on for years and years," the employee said. "They've had meetings where this was brought up and basically they didn't do anything about it. All they would say is, 'This is how it's always been.'"

The Rock Island Elks Club provided dictionaries to Jordan Catholic School third grade students recently.

The dictionaries were presented and distributed this afternoon, October 7, 2014.

IN-STORE QCCVB SALE

 These new Zooviners will make an extra-special treat this Halloween for your little trick-or-treater. The cute, plush animals are dressed in a Quad Cities t-shirt that lists the five main cities. You can also pick up a matching t-shirt in children's sizes. Choose from a plush bear, eagle, cow, or pig. Print this email with the coupon at the bottom to bring in for 20% OFF your Zoovenir purchase through Oct. 31.
A local Quad Citian decided to create her own salsa after not finding one that captured what she wanted. After starting to can her own salsa in 1998, Jodi got so many requests she decided to bottle her own salsa and calls it Jodi's Top Shelf Salsa. It can also be found a supermarkets throughout Iowa and Illinois.  During the month of October, receive 20% OFF at www.quadcitiesgifts.com with the code FALL14. You can also print this email for the coupon at the bottom to receive 20% OFF an in-store purchase of Jodi's Top Shelf Salsa through Oct. 31.
STORE LOCATIONS
Quad Cities Gifts                      Union Station Visitor Center
1601 River Dr., Suite 110        102 S. Harrison St.
Downtown Moline, IL               Davenport, IA
Hours: 8:30 am-5 pm M-F      Hours: 10 am-4 pm M-Sat.

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