As Billionaire Bruce Rauner's tax avoidance schemes come to light, middle class families will know he's a candidate they can't trust

Chicago, IL - Today Illinois Freedom PAC released a new television commercial  highlighting billionaire Bruce Rauner's exploitation of the tax code, which ultimately places a higher burden on Illinois' working families.

The 30-second spot underscores the shocking fact that the Republican gubernatorial candidate used loopholes now under scrutiny by the IRS to slash his tax obligation, despite earning $53 million in 2012.

The ad points out that Rauner not only used a loophole to avoid contributing a single penny to Social Security and Medicare for two straight years, in 2010 and 2011, he now says he's open to taxing retirement income including Social Security. Other schemes employed by Rauner lowered his tax rate to below that of what millions of middle class families pay.

"As Bruce Rauner's tax avoidance schemes come further to light, middle class families will know he's a candidate they can't trust," says Neal Waltmire, Communications Director for Illinois Freedom PAC, regarding the ad's anticipated impact.  "Billionaire Bruce Rauner may believe it's okay for him to play by a different set of rules, but hard-working Illinoisans are sure to disagree."

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Watch the commercial on Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?

DES MOINES, IA - An additional 650 volunteers are needed for the AAU Junior Olympic Games, July 22 - August 2 in Greater Des Moines. Areas of need include event assistance, awards assistance and registration. Shifts are available for sign-up in four to six hour increments at catchdesmoines.com/aaujo.

The 2014 AAU Junior Olympic Games will include nearly 14,000 athletes and 40,000 total visitors in Central Iowa. Athletes range from ages 3 to 22 competing in 20 sports at five Greater Des Moines facilities?including the Iowa Events Center and Drake Stadium. The Games are expected to generate $47 million in economic impact for Greater Des Moines. Des Moines hosted the Games previously in 1995, 2004 and 2009.

"It takes our community's support to make major events like this happen," says Katie Fencl, Director of Sports for the Des Moines Area Sports Commission, a division of the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau. "These athletes have worked hard to qualify on the road to Des Moines. Now it's our community's chance to embrace and support them in our city."

"For a small time investment, volunteers will experience the hard work and dedication of these amazing young athletes," says Suzie Glazer Burt, Honorary Chair of the 2014 AAU Junior Olympic Games. "You'll not only see teamwork, athleticism and sportsmanship?but by volunteering, you'll make a positive impact on the lives and experience of the thousands of youth competing in Des Moines."

Signature Sponsors of the 2014 AAU Junior Olympic Games include Principal Financial Group, UnityPoint Health - Des Moines, Wells Fargo and Co. and Markey's Rental and Staging. Champion Sponsors include MidAmerican Energy, Nationwide Insurance, Prairie Meadows, West Bank, Greater Des Moines Partnership, Alliance Technologies, Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company and Adventureland Park. Supporting Sponsors include American Fence Company, Classic Tents, ColorFX, Copy Systems, Electronic Engineering, Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau, Knapp Properties, NB Golf Cars, Scheel's, Sigler, Suzie Glazer Burt Foundation, Vital Signs and Reynolds and Reynolds.

About the Amateur Athletic Union

Founded in 1888, the Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest multi-sport, not-for-profit, volunteer organizations in the United States. It is dedicated to the development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs for youth and adults. The AAU Junior Olympic Games are the largest national multi-sport event for amateur youth conducted in the United States.

The Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote Greater Des Moines as a fun, vibrant and affordable destination statewide, nationally and internationally. Our focus increases visitors to our community through meetings, conventions, sports events, leisure travel, and group tours, thereby contributing to the local economy.

5 'P's" for Your Social Media Marketing Success
By: Jeremy Juhasz

Small businesses and nonprofits face a different set of circumstances when it comes to social media marketing than their larger for-profit counterparts, namely, smaller budgets, fewer employees and a greater priority on traditional forms of marketing.

For those charged with marketing, the biggest first step toward making social media an integral component of the plan may be convincing your organization. Despite widespread use of social networks for personal connections, the leadership of smaller organizations often questions its effectiveness as a marketing tool and whether they'll see a return on their investment.

I've developed and implemented social media strategies for a variety of organizations -- for-profits, nonprofits, and individuals. For all of them, I've discovered, when it comes to social media, it's important to remember the 5 P's:

1.) Plan - Identify what you hope to accomplish and create a strategy to take you there. Too many nonprofits and small businesses dive into social media because they "have" to and don't consider a plan of action before they do so. Make a list of what you want to accomplish. Is it to gain more donors? Get a higher attendance at your annual fundraiser? Increase sales?

Make it a priority to identify goals so you can create the social media strategies for meeting them.

2.) Patience - Nothing happens overnight. It takes time to develop relationships and establish credibility with your brand and your target audience. Over time, events and a steady pace will win out. Rushing leads to mistakes.

The type of patience I'm referring to is a long-term mindset. When day-to-day activities seem arduous and, at times, unfulfilling, know that each day builds to the greater goal. March on.

3.) Persistence - You must be stubbornly committed to your goals and your strategy. Keep plugging away and give your plan a fair amount of time and analysis before you pull the plug. If you know the plan is a good one, it's not a good ideas to panic and change course simply because you're not seeing results as quickly as you'd like.

That said, circumstances change, not every strategy works, and you need to also be willing to recognize that it is time to try something new.

Be persistent in implementing your plan and in monitoring whether you're reaching the objectives that will take you to your goal.

4.) Pay (what you can) - These days, especially on Facebook, it's a pay-for-play landscape. Pay where you can, if you can. The results can provide the spark you need to drive a specific campaign or to increase your overall visibility to your target market. It can also be a very affordable alternative to other digital advertising options.

5.) Prioritize - I can't stress enough the importance of time management. If your marketing staff consists of only one or two people, it's essential that you stay on top of your social media strategy by prioritizing your quarterly, monthly, weekly and daily objectives and goals. Nonprofits and small businesses face countless new daily challenges. Sometimes we lose track of what's most important. Take the time to identify those tasks critical to your success and make them a priority.

You can succeed with social media even if your organization doesn't have the brand recognition of a multi-billion dollar corporation. If you remain even-keeled and set realistic goals, the return on investment will follow.

About Jeremy Juhasz

Jeremy Juhasz is a social media strategist at EMSI Public Relations and a panelist for the Tampa Bay Marketing Summit, (www.tampabaymarketingsummit.com) on Aug. 8. Jeremy has  years of experience managing social media marketing for the nonprofit sector, including launching social media and online strategies for  Feeding America Food Bank and Goodwill affiliates. His multi-media background includes work as a newspaper reporter and as a marketing professional.  He's a graduate of Alfred University and attended Kent State's School of Communication and Information, public relations.

Summer is the season for fairs and festivals! The Mississippi Valley Fair in Davenport, Iowa, is one of the longest running fairs in Iowa, going strong for 95 years. It's open Tuesday through Sunday, July 29 - August 3. The fair has a great line-up of Grandstand shows each night, including Eli Young Band, Lady Antebellum, Craig Morgan, Cheap Trick, Alan Jackson, Jerrod Niemann, and carnival games and shows throughout the grounds every day.

The awarding winning and nationally recognized Quad City Air Show will be in flight August 9-10 at the Davenport Municipal Airport. After being named the Best Large Civilian air show in 2011 by the United States Navy, the Quad City Air Show is proud to the first time appearance of the United States Air Force F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team, the fifth-generation fighter aircraft and the finest aviation performers in the world. There are also airplanes on display giving an opportunity to talk to the pilots, and over 200 ground exhibits with activities such as: Army Challenge course, flight simulator, games, and more.

The annual Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival in Davenport, Iowa, is from July 31st-August 3rd. The Bix Jazz Festival continues to celebrate the life and musical contributions to jazz by Leon "Bix" Beiderbecke in his birthplace city alongside the Mississippi River. LeClaire Park continues to be the outdoor music venue, along with two indoor venues for the festival that include the RiverCenter and Adler Theatre in downtown Davenport, Iowa. Bix fans come from all over the world to enjoy the music and visit some of the places where Bix played and lived.

It's a huge tug of war across the Mississippi River during the Great River Tug Fest. At 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 9, boats and barges yield the right of way to a 2,400-foot, 680-pound rope that stretches between Port Byron, Ill., and LeClaire, Iowa. The events leading up to the big tug include a parade and fireworks on Friday night, carnival, 5K walk/run, and live music.

Chill out in The District of downtown Rock Island, Ill. for Ya Maka My Weekend on August 8-9. This island-themed event features reggae music, steel drums, Caribbean food, an open air marketplace, and a giant sand beach complete with palm trees and tiki torches. Ya Maka My Weekend starts at 5 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. on Saturday.

The annual River Roots Live Music Festival in LeClaire Park in downtown Davenport, Iowa, on Aug. 15-16 combines the hottest music acts on the road today with great up and coming acts. Numerous bands are taking the stage, including Los Lonely Boys, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, North Mississippi Allstars, ZZ Ward, Ben Kweller, and more. There will also be great food including BBQ ribs from national ribateurs. Hours are 11 a.m. to midnight.

Floatzilla 2014 is the Quad Cities 5th Annual paddle sports festival on Saturday, August 16 that culminates with a Guinness World Record attempt at 2 p.m. at the largest flotilla of kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards on the protected backwaters of Lake Potter, at Sunset Marina in Rock Island, Ill. The festival will include guided launches at 8 a.m. for all skill levels on the Quad Cities Water Trails and beginner-friendly paddling lessons and programs. Registration includes one Floatzilla t-shirt per paddler, commemorative boat sticker, registration wrist bands, free music and rib fest at 'River Roots Live', free parking, and free shuttle to off-site parking for 'floats.'