16 May 2014

Illinois Guard Soldier Competes in Veteran Pageant

By Spc. Ian Withrow, 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Illinois Army National Guard

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The military often conjures images of combat boots, firearms and fatigues; hardly a scene of beauty. Yet for female veterans around the country, the Ms. Veteran America contest affords an opportunity to trade their uniforms for glamorous evening gowns. Now in its third year, the pageant features contestants who are all current or former military members.

The Ms. Veteran America contest sets itself apart in a unique way. In addition to awarding tiaras and sashes, the contest's organizers also raise money and awareness for the Final Salute organization. Final Salute is a fund-raising initiative that helps homeless female veterans get access to safe and suitable housing.

Staff Sgt. Katie Jo Williams, of Altamont, Illinois, a recruiter with the Illinois National Guard Recruiting and Retention Command, said she decided to compete when a friend brought the organization to her attention on Facebook.

"My friend sent me the link and I thought it was a good cause," said Williams. "I got to thinking, when most people think of homeless vets they think of men, not women. I'm not a big feminist, but I think women get downplayed a lot."

Williams said she didn't have very high hopes when she decided to compete.

"I've never really been a girly-girl, I was always a tomboy," said Williams. "I had never even really tried something like this but I thought the worst they would say is 'no'. I deal with a lot of young women in high school and I feel like they don't have enough confidence. I want to show them how. Even if I don't win, I can be a cross-fit competitor and a pageant competitor. Just getting the word out there will help those homeless female veterans," said Williams

Outside her military career Williams also practices competitive cross-fit. She placed 21st in her division at "The Event," a cross-fit competition at her gym in Bloomington, Illinois, in April.

Williams said it was family legacy and personal drive that convinced her to join the military seven years ago.

"My grandpa was in the Navy and then the Army. My father was in the Marine Corps. And now I am the only female in my family to be in the military," said Williams. "My grandpa told me stories when I was young about his time in Vietnam. Since I was ten I knew I wanted to be a part of it. I wanted to travel the world and have all those experiences."

After enlisting as a motor transport operator, Williams deployed with the 634th Brigade Support Battalion, out of Mattoon, Illinois, to Camp Phoenix, Afghanistan, from 2008 to 2009. It was in the 634th when she met Staff Sgt. John A. Howard of Champaign, Illinois

Howard, who is now the full-time readiness noncommissioned officer for the 1544th Transportation Company Detachment in Danville, Illinois, has given Williams many pointers throughout her career and has always helped her through tough situations.

Howard said he thinks Williams stands a solid chance of winning because of her work ethic and her reputation as a motivated Soldier.

"I wouldn't bet against her if she stays true to herself and continues to do what she has been doing and doesn't deviate from what she knows is right," said Howard.

Williams will compete not only for the title of Ms. Veteran America, but also for two additional awards. Williams elected to compete for the titles of "Social Butterfly," which requires the most "likes" on Facebook to win, and "Iron Princess," which is awarded to the competitor who best works fitness and healthy living into their lifestyle. Williams said she wants to compete for the Social Butterfly title because, as a recruiter, she likes to connect with people and make new friends.

Williams said Iron Princess was also a natural choice given her involvement in cross-fit and healthy life style.

So what is next for Williams? For now she is preparing for the regional competition in Arlington,Virgina, which will take place on June 8. Though that is right around the corner, Williams said she believes she is ready.

"I'm not nervous about the experience, but maybe I am anxious," said Williams. "This is something I have never done before, so I do have some stomach butterflies, but it is excitement and nervousness all at the same time."

Williams said she wants to wow the judges with her voice during the talent portion of the competition. She has chosen to sing "I see the Light" sung originally by Mandy Moore from Disney's 2010 animated musical "Tangled."

"My sister tells me I sound like Mandy Moore," said Williams. "My sister and my friends told me I should do that one. It's a nice simple song just to show the judges what I can do."

For now, Williams is keeping herself grounded but hopeful about the regionals contest in June.

"If I do win, that would be awesome," said Williams. "I wouldn't know what to say. I would be ecstatic about being able to represent female veterans everywhere. I don't think there's another title that can compare."

14 May 2014

What Every Parent Needs to Know About Their Schools

By Jeanne Allen

Teacher Appreciation Day, Field Day, Spring concerts, sports competitions and awards ceremonies, plays, debates, school application and testing, testing, testing. They are all part of that familiar end-of-school-year rhythm, which has started for most and will begin to play out through the year's end, and the hopeful promotion of our babies to their next level in school.

Would that it were so simple - and pleasant - for all families!

While most of us will experience these milestones with joy and a twang of bittersweet as they signal the progression of our kids and their growing up, others find that these experiences mask the real issues surrounding the school experience - namely, success for their children and their particular kind of learning. Indeed, in a nation where less than 40 percent of our children are barely proficient in reading and math, and where even the highest performing schools pale in comparison to those of previous generations and even other countries, there is much more work to be done than our rewarding volunteer work at the school or park would suggest.

For every parent that finds themself in a school or educational setting that is meeting the needs of their child nearly 100%, there are at least ten who are scratching their heads at their daughter's demise in math class, their son's sudden lack of interest in English, the suggestion that Johnny needs a tutor or that Marcie is distracted or seems bored.

Once upon a time, parents just naturally assumed that these problems were a result of their own kid's deficiencies, of their own family's failures in some way. A generation of tutoring companies and support organizations has accumulated a small fortune as parents took the guilt upon themselves to solve.  Then, an interesting thing happened. Just 15 years ago, technology and the Internet made it possible and easier to share stories, and parents around the country began learning that their problems were not theirs alone, and that their own reading and math woes, their own sense of resignation over their child's behavior, may have more to do with the standards set by the school and its staff (often low and fuzzy) the poor quality of instruction, the lack of accountability, and for children of color what was once called the "soft bigotry of low expectations."

Such was the birth of the parental empowerment movement, and that movement today is flourishing as a result of parent-led reforms that have grown from organized dining room table conversations to full fledged school networks leading and demonstrating that every part of the learning process matters and that content and instruction can drive a child to succeed or fail.

Just as technology is transforming every element of our day, it is transforming parents' ability to drive their child's education. The progress made in just 20 short years since organizations like the Center for Education Reform were born is nothing short of extraordinary. Parents became activists and turned their community's schools around. Educators bonded with other educators and started whole schools devoted to themes and ideas they always knew would work for kids. Some of these individuals went on to become policymakers, and more and more high quality talent flowed into the education system, creating a generation of parents and educators who'd long felt there was something more they could do and expect.

Parents with power, teachers with power and schools with accountability can now be found in nearly every state, and most communities. Such assets are improving student learning, accelerating growth and captivating a nation. But progress is still not ubiquitous or evenly distributed. And the forces that fought these initial reform efforts still loom large in the public eye and in state halls across the country.

To truly ensure that all schools work best for all children, those we have now and those to come, we must take 20 years of lessons learned and move those lessons into every community, and put them within reach of every parent.

Every parent knows that history is the best teacher, which is why before any parent engages in working to ensure their child gets the best education possible, they need to be armed with enough information -- and lessons learned -- to succeed.

History is just unfolding, but there's good news for anyone wanting to help make it. Lessons learned and stories of ordinary people like you are available and easy to find. Many of these compelling stories can be found in Education Reform: Before It Was Cool, an indispensable new anthology for those who want to read first-hand about the greatest contributors to the movement to make our nation's schools work better for all children.

Read about the pioneers, and join the new revolution to make parent power a reality in all children's lives.

Jeanne Allen founded the Center for Education Reform (CER) in 1993 and serves as the organization's senior fellow and president-emeritus. Allen is the editor of Education Reform: Before It Was Cool, available on Amazon.

14 May 2014

INAUGURAL FERRIS WHEEL RIDE MAY 24 TO BENEFIT GENESIS FOUNDATION

By Marco LaNave
Only 300 tickets will be sold through Genesis for noon event Saturday, May 24, before 6 p.m. game

DAVENPORT, Iowa (May 14, 2014) - The Inaugural Ferris Wheel Ride event and fundraiser is scheduled for noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 24, to kick off a Memorial Day Weekend grand opening for the new attraction. Ticket proceeds from the event at Modern Woodmen Park will go to benefit the Genesis Health Services Foundation in the Quad Cities.

Event tickets are available at Modern Woodmen Park or by calling the Genesis Foundation at 563-421-6865. Only 300 tickets will be sold for the inaugural ride event, and attendees have the chance to be among the 100 drawn to participate in the first ride of the Ferris Wheel.

May 24th, the doors will open for the Inaugural Ferris Wheel Ride event at noon, with appetizers, giveaways, music and a cash bar in the Budweiser Champions Club. The event is exclusively for the 300 advance ticket holders. From the 300 event tickets, 100 will be selected at 1 p.m. for the Inaugural Ferris Wheel Ride, which will take place at 1:30 p.m. Additional rides will be offered until 3 p.m.

Proceeds from the event will go to the Genesis Health Services Foundation, specifically Camp Genesis, Genesis NICU and Flu-Free QC. In addition, a portion of every Ferris wheel ride ticket sold this season will be donated to the Genesis Health Services Foundation for children's health and wellness.

"We are absolutely thrilled to partner with the Genesis Health Services Foundation for the Inaugural Ferris Wheel Ride, which will begin an entire season of giving back to the Quad Cities community," said River Bandits owner Dave Heller. "The Ferris wheel is about gathering the people of the entire region to come to the Quad Cities, downtown Davenport, and Modern Woodmen Park for affordable, family-friendly entertainment, which is going to the next level with the Ferris wheel!"

"We're grateful to be the charity of choice to receive proceeds from the Inaugural Ferris Wheel Ride and throughout the season," said Melinda "Missy" Gowey, Genesis Health Services Foundation Executive Director. "What better way to support children's health and wellness than with an attraction that 'brings out the child' in all of us. Thanks to the River Bandits, this is going to be an exciting summer in support of our community's kids."

Following the Inaugural Ferris Wheel Ride event, there will be a 3:30 p.m. ribbon cutting for the Ferris wheel. At 4:30 p.m., the gates of Modern Woodmen Park will open for the 6 p.m. River Bandits game, and fans in attendance may purchase tickets at the amusement areas to ride the Ferris wheel. The first 1,500 fans to the ballpark that night will also receive a free Carlos Correa bobblehead, courtesy of CBS4 WHBF and APAC Customer Services.

The amusements of Modern Woodmen Park will be open throughout Memorial Day weekend. While the River Bandits are on the road, the general public may still come to the ballpark to ride the Ferris wheel and enjoy the amusements. The amusement areas of Modern Woodmen Park will be open noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 25, which is also the rain date for the Inaugural Ferris Wheel Ride event. On Monday, May 26, the ballpark will be open noon to 6 p.m. on Memorial Day.

The amusement rides are scheduled to be open - weather permitting - to fans at every River Bandits home game, and will also be open on weekend non-game days: Fridays 6 p.m.-10 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m.-noon and 6 p.m.-10 p.m., and Sundays 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Ferris wheel rides are $5 each (two for $8, four for $15), and Bounce QC Kids Zone access is $5 per child. An all-you-can-ride-and-bounce daily pass is $20, and a season pass for unlimited rides and play in the Bounce QC Kids Zone is $49.

UP NEXT: The official lighting of the Ferris Wheel will be a part of Markdown Monday when the River Bandits open their next homestand May 19 at Modern Woodmen Park. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., and bleacher tickets, as well as hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn, nachos, soda and beer are just $2 each for the 7 p.m. game. Tickets are available online at www.riverbandits.com. Don't miss the great light show that comes with the new Ferris Wheel! To order any of the ticket plans - with new lower prices - call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $40. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: Having just been named Ballpark Digest's winner of Best Ballpark Improvement in America under $1 million, the River Bandits ownership is making one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 110 feet over the playing field, will open May 24, along with a new ride called a "Drop and Twist," an expanded 300-foot long zip line, and many other new games and attractions. In 2013, the team unveiled a new 220-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, and a number of new bounce houses. The team's major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, just saw all six of its affiliates reach the playoffs - the first time in a decade any MLB team can claim such success. The River Bandits were one of three affiliates to reach the championship round and one of two to win their league championship.

*****

14 May 2014

Braley Urges White House to Abandon EPA's Proposal to Weaken the Renewable Fuel Standard

By Rick Martin

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley today issued the following statement urging the White House Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resiliency, which is meeting today in Des Moines, to revisit the EPA's proposal to weaken the Renewable Fuel Standard.

"Iowa is at the forefront of developing the type of energy and industry we need to combat climate disruption head on?and the Renewable Fuel Standard is at the center of that effort. In addition to creating 60,000 Iowa jobs and adding billions to our economy, it's replacing billions of gallons of foreign oil with renewable ethanol. I hope that the members of the White House's task force will take this opportunity to urge the EPA to rethink its counterproductive proposal and stand up for this growing source of clean, renewable American energy and all the related innovation it is spawning."

Braley has consistently fought the proposed EPA changes since they were first reported on in October. Late last year he joined VoteVets.org to deliver over 110,000 signatures to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protesting proposed changes. In November, Braley wrote a letter to President Obama expressing his anger and frustration with the proposed EPA changes. In December, he joined Governor Branstad to testify at an EPA hearing stressing the benefits of the current levels and the positive impact the RFS has on Iowa. 

###
14 May 2014

Iowa Insurance Division Brings "Iowa Fraud Fighters" to Davenport

By Rick Martin
Public Education Program and Complimentary Luncheon to Assist Eastern Iowans
Prevent and Report Investment Fraud Comes to Davenport on June 5

DAVENPORT, IA - Iowa Insurance Commissioner Nick Gerhart announced today that the Iowa Insurance Division (IID) is bringing the statewide "Iowa Fraud Fighters - Shield Your Savings" public education program to the RiverCenter in Davenport on June 5. The program will educate and empower Iowans to combat and report investment and insurance fraud.

"Con artists are targeting Americans age 60 and older, swindling more than 5 million Americans out of almost $3 billion each year," said Commissioner Gerhart. "Unfortunately, many smart Iowans have fallen victim to these very slick and sophisticated investment scammers, and some have lost their entire life savings."

Martha-Jo Ennis, a retired school teacher from Marion, Iowa, said she never understood how anyone could fall for an investment scheme until it happened to her?and she lost her retirement savings and the money she invested from the sale of her family farm.

According to Linn County District Court records, Ennis was one of numerous Iowa victims who lost millions of dollars in a Ponzi-type scheme orchestrated by Noah Aulwes, former owner of Covenant Advisors of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Aulwes pleaded guilty last year to theft in the first degree, securities fraud and money laundering, and received a prison sentence of up to 10 years. Victim impact statements read during the hearing stated Aulwes preyed on retirees, using charm and Christianity to get a foot in the door and gain victims' trust.

"Iowans need to take the time to double-check investment offers and verify with our agency whether the adviser and offer are legitimate," said Commissioner Gerhart. "Our goal is to educate Iowans on common scams and arm them with tools and tips to prevent fraud from happening to them. The Iowa Insurance Division and our partner government agencies are attacking this senior fraud problem at the forefront. We are coming to Davenport to help eastern Iowans prevent fraud."

Iowa Insurance Division Communications Director Tom Alger, Iowa Assistant Attorney General Kevin McCarty, Iowa Department on Aging Legal Assistant Director Paige Thorson and Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) Director Kris Gross will present the Iowa Fraud Fighters program and panel discussion.

Registration begins at 11:30 a.m., lunch is served at noon and the program concludes at 1:30 p.m. Informational booths staffed by agency representatives, and Milestones Area Agency on Aging and AARP, forum assistance providers, close at 2 p.m. To RSVP for the presentation and complimentary luncheon, call toll-free at 866-559-7114, or fill out the online form at IowaFraudFighters.gov before noon on May 29. This free event is limited to the first 200 respondents and is funded partly from fines and settlements collected from scammers.

"This forum gives Iowans the opportunity to speak with several government agencies and learn about the state resources available to help prevent fraud from happening to them or a loved one," said Gerhart. "We also want Iowans to know we are here to help them take charge in the fight against fraud and the importance of reporting fraud to state and federal agencies when it occurs."

Iowans are encouraged to visit www.IowaFraudFighters.gov to learn about common investment and insurance scams and discover tips and tools to prevent fraud. The site includes answers to frequently asked questions and a checklist of information to gather from investment advisers to verify the legitimacy of the offer and the investment adviser.

In addition to the community forums and website, the public education program includes a TV and newspaper public service advertising campaign.

The Iowa Insurance Division has general control, supervision and direction over all insurance and securities business transacted in the state, and enforces Iowa's laws and regulations. The IID investigates consumer complaints and prosecutes companies, agents and brokers engaging in unfair trade practices. Consumers with insurance or investment questions or complaints may contact the IID toll-free at 877-955-1212, or visit the division on the Web at www.iid.state.ia.us.

# # #

14 May 2014

Grand Mound Selected to Represent Small Towns in ISU Study

By Erin Meek

Many small towns in Iowa struggle to survive even though they offer quality of life features that are hard to find in big cities. Understanding these unique features is the goal of a new Iowa State University study. Researchers (Drs. Terry Besser, Stephen Sapp, Deborah Tootle, and Georgeanne Artz) have received a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture to study the quality of life in Grand Mound and other small towns and assess how these characteristics affect community survival.

This is the third time Grand Mound has been selected to participate in an ISU study of community life. The first time was in 1994 when researchers surveyed about 15,000 residents randomly selected from 99 communities?one in each county. Residents in the same towns were surveyed in 2004 and another group of residents will again be asked to participate in 2014. The three studies spanning 20 years can provide valuable insight into the changes in small town life over the last 20 years and the effectiveness of various development strategies. Dr. Besser notes that, "We have the wonderful opportunity in this study to learn how the events of the 1990s and the 2000s impacted small town life.  This knowledge will be useful for small town leaders and residents in their efforts to help their towns survive and even thrive in the future."

Within the next two weeks, researchers will contact randomly selected households in Grand Mound by mail and ask a designated adult in the household to participate in the study. Each person who receives a survey represents 20 to 35 other Grand Mound residents. Therefore, it is vitally important that those selected complete and return the survey.

It will take several months, perhaps as long as a year, before the survey process is completed and the information is analyzed. At that time, a report of the results will be made publicly available through local extension offices, the local newspaper and/or library, and directly through Iowa State University's Department of Sociology website. Any questions may be directed to Dr. Besser at tbesser@iastate.edu or Dr. Sapp at ssapp@iastate.edu.

14 May 2014

Governor Quinn Participates in President's Task Force on Climate Preparedness

By Randy Stalsberg

Joined by Other State and Federal Officials in Des Moines to Discuss Better Preparation and Response to Weather-Related Disasters

DES MOINES - Governor Pat Quinn today was joined by local, state and federal officials for the Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience, part of President Barack Obama's federal efforts to address disasters caused by climate change. This is the third of four meetings the group will hold before recommending ways the nation can be better prepared to meet weather-related events. Today's meeting is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to protect our natural resources and ensure a clean and healthy environment for future generations.

"Illinois has faced a record number of natural disasters in recent years, and I want to make sure our state is always prepared and equipped to do what is necessary to keep the public safe during weather emergencies," Governor Quinn said. "I look forward to continuing to work with President Obama to keep our state and nation at the forefront of the battle to stop the damaging effects of climate change."

The Des Moines event includes discussions about preparing urban, natural and agricultural areas for flooding, drought and other weather-related disasters. After four such meetings around the country, the group will recommend to President Obama ways to address disaster response and climate change.

The Illinois General Assembly recently passed an expansion of the Clean Water Initiative to include stormwater and green infrastructure projects, a key part of Governor Quinn's agenda. This $2 billion low-interest revolving loan program will help communities throughout Illinois be better prepared for heavy rains caused by climate change.

In the last five years, Illinois has been through 11 natural disasters, including a record drought in 2012; deadly tornadoes in 2012 and 2013; historic winter storms earlier this year; and floods, including the spring 2013 flooding in 49 counties that broke all-time records on four major river systems. Each of these disasters saw the mobilization of state resources at Governor Quinn's direction to clean up, repair damage, speed recovery and reduce the impact of future disasters. Governor Quinn announced a $45 million state relief package to help Illinois local governments recover from the deadly November tornadoes after FEMA denied federal disaster assistance for local governments. The Governor was also successful in securing more than $23.5 million in other forms of federal aid to assist with tornado recovery in the impacted Illinois communities.

Governor Quinn is leading the charge toward sustainable living to fight the root causes of climate change.

Since taking office, Governor Quinn has led Illinois on a path to sustainability. A new report found that Illinois leads the nation in the number of communities using renewable electricity. In February, the U.S. Green Building Council ranked Illinois number one among all 50 states in the sustainable building design movement with more than 29 million square feet of certified green buildings, or 2.29 square feet for every resident.

The Governor set a green example for all Illinois residents by transforming the 159-year old Illinois Executive Mansion, visited by Abraham Lincoln and six other of our nation's Presidents, into a model of sustainable living. The mansion features its own vegetable garden, rain barrels, a compost pile and solar panels. The recent addition of a chicken coop helps composting efforts and has the added benefit of producing fresh eggs for use in the mansion's kitchen.

In 2011, the Illinois Executive Mansion became the first in the nation to install a charging station for electric vehicles. In 2012, LED lighting was installed throughout the Executive Mansion. The new system consumes 90 percent less energy, lasts for 10 years and poses less of a threat to historic artifacts. Additionally, digital water meters were installed to better monitor usage; aging air conditioners were replaced with an energy efficient system.

###
14 May 2014

Royal Neighbors female members continue building a dream for a Habitat home recipient in Davenport

By Britney Quaale

(Rock Island, IL)–The dream of a new home for a woman and her family is what drives female members of Royal Neighbors of America to spend a Saturday pounding nails and climbing ladders. "What better way to demonstrate our mission of empowering women than by helping build a house that will become home to a family new to the Quad Cities," said Cynthia Tidwell, Royal Neighbors President/CEO. "I look forward to working side-by-side with the family and our members to make this dream a reality."

Approximately 30 women will gather on Saturday, May 17 to continue building a Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities home in Davenport, IA.

WHAT: Habitat build by female employees and members of Royal Neighbors of

America

WHEN: Saturday, May 17

8 a.m.-noon shift

1-4 p.m. shift

WHERE: 6400 Appomattox St., Davenport, IA

CONTACT: Sarah Reemtsma, (309) 732-8348 or (563) 343-7770

Royal Neighbors' partnership with Habitat began back in the 90s when it was part of a "blitz build" in Kansas City, MO. Other projects included building homes in Rock Island and Moline, IL, Moorhead, MN, and San Angelo, TX, and sponsoring The First Ladies Build and the Women Building a Legacy project.

Royal Neighbors of America, one of the nation's largest women-led life insurance organizations, exists for the benefit of its members. It offers insurance products to fulfill financial needs of growth, savings, and protection. Members receive valuable benefits and can participate in volunteer activities through the organization's local chapters to help make a difference in their communities. The organization's philanthropic efforts are dedicated to changing women's lives through its national programs, including the Nation of NeighborsSM Program, and through the Royal Neighbors Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity.

Headquartered in Rock Island, IL, with a branch office in Mesa, AZ, Royal Neighbors serves more than 200,000 members and is licensed to do business in 42 states and the District of Columbia.

For more information about Royal Neighbors of America, visit www.royalneighbors.org or

call (800) 627-4762.
14 May 2014

Just Announced: Disney Live! Mickey's Music Festival

By Ashley Sturgell

Tickets on Sale Tuesday, May 27, 2014

May 14, 2014 -- Mickey Mouse and his band of friends, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy will be performing in a music mash-up of mega proportions when Disney Live! Mickey's Music Festival debuts in Moline, IL. Concert goers will hear greatest hits from the blockbuster movies Aladdin, The Little Mermaid and Disney/Pixar's Toy Story remixed to rock, pop, reggae, hip-hop, jazz and country, among other jams. Produced by Feld Entertainment, Disney Live! Mickey's Music Festival strives to be the biggest concert experience to hit live family entertainment. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, May 27, 2014!

"One song can touch millions of people around the world and Disney has been at the beat of this concept for years by making music a main ingredient of storytelling," said Producer and CEO of Feld Entertainment Kenneth Feld. "In Disney Live! Mickey's Music Festival we are celebrating with the Disney characters to a soundtrack of the latest sounds and chart-topping hits. We want our guests to walk away with lasting memories and singing these unforgettable melodies long after they leave the show."

Disney Live! Mickey's Music Festival, featuring an all star line-up of more than 25 Disney characters, begins with audiences watching a state-of-the-art video projection of the frenzy backstage which spills onto the stage as Mickey welcomes guests to his concert tour. Soon thereafter, they will be transported to a new world of hip hop beats, dizzying acrobatics, flying carpets and magical transformations with Aladdin, Jasmine and Genie.  Underwater is where the crowd will meet up with Ariel, Sebastian and their nautical pals to groove to the reggae rhythm.  And family and friends will stomp to the beat as Woody, Buzz and Jessie teach them how to boogie rodeo-style.

"We've created an environment where audience members will be able to connect with the Disney stars," said Alana Feld, Producer and Executive Vice President of Feld Entertainment.  "Within each concert moment are elements of personal interaction and the audience will be harmonizing, dancing, laughing and having an outrageously good time with the characters."

The father-daughter production team, Kenneth Feld and Alana Feld, has hand selected award-winning creative talents whose credits span from working with Madonna to winning a Latin Grammy® Award to designing hundreds of costumes for Disney theme park shows:

  • Director/Choreographer Fred Tallaksen Award-winning choreographer of Madonna's "Sorry" video and the finale of her Confessions World Tour; in 2008, earned a Latin Grammy® in the Best Video category for Juanes's "Me Enamora;" has choreographed for many TV shows, including "Modern Family," "Outsourced" and "Wizards of Waverly Place;" skating consultant for "Austin Powers III-Goldmember;" and directed and choreographed for Disney's Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever!
  • Writer Jeremy Desmon's credits include The Girl in the Frame, If You Give A Mouse A Cookie & Other Storybooks and Curious George Live!. He received the 2007 Kleban Award for excellence in Musical Theatre Bookwriting, and is also a recipient of the Dramatists Guild's Jonathan Larson Fellowship
  • Costume Designer Cynthia Nordstrom Designed costumes for more than 15 original dance shows in Downtown Disney; designed costumes for Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy; Disney's Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever! and Disney On Ice presents Rockin' Ever After
  • Lighting Designer Sam Doty Assisted in the building and planning of every Feld Entertainment show since 2006, including Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy, Disney Live! Mickey's Music Festival andmultipleeditions of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® circus
  • Music Director Stan Beard has arranged and written the musical score for numerous domestic and international Disney On Ice productions, and has worked in the recording studio with such luminaries as Barbra Streisand and Frank Sinatra
  • Scenic Designer Rick Papineau Vice President of Scenic Elements at Feld Entertainment; veteran designer who creates props, scenic elements and special effects for all of the company's touring shows

 

Show Date & Time:              Fri 10/10/2014 (4:00PM, 7:00PM)

Tickets Start at:                     $15.00

To order tickets by phone:   1-800-745-3000

Online:                        www.ticketmaster.com

###

About Feld Entertainment

Feld Entertainment is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live touring family entertainment experiences that lift the human spirit and create indelible memories, with 30 million people in attendance at its shows each year. Feld Entertainment's productions have appeared in more than 70 countries and on six continents to date and include Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey®, Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, Nuclear Cowboyz®, AMSOIL Arenacross, Disney On Ice, Disney Live! and Marvel Universe LIVE! More information on Feld Entertainment is available online at www.feldentertainment.com.

ABOUT DISNEY THEATRICAL GROUP (DTG) operates under the direction of Thomas Schumacher and is among the world's most successful commercial theatre enterprises, bringing live entertainment events to a global annual audience of more than 19 million people in more than 50 countries.  Under the Disney Theatrical Productions banner, the group produces and licenses Broadway musicals around the world, including Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Elton John & Tim Rice's Aida, TARZAN®, Mary Poppins, a co-production with Cameron Mackintosh, The Little Mermaid, Newsies, and Peter and the Starcatcher.

Disney Theatrical Group also delivers live shows globally through its license to Feld Entertainment, producer of Disney On Ice and Disney Live!  For over 30 years, Disney On Ice and Disney Live! have brought beloved Disney stories and characters annually to over 12 million guests in nearly 50 countries worldwide throughproductions such as Rockin' Ever After, Dare to Dream, Treasure Trove, Mickey's Rockin' Road Show and Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever!  In addition, DTG licenses musical titles for local, school and community theatre productions through Music Theatre International.

14 May 2014

Women's empowerment and Olympic success

By Rick Martin

ALLENDALE, Mich. ? New research shows that nations with greater women's empowerment win more medals and send more athletes to the Summer Olympics. The effect of women's empowerment held for both men and women, although it was stronger for female athletes, according to a study by Grand Valley State University researchers. The findings were published in April 2014 in the Journal of Sports Economics.

The research, led by Aaron Lowen, associate professor of economics at Grand Valley State, provides evidence for the popular but previously untested hypothesis that women's empowerment leads to international athletic success. The authors examined the success of more than 130 nations participating in the Summer Olympics from 1996 through 2012. Similar to previous studies, they found that more populous and wealthier nations were more successful. However, they also showed that another important predictor of success was the Gender Inequality Index or GII. The GII includes information on women's reproductive health, political empowerment and participation in the labor force, and it ranges from 0 (no inequality between genders) to 100 (extreme inequality). The authors found that a 10-point decrease in GII was associated with winning about one extra medal for men and 1.5 medals for women. They found similar results when looking at participation and other measures of success, such as medals won per athlete.

The researchers focused on the Summer Olympics because it is the world's largest elite sports competition in terms of participating individuals and nations and the number of distinct events. The Olympics are also ideal because women's participation has steadily increased to a level that is almost as high as men's.

"Many studies have shown that women's empowerment is linked with economic development and better outcomes for children, but there's been little research on whether it leads to female sports success," said Lowen. "We read claim after claim that it does, so we decided it was worth finding out if it's true. Fortunately, the results turned out to be clear cut. No matter how we conducted the analyses or what measures of success we used, women's empowerment predicted Olympic success."

Besides finding support for the connection between gender equality and Olympic success, there were some unanticipated findings. One was that greater gender equality was also associated with greater success for men, even after controlling other success predictors, such as population and wealth. "The benefit to male athletes was a surprise, and we don't really understand why this occurs," said Lowen. "One idea is that societies that bring women into the workforce generate wealth in ways that are not captured with traditional wealth measures, such as gross domestic product. These societies may afford both men and women greater opportunities for recreational and personal pursuits, including elite athletic training and competition."

Another unexpected finding was that there was no "Title IX effect" for U.S. women. The well-known federal law prohibits sexual discrimination in educational opportunities, including sports, and has been credited with the success of U.S. women in international competition. Robert Deaner, associate professor of psychology at Grand Valley State and co-author of the study, said: "Clearly, U.S. women have been remarkably successful in soccer, basketball and many other sports. But once we incorporated other key predictors of Olympic success ? population, wealth, and women's empowerment ? we found little evidence that U.S. women are exceptional in comparison to women from other countries or even U.S. men. This doesn't mean Title IX hasn't been important for U.S. women ? instead it suggests that other countries must have their own means of supporting elite women's sports."

The authors stressed there are still outstanding questions, including the direction of causality. "We've shown that women's empowerment and elite athletic success go together, but we can't say which causes which," said Lowen. "To really get at this issue, we'd need some experimental or exogenous change that directly affected one or the other. For instance, if several nations randomly received significant additional resources for women's sports, we could see if increased women's empowerment followed, or vice versa. This is obviously a difficult question to answer, but it's an important one. It might help policy makers decide where to invest their resources."

The authors of the study were Aaron Lowen, Robert Deaner, and Erika Schmitt, all of Grand Valley State University.

For more information, contact Aaron Lowen at lowena@gvsu.edu.

Aaron Lowen joined the Economics Department at Grand Valley State University in 2003. He earned a doctorate in economics at the University of Iowa. His research covers a wide variety of topics including the gender wage gap, recycling and waste disposal policy, anti-corruption policies, and sports as it relates to the topics of motivation and gender equality.

Pages

more

Subscribe & Listen to Reader Podcasts

On Stands Now

 

Tagged Content

Two Ways to Subscribe

1. Subscribe to free weekly e-mail content updates.

You'll get both the current official narrative challenge and What's Happenin' in the Quad Cities.
(Did you know we publish a new Real Astrology and RCR Crossword every week?) 

Subscribe!

* indicates required

2. Get 12 monthly issues mailed first class for $48

Get 12 issues mailed monthly for $48 per year.

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Subscribe now.

 
 

Meetings Calendar

Kids Calendar

Eat & Drink Calendar