Le Claire, Iowa, April 17, 2013 - A small distillery in LeClaire, Iowa has been recognized as producing some of the world's finest spirits.  Three of Mississippi River Distilling Company's products recently received top industry ratings at one of the world's top spirits competitions.

Results were recently announced from the 13th Annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition.  Cody Road Bourbon Whiskey won silver and Cody Road Rye Whiskey earned bronze in the American Craft Whiskey category.  River Pilot Vodka received silver in the vodka category.

"This is a huge honor."  Said owner and distiller Ryan Burchett.  "We obviously like our stuff a lot.  But to line up against some of the finest spirits in the world and walk away with this kind of recognition is an amazing feat for a tiny distillery like ourselves."

The 2013 competition had record entries, up 17% from last year. Distillers and importers submitted 1407 spirits from 63 countries into 85 different classifications.  Many categories of spirits experienced a marked increase this year, included in the most notable, American Craft Whiskey which MRDC won two medals.

"We're really proud of the whiskies." said owner and distiller Garrett Burchett.  "To have them stand out in such a huge crowd of entries this year is really a thrill and an affirmation in all the hard work we have put into it."

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition has gained a reputation as the leading gauge for spirits trends and top quality products in the country.  This competition is considered to be the rite of passage for top quality spirits as it has 34 of the most professional global palates serving as judges.

Cody Road Bourbon, Cody Road Rye and River Pilot Vodka are now available at retailers across 10 states including Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Missouri, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, Texas and Mississippi.  Free tours of the distillery in LeClaire are available daily.

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5 Tips to Lead Change in Challenging Times

Putting the right people at the helm has launched many high-profile, highly successful turnarounds, from Jack Welch in his early days at GE to Meg Whitman at eBay.

But companies don't have to fire the entire C-suite to put "new" leadership in place, says Barbara Trautlein, author of "Change Intelligence: Use the Power of CQ to Lead Change that Sticks" (www.changecatalysts.com).

"Leadership is the key to successful major organizational change, which has had a failure rate of 70 percent decades," she says.  "It IS possible to lead successful and sustainable change - IF it's led effectively.  The problem has been that, so often, it's not."

Workforces in every industry -- from manufacturing to service to health care to high tech -- are confused and bruised, she says.  Employees in this economy thirst for guidance but are distrustful and disenfranchised -- not engaged, empowered, or equipped to do what is needed to help their organizations transform to survive and thrive.

The solution? Those who lead change must first change themselves.

Trautlein shares five simple but effective ways to accomplish that:

• Change Your Story - Reframe resistance. Resistance in organizations is like the immune system in the body; it protects against harmful invaders from the outside. Just like pain in the body is a symptom something is wrong, so resistance is a sign to which managers should pay attention. The goal is not to eradicate it, but to allow it to surface, so it can be explored and honored.  To lead more effectively, learn to see resistance as your ally, not your enemy.

• Change Your Stance - Picture a triangle. So often, we view ourselves on one angle, others at another angle, and "the problem" on the third angle. In our minds, it feels like it's us against the other people as well as the problem. That's exhausting. Instead, re-envision yourself and the other people working together to solve the problem. Move from being and feeling and acting against others, or doing something to others, or even in spite of others, to working with and even for them.  If you can make this simple mindset shift, how you relate to others will almost immediately become palpably partnership-oriented to them.

• Change Your Seat - What you see depends on where you sit.  Change looks very different at different levels of the organizational hierarchy. Those at the top are typically isolated. Those at the bottom are most resistant. Those in the middle are squeezed. Sit in others' seats and appreciate their pressures. Adapt your approach and messages to the very different needs and concerns of these very different audiences.

• Change Your Style - We all know the Golden Rule:  Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you. To lead change effectively, follow the Platinum Rule:  Do unto others as THEY want to be done unto. Tell stories they can relate to. Share statistics relevant to them. Demonstrate what's in it for all of us to work together in new ways.

• Change Your Strategy - So often, what looks like resistance is really that people don't get it, don't want it, or they are unable to do it.  Engage the brain by explaining the "why" and "what" of the change -- help the "head" understand your vision, mission, and goals. Paint a clear picture of the target and the end game. Inspire the "heart" to care about the change objectives by engaging with others, actively listening, dealing with fears and insecurities, and building trust.  Help the "hands" apply the change -- provide tactics, training and tools, and eliminate barriers standing in people's way.

The good news: None of these prescriptions require leaders to change who they are.

"They are all about shifts in mindsets and behaviors.  It's about the flexibility to adapt our leadership approach to get us all where we need to go," Trautlein says. It's amazing how when we change, others change.

"It's been said before -- because it's true: Be the change you wish to see in the world. That's leadership."

About Barbara Trautlein, PhD.

Barbara Trautlein is a change leadership consultant, author, international speaker and researcher with more than 25 years of experience partnering with organizations to lead change that sticks. She helps all levels of leaders in achieving their personal and professional goals, from Fortune 50 companies to small- and mid-sized businesses, in industries ranging from steel mills to sales teams, refineries to retail, and healthcare to high tech. Trautlein earned her PhD in organizational psychology from the University of Michigan.

BATON ROUGE, LA (04/17/2013)(readMedia)-- The following local students recently were initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

The following 17 students were granted an achievement for being inducted into Phi Kappa Phi at The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi:

Michael Bales, Jr. of Clinton (52732)

Vicki Crosthwaite of Bettendorf (52722)

Mackenzie Gray of Blue Grass (52726)

Clint Heitz of Davenport (52806)

Myra Eystad of Davenport (52807)

Kathy Sidlinger of Le Claire (52753)

Wendy Orman of LeClaire (52753)

Kacy Kelly of Coal Valley (61240)

Leah Quintana of East Moline (61244)

Anne Hayes of East Moline (61244)

Kayla Ulfig of Milan (61264)

Christian Myers of Moline (61265)

Valerie Hays of Moline (61265)

Laura Vandermyde of Morrison (61270)

Andrey Mojica of Rock Island (61201)

Luke Circello of Rock Island (61201)

Onnica Marquez of Sterling (61081)

Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Phi Kappa Phi inducts annually approximately 32,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni. The Society has chapters on more than 300 select colleges and universities in North America and the Philippines. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify. The Society's mission is "To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others." For more information, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Senator Chuck Grassley, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, made the following statement after the Senate voted on a series of amendments related to the pending gun legislation.  Grassley offered an amendment with Senator Ted Cruz that would reauthorize and improve the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, increase resources for prosecutions of gun crime, address mental illness in the criminal justice system, and strengthen criminal law by including straw purchasing and illegal firearm trafficking statutes.  The amendment failed to gain 60 votes, but gained the votes of nine Democrats and all but two Republicans.  No amendment gained the necessary 60 votes for passage.  A summary of the Grassley/Cruz bill can be found here.

"Our amendment gained the most bipartisan support of any comprehensive package that has been offered.  The Senate Majority and the President should now turn to our amendment as the path forward.  It's a sensible alternative that was developed from the ground up in the Senate.  It's got wide-ranging, broad-based support and takes a responsible approach to addressing some of the problems we've seen, all while protecting Second Amendment rights."

SPRINGFIELD - April 17, 2013. An advocate for rural communities, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon today urged farmers' markets to join her in fighting food deserts in Illinois. Simon urged markets to apply for a federal grant to purchase wireless machines that accept debit and credit cards, and Link cards. The machines enable low-income residents to purchase fresh, locally-produced food sold at farmers' markets.

To date, 31 markets have received the Illinois Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Wireless Project grants coordinated by Simon's office, and most of the markets will start accepting Link cards this spring. One of the newest recipients, EP!C Market, of Peoria, discussed its expansion plans during today's Governor's Rural Affairs Council (GRAC) meeting in Springfield.

"All Illinois families should have access to fresh, local foods," said Simon, who chairs the GRAC. "With so many Illinoisans currently receiving food stamp benefits, expanding Link access is good policy. I encourage markets to apply for the federal funding that is helping us bring healthy, local food to our underserved communities."

EP!C market provides employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. Approximately 40 individuals currently work in the greenhouse, and plants are sold at local retailers. The organization looks forward to adding an outdoor garden, doubling the number of workers. EP!C will hold its first outdoor farmers' market in May.

"We are thrilled to be a part of the Illinois EBT Wireless Project," said Vice President of Development Kristen Berchtold. "It will make EP!C market more attractive and accessible to a broad customer base, and will enable us to provide more employment opportunities and vocational training for those we serve."

Through Simon's EBT wireless project, Illinois farmers' markets receive free wireless machines that enable consumers to pay with debit and credit cards, or with Link cards. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the number of Midwestern farmers' markets accepting Link cards increased by around 65 percent between 2011 and 2012. Chicago alone saw a 56 percent increase during that period, meaning more low-income families can purchase fresh produce at farmers' markets.

Applications for the EBT wireless project are still being accepted. For more information, please click here.

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Rock Island, IL: In the minute it takes you to read this sentence, 19 people will fall victim to identity theft, according to Trans Union credit bureau. To help you keep your personal information private, the Rock Island Public Library will offer a free Community Shred Day next week.

The 6th annual drive-up and drop-off event on Thursday, April 25 runs from 3:30 to 5:30 pm outside the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street. Participants should pull up along the south side of the library, entering from 20th Street onto the one-way alley. Representatives from Document Destruction and Recycling Services will be on hand to take custody of documents. All materials will be secured in locked bins and shredded in bulk under monitored conditions at the DDRS plant in Davenport. The service is free and open to anyone, regardless of library affiliation or city of residence.

The Rock Island Library collected 5,192 pounds of paper at its 2012 Shred Day event. Additional library Shred Days are available at the Davenport Fairmount Branch Library on Saturday, April 20, Bettendorf Public Library on April 24 and Moline Public Library on April 27. The projects are part of Money Smart Week Quad Cities. For additional events, please visit www.moneysmartweek.org.

Document Destruction and Recycling Services, an affiliate of City Carton Recycling, has provided confidential materials destruction services since February 1996.

For more news about Rock Island Public Library events, visit www.rockislandlibrary.org, call 309-732-7323 (READ) or follow the Rock Island Library on Facebook and Twitter. A monthly calendar of library events is available online and at Rock Island Library locations.

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COMING SOON!

 


The Earth Wins



In honor of Earth Week,
the new documentary:
The Earth Wins
April 17 - 24
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Cub Souts: Math Maniacs
April 19, 6-9 p.m.
Sound of Music



Classic Film Series:
The Sound of Music
April 23, 1 p.m. & 7 p.m.






Brownies & Juniors:
Global Girls
April 26, 6-9 p.m.
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Summer Camps!
Registration NOW OPEN

RICHMOND, KY (04/17/2013)(readMedia)-- Michael Bales of Clinton, majoring in Occupational Safety, is one of 85 Eastern Kentucky University juniors, seniors and graduate students who were inducted into the EKU chapter of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi during a special ceremony on April 5.

Bales is among approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year.

Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest, largest and most selective all-discipline honor society. The Society has chapters on more than 300 campuses in the United States, Puerto Rico and the Philippines.

Membership in Phi Kappa Phi is by invitation and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors, having at least 72 semester hours, are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

Since its founding, more than 1 million members have been initiated. Some of the organization's more notable members include former President Jimmy Carter, NASA Astronaut Wendy Lawrence, Baylor University head women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson, writer John Grisham and Netscape founder James Barksdale. The Society has awarded approximately $11.5 million in fellowships and scholarships since the inception of its awards program in 1932. Today, more than $800,000 is awarded annually to qualifying members and non-members through graduate fellowships, undergraduate study abroad scholarships, member and chapter awards and grants for local and national literacy initiatives. The Society's mission is "To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others."

Today, the Iowa Judicial Branch posted information for the Iowa Business Specialty Court Pilot Project on the Iowa Judicial Branch website at http://www.iowacourts.gov/Business_Court_Pilot_Project/

In addition, the Iowa State Court Administrator has approved a form for parties to submit qualifying legal disputes to the jurisdiction of the business court. The "Joint Consent for Case Assignment to the Business Court Pilot Project" form is also available in the Business Court Pilot Project section of the Iowa Judicial Branch website.

The business court will begin accepting cases on May 1, 2013.


http://www.iowacourts.gov/Business_Court_Pilot_Project/

BATON ROUGE, LA (04/17/2013)(readMedia)-- The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is pleased to announce that Joseph Rives of Moline, Ill., was recently initiated into Phi Kappa Phi--the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines--at Western Illinois University.

Rives is among approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors, having at least 72 semester hours, are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff, and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine and headquartered in Baton Rouge, La., Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline honor society. The Society has chapters on more than 300 college and university campuses in North America and the Philippines. Its mission is "To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others."

More About Phi Kappa Phi

Since its founding, more than 1 million members have been initiated. Some of the organization's more notable members include former President Jimmy Carter, NASA astronaut Wendy Lawrence, novelist David Baldacci and YouTube cofounder Chad Hurley. The Society has awarded approximately $15 million since the inception of its awards program in 1932. Today, $1 million is awarded each biennium to qualifying students and members through graduate fellowships, undergraduate study abroad scholarships, member and chapter awards and grants for local and national literacy initiatives.

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