06 Sep 2013

Governor Quinn to Attend Midwest US-Japan Association Conference

By Brooke Anderson

Governor to Meet With Top Japanese Companies Seeking Illinois Investment and Expansion

CHICAGO - Governor Quinn will depart later today to Japan to attend the 45th Annual Midwest US-Japan Association (MWJA) Conference and focus on bringing more foreign direct investment to Illinois. While there, the Governor will meet with the CEOs of major Japanese companies interested in expansion and new investments in the state. Japan is the second largest source of foreign direct investment in Illinois and the source of more than 50,000 jobs in Illinois. The Governor's trip is part of his agenda to create jobs and drive Illinois' economy forward.

"I look forward to this annual event that takes place with our strong partners in Japan and other Midwestern leaders," Governor Quinn said. "Japan has deep roots in Illinois and is one of the largest export markets for Illinois products. This trip will allow us to capitalize on available economic opportunities for Illinois and Japan."

Japan plays an important role in the Illinois economy, employing more Illinois workers than any other foreign country except the United Kingdom. Illinois is home to 410 Japanese-owned companies, employing 53,725 Illinois workers. Illinois exported $2.1 billion in products to Japan in 2012. That makes Japan the seventh largest export market for Illinois products. Exports to Japan from Illinois have grown 17.9 percent since 2009.

During his trip, Governor Quinn will meet with top leaders from Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Motors Corp., Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Nippon Sharyo Co., Ltd., Neo Morgan Laboratory and TACMINA Corp. The Governor will also meet with Japanese officials in an effort to boost investments in Illinois businesses.

At the conference, the Governor is scheduled to speak about opportunities to invest in Illinois. The annual conference brings together governors and business leaders from across the Midwest to discuss economic progress and investment between Midwestern states and Japan. This year, Governor Quinn will be joined by fellow governors from Iowa, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Governor Quinn's past trips to Asia have led to major economic investment in Illinois. For example, Governor Quinn personally recruited Nippon Sharyo to Illinois and the company has been expanding rapidly since opening its passenger rail car factory in Rochelle last year. Another Japanese company, Astellas - a pharmaceutical firm - built a new corporate headquarters for the Americas in Glenview last year, creating 150 new jobs. The investment came after the Governor met with the corporation's leadership while on a trade mission to China and Japan in 2011.

Following Governor Quinn's 2011 visit to Japan for the MWJA Conference, the Governor announced that Japanese manufacturer Sakae Riken Kogyo Co. was investing $35 million to expand its Peru facility and create 25 new Illinois jobs. The investment was one of several business and economic partnerships the Governor had announced during his 2011 trade mission throughout Asia.

Governor Quinn's attendance at the MWJA is the latest by Governor Quinn as he seeks to promote Illinois to a global audience. Past international visits and trade missions include Mexico in April of 2013, China and Japan in 2011, and Canada and Brazil in 2012. Recently, Governor Quinn announced the opening of new international business in Illinois, including Rittal Corp. of Germany and Grundfos of Denmark.

The state of Illinois opened its Tokyo office in 1987 and has had representation in Japan since 1983. Many Illinois cities have established sister city relationships with Japanese cities and Governor Quinn will sign a new sister river agreement to promote further economic development and tourism during his visit.

The Midwest US-Japan Association Conference is an annual event where business leaders from the Midwest region of the United States and Japan have met on an annual basis to discuss the growth and progress of economic relations of the American Midwest and Japan. The event is attended by Midwestern governors including those of Indiana, Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin. The meeting host country alternates years between Japan and the Midwest. The first MWJA meeting took place in Illinois in 1967 when a delegation from the Japan Committee for Economic Development was welcomed by representatives of the Chicago Association of Commerce & Industry.

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06 Sep 2013

Lt. Governor Simon to tour Midwest Technical Institute

By Ted Nelson
Simon continue efforts to increase career credentials, job placements

SPRINGFIELD - Lt. Governor Sheila Simon is visiting the Midwest Technical Institute (MTI) today in an effort to learn more about how for-profit schools can benefit students looking for a quick entry into the workforce.

"It is essential to prepare our students to succeed in today's job market," said Simon. "It is my hope that by visiting vocational schools I can help foster academic success and promote job creation in rural areas and across the state. Illinois is fortunate to have a range of schools ready to meet those needs."

During Simon's visit, she will speak with MTI students, view classes in progress and tour facilities. Established in 1995, MTI is a vocational school providing course offerings in busy career fields that include : welding, heating and air conditioning repair, nursing, dentistry and medicine. According to its web site, MTI has a 100 percent job placement rate in its Dental Assistant Program. The United States Department of Labor reports the median pay for a dental assistant is over $33,000 while MTI notes a median loan debt for the program being $5,474.

"I am aware of concerns about the default rates and questionable credentials of some for-profit schools and believe the best way to learn more about a topic is to go straight to the source," Simon said. "I hope to count MTI as a partner in our state's college and career readiness movement."

Previously, Simon has visited the state's 48 community colleges and 12 public universities to see how the schools are working to improve completion rates and workforce development, and gather ideas on how the state can help schools overcome barriers to completion goals. Affordability is the most significant non-academic barrier to students seeking career and college credentials, Simon said.

As the chair of the Joint Educational Leadership Committee, Simon is working to increase to 60 percent the proportion of working-age adults in Illinois with meaningful college degrees or certificates by 2025.
06 Sep 2013

Grassley, Harkin Question USDA Announcement on Emergency Haying and Grazing

By Grassley Press
WASHINGTON – Senators Chuck Grassley and Tom Harkin today pressed the U.S. Department of Agriculture to extend the time for farmers to take advantage of emergency haying.

In a letter to Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the senators wrote, "While we are thankful the emergency release of CRP acres was approved, farmers were left with essentially only two days to cut, dry, and bale hay to meet the deadline for the program.  That unreasonably short timeframe prevented many farmers from baling any hay under the emergency CRP release.  Therefore, these producers did not get the benefit from CRP access that should have helped mitigate the short supply of hay for the upcoming winter."

Grassley and Harkin added their support for the Conservation Reserve Program, and said it helps to safeguard some of the most environmentally sensitive land, but the unusually dry weather led them to request the extension, especially in light of the short timeframe provided by the Agriculture Department.

Here is a copy of the text of the letter to Vilsack.

 

September 5, 2013

The Honorable Tom Vilsack

Secretary
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, D.C. 20250

Dear Secretary Vilsack:

Over the past few days a good number of Iowa farmers have contacted us concerning the hot dry weather Iowa has been experiencing, how those conditions have been tough on Iowa livestock and forage crops, and their need for access to Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) for haying and grazing.  As the former governor of Iowa, you certainly understand the importance of livestock production to our state and share our concern for Iowa livestock producers as they deal with a second year of drought conditions that have severely strained forage supplies.

The most recent U.S. Drought Monitor indicates that large portions of Iowa are classified as either D2, Severe drought, or D1, Moderate drought.  Cattle producers tell us they are having difficulty finding an adequate supply of hay, and many of their pastures are too dry to support their herds at this time.

We commend the Farm Service Agency (FSA) for opening up CRP acres in parts of Iowa for emergency haying and grazing in the late afternoon of August 29, but that was only two days before the haying deadline of August 31.  While we are thankful the emergency release of CRP acres was approved, farmers were left with essentially only two days to cut, dry, and bale hay to meet the deadline for the program.  That unreasonably short timeframe prevented many farmers from baling any hay under the emergency CRP release.  Therefore, these producers did not get the benefit from CRP access that should have helped mitigate the short supply of hay for the upcoming winter.  CRP is a crucial program that helps safeguard some of our most environmentally sensitive land.  It's also key nesting habitat for a variety of bird species.  So it's not without careful consideration of many factors that we request you consider extending emergency haying on CRP acres in Iowa.

We appreciate your consideration of our request.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us or our staff.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Grassley

Tom Harkin

06 Sep 2013

BETTENDORF FIRE & POLICE DEPT. JOIN LOCAL STUDENTS FOR 9/11 COMMEMORATION CEREMONY

By Rick Martin

What: Rivermont Collegiate 9/11 Commemoration - "Importance of Service in Our Community"

Speakers:

Captain Steve Knorrek, Bettendorf Fire Dept.

Chief Phil Redington, Bettendorf Police Dept.

When: Wed. 9/11/13

8:35 a.m. - Welcome from Todd Zachary, Rivermont Headmaster

8:45 a.m. - Moment of Silence, Pledge of Allegiance, Students Sing "America"

8:50 a.m. - Todd Zachary, Rivermont Headmaster, speaks

9:00 a.m. - Captain Steve Knorrek, Bettendorf Fire Dept., and Chief Phil Redington, Bettendorf Police Dept., speak

Where: Rivermont Collegiate Campus - 1821 Sunset Drive, Bettendorf, IA 52722

(to be held outdoors near the flagpole in the courtyard of the historic Carriage House, part of the original Bettendorf Mansion estate)

Contact: Brittany Marietta - (563) 359-1366 ext. 308 - marietta@rvmt.org
06 Sep 2013

Sept. 12th. 2013 " Investigating the Creative forces within Sustainable Living and Building"

By Narveen Aryaputri
Independent Scholars' Evenings.
By Sarah Haas and Krystal Hamilton Case.
About the presenters:
Sarah Haas is a movement artist who lives, travels, creates work and performs in a mobile house/stage built from mostly reclaimed materials. She is the artistic Director of Raw Art, formed October 2010 to house her artwork, and co-founder of EcoDance, a grassroots organization that researches, designs, and builds mobile live/work spaces. She has been engaged in a traveling collaborative tour since August 2011, utilizing her stage as a gathering site for lectures, workshops, brainstorming sessions, rehearsals, performances and potlucks. During Independent Scholars Haas will share her experiences with both EcoDance and Raw Art Tour.
Mission statement: Within my artwork/life process is a desire to merge work and play, to navigate and record the body as a cultural landscape, and to become a self-sustained, eco-conscious, yet collaborative entity, while garnering a sense of freedom within a rapidly corporatized world.
Krystal Hamilton Case presented over a year ago at Independent Scholars to share her experiences as an intern at Earthships and her vision for a sustainable home.  She is coming back to present with Sarah Haas on their shared passion for intentional community, sustainability, movement therapy and building artistically with recycled materials.  Krystal is co-founder of moonCatlife suStainability with her husband Jerome Case.   Krystal and her family host interns through the WWOOF program to teach about sustainable building, permaculture, and natural health.  Krystal is a massage therapist, yoga instructor, nurse, and Touch for Health Kinesiology Instructor exploring what sustainability means in every facet of life.
At moonCatlife we believe that living intentionally, challenging accepted beliefs, and working toward integrating sustainable advancements can offer a simpler way of life. By focusing on providing for basic necessities (food, shelter, heat etc.) in a sustainable manner we believe that society can change for the better.
Independent Scholars Evenings. 7.00 pm at The Moline Commercial  Club.
Doors open at 6.30 pm.
1530 Fifth Avenue. Moline. Illinois. 61265.
wine, beverages and light hors devours are provided.
Dress code: business casual.
The event is free and open to all.
The Independent Scholars Evenings are sponsored by The Institute For Cultural and Healing Tradition, Ltd. a 501(c)3 at State and Federal levels since 1996
06 Sep 2013

Lombardi opens Sept. 19 on The Old Creamery's Studio Stage

By Rick Martin

Amana - 1958 begins a whole new era for the Green Bay Packers when Vince Lombardi is named head coach for a team that has not had a winning season for more than a decade.

Who could have known that Lombardi's reign would take the Packers to new heights and their coach would become a legend? A look into the real life of famed coach Vince Lombardi and how he inspired all those he met. You don't have to like football to love this play!

Written by Eric Simonson, Lombardi is based on the book "When Pride Still Mattered - A Life of Vince Lombardi," by David Maraniss. Directed by Angie Toomsen of Cedar Rapids, the cast of Lombardi consists of, Tyler Brown of Nashville, Tenn., William Groth of New York City, Kevin Moore of Coralville, Justin Reid of Coral Springs, Florida, Marquetta Senters of South Amana and Alexander Volpi of Maysville, North Carolina.

Tickets are $27.50 for adults and $18 for students. Show times are Thursdays and Sundays at 3 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Group rates for 15 people or more are available. Lombardi is rated Theatre R and runs through Oct. 6.

Lombardi is sponsored by The Gethmann Foundation with media sponsor WMT-AM.

Call the box office 319-622-6262 or visit the website at www.oldcreamery.com for tickets or more information. Walk-ins are always welcome if seats are available.

Reservations are highly recommended.

The Old Creamery Theatre Company is a not-for-profit professional theatre founded in 1971 in Garrison, Iowa. The company is celebrating 42 years of bringing live, professional theatre to the people of Iowa and the Midwest.

06 Sep 2013

Loebsack, Jordan and Walz Call on IOC to Maintain Wrestling as Olympic Tradition

By Joe Hand

IOC decision on wrestling expected this Sunday

Washington, D.C. - Congressmen Dave Loebsack (IA-02), Jim Jordan (OH-04), and Tim Walz (MN-01) today wrote the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Dr. Jacques Rogge, calling on him to reinstate wrestling as an Olympic Sport in the 2020 Olympic Games. On Sunday, the IOC will meet in Buenos Aires to vote on which sport to include. Loebsack, Jordan and Walz have led the fight in the House of Representatives to reinstate wrestling since the decision was made to drop it as a core sport earlier this year.

"Wrestling's inclusion in the Olympics dates back to 708 BC and the history of wrestling is the history of the Olympics itself," the Congressmen wrote. "The Olympic Games are the embodiment of tradition, the culmination of childhood dreams and the hard work and dedication of athletes to reach the pinnacle of their sport. We believe strongly that wrestling exemplifies the best of these qualities in athletics. We strongly urge you to maintain wrestling as an Olympic tradition."

A copy of the letter can be found here.

The resolution that Congressmen Loebsack, Jordan and Walz introduced earlier this year can be found here.

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06 Sep 2013

2013 Northwest Illinois Volunteerism Conference

By MVDOVIA

Registration is now open for the Fourth Annual Northwest Illinois/MVDOVIA Volunteerism Conference on October 18, 2013.  Join us for a day of professional development and networking.

This conference is co-sponsored by the Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service.

Conference Date: Friday, October 18, 2013

Time: 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Location: Western Illinois University - QC Riverfront Campus, 3300 River Road, Moline, IL  61265

Registration: $35 or Students/AmeriCorps Members $20

Register on Line at http://www.nwivc.net

The mission of DOVIA is to enhance the development and growth of volunteer program administrators through communication, education, networking, and to promote volunteerism in the Quad Cities.  DOVIA (Directors of Volunteers in Agencies) is recognized around the world as a professional volunteer management organization, with the local Mississippi Valley DOVIA  (MVDOVIA) chapter covering Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.

06 Sep 2013

"How I Learned To Drive" Opens Tonight

By QC Theatre Workshop
Season 2 begins tonight with "How I Learned to Drive"!

Don't miss this powerful, funny, devastating, Pulitzer Prize-winning play, which features an incredible cast of local actors!

The reservations are rolling in...
have you made yours?


Save Your Seat!
06 Sep 2013

nd 22 Annual East Central Iowa - North Western Illinois AFL-CIO Hall of Fame Banquet

By Rick Martin

Rock Island, IL– The Quad City Federation of Labor will be hosting the 22nd Annual East Central Iowa - North Western Illinois AFL-CIO Hall of Fame Banquet at the Radisson Quad City Plaza Hotel in Downtown Davenport on Friday, October 11th. The event begins at 6pm with a cocktail hour, and the program begins at 7pm. The purpose of this event is to honor long-time labor leaders for their life-long service to their local unions, and the Labor Movement, by inducting them into the coveted AFL-CIO Hall of Fame. This year, in addition to the Hall of Fame induction, we will be honoring Dan Larson, a retiree from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 145, with the prestigious Robert E. Gibson Community Service Award that will be presented to him by Illinois AFL-CIO President Michael Carrigan.

This year`s Inductees into the Hall of Fame will be:

Sister Wanda Sweat - United Auto Workers Local 865

Sister Vera Kelly - United Steelworkers Local 105

Brother Thomas Esparza - American Federation of Government Employees Local 15

Brother John Honeycutt - United Food and Commercial Workers Local 431

Each year, our Congressional delegates from the bi-state region are invited to speak to the over five hundred attendees, including: Union Presidents, Business Managers, Union members, community dignitaries and local elected officials. We anticipate the attendance this year will be higher than any year prior. Invited members of Congress include : Senator Tom Harkin, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, Congressman Dave Loebsack, and Congressman Bruce Braley.

This AFL-CIO Hall of Fame Banquet is open to the public. To make reservations, please contact Joshua Schipp, AFL-CIO Community Services Liaison at 309-738-6536 or at quadcityfed@netexpress.net. The cost per seat is $40, and tables of 12 can be reserved at $480.

For more information call:

Dino Leone, President Quad City Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, 309-788-1303

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