St. Paul's Lutheran School students were set to visit The White House until their visit was canceled earlier this month

(DES MOINES) -  Gov. Terry Branstad today announced he will give students of St. Paul's Lutheran School in Waverly, Iowa, a tour of Terrace Hill and a "behind the scenes" tour of the governor's office after the White House abruptly canceled the students' planned tour earlier this month. The students will visit Des Moines on Thursday, March 28, 2013.

"I am pleased the students from St. Paul's Lutheran School in Waverly will be able to visit Terrace Hill and the State Capitol," said Branstad. "Just like in Washington, our Legislature is split among political parties, but we are still able to work together to better our state. I was disappointed to learn The White House canceled the students' tour, but I hope a tour of Terrace Hill and the governor's office will be a small consolation."

Earlier this month, the students were the focus of an ABC News story about The White House's cancelation of tours following sequestration.  The students launched a Facebook campaign in hopes of The White House reinstating the tours, but the students were denied their tour when visiting on March 16th.

The following portion of the students' visit is open to the press:

Thursday, March 28, 2013

10 a.m. Gov. Branstad gives Waverly St. Paul's Lutheran School students tour of Terrace Hill

Terrace Hill

2300 Grand Avenue

Des Moines, IA

 

11:30 a.m. Gov. Branstad gives Waverly St. Paul's Lutheran School students tour of Governor's Formal Office

Governor's Formal Office

State Capitol

Des Moines, IA

 

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2012 Rock Island County Fair Queen Amelia Martens celebrates her win as the very first Miss Illinois County Fair Queen in Rock Island County.

Please join us for a reception for Amelia Martens  newly crowned 2013 Miss. Illinois County Fair Queen. Amelia is a senior at the University of Illinois majoring in Agricultural Communications. She is from Orion IL.

Reception is as follows:

Location: Western Illinois University Campus - 3300 River Dr. Moline IL 61265

Time: 1:00pm-4:00pm (Amelia and  Rock Island County Fair board president Mr. William L McKinley will be speaking around 3:00)

Amelia would love to share with you about her upcoming busy summer and her excitement of being the official hostess of the Illinois State Fair and the DuQuoin State Fair.

Jessica Irving, 12, of Grand Mound found a way to use her sewing skills to help others and has been honored for her exemplary volunteer service with a President's Volunteer Service Award.

The award, which recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country, was presented by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program on behalf of President Barack Obama. Jessica participated in the Spirit of Community program this year as a representative of the Liberty 4-H Club.

Jessica earned her award by continuously making & donating fabric covered tissue covers for breast cancer patients. She creates each tissue holder, or "Jessie's Jems" as she now calls them, out of breast cancer themed fabric, then tucks a travel-size packet of tissue inside. Once completed, they are delivered to the Kenneth H. McKay Center for Breast Health at the Genesis Medical Center in Davenport, where their staff distributes them to newly diagnosed patients.

Jessica truly enjoys creating each "Jem" and feels good because when patients get them, they know someone cares and hopefully this little gift can make them smile. Jessica's 4-H leaders say "Jessica is not only one to put her mind to creative projects and ideas, but also has developed many leadership skills, one of which is helping fellow club members' with sewing projects."

John R. Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial which sponsors the awards states that "In recognizing these students and placing a spotlight on their volunteer service activities, we hope to motivate others to consider how they can also contribute to their community."

 

Last month, I hosted my first Facebook live chat to introduce myself as a candidate for US Senate, and answer the questions most important to you.

After that successful first chat, we asked folks to let us know which issues you'd like to hear more about -- and the answer was clear. That's why I'm asking you to be a part of my second Facebook chat to discuss the economy and job creation here in Iowa, and continue the conversation we began back in February.

Will you join me on Friday, March 29th to discuss these important issues during my next Facebook live chat?


During this chat, I'll be talking about my record of standing up for Iowa's middle class, steps I'm taking to bring good jobs to Iowa and answering your questions online via live streaming video.

I'll even be joined by a very special guest with experience as a small business owner right here in Iowa.
I hope you'll join me to continue our conversation.

See you soon,

Bruce Braley

New concepts are constantly emerging in marketing. We've seen the rise of "green marketing" ? appealing to people's environmental concerns by emphasizing recycled packaging and the like. And mobile marketing, finding new ways to get the attention of potential customers clutching hand-held devices.

There's a lot to be said for new strategies, but it sometimes seems people get dazzled by novel approaches. They forget there's one enduring strategy that never fails.

Honesty.

You can only do so much telling customers and prospective clients about who and what you are. At some point, you have to show them. And if the experience you provide doesn't match with how you've represented yourself, your company, your practice, product or book, they'll not only walk away ? they'll likely take others with them.

There are a lot of ways your honesty ? or lack of it ? can be revealed in the course of a day. Sometimes, it may seem like the price of being honest is just too high, for instance, when you've made a mistake you fear will seriously damage your reputation.
Do you own up to the mistake? Blame someone else? Cover it up?

I like Jason Fried's answer.

Jason is the co-founder of 37signals, a company that produces a chat tool called Campfire for small businesses. A couple years ago, he wrote a column in Inc. magazine about what happened when Campfire malfunctioned, sparking a real wildfire of rage among his customers.

But, he wrote, "People don't judge you on the basis of your mistakes ? they judge you on the manner in which you own up to them."

Jason and his business partner were honest about their mistake, and sincere and consistent in their apologies. They corrected the problem, of course, and also gave their customers a free month of service for the disruption.

By the end of their nightmare, Jason and his business partner were getting messages like this from their customers: "37signals has been giving a free lesson in customer service and honesty the past few weeks."

While I don't believe anyone reading this would intentionally lie to customers or in their marketing, there are many situations that test us! I find it helps to have the rules of engagement firmly in place before a situation arises.

Here are a few good "old-school" marketing strategies:

· Be honest about what you can do - and what you can't. I'm a "yes we can" kind of businesswoman. I've succeeded in business because I know there's almost always a way around an obstacle if you're flexible and creative in problem-solving. I don't back down from a challenge just because it's something I've never done before. However, I also know there are some things I cannot do. Recently, I had a prospective, high-profile client who would've been a dream to bring onboard. In our many conversations, he talked about the kind of publicity he wanted and the general goals he hoped to meet. I knew we would have no problem getting him what he was looking for. But then, just as he was preparing to sign a contract, he shared what he really wanted: His own regular segment on a national network morning show.

To get that he would need more than a publicity campaign, so it's unlikely we could make it happen for him. And I was honest about that. He didn't sign on with us, but, more important, we maintained our integrity and he's not disappointed.

· Keep your word. If you offer a "money back guarantee," honor it upon request. If you say you'll pay a referral fee, pay it immediately. If you say you'll have something done by a certain date, move heaven and earth to meet the deadline. If for some reason you can't, let the customer know, tell them why and be prepared to help mitigate the consequences if possible. (The corollary rule on deadlines is don't promise more than you can deliver!)

· Remember, there's a fine line between attention-getting and trickery. In marketing, the competition for attention is overwhelming, so we draw upon all of our creativity to make ourselves stand out. That's fine. Tricking people is not. In fact, some tricks ? like the old bait-and-switch tactic ? amount to fraud. Others may not have legal consequences but can be just as damaging. (I'm thinking of the congratulatory emails sent out by LinkedIn a couple weeks ago, telling members "You have one of the top 10 (or 5 or 1) percent most viewed profiles for 2012." Many recipients were pleased and rushed to share their exclusive ranking on social media. Many weren't so pleased when the Los Angeles Times reported millions of other members also got the emails.)

It boils down to the Golden Rule for business ? do unto your clients, customers and prospects as you would like done unto you. Sometimes, it requires some really hard decisions. But in the end, integrity is the most valuable marketing tool in your arsenal.

About Marsha Friedman

and she can also be heard weekly on her Blog Talk Radio Show, EMSI's PR Insider every Thursday at 3:00 PM EST. Follow her on Twitter: @marshafriedman.

America's Music Quad Cities is  a cooperative effort from Bettendorf, Davenport, Moline and Rock Island Libraries, along with River Music Experience and Western Illinois University-Quad Cities, to present the series of programs America's Music: A Film History of Our Popular Music from Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway.  This six week series features documentary film screenings, scholar-led discussions of twentieth-century American popular culture, and live performances.

Detailed information about the series schedule can be found by visiting our web site http://americasmusicqc.com.

Quad City Libraries, Non-profits Band Together to Present 19 Programs for "America's Music: A Film History of Our Popular Music from Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway"

From April 11 to May 23, the halls of local libraries and non-profits will resound with the beat of uniquely American musical genres, thanks to the grant-funded "America's Music" project.

Bettendorf, Davenport, Moline and Rock Island Public Libraries, in collaboration with River Music Experience and Western Illinois University-Quad Cities, will host the six-week series, which features documentary film screenings, scholar-led discussions of twentieth-century American popular music and live performances.

"America's Music: A Film History of Our Popular Music from Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway" covers a wide span of musical interests, including blues and gospel, Broadway, jazz, bluegrass and country, rock n' roll, mambo, and hip hop. Featuring 19 presentations in the Iowa and Illinois Quad Cities, the local effort is one of just 50 sites nationwide selected to host this program series, which is funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.

Starting with blues and gospel and ending with swing jazz, the general audience programs will explore the connections between six uniquely American genres of 20th century music and the influence of music on the history, culture and geography of the United States. Each screening and discussion session will examine an important American musical genre in the context of key social and historical developments, giving attendees of  all ages an opportunity to recognize the influence of these popular music forms on the cultural landscape.

A full list of performances and locations is available at www.americasmusicqc.com, but the basic line-up is as follows:

Program partners and sponsors will kick off the series with a live performance by Iowa Blues Challenge winners The Candymakers from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm at the River Music Experience. Blues and gospel fill the week of April 15, with film/discussion events of "Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues" and "Say Amen Somebody" at the Rock Island Main Library and Davenport Public Library, Eastern Avenue Branch.

Broadway and Tin Pan Alley fill the week of April 22 with film/discussion events of "Broadway: The American Musical" at Moline Public Library and River Music Experience, along with a Broadway performance by The District Theatre and Tristan Layne Tapscott at the Moline Public Library.

Bluegrass and county music are the focus of the week of April 29, with film/discussion events of "High  Lonesome: The Story of Bluegrass Music" at Western Illinois University-QC and the Bettendorf Public Library. Bettendorf Library will also host a bluegrass performance by River Town, a four-piece ensemble performing traditional bluegrass and folk favorites.

Classic rock and roll takes the stage during the week of May 6, with film/discussion events of "The History of Rock 'n Roll: Plugging In," at the Bettendorf Public Library and Rock Island Main Library. The Rock Island Library will also host a performance by Meet the Press, a dynamic three-piece band performing 80s and 90s originals.

Mambo and Hip Hop music will fill the week of May 13, with film/discussion events of "Latin Music U.S.A. and "From Mambo to Hip Hope: A South Bronx Tale," at Davenport Public Library Eastern Avenue Branch and Western Illinois University-Quad Cities. The Davenport Public Library will also present a Hip Hop dance performance and instruction event with Midwest Academy of Dance.

Swing Jazz events fill the week of May 19, starting with a jazz performance at the Polyrhythms Third Sunday jazz at the River Music Experience. The event, featuring the Bill Bell Trio, is the only ticketed event in the series. Cost is $10 general admission or $15 for reserved seating. Tickets will be available at the door, or by calling 309-373-0790. Free swing jazz film and discussion events with excerpts from "Ken Burns Jazz" and the "International Sweethearts of Rhythm" take place during the week at River Music Experience and Moline Public Library.

Discussions, along with a call for stories about memories of the Quad City musical landscape, will be led by program scholar Dr. Daniel S. Malachuk, associate professor of English at Western Illinois University-Quad Cities, and several faculty colleagues, including Dr. Everett Hammer (English), Dr. Nancy Schaefer and Dr. Tammy Werner (Sociology), and two students in the English Masters program, Chelsea Clearman and Jill King.

With help from his students, Dr. Malachuk will present some of the local stories collected at the final event in the series, "Celebrating America's Music in the Quad Cities, " from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Thursday, May 23, at the Western Illinois University - Quad Cities Riverfront Atrium. Attendees are encouraged to bring their stories about the great variety of music heard in the Quad Cities over the past 50 years. Musicians are encouraged to bring instruments, as the event will close with an open mic event of local performers.

For details, please visit www.americasmusicqc.com or contact americasmusicqc@gmail.com or 309-524-2470.

"America's Music" is a project by the Tribeca Film Institute in collaboration with the American Library Association, Tribeca Flashpoint, and the Society for American Music. "America's Music" has been made possible by a major $2,500 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor. Additional funding for the Quad City effort was received from the Riverboat Development Authority, Sedona Technologies, UAW Local 2282, Friends of the Moline Public Library and Friends of the Rock Island Public Library, along with in-kind sponsorships from River Cities Reader, WQAD-TV News Channel 8, STAR 93.5, WQPT Quad Cities PBS and WVIK Augustana Public Radio.

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PORT BYRON, IL - State Rep. Mike Smiddy (D-Hillsdale) invites residents to the grand opening of his full-
time constituent services office, located at 201 N. Main St. in Port Byron. The event, which is free and open to
the public, is on Saturday, March 23 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and a ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at
10:30 am.

"This open house is an opportunity for the community to meet my staff and me, and learn about how we can
help with state issues," said Smiddy. "Our office should be an integral part of this community. Inviting residents
into my office, opening our doors, and gathering local feedback on state issues allows me to better serve our
community."

Illinois' 71st District includes all of Albany, Cleveland, Coal Valley, Colona, Como, Cordova, Deer Grove, Erie,
Fulton, Hampton, Hillsdale, Lyndon, Morrison, Port Byron, Prophetstown, Rapids City, Rock Falls, Savanna,
Sterling, Tampico, and Thomson and portions of Carbon Cliff, East Moline, Moline and Silvis.
Amana - Be a fly on the wall as legendary psychoanalyst Dr. Sigmund Freud meets with famous author C.S. Lewis to discuss and debate love, sex, the existence of God and the very meaning of life in Freud's Last Session, opening April 4 on The Old Creamery Theatre Studio Stage in Middle Amana.

Only a few weeks after their meeting, Freud died and Lewis, who in later years wrote "The Chronicles of Narnia," was never to forget their historic meeting. A stimulating and memorable glimpse into two brilliant minds.

Tom Milligan, producing director of The Old Creamery Theatre will portray Dr. Sigmund Freud and Andy Brown, of McKenzie TN, will play the part of C. S. Lewis. Freud's Last Session is directed by Rachael Lindhart of Iowa City and is rated Theatre R. The show runs through April 21.

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. Call the box office at 800-35-AMANA (352-6262) or visit the website at  www.oldcreamery.com. Group rates are available. Reservations are 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.

Come celebrate the 1st Annual Easter Egg Scramble 5K run/walk on Saturday, March 30th. The start/finish and family activities will be in The Historic Village of East Davenport where participants will run/walk through Scenic Parks that overlook the mighty Mississippi River. Not a runner? Just come for the entertainment, meet up with family and friends to hang out and relax while enjoying live music, food, and a FREE Easter Egg Hunt. The race begins at 9:00am and the Easter Egg Scramble begins at 10:15 am. There is a fee for the race. Awards and live music begin after the race.

 

To register or for more information click to visit Scramble5k.com (a portion of the proceeds from this event will be donated to the Handicapped Development Center).
Saturday, March 30
Race begins at 9:00am
Easter Egg Scramble begins at 10:15am
Lindsay Park, Village of East Davenport
Easter Egg Scramble: Fre

PEORIA, Ill. (March 20, 2013) – Flowers are blooming, bees are buzzing, and eggs are hatching. It's spring, a time of renewal. For hospital patients in need of blood, hope for a fresh start comes from generous donors.

When Matt Deyo was a senior in high school, he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a cancerous bone tumor. During his 14-month regimen of aggressive chemotherapy, he received more than 90 units of red blood cells and platelets.

"Being an 18-year-old cancer patient was difficult because my life suddenly took an unexpected detour," said Deyo, now cancer-free. "But going through that life-changing experience led me down an amazing path and helped me decide to pursue a medical career."

Spring into action and give hope by giving blood. You just might provide a fresh start for someone like Deyo. To make an appointment or for more information, visit redcrossblood.org.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

Carroll County
April 1 from 12-5 p.m. at Chadwick Fire Department, 210 Calvert St. in Chadwick, Ill.

Clinton County
April 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ashford University, 400 N. Bluff in Clinton, Iowa
April 14 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Assumption Catholic Church, 147 Broadway St. in Charlotte, Iowa

Henry County
April 8 from 2-6:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 108 N. Main in Annawan, Ill.
April 9 from 1:30-5 p.m. at St. Patrick's Church, 201 First St. in Colona, Ill.
April 10 from 1:15-5:15 p.m. at First Christian Church, 105 Dwight St. in Kewanee, Ill.

Mercer County
April 9 from 1-6:30 p.m. at Calvary Lutheran Church, 121 N. Meridian St. in New Windsor, Ill.

Scott County
April 5 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hy-Vee, 2200 W. Kimberly Road in Davenport, Iowa

Whiteside County
April 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Halo Branded Solutions, 1980 Industrial Drive in Sterling, Ill.
April 2 from 8-11 a.m. at River Bend Senior Center, 912 Fourth St. in Fulton, Ill.
April 3 from 2-6 p.m. at Rock Falls Blood Donation Center, 112 W. Second St. in Rock Falls, Ill.
April 4 from 9:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. at CGH Medical Center, 100 E. LeFevre Road in Sterling, Ill.
April 8 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico CUSD 3, 79 Grove St. in Prophetstown, Ill.
April 9 from 1-5:15 p.m. at River Bend Senior Center, 912 Fourth St. in Fulton, Ill.
April 9 from 1:30-6 p.m. at Carlson Acupuncture & Chiropractic, 2317 E. Lincolnway in Sterling, Ill.
April 10 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sterling High School, 1608 Fourth Ave. in Sterling, Ill.
April 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rock Falls Blood Donation Center, 112 W. Second St. in Rock Falls, Ill.

How to donate blood
Simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

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