SEAL Team 6 Author Discusses Value of Legit Nonprofits

With the war in Afghanistan set to end in 2014, and the Iraq war having ended two years ago, charities that help veterans and their families may be busier than ever - but without the public awareness generated by an ongoing conflict.

Support for the war effort in Afghanistan is on par with the unpopular Vietnam War during the early 1970s, according to a recent Associated Press-GfK poll; only 27 percent of Americans support the effort in Afghanistan. A fundamental difference between then and now, however, is Americans' nearly unanimous support of U.S. troops, says J. L. Narmi, author of SEAL Team 6, bin Laden and Beyond (www.narminovels.com).

"The vitriol expressed toward our Vietnam veterans by many was disgusting, but I think we learned from that injustice, and most Americans think the troops deserve much more support than they're getting," says Narmi, who comes from a military family. All proceeds from his book sales will go to support veterans' charities.

"The problem is that funding, whether it's through government or private charities, doesn't match the expressed support," he says. "And I worry that will only get worse as these soldiers move out of the public eye and try to take up peace-time lives."

Narmi cites some good resources for Americans looking for quality charities that support the troops:

• The Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org): With advances in protective gear and life-saving medical technology, fewer troops are coming home in coffins than in previous wars, but more are coming back with lifelong injury. This charity seeks to foster a generation of well-adjusted wounded service members, and to raise public awareness about their needs and how fellow military men and women can help each other.

• The Navy SEAL Foundation (www.navysealfoundation.org): As detailed in Narmi's novel, SEALs are among the most physically and mentally talented individuals in the world. But they, along with their families, endure enormous stressors, many of which are never discussed due to the nature of their duties. This charity supports these elite warriors and their families.

• Charity Navigator (www.charitynavigator.org): Whether or not you think you know about the legitimacy of a charitable organization, it doesn't hurt to take a few minutes to verify an organization's status. This site is widely recognized by investigative reporters to be a reliable resource in reporting a nonprofit's activity. The above two groups, in which Narmi has donated money, have been verified via Charity Navigator.

• Still not sure? ... Skepticism is understandable. It seems the more we hear or read about charities, the more we learn that we shouldn't simply take their word for how donations will be spent. Media coverage spotlights those outlier groups that are clearly fraudulent; however, most charitable organizations are absolutely streamlined, with workers donating their time or receiving a minimal wage. It has never been easier to verify a charity's reputation. Additionally, for those with the time and willingness, individuals may create their own nonprofit. Narmi is working to set up his own, called Hire the Vets!

"If everyone who said they support the troops gave just a modest amount to help a veteran that has risked his or her life for our freedom, we would come across far fewer tragedies on the news about vet-related joblessness, homelessness and suicide," he says.

About J. L. Narmi

J. L. Narmi comes from family with deep roots in the military; his brother, retired Rear Admiral Ronald E. Narmi, worked closely with SEAL teams throughout his career. Narmi's fascination with the Navy SEALs resulted in ""SEAL Team 6, bin Laden and Beyond," which was completed just eight days before the real-life mission that resulted in bin Laden's death. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa and earned his MBA from Creighton University. Narmi is a graduate of the Securities Industry Institute of the Wharton School - University of Pennsylvania.

Iowa Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments in Ottumwa

 

Des Moines, September 10, 2012? On Wednesday, September 19, the Iowa Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Ottumwa, Iowa. The proceeding will take place in St. John Auditorium at Indian Hills Community College, 525 Grandview Avenue. The session will begin at 7 p.m.

 

The court will hear lawyers argue in two cases:

 

Postell v. American Family Mutual Insurance Co.

Case context: On appeal from an action to recover benefits under a homeowner's insurance policy, plaintiff challenges the district court's ruling that her insurance policy did not provide coverage for losses incurred as a result of a fire that her husband had intentionally set to their home. Plaintiff argues: (1) she is a "separate insured" and as an innocent coinsured is entitled to the statutorily required minimum coverage, (2) when the insurance policy is read as a whole each insured is a separate insured and the intentional acts of one malfeasant insured do not bind the other insureds, and (3) because her husband was suicidal, his delusional conduct in burning down their home was not done with an "intent to cause a loss" as that term is used in the insurance policy's intentional loss exclusion clause.

 

The lawyer for Postell is: Joseph C. Creen, Davenport. The lawyer for American Family Mutual Insurance Co. is Ted J. Wallace, Davenport.

 

State of Iowa v. Kern

Case context: Defendant appeals her convictions on marijuana-related charges on the grounds that law enforcement conducted an unlawful search of her home without a warrant. Defendant, a parolee at the time, argues the warrantless search violated her constitutional rights despite her signature on a parole agreement giving advance consent to a search of her home.    Defendant contends the trial court improperly considered the evidence obtained during the search.

 

The lawyer for the State of Iowa is: Kevin Cmelik, Assistant Attorney General. The lawyer for Kern is: Christopher R. Kemp, Des Moines.

 

The Iowa Court Rules regarding expanded media coverage on the Iowa Legislature website at http://www.legis.state.ia.us/DOCS/ACO/CR/LINC/08-15-2012.chapter.25.pdf.

 

 

 

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Don't be afraid!  The Davenport Public Library wants to take you on a Spook Walk.  Join us on Saturday, September 15th at 2:00 p.m. on the front porch of the Main Library (321 Main Street) for some paranormal activity.  On the Spook Walk you will visit over half a dozen sites rumored to be haunted. This walk is approximately 2 miles, so comfortable walking shoes and a bottle of water are recommended.

Adults and teens are sure to find an eerie, fun time. Registration is required for this FREE event. To register or for more information, call 563-326-7832 or visit www.davenportlibrary.com.

This event is in collaboration with East West Riverfest in the Quad Cities. From September 7 to 16, 2012, the Quad Cities hosts East West Riverfest, a new community-wide, ten-day celebration of the arts, culture and heritage thriving on this bend of the Mississippi River. Over 300 events will take place at almost 100 various theaters, music venues, galleries, historic sites, museums, parks, and attractions on both sides of the river in the Quad Cities. For more information, visit www.eastwestriverfest.com or the official Facebook page.

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Occupy Turns One


Imagine throwing a birthday party for your kid and using the occasion to remind him of the many ways he's failed over the past year? If you did that, you'd be a truly horrible parent.

So, as the Occupy Wall Street movement celebrates its one-year anniversary this weekend, let's resist the temptation to talk about all the things that have gone wrong and focus on the good stuff. After all, there's a reason why so many of us were inspired and saw OWS as the most promising groundswell for social change to come along in decades.

My short list of why Occupy Wall Street resonated so powerfully with so many:

- Most Americans know something is deeply wrong in our country. We know powerful corporations are a big part of the problem, and we're furious that some of the worst corporate offenders got huge taxpayer bailouts.

- Wall Street is the symbolic epicenter of corporate power and the logical target of public anger over corporate malfeasance.

- Thousands of rank-and-file Americans rallying before the gilded gates of Wall Street in peaceful protest captivated America. When law enforcement responded with an unnecessarily heavy-hand it only further rallied public support behind the protesters.

That's my short list of why Occupy Wall Street's one-year birthday anniversary deserves cake, not condemnation. What are your thoughts? Today, Monday, we'll talk about it. We also welcome the DeCoster family back to the news with the discovery of salmonella in DeCoster-owned chicken confinements in north-central Iowa. Also today, talent manager Heather Ryan joins us for an update on the bizarre child custody case in Kentucky involving a Mom who allowed her daughter to participate in a pageant.

Tuesday, Manu Martin with the Peoples Congress joins us. We also talk with Rachel Garrett about Paul Ryan's inspirational hero, Ayn Rand.

Wednesday, we talk with Bob Stone about Democracy School, and also John Brown about the controversy around so-called "smart meters."

Thursday, it's State Rep. Dan Kelley.

Friday, Libertarian Party candidate for Vice President, Judge Jim Gray, is back in Iowa and back on our program.

Among the other issues we need to address this week:

- Congressman Steve King finds a new enemy: healthy food. To make up for it, he's enlisted a new ally: overweight kids.

- The Orascom scam not only involves the biggest taxpayer handout to a corporation in Iowa's history but it appears to have been negotiated almost entirely behind closed doors.

- Rev. Sun Myung Moon, head of the so-called Unification Church, died last week. I'll share a personal story about my role years ago in England, helping de-program one of Moon's cult's many victims.

So, join the conversation live, Monday-Friday, online from 12:00-1:00 pm on the Fallon Forum website. Call in at 244-0077 or toll free (855) 244-0077. And tune-in to Bradshaw, Monday-Friday from 1:30-2:30, also on the Fallon Forum website. Video and audio podcasts are available, too.

Thanks! - Ed

 

EVENTS

September 13 - Drinking Liberally (Des Moines)
You don't have to be a card-carrying liberal to enjoy political conversation and excellent libations at AJ's, 419 E Court starting at 8:00 pm every Thursday. If the revolution is going to start anyplace, it's over a frosty libation. Contact desmoines@drinkingliberally.org.

September 14-16 - Democracy School (Fairfield)
Thomas Linzey, co-founder of Democracy School, has had success in Pennsylvania in combating encroaching CAFOs and  has worked with 140 communities in eight states on CAFOs, fracking, etc. School is Friday 7:30-10:30 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 12:30-4:30. The fee is $195.

September 14-30 - World Premiere of "Sense and Sensibility" (Des Moines)
The book by Jane Austen has been adapted for the stage by Iowa's Kerry Skram. Performances are at the Des Moines Social Club's Kirkwood Theater, 4th and Walnut. For tickets, call MIDWESTIX at (515) 244-2771.

September 18 - Irish Jam at Open Sesame (Des Moines)
Discover the fusion of Lebanese and Celtic culture every third Tuesday of the month with Irish jigs and reels, Mideastern belly dancing, and Lebanese cuisine washed-down with a pint of Guinness. All musicians and patrons are welcome at 313 E. Locust St from 8:30-10:30 pm.

September 22 - Latinos Unidos Scholarship Award Ceremony Dinner (DM)
From 5:30- 8:00 pm at Grace United Methodist Cottage Church, 3700 Cottage Grove Ave. Tickets are $20 for adults, $7.50 for children under $10, and $120 for a table for eight. Businesses contact Julian Caselli at j-caselli@hotmail.com and individuals Lena Avila Robison at iowalatina12@live.com.

September 27 - Coleen Rowley 'Blowing the Whistle on War' (Des Moines)
At 7:00 pm at Plymouth Congregational Church, 42nd and Ingersoll, Iowa's own Coleen Rowley talks about the need to end our permanent war economy and state of perpetual war. Coleen grew up in New Hampton Iowa and was part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation before blowing the whistle on bad intelligence work in the wake of September 11. She was Time magazine's PERSON OF THE YEAR in 2002 and is an important voice in favor of government transparency. Contact Jeff Weiss at jjwcpm@yahoo.com.

October 3 - Jim Hightower: Taking Back Our Food and Agriculture (Fairfield)
Hightower gives the keynote at the Jefferson County Farmers & Neighbors annual meeting at 7:30 pm at the Arts & Convention Center, 200 N Main St. An outspoken critic of CAFO animal production, Hightower will address what is needed to turn around our environmentally destructive, nutritionally compromised system of industrial food production. Contact Diane at drosenberg@lisco.com.

October 6 - The Shrinking Middle Class (Des Moines)
At Plymouth Church, 4126 Ingersoll Avenue, 10:00-2:00. Cost is $10 and lunch is provided for this presentation and panel discussion. Income inequality, rising costs, political corruption, and economic instability threaten our global household. This seminar will explore a variety of current problems and contemplate solutions surrounding the erosion of middle class political and economic power while providing a theological context for these contemporary struggles.

October 7 - Images of Peace Interfaith Prayer Service (Des Moines)
A 7:00 pm at DMACC Auditorium, Urban Campus, 9th and University for an interfaith prayer service featuring a video by Rodger Routh, presenting images of peace from various faith traditions and a variety of perspectives. At the end of the service people will walk to the Path of Peace Sculpture nearby to scatter the soil gathered from representatives of many different faiths at last year's Interfaith Service. Sponsored by the Des Moines Area Ecumenical Committee For Peace. Contact Eloise Cranke at (515) 262-5974 or Susie Paloma at (515) 480-1872.

October 20 - Contra Dance at Odd Fellows Hall (Des Moines)
Contra-Indications is hosting a contra dance at Odd Fellows Hall, 2904 Kingman Blvd, 8:00-11:00 pm, with lesson at 7:30 pm. Live music by Barn Owl Band; Jill Allen as caller. $10 adults; free under 12; $25 family maximum. Visit info@contra-indications.org.

Cemetery Hunters at the Davenport Public Library is the perfect program for those looking to learn tips and tricks about searching for information in a cemetery. Join us Thursday, September 13 at 7:00 p.m. at the Fairmount Branch Library (3000 N Fairmount Street) to learn what different types of stone, species of trees, and more can tell you about your ancestors and the people from this area. Find out how to uncover secrets from the past through what is still around today. Adults and teens are invited to attend this FREE program.

For more information on this and other Davenport Public Library programs, call 563-326-7832 or visit www.davenportlibrary.com.

This event is in collaboration with East West Riverfest in the Quad Cities. From September 7 to 16, 2012, the Quad Cities hosts East West Riverfest, a new community-wide, ten-day celebration of the arts, culture and heritage thriving on this bend of the Mississippi River. Over 300 events will take place at almost 100 various theaters, music venues, galleries, historic sites, museums, parks, and attractions on both sides of the river in the Quad Cities. For more information, visit www.eastwestriverfest.com or the official Facebook page.

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International customers meet with soy checkoff farmer-leaders to discuss U.S. soy

ST. LOUIS (September 10, 2012) - Relationships are important to building markets for U.S. soy and the farmer-leaders of the soy checkoff recognize that importance. In fact, the United Soybean Board (USB), along with its international marketing arm, the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), will host customers from more than 20 countries in September.

"Face-to-face meetings mean a lot to businesses throughout the world," says Marc Curtis, a soybean farmer from Leland, Miss., and a member of USB's international marketing program. "This year, especially, it gets them out in the field to alleviate fears of not having a crop and also highlights our sustainability."

Teams from Europe, Asia, and South and Central America will visit a wide variety of stops in multiple states. They will tour farms, export facilities, modern livestock and poultry facilities and even the Chicago Board of Trade, learning more about U.S. agriculture and, specifically, U.S. soy.

"The end goal is to increase demand for soybeans," adds Curtis, who also serves as past chair of USB. "You increase demand by making foreign buyers more comfortable with the United States, the reliable supply we have and the quality of our product."

By focusing on the needs of the individual teams, USB and USSEC hope to continue to grow the personal relationships needed to sell U.S. soy globally and maintain soy's rank as one of the top U.S. agricultural exports.

The 69 farmer-directors of USB oversee the investments of the soy checkoff to maximize profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds to increase the value of U.S. soy meal and oil, to ensure U.S. soybean farmers and their customers have the freedom and infrastructure to operate, and to meet the needs of U.S. soy's customers. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff.

For more information on the United Soybean Board, visit www.unitedsoybean.org
Visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/UnitedSoybeanBoard
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/unitedsoy
View our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/UnitedSoybeanBoard

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Tips to Create a Safe Environment in the Classroom

As summer comes to a close, early childhood education professionals are busy gearing up for the little ones. In addition to developing new reading lists and homework assignments, many teachers are also investing their time in classroom safety. According to Safe Kids USA, an estimated 14 million children are unintentionally injured each year - with as many as 25 percent of those incidents occurring in and around schools. Educational leaders can prevent some of these incidents by childproofing all classrooms to help eliminate potential hazards.

Read More

Full Press Release (PDF)


Parents Reminded to Check Their Window Coverings

The Window Covering Safety Council is reminding parents and caregivers of potential window-cord dangers and urging them to make the right choice and only use cordless window products in homes with young children.


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Full Press Release (PDF)


A Safe and Happy Holiday Season

The fall and winter holidays are just around the corner. Families will reunite and make wonderful memories while trick-or-treating or enjoying festive meals. But the season can also pose potential safety hazards for young children.

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Full Press Release (PDF)


Easy Steps to Prevent Window-Cord Accidents

The accidental strangulation of infants and young children in the cords of window blinds, shades and drapes continues to be an issue, with both inner and pull cords remaining a concern for today's busy parents.

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Full Press Release (PDF)

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Iowa has an average annual volunteer rate of 37.9%, with 887,000 volunteers serving 93.4 million total hours per year!

http://www.volunteeringinamerica.gov/IA

(DES MOINES) - Governor Terry Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds today announced a new public-private partnership initiative titled "Volunteer Iowa: A Call to Service."

The goal of the "Call to Service" initiative is to make Iowa the national leader in service and volunteerism by 2015 by focusing on volunteer expansion in Iowa's most pressing areas throughout the state while focusing on the administration's goals of becoming the healthiest state in the nation, having the best schools and growing Iowa's economy.

"Volunteerism is an integral part to the state's future and well-being," said Branstad. "Our objective for the 'Call to Service' is to increase the number of Iowans who are volunteering as well as the number of hours that they serve.  Iowa currently ranks second in the nation in volunteerism, and just as we want to become the healthiest state in the nation and have the best schools, I know Iowa can lead the nation in volunteerism as well."

The "Call to Service" initiative is driven by the private sector, but publically endorsed while working  with non-profits and other organizations to increase the volunteer supply, demand and retention, mobilize communities and generate targeted tactics to expand volunteerism in Iowa. This multi-year blueprint seeks to eliminate barriers preventing meaningful volunteer engagement and strengthen the behavioral norm of service in Iowa.

"It is our hope that Iowans will embrace the 'Call to Service' initiative and do what Iowans do best, which is giving back to their local communities," said Reynolds. "We want to mobilize and connect Iowans with meaningful volunteer opportunities in their communities and challenge the private sector to support and help strengthen Iowa's volunteer infrastructure."

As a first step, Iowans are encouraged to take part in a local service project during the week of Sept. 10, 2012, as part of the launch of "Volunteer Iowa: A Call to Service." A complete list of service projects can be found at www.volunteeriowa.org.

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Moline, IL... State Representative Rich Morthland (R-Cordova) introduced two pieces of legislation today aimed at maintaining Illinois' commitment to the work requirements for assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.

Established in 1996, the program attempts to curb welfare dependence by encouraging recipients to move from welfare to work. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) indicated in July that it is willing to approve state waivers that reduce the participation requirements.

Morthland introduced House Bill 6223 which would prohibit Illinois from seeking a waiver.

"This legislation hits close to home," said Morthland. "My wife and I have seen first-hand the benefits the TANF program brings to our community and to our state. The program has resulted in a reduction of child poverty, a reduction in the welfare dependency, and an increase in employment earnings of single mothers."

Morthland also announced House Resolution 1218 which urges the Governor and the Illinois Secretary of the Department of Human Services to refuse to seek a waiver from HHS.

"Welfare to Work is a good program that helps working families who want a piece of the American dream. It is important we hold Illinois to a higher standard and continue to offer job training, mentoring and educational opportunities to those in need."

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