Have You Renewed Your Chamber Membership for 2013?! Deadline to remain in good standing is March 15!

Being a Member of the Chamber helps you to gather leads, meet prospects and promote your products and services.  Your business is listed on www.LeClaireChamber.com for all who visit the site to see, not to mention the 1000's of visitors to our Facebook page!  The Chamber refers our members first and encourages others to do business with our members. Attend Annual and Monthly Events! Stay up to date with news and events, and post your announcements for free in the Friday Announcements!  Low cost advertising is available to members in our quarterly Newsletter.  Stay involved, meet new people, and make a difference in your community! Membership form attached!

2013 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BOARD:

President - Dayle Hall - Moline Dispatch Publishing Company

Vice-President - Jim Huiskamp - Blackhawk Bank and Trust

Secretary - Steve Suiter - Great River Financial

Treasurer - Mike Clingingsmith - Pleasant Valley School District

Lane Bleeker - LeClaire Baptist Church and LeClaire City Council

Ken Dahl - Dahl Ford, Davenport

Kelly Miller - Snap Fitness and 1^st Source Contractors

Debbie Mulvania - First Central State Bank

Melody Oltmann - First Presbyterian Church of LeClaire

Vern Spring - Retired Mayor of LeClaire

Donna Walley - Aunt Hattie's Fanciful Emporium

WELCOMING NEW MEMBERS!

Kernel Cody's Popcorn Shoppe - new owners, Diane Frascello and Joel Johnson, 125 North Cody Road, Le Claire, IA 52753

kernelcodys@iowatelecom.net All different flavors of popcorn, Lagomarcino's fine chocolates and over 85 types of candy!

The Black Watch Room - Kelly Schone - 3851 Forest Grove Drive, LeClaire, IA 52753. phone: 563-332-5072. Website: theblackwatchroom.com Planning a Wedding?  Hosting a Retirement or Graduation Party?  Coordinating a Bridal or Baby Shower? Book your Special Events with us!

Charles Schwab - Eric M. Johannes, CFP®, Independent Branch Leader and Financial Planner - 5345 Elmore Avenue, Suite 300, Davenport, IA 52807 phone: 563-275-3663. Helping you plan meet your financial goals for years to come.

CALENDAR

TODAY - March 1^st - FIRST FRIDAY IN LECLAIRE!!!!

Food and Beverage Samples at Mississippi River Distilling Company www.mrdistilling.com 5:30-8:00 p.m. March's "gift with purchase" is a special free pint glass featuring the Cody Road Whiskey logo on one side and "My St. Patty's Day Shot Glass" on the other for every bottle purchased while supplies last.  A St. Patrick's Day inspired drink planned in the bar called a Sham-O-Rita and samples of the Blueberry Rose made with River Rose Gin, blueberries and a hint of lemon.  Chef Stephanie is preparing a Lenten special with seafood soup and Sorghrum Caramel Chocolate Chip Grilled Bananas.

Wine samples at Wide River Winery We are excited to partner with Crane and Pelican Cafe in LeClaire for our March celebration. Samples of chicken and rice in a delicious port sauce made with our very own Ms. Issippi Port will be available. www.wideriverwinery.com

Antique Archaeology will be open until 7pm!

Karaoke at Sneaky Pete's Every Friday Night 9:00 P.M.-1:00 A.M. 207 North Cody Road Le Claire, IA (563) 289-4277.

Aunt Hattie's Fanciful Emporium will be open late - go in for a free red velvet cupcake! Yummmy!!

Free Appraisals at LeClaire Antiques & Appraisals, 5:30 - 8 p.m.

Restaurants and several other shops will be open late, too!

March 3rd and the first Sunday of every month - Reusable Usables - Family Yoga 3:30-4:30 p.m. Rediscover how amazing it is to be a part of your family!  Ages 2 and up! $5 per person or $15 for up to four people. Taught by Jennifer Vondracek, Executive Director of yoga.  No experience necessary! Ongoing event, and for more info, you can visit our website at www.reusableusables.org or our facebook page, or call 563-289-3946

March 6^th - Buffalo Bill Museum repeats jewelry-making class! Wednesday, March 6th the museum will host a bracelet and earring making class at 4:00 with Janet Daugherty. Call the museum at 289-5580 to make a reservation to join the class.  Bracelets are $10 each; pair of earring $5 additional. This was a very popular class last year and promises to be again this year.

March 8th - Slagle's Wine, Spirits and Beer Tasting - 5-7 p.m. Slagle Foods 2, Inc.,1301 Eagle Ridge Road, LeClaire. Stop in and try something new!

March 9th - Trivia Night at the LeClaire Civic Center benefiting the LeClaire Civic Club Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with trivia starting at 7 p.m. Participants may bring beer, wine, snacks and soda. Water and snacks will also be for sale. Up to eight people per table. $10 per person with a $50 table minimum. Everyone will be entered into a drawing for door prizes. Contact Chris at chris@ccx.net or 563-505-6703 for reservations or information. Don't have enough for a full table? Come anyway and we can put you on a table that needs people!

March 12^th - Chamber Networking Breakfast - 8:00 a.m. McDonald's, LeClaire

March 14th - Vegan & Vegetarian Night at the Crane & Pelican Café - Details and Menu at www.craneandpelican.com

March 15th - 17th - Bier Stube St. Patricks Day Celebration - $9.99 corned beef and cabbage and red potatoes, served all day long Fri-Sun. 1001 Canal Shore Dr., LeClaire. 563-289-2121

March 16th - LeClaire Rec Center Family Night - www.leclairereccenter.com

March 26th - Civic Club Annual Corporation Meeting that was originally scheduled for Feb. 26th, is now rescheduled for March 26^th at the LeClaire Civic Center. Pot Luck at 6:30 PM and Annual Meeting at 7:00PM. All Civic Club members and their guests are encouraged to attend. Also, anyone interested in joining the Civic Club may attend as my guests.

March 26th - Reusable Usables - Women's Full Moon Circle Yoga - 7:30-8:45 p.m. Full Moon Circle is our opportunity to explore and learn from each other, and yoga will be led by Jennifer Vondracek.  We look forward to this opportunity to learn from a wonderful group of women, and to celebrate our strength, wisdom & love. $8 or donation. Ongoing event, and for more info, you can visit our website at www.reusableusables.org or our facebook page, or call 563-289-3946

March 30^th - Wide River Winery Easter bonnet Contest! Be creative and have fun! Judging at 3:30p.m. Tasting room is open 11AM-7PM

March 31^st - Bier Stube - Special Easter Sunday Brunch - 9am - 12pm. Seatings begin on the hour.  Price $13.99 for buffet or $19.99 per person with unlimited Bloody Mary's and Mimosas. Also taking reservations for Mothers Day Brunch (May 12th). 1001 Canal Shore Dr., LeClaire. 563-289-2121

Save the Date

April 3 - "Dinner with Mrs. Dawley" The museum's fundraiser at the Dawley Home (Crane & Pelican Café) is SOLD OUT! Dinner in a riverboat pilot's home, joined by the couple's friends and family. It will be an enjoyable evening!  If you would like to be contacted if any reservations are cancelled, please send an email to: BuffaloBill@iowatelecom.net, or message the museum on FaceBook:  Buffalo Bill Museum LeClaire IA (Please include your phone number, and number in party).

FYI

Wide River Winery - New location in LeClaire, IA opening soon!

Reusable Usables, Planet Green After School Classes 322 N Cody Road, LeClaire, IA  52753 www.reusableusables.org TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS   4:00-5:30 PM Learn creative and fun ways to respect our planet with hands on eco-friendly art and educational activities based on the Iowa DNR Planet Patrol Series.   $5 per class thanks to GRANT funding from Iowa DNR. visit www.reusableusables.org Ongoing event and for more info you can visit our website at www.reusableusables.org or our facebook page or call 563-289-3946

SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND BEYOND

Meet and greet Pastor Melody any Wednesday from 1-3 pm at Happy Joe's. Pastor Melody from First Presbyterian Church of LeClaire, will be at Happy Joe's in LeClaire, every Wednesday, from 1-3 pm, sipping on a soda, reading and waiting to visit with you and your friends. Stop by and say hi. Or, if you have a prayer request or a question, just let her know.

Meals for Seniors at the First Presbyterian Church, LeClaire every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 12 noon. Good food and a time to visit with others. Please call 563-289-3646 and make a reservation 2 days in advance.

Trivia Nights in LeClaire at the LeClaire Civic Center

2013 Trivia Nights:

March 9 - LeClaire Civic Center

April 6 - LeClaire Little League

May 4 - LeClaire Lions

June 8 - Buffalo Bill Museum

July 13 - Hosted by First Presbyterian Church - Hurricane Sandy Victims

LeClaire Trivia Nights have raised over $95,000 for local non-profit organizations! Thank you for your continued support!

LeClaire 2013 Events Calendar

Spring - Spring Fling Easter Egg Hunt (Hollyhock Park)

May 5 - Cinco de Mayo

May 17-18 - French Market Days

June 7-8 - LeClaire Garage Sale Days

June 21-22 - Girls' Getaway Weekend - Spectacular celebrity guests and events planned - details to come!

Summer - City-Wide Water Explosion (Hollyhock Park)

Summer - Bike Parade & Decorating

August 8-10 - Tug Fest - www.tugfest.com

October 6 - Dogtoberfest (rain date - Oct. 13)

October 12-13 - Autumn Market Days

October 13 - Apple Fest

October 24 - Hallowine

October 26 - Witches' Walk

December 6-8 - Christmas in LeClaire

www.LeClaireChamber.com and visit the Chamber on FaceBook!

Over 150 local and national organizations wrote to the full Congress today urging support for Senate Appropriations Chair Barbara Mikulski's proposal to end direct farm subsidy payments and use a small portion of the savings to restore funding for critical farm bill programs that were left out of the fiscal cliff deal passed on December 31^st 2012.   The farm program changes are part of a larger bill to stop automatic across-the-board budget cuts and substitute a larger, targeted, balanced package of spending cuts and tax loophole closings

The direct payment program had been eliminated in the 2012 Senate-passed and House Agriculture Committee-passed farm bills but was nonetheless then included in the Farm Bill extension, while funding for dozens of other cost-effective programs included in those bills were zeroed out.

The letter stated "A fiscal package compiled by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid would correct the disastrous farm bill extension measure contained in the New Year fiscal cliff deal...As supporters of sustainability and equity, we believe the package or one substantially similar has merit as a fairer farm bill extension and a pathway to a better approach to deficit reduction than across the board cuts. "

Among other provisions, the American Family Economic Protection Act would use savings from the elimination of direct payments to reinstate funding for programs eliminated in the extension deal, including $452 million for agricultural research, rural development, renewable energy, and support for local, organic, specialty crop, beginning, and disadvantaged farmers.

These small but vital programs help farmers expand their businesses and meet the growing demand for local, healthy and organic food. They also spur job creation, build healthy rural communities and support a new generation of farmers to replace the aging farmer population.

The Mikulsi-Murray-Reid proposal would also restore funding to the Conservation Stewardship Program for the 2013 farmer sign-up, funding that was inadvertently left out of the continuing resolution that is currently funding government programs.  It would also provide immediate funding for livestock and other farm disaster assistance, another item left out of the fiscal cliff farm bill extension deal.

The bill would also remove all Farm Bill spending from the automatic budget cuts referred to as sequestration.  Sequestration, which is scheduled to take effect on Friday, March 1, will otherwise reduce farm commodity and conservation program support by between $6 and $7 billion.

The letter's signatories, including Community Food and Justice Coalition, Rural Coalition, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, National Family Farm Coalition, Environmental Working Group and Union of Concerned Scientists "call on House, Senate, and White House leaders to work immediately toward a comprehensive deal that averts the sequester, finishes real appropriation bills for this fiscal year, and corrects the farm bill extension so that it actually extends the full farm bill while beginning the long overdue job of reforming subsidies."

The groups also pledged to continue work with Congress to complete a full and fair Farm Bill that mitigates disasters, protects natural resources, provides equity and inclusion, constructs a new and economically viable future for agriculture and rural communities, and assures healthy food for all consumers.  For full letter, go here https://www.ruralco.org/GOATPressReleaseFeb2013

"The organizations that serve victims of domestic violence do much more than provide a safe haven for women. They offer victims a chance to build a new life free from abuse," said Simon, a lawyer who prosecuted domestic battery cases. "I thank Congress for renewing the Violence Against Women Act, extending federal support for these crisis organizations and expanding protections for vulnerable communities. I welcome this opportunity to continue working to help rape victims, reduce violence on college campuses and end domestic abuse."

Simon's Firearms Working Group, which is examining gun issues in Illinois, met yesterday in Springfield with advocates to learn about the impact guns have in domestic violence.

The Violence Against Women Act was originally passed in 1994 and among other services, it helps support organizations that provide services to victims of domestic violence. The act also strengthened federal law by toughening sentences for individuals convicted of stalking. The act has already passed the U.S. Senate and now heads to President Obama. 

Nationally, one in four women has experienced domestic violence in her lifetime.

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