On February 5th, our country marked the 20th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) - a groundbreaking law that provides American workers with 12 weeks of protected ? albeit unpaid ? leave to recover from a serious illness or care for a new child or seriously ill family member. A recent update provides 26 weeks of family leave to families of injured service members and recent veterans.

The FMLA changed the landscape for hardworking Americans.  While we celebrate this progress, we realize there is still work to be done when it comes to helping working families, and that includes guaranteeing paid sick time to individuals that work hard, earn it, and deserve it.

In the coming weeks, I will introduce the Healthy Families Act, a bill that would allow workers to earn up to 56 hours, or seven days, of paid sick time per year.  Workers would earn one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked.  Employers that already provide paid sick time will not have to change their current policies, as long as their existing time can be used for the same purposes. Employers can also require workers to provide documentation supporting any request for leave longer than three consecutive days.

The United States is the only developed nation that does not guarantee paid sick days to its workers, and our economy and productivity suffer as a result. Contrary to popular belief, not absenteeism, but "presenteeism"? when a sick employee shows up to the workplace, infects other employees or customers, and is unproductive because they are not feeling well ? is the greatest cause of lost productivity due to illness. One study found that a lack of paid sick days ? and thus the inability to distance oneself from co-workers ? contributed to an additional 5 million cases of the H1N1 flu during the 2009 outbreak.

Seventy percent of low-wage workers ? those least likely to be able to afford a lost paycheck or lost job ? have no paid sick days. This group is largely workers in jobs that have frequent contact with members of the public, including food service, hospitality, nursing home care, and child care. Their lack of paid sick leave poses a public health threat to all of us and our loved ones. Shockingly, nearly two-thirds of restaurant workers have reported cooking or serving food while sick. Workers' rights should matter to everyone, but they matter even more when you consider that your next turkey sandwich might be served with a side of the flu.

But perhaps most important, under the Healthy Families Act, workers would have the security of knowing that when illness strikes ? as it undoubtedly will ? they will be able to tend to their families and themselves without losing their jobs or their income. This bill will provide health, peace of mind and security for America's workers and their families ? and that's something that everyone deserves.

For more information, please visit http://www.harkin.senate.gov/ or follow Senator Harkin on Facebook and Twitter.

A PDF version of this article is available by clicking here.

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America's Most Practical & Entertaining Parent Instruction

For parents and caregivers of children 0-10 yrs.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the QC

Thursday evenings at 6-7:30pm in the Lounge

March 14, 21 & 28 and April 4 & 11

Childcare Provided!

Anyone can register but class size is limited!

Registration for Church Members (Before Feb. 14):

$25 per person-$35 per couple

Registration for Non-Church Members &

Church Members after Feb. 14th:

$30 per person-$40 per couple

Registration Deadline: March 1st

________________________________________________

Would you like to feel more confident as a parent?

Would you like to have more fun parenting?

Would you like to feel more relaxed at the end of the day?

Parents will learn to:

· Show their tots that whining and arguing do not pay.

· Put an end to misbehavior in public.

· Smooth out mornings and bedtimes.

· Take the battle out of meal times, tooth brushing, bathing, etc

· Teach respect, responsibility, and self-discipline.

· And much, much more!

On a personal note: My husband, Dane, and I participated in this class when it was offered in 2007 and it really improved our confidence as parents and taught us patience which relieved so much of the stress involved in parenting. It also taught us how to bedisciplinarians with out being 'the bad guys' as it's based off of naturalconsequences. It's like a mental chess game with kids and it's your time to win, stress free!

See attached registration form.

Contact Sarah Moulton at UUDavYRE@yahoo.com or 563-323-5749.

Simon unveils new white paper on higher education in Illinois at Chicago's Union League Club

CHICAGO - February 12, 2013. Lt. Governor Sheila Simon was the featured guest speaker today at the Union League Club in Chicago. Simon released a white paper on game-changing reforms that will make college more affordable and increase graduation rates.

"We need to make sure that our high school students are ready for college and complete certificates and degrees on time and with less debt," said Simon, Governor Quinn's point person on education reform. "The return on educational investment is proven for graduates seeking living-wage jobs and a state seeking high-quality employers. College is worth it."

According to Simon, affordability is the most significant barrier to students seeking degrees at public universities. Simon's white paper includes game-changing reforms, such as dual degree programs that enable students to enroll simultaneously in community colleges and universities. Students are able to pay lower community college tuitions rates and later transition seamlessly to a university.

Reverse transfer programs enable students who have transferred from community colleges to continue earning credits toward an associate degree when their university classes overlap with community college requirements. Simon also suggested targeted income taxes waivers for students who earn bachelor's or advanced degrees and choose to live and work in Illinois post-graduation.

The paper follows Simon's College Affordability Summits for students, teachers and administrators held this fall at the state's 12 public universities.

As the state's leading voice on education and chair of the Joint Educational Leadership Committee, Lt. Governor Simon is charged with increasing to 60 percent the proportion of working-age adults in Illinois with college degrees or certificates by 2025.

This goal is critical to the economic future of Illinois and its families. Without an educated workforce, Illinois will be unable to attract and retain employers requiring highly-skilled workers to fill current openings and sustain their future growth.

Lt. Governor Simon's white paper can be found here.

Audition Information

Auditions for the Classics at Brucemore production of Edmund Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 26 and 27, 2013, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the Brucemore Visitor Center, 2160 Linden Dr. SE. Various roles are available for physically agile males, ages 25 to 40; sword fighting or stage combat experience preferred. This is a cold-reading audition; no advance preparation required.

Cyrano de Bergerac is an unabashed historical romance set in the 1640s featuring a swashbuckling hero. While first and foremost a passionate love story, the plot develops as a comedy with fast-paced action and a tragic ending. The larger-than-life character of Cyrano is the genius hero with a ridiculously long nose and a passion for poetry and love.  Despite his bravado, Cyrano suffers through unrequited love for Roxanne, whose eyes only see the dashing Christian. Many widely known adaptations have been made, including the film, Roxanne, starring Steve Martin.

The Classics performances will be July 11 - 13 and 18 - 20, 2013, with a rain-date scheduled for July 21.  Rehearsals will begin on June 1.  For further information on auditions, contact Brucemore at (319) 362-7375 or Artistic Director James Kern (319) 365-0252.

About the Classics at Brucemore

The collaboration of Torchlight Theatrics and Brucemore in 1996 launched outdoor theatre in Eastern Iowa and a new venue at Brucemore. The Classics at Brucemore celebrates a rich history of quality live theatre, including Greek tragedy, Shakespearean comedy, and twentieth century American drama. Fully utilizing the natural amphitheater's rich backdrop, actors emerge from the woods, get dunked in the pond, and help themselves to the audience members' picnics. Characters from the show often seek help from the audience, creating an evening of hilarious and interactive fun.

About Brucemore

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.