07 Sep 2012

The Figge Presents Posing Beauty in African American Culture

By Susan Horan

September 8 - November 4, 2012

Davenport, IOWA (September 2012) The Figge Art Museum is pleased to present Posing Beauty in African American Culture, an exhibition that explores the contested ways in which African and African American beauty have been represented in historical and contemporary contexts through a diverse array of media including photography, video, fashion, and advertising. Posing Beauty opens on Saturday, September 8 and runs through November 4, 2012.

Throughout the Western history of art and image-making, the relationship between beauty and art has become increasingly complex within contemporary art and popular culture. The images in this exhibition challenge idealized forms of beauty in art by examining their portrayal and exploring a variety of attitudes about race, class, gender, popular culture and politics as seen through the aesthetics of representation.

This exhibit features approximately 50 works drawn from public and private collections, and the accompanied book, published by W.W. Norton, will be for sale in the Museum Store. Artists in the exhibit include, among others, Carrie Mae Weems, Charles "Teenie" Harris, Gary Winogrand, Renee Cox, Mickalene Thomas and Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe.

The Figge partnered with St Ambrose University, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, Gathering of Women, RI County NAACP, and Imani! Dancers & Studio for Cultural Arts, Inc. to develop programs for this exhibition. "Posing Beauty is a provocative and thoughtful sharing between African American women on their struggle to define their 'beautifulness' and to share their  personal feelings with other 'sistas' on how their 'beautifulness' have been defined and continue to be refined," said Liz Sherwin, President RI County NAACP. Shirleen Martin, founder of Gathering of Women, also worked closely with the Figge Education Department to develop programming for this exhibition. "Beauty is both internal and external and the true beauty of a Black Woman is worthy of all the attention and exploration that the world can offer," stated Martin.

An exhibition reception for Posing Beauty in African American Culture will be held at 6pm on Thursday, September 27.  Following the reception, exhibition curator Dr. Deborah Willis will lead the discussion "Posing Beauty in African American Culture." Willis is chair and professor of photography and imaging at Tisch School of the Arts, New York University, where she also has an affiliated appointment with the College of Arts and Sciences, Africana Studies. Willis, a 2000 McArthur Fellow, is one of the nation's leading historians of African American photography and a curator of African American culture.

Posing Beauty in African American Culture is curated by Deborah Willis and organized by Curatorial Assistance Traveling Exhibitions, Pasadena, California. The exhibition is sponsored locally by the Riverboat Development Authority and Hunt and Diane Harris.

Related Programming

The Figge Art Museum will present a variety of special programming to enhance the visitors' experience of Posing Beauty in African American Culture. Admission to all programs is included with museum admission or museum membership, unless otherwise noted.

Special Workshop
"As Seen through the Lens"

7 pm Thursday, September 20

Local photographers Mark Mess and John Mohr will discuss selected photographs from the exhibition followed by a live photo shoot with public participation.

Symposium

"Is My Black Beautiful?"

1-4:30 pm Saturday, September 22

A panel discussion on the ever-changing concepts that define black beauty in the context of fashion and time.

1-2 pm • Panel Discussion, Moderator: Bobbie Lastrapes

2-3 pm • Gallery Talk • Led by Rima Girnius, PhD, Figge Art Museum associate curator

3-4:30 pm • Reception and informal performances by the Imani! Dancers & Studio for Cultural Arts, Inc

Inspired by the exhibition Posing Beauty in African American Culture, this symposium will begin with a panel discussion moderated by community leader Bobbie Lastrapes and will include local African American women spanning sixty years in age, all of whom will be reflecting on what it means and has meant to be beautiful in the traditional sense and also on a personal level. Audience members will be encouraged to contribute their thoughts and add to the conversation. Following the panel discussion, participants will visit the exhibition for an informal tour, led by Figge curator Rima Girnius, after which there will be a reception and performances by the Imani! Dancers & Studio for Cultural Arts, Inc. Refreshments will be served.

Exhibition Reception
5:30-7 pm Thursday, September 27
Join the Figge staff in celebrating the opening of the exhibition Posing Beauty in African American Culture. Refreshments will be served, cash bar.

Curator Discussion
"Posing Beauty in African American Culture"
7 pm Thursday, September 27

Exhibition curator Dr. Deborah Willis will talk about the contested ways in which African and African American beauty have been represented in historical and contemporary contexts through a range of media including photography, film, video, fashion, advertising and other forms of popular culture such as music and the Internet. The lecture will explore contemporary under- standings of beauty by framing the notion of aesthetics, race, class and gender within art, popular culture and political contexts.

Deborah Willis, PhD, is chair and professor of photography and imag- ing at Tisch School of the Arts, New York University, where she also has an affiliated appointment with the College of Arts and Sciences, Africana Studies. Willis, a 2000 McArthur Fellow, is one of the nation's leading historians of African American photography and curator of African American culture. Her most recent works are Posing Beauty-African American Images from the 1890s to the Present; Michelle Obama, The First Lady in Photographs; and Black Venus 2010: They Called Her 'Hottentot' (editor).

Lecture
"Posing Questions: Inquiring About Portrait Photography for Personal Meaning Making"

7 pm Thursday, October 11

Ann Rowson Love, director of Western Illinois University-Quad Cities Museum Studies Program, will lead a discussion about interpreting portraiture from a variety of perspectives and current graduate students will demonstrate approaches.

Reception

SAU "Race Matters" Reception
6-7 pm Thursday, October 18

Mingle with fellow art-enthusiasts before the evening's lecture about the exhibition Posing Beauty in African American Culture. Refreshments will be served, cash bar. This reception and the talk that follows is offered in conjunction with St. Ambrose University's yearlong series, "Race Matters" and is co-sponsored by the Women's Studies Department at St. Ambrose University.

Lecture
"You Look Beautiful Like This: Selling Race and Heritage to Chicago's African American Community in the Era of the New Negro"
7 pm Thursday, October 18

Scholar Kimberly Glenn will discuss the New Negro Movement, a blossoming of the arts founded on the premise of African American empowerment and pride in African heritage, which took root in the mid-1920s. This lecture will explore how the ideal of black womanhood was championed through the advertisements of new beauty products that promoted African and African American aesthetic sensibilities with regard to hair and complexion during this time period.


College Night
6-9 pm Thursday, October 25

Inspired by the exhibition Posing Beauty in African American Culture, this event will feature a variety of activities that encourage students to explore identity and personal expression. This event is free to college students, faculty and staff.
07 Sep 2012

Marriage and Family Counseling Adds New Resident

By William J. Hiebert
Rock Island, IL, September 4, 2012 -- Mr. Jacob Johnson has joined the staff of Marriage and Family Counseling Service. He joins Dr. William Hiebert, Executive Director, and Dr. Derek Ball, Director of the Hiebert Institute, as the full-time resident staff member at Marriage and Family Counseling Service.

Mr. Johnson completes his doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, VA in 2013. Following his master's degree in marriage and family therapy in 2010 from Northwestern University (Evanston), he worked as a therapist in several settings including Evanston, and in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago. During the last two years at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Mr. Johnson has been a Research Assistant and a therapist at the Family Therapy Center in Blacksburg. He is the author of 7 professional articles of which five have been based on research related to grandparenting of WIC-enrolled grandchildren.

Licensed as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, Mr. Johnson is fluent in Spanish and will be working with couples and families in the agency's Spanish Family Therapy Program, partly funded by Bob and Patti Lane, the Amy Helpenstell Foundation, the Doris and Victor Day Foundation, and United Way.

Robert Donohoo, the departing resident, completed his 15-month residency in March of 2012. During his residency, Donohoo passed the national marriage and family therapy examination and became licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist in Illinois. Mr. Donohoo remained in the community and is employed as a family therapist with the Veterans Administration in their Moline office working with returning veterans and their various personal and relationship issues that service abroad in Irag and Afghanistan have brought about.

The residency program was established in 1980 for the purpose of providing specialized training in marital and family therapy for a twelve-month period. During his internship, Mr. Johnson will receive supervision by the senior staff of Marriage and Family Counseling Service and will provide over 700 hours of clinical experience working with a variety of presenting issues. Following the completion of the one year internship at Marriage and Family CounselingService, residents will have completed the basic requirement for becoming a full clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and a licensed marriage and family therapist in Illinois.

Marriage and Family Counseling Service is a community sponsored counseling and education program sponsored by the United Way of the Quad City area, fee income and gifts. The agency has served the Quad City Area for 37 years, offering high quality therapy to individuals, couples and families from Rock Island and Scott Counties and the surrounding areas. Therapy services are offered on a "sliding scale" which means that fees are based on the clients' income. Many types of insurance coverage are also accepted.

Marriage and Family Counseling Service is located at 1800 Third Avenue, Suite 512, Rock Island, with services available to all residents of the Quad City area.
07 Sep 2012

Branstad, Reynolds, Allen to hold 14 STEM community conversations

By Office of Governor Terry Branstad

(DES MOINES) -  Gov. Terry Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and University of Northern Iowa President Ben Allen today announced a series of community conversations featuring science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and economic development that will take place across the state in September and October.

The community conversations are designed seek feedback from Iowans about what priorities the Governor's STEM Advisory Council should focus on as the STEM initiative continues to build across Iowa.

"We are determined to provide Iowa's young people with engaging STEM education opportunities, no matter where they live," said Reynolds, co-chair of the Governor's STEM Advisory Council. "That will help assure more students are well equipped to be knowledgeable citizens and to someday begin college or career training prepared for success. It also will help assure a stronger STEM employee pipeline for Iowa's businesses and industries."

All parents, grandparents, educators, business and civic leaders, legislators and other Iowans are invited to attend the hour-long, town hall style meetings.

"We are in the process of rolling out STEM programs through our scale-up initiative and these community conversations are a way to foster STEM relationships between local businesses, the regional STEM networks and area schools," said Allen, co-chair of the Governor's STEM Advisory Council.

The Governor's STEM Advisory Council is a public-private partnership whose overarching goal is creating greater student achievement in STEM subjects and a stronger STEM workforce.

"STEM jobs are projected to be among the fastest growing and best paying. Iowa's economy also will benefit if more young people are ready for STEM jobs. Employers routinely tell us they have difficulty filling STEM jobs that pay well because applicants lack the right skill set," said Branstad.

The following STEM Community Conversation events are open to the public:

Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012

9:30 a.m. Gov. Branstad, Lt. Gov. Reynolds and President Allen hold Tama County STEM Community Conversation

Reinig Center

1007 Prospect Dr.

Toledo, IA

11:30 a.m. Gov. Branstad, Lt. Gov. Reynolds and President Allen hold Black Hawk County STEM Community Conversation

University of Northern Iowa - Center for Energy and Environmental Education - Main Lobby

1227 W 27th St.

Cedar Falls, IA

Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012

9 a.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Greene County STEM Community Conversation

Greene County Community Center

204 W Harrison St.

Jefferson, IA

10:30 a.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Boone County STEM Community Conversation

DMACC Boone Campus - Auditorium

1125 Hancock Dr.

Boone, IA

12:30 p.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Marshall County STEM Community Conversation

Emerson Innovation Center, Fisher Technology

301 S 1st Ave.

Marshalltown, IA

Monday, Sept. 17, 2012

10 a.m. Lt. Gov. Reynolds and President Allen hold Polk County STEM Community Conversation

Drake Legal Clinic Courtroom

2400 University Ave.

Des Moines, IA

1:30 p.m. Lt. Gov. Reynolds holds Warren County STEM Community Conversation

Simpson College - McNeil Hall - Pioneer Conference Room

701 North C St.

Indianola, IA

Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012

1:30 p.m. Lt. Gov. Reynolds and President Allen hold Union County STEM Community Conversation

Southwestern Community College - Instructional Center Room 180

1501 W Townline St.

Creston, IA

4 p.m. Lt. Gov. Reynolds and President Allen hold Taylor County STEM Community Conversation

Bedford High School - Auditorium

906 Penn St.

Bedford, IA

Friday, Oct. 5, 2012

9 a.m. Lt. Gov. Reynolds holds Emmet County STEM Community Conversation

Iowa Lakes Community College - Wind Energy Facility

2021 7th Ave. S

Estherville, IA

2 p.m. Lt. Gov. Reynolds holds Webster County STEM Community Conversation

Iowa Central Community College - Bioscience and Health Services Auditorium (BHS105)

330 Ave. M

Fort Dodge, IA

Monday, Oct. 8, 2012

12:30 p.m. Lt. Gov. Reynolds holds Muscatine County STEM Community Conversation

Muscatine Community Schools Administrative Center - Conference Room

2900 Mulberry Ave.

Muscatine, IA

3:30 p.m. Lt. Gov. Reynolds holds Des Moines County STEM Community Conversation

Greater Burlington Partnership - Winegard Board Room

610 N 4th St., Suite 200

Burlington, IA

Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012

2 p.m. Lt. Gov. Reynolds holds Linn County STEM Community Conversation

The Hotel at Kirkwood Community College - Ballroom

7725 Kirkwood Blvd. SW

Cedar Rapids, IA

###
07 Sep 2012

Department of Public Safety: a National Model for Healthcare

By G. Keith Smith, M.D., http://www.aapsonline.org/

As ObamaCare becomes ever more unpopular, the single payer idea keeps coming up. So let's consider what a single-payer system would look like. There are so many places to look it's a little confusing. Here's a partial list.

Canada tends to come up first, and I think about it a lot. That's because lots of Canadians come to our facility in Oklahoma for their care. Do I really need to say anything else? These are people who have been told to wait for years before they can see a specialist because there are budget "caps." When the money is gone, the doctor's office is closed. Surgeons are allowed only so much time in the operating room in a month. When they have used up their time, they can do no more surgery. Rather than have the market determine the allocation of resources, a Canadian bureaucrat creates a budget and that's that. Presto! The "right" to healthcare is defined. It might not feel too much like a right, however, to those who have to travel to the U.S. for timely surgery, or for those who die waiting in line for care.

Then there's Britain. The Brits harbor such nationalistic pride in their healthcare system that they celebrated it in the opening ceremonies for the London Olympics. It is based on the same faulty economic premise as the Canadian system. The Brits not only euthanize their sick citizens to free up scarce hospital beds (do you wonder how this shortage of beds came about?), but they are proud of this and have even given this highway to the cemetery a fancy name: the Liverpool Care Pathway.British patients that become extremely ill have a better chance of survival at home, surrounded by family and friends, as no one stands a chance once on the LCP. Recovery from severe illness can occur without the help of modern medicine, but recovery of the very sick isn't likely when the hospital staff is actively murdering them.

But there is no need to go outside of the U.S. to see the wonders of socialism in medicine. The VA hospitals and the Indian hospitals provide examples of efficiency brought to us in medicine from government bureaucrats.

Our local paper's lead article recently informed us that the Department of Public Safety (DPS) was closing the office administering driver's tests for the day to train their employees. Zeke Campfield of The Oklahoman writes that the "operator of a local Chick-fil-A restaurant will teach examiners how to be patient and courteous."

What would happen to an employee at Chick-fil-A that was not patient with and courteous to customers? What would patrons of Chick-fil-A do if they were not treated in a timely manner and with respect? What would happen to Chick-fil-A if this treatment of customers were widespread?

Campfield's article also talks about a mother getting in line outside the DPS testing center at 4:15 A.M., only to be turned away at the end of the day because there were simply not enough examiners to get to her son. Three mornings in a row. The spokesman for the DPS muttered something about budget cuts, so I'm guessing we'll see government's usual response, that of throwing even more money at failure.

Try to imagine the DPS in charge of your medical care. Rude and inefficient staff. No competitive fears. Hospitals working together to institutionalize mediocrity so no one stands out as better, eliminating troublesome comparisons. Long waiting lines. Always blaming the lack of funding or budget caps.

The efficiencies and quality of the private sector cannot be superimposed on government agencies for one simple reason: without competitors, government doesn't have to care. Ever. Our state government wants to introduce private sector ideas into a failed government organization. Ironic, isn't it, that health care bureaucrats are increasingly embracing the business plan of the DPS, even as the DPS is looking for private-sector answers? At least the DPS hasn't started euthanizing applicants waiting in line to free up examination spots.

###

07 Sep 2012

Let's Call It Labor Week

By Ed Fallon
Dear Friends,

It's appropriate that America designates a day to recognize the incomparable contributions of labor unions. But with so many politicians (mostly Republicans) actively working to obliterate organized labor, we would do well to spend more than just a day discussing issues affecting America's workers.

With that in mind . . . Tuesday, Colin Gordon with the Iowa Policy Project talks about wage theft and the $600 million each year stolen from Iowa workers! Folks might be astounded to learn how many low-wage workers are not paid the wages they are legally owed. And if you think the State of Iowa is doing its job to crack down on violators and protect such workers, think again. For a little homework on the subject, check out the Iowa Policy Project's new report.

Wednesday, Chris Wilbeck of Greene County talks about the potential impact of a 5,000-head corporate hog confinement proposed for her area. Folks there are still reeling from an unsuccessful battle to stop a confinement earlier this year. If the second one is built, there would be 12,400 hogs within a two-mile radius of Chris' home. (To sort of put that in perspective for us city folk, the population density of two-square miles in Des Moines is 5,030 - and a hog produces twice as much excrement as an adult human!)

The confinement operator is Prestage "Farms," a huge enterprise with its corporate tentacles wrecking havoc in six states. To sign a petition to stop them, click here.

And let me just throw this out there: What is it going to take before Iowa Democratic lawmakers - who for years campaigned in favor of local control yet did nothing when they had power - free themselves from the chains of corporate money and stand with the people they pledged to support?

Thursday, we discuss why labor leaders are unhappy with Whole Foods' CEO John Mackey, who once said that binding arbitration is "not the way we normally do things in the United States" and that allowing workers to organize without a secret ballot "violates a bedrock principle of American democracy." As Mother Jones once pointed out, "Mackey's tired canard has been debunked over and over. Even the Wall Street Journal editorial board, home of anti-labor commentary, finally admitted . . . that the 'the bill doesn't remove the secret-ballot option.'"

Also, Thursday, Sonia Ashe with Iowa Public Interest Research Group discusses a new report on Super PACs. The report is called "Megaphones for Millionaires," and it's timely given the vast infusion of corporate money in the November election.

Friday, with one eye looking back at this week's Labor Day celebrations and one looking forward to an Iowa Legislature set to convene in just four months, we'll talk about some other issues affecting Iowa workers, including raising the minimum wage and the Earned Income Tax Credit.

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 6 - 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 14-30 - 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 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.

 

07 Sep 2012

Fiddler on the Roof - Purchase Your Tickets in Advance!

By Adler Theatre
Relive a glorious tradition of musical theatre with FIDDLER ON THE ROOF.  See this Tony Award-winning and timeless classic on November 18.  You are invited to purchase tickets before the general public beginning on Tuesday, September 4 at 10:00 a.m. until Thursday, September 6 at 11:59 p.m.  Click on the orange "Find Tickets" button below and enter in the special offer code: MATCHMAKER.  Tickets ($32, $42 & $52) go on sale to the public on Friday, September 7.  Service fees may vary.
07 Sep 2012

GAHC Volunteers Needed! Can You Help?

By German American Heritage Center
Dear Friends of GAHC,

The German American Heritage Center is in serious need of the following volunteer positions:

 

 

1) Desk help:   Admissions / Gift Shop

 

Several of our loyal volunteers have been sidelined recently by illness or other misfortunes, and our monthly calendar has too many holes. If you have been thinking about volunteering, this is a wonderful time to step up and lend a hand - training is provided. If you have not volunteered in a while but are willing to accept a shift, please notify us and we can find a spot that works for you!  Please help!!

 

2) Special Event:   Budget Bridal Fair Sunday, Sept 16th  12:00 - 3:00

 

The Bridal Fair will require our staff to be busy on 4th floor promoting that space for wedding and related events, and overseeing approximately 15 other vendors also involved. We will need 4 - 5 extra volunteers that day to monitor the exhibit areas. An extra hand would be helpful in the Gift Shop as well, since many attendees might be tempted to look around! This is a new event, and with your extra assistance we know it will be a successful one for all! The goal for GAHC is to show off our lovely 4th floor program room and encourage future rentals. Be sure to catch the promotion of this event on Paula Sands Live! on Tuesday, September 11th!

 

3) A peek around the corner...holiday time! Make your presence your present!

 

The Christmas and winter holiday season will be here before we know it! Please consider giving GAHC one of the most precious gifts around - your time! We are always in need of desk help during November and December, especially on the weekends!

 

Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to hearing from you!

 

Sincerely,

GAHC Staff

07 Sep 2012

Student-Run Camp for Children Affected by Cancer Kicks Off Its Second Annual Session

By Natali Bode

Camp Kesem is a free, week-long overnight summer camp for children ages 6-16 who have or had a parent with cancer.   Camp Kesem is organized by Augustana College student volunteers under the guidance of its Advisory Committee of local professionals with related expertise.  Augustana College students serve as counselors and undergo over forty hours of extensive training prior to camp.

Campers participate in a host of fun activities including sports, drama, arts & crafts, adventure, scavenger hunts, and talent shows.  In addition, each night before bed, the campers have "Cabin Chat," a time for the campers to talk and open up to their peers and counselors.

"It gives both my child and myself a week to spread our wings separate from each other. He's exactly where he wants to be, surrounded by kids in similar situations and the warmth and support of the counselors," says a parent of camper, age 12.

Children who have a parent who has or had cancer often lack sufficient external support because they are neither physically ill nor visibly distinct from others.  The complexity of emotions they experience can easily go without attention.  It is often challenging for these children to find peers with whom they can relate, resulting in feelings of isolation and fear and putting the children at risk for depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders.

Kesem advisor for Camp Kesem-Stanford, Dr. Michael Amylon, pediatric oncologist at Stanford Hospital emphasizes the importance of an experience like Kesem.  "These kids have their world knocked right out from under them, and often they have no where to turn to get help and support.  Camp Kesem provides a magical place of respite and play, and a group of other kids in the same situation who understand what it's all about and can offer unique and important peer understanding and friendship."

Camp Kesem was founded one year ago at Augustana College. This past summer it held its first successful week of camp and was able to serve 35 children from the Quad Cities and greater Iowa area. Augustana College's camp will welcome 60 kids to this year's session. Applications for the 2013 camp session will be available in November on the Camp Kesem Augustana website.

More information on Camp Kesem can be found at www.campkesem.org/augustana.

07 Sep 2012

Personal Finance Article: High School Grads Need to Understand Credit

By Steve Burke

By Jason Alderman

If you've got a recent high school graduate who's getting ready to head off to college or join the workforce, let me share a few lessons I learned the hard way about managing personal finances that you can pass along to your kids.

Young adults are just starting to build their credit history. In the coming months they'll probably encounter many unfamiliar expenses - and many financial temptations. If they're not careful, a few ill-thought decisions made now could damage their credit for years to come.

Here are several actions your kids can take to build good financial habits and strong credit - and a few minefields to watch out for:

Probably the most fundamental tool to for young adults to help manage their finances is a basic checking account and debit card. A few tips to pass along:

  • Look for a bank/credit union that charges no monthly usage fee, doesn't require minimum balances and has conveniently located ATMs so you don't rack up out-of-network ATM charges.
  • Enter all transactions in the check register and review your account online regularly to know when deposits, checks, purchases and automatic payments have cleared.
  • Don't write checks or make debit card purchases unless the current balance will cover them - many transactions now clear instantaneously.
  • Banks must ask whether you want overdraft protection. If you opt for coverage, understand that overdrafts can be expensive - up to $35 or more per transaction.
  • Request text or email alerts when your balance drops below a certain level, checks or deposits clear, or payments are due.

Credit cards for young adults can be a useful tool, but they must be used responsibly. By law, people under 21 must have a parent or other responsible adult cosign credit card accounts unless they can prove sufficient income to repay the debt. If you allow your child to become an authorized user or joint account holder on one of your accounts, remember that any account activity, good or bad, goes on both your credit reports, so careful monitoring is critical.

Another way to build credit history is to start out with a "secured" credit card - a card linked to an account into which you deposit money. Typically you can charge up to the amount you've deposited and then replenish the account with more funds.

After they've made several on-time payments, have your kid ask the lender to convert it to an unsecured card, or to at least add an unsecured amount to the account. Just make sure that the lender agrees to report your payment history to at least one of the three credit bureaus; otherwise, the account does nothing to improve your credit.

If they qualify for an unsecured credit card, have your kids follow these guidelines:

  • Always make at least the minimum payment - on time - each month.
  • Strive to pay off the full balance each month; otherwise, the accumulated interest will add significantly to your repayment amount.
  • Avoid using credit cards for cash advances, which often incur upfront fees and begin accruing interest immediately.
  • Look for a card with no annual fee and also compare cash advance, late payment, balance transfer, over-the-limit and other fees.

For more tips on building and maintaining strong credit, visit What's My Score, a financial literacy program for young adults run by Visa Inc. (www.whatsmyscore.org).

07 Sep 2012

Fall Frolic Member Dinner!

By Kelly Lao
Greetings!

We want to remind you to RSVP to our fall fundraising dinner at the Outing Club on Tuesday, Sept. 18th at 5:30 pm!
Our annual dinner will feature a buffet of German food with a cash bar. Dress is casual and tickets are $40 per person! Call or stop into GAHC to pay by credit card or send your check to 712 W 2nd St. Davenport, IA.

Can't join us? Please consider a donation as this event replaces our Winter Gala.

This year we will be honoring our Life Members!


Please call 563-322-8844 today to reserve your spot at this very special meal. We hope that you will join us in celebrating another great year at the German American Heritage Center!
Sincerely,
Kelly Lao
German American Heritage Center
563-322-8844

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