16 Jul 2012

Illinois ESGR Public Affairs Director Honored for Work with Committee

By Lt. Col. Tim Franklin, National Guard Illinois

Headquarters ESGR Names Holub 2012 Public Affairs Volunteer of the Year

SPRINGFIELD, IL (07/13/2012)(readMedia)-- Headquarters Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recently announced Michael Holub, Public Affairs Director for the Illinois Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, as the ESGR Public Affairs Volunteer of the Year for 2012. Holub of Berwyn, received the award in recognition of his outstanding support to ESGR in helping the Illinois Committee publicize its many activities throughout the state over the past year.

The Public Affairs Volunteer of the Year Awards is a national-level ESGR award established to recognize the Public Affairs volunteer who has made the most significant contributions to his or her ESGR State Committee during the previous calendar year.

"We recognize the significance of your valued service and dedication of personal time to the Illinois Committee for ESGR," said James Rebholz, ESGR National Chair, in a letter congratulating Holub on his selection for the award. "Your active participation in this vital program has done much to enhance ESGR overall. Your hard work and dedication to our organization and our nation are deeply appreciated."

As the Public Affairs Director for the Illinois ESGR Committee, Holub works to publicize and promote the activities of the committee's more than 150 volunteers throughout the state on behalf of the men, women and employers of the National Guard and Reserve. He also maintains the committee's social media presence on its Facebook page.

"I want to thank Mike Holub for his continued outstanding support to the Illinois ESGR Committee and the ESGR mission to create a culture in which employers support and value the employment and military service of members of the National Guard and Reserve," said Dr. Michael Ayers, Ph.D., State Committee Chair for Illinois ESGR. "His support to the Illinois Committee as our Public Affairs Director has been invaluable in helping us spread the word about ESGR, who we are and what we do on behalf of Guard and Reserve service members and those who employ them. This national recognition of his efforts is very well-deserved."

Holub will receive the 2012 ESGR Public Affairs Volunteer of the Year Award at a special ceremony in Washington, D.C. in September. He has been a volunteer member of the Illinois ESGR Committee since 2004. Holub is the Chief of Police of the Village of La Grange.

Nearly 5,000 volunteers serve on ESGR State Committees across the nation. The 54 ESGR State Committees conduct employer support programs, including informational briefings, neutral mediation and recognition of employers whose policies support or encourage participation in the National Guard and Reserve. ESGR is the lead advocate within the Department of Defense for Reserve Component employers.

16 Jul 2012

More Thrills with Midway Discounts at the 2012 Iowa State Fair

By Lori Chappell

DES MOINES, IA (07/13/2012)(readMedia)-- "Nothing Compares" to the heart-stopping thrill rides on the Midway at the 2012 Iowa State Fair. With a new ride and a variety of amusement savings packages, Fairgoers can enjoy even more entertainment. The Fair is set August 9-19.

Fairgoers can save big at the Midway by planning ahead for this year's Fair. Purchase a set of five Midway tickets for $13; each ticket is good for one ride. For an even bigger day of Midway excitement, purchase a Mega Pass wristband for just $25. It includes unlimited mechanical rides any one Fair day from open to close, including weekends. These Midway special savings must be purchased by August 8 and are available while supplies last at iowastatefair.org or the Iowa State Fair Ticket Office, as well as statewide Walgreens and Des Moines area Hy-Vee stores.

The Iowa State Fair welcomes back Belle City Amusements for 11 days of twists, turns and thrills that are guaranteed to delight Fairgoers of all ages. New this year, ride the Space Roller and experience lateral G Force and head-over-heel action with massive hang time and horizontal flips as the enormous boom rotates the satellite to heights of 70 feet. Young Fairgoers can experience age-appropriate thrills on two mini coasters, take a spinning carousel ride, soar through the air on the Yo-Yo Swings and more.

For more heart-pounding action, try the thrill rides located, west of the Varied Industries Building. The Area 51-Scare Zone will be on site to test Fairgoers' level of thrill. The haunted attraction will send Fairgoers into a neon-green trailer for a variety of amusement and freights while inside. The Crazy Mouse rollercoaster returns sending riders speeding down a zig-zagging track while simultaneously spinning each car around in a complete circle. Fairgoers' thrills will reach new heights with the other returning rides Sky Scraper, Ejection Seat, Turbo Trampoline and Climbing Experience. Ride costs may vary.

"Nothing Compares" to the Iowa State Fair set August 9-19. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit iowastatefair.org.

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15 Jul 2012

St. Mark Summer Concert Series

By Ellen Bowlin

SUNDAY, JULY 22:  3:00pm  Kirstyin Synnestvedt presents an organ recital followed by a hat show and singing at the piano.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 26:  3:00pm  Lisa Crews plays the flute with Ellen Bowlin on the organ and piano.

The recitals are free and open to the public.

Refreshments will be served following each recital.

15 Jul 2012

Enroll for Preschool

By Pam Carstens

St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church Preschool now accepting enrollment for Fall preschool classes.

Sessions:  Preschool hours are 9am until 1:30pm.

Level II:  Age 3 by September 15, 2012.  Tuesday - Thursday OR Monday-Wednesday-Friday OR Monday through Friday.

Pre-Kindergarden:  Age 4 by September 15, 2012.  Monday-Wednesday-Friday OR Monday through Friday.

Children are gouped in "classes" which are subject to availability.  They must be potty-trained and ready for group experience. Please enroll early.

Tuition:  See below plus a one-time $35 registration fee.

2-day classes: $110 per month.          3-day classes: $160 per month.          5-day classes: $260 per month

Note:  Kid's Crossing Day Care available Monday through Friday 7am until 5:30pm ages 3 through 5.

15 Jul 2012

Taco Night Fundraiser

By Quad Cities Interfaith
Save the Date! Tuesday, July 17, 2012. Come join Quad Cities Interfaith Taco Night Fundraiser at Azteca, 4811 N. Brady St (Walnut Center) in Davenport. From 5pm - 8pm. $10 per person for the buffet-style dinner. Drinks not included. Get your tickets at QCI 563-3622-4910.  Thanks Azteca for sponsoring QCI.
13 Jul 2012

KING'S HARVEST MINISTRIES WILL KEEP DOORS OPEN AND CONTINUE TO SERVE THE POOR AND HOMELESS IN THE QUAD CITIES

By Rick Martin

The City of Davenport required King's Harvest Ministries to install a $57,000 new fire sprinkler system.

King's Harvest needed to raise the money for the new system or shut their doors. Through the Capital Campaign called Saving King's Harvest they raised $110,000 in 6 1/2 weeks. King's Harvest serves the poor and homeless in the Quad Cities and is located at 824 W. 3rd Street in downtown Davenport.

Anne McVey, Fundraising Coordinator for King's Harvest, stated "We are wanting to reach out and thank the community for coming to our aid. We had wonderful people who organized fundraisers and many people who just gave as individuals. Many, many people from the community and outlying areas called to help as volunteers. We want to thank them from the bottom of our hearts. It has been an outpouring of love and support from the Quad City community and outlying areas."

King's Harvest received an Emergency Grant from SCHC (Scott County Housing Council) for $28,500 and received approximately $81,500 through private donations.

King's Harvest will use $57,000 for the new fire sprinkler system. Another approximately $20,000 will go towards a new fire alarm system (the panel was donated by Deco Davenport Electric Company), new emergency exit lights and building repairs resulting from the installation of the new fire sprinkler system.

They plan to use the remaining money towards day-to-day operations of the organization and hope to possibly expand some of their services to help more people in need. Anne McVey stated "We hope to use some of the money to help reach more people in need. In the past we have had to turn people away due to limited resources."

King's Harvest does not want to leave God out of this endeavor. Anne McVey stated "God loves every person that passes through our doors, no matter how broken. Obviously God wanted to keep King's Harvest open and so did the community because they gave us the money to save our organization. It has been a beautiful thing to be a part of and we feel very blessed."

13 Jul 2012

Luther College Announces 2012 Graduates

By Jamie Wilmes

DECORAH, IA (07/13/2012)(readMedia)-- Luther College held commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2012 Sunday, May 20 at 10 a.m. in Luther College's Carlson Stadium.

Anne Kuttler of Davenport, Iowa, received the bachelor of arts degree in nursing.

John Stender of Davenport, Iowa, received the bachelor of arts degree in religion and music.

Tyler Zinnecker of Davenport, Iowa, received the bachelor of arts degree in biology.

Dallas Wulf of Durant, Iowa, received the bachelor of arts degree in mathematics and physics, summa cum laude.

Commencement speaker was Ambassador Hans Brattskar, Norway's director general and special envoy for climate change.

Tory Hegrenes, a U.S. Navy lieutenant and flight officer, was presented with the Luther College Young Alumni Award.

Mallory Heinzeroth was awarded the Luther College Jenson Medal.

A national liberal arts college with an enrollment of 2,500, Luther offers an academic curriculum that leads to the bachelor of arts degree in 60 majors and pre-professional programs.

13 Jul 2012

Need Work? Tech Companies are Hiring

By Ginny Grimsley
Business Offers Insights for Future IT Job Candidates

"Do what you love" has been the advice embedded in American commencement speeches for decades. Now, however, it's "do STEM'' -- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

"We have the brains, we have the educational capability and I'm pretty sure students want a job when they graduate high school and college. We do not have to go overseas to find our talent," says decorated Army Ranger and entrepreneur Matthew Brosious, co-founder of FreightCenter.com. The third-party logistics company and freight software technology provider does for freight shipping what Expedia does for travel.

Brosious' company is hiring and, for students and people interested in new careers, what it's seeking in job candidates offers valuable insights.

"A formal STEM education is not necessarily crucial to obtaining a job in a STEM career," says Doug Walls, FreightCenter.com's chief information officer. Walls initially started as the company's IT administrator and after seven years is now CIO. According to Walls:

• Often times, the best developers are the ones who have a natural aptitude and an ability to comprehend emerging technologies.

• Web development and IT offer stable careers with plenty of opportunity for placement straight out of college.

• Web technology is increasingly going more mobile as users access the Internet via smart phones and tablets, so it's important to continue to learn about new techniques to reach this group of users.

• Following development or IT blogs and news is an excellent way to stay ahead in a progressive field.

• Having a well-designed and developed personal site offers employers like us an insight into your skill level and allows us to determine how job seekers apply the knowledge they've learned in school or on the job.

Located in Florida's Tampa Bay area, Freightcenter.com does well attracting qualified professionals, Brosious says. But job creators in other parts of the country may not be so lucky.

National statistics reveal a gap between STEM jobs and potential employees that will only grow wider if trends continue unchanged:

• Only about 6 percent of U.S. graduates leave college with a STEM-based degree, compared to 28 percent in Germany, 37 percent in South Korea and 47 percent in China, according to National Center for Education Statistics.

• STEM jobs are projected to grow twice as quickly as jobs in other fields in the next five years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Statistics.

• Eighty percent of jobs in the next decade will require significant technical skills.

• Of the 20 fastest growing occupations projected in 2014, 15 will require considerable science and/or mathematics preparation, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Brosious says getting young people interested in following a STEM track of education will require changes in the classroom beginning at an early age.

"Only one in five college students feel that their grade-school education prepared them very well for their STEM college courses," he says, citing a recently published survey by Microsoft.

That study also indicates students who pursue STEM degrees do so because they're inspired by a class or a teacher. And 16 percent more males than females are interested in those fields thanks to video games and clubs.

About FreightCenter.com

FreightCenter.com is a third-party freight logistics company that uses web-based tools to help businesses and individuals with their shipping needs. It has garnered numerous awards, including Best Companies to Work For (2011, Florida Trend); Service Industry of the Year (2010, Pasco Economic Development Council) and Top 10 Websites (2010, BtoB marketing news magazine.) Matthew Brosious and his father, James, co-founded American Freight Cos. - the parent company of www.FreightCenter.com - in 1998 to facilitate freight shipping for household, business and enterprise shippers. The service enables customers to compare carriers' rates, book LTL, truckload and specialized freight transportation and track shipments online.

13 Jul 2012

Grand Canyon River Rafting - The Ultimate Braincation

By Rick Martin

By Wendy Rubicam

Everyone needs a braincation now and then, and some of us more than others!  Urban Dictionary defines a braincation as "a vacation for your brain to escape stress."  There is no better escape from the stresses of everyday life than a Grand Canyon rafting trip on the Colorado River.  Imagine a vacation full of incredible natural wonders, relaxation, reconnection, a splash (or two) of exhilaration and adventure, time for both introspection and interaction, and absolutely none of the stresses of your life back home.

There are no cell phones or pagers, no emails, no traffic, no bad TV shows or noisy neighbors.  You don't have to decide what to cook for dinner or how to entertain the kids for another week this summer.  You don't have to answer the phone, or worry about the bottom line of your business.

Arizona River Runners has been operating on the Colorado River since 1970, and has seen the restorative effects of those taking a braincation on a rafting trip. One recent Arizona River Runners customer summed up his river rafting braincation, saying, "The moment I stepped onto the raft, the river had a decompressing effect from all the tension built up by work and the modern world.  Not a care in the world except what hike or adventure awaits you around the next river bend."  He goes on to say, "My fellow passengers, although strangers, became instant friends. The peace and relaxation I got while I was on the river was astounding! I plan on making this a yearly pilgrimage."

Believe it or not, all you need to do for a fabulous river rafting experience is show up and just relax.  The rafting outfitters and guides do the rest for you - from camping gear to incredible meals to river and canyon know-how, you will be in good hands.  You are free to decide whether you'd rather take in a side-hike or simply chill out on the beach.

Asked to define braincation for those considering a Colorado River rafting adventure, the veteran outfitters at Arizona River Runners came up with the following explanation:

B is for the Brilliant blanket of stars that fills the Grand Canyon night sky

R is for the exhilarating Rapids of the mighty Colorado River

A is for Awe-inspiring rafting experiences and Grand Canyon scenery

I is for Incredibly delicious, fresh food enjoyed in the great outdoors

N is for Nature's many gifts on a Grand Canyon river trip

C is for Camping along the shores of the Colorado River

A is for Amazing vistas and sights

T is for Terrific guides to lead you on your adventure

I is for the Invaluable friendships you'll make

O is for the Outdoor activities on a Grand Canyon rafting trip - and there are many

N is for Native American history and canyon folklore

This summer, instead of planning a plain old vacation or a "staycation", where you try to relax but really can't, do something great for yourself.  Colorado River rafting trips are perfect for singles, couples, families, friends, extended families that want to reconnect, or anyone who wants an unforgettable experience that benefits not only the brain, but the heart and soul as well.

About Arizona River Runners
White water rafting through the Grand Canyon offers a unique view of one of the most popular natural wonders of the world. Experience the vacation adventure of a lifetime on a Grand Canyon rafting trip with Arizona River Runners.  Since 1970 they have provided all-inclusive Grand Canyon whitewater trips with customized rafts, all the camping and rafting gear, and food for your Colorado River trip.
Contact Information
Arizona River Runners
P.O. Box 47788
Phoenix, AZ 85068
13 Jul 2012

New Civil War Display Features the Rare and the Routine

By National Guard PAO Illinois

Military Museum Offers a Closer Look at Lives of Soldiers in Blue and Gray

SPRINGFIELD, IL (07/13/2012)(readMedia)-- A new Civil War display at the Illinois State Military Museum offers visitors a view of rare rifles and revolvers as well as a sampling of other equipment that many Confederate and Union Soldiers carried.

"This addition to our Civil War exhibit gives you the opportunity to get a closer look at the lives of the Americans on both sides of the battle lines," said Bill Lear, curator of the museum. "We're showcasing the almost one-of-a-kind weapons from our collection as well as featuring weapons and equipment that Soldiers routinely used. The result is that you get a better feel for the life of Soldiers."

Located two blocks north of the intersection of MacArthur Boulevard and North Grand Avenue, the Illinois State Military Museum tells the story of the Illinois National Guard from 1723 to the 21st Century.

Rare Union weapons on display include :

• A Colt revolving rifle: Before the Civil War, the U.S. government purchased 765 of these Colt revolving rifles, but most were shipped to southern locations and were used by the Confederates. The Union later purchased more than 4,000.

• The Model 1855 Harpers Ferry (Type I) rifle: This is one of only 374 that were manufactured in 1858 with a rear sight.

• The Allen & Wheelock revolver: While this was one of the most advanced handgun designs of the 1860s, only 1,000 pistols were produced due to a patent infringement case between the Allen & Wheelock and Smith & Wesson companies.

Rare Confederate weapons on display include :

• The Tallassee carbine: Only 500 were produced and this is the only officially adopted Confederate cavalry weapon.

• The Bilharz, Hall & Co. breechloading carbine: Only 100 of these rising breech carbines, popular because it was smaller and lighter weight, were delivered to the Confederacy.

As examples of more common Soldier items, the Union display case holds a Sharps carbine found in many Union cavalry units, and the 1851 Colt Navy revolver, the most widely used pistol in the Civil War. The Confederate display includes a Model 1862 Enfield rifle and a straw hat from a Confederate Soldier. Enfield rifles, produced in England, were the second most widely used weapon among Union and Confederate Soldiers. Found on the battlefield at Gettysburg, the hat is an example of how many Soldiers, especially Confederate, pieced together their own uniforms.

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The Illinois State Military Museum displays the history of the Illinois National Guard from 1723 to the 21st Century. Located two blocks north of the intersection of MacArthur Blvd. and North Grand Ave. in Springfield, Ill., the museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 1-4:30 p.m. Admission and parking are free. For further information about the museum call (217) 761-3910 or visit http://www.il.ngb.army.mil/museum/ . Like the museum on Facebook at www.facebook.Illinois.State.Military.Museum. To learn more about Illinois National Guard history visit http://www.il.ngb.army.mil/History/.

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