13 Jun 2012

So You Think You Have Social Media Covered?

By Ginny Grimsley
Here Are A Few Reasons You Might Want to Think Again!

I remember when the Internet first gained prominence and it became apparent that having a Web site was essential for any commercial enterprise.

Back then, Web designers were not plentiful and few people thought to hire a professional to create a Web site. They felt that ANY Web presence was better than none at all, and they found people they knew to help them who were "into the whole Internet thing."

As a PR professional, when I would see a Web site that didn't represent people well or looked amateurish, I'd ask who created it. Invariably, I'd get answers like, "My nephew did it," or "I bought Web Design for Dummies and did it myself," or "My son has a friend who just graduated with a degree in computer science."  While those days have passed for Web sites, I'm afraid I am seeing the same thing happen with regard to social media.

As social media has become a serious part of the foundation of the media in general, some people regard it the same way as they used to regard Web sites - as something that's a good addition to their marketing tactics, but not so essential that they need to approach it with a professional sensibility. As with any marketing outreach, social media done badly will actually set you back instead of move you forward. Here are some ways to know if you are taking the right approach or heading down the wrong path:

• My Daughter Does That For Me - If your daughter is a college graduate with a broad-based education that includes a degree in mass communications, I'd say you may be on the right track. However, if she's 18 and her primary qualification is that she has Twitter and Facebook accounts, I'd say you need to reevaluate your choice of marketing personnel here. Just because she's your daughter and can use Facebook and Twitter, doesn't mean she has the skills necessary to market a business using social media.

• I Hired a College Intern - While college students may be part of the social media generation, it doesn't automatically qualify them to do social media for you. Unlike traditional media, which is a communication to a broad audience, social media is one-to-one marketing outreach. You are communicating directly to individuals and anyone who has ever posted an opinion in an Internet forum knows the online audience is not to be trifled with. Understand that your reputation is on the line. With the variety of questions and comments you will receive, it is critical that they're handled with care and professionalism to avoid any repercussions to your name and brand. A social media marketing professional is an astute communicator who ensures each time the right tone, caring and message is delivered for maximum return and keeps your audience engaged. This dynamic is crucial for the success of the program.

• I Got 11 New Followers on Twitter This Week - Of course, building followers is important, but you'll never make a social media campaign work with the onesy-twosy approach. For myself, my company and our social media clients, we have a monthly benchmark for building followers. Now, this benchmark is not a gross number, but a net figure after we have weeded out spammers, chronic friend adders, and marriage proposals from men in foreign countries, and yes, I've gotten a few of those.

At the end of the day, social media is serious business.  Do it right and you can create a base of thousands of followers.  Do it wrong and you'll have spent a lot of time and energy, spinning your wheels and getting nowhere fast.  More importantly, you'll end up thinking that social media marketing is a complete waste of time, when in fact in today's world it is one of the most critical and fundamental components for any marketing strategy, which every company needs to put in place.

Here's to your successful social media journey.

About Marsha Friedman

Marsha Friedman is a 22-year veteran of the public relations industry. She is the CEO of EMSI Public Relations (www.emsincorporated.com), a national firm that provides PR strategy and publicity services to corporations, entertainers, authors and professional firms. She also co-hosts "The News and Experts Radio Show with Alex and Marsha" on Sirius/XM Channel 131 on Saturdays at 5:00 PM EST.

13 Jun 2012

Clara Oleson - Pieced Elegance Opening

By Lynn Bartenhagen

The Muscatine Art Center is pleased to announce the exhibit opening on June 17 and artist reception for Pieced Elegance: Quilts by Clara Oleson on Sunday, June 24 from 1 to 5 PM.

Oleson, who has been a quilter for several decades, uses color, texture and classic quilt patterns as tools of her artistic expression. Many of her quilts explore "the grid" which is deeply embedded in the American piecework tradition. For Oleson, "the grid is symbolic of the borders of our lives, the fences we work behind, the horizons we cannot escape, the principles which guide."  Oleson who quilts for several hours every day, always using 100% cotton, sometimes with Thai silk, is interested in adapting traditional patterns, often in a series of work based on a particular pattern.

"A quilt will always reflect the time of its creation, but the best of them also speak with the silence of eternity. Piecing, designing, quilting - these daily activities, rooted in the female dominated past, are my attempt to capture quietude, with a smile."

- Clara Oleson

. The Muscatine Art Center is open to the public Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM, Thursday from 10 AM to 7 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 PM Admission is FREE.

13 Jun 2012

Iowa Seniors Staying Healthy with Health Care Law

By Matt Sinovic

More than 37% of Iowa seniors have received preventive services at no cost

DES MOINES, IOWA - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced that the Affordable Care Act helped 164,636 Iowa seniors with Medicare get at least one preventive service at no cost to them during the first five months of 2012. This includes 10,841 who have taken advantage of the Annual Wellness Visit that is available to seniors through the law.

In total, more than 37% of Iowa seniors with Medicare have taken advantage of this benefit that is part of the 2010 health care reform law.

Prior to 2011, people with Medicare faced cost-sharing for many preventive benefits such as cancer screenings. Under the Affordable Care Act, preventive benefits are offered free of charge to beneficiaries, with no deductible or co-pay, so that cost is no longer a barrier for seniors who want to stay healthy and treat problems early. The law also added an important new service for people with Medicare ? an Annual Wellness Visit with the doctor of their choice? at no cost to beneficiaries.

"Iowa seniors are staying healthy thanks to the Affordable Care Act," said Matt Sinovic, executive director of Progress Iowa. "This is proof-positive that the health care law is having a positive impact for Iowa's communities. These are real people who are seeing tangible health benefits as a result of the law. Our goal is to get information about the law to every Iowa senior so that we can bring the percentage of Medicare recipients receiving free preventive care services up to one hundred."

For more information on Medicare-covered preventive services, please visit:
http://www.healthcare.gov/law/features/65-older/medicare-preventive-services/index.html.

To learn what screenings, vaccinations and other preventive services doctors recommend for you and those you care about, please visit the myhealthfinder tool at www.healthfinder.gov.

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13 Jun 2012

VFW Post 9128 Luau/Deck Party and Casino Night

By Christian Popp
13 Jun 2012

AAMI develops two new traveling exhibits

By Grant Stevens
(CEDAR RAPIDS, IA) - The African American Museum of Iowa (AAMI) is proud to announce the creation of two new traveling exhibits: "The Only One" and "Against All Odds: The Life of George Washington Carver."
Both portable exhibits include large colored panels (retractable for easy transportation) that can be displayed individually or as a group. These exhibits are available free of charge for use in groups or organizations in Iowa. Previous traveling exhibit locations include libraries, government buildings, colleges, and business offices.
Based on the AAMI's 2012 temporary exhibit of the same name, "The Only One" explores the experiences of Iowans who have been the only African Americans on sports teams, in classrooms, at work and more.  Learn about Alexander Clark, who integrated Iowa schools in 1868 when his daughter Susan enrolled in Muscatine Grammar School #2 or Louis Dade, who won the Iowa Amateur Golf title in 1939 despite being denied access to the Fort Madison Country Club. The three panels of this exhibit specifically focus on social situations, education, and sports.
Funding for "The Only One" travelling exhibit was provided by generous donations from the AEGON Transamerica Foundation, Rockwell Collins, Roy J. Carver Trust, Alliant Energy, General Mills, P&G Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Community Foundation, Sisters of Mercy, State Historical Society of Iowa: Historical Resource Development Program and Tom and Nan Riley.
"Against All Odds: The Life of George Washington Carver" is a four panel exhibit that follows the life and accomplishments of the famous scientist. From his humble beginnings near Diamond, MO to his career as head of the Agricultural Department at the Tuskegee Institute, Carver had a profound impact on agricultural techniques and innovations that continue to shape our world today. The four panels of this exhibit focus on Carver's early life, his education at Simpson College and Iowa State University, his time at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, and his later work in agricultural science.
Funding for "Against All Odds: The Life of George Washington Carver" was provided by generous donations from Dr. Geraldine Felton, James Graham, and Susan Kuecker, and the State Historical Society, Inc.
To reserve panels from either of these exhibits for a group or organization, contact Assistant Educator Tenika Johnson via email at tjohnson@blackiowa.org or by phone at 319-862-2101 ext. 226.
For more information on this or other programs, please visit the African American Museum of Iowa website at www.blackiowa.org or call 319-862-2101 ext. 223.  The AAMI is open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and is located at 55 - 12th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
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13 Jun 2012

AAMI Seeking "History Maker" Nominations

By Rick Martin
(CEDAR RAPIDS, IA) - The African American Museum of Iowa (AAMI) is seeking three African American women currently living in Iowa to honor as "History Makers" at the History Makers Gala, which kicks off the 2012 Conference Iowa African American Women's Leadership Conference.  The Gala is a celebration honoring African American women currently living in Iowa who have "made history" because of their efforts and contributions to improving all Iowans communities and lives. The Gala will begin on Thursday, September 27, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. at the Cedar Rapids Scottish Rite Temple, located at 616 A Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401.  The Conference, beginning at 8:00 a.m., is all-day event on Friday, Sept. 28, 2012 and takes place at the Cedar Rapids Marriott, located at 1200 Collins Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402.
If you know a woman who is a trailblazer, change agent, legacy maker, or role model, you are encouraged you to nominate her as a History Maker!  Application forms can be found on-line at www.blackiowa.org/events or by contacting Katherine Smith at kgfsmith@blackiowa.org or 319-862-2101 ext. 216.  The 2011 History Makers were Marian Coleman of Iowa City, Nancy Humbles of Cedar Rapids, and Honorable Judge Romonda D. Belcher of Des Moines.  The Gala and Conference have been held annually since 2007.
The 2012 Iowa African American Women's Leadership Conference, "I Am My Sister's Keeper", honors the accomplishments of Iowa's African American women while providing over 400 current and emerging Leaders with networking, personal and professional opportunities, and inspiration. The conference celebrates the proud traditions and contributions of African American women, explores what the legacy means to their past, present and the future, and provides opportunities to mentor young women and inspire them to make a difference in the community. 

For more information on this or other programs, please visit the African American Museum of Iowa website at www.blackiowa.org or call 319-862-2101 ext. 223.  The AAMI is open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and is located at 55 12th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
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12 Jun 2012

Boho Chic Gallery Opens at Bucktown Center for the Arts

By Dee Oberle

Dee Schricker, Heidi Brandt and Dee Oberle announce the opening of their new gallery, Boho Chic, "Art for your Bohemian Soul," Suite 105, Bucktown Center for the Arts, Davenport, IA.

The artists of Boho Chic specialize in artistic accents and groupings created from clay, paint, fabric, photography and mixed media.

"We opened the gallery together," says Dee Oberle, "Because our work complements each others and because we have similar philosophies. We believe life is too short to live without art.  Our goal is to collaborate with our clients to find art that fits their personal style with the ultimate goal of helping them create an oasis of beauty in their home or business that they enjoy looking at every day."

Boho Chic is open Wednesday - Saturday, 11a.m. to 6 p.m. or by appointment.  The gallery will stay open until 9 p.m. the last Friday of each month when the galleries of Bucktown celebrate Final Friday with food, entertainment and other special activities.  Bucktown Center for the Arts is located at 225 East 2nd Street, Davenport.

For more information about Boho Chic, contact Dee Schricker, jschricker@bcglobal.net

For information about Bucktown Center for the Arts go to; www.bucktownarts.com

Boho Chic Gallery Opens at Bucktown Center for the arts ( L.to R) Dee Oberle, Dee Schricker & Heidi Brandt Small.jpg

( L.to R) Dee Oberle, Dee Schricker & Heidi Brandt

Meet the Artists of Boho Chic:

Dee Schricker

jschricker@sbcglobal.net

Phone # (563) 381-1707 or (563) 676-0192

Creating, whether it is clay, painting, fabric art or even a new recipe, is Dee Schricker's daily passion.  She truly enjoys making something beautiful and interesting out of a lump of clay, a blank canvas, odd pieces of cloth and found objects.

"I love having the artistic freedom to try new approaches and challenge old techniques then mix media to achieve the look I want to express.  I get a great deal of satisfaction," Schricker says, "In creating something I can't find anywhere else and when someone purchases a piece of my art to display in their home or business, I am truly honored.

Schricker's clay work is Raku and fired using her own glaze recipes.  "Drawing and painting the clay with a palette of glazes," Schricker says, "adds texture and depth to the piece and Raku firing gives it life that can't be achieved in other ways."   She will often create a design concept in both clay and canvas.

Heidi Brandt

hbrandtcreative@mchsi.com

Phone # (563) 386-0963 or (563) 340-2611

A life-long love and respect for nature and animals was the catalyst that led Heidi Brandt into the world of photography. A graphic designer by trade, she uses her knowledge of technology and her designer's eye to zero in on the detail of a subject creating painter-like abstracts and still life images.

"My goal," Brandt says, "Is to capture the essence of subject whether that is an owl living in the tree outside my house, the light coming through leaves or the graphic design of a piece of broken glass."

DeEdra Oberle

dee@the-oberles.net

Phone # (563) 355-7567 or (563) 370-4562

Photography has been a hobby for Dee Oberle since her father first gave her a little Kodak box camera when she was 6 years old but it wasn't until she took a black and white film class at St. Ambrose University that it turned into a passion.  Working in the field of public relations gave her the opportunity to combine her writing skills with photography to tell a story and she still enjoys documenting a subject and sharing the story behind the image.

"Photography provides me with a connection to my spirit," Oberle says.  "It gives me an opportunity to see through my lens what we often take for granted and to translate my vision for others to enjoy.  I'm still often in awe of the photographic process and feel there is something magical about capturing a milkweed seed in flight or the forgotten beauty of a rusty car door."  Oberle enjoys using hers photographic images as the basis for mixed media and image transfers.

Oberle and Brandt have worked together since 2005 under the name, Gypsy Chicks Photography.  Their images are available as small "mailable art cards" that fit in a 5X7 frame, ready-to-frame prints or as larger images printed on archival paper and custom framed or transferred to canvas.  They also work with clients to create custom images for homes and businesses and teach digital photography classes.  Their work can be purchased on-line through their Imagekind gallery at www.gypsychicksphotography.imagekind.com

12 Jun 2012

Rural People Should Not Be Forgotten by the Farm Bill

By Elisha Smith

By Chuck Hassebrook, chuckh@cfra.org, Center for Rural Affairs

Small towns and the people who live in them are forgotten by the proposed new farm bill developed by the Senate Agriculture Committee.  It would be the first farm bill in decades to invest no funds in rural development.

But help may be on the way.  Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) is developing an amendment to change that.  It will likely be offered this week or next as the farm bill is debated by the full Senate.   Last week, 185 rural leaders and organizations from across the nation sent a letter to every U.S. Senator urging them to work with Senator Brown in securing farm bill investment in rural development.

Since, 2003, the federal investment in rural development has been cut by one-third, even as overall federal spending has grown.  Without farm bill funding, the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program will wither, denying loans, training and business plan assistance for rural enterprises with up to ten employees.

Grants will be fewer for farmers and ranchers launching innovative value added enterprises. Training and other assistance will be cut in half for beginning farmers and ranchers seeking a place on the land and in our communities. The $3 billion waiting list will lengthen for small towns in need of federal help with critical water and sewer upgrades.

Ordinary rural people can't hire a bevy of high paid lobbyists. That makes it all the more critical that our Senators hear directly from us.  Rural people and communities should not be forgotten by the farm bill.

12 Jun 2012

Governor Quinn Signs Legislation to Fight Street Gang Crime

By Andrew Mason

Law to Reduce Violence by Allowing Law Enforcement to Prosecute Gang Leaders for Crimes They Order

CHICAGO - June 11, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today signed a tough new law to fight gang crime and reduce violence in Illinois. The new law empowers law enforcement with the ability to prosecute street gang leaders for the criminal acts of their organizations. Joining the governor was Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy and local lawmakers.

"One of the best ways to make our neighborhoods safer is to go after street gang leaders who profit from crime," Governor Quinn said. "Gang leaders cannot be allowed to escape justice by hiding behind criminals who do their bidding. This law will help law enforcement get gangs off the street and keep them off."

House Bill 1907, sponsored by Sen. Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) and Rep. Mike Zalewski (D-Chicago), is modeled off the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act that was designed to help law enforcement fight organized crime by treating criminal acts committed by members of the group as part of an ongoing criminal enterprise. Under this legislation, law enforcement in Illinois can more effectively target the street gang leaders who order and benefit from the crimes of lower-ranking members.

The Illinois Street Gang RICO was an initiative of Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez, who recently formed the office's first anti-racketeering unit to use the new law to build gang RICO cases involving multiple defendants with the goal of dismantling the street gang from the top down. The unit's specially-trained prosecutors will also work with other State's Attorney's Offices throughout Illinois on how to apply the law effectively.

"For the first time in the history of our state, this new law will give local prosecutors the tools to identify and address patterns in multiple gang-related offenses and join different organized crime offenses and different offenders into a single court proceeding," Alvarez said. "Prior to the signing of this bill, state prosecutors were typically only able to charge individual gang crimes and rarely, if ever, were able to prosecute and hold gang leaders accountable for the organized activities of the street gang and its rank-and-file members."

Under the new law, gang members convicted of criminal conspiracy under the new law could face more than 30 years in prison depending on the associated crimes, and fines of up to $250,000 or twice the gross amount of any criminal proceeds. Illinois joins 31 other states in having racketeering statutes.

According to the Chicago Police Department, Chicago has the largest gang population in the country, with approximately 100,000 members in hundreds of factions. 75-80% of the city's homicides are gang-related.

"On behalf of the children, families and neighbors of Chicago and across Illinois, I commend the Governor for signing HB1907 into law today, and I thank State Senator Tony Munoz and State Representative Mike Zalewski for their work on this bipartisan legislation and State's Attorney Anita Alvarez for her leadership on this issue," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "This law will give local law enforcement the power to prosecute gang leaders for crimes that they ordered others to commit and provide a critical tool to dismantle the structure of gangs that are targeting our neighborhoods."

"The Chicago Police Department is committed to making Chicago a safe place to live, work, and play for our residents and we will use all available resources, including the new RICO law, to ensure the safety of communities across the city of Chicago," said CPD Superintendent Garry F. McCarthy. "I commend Mayor Emanuel and Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez for their leadership, State Senator Tony Munoz and Representative Mike Zalewski for their sponsorship, and Governor Pat Quinn for his support of this critical legislation and look forward to the positive effect this action will have in Chicago."

"As a former law enforcement officer, I've seen firsthand how gangs are destroying our neighborhoods," said Sen. Tony Munoz. "The violence and the killing needs to stop for the good our children, our communities, and our city. This law sends a strong message to gangs that they can no longer dodge justice."

"Under this law, judges and juries will be able to see the big picture when it comes to looking at the full impact of gangs in Illinois," Rep. Mike Zalewski said. "Gangs that collectively benefit from crimes should not be able to escape criminal responsibility by letting junior members take the fall."

The law takes effect immediately.

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12 Jun 2012

Behind the scenes tour of the Muscatine Art Center

By Lynn Bartenhagen

In conjunction with Iowa Museum Week, June 11-17, the Muscatine Art Center is hosting a FREE Behind-the-Scenes Tour for those interested in visiting working areas normally off limits to the public. Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at the Muscatine Art Center?  Now you can learn where and how collection items are documented, stored, and preserved. Join us for an up close and personal tour of the treasures from the Art Center's permanent collection, guided by MAC staff.  Join a tour group for a truly unique experience as you learn about how the museum operates from the inside out and have your individual questions answered by the staff.  This event will take place on Thursday, June 14, from 5:30 PM to 6:45 PM.

 

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Rarely seen cool stuff from the permanent collection.
  • Collection storage areas including the textile and print rooms and "hidden"  storage areas in the Musser Museum.
  • The original Musser Carriage House and Musser Museum basement.
  • Explanation of how museums keep track of collections.

 

BOOKING INFORMATION:

  • Tours are limited to a maximum of 12 people.
  • Tours are for adults and children over 12 years of age (12-16 year olds need to be accompanied by an adult).
  • Tour duration is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
  • As a courtesy to other participants, please be on time.
  • Accessibility is somewhat limited, as they cover areas not generally open to the public. Please notify us at the time of booking of any special requirements and we will let you know if this tour is a good match for you.
  • For security reasons, you may not take mobile phones, cameras, other electrical equipment, bags, food or drinks on the tour. All personal items must be checked before the tour departs.

 

Call NOW to reserve a place in the Muscatine Art Center's Behind-the-Scenes experience!

EVENT DETAILS:

What: Muscatine Art Center's Behind-the-Scenes Tour

Who: Hosted by Muscatine Art Center staff

When: Thursday, June 14, 2012

Time: 5:30-6:45 PM

Where: The Muscatine Art Center

Admission to this program is FREE, pre-registration is required.

Please contact Katy Doherty, Program Coordinator, with any questions or concerns at

563-263-8282 or by email at kdoherty@muscatineiowa.gov.

 

The Muscatine Art Center is open to the public Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from

10 AM to 5 PM, Thursday from 10 AM to 7 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 PM Admission is FREE.

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