Davenport, Iowa, May 2, 2012 - Anyone using a park in Davenport is now likely to see some new members of the team at Davenport Parks and Recreation. Called Parks Ambassadors, these full-time seasonal employees have begun driving around the parks and other facilities in Davenport to help patrons of the parks systems and to ensure that everyone is being courteous and sensible when using city parks.

The program was started earlier this year, and will soon boast 3 full time seasonal employees who will be out and about from 8am to midnight every day of the week. "Many other communities around the country use an Ambassador Program, and it has been very successful," according to Seve Ghose, Director of Davenport Parks and Recreation. Ghose got the idea from other Parks Departments he has been associated with.

One of the new Parks Ambassadors, Mike, has thoroughly been enjoying his time out in the field. "People are getting used to me and recognize me immediately in my marked vehicle," he said recently. Mike, like the other parks ambassadors, frequently visits Davenport's recreational trails, softball diamonds, skate parks, and the dog off leash area in the city. The Parks Ambassadors are not a private police force for the Parks and Recreation Department, but they do occasionally remind patrons of city ordinances and ask politely for compliance. "Most people are more than happy to comply," says Mike.

This is your last chance to make a reservation for Derby Day at The Outing Club on Saturday, May 5! You don't want to miss the mint juleps, the horse races, the new Kentucky Derby hat display, the free bourbon tasting, and the delicious derby cuisine. All proceeds from this event go to benefit the youth music education programs of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra.

The Outing Club
2109 Brady Street
Davenport, IA

Saturday, May 5, at 2 p.m.

$75 per person
or $520 for a table of eight

Live auction items include a dinner prepared and hosted by Maestro Mark Russell Smith; a coaching session with one of the QCSO's principal musicians; a wine tasting for ten; a cabin rental in Estes Park, Colorado; a suite at Modern Woodmen Park; a children's pool party at the Outing Club; and a specially selected curio from the folks at American Pickers.

Make reservations at 563.322.QCSO (7276)
or by clicking here.

Saturday, May 12th at Martinis on the Rock

The Mississippi Valley Blues Society presents its annual Fundraiser on Saturday May 12 at Martinis on the Rock (4619 - 34^th Street, Rock Island, just south of Blackhawk Road). Admission is $20, which includes food and entry into drawings for door prizes.  The party, which includes a silent auction, begins at 6:00 p.m., with the music starting at 7:00 p.m.  All proceeds will benefit the 2012 Blues Festival, to be held June 29-July 1 at Davenport's LeClaire Park.

Music will be provided by three bands who have won the Iowa Blues Challenge and represented the state of Iowa at the annual International Blues Challenge in Memphis TN.  The Steady Rollin' Blues Band, The Candymakers, and The Mercury Brothers will each take the stage in Martinis' brand new outdoor music pavilion, situated in back with a stunning view of the scenic Rock River.  After the three sets, the MVBS will host a jam session.

The theme for this Fundraiser is Beale Street, the storied avenue in Memphis where the blues was born and raised, and where Iowa Blues Challenge winners have pursued blues fame and fortune at the Blues Foundation's International Blues Challenge.  It's fitting that the MVBS bring Beale Street to the Quad-Cities, considering that since 2000, 10 of the 12 Iowa Blues Challenge winners have been from the Quad-Cities.

On May 12, MVBS will be featuring prize drawings, a 50/50 raffle, and a silent auction of valuable merchandise and gift baskets donated by area businesses and organizations, as well as rare blues memorabilia from the MVBS archives.

Along with our sponsors, donors, volunteers, members and supporters, the non-profit MVBS depends heavily on fundraisers such as this to keep our musical standards as high, and our Festival admission prices as ridiculously low, as they've been in the past.

• Fundraiser Raffle and Silent Auction Items Include
• Lifetime free admission to ALL shows at The Muddy Waters in Bettendorf
• Two original 1985 1st annual BluesFest posters, professionally matted and framed, very rare (1 to be raffled, 1 to be auctioned)
• Two past fest posters, signed by performing artists, framed
• Fest VIP passes
• 3-day Fest tickets
• Signed guitar
• MVBS merch (t-shirts, fest posters, CDs, etc.)
• MUCH MORE!

Fundraiser Entertainment Lineup (A Night on Beale Street):

Steady Rollin' Blues Band, The Candymakers, and The Mercury Brothers (All Iowa Blues Challenge winners and IBC Memphis semi-finalists), Jam featuring members of four more Iowa Blues Challenge winning bands and IBC Memphis semi-finalists, plus other local blues talent

Hillel L. Presser, author of "Financial Self-Defense," and a lawyer specializing in establishing comprehensive asset protection plans. www.assetprotectionattorneys.com

Lawsuits have become big business, especially since the economic downturn. They're a cheap way for people to make lots of money, often with an investment of just a few hours' time. Consider -- the plaintiff may never even have to prove a thing; the prospect of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal bills can scare a defendant into opting for a settlement without ever putting up a fight. Even if he did nothing wrong.

More than 100 million lawsuits are filed each year; one in three people will be sued in the next 12 months. No one's immune, but people with a lot of assets showing are especially vulnerable. If someone thinks you've got a lot to lose - and thus, they've got a lot to gain - you become a choice target. People who are less affluent are vulnerable in a different way: If a person with $100,000 in assets gets sued for $1 million, they'll be wiped out, whereas the person with $5 million can survive a $1 million lawsuit.

The time to protect your assets is before you get sued; it's much more enforceable, costs less and you'll have more options available.

Here are some tips to help guide you:

1. Inventory your wealth. Most people have a lot more than they think. Take stock of valuable domain names, telephone numbers, intellectual property, potential inheritances, and other non-liquid assets.

2. Convert non-exempt assets into exempt assets. State laws protect some personal assets from lawsuits and creditors. Those assets typically include your primary residence; personal items such as furniture and clothing; pensions and retirement funds; and life insurance. Find out the exemptions for your state and convert non-exempt assets (i.e. cash) into exempt assets (i.e. life insurance).

3. Protect every asset from every creditor. There's no point in protecting your money if your business is exposed.  There's no point in protecting your business if your house is exposed. There's no point in protecting your house if your boat is exposed.  Protect everything!  Your asset protection plan should hold up whether your neighbor is suing you or the most powerful attorney downtown.

4. Don't rely solely on liability insurance. Buy as much insurance as you can; it's cheap and it helps you sleep at night. But realize that 70 percent of claims are not covered.  Your coverage may be inadequate for a particular suit; your insurance company may go bankrupt. Having insurance and an asset protection plan is the belt and suspenders approach to hanging onto your pants.

5. Avoid fraudulent transfers. A fraudulent transfer occurs if your creditor doesn't get paid because you sold an asset to a person or entity for less than its fair market value when faced with a lawsuit. Such a transfer, done with the intent to hinder, delay, or defraud a creditor, can invalidate your entire asset protection plan.

6. Don't title your assets solely to your spouse or to "straw men." They may have more financial problems than you.

7. Protect with liens. What is a $100,000 car worth if you owe $95,000?  What is a $1 million house worth if you owe $950,000?  Take out lines of credit.  Record mortgages against your property.  Make all of your assets valueless.  Become an unattractive candidate for a lawsuit.

8.  Transfer your assets to a protective entity. The key to asset protection is to own nothing while controlling everything.  Transfer any non exempt assets out of your name to protective entities such as trusts, LLC's (limited liability companies), limited partnerships, etc.

9. Keep your plan up to date. Laws change every year. Have your plan reviewed yearly.