09 Dec 2010

Augustana students explore career paths in Australia

By readMedia

ROCK ISLAND, IL (12/08/2010)(readMedia)-- Sixty-eight Augustana students will study and work in Sydney, Australia, for the first two months of 2011. The international study program known as "Augustana in Australia" places students in career-relevant positions in Sydney and immerses them in Australian culture.

The students complete a five-week on-campus internship seminar and a class in intercultural communication before leaving for Australia on January 2. In Australia, students will intern four days a week for seven weeks and use their remaining time to experience Australia.

The program exposes students to a new culture, which is very marketable to employers. "Employers are seeking entry-level employees with knowledge and experience of the world's diversity and cross-cultural understanding," said Karen Petersen, Augustana's director of business internships and program director.

The students are looking forward to exploring their career interests. Erin Christian, a senior music and mathematics double major from Aurora, Ill., will intern at ii-A, a finance and insurance firm in downtown Sydney. "This internship is exactly what I need to move forward from Augustana," Christian said. "I hope to find a job as an actuary or in the finance/insurance field so being an intern at a company of this caliber will prepare me for obstacles I might face in the work world."

The students travel together with no faculty from Augustana, which gives them a lot of independence. "Students in the program demonstrate maturity and the ability to depend upon themselves and their peer group to deal with problems and issues as they arise," said Petersen. Students do receive on-site supervision by their organizational sponsor and their internship coordinator, the Centers for Academic Programs Abroad (www.capa.org), and Augustana faculty or staff conducts site-visits about halfway through the internship.

Students will stay at a five-star serviced apartment complex in Sydney, along with Australian and other international students. During their trip, they will visit the ANZ Stadium where the 2000 Olympics were held, the Sydney Opera House and the Blue Mountains just outside of Sydney. They also may travel to New Zealand or areas of Australia including Melbourne, Darwin and Cairns, where they can snorkel or dive the Great Barrier Reef. Students return to Rock Island on March 4.

You can read about students' experiences in Australia by visiting Augustana's Globablog at www.augustana.edu/blogs/international/.

Participating students from your area include :

Allison Hughes from Moline, IL, a senior majoring in accounting and business management

Lisa Schippers from East Moline, IL, a junior majoring in communication sciences and disorders

About Augustana: Founded in 1860 and situated on a 115-acre campus near the Mississippi River, Augustana College is a private, liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college enrolls 2,500 students from diverse geographic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and offers more than 70 majors and related areas of study. Augustana employs 287 faculty members and has a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Augustana continues to do what it has always done: challenge and prepare students for lives of leadership and service in our complex, ever-changing world.

09 Dec 2010

Winter Tree Identification Program Planned

By Michael J. Granger

On Saturday, December 18 at 10:00 A.M. the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center will host a program on winter tree identification. Come explore the winter woodlands of the Wapsi River Center via snow shoe.  Learn how to identify trees by only looking at their twigs.  Call to reserve your equipment at (563) 328-3286.

The Wapsi River Environmental Education Center can be found 6 miles south of Wheatland or 1 mile northwest of Dixon, Iowa by taking County Road Y4E.  Then turn north at 52nd Avenue and follow the signs for about 1 mile.

09 Dec 2010

Hispanic Chamber Fiesta Thursday

By Lori Freemire

December 8, 2010, Moline, IL - The Greater Quad City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce invites the community to their second-annual Holiday Fiesta being held on Thursday, December 9 at the QC Botanical Gardens in Rock Island. The festivities start at 5:30 pm and run until 9 pm. Enjoy delicious food from Restaurante El Mariachi, lively music from Los Mocambos, and the warmth of friends, old and new. There will be a cash bar and wonderful gifts for the silent auction so you can get some shopping done as well!

Cost is just $15 for members, $20 for non-members and $10 for students. Please RSVP by phone (309.797.8650) or e-mail (info@gqchcc.com).

09 Dec 2010

City of Rock Island Hosts Four Public Budget Meetings

By Jennifer Fowler
The City of Rock Island will be seeking the views of Rock Island residents on the proposed 2011-2012 General Fund budget. City departments have prepared options to help close a
$1.1 million gap in the budget for next year.

Options being considered range from keeping City vehicles longer before they are replaced to eliminating a police officer with the Metropolitan Enforcement Group (MEG). The options also include an increase in the property tax rate and parking fees and fines. These and other suggestions are included in a report that will be presented at each of four public meetings (attached). The meeting schedule is noted below:

Thursday, December 9 at 9 a.m. at the Establishment Theater/Comedy Sportz, 220 19th St.
Thursday, December 9 at 6 p.m.  at the Establishment Theater/Comedy Sportz, 220 19th St.
Tuesday, December 14 at 3 p.m. in the Community Room, Downtown Library, 401 19th St.
Tuesday, December 14 at 6 p.m. in the Community Room, Downtown Library, 401 19th St.

City Manager John Phillips said that those attending the meetings will have the chance to indicate their preference for the actions that should be taken to balance the City's General Fund budget. "Not all of these actions will be needed to eliminate the difference between the projected revenue and expenses for next year, but it is clear that difficult choices will need to be made by the Mayor and City Council."
09 Dec 2010

2011 Organic Farming Conference

By Greg Leaf
Organized by the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES), the annual Organic Farming Conference (OFC) is the largest organic farming conference in the U.S. It will be held February 24 - 26, 2011 in La Crosse, WI. It's an extraordinary, farmer-centered event featuring more than 70 informative workshops, 150 + exhibitors, locally sourced organic food, live entertainment and nationally known keynote speakers.

The OFC is considered the foremost educational and networking event in the organic farming community. In 2010, the OFC attracted more than 2,700 farmers, advocates, educators, students and industry representatives. A 27-page flyer of all the 2011 conference offerings and registration form can be found at, http://mosesorganic.org/conference.html.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE OFC

MOSES Farmer of the Year award - Every year, MOSES recognizes an outstanding organic farmer or farm family who are innovators; who excel in managing their farm resources and are good stewards of the land; and who serve as educators and shining examples in their communities and to the next generation of organic farmers.

Organic University - The Organic University offers nine intensive courses on various organic agriculture topics for novice and experts alike through pre-conference, full-day courses.

Research Forum - Through integration of the Organic Research Forum with the Organic Farming Conference, researchers have a unique opportunity to share their cutting edge organic agricultural research with farmers, students and agriculture professionals.

Workshops - More than 70 workshops will be offered on a multitude of organic farming, marketing, production and management topics and timely agriculture issues.

Young Organic Stewards - Young people have always been at the heart of the MOSES Conference. The Young Organic Stewards program recognizes the need to honor and support the next generation of food producers through targeted workshops and social activities.

Organic, Locally Sourced Food - Two full days of meals for conference attendees featuring the best locally sourced, organic food prepared in delicious entrees, sides, salads and desserts.

Networking Opportunities - The OFC is an outstanding place for new organic farmers to connect with experienced ones to share and collect information. This year offers even more opportunity through Farmer Connection Roundtables.

Evening Entertainment - Live music, topical films, a children's show and a poetry slam will all be featured as "after hours" entertainment at the 2011 OFC.

Inspiring Keynote Speakers - MOSES will once again be host to two outstanding keynote speakers. Urvashi Rangan, Ph.D., is the Director of Technical Policy for Consumers Union. She developed the ratings system, database, and website for evaluating environmental labels. Rangan continues to decode the meaning of eco-labels for consumers, and advocates for credible labeling in the marketplace, including influencing government policy decisions at the state and federal level.

Tom Stearns, of High Mowing Organic Seeds, will speak about local food systems development in Hardwick, Vermont, and the fascinating, collaborative work among farmers, businesses, and the community as they face this challenge in a bold and ambitious way. Tom Stearns founded High Mowing Organic Seeds in 1996 when he began sharing seeds with others through a small seed flyer. Since that time, High Mowing Organic Seeds has expanded into one of the leading organic seed companies in the United States.

CONTACT: To request a conference flyer or to request a media pass contact MOSES at 715-778-5775,  info@mosesorganic.org or www.mosesorganic.org.

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07 Dec 2010

MOLINE FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE

By Linda Martin

The Moline Foundation announces February 16 as the deadline to apply for the Clem T. Hanson scholarship. Residents of Moline School District No. 40 are eligible to apply for the four year college scholarship based on scholarship, financial need and extracurricular activities. Students should contact their counseling office at Moline High School, Alleman High School or Black Hawk College for an application. The three Hanson scholarship award winners will be chosen by a local scholarship selection committee and notified of their selection by May 1, 2011. They will receive $1,500 annually for the next four years with an annual renewal based on satisfactory progress in their post-secondary education.

Since 1985, over 100 students have received the Hanson Scholarship Funds as a result of an endowment fund established through the generosity of Clem T. Hanson (1901-1985), a former Moline businessman and community leader. He was the founder of Hanson Advertising Agency in Moline and was a co-founder of HON Industries in Muscatine. Mr. Hanson also served as president of Moline Rotary in 1952 and was a volunteer for Boy Scouts, Arrowhead Ranch and United Way. The Clement T. Hanson Memorial Scholarship Fund was established with the Moline Foundation by his family, following the death of Mr. Hanson on July 17, 1985.

The Moline Foundation, founded in 1953, is a community foundation which provides grants to health, human services, education, community development, the arts and other charitable organizations which benefit the citizens of Moline and the surrounding area. For more information, contact Joy Boruff, Executive Director, at (309) 736-3800. The Moline Foundation receives and administers charitable gifts and has assets of approximately $15 million.

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07 Dec 2010

Moline Foundation Announces Grant Deadline

By Linda Martin

A grants submission deadline has been announced by the Moline Community Foundation. Non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply if they serve the citizens of Moline and the surrounding region, including the Quad Cities.

All materials necessary to receive funds are due in The Moline Foundation offices by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, January 31, 2011 or must be postmarked by or on Monday, January 31, 2011.

Any non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, including those who have never received Moline Foundation funding in the past, is welcome to apply.

An application should consist of eleven copies of a written request stating the name and address of the organization, its mission, names and addresses of Board members, financial statement, balance sheet, and the specific purpose for which any money received would be used including a project budget. The name, telephone number, and email of a contact person must also be included. The requested materials should be mailed according to the above deadline.

The Moline Community Foundation offices are located at the Deere-Wiman House, 817 11th Avenue, Moline.

The Moline Foundation, founded in 1953, is a community foundation which provides grants to health, human services, education, workforce development, the arts and other charitable organizations which benefit the citizens of Moline and the surrounding area, including the Quad Cities region in both Iowa and Illinois. The Moline Foundation receives and administers charitable gifts and works with citizens to achieve their dreams to improve the community.

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07 Dec 2010

Forthcoming Disclosure of Medical Device Maker Payments to Doctors Will Help Consumers

By Grassley Press
Monday, December 06, 2010

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, ranking member of the Finance Committee, today joined the committee chairman in releasing a committee report detailing ties between a Maryland doctor who is accused of implanting hundreds of potentially unnecessary cardiac stents and his ties to the drug company that manufactured the stents.  The doctor is said to have accepted payment for at least two social events at his home paid for by the device maker, including a pig roast, and became a paid contractor with the company, Abbott Labs, to promote its stents in China and Japan.  Grassley is the co-author of the provisions enacted through the new health care law that will require drug companies and medical device makers to disclose their payments to doctors.  The payments will be publicly available on Sept. 30, 2013.  Grassley made the following comment on today's report and future payment disclosure.

"It's standard operating procedure for drug and device makers to give doctors honoraria or pay for dinner parties or travel to promote certain products.  That's all legal, but it's been disclosed to the public only in limited cases, either voluntarily by the drug companies or as part of lawsuits.  For the most part, people scheduled for surgery don't know if there's a financial relationship between the doctor implanting a device and the maker of that device.  Starting in 2013, that will change.  The public will have access to the financial information.  There will be transparency.  I hope that bringing this information out of the shadows will help rein in the most questionable cases.  It's common sense that doctors should choose medical devices because the devices will help their patients, not because the device makers paid the doctors to give a speech about their product.  Also, Medicare and Medicaid can't spare a penny for procedures that aren't medically necessary.  Limiting abuse in this area will help program finances.

The Finance Committee report released today is available here.

An article in the Baltimore Sun, which broke the Maryland stent story, on today's report is available here.

A series of articles about Grassley's work on payment sunshine is available here.

07 Dec 2010

Harkin: Unemployment Extension Should Have Come Without Tax Breaks for the Wealthiest Two Percent

By Sen. Tom Harkin

Washington, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) released the following statement this evening after the President's press conference on reaching a deal with Senate Republicans on an extension of the Bush-era tax cuts.

"To say that I am disappointed with the deal the President laid out tonight is an understatement.  Senate Republicans have successfully used the fragile economic security of our middle class and the hardship of millions of jobless Americans as bargaining chips to secure tax breaks for very wealthiest among us.  With record unemployment and millions of Americans falling off the benefit rolls just as we near Christmas, America faces an emergency situation, and under these circumstances the validity of extending unemployment benefits and tax rates for the middle class stands on its own.  The same cannot be said for extending tax breaks for millionaires - they face no immediate hardship, such a move will not spur economic growth, and doing so will only add hundreds of billions to the deficit.  In addition, by extending tax rates for two years but unemployment benefits for only one, we almost ensure that a Republican-led Congress will be able to block a further extension of unemployment benefits if they are needed.

"I've asked this question before, and tonight I ask it again - Have the Republicans lost all sense of fairness? Have they lost all sense of justice? Have they lost all sense of what's right and wrong? They can fight for their tax breaks for the wealthy, fine. But to say that we cannot extend unemployment benefits for people out of work without giving tax breaks to the wealthy - that's a moral outrage."

###
07 Dec 2010

Tax Relief Framework

By Sen Chuck Grassley

Statement of U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley

Ranking Member of the Committee on Finance

Framework of Tax Relief Agreement

Monday, December 6, 2010

"Republicans support tax relief across-the-board, including the middle class, and have fought for it.  The middle class and the unemployed need job-creating policies that expand the economic pie, not shrink it.  Growing the economy expands the tax base.  Jacking up taxes would be a sure-fire way to deep-freeze hiring and kill the fragile economic recovery.  Job-creating small businesses storing up capital have been reluctant to create jobs and take on new payroll obligations, not knowing what their taxes will be in January.  Part of the blame is attributable to the uncertainty over the direction of tax policy.  Tax incentives that create jobs in renewable energy have been expired for a year, with no action, costing jobs.

"The current leadership is starting to face the reality of last month's elections.  Americans want Washington to stop overspending and overtaxing.  Contrary to what a lot of Democratic leaders have said, raising taxes is not the magical cure that will shrink the deficit.  Higher taxes give big spenders a license to create new layers of government and put taxpayers on the hook for even more entitlements.  Higher tax rates siphon money out of the private sector and shrink the Gross Domestic Product.

"During the lame-duck session of Congress, arguments have been made that seem to say letting taxpayers keep the same amount of their own money is like handing out 'bonuses.'  Iowa families who are worried about less take-home pay in January don't consider preventing a tax increase on them a bonus, a windfall or a handout.  Tax revenue comes from taxpayers' hard-earned money.  It doesn't grow on Christmas trees, no matter how fanciful the rhetoric gets about millionaires versus the unemployed."

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