ACLU QC CHAPTER WANTS ANSWERS TO SUSPENSION.

ACLU QC FACING UNKNOWN CLAIMS FROM IOWA STATE ACLU BOARD.

DAVENPORT, IOWA, AUGUST 17, 2010 ---- Members of the ACLU Quad Cities Chapter and supporters are seeking answers from the ACLU Iowa State Board as to why they were suspended.

"We have been suspended without notice, without a hearing, and most importantly, without cause," said Jose Bucksbaum, President of the ACLU Quad Cities Chapter.   "The ACLU Quad Cities Chapter is one of the most active, vibrant and diverse chapters in Iowa," he added.

The State ACLU Board has a list of complaints which they refuse to release to the Quad Cities chapter.  The local chapter released a statement yesterday citing that they believe the complaints are unfounded and that is why they have not released them.

"In our opinion these stem from a mere difference of opinion on how we should run the local chapter," Mr. Bucksbaum stated.  "We think the principles of Due Process on which the ACLU was founded require the State Board to grant us a hearing on the merits of the complaints."

"The ACLU Quad Cities Chapter shares the values of both the Iowa and the National ACLU in defending the Bill of Rights, and hopes and expects that they will continue to defend them together," Bucksbaum added.

ABOUT THE ACLU QUAD CITIES CHAPTER:

The ACLU Quad Cities Chapter goes back several decades. From 1956 to 1966 the President of the Chapter was prominent publisher Jack Sundine.  He was succeeded by Dr. John Wolf. Tom Benge became its president for 17 years, until in late in 2007 Jose Bucksbaum, then Affirmative Action Chair for the Democratic Party was elected by unanimity its new President.

The purpose of the ACLU is to promote, defend and support the Bill of Rights. At the national and state levels, there are legislative, educational and legal programs to foster the purposes of the ACLU.

Locally the ACLU QC chapter has served the community by organizing conferences, hosting speakers, by responding to local civil liberties inquiries and supporting the Bill of Rights.

The local chapter has hosted a string of guest speakers, including members of the clergy, senators, state representatives, judges, chiefs of police, county attorneys, and the most recent speaker last month was Iowa State Representative Phillis Thede lecturing on "The Evolution of Woman's Civil Rights in Iowa".

Under the leadership of Mr. Bucksbaum, the local chapter created an award recognizing leadership in the community. The award was named after a Chapter benefactor Mrs. Elfreida Hershal.  Mrs. Hershal bequeathed at her death a large sum of money to the Quad City chapter.  The recognition awards has been given five times , recognizing Senator  Maggie Tinsman, Todd McGreevy, Kathleen McCarthy, Tommy Miller, Mike McCarthy and Ernest Rodriguez.

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The Quad Cities Chamber Board of Directors this afternoon named Tara Barney Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the new Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce and Rick Baker the President & Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the new organization. Chamber directors Steve Bahls, John Roche and Ken Koupal made the announcement after informing staff that Barney and Baker would join forces to lead the new organization. 

We hope you will join us in congratulating Tara and Rick on their leadership roles and thank them for their  commitment to the Quad Cities region.  With Tara's background in economic development and Rick's expertise in chamber operations, Quad City businesses will have an unbeatable combination of talent and skills working on their behalf.

For additional information on today's announcement, visit the website at

www.quadcitychamber.com.

Monday, August 23, 2010, is the entry deadline for the 2010 Rock Island Labor Day Parade. The 26th annual event is scheduled for Monday, September 6, 2010.

This year's Labor Day Parade theme is "Learning Comes to Life!" It was selected to acknowledge the many ways we learn or receive education. Ideas to consider include walking books, an entry honoring teachers, a float inspired by music or a painting, dancing computers, a particular story brought to life, members of a team, a family on vacation, or graduates of a particular class or program.

Non-theme related entries are always welcome. The Labor Day parade provides an excellent opportunity to promote an organization, to announce a special promotion, or to call attention to an upcoming special event.

Parade organizers are excited about the number of musical groups returning to this year's line-up. The Western Illinois University Marching Band will be back for a 12th year along with high school marching bands from Alleman and Rock Island. The outstanding Metropolitan Drill Team or "MetroSteppers" and the Blackhawk Bagpipers are also returning to the line-up.

Staging for the parade begins at 8:30 a.m. in the area around Washington Junior High School, located at 33rd St. and 18th Ave., with the start of the parade set at 9:30 a.m. The parade route travels west along 18th Ave., beginning at 33rd St., turns left on 24th St., and then right on 25th Ave. and disbands into the parking areas at Rock Island High School at 25th Ave. and 17th Street. The parade route is approximately two miles long.

The first Rock Island Labor Day Parade was held in 1984 as part of the Rock Island's Sesquicentennial (150th Birthday) Celebration. Over the past 26 years, the parade has grown into a popular event that averages 150 entries and draws thousands of spectators.

Interested parties should contact the City of Rock Island at 732-2923 for more information. Parade information and an entry form are also available from the City's website at www.rigov.org.

QUAD CITIES?Volunteers at the seventh annual Xstream Cleanup on Saturday, August 14 removed approximately 50,573 pounds of debris from area waterways and illegal dumping sites. Cleanups were held at 42 locations in Bettendorf, Davenport and LeClaire, Iowa; Campbell's Island, Coal Valley, East Moline, Milan, Rock Island and Silvis, Illinois.

1,243 volunteers worked a total of 3,394 hours and collectively gathered 1,287 bags of trash, 682 tires, 14 appliances, 10 bicycles, 25 pieces of furniture, 13 televisions and 16 mattresses. This was the equivalent of 25,730 pounds of trash, 22,968 pounds of tires, 1,050 pounds of appliances, 195 pounds of televisions, 400 pounds of mattresses and 230 pounds of bicycles for a grand total of 50,573 pounds.

Additional items, reflected in the pounds above, included:
· Automotive-related items (bumper, muffler, van seats, front of car, rims, engine head, doors, battery, gas cans)
· Home items (carpet, shingles, siding, sink, chandelier, storm door, laundry basket, filing cabinet, air conditioner, six grills, four toilets, clothing, blankets)
· Metal (fence, pipe, sheet metal, iron tubes, tools, 80 lb metal chain)
· Kids' items (car seat, sled, swing set, slide, inflatable pool, kite, stroller)
· Large items (farm implements, lawn mower, car, part of a camper, two boats, bench grinder, railroad hand cart)
· Electronics (VCRs, TVs, computers)
· Miscellaneous (tiki light, Bettendorf HS sign, fisherman's basket with fish, traffic light, bowling ball, wheelbarrow, channel buoy, shopping carts, eight barrels, picnic bench, gas station sign, Styrofoam, 5-gallon buckets)

In addition, this year the following locations worked on beautification efforts:
· Nahant Marsh: removed 33 cubic yards of invasive species.
· North High School grounds: pulled 75 invasive trees and shrubs and planted 175 native plants.
· West Lake Park: removed one acre of invasive honeysuckle (the equivalent of 150 mature plants).
· Duck Creek at Middle Park in Bettendorf: removed 40 garbage bags of invasive species.
· Duck Creek at Fairmount in Davenport: removed three 30-yard dumpsters of woody invasive species.

Photos of several cleanup sites can be viewed on-line at www.xstreamcleanup.org.

This event was sponsored by the following:
Presenting Sponsor: Riverboat Development Authority

Platinum Sponsors: Alcoa, iLivehere: myhome ourcommunity, and Living Lands & Waters

Gold Sponsors: Iowa American Water, Community Foundation of the Great River Bend, The Moline Foundation, THE National Bank, Rock Island County Waste Management Agency

Silver Sponsors: Alter Metal Recycling, DHL Global Forwarding, Independent Insurance Agents of Scott County, McCarthy-Bush Corporation, Mel Foster Company, Oystar Packaging Technologies, Quad City Conservation Alliance, Sears Manufacturing

Logistics Sponsors: Cities of Bettendorf, Davenport, East Moline, LeClaire, Milan, Moline, Rock Island and Silvis. Allied Waste, Bi-State Regional Commission, Keep Rock Island Beautiful, Partners of Scott County Watersheds, Radish Magazine, River Roots Live, Waste Commission of Scott County

With Help From: Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Downtown Partnership, Division of Iowa Quad Cities Chamber, Eastern Iowa Grain Inspection, Midas Auto Systems Experts, Wallaces Garden Center