15 Sep 2009

Iowa Recognized as a State Leader on Children's Health

By Rick Martin

Iowa was recognized for its strong commitment to children's health coverage despite a tough economic climate, according to a report released today by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families (CCF).

Weathering the Storm: States Moving Forward Despite Tough Economic Climate identified Iowa as one of twenty-three states that expanded health coverage for children in 2009.  Iowa was the first state to take advantage of opportunities presented in the Child Health Insurance Reform Act (CHIPRA) of 2009 to develop a dental option for children and to extend coverage to all income-qualifying legal resident children.

"Iowa leaders stood up for the most vulnerable members of our community - our children - during this fiscal crisis by expanding access to affordable children's health coverage," said Carrie Fitzgerald, Senior Health Policy Associate of the Child and Family Policy Center in Des Moines.  "Iowa expanded eligibility for hawk-i coverage to families up to 300% of poverty and adopted streamlined provisions for enrollment and re-enrollment that will help ensure children receive continuous health care coverage."

Nationwide, strong state and federal support for Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) has reduced the number of uninsured children to its lowest levels since 1987. The report found that  states have taken advantage of the passage of CHIPRA and other federal support to secure additional funds and strengthen their efforts to cover more children.

"Weathering the Storm' is important in showing Iowa's leadership in child health coverage, but there still are uninsured children in the state," Charles Bruner, Director of the Child and Family Policy Center, stated.  "Iowa must continue its implementation efforts and activities to ensure all children receive the health care they need for healthy development.  Children's healthy development is key to Iowa's future and to containing health care expenditures over the long term."

For more information on the report, Weathering the Storm: States Moving Forward Despite Tough Economic Climate, visit CCF's website www.ccf.georgetown.edu/facts-statistics

14 Sep 2009

The Symphony of the Arts

By Kristine Conlon
The Symphony Guild in Muscatine is gearing up to open the new orchestra season of really good music with really good food and excellent company.  The Symphony of the Arts, this year's version of the Symphony of Chocolate, will take place at the Muscatine Art Center, 1314 Mulberry Avenue, on September 26, starting at 6:00. It will be a casual evening, with the highlight being both a silent auction and a live auction conducted by Schroeder Auctions. People in Muscatine have been incredibly generous and wonderfully imaginative - items available include a glider ride, a visit to a chiropractor, a private Pilates session, pearls, an oversized stuffed turtle (it's a toy!), lots of gift certificates. There will be appetizers and desserts provided by Ellie's and Sweet Temptations, lots of entertainment, lots of good times. Tickets are $20.00 and are available from HyVee, Fareway, the Muscatine Art Center, and at the door. All proceeds will go to help fund Muscatine's own exceptional Symphony Orchestra, directed by Brian Dollinger.
11 Sep 2009

Business as Usual: A New Ship is Setting Sail

By Cissy Wendt

Bettendorf, IA - Sonja Sorrel is senior media relations consultant for the Life and Health Division of the Principal Financial Group® will be speaking to local public relations, marketing and media professionals on September 24, 2009 at 3:00 pm at the Butterworth Education Center located at the corner of 7th Street and 12th Avenue, Moline, IL on behalf of the Public Relations Society of America - Quad Cities Chapter.

Sonja will be speaking about the impact the economy has had on the financial services industry and how it has changed the way they communicate. Also she will discuss what Principal did for employee communication, advertising and media relations and how it was measured. PRSA members, Local Public Relations, Marketing and Media professionals, students, and the general public are invited to hear Sonja discuss Principal's new communication techniques.

Sorrel has more than 10 years experience in strategic public relations and national media relations. She joined the company in 2004 and was promoted to her current position in 2007. She is responsible for managing media relations for all risk products including, life, health, disability and dental product lines. In her role, she conducts media outreach, executes issues management and advances thought leadership.

Prior to joining the company Sorrel was an account supervisor with Public Communications Inc, a public relations firm based in Chicago. Most of her work was concentrated on media relations for not-for-profit health care organizations, but she also represented well-known Chicago icons like Water Tower Place and the Museum of Science and Industry. Sorrel earned her bachelor's degree in journalism from Iowa State University. She serves on the communications counsel for America's Health Insurance Plans. She is also a member of the Public Relations Society of America.

The Principal Financial Group? (The Principal ®) 1 is a leader in offering businesses, individuals and institutional clients a wide range of financial products and services, including retirement and investment services, life and health insurance, and banking through its diverse family of financial services companies. A member of the Fortune 500, the Principal Financial Group has $257.7 billion in assets under management 2 and serves some 18.8 million customers worldwide from offices in Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America and the United States. Principal Financial Group, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol PFG. For more information, visit www.principal.com.

Formed in 1978, the Quad Cities Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America serves public relations and communications professionals throughout the greater Quad Cities region. The chapter offers programs, resources and networking opportunities for area PRSA members.

To RSVP for this event please email Cissy Wendt, Chapter Administrator at qcprsa@gmail.com by Sept 22, 2009.

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10 Sep 2009

First Presbyterian Church Fundraiser

By Jo Cohrs

Pork Dinner Fund-raiser

Thursday, September 17th

4:30  to 7 PM

Fellowship Hall

First Presbyterian Church - Milan

1620 W. First Street

Menu Includes:

Pulled Pork, hot baked beans, cheesy potatoes, coleslaw, dessert and drinks

Donation:  Adults $8   Children under 10 - $5

Proceeds to go to the pew re-upholstery project fund

Tickets Available at the door

10 Sep 2009

Jordan Catholic School Celebrates "Love of Country" on 9/11.

By Janine Parr

On Friday September 11, Jordan Catholic School students will be dressed in RED, WHITE AND BLUE to show their love of country and their appreciation of those who work to keep us free and make us PROUD! Some children may dress in the fatigues of their parents who have served our country.

Additionally, JCS students are collecting soap for "Operation Homecoming". This project is being spearheaded by JCS business office manager, Wendy Todd. Mrs. Todd's son, Lance Corporal Michael Todd, is a marine serving in Afghanistan. LCpl. Todd's battalion has not received supplies or mail for two months. The conditions are rough without showers, soap, etc. This gave Mrs. Todd and other mothers of marines within this battalion the idea to prepare "homecoming baskets" for the 600 single marines in this battalion. The students' donation will be added to the baskets which will be a surprise to the marines when they come home!
10 Sep 2009

APAC Customer Services, Inc. in Davenport Celebrates Expansion With Ribbon Cutting

By Bobbi Chester

September 10, 2009 - APAC Customer Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: APAC) a leader in global outsourced services and solutions, celebrated the expansion of its Davenport customer interaction center with a Ribbon Cutting co-hosted by Davenport's Chamber of Commerce, DavenportOne. Local dignitaries in attendance included Chamber of Commerce Red Coats, as well as past and current APAC employees.

"It's great that APAC, a world leader in outsourced services, has chosen Davenport as a place to expand its services," stated Mayor Gluba. "We welcome the job opportunities this expansion brings, especially given the full benefit package the company offers to its full time employees. Job growth in our area is terrific news given what's happening in some other part of the country."

"We've invested nearly $4 million in support of the expansion at our Davenport center," shared Mike Marrow. "There's new training rooms, lockers, landscaping, lobby updates and many other improvements that make this center a great place to work."

APAC will be hiring an additional 300 customer care agents and support professionals within the next several weeks associated with the facility build-out. Agents hired will be answering calls from consumers and assisting with product features, billing and general support. To apply for one of these full-time positions, go to www.APACjob.com/Davenport.

Overall, APAC employs over 10,000 contact center professionals throughout nine domestic and four Philippine locations. The APAC Davenport center originally opened February 1996.

About APAC

APAC Customer Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: APAC) is a leading provider of customer care services and solutions for market leaders in healthcare, business services, communications, media and publishing, travel and entertainment, and financial services industries. APAC partners with its clients to deliver custom solutions that enhance bottom line performance. For more info, call 1-800-OUTSOURCE.

APAC's comprehensive web site is http://www.apaccustomerservices.com.

APAC Davenport Contact: Tracy Beck, General Manager, Davenport, (563) 285-2812, TMBeck@APACmail.com.

APAC Marketing Contact: Bobbi Chester, Marketing Director, (847) 374-1958, BLChester@APACmail.com

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10 Sep 2009

MONSTER SEWING OPENS IN MOLINE

By Grant Kim

Monster Sewing, at 1465 - 41st Street in Moline, has recently opened their doors for business.  This locally owned sewing shop can take care of all of your sewing and alteration needs including handbags and purses, heavy coats, leathers and zippers. They are open Mondays thru Fridays from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and Saturdays by appointment.

Give them a call at 309-716-8411 or stop in, they are located across from the Moline Viking Club.

10 Sep 2009

New Kingdom Trailriders celebrates Fall down on the farm with a Western Jamboree Fall Festival and Fundraiser!

By Barbara Clausen

Event Date:  September 26, 2009, 12:00pm-5:00pm at Schone's Friendship Farm, 15711 13th Street, Milan, IL.

We're rustlin' up all volunteers, riders, parents, and friends for the New Kingdom Trailriders' Western Jamboree Fall Festival and Fundraiser!  Help us raise some much-needed dollars while having fun with the whole family.  Admission is $2.00 and every paid admission is an entry into a great door prize drawing from Ascentra, this year's Platinum Sponsor.

This fundraiser will be chock-full o'fun and games for everyone in your posse.  There will be games for the little greenhorns, vittles for the hungry and of course, our cowboys and cowgirls will put on a fine show for ya'all.

Our Chuck wagon will be servin' up Texas chili and dogs, along with other tasty grub.  We'll have horse rides available for purchase to all who want to be a cowboy for the day.  Hold on to your hats folks, that ain't all!  We have a surprise for you- "It's a Pleasure" Precision Drill Team will be performing too (www.itsapleasure.org).  Dust off your boots, we've also roped in "The Posse" for your country western dancin' and listenin' pleasure.  Bring your decorated pumpkin to enter the Pumpkin Design contest!

If that ain't enough for ya'all to flip your lids, we have invited some of our compadres to join us and have information available about their fine programs and products also.  All this fun is brought to you with the help of our good friends at Ascentra.  So grab the young'uns, the old'uns and everybody in-between for a hootin', hollerin' good time at the NKT Western Jamboree Fall Festival and Fundraiser!

New Kingdom Trailriders is the Quad Cities' only equine-assisted therapeutic riding program.  NKT is celebrating its 25th year of offering a quality recreational therapy program to specially challenged individuals.  Donors, local grants and fundraisers fund NKT.  You can donate to this program online at their website - www.NKTriders.org.  Click on the "Just Give" logo.

WE NEED YOU TO HELP!

Committees are being set up NOW.  Please sign up as a worker or leader today or call the NKT office at 309.764.4220 or email Christina Chom, Director of Development at christinankt@yahoo.com.  We cannot do fun events like this without the help of our super volunteers!  Thank you for lending a hand and supporting New Kingdom Trailriders.

If you would like more information about this event or New Kingdom Trailriders (NKT), or if you need directions, please visit our website at www.NKTriders.org or contact Barbara Clauson at (309) 764-4220, email NKT at info@NKTriders.org.  You can also stop by our office located in SouthPark Mall next to Dairy Queen/Orange Julius.

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10 Sep 2009

2009 Quad-City Flames Junior A Hockey Sneak Preview

By John Blackman

The QC Flames kick off their new season with two exhibition games vs. the Minnesota Ice Hawks this weekend at the Quad City Sports Center (700 W. River Dr. Davenport).

Game 1- 7pm Saturday 12th

Game 2- Noon Sunday 13th

Youth hockey registrants get in free.

Under 7 years old is free.

All others $5 admission.

Info 563-322-5220
09 Sep 2009

Get with your girlfriends in historic Galena!

By Galena CVB
GALENA, Ill. ? The 16th Annual Ladies Getaway weekend will take place in historic Galena in scenic northwest Illinois from Friday-Sunday, Sept. 11-13. This annual celebration of sisterhood will feature sales, contests, spa specials, a fashion show and more - and it's all just for the ladies.

A pre-registration fee of $15 includes a collector tote bag and a chance to win a fabulous shopping spree. A $25 pre-registration fee includes the tote bag, the chance to win a shopping spree, admission to the fashion show, with preferred seating, and admission to the Quartermania auction on Saturday night. For complete event info, including venues and fees, call the Galena Area Chamber of Commerce at 815-777-9050 or visit galenachamber.com. Pre-registration is also available online at galenachamber.com.

To plan a trip, contact the Galena/Jo Daviess County Convention & Visitors Bureau toll-free at 877-464-2536 or visit galena.org. While in town, visit the CVB's Old Train Depot Visitor Information Center at 101 Bouthillier St. for on-site assistance and countywide information.

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