CHARACTER COUNTS! In Iowa is encouraging Iowans to nominate their role models for an Iowa Character Award. The awards annually honor individuals and organizations that consistently demonstrate the Six Pillars of Character: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship. Nominations must be postmarked by June 15, 2009.

"We don't always get a chance to recognize and thank our role models," said Scott Raecker, executive director of CHARACTER COUNTS! In Iowa. "Nominating an individual or organization for an award that highlights good character is a great way to pay tribute to the people who make a difference in our lives."

Award Categories include : Business/Organization of Character, Citizen of Character, Community of Character, School of Character, and the Pursuing Victory With Honor Award.

All nominees will receive a congratulatory letter and certificate. Award recipients will be honored at the Iowa Character Awards Banquet on October 17, 2009.

Nomination forms are available at CharacterCountsInIowa.org.

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Scott County Family Y Helps Quad City Military Families Enjoy Their Summer

Davenport, Iowa - May 13, 2009 - Military families make a tremendous sacrifice on a daily basis and the Scott County Family Y wants to make sure military children have the opportunity to enjoy their summer vacation. This year, YMCA Camp Abe Lincoln along with the Sierra Club and Armed Services YMCA will offer a FREE 4-day/3-night resident camp for children of families who were, are or will be deployed.

Military Kids Camp will be held June 28 through July 1, and is designed for children ages 8 to 14. Space for this camp is limited to 50 children. Campers can expect to participate in action-packed activities such as canoeing, archery, horseback riding, camp fires, swimming and team building. In addition campers will take part in daily interest sessions specifically designed for military families that cover age appropriate topics while helping them build relationships among each other.

The cost of this week of camp is $315.00 per child however generous contributions from the Sierra Club through the Armed Services YMCA allow the Scott County Family Y to provide this unique camping opportunity free of charge. The University of Iowa and Illinois Extension Offices are also involved in this unique partnership.

For more information about Camp Abe Lincoln's Military Kids Camp call (563) 381-3053 or visit the Camp Abe Lincoln website, www.YMCACampAbeLincoln.org.

YMCA Camp Abe Lincoln was recently voted Best Camp by River City Readers and offers year-round character development programming at its 250-acre site located just outside Buffalo, Iowa. Camp Abe Lincoln has been serving Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois for more than 85 years.

The YMCA: A Long-Standing Commitment to Health of Spirit, Mind and Body

The Scott County Family Y is one of the area's largest community service organizations. Serving more than 2-million people in 2008, the Scott County Family Y offers a variety of programs and services focused on the holistic development of children and youth, family strengthening and health and well-being for all. The YMCA unites men, women and children of all ages, faiths, backgrounds, abilities and income levels - proudly serving the Quad Cities for nearly 150 years by building healthy spirit, mind and body for all. For more information visit the Scott County Family Y website, www.scottcountyfamilyy.org.

Davenport, IA - Mike Vondran, President and CEO of The Ad Group, announced today that the TAG team was the recipient of a second national healthcare advertising award. Winners have been announced in the 2009 Aster Awards for Medical Marketing and TAG HCM is the recipient of a gold award for the Consolidated Services Truck Wrap designed for Iowa Health System.

The Aster Awards is an annual contest hosted by Creative Images, Inc., an internationally recognized firm specializing in strategic health care marketing.

Based in the Quad Cities, The Ad Group is a complete advertising, marketing and public relations agency serving businesses in nearly every industry. TAG Healthcare Marketing is a division of The Ad Group. Since its founding in 1990, The Ad Group has specialized in strategic analysis and creative solutions that achieve results via the staff's creative, responsive and cost-effective service to their clients throughout the nation. For more information, visit www.adgroup.biz.

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MOLINE, ILLINOIS - WQPT will air WorldFocus: Outbreak - A Special Report, a timely special on the Influenza A (H1N1) virus on Wednesday, May 6 at 9:00 p.m.   It has been the lead news story around the world for the past two weeks. Misinformation and rumors abound, Global experts will tell you what you need to know today to protect yourself from this virulent flu.  Panelists on the program include :

Dr. Stephen Morse, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology, Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health; Founding Director & Senior Res. Scientist, Center for Public Health Preparedness: Author Emerging Viruses.

Laurie Garret, Senior Fellow for Global Health, Council on Foreign Relations

Simon Tay Fellow, Asia Society Chairman; Singapore Institute of International Relations

Christopher Sabatin, Senior Director of Policy, Council of the Americas

While the infection rate seems to be subsiding in Mexico for now, many other countries are preparing for potential outbreaks, either now or later in the year when the typical flu season begins again in the northern hemisphere.

The special will be hosted by Martin Savidge and Daljit Dhaliwal.

WQPT airs WorldFocus Monday through Friday at 6:30 p.m.