27 Mar 2009

Beginning Genealogy Classes

By Kathryn Davis

Are You Interesting In Researching Your Family History But Don't Know Where To Start?

 

Come to the German American Heritage Center's Beginning Genealogy Classes starting this Thursday, April 2nd at 6:30 p.m. to begin the journey to your family's past!

 

The following topics will be covered during the six weeks of class:

  • Beginning Your Research? - Importance of Record Keeping
  • Documenting Your Research:  Primary & Secondary Sources
  • Finding Information by Contacting Relatives
  • Library Research:  Determining What Library - What to Look for and How to Get it
  • Census Records: What They Are, What They Contain & Their Importance to My Research
  • Court House Records:  Types of Records & Where to Find Them

Instructor Scharlott Goettsch Blevins has taught genealogy classes for over 30 years, is past president of the Federation of Genealogical Societies, past president of the Iowa Genealogical Society, and member of many other organizations locally and nationally.  She has traveled throughout the country, England and Germany on extensive genealogical research trips.

ALL ETHIC GROUPS COVERED!  Beginning Genealogy Classes Thursdays:  April 2 - May 7   6:30 p.m.

Cost:  $50/person Non GAHC member - $45/person GAHC member; minimum 10 participants  - registration required.

Offered at the German American Heritage Center,712 West 2nd Street Davenport, IA 52802.

Contact (563) 322-8844 director@gahc.org for more information

26 Mar 2009

5 Local Nominations Received for 2009 Freedom Award

By Holly Fantaskey

 

Five Quad City area employers have been nominated for the 2009 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.  The Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for their support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.

The nominees are:

 Bettendorf Police Department

Civil Constructors Inc., East Moline

Kelly's Medical Equipment and Supply, Davenport

Springfield Armory Inc., Geneseo

Superior Labels, Davenport.

More than 3,200 National Guard and Reserve members from across the country nominated their employers for their outstanding support. Many employers, for example, provided continued benefits, differential pay, family assistance and additional support. A national selection board comprised of senior defense officials and business leaders will select up to 15 recipients for this year's award. The Department of Defense will announce the 2009 Freedom Award recipients this summer. The 2009 Freedom Awards will be presented at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., September 17th at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Center.

 

About ESGR

 Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a Department of Defense agency established in 1972 that seeks to promote a culture in which all American employers support and value the military service of their employees. We recognize outstanding support, increase awareness of the law, and resolve conflicts through mediation. For more information, please visit www.esgr.mil.

About the Award

The Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) to recognize exceptional support from the employer community. Previous honorees include American Express, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Sears, Home Depot, the State of Tennessee and the Winner School District of South Dakota. For more information, please visit www.FreedomAward.mil.

26 Mar 2009

Rock Island County youth news conference TODAY, March 26th, 2009

By M. McNeil

(Moline, IL)  Some of the county's newest voters are holding a news conference asking voters to approve the one percent sales tax referendum on the April 7th ballot.  These students have been in area schools for years and they know first hand the buildings need major updates.

The news conference is scheduled for Thursday, March 26th at 3:30 pm in the King Plaza strip mall in Moline.  The event will take place in front of Kinetic Fitness at 3620 Avenue of the Cities.

Student leaders from Moline, United Township and Augustana will be available for questions after the news conference.
26 Mar 2009

2nd Annual Teen Film Festival at the Putnam

By M. McNeil
There is a red carpert event tonight at the Putnam Museum and IMAX Theatre.  Twelve locally produced movies, trailers, and outtakes will be shown and awards will be given to the movie makers.
Quad-city area public libraries have teamed up to present this evening of glamour and excitment beginning at 7:00 pm in the IMAX.  There is a 6:00 pm pre-party for the teens and their guests in the Putnam Museum exhibit hall...following by a walk down the red carpert, film viewing and then awards.
Two grand prizes of $100 will be given as well as a number of other "Oscars".  The contest began in February with a call for entry.  Teens could chose among three themes related to their favorite book--outtakes, book trailer or missing/unwritten scene.
For information contact Christie at 563-326-7893.
26 Mar 2009

Shoe Carnival Wants to Help Their Customers Through Tough Economic Times With a First Ever Promotion

By Stacy Carr
Evansville, IN- March 26, 2009-- Beginning April 1 through April 11, with any purchase, Shoe Carnival customers will receive a "BOGO When You Want 2" (SM) card. Anytime through January 19, 2010 customers can present the "BOGO When You Want 2" (SM) card and receive "Buy one, get the second pair of equal or lesser value for ½ off."
"We know our customers are going through a tough economic time right now, which is why we want to help by giving them our best offer anytime they want it," said Todd Beurman, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Shoe Carnival. "With the "BOGO When You Want 2" card, our customers will be able to take advantage of this valuable deal, even when the promotion isn't running in our stores, to better meet their families' footwear needs."
This is the first time Shoe Carnival has run this promotion and wanted to offer this deal with their Spring Sale Event running April 1 - April 11 where you can get great deals on name brand footwear for the entire family plus get Buy 1, Get 2nd Pair ½ Off just in time for the Easter holiday.
About Shoe Carnival
Shoe Carnival is a chain of more than 300 footwear stores located in the Midwest, South and Southeast. Combining value pricing with an entertaining store format, Shoe Carnival is a leading retailer of name brand and private label footwear for the entire family. Headquartered in Evansville, Indiana, Shoe Carnival trades on the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC under the symbol SCVL. Visit www.shoecarnival.comfor more information.
25 Mar 2009

The Moline Foundation announces Webb scholarship award deadline of April 1, 2009

By Joy Boruff

    • Applicants are sought for the Maggie Webb Scholarship through The Moline Foundation.

    • Applicants must:

      1. Be a 2009 Moline High School graduate
      2. Have a GPA of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale
      3. Provide a transcript and proof of class rank
      4. Be involved in at least one community service activity
      5. Submit an essay answer to the question "If you were to leave this earth tomorrow, what would be your legacy?"

    • Last year two Maggie Webb Scholarship winners, Trent Carlson and Kayla Kauzlarich both of Moline were chosen by Maggie's friends and family through the Moline Foundation to receive $3,000 in scholarship funding.

    • Maggie Webb graduated from Moline High School in 2001. As a senior in high school, Maggie began working at the Von Maur department store in Moline. Upon graduating from college, Maggie became a department manager for the Iowa City Von Maur store. She then worked at several other midwestern Von Maur stores earning acclaim for her sparkling personality and commitment to customer service.

    • Maggie's life tragically ended in December, 2007 with the mass shooting at a Omaha Nebraska mall. Maggie had recently moved to Omaha.  She was employed as a Von Maur Store Manager when she was killed along with five other employees and two customers.

    • "Her friends and family wanted to honor Maggie's life with this scholarship. She always had a smile on her face and was such a bright light for so many people,"

    • Kelly Melliere Ryckegham,  Moline High School Class of 2001

    • Founded in 1953, The Moline Foundation is a community-based, non-profit organization which provides grants to health, human services, education, community development, the arts, and other charitable organizations which benefit the citizens of the Quad City region. The Moline Foundation receives and administers charitable gifts and has a current endowment fund of approximately $13 million.  For more information contact Executive Director Joy Boruff at (309) 736-3800 or visit The Moline Foundation Web site at www.molinefoundation.org.

# # #
25 Mar 2009

Area receives more than $333,000 in fraternal assistance thanks to Modern Woodmen member efforts

By Kim Woodward

Modern Woodmen of America recently announced that residents and organizations in northwestern Illinois, southeastern and eastern Iowa received $333,697 in fraternal assistance from Modern Woodmen members in 2008. These dollars support the fraternal organization's social and volunteer activities for local members and their communities.

"Local members continue to make a difference in their communities," says Regional Director Thomas J. Hosmanek. "Modern Woodmen members do more than donate money - they also contribute their own time to local projects they believe in."

Modern Woodmen members in these areas are organized into 69 local chapters called camps and 27 youth service clubs. Through the organization's various volunteer programs, camp and youth club members conduct service projects to meet the needs of their own communities.

In 2008 alone, area Modern Woodmen members contributed 20,927 volunteer service hours to their communities.

Examples of ways Modern Woodmen members can help the community include collecting canned goods to donate to a local food bank, landscaping a local school or raising money for a resident in need.

Additionally, Modern Woodmen representatives donated 390 free Youth Educational Programs to area schools and youth organizations. These programs reached 27,914 local children and provided them with information about safety, citizenship, creativity and confidence. Youth Educational Programs are free community education resources.

The six current programs donated by Modern Woodmen are:

  • Ecology Awareness
  • Patriotic Civics
  • Fall Fest
  • School Speech Contest
  • Exercise and Nutrition
  • Safety and Life Skills

"There is more than one way to give back," says Hosmanek. "From activities to education to volunteering, Modern Woodmen and its members were able to touch many lives in 2008."

As a fraternal benefit society, Modern Woodmen sells life insurance, annuity and investment products not to benefit stockholders, but to improve the quality of life of its stakeholders - members, their families and their communities. This is done through social, charitable and volunteer activities. In 2008, more than $23.8 million* and 1.3 million volunteer hours were contributed nationwide for local community projects.

For more information about how Modern Woodmen touches lives in northwestern Illinois, southeastern and eastern Iowa, contact Hosmanek at 563-386-8600, or visit www.modern-woodmen.org.

- end -

* Including general expenses and taxes.

25 Mar 2009

2009 White House Egg Display at Musser Public Library

By Irene Warschauer

The Musser Public Library in Muscatine will host the Iowa Egg Council's 2009 White House Easter Egg display throughout the month of April.  The exhibition can be viewed until April 30th and then it will move on to another city.

The 19 beautifully decorated eggs in this display are the creations of various Iowa artists.  The eggs were entered in the 2009 White House Easter Egg Decorating Contest, held during the 2008 Iowa State Fair. This contest invites Iowa artists to decorate an egg to depict a special feature, theme, icon, or location in/of Iowa. The winning egg is then sent to Washington, D.C. to be on display at the White House during the Easter season. 

At this year's contest, Marjorie Nedjl of Ely won first place, winning a cash prize plus traveling expenses to see her decorated egg displayed at the White House. Second place went to Carolyn Klein of Norwalk, and Marion Smith of Eagle Grove won third place. 

Each year the Iowa Egg Council sponsors the White House Easter Egg Decorating Contest during the Iowa State Fair. Entry forms can be requested each year by calling 1-877-IOWAEGG, Ext. 11 or be accessing the website at www.iowaegg.org.

Contact Info: Irene Warschauer, Office Manager, Musser Public Library, Ph: 563-263-3065, iwarschauer@muscatinelibrary.us

23 Mar 2009

ICEA Hosts River to River is Global Youth Services Day in Iowa

By Michael O. Johnston

The Iowa Community Education Association (ICEA) will mobilize more than 1000 young people to participate in the 21st Annual Global Youth Service Day (GYSD), Friday, April 24 through Sunday, April 26, 2009, across the state of Iowa.

Millions of youth in the United States and in more than 100 countries will plan simultaneous service events and service learning projects celebrating GYSD.  Spanning three days, GYSD is the largest service event in the world.

At ICEA, we are excited about facilitating opportunities for youth to plan, carry out and celebrate volunteerism. It’s a wonderful way to strengthen communities and learn valuable life lessons.

For more information, please contact: ICEA, Michael O. Johnston, MPA 09' Webmaster, ICEA, 1800 Grand Ave. Apt. 38, West Des Moines, Iowa 50026, Phone: (641) 799-1076, moj@iastate.edu

23 Mar 2009

Quad Cities to host Illinois Reform Commission Town Hall Meeting

By Sheryl Dineen

 CHICAGO (March 23, 2009) - The Illinois Reform Commission (IRC) will hold its fifth Town Hall meeting on Thursday, March 26 at Augustana College in the Franklin W. Olin Center for Educational Technology Auditorium, Rock Island, IL (733 35th Street) from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

The meeting will include a moderated public discussion followed by an open question and comment period. Political Science faculty members Dr. David Dehnel and Dr. Paul Weissburg will serve as moderators along with Augustana student Joshua Morgan.

The IRC Commissioners scheduled to attend include :

· Patrick Collins, IRC Chairman; Partner, Perkins Coie LLP

· Brad McMillan, Executive Director, Institute for Principled Leadership, Bradley University

· Shelia Simon, Clinical Associate Professor of Law, Southern Illinois University School of Law

Members of the public and the media are invited to attend.

For more information about the Commission and to see the schedule of upcoming meetings, please visit http://www.ReformIllinoisNow.org/meetings.php

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