28
Oct
2003
• The Putnam Museum & IMAX Theatre in Davenport has been honored as the 2003 Iowa Tourism Attraction of the Year at the annual Iowa Tourism Conference in Des Moines. The Putnam Museum was chosen from among several entries in the category for communities with a population more than 10,000 people. Fifteen other awards were presented at the three-day conference. Professionals representing several facets of the Iowa tourism industry judged the nominations. The winning attraction was chosen based on outstanding performance, outstanding economic impact, quality and effective marketing, impressive attendance figures, and involvement in Iowa tourism initiatives. Held October 20 to 22 and sponsored by the Travel Federation of Iowa and the Iowa Department of Economic Development's Tourism Office, the Iowa Tourism Conference brought together tourism enthusiasts from every corner of the state to network, attend educational sessions, and hear keynote addresses.
• A new project aimed at providing free musical instruments to Quad Cities children has been announced by the Quad City Symphony Orchestra Association. "Instruments for Kids", a volunteer effort by symphony volunteer Lily Arbisser of Davenport, will collect used musical instruments from the community and distribute them to students in Quad Cities schools who have an interest in performing music but are unable to purchase or rent appropriate instruments. All types of string, wind, brass, and percussion instruments are being solicited. Instruments in generally good, playable condition or those that require minor repairs are welcome for the program. Instrument contributors will be provided with receipts acknowledging the tax deductibility of the fair value for value of the instruments and complimentary tickets to Quad City Symphony classical-series concerts. Instruments can be donated by drop-off at the Quad City Symphony office at 327 Brady Street in downtown Davenport. Pickup can also be arranged. For more information on the program, contact Arbisser at (563)322-0931.
• The University of Iowa Libraries have received a $392,000 grant from the Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS) for recruitment and education of librarians in the sciences. The University of Iowa Libraries' faculty and academic practitioners will choose nine students in the sciences and health-sciences library program for assistantships. The students will have either an undergraduate or graduate degree in library science and will participate in assistantships in one of three major university library systems, providing pertinent work experience. It is anticipated that 58 percent of library professionals will retire by 2019. In response to this trend, IMLS designed the Recruiting & Educating Librarians for the 21st Century grant program.
• During the week of October 26 to November 2, American Civil Liberties Union student groups will act to oppose the USA PATRIOT Act as part of a National Week of Student Action organized by student ACLU members. During the Week of Action, student groups will pass resolutions through their school student governments, hold letter-writing campaigns, circulate petitions, and more. The call for a National Week of Student Action originated at the ACLU Youth Summit last June during the ACLU's National Membership Conference. Go to (http://www.stopthepatriotact.org) to find out more about this student initiative.
• On October 22, the Quad City Health Initiative's Smiles for All team began the distribution of 5,000 oral-health preventive-care kits to the community. Toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, and educational materials will be assembled into age-appropriate kits and distributed free of charge through local senior-citizen meal sites and Churches United's food-pantry network. The team's activities coincide with National Dental Hygiene Month this month. Smiles for All includes 47 individual representatives from across 30 organizations in the Quad Cities community. The team, which was assembled in December 2002, seeks to increase access to dental-care prevention and treatment services for the underserved members of our community. A Community Health Assessment released by the Quad City Health Initiative in 2002 identified access to dental care for low-income families as a critical issue for the community. For more information or to join the efforts of the Quad City Health Initiative, call (563)421-2815 or visit (http://www.qchealthinitiative.org).
• The Handicapped Development Center's Boosters Organization is holding its holiday nut and candy sale. Proceeds from the sale will be used to help individuals with special needs in the community. For more information, look on its Web site at (http://www.handicappeddevelopment.org/current.htm). Order forms are available at the center at 3402 Hickory Grove Road in Davenport, or call an order in at (563)391-4834.
• The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) filed suit in federal district court seeking the release of Department of Justice (DOJ) records regarding the efforts of federal prosecutors to oppose legislative revisions to the controversial USA PATRIOT Act. The lawsuit challenges DOJ's refusal to expedite the processing of EPIC's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for the material. On July 22, the House of Representatives voted 309-118 to prohibit the use of federal funds for the execution of delayed-notice search warrants. These "sneak and peek" warrants, which were authorized by the USA PATRIOT Act, allow law-enforcement officers to conduct a search of an individual's property and delay notifying that individual until after the search occurred. On August 14, DOJ issued a memorandum urging all U.S. Attorneys "to call personally or meet with ... congressional representatives" to talk over "the potentially deleterious effects" of denying funding for delayed-notification warrants. EPIC's memorandum in support of its motion for a preliminary injunction is available at (http://www.epic.org/open_gov/foia/otter_pi.pdf). For background information, see EPIC's USA PATRIOT Act page at (http://www.epic.org/privacy/terrorism/usapatriot).
• Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has promised $600,000 to Western Illinois University to develop its Quad Cities campus as part of the state's Northwest Economic Development Plan. The money will cover architectural and engineering costs to renovate the Moline facility. Last April, Western received a donation from Deere & Company of the former tech center and 20 acres of land to create a WIU-Quad Cities riverfront campus. Illinois had already earmarked $200,000 in this year's budget to remodel the building. Another $300,000 will add six new faculty members to expand WIU's course offerings in the Quad Cities. The satellite campus serves about 1,400 students at its facility in Moline and through programs at the Quad Cities Graduate Center.
• A new project aimed at providing free musical instruments to Quad Cities children has been announced by the Quad City Symphony Orchestra Association. "Instruments for Kids", a volunteer effort by symphony volunteer Lily Arbisser of Davenport, will collect used musical instruments from the community and distribute them to students in Quad Cities schools who have an interest in performing music but are unable to purchase or rent appropriate instruments. All types of string, wind, brass, and percussion instruments are being solicited. Instruments in generally good, playable condition or those that require minor repairs are welcome for the program. Instrument contributors will be provided with receipts acknowledging the tax deductibility of the fair value for value of the instruments and complimentary tickets to Quad City Symphony classical-series concerts. Instruments can be donated by drop-off at the Quad City Symphony office at 327 Brady Street in downtown Davenport. Pickup can also be arranged. For more information on the program, contact Arbisser at (563)322-0931.
• The University of Iowa Libraries have received a $392,000 grant from the Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS) for recruitment and education of librarians in the sciences. The University of Iowa Libraries' faculty and academic practitioners will choose nine students in the sciences and health-sciences library program for assistantships. The students will have either an undergraduate or graduate degree in library science and will participate in assistantships in one of three major university library systems, providing pertinent work experience. It is anticipated that 58 percent of library professionals will retire by 2019. In response to this trend, IMLS designed the Recruiting & Educating Librarians for the 21st Century grant program.
• During the week of October 26 to November 2, American Civil Liberties Union student groups will act to oppose the USA PATRIOT Act as part of a National Week of Student Action organized by student ACLU members. During the Week of Action, student groups will pass resolutions through their school student governments, hold letter-writing campaigns, circulate petitions, and more. The call for a National Week of Student Action originated at the ACLU Youth Summit last June during the ACLU's National Membership Conference. Go to (http://www.stopthepatriotact.org) to find out more about this student initiative.
• On October 22, the Quad City Health Initiative's Smiles for All team began the distribution of 5,000 oral-health preventive-care kits to the community. Toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, and educational materials will be assembled into age-appropriate kits and distributed free of charge through local senior-citizen meal sites and Churches United's food-pantry network. The team's activities coincide with National Dental Hygiene Month this month. Smiles for All includes 47 individual representatives from across 30 organizations in the Quad Cities community. The team, which was assembled in December 2002, seeks to increase access to dental-care prevention and treatment services for the underserved members of our community. A Community Health Assessment released by the Quad City Health Initiative in 2002 identified access to dental care for low-income families as a critical issue for the community. For more information or to join the efforts of the Quad City Health Initiative, call (563)421-2815 or visit (http://www.qchealthinitiative.org).
• The Handicapped Development Center's Boosters Organization is holding its holiday nut and candy sale. Proceeds from the sale will be used to help individuals with special needs in the community. For more information, look on its Web site at (http://www.handicappeddevelopment.org/current.htm). Order forms are available at the center at 3402 Hickory Grove Road in Davenport, or call an order in at (563)391-4834.
• The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) filed suit in federal district court seeking the release of Department of Justice (DOJ) records regarding the efforts of federal prosecutors to oppose legislative revisions to the controversial USA PATRIOT Act. The lawsuit challenges DOJ's refusal to expedite the processing of EPIC's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for the material. On July 22, the House of Representatives voted 309-118 to prohibit the use of federal funds for the execution of delayed-notice search warrants. These "sneak and peek" warrants, which were authorized by the USA PATRIOT Act, allow law-enforcement officers to conduct a search of an individual's property and delay notifying that individual until after the search occurred. On August 14, DOJ issued a memorandum urging all U.S. Attorneys "to call personally or meet with ... congressional representatives" to talk over "the potentially deleterious effects" of denying funding for delayed-notification warrants. EPIC's memorandum in support of its motion for a preliminary injunction is available at (http://www.epic.org/open_gov/foia/otter_pi.pdf). For background information, see EPIC's USA PATRIOT Act page at (http://www.epic.org/privacy/terrorism/usapatriot).
• Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has promised $600,000 to Western Illinois University to develop its Quad Cities campus as part of the state's Northwest Economic Development Plan. The money will cover architectural and engineering costs to renovate the Moline facility. Last April, Western received a donation from Deere & Company of the former tech center and 20 acres of land to create a WIU-Quad Cities riverfront campus. Illinois had already earmarked $200,000 in this year's budget to remodel the building. Another $300,000 will add six new faculty members to expand WIU's course offerings in the Quad Cities. The satellite campus serves about 1,400 students at its facility in Moline and through programs at the Quad Cities Graduate Center.
