In an effort to create a regional approach to talent attraction and retention, the Young Professionals Network of the Quad Cities (YPN), an initiative of the Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce, and DavenportOne's neXt Professionals will be merging into one organization. All area young professionals are invited to join in the first combined YPN/neXt event Thursday, January 17, at Centre Station in downtown Moline at 5:30 p.m. A celebratory event for the unveiling of the new young professionals organization is tentatively scheduled for April 3.
The Web site (http://iowafirstcaucus.org) has information on where Democrats can caucus on January 3. Just go to this site and scroll down to the "Find Your Caucus" button toward the bottom of the page. Republicans can go to (http://www.iowagop.net) and click on the caucus tab at the top of the page.
Those interested in attending the 15th Annual Red Ribbon Dinner & Great Art Auction on January 12 at the Davenport RiverCenter can order tickets online at (http://www.aidsprojectqc.org) or by calling the AIDS Project Quad Cities office at (309) 762-5433. Tickets are $65 per person if purchased by December 31, and $75 if purchased after that date. Table purchases are also available. Doors will open at 5 p.m.
A new program at Augustana College in Rock Island will help every student fund international study, service learning, and research projects through "Augie Choice" grants of up to $2,000 each. All students entering Augustana in the fall of 2008 and beyond will be entitled to an Augie Choice grant, which will fund experiential learning programs of students' choosing during their junior or senior year. The grants will be funded by an increase in Augustana's comprehensive fee that will apply to members of the class of 2012 and beyond. The amount of the increase will be determined at the January meeting of the Augustana College Board of Trustees.
Hunt
Harris, chair of the United Way of the Quad Cities Area board of
directors, has announced that the organization will have a new
president and chief professional officer in place by mid-January.
Scott Crane was chosen after an extensive search to lead the
organization. Crane
currently serves as chief executive officer of United Way of
Cass-Clay in Fargo, North Dakota. He brings to his new position 17
years of United Way experience, including 13 as a chief executive.
The Quad City Health Initiative has announced that over the next three years it will receive $30,000 from Alcoa to support the community partnership's operations and special projects associated with its "Smiles for All" and "Wellness Champions" teams. This month, the Quad City Health Initiative is also celebrating the fifth anniversaries of both programs, which were created following a Community Health Assessment process in 2002 that identified access to dental care for low-income families and risk factors for heart disease as major concerns for our region. For more information, call (563) 421-2815 or visit (http://www.qchealthinitiative.org).
The Mississippi Valley Blues Society's education committee has created and presented its first "Excellence in Blues Education" award. The award was presented to Madison Elementary School music teacher Mary Hyslop on November 9.
Visitors are invited to enjoy the holiday displays located at the Family Museum through December 31. Winter hours for the Family Museum are Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 pm and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. The Family Museum is located at 2900 Learning Campus Drive in Bettendorf. For more information, call (563) 344-4106 or visit (http://www.familymuseum.org).
Half Moon, an original Deborah Butterfield horse-inspired bronze sculpture, is on view at the Figge Art Museum as part of its permanent collection. An anonymous group of donors has provided the funds for the purchase of Half Moon, a bronze about 83 inches tall that now is on display in the Orientation Gallery on the first floor of the museum. The sculpture will be on view there until February 2008, when it will be moved elsewhere in the museum to make way for a glass installation.
