Companies Team Up to Deliver World-Class SIP Solution

DAVENPORT, IA - June 28, 2012 - Clearfly Communications, the premier carrier and leading national provider of  SIP trunking, announced today the formation of a strategic partnership with Midland Communications, a leading unified communications provider. The companies have aligned in order to provide small and medium size businesses in under-serviced suburban markets with "large business" like voice, data, and mobile services at a cost that is affordable and in a package that is manageable.
SIP is an IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force), internet based protocol originally designed for call set-up and control.  According to the SIP RFC, the protocol defines how two or more end-points can negotiate to set up and control a communications connection that suits the capabilities of the devices and the needs of its users.  In simple terms, SIP supports any form of real-time communication regardless of whether the content is voice, video, instant messaging, or a collaboration application.  Additionally, SIP enables users to inform others of their status, their availability, and how they can be contacted before a communication is even initiated.
SIP trunking may deliver a myriad of benefits, yet the driving factor behind its widespread adoption is the substantial cost savings which it provides to entrepreneurs and enterprises alike. Several smaller organizations can leverage SIP trunks in order to gain access to new features and functionality, such as Caller ID, Local DIDs, etc., which were previously excessively expensive or reserved exclusively for large companies. SIP is leveling the playing field and has successfully brought enterprise-class solutions to small to mid-sized business (SMB) looking to compete with larger companies in their industry.
Many larger enterprise sized companies have taken note and are also taking a hard look at SIP trunks. With many large organizations looking for new ways to increase profitability and secure a strong foothold in their industry, SIP is coming under the microscope quite often. SIP improves efficiency and consolidates cost across all areas of an organization's network which makes it much easier for companies to focus on mission-critical areas of the business, rather than funneling money to business communications systems.  In fact, many enterprises are harnessing the power of SIP in order to edge out their competitors and secure their spot at the forefront of their industry.
"Midland Communications is an outstanding match," said Chris Hunter, North American Sales Director for Clearfly Communications.  "Midland Communications is an exemplary organization and we're proud to be working with them. They understand how important it is to provide their customers with quality service and we believe that's why they've been so successful over the past several years."
As a leading provider of Unified Communications solutions, Midland Communications offers an array of technology that helps their customers achieve their strategic business objectives. Now an authorized dealer for Clearfly Communications products, Midland Communications will drive SIP IP PBX sales in the region.

ABOUT MIDLAND COMMUNICATIONS
Midland Communications began more than 60 years ago in 1946 as the Worldwide Marketing Arm of Victor-Animagraph Projectors. In 1977 a communications division was formed due to a partnership with NEC America. Today, As a distributor of NEC America, for 33 years, Midland Communications has a customer base of more than 3,000 satisfied customers that include general businesses, government agencies, Universities, colleges, hospitals, and hotels.
Midland provides a wide range of communication services including VOIP, PBX and key systems, Wide Area and Local Area networking, computers, Computer integration, voice mail, CCIS, and video conferencing and paging systems. Our philosophy is simple, provide quality products at a fair price, backed by an average emergency response time of twenty minutes, and the best service in the industry. For more information on Midland Communications, call (563) 326-1237 or visit www.midlandcom.com.


ABOUT CLEARFLY COMMUNICATIONS
Utilizing the most advanced voice services technology, Clearfly provides SMB (small-medium business) customers with communications service packages that include local, long-distance, toll-free, fax-to-email and Internet access. We also provide our customers with easy to manage services, simple to understand bills, and low flat rate pricing for predictability. For more information please visit www.clearfly.net or call (406) 794-0223.

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internship pic.jpg MOLINE, ILLINOIS - WQPT is delighted to announce that Kristy Anne Phillipson has been awarded the 2012 WQPT Broadcast Scholarship.  "Every year it is our pleasure to present this award to a student pursuing a career in broadcasting.  Ms. Phillipson  is not only studying broadcasting but has been involved as an intern at a commercial broadcaster and involved in Westerns on air programming" said WQPT General Manager, Rick Best.

Ms Phillipson has been an intern at KWQC, a reporter for Black Hawk Colleges' student newspaper, a reporter for university television programming at Western Illinois University and a reporter for the Courier Reporter.

Upon hearing about the award Ms. Phillipson said "As a senior in the broadcasting department at Western Illinois University in Macomb. I am honored and deeply grateful that I was chosen for this scholarship. It will help me pay for my final year at Western.  It will definitely take some of the stress off. Thanks so much for choosing me as the recipient of the WQPT Broadcast scholarship.

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University located in Moline, Illinois.

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WHEN: 6/30/12

TIME: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

WHERE: David R. Collins Writers' Conference Book Fair, Rogalski Center Ground Floor, St Ambroase University, 518 W Locust St Davenport, IA 52803

WHAT: Dorris, a resident of Davenport, IA, will be available to sign copies of his book, Life is Too Short: Life Is What We Make It.

Fear not, for in Life Is Too Short: Life Is What We Make It, author David Dorris shows you how to approach life's problems and that making the right choices is easier than you think.
Life is like a baseball game where the pitcher is constantly throwing you curveballs. As this is the case, do you want to simply be a spectator, or do you want to get in the game and face life head-on? Although it may sound simple sometimes, life is not an easy game to play. There are many challenges to overcome and many choices you have to make.
None of you have a choice as to how you come into the world; however, you do have a choice as to the kind of life you live. Follow David in Life Is Too Short: Life Is What We Make It, and find out for yourself how you too can knock life's curveballs out of the park.


For more information, contact Jim Miller at 888-361-9473 or jim@tatepublishing.com

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The Librarian of Congress, James H. Billington, has appointed Robert Dizard Jr. as the Deputy Librarian of Congress.  Dizard currently serves as the Library's Chief of Staff. His appointment is effective June 17.

In announcing his appointment, Billington said, "Mr. Dizard has shown over the past two years as Chief of Staff that he has the broad knowledge of the Library and the skill needed to bring Library managers and staff together to collaboratively meet mission-critical needs. We will need to expand and accelerate these collaborative efforts in the future."

The Deputy Librarian has Library-wide program and management authority to ensure that the Library's mission is met and that its services to the Congress and the American people are effectively provided.

Dizard has served the Library of Congress for 22 years. Prior to becoming Chief of Staff, he served as Deputy Associate Librarian for Library Services from May 2004 to May 2009. From May 2000 to May 2004 he served as Staff Director and Chief Operating Officer of the U.S. Copyright Office. In both positions he was directly responsible for a wide range of program and operational matters involving two of the largest Library service units. He has also served in the Congressional Relations Office, including a year as Acting Director.

Dizard graduated from the State University of New York at Albany with a B.A. in Economics and Political Science and received a Master's Degree in International Affairs from Columbia University. Prior to joining the Library, he served for eight years as Chief of Staff to his hometown congressman, Guy V. Molinari of New York.

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ambassadors 2012.JPG

MOLINE, ILLINOIS - WQPT, Quad Cities PBS is pleased to introduce their 2012 WQPT/PBS Ambassadors, an elite volunteer corps made up of college students.

The program is entering its eighth year and provides college students the opportunity to represent their local public television station at a variety of events throughout eastern Iowa and western Illinois and acquire leadership skills.  "Past Ambassadors have gone on to be named "Leaders Under 40" and have moved on to jobs as a direct result of their time in the Ambassador Program" said WQPT Special Projects Coordinator, Bea Brasel.

The 2012 class of WQPT/PBS Ambassadors are:

Front Row:                                         Back Row:                          
Alicia Domino - WIU                            Gaia Iaccarino - Scott Community College
Elizabeth Stemlar - UNI                       Adam Sandoval - Black Hawk College
Irene Cruz - NIU                                  Nic Hoepfner - Augustana
Karri Foks - WIU                                 Celia Brasel - Black Hawk College
Grace Brasel - Augustana                 Melissa Gravert - WIU
Jana Hergert - WIU


Not Pictured
Michele Moreno - Black Hawk College and Onder Badur - NIU

"Our Ambassadors are extremely important to WQPT. With a staff of only 11, the Ambassadors serve as an extension of the staff," said Ms. Brasel.

WQPT is the public media service of Western Illinois University - Quad Cities located in Moline, Illinois

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MOLINE, ILLINOIS - WQPT recently received several grants to help support programming and technical capabilities for the station.

The Riverboat Development Authority awarded the station a $15,000 matching grant. This match will be used during the upcoming June Membership Campaign to encourage and maximize donations made to the station.

The Scott County Regional Authority confirmed a $19,820 grant award to cover a Technology Upgrade for the station. "It has been a great many years since we have updated our computers and fundraising hardware," said WQPT General Manager Rick Best. "This grant helps fulfill the new technology needs of the station.

The Hubbell-Waterman Foundation has supported the station with a grant of $50,000 for local outreach and educational programs. "The support of Hubbell-Waterman goes directly to our programs like the WQPT First Book Club, which helps bring literature to students in title one schools and up to 100 workshops in classrooms throughout our area," said WQPT Educational Outreach Director, Ana Kehoe.

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University located in Moline, Illinois.

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WHEN: 6/09/12

TIME: 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: Barnes and Noble, 320 West Kimberly Rd, Davenport, Iowa 52806

WHAT: Dorris, a resident of Davenport, IA, will be available to sign copies of his book, Life is Too Short: Life Is What We Make It,.

Fear not, for in Life Is Too Short: Life Is What We Make It, author David Dorris shows you how to approach life's problems and that making the right choices is easier than you think.
Life is like a baseball game where the pitcher is constantly throwing you curveballs. As this is the case, do you want to simply be a spectator, or do you want to get in the game and face life head-on? Although it may sound simple sometimes, life is not an easy game to play. There are many challenges to overcome and many choices you have to make.
None of you have a choice as to how you come into the world; however, you do have a choice as to the kind of life you live. Follow David in Life Is Too Short: Life Is What We Make It, and find out for yourself how you too can knock life's curveballs out of the park.

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - May 30, 2012 - When is a newspaper company more than just a newspaper? How about when it's also a printing company, radio station, advertising sales company and niche publisher serving 11 states? This diversification has allowed the Iowa Falls-based Times-Citizen to flourish in a time of newspaper decline and also be honored as the Iowa Farm Bureau Renew Rural Iowa entrepreneur of the month.

The business is owned by Mark Hamilton and Jo Martin. Since 1983, the company has grown to hire 90 employees and a business plan that includes running the local radio station, printing news for Iowa Falls and another local community. The company also handles the printing and advertising sales for the Iowa Farm Bureau Spokesman newspaper, including several other ag publications.

"We needed to diversify to survive," explains Hamilton. "We diversified to businesses that are all related to communications. We plotted a course to take advantage of our communication skill sets and technology."

The company's growth outside of Hardin County has helped them become stronger supporters of the local community, including efforts such as building a new library and hospital, to bringing more job opportunities to Iowa Falls.

"They've grown the traditional boundaries of what a newspaper company does and they've been innovative in how they've continued to grow their business," said Angie Nelson, Iowa Farm Bureau regional manager.

Renew Rural Iowa (RRI) is an Iowa Farm Bureau Federation initiative supporting new and existing businesses through education, mentoring and financial resources. RRI will sponsor an upcoming business success seminar on Tuesday, June 26, at Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon. To register, go to http://www.renewruraliowa.com/register.aspx?LocID=19.

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'Summer Snow' Changes the Game for Faith Based Films
American Family Studio is proud to announce the filming of Summer Snow, a dramatic comedy that tells the heart wrenching and hope filled story of Susan Benson and her family.

Contact: Don Cobb, American Family Studios, 662-255-9557Summer Snow
LEXINGTON, KY, May 20, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- American Family Studio is proud to announce the filming of Summer Snow, a dramatic comedy starring David Chisum, Cameron Goodman, Rachel Eggleston, Brett Rice, produced by Dan Atchison and Eric Baird directed by Jeremy and Kendra White.
Summer Snow tells the heart wrenching and hope filled story of Susan Benson's death, and how it forever changed her husband Dan, and three children's lives. Forced to find a new "normal," the Bensons must now re-learn how to be a family without the glue that held them together. The Bensons were always a family of faith, but now that faith has been shaken and they are unsure where God fits into this new reality. But just as God often answers prayer in unique and unexpected ways, Susan provides comfort and words of wisdom when each person needs it most, setting her family on a path of healing and hope.

Summer Snow stars David Chisum, Cameron Goodman, Garrett Backstrom, with Brett Rice (Forrest Gump, Remember the Titans, Super 8, Country Strong, and House) and introducing, Rachel Eggleston. Critics say "This is a breakthrough performance from the entire cast!" "What a refreshing change of pace! Summer Snow is truly a family film." "Rachel Eggleston's heartwarming portrayal of Hallie...shines and leaves you smiling."
Estimated Release Date: October 1, 2012 limited release. Distributed through American Family Studios, and in conjunction with Voice of the Martyrs.

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