DAVENPORT, Iowa - Jan. 21, 2015 -- The Genesis Flu-Free Quad Cities program has already immunized nearly 48,000 children and adults in the region against seasonal influenza since fall and will try to knock flu out of the park on Jan. 31 at Modern Woodmen Park.

Genesis and the Quad Cities River Bandits, a Flu-Free Quad Cities partner, will provide 500 adults flu vaccinations free from 9-11 a.m. in the suite level of Modern Woodmen Park as part of Community Day.

The free flu shots will be part of a morning of family fun and educational activities.

The River Bandits will be hosting a job fair for all seasonal positions and will be auditioning singers to sing the National Anthem at home games during the season.

Genesis will be offering free blood pressure screenings, physical therapy screenings and information about physical therapy services, jump analysis for kids, and a special throwing clinic for young baseball and softball players.

Genesis physical therapist Karl Stratman works with young pitchers, coaches and parents to help prevent injuries from improper technique. The clinic will start at 10 a.m.

Genesis will provide the free flu vaccinations in response to an active and early flu season. The effectiveness of this year's vaccine has been negatively impacted by the "drifting'' of one strain, but there are three other strains present that the vaccine does help protect against.

"Even if the vaccine is only 23 percent effective (according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), that is 23 percent better than zero if you don't receive the vaccine,'' said Lisa Caffery, infection control coordinator, Genesis Health System. "Flu shots are still the best way to prevent getting the flu. If you haven't had a flu shot, it is possible to get more than one strain of flu during flu season."

"The flu shot can also make a difference in the length and severity of your flu if you do get any of the strains.''

Later on Jan. 31, the Quad City Mallards will wear special "throwback'' jerseys and those game jerseys will be auctioned after the game to support Flu-Free Quad Cities.

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7:00 p.m. - Dinner

8:00 p.m. - Live Auction

Checks payable to:

LeClaire Chamber of Commerce

PO Box 35

Ballpark to host 500 free flu shots, youth activities, team's annual job fair, national anthem tryouts

DAVENPORT, Iowa (Jan. 20, 2015) - The Quad Cities River Bandits and Genesis Health System are inviting the Quad Cities community to join their team to protect the community from seasonal influenza, and to build a lineup that will make another memorable season for guests at Modern Woodmen Park. Community Day on the morning of Saturday, Jan. 31, will include 500 free vaccinations to protect against seasonal influenza, the River Bandits' annual job fair, and auditions for national anthem singers.

"We hope people who haven't yet gotten a flu shots this year will take this pitch out of the park," said Ken Croken, vice president of marketing and corporate communications, Genesis Health System. "We know it has already been an active flu season locally and nationally, but the only real protection is a flu shot, and it isn't too late to get that protection. And at this event, it will be free.''

The Genesis Flu-Free Quad Cities program - which the River Bandits and Main Street Amusements supported as part of a $50,000 donation to the Genesis Health Services Foundation in November - has provided flu shots to about 48,000 Quad Cities adults and children since the fall and protected thousands more indirectly. Nearly 9,000 elementary school children received free flu shots at their schools this fall.

"The River Bandits and Main Street Amusements have been proud to partner with Genesis Health System to make the family-friendly fun of Modern Woodmen Park become a positive and lasting impact for our community with programs such as Genesis Flu-Free Quad Cities," said River Bandits owner Dave Heller. "Community Day continues our strong partnership to provide fun, health and wellness to entire Quad Cities region."

The doors will open for all Community Day events at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 31. All events will be on the suite level of Modern Woodmen Park. Information about each event are listed below.

9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

500 free flu shots and Genesis events

Complications from seasonal influenza can be fatal for as many as 30,000 nationally in a single year. The youngest, the oldest and those with chronic conditions are at highest risk for serious complications. Each person who receives seasonal influenza vaccinations is believed to protect five people around them, including higher-risk individuals.

Genesis will also host a throwing clinic to prevent injuries in young baseball and softball players; free blood pressure checks; and a jump analysis for kids.

9:00 a.m. - noon

2015 Modern Woodmen Park Job Fair

The Quad Cities River Bandits, Main Street Amusements and Professional Sports Catering, the food and beverage provider at Modern Woodmen Park, are seeking outgoing, hard-working, fun-loving, friendly people to assist fans and be a part of the team that will help make another memorable season for guests at the ballpark.

The River Bandits, Main Street Amusements and Professional Sports Catering will host a job fair on Saturday, Jan. 31, from 9 a.m. to noon at Modern Woodmen Park to fill the ballpark's game day staff and food and beverage positions. Interested individuals can fill out an application and be interviewed on the suite level during the job fair.

Listed below are the positions that the River Bandits, Main Street Amusements and Professional Sports Catering need filled:

Amusements

• Amusements and kids zone workers (includes work on non-game days)

Box Office & Ticketing

• Box Office Intern

• Box Office Employees

• Ticket Takers

Ballpark Hospitality

• Ushers

• Parking Attendant

Concessions

• Kitchen Staff

• Gameday supervisors

• Warehouse Employees

• Seat Vendors

• Attendants

• Cooks

• Cashiers

• Bartenders

Field/Stadium Maintenance

• Field/Grounds Crew

• Custodial Host (Mornings)

• Custodial Host (Game Ops)

Merchandise

• Retail Store Employees

Promotions

• "Street Team" in-game entertainment staff

Video Production

• Video production interns

The River Bandits, Main Street Amusements and Professional Sports Catering are equal opportunity employers; women, minorities and U.S. veterans are encouraged to apply.

9:00 a.m. - noon

2015 River Bandits National Anthem and Talent Auditions

The River Bandits will hold tryouts on Saturday, Jan. 31, from 9 a.m. to noon for individuals and groups, including National Anthem singers, to perform and entertain fans with their talents prior to home games during the 2015 season.

National Anthem and other pre-game performance tryouts will take place in the Budweiser Champions Club at Modern Woodmen Park. Registration is first come, first served. Talents can range anywhere from singing, dancing, and comedy to miming, juggling or magic.

Everyone participating in the tryouts will perform their talent for a panel of River Bandits staff and local judges. Those talented enough to entertain crowds at River Bandits games this summer will be included in the show during the 2015 season.

9:00 a.m. - noon

Ticket plans, Kids Club and more on sale

Fans may learn about ticket plans and group outings, and purchase or renew ticket packages for the 2015 season. For children ages 14 and under, the River Bandits will offer another one-day special on 2015 Kids Club memberships. Normally $30 per child 14 and under, a membership will be $25 at Modern Woodmen Park on Saturday, Jan. 31. A Kids Club Membership includes a free bleacher ticket good for all River Bandits 2015 regular season home games, a membership card, a T-shirt, a 10 percent discount off purchases in the team store, an email newsletter with exclusive special offers and much more.

UP NEXT: Call today to reserve a Valentine's Day dinner at Modern Woodmen Park for Friday, Feb. 13, or Saturday, Feb. 14. Couples can enjoy a gourmet four-course dinner in a private luxury suite or take in the spectacular views of the ballpark, its Ferris wheel, the Centennial Bridge, Mississippi River and downtown Davenport from a table in the glass-enclosed, climate-controlled Budweiser Champions Club. Reservations are due Monday, Feb. 9, by calling 563-324-3000.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership in 2014 made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 105 feet over the playing field, opened May 24, Space Camp opened June 20; the new Drop'N Twist debuted in July; and the newly expanded 300-foot long zip line also reopened.

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On January 23, 24, and 25, Muscatine Arts Council will host the 21st annual Eagles and Ivories Ragtime Festival. This will be a weekend of world-class ragtime and stride, Dixieland jazz, boogie-woogie, spirituals, traditional jazz, and much more. Each evening concert is $15 and afternoon concerts are $10. A three-day concert package is $40. Children under 16 are free. Tickets are available at Flowers on the Avenue and at the door.
Free events include, Friday 9 am Kick-off concert at Sunny Brook, Saturday 9 am Eagle Watch at Pearl City Station, and Saturday 12 noon Silent Movie with live piano at the Art Center.
Ivory and Gold® features Jeff Barnhart, piano, and Anne Barnhart, flute, are praised by the L.A. Jazz Scene as a musical duo that can, "draw out the beauty in the rich melodies and play the music with taste, sensitivity, and a real affection for the idiom." More on Ivory and Gold can be found at www.ivoryandgold.net. Ragtime Dr. Dave Majchrzak started playing the piano at age 6. Dave graduated from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in 1986. Dave plays with Red Lehr's St. Louis Rivermen and Powerhouse Five Traditional Jazz Bands and has been honored with the late Trebor Tichenor's spot in the St. Louis Ragtimers. Dave has appeared at the festival in Sedalia every year since and was named the 2007 Artist in Residence for the Scott Joplin Ragtime Foundation.

Daniel Souvigny, who recently turned fourteen, lives in Hampshire, IL. He loves music and has a passion for ragtime. He has been playing since the age of five and began serious technique training at the age of ten. He is the youngest musician to win first place in the Junior World Championship of Old-Time Piano Playing Contest.
Mad Creek Mudcats are a Muscatine group playing music from the 1890-1930 time-period. This includes ragtime, traditional jazz and novelty tunes. They are regulars at Eagles and Ivories. They will play during the Friday evening Soup Supper.
Locust Street Boys from the Quad Cities Dixieland jazz band formed in 1990 as a group from St. Ambrose University. They will play during the Saturday evening Syncopation Supper.
The Weekend Schedule
Friday, January 23, 2015
? 9:00 Free Sunnybrook Concert
o Ivory and Gold® with Jeff and Anne Barnhart
? 5:00 - 7:00 Soup Supper
o Wesley United Methodist Church, 400 Iowa Avenue
o Music by Mad Creek Mudcats
? 7:00 - Concert
o Wesley United Methodist Church, 400 Iowa Avenue
o Music by Ivory and Gold®, Ragtime Dr. Dave Majchrzak, Daniel Souvigny ? 10:00 After Hours, Francesca Vitale's, 128 East 2nd Street
Saturday, January 24, 2015
? 9:00 - 3:00 Free Eagle Watch
o Pearl City Station, 200 W. River Front (River Front Park)
o Corp of Engineers Park Rangers & Dave Bakke
? 12:00 Silent Movies
o Muscatine Art Center, 1314 Mulberry Avenue
? 2:00 Concert
o Muscatine Art Center, 1314 Mulberry Avenue
Music by Ragtime Dr. Dave Majchrzak
? 5:00 - 7:00 Syncopation Supper
o Wesley United Methodist Church, 400 Iowa Avenue
o Music by the Locust Street Boys
? 7:00 - Concert
o Wesley United Methodist Church , 400 Iowa Avenue
o Music by Ivory and Gold®, Ragtime Dr. Dave Majchrzak, Daniel Souvigny ? 10:00 After Hours, Francesca Vitale's, 128 East 2nd Street
Sunday, January 26, 2013
? 10:00 - Ragtime, Jazz, Gospel worship service
o Wesley United Methodist Church, 400 Iowa Avenue
? 2:00 - Concert
o Muscatine Art Center, 1314 Mulberry Avenue
o Music by Ivory and Gold®