27
Apr
2004
• The Family Museum of Arts & Science has achieved the highest recognition for a museum, accreditation by the American Association of Museums (AAM). Of the nation's nearly 16,000 museums, approximately 750 are currently accredited. The Family Museum of Arts & Science is one of only 18 museums accredited in Iowa and joins the Putnam Museum & IMAX Theatre and the Davenport Museum of Art as AAM-accredited museums in the Quad Cities area. As the national service organization representing the American museum community, the American Association of Museums addresses the needs of museums to enhance their ability to serve the public. For more about AAM and the accreditation program, visit (http://www.aam-us.org). For more information about the Family Museum of Arts & Science, call (563)344-4106 or visit (http://www.familymuseum.org).
• Local educator Karen T. Blomme has been accepted to the Teacher Institute in Contemporary Art (TICA), a program offered by the prestigious School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Blomme, an art teacher at Bettendorf High School, is the only Iowan accepted this year to the painting and drawing session and the only Quad Cities teacher to be chosen since TICA's inception. Blomme also serves on the Artists' Advisory Council/Board of Directors for the Davenport Museum of Art/Figge Arts Center.
• The Eastern Iowa Community College District has announced the appointment of Dr. Patricia Keir as the next chancellor of the district. Keir has been president of Miramar College in the San Diego Community College District since 1999. Under Keir's leadership, Miramar College student enrollment increased by more than 10 percent a year (to a current enrollment of 12,000), and she spearheaded an online education program that enrolls more than 10,000 students a year. This fall, Miramar College will celebrate the opening of a 50,000-square-foot Science/Technology Center, a 10,000-square-foot Advanced Transportation Center, and a District Services/Computer Center. Keir will take over in July 2004 from Dr. John T. Blong, who has been chancellor of the Eastern Iowa Community College District since 1986 and will retire June 30.
• The American Cancer Society's Rally for Relay for Life will be held on Thursday, April 29, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at R.J. Boars in Davenport. The event will allow people in Scott County to get information on how to participate in this year's Relay for Life event on August 13. Now is the time to form a team to participate in this overnight community celebration. Relay for Life represents the hope that those who lost the battle with cancer will never be forgotten, and that those who face cancer will see that they are not alone. Appetizers and beverages will be provided at this meeting. For more information or to volunteer, call Kim Shawver at 355-2103.
• The same week that federal income-tax forms were due, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was declared Privacy Villain of the Week by the National Consumer Coalition's Privacy Group. According to a report released by the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation, the IRS shared taxpayer information with others 3.74 billion times in 2003 - more than 10 times for every man, woman, and child in the United States. You can see for yourself at (http://www.nccprivacy.org/handv/040416villain.htm).
• The Iowa Senate has given final approval to an election-reform bill putting Iowa in compliance with the federal Help America Vote Act. The legislation would help Iowa replace outdated lever voting machines with upgraded equipment, increase election-worker training and voter education, and create a statewide voter-registration list. The bill also would also modify Iowa's absentee-ballot laws. The absentee-ballot provisions would prohibit anyone other than the voter, an immediate family member, or a registered absentee-ballot courier from returning an absentee ballot to the county auditor's office. Under the bill, absentee-ballot couriers must receive training on proper ballot-collection procedures, provide voters with a receipt upon collection of the ballot, and return the ballot to the auditor's office within 72 hours of the collection. No more than two registered couriers would be allowed to handle a collected ballot. The absentee-ballot provisions are part of a key compromise agreed to by members of both political parties. The House has already approved the bill.
• The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers is preparing to release a draft proposal for public comment and review in the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway Navigation Feasibility Study. The Corps' study team has met with representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, Fish & Wildlife Service, and Maritime Administration to discuss the range of possible alternatives. The next step will be the preparation of a draft report in May, which will contain the draft proposal. The Corps will hold public meetings in June before preparing the final report late this summer. All comments will be reflected in the final report. A Chief of Engineers Report containing recommendations will be prepared this fall for review by the administration and submission to Congress. Additional information about the study is available at (http://www2.mvr.usace.army.mil/umr-iwwsns).
• Davenport has been named a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to its community forest. It is the 24th year Davenport has received this national recognition. Davenport has met the four standards to become a Tree City USA: a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, a comprehensive community forestry program, and an Arbor Day observance.
• Local educator Karen T. Blomme has been accepted to the Teacher Institute in Contemporary Art (TICA), a program offered by the prestigious School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Blomme, an art teacher at Bettendorf High School, is the only Iowan accepted this year to the painting and drawing session and the only Quad Cities teacher to be chosen since TICA's inception. Blomme also serves on the Artists' Advisory Council/Board of Directors for the Davenport Museum of Art/Figge Arts Center.
• The Eastern Iowa Community College District has announced the appointment of Dr. Patricia Keir as the next chancellor of the district. Keir has been president of Miramar College in the San Diego Community College District since 1999. Under Keir's leadership, Miramar College student enrollment increased by more than 10 percent a year (to a current enrollment of 12,000), and she spearheaded an online education program that enrolls more than 10,000 students a year. This fall, Miramar College will celebrate the opening of a 50,000-square-foot Science/Technology Center, a 10,000-square-foot Advanced Transportation Center, and a District Services/Computer Center. Keir will take over in July 2004 from Dr. John T. Blong, who has been chancellor of the Eastern Iowa Community College District since 1986 and will retire June 30.
• The American Cancer Society's Rally for Relay for Life will be held on Thursday, April 29, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at R.J. Boars in Davenport. The event will allow people in Scott County to get information on how to participate in this year's Relay for Life event on August 13. Now is the time to form a team to participate in this overnight community celebration. Relay for Life represents the hope that those who lost the battle with cancer will never be forgotten, and that those who face cancer will see that they are not alone. Appetizers and beverages will be provided at this meeting. For more information or to volunteer, call Kim Shawver at 355-2103.
• The same week that federal income-tax forms were due, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was declared Privacy Villain of the Week by the National Consumer Coalition's Privacy Group. According to a report released by the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation, the IRS shared taxpayer information with others 3.74 billion times in 2003 - more than 10 times for every man, woman, and child in the United States. You can see for yourself at (http://www.nccprivacy.org/handv/040416villain.htm).
• The Iowa Senate has given final approval to an election-reform bill putting Iowa in compliance with the federal Help America Vote Act. The legislation would help Iowa replace outdated lever voting machines with upgraded equipment, increase election-worker training and voter education, and create a statewide voter-registration list. The bill also would also modify Iowa's absentee-ballot laws. The absentee-ballot provisions would prohibit anyone other than the voter, an immediate family member, or a registered absentee-ballot courier from returning an absentee ballot to the county auditor's office. Under the bill, absentee-ballot couriers must receive training on proper ballot-collection procedures, provide voters with a receipt upon collection of the ballot, and return the ballot to the auditor's office within 72 hours of the collection. No more than two registered couriers would be allowed to handle a collected ballot. The absentee-ballot provisions are part of a key compromise agreed to by members of both political parties. The House has already approved the bill.
• The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers is preparing to release a draft proposal for public comment and review in the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway Navigation Feasibility Study. The Corps' study team has met with representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, Fish & Wildlife Service, and Maritime Administration to discuss the range of possible alternatives. The next step will be the preparation of a draft report in May, which will contain the draft proposal. The Corps will hold public meetings in June before preparing the final report late this summer. All comments will be reflected in the final report. A Chief of Engineers Report containing recommendations will be prepared this fall for review by the administration and submission to Congress. Additional information about the study is available at (http://www2.mvr.usace.army.mil/umr-iwwsns).
• Davenport has been named a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to its community forest. It is the 24th year Davenport has received this national recognition. Davenport has met the four standards to become a Tree City USA: a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, a comprehensive community forestry program, and an Arbor Day observance.
