DES MOINES, IA (02/11/2015)(readMedia)-- Legislative forums featuring Quad City state legislators are being held:

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Saturday, March 14, 2015

10:30 a.m - noon

Doors open at 10 a.m.

Rogalski Center

Saint Ambrose University

518 West Locust Street

Davenport, Iowa

Quad City state representatives and senators are invited to attend the forums which are free and open to the public. The forums are sponsored by the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the Iowa State Education Association (ISEA), the Scott County Farm Bureau, the Working Iowa Neighbors Coalition of the Quad Cities Federation of Labor (AFL-CIO), the Business and Professional Women of Davenport and the Quad Cities Area Realtor Association (QCARA).

For more information contact Toby Paone at 563-355-3731 (office); 563-370-3270 (cell); tpaone@isea.org.

Partners With Clear Lake Arts Center to Provide More Fun!

Let's face it. February in the Midwest can be pretty dreary. White snow, gray skies, lifeless trees. Where can you go to get a desperately needed pop of color for your weary eyes?

How about coming to Clear Lake, Iowa for the Color the Wind Kite Festival on Saturday, February 21^st? You'll find the sky filled with brilliant kites in all colors of the rainbow from 11 am to 4 pm, wind, weather and ice conditions permitting. The flying field is located on the frozen lake at the downtown seawall at the West end of Main Street near the city park and bandshell.

You don't have to be a kid to enjoy the huge and colorful kites and the stunt kite teams demonstrating their skill flying two and four line kites in programs choreographed to music.

The popular flying horse will be back this year as will the 60 foot blue whale and the 40 foot tall Teddy Bear, "Buddy". In addition, there will be a patriotic Teddy Bear flying with "Buddy." You'll see crocodiles, manta rays, huge octopi, flying guitars and many other creatures along with intricately designed hand made kites and banners.

Join the fun on the ice with your own kite! Kites will be available for purchase in the Lakeview Room across the street from the flying field. Hot food and beverages will be available from the lunch wagon on site. Sweet treats will also be available in the nice, warm Lakeview Room.

This year, there are even more activities to enjoy during the kite festival! The Clear Lake Arts Center is hosting an indoor Fine Arts and Crafts Show From 11 am to 8 pm on the day of the kite festival! At 4 pm the jazz band, FELDSPARjazz will begin playing for your enjoyment. Free hors d'oeuvres will be served. And it's free of charge. Adult beverages will be available at a cash bar.

If you miss the show and sale on Saturday, you can catch it on Sunday, February 22^nd from 11 am to 4 pm. The Arts Center is located at 17 South Fourth St. in downtown Clear Lake. Call (641)-357-1998 for more information about this.

For more information about the kite festival, please go to the website: www.colorthewind.org or call Larry A. Day at: (641)-357-0693 or Kay Day at: (641)-357-5516. You may also email Kay at: kay_day@netins.net.

Washington, DC - Congressman Dave Loebsack (IA-02) was joined today by Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13), Congresswoman Susan Davis (CA-53), Congressman Matt Cartwright (PA-17), and Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-3) in introducing the Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Act. This legislation supports teacher training in SEL to help young people better handle societal issues thus boosting their academic potential. Students receiving an education that includes SEL programs do better on tests, show greater social behaviors, and less emotional stress. Furthermore, students are far less likely to engage in problem behavior like alcohol and drug use, violence, truancy, and bullying.

"As a former educator, I know there are many factors outside of the classroom that contribute to students' academic success. That is why we must focus on the needs of the "whole child" and ensure students have the social and emotional capabilities to solve problems and work effectively in group settings that will prepare them for jobs in the 21st century global economy," said Rep. Dave Loebsack. "In order to accomplish this, we must provide teachers with the necessary training and resources to effectively educate our students and prepare them for success in postsecondary education and the workforce. I look forward to working with Representatives Ryan and Davis on this important piece of legislation."

"I have seen firsthand what teaching social and emotional learning can do for students and their classrooms in Ohio and across the nation," said Rep. Tim Ryan. "These programs are scientifically proven to help students increase skills in problem-solving, conflict resolution, responsible decision-making and relationship building - these are the skills that will build the foundation for students to better perform academically and throughout their lives. Now is the time to promote programs that create a safer and more secure school culture in America."

If there's one thing that unites Republicans and Democrats, it's the belief that America is about both mind and heart--that our great national commitment to citizenship and character are as important as our commitment to competition and growth," said Tim Shriver, Board Chair of the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL). "For too long, schools have been told to separate the head from the heart--to separate the social and emotional development of children from their cognitive learning. We know that's the wrong way to teach and the wrong way to learn. This bill will help our schools get it right by using the best evidence based programs to optimize our children's chances of learning how to be as smart and as good as they can be."

"Decades of research show that well-implemented social and emotional learning (SEL) programming improves students' behavior and academic performance," said Roger Weissberg, Board Vice-Chair of CASEL. "Recent national polls indicate that educators and parents believe that SEL should be an educational priority. It is critical to provide quality professional development for administrators and teachers so they provide the most beneficial programming for students."

A landmark meta-analysis of 213 SEL programs with a combined sample of more than 270,000 students clearly established the effectiveness of SEL programs across a number of areas critical to the success of students. Students scored 11 percentile points higher on standardized achievement tests, a significant improvement relative to peers not receiving SEL programming. The Academic, Social and Emotional Learning Act builds on this report and a large body of research proving that social and emotional programming has a positive impact on student learning.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), students who feel more connected to school are more likely to have positive health and education outcomes and that a close relationship between the emotional welfare and health of the student can create a safer and more secure environment for learning. The CDC recommends that schools "provide students with the academic, emotional, and social skills necessary to be actively engaged in school."

This legislation defines social and emotional learning (SEL) and amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to allow funding for teacher and principal training and professional development to be used for SEL programming.

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WARSAW, POLAND (02/10/2015)(readMedia)-- Five Soldiers with the Illinois Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion in Springfield, Illinois travelled to Warsaw, Poland from 26 to 30 January for a workshop aimed at best practices between the partner nations at Poland's Armed Forces Operational Command.

Brig. Gen. Andrzej Tuz, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Armed Forces Operational Command, addressed the group on the opening day to share ideas and build upon the partnership between Poland and Illinois. The workshop focused on adapting Illinois' models for recruiting, retention, marketing, and attrition management to Poland's Armed Forces recruitment. In 2008, Poland ended mandatory conscription into its armed forces. Poland started its National Reserve Forces in 2010, and has experienced the challenges associated with recruiting.

"We see the same challenges here," said Command Sgt. Maj. Stephen Donaldson, of Chatham, Illinois, Recruiting and Retention Battalion Command Sergeant Major. "They understand where they are currently and where they want to go, but also understand that it will take time to get there."

Personnel from the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command gave a general overview of their force structure and function of not only the active component, but also the National Reserve Forces. Personnel discussed how Poland's Operational and General Commands operate as part of the Ministry of National Defense.

Aleksandra Szmitkowska and Grzegorz Romanski of the Ministry's Department of Education and Defense Promotion discussed recruiting ideas and campaigns and how they are seeking quality over quantity when it comes to recruits. Donaldson and Maj. Darren Horton, of Williamsville, Illinois, Recruiting and Retention Battalion Enlisted Accessions Officer in Charge, followed by giving a presentation on retention, sponsorship programs in the Illinois National Guard, and the importance and effectiveness of proper retention counseling.

Sgt. Maj. Allen Morrison, of Rochester, Illinois, Enlisted Accessions Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge, gave an overview of the Illinois National Guard's recruiting strategy and target audience. Lt. Col. Daniel Reichen, of Springfield, Illinois, Recruiting and Retention Battalion Commander, said his Polish counterparts were receptive to the idea of leveraging high schools and centers of influence within that demographic to increase recruiting.

"We sell ourselves as the component of choice. Our partners were very interested in how we take a 'community first, nation always' approach to marketing the Guard," said Reichen.

Reichen said the U.S. military, the Illinois National Guard, and Poland all face the same challenges.

"We're always trying to do the same three things: man, train, and equip the force. Our partners in Poland have the same goals and are looking for the best practices to do the same," he said.

Reichen said the workshop was successful and a great partnership opportunity, but said future opportunities to work with the Polish National Reserve Forces should not be limited to recruiting practices.

"I think that the next step is not only talking the recruiting piece, but how we man and train personnel in the reserve component, involving the personnel and operations branches in a workshop may be incredibly useful to our partners," he said.