Representatives from U.S. soybean-farmer-led organizations will soon join their counterparts from several other countries in China to meet with stakeholders including industry and government representatives to discuss the biotech-approval process there. A white paper on the global implications of delays for biotech soybean traits will be released at the meeting.

Farmer-leaders from the United Soybean Board (USB), the American Soybean Association (ASA) and the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) will team up with their fellow soybean farmers from Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Canada, representing the International Soy Growers Alliance (ISGA).

The delegation will meet with Chinese industry and government officials to discuss biotechnology and its role in supplying a safe, reliable and abundant food supply to a global market.

Please join Bob Haselwood, Wade Cowan and Laura Foell via teleconference to discuss this hot topic.

MOUNT CARROLL, IL -- Timber Lake Playhouse, the professional theatre company in Mount Carroll, is seeking volunteers for the Timber Lake Playhouse Volunteer Program.  At the heart of the TLP mission is an on-going commitment to provide the best in professional theatre in Northern Illinois.  To do this, TLP must rely on volunteers to support the mission.

All area residents who share a commitment to the arts are encouraged to join TLP in their work.  All talents and skill levels are valuable as opportunities exist in production, front of house, facilities and administrative tasks.

The first opportunity to volunteer is Saturday, April 25 for the Annual TLP Campus Cleanup.  Raking, gardening, cleaning and general outdoor work will be among the activities for the day.  Cleanup starts at 9:00.

Other volunteer opportunities throughout the season include working in the costume or scene shop, painting sets, working on the stage crew, helping in the box office, landscaping, fundraising, strategic planning, or joining the volunteer staff as a TLP Ambassador.

Timber Lake Playhouse's 54th Summer Season officially begins June 4th with the Tony Award winning musical Hairspray. Pre-season kick-off events include the Lena! Las Vegas Casino Night on Saturday, April 18th from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at The Rafters in Lena, IL. Tickets are $50 and include appetizers, a starting purse, and chances to win prizes.  Timber Lake Playhouse in conjunction with Timber Lake Resort is hosting the Dueling Pianos on May 9th at 7:00 at the Playhouse.  Tickets are $20.

For questions about our volunteer opportunities or for tickets to either of the TLP kick-off events, contact the playhouse at 815-244-2035, visit the website at www.timberlakeplayhouse.org, or stop by our office at 8216 Black Oak Rd. in Mount Carroll Monday through Friday between 10:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Timber Lake Playhouse is located at 8215 Black Oak Rd. in Mount Carroll. The Rafters is located at 9426 W. Wagner Rd. in Lena.

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For one show only, Robbie Howard comes to the Old Creamery Theatre performing his Frank Sinatra Tribute Act!

For the last 11 years Robbie Howard has starred in his own Vegas production show plus starred in the role of Frank Sinatra in "The Rat Pack is Back" at the Rio Casino in Las Vegas. Robbie Howard's uniquely captivating style remains astonishingly intimate, even as he creates a dizzying sea of vocal impressions and characters to dazzle his audience to the very last row of the Old Creamery Theatre!

Tickets are $28.50 for adults and $15 for students. Season tickets are not valid for this special event. Call the box office for tickets and information 319-622-6262 or visit us online at www.oldcreamery.com.

The Old Creamery Theatre is a not-for-profit professional theatre founded in 1971 in Garrison, Iowa. In 2015, the company will be celebrating 44 years of bringing live, professional theatre to the people of Iowa and the Midwest.
Venture back Into the Woods as City Circle Acting Company of Coralville presents the Tony Award-winning musical classic by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, April 24-May 3 at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts.

Follow a baker and his wife as they struggle to meet the demands of a vengeful witch so that they may have their hearts' desire?a child of their own. On their journey in and out of the woods, they meet a woman fleeing a ball, a girl with extraordinary hair, a cow-sick boy, a sweet-loving granddaughter, a couple of princes, and at least one giant.

"I remember listening to the cassette tape of the original cast in 1987 before ever seeing the show on stage.  I imagined what the show would look like--how the stories would be told in the theater.  I'm thrilled to be able to work with this all-star cast to bring this vision finally to life," says director Chris Okiishi. "Even though these are Fairy Tale characters and the stories are firmly based in the Brothers Grimm, I think our audiences will relate in a very real way to the characters' triumphs and struggles.  And who hasn't wondered what happens after 'Happily Ever After'?"

Tickets are $12-$27 and can be purchased online at http://www.coralvillearts.org/ or by calling 319.248.9370 or in person at the CCPA box office at 1301 5th Street and at the Coralville Recreation Center at 1506 8th Street. Into the Woods is sponsored by University of Iowa Community Credit Union.

Mount Carroll–Timber Lake Playhouse, the professional summer theatre of Northwest Illinois, will host several programs this summer for area youth, including the opportunity to perform with the resident professional company in their productions of The Big Meal, Peter Pan, Big Fish and James and the Giant Peach. The company will also conduct its annual theatre education workshops for both children and teens.

Auditions will be held for children and teens for various roles on Saturday, May 2, beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the theatre in Mount Carroll. Full information about available roles, dates and audition requirements is available at the playhouse's website, www.timberlakeplayhouse.org. Anyone interested in auditioning should contact the theatre office for an appointment by calling 815-244-2035 or emailing info@timberlakeplayhouse.org.

The Magic Owl Children's Theatre at TLP has provided three generations of young people with their first experiences of live theatre. The tradition continues this year with two productions, The Commedia Pinocchio and James and the Giant Peach.

The Commedia Pinocchio is a 50 minute long adaptation of the famous story of the puppet who comes to life portrayed by five actors in the madcap style of commedia dell'arte. The production will be seen by over 1500 area school children and performances are also open to the public. Performances are May 6-9 at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., and tickets are $6.00.

A stage adaptation of Roald Dahl's beloved James and the Giant Peach will run for four performances only August 4, 6, 7 and 8. Tickets are $7.00 and will be available in May. TLP's annual one-day children's theatre workshop will take place on Saturday, August 8, and ends with the 2:00 p.m. performance of James and the Giant Peach.

Participation in the children's theatre workshop is open to kids ages 7-11. The three-hour workshop includes structured storytelling games, creating characters, team-building ensemble activities, and a chance to learn about all of the creative departments involved in putting on a show. The cost is $30 and includes a ticket to James and The Giant Peach.

A weeklong theatre workshop for teens (ages 12 and up) will take place July 13 - 17. This five day immersive experience will feature workshops in acting, dance and music, improvisation, playwriting, theatre design, and how to audition for schools and professional shows. The cost of the five-day workshop is $135 and includes daily lunch and a ticket to TLP's production of the new musical Big Fish.

In addition to the annual events for young people at Timber Lake Playhouse, the company has also added afternoon and morning performances of its mainstage production of Peter Pan to accommodate families and groups.

The programs presented at Timber Lake Playhouse are partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information or to register or purchase tickets to any TLP events, visit www.timberlakeplayhouse.org or call 815-244-2035 Monday through Friday between 10:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

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Event:            ISO 9001: 2008 Internal Auditing

Dates:                   Monday, July 20, 2015 and Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Time:                    8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Where:                MRA- the Management Association

3800 Avenue of the Cities, Suite 100

Moline, IL  61265

 

Cost:                      $550 MRA members / $750 nonmembers

 

This two-day class will have a strong emphasis on best practice techniques used to audit the American National Standard ISO 9001-2008 version. The class incorporates planning audits, performing audits, and analysis/reporting of audit observations. The materials and subsequent test is based upon the accredited certified quality auditor's examination.

To register, or for more information, go to our new website at www.mranet.org/Training-Events, or contact MRA at 309.277.4183 or heather.roberts@mranet.org.

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Event:            Supervision: The Essentials

Dates:                   Tuesday, August 18, 2015, Tuesday, August 25, 2015 Tuesday September 1, 2015

Time:                    8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Where:                MRA- the Management Association

3800 Avenue of the Cities, Suite 100

Moline, IL  61265

 

Cost:  $750 MRA members / $950 nonmembers

First line/front line supervisors and managers on your team are often people who have proven they are very good at doing and now they are being asked to take on a leadership role.  At the same time, you realize leading is not the same as doing and you'd like to help them obtain ideas, concepts, and skills necessary for success in their new position. Newly acquired skills will help them become an asset and a more valuable resource for your organization. When time is tight, you can get caught up in the dilemma of how to achieve greater results with limited resources in a time-controlled, economical, and hard hitting way. MRA is pleased to offer a solution to such a dilemma - Supervision: The Essentials.

This three-day program provides your new, less experienced leaders with ideas and practices they can put to use immediately. Think of it as basic training?compact, concise, focused, and all about applicable skills - nothing but the essentials!

To register, or for more information, go to our new website at www.mranet.org/Training-Events, or contact MRA at 309.277.4183 or heather.roberts@mranet.org.

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Event:            Advanced Communication Series - The Art and Science of Excellence

Dates:                   Friday, July 10, 2015, Friday, July 17, 2015 and Friday, August 7, 2015

Time:                    8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Where:                MRA- the Management Association

3800 Avenue of the Cities, Suite 100

Moline, IL  61265

 

Cost:                      $885 MRA members / $1,170 nonmembers

Push your communication skills to higher levels. In this advanced series, participants will learn how humans take in and process language and information and the ways language and information drive our thinking and behavior. This series will explore current cutting-edge science of the mind and its impact on language, behavior, understanding, and actions. This highly interactive series seeks to move information to awareness and then to action.

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Event:            Principles of Leadership Excellence Certificate Series

Dates:                   Thursday, July 9, 2015 through Thursday, December 3, 2015

Time:                    8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Where:                MRA- the Management Association

3800 Avenue of the Cities, Suite 100

Moline, IL  61265

 

Cost:                      $3,080 MRA members / $4,050 nonmembers

Success in today's business environment calls for a deep and broad leadership perspective.  Managing a workforce with diverse ages, values, and thinking styles is a daily challenge.  Increasing productivity with fewer resources calls for leaders with the know-how to help employees adapt to change.  Give your leaders the skills to foster innovation with increased employee engagement, and reduce silos of knowledge that result in turf protection.

Principles of Leadership Excellence (PLX) is a comprehensive, practical program that teaches what to do and how to do it, including

·         Highly interactive training methods, proven effective for adult learners

·         Inspiring instructors with real-world experience in the office, on the plant floor, and in the field

·         Continuous skill reinforcement through online resources and support between sessions

·         Sharp focus on skills that managers can put into practice the next day

Managers who participate in the PLX program experience a refreshing approach to management training. It's not a broad-brush, lecture-type series that's quickly forgotten in the reality of day-to-day work.  Designed by MRA, your trusted expert in adult learning, PLX delves frankly and deeply into challenging issues.

About MRA-The Management Association
Founded in 1901, MRA-The Management is a not-for-profit employer association that serves more than 4,000 employers throughout the Midwest, covering 800,000+ employees. As one of the largest employer associations in the nation, MRA helps its member organizations thrive by creating powerful teams and safe, successful workplaces. MRA conducts more than 2,000 learning events each year. Members of MRA also receive access to expert guidance, best practices, professionally facilitated roundtables, essential tools, and dozens of business services in the areas of human resources and training. MRA is headquartered in Waukesha, Wis., and has regional offices in Palatine, Ill.; Moline, Ill.; and Plymouth, Minn. To learn more and to become a member of MRA, visit www.mranet.org.

Master Gardeners with Iowa State University Scott County Extension and Outreach have scheduled several spring classes at the Extension Office, 875 Tanglefoot Lane, Bettendorf. Master Gardeners are volunteers who use their research-based training and resources from Iowa State University to share information and ideas with others in the community.

If you would like to attend one of the sessions, please register by calling the Extension Office at 563-359-7577 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays. The programs are one to two hours long and cost $5 each.

The classes are:

  • A Whirlwind Tour of European Gardens, 7 p.m. April 9 -- Master Gardener Kay Sigardson-Poor will take you on a visual tour of the Papal Gardens, Versailles, Buckingham Palace and more.

  • Tomato Tech: How to Grow Better Fruit (Vegetables?) 7 p.m. April 23 -- Patrick O'Malley, ISU Extension and Outreach Commercial Horticulture Field Specialist, shares techniques for growing a bountiful tomato crop.

  • Making Sense of Landscape Design, 7 p.m. April 30 -- Master Gardener Dan Mays provides tips for making your yard look better.

  • Birds, Blueberries, Butterflies and Natural Gardening, 7 p.m. May 7 -- Master Gardener Dick Sayles, president of the Quad City Audubon Society, shows how native plants attract beneficial insects and birds.


Please visit the Scott County Office's website at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/scott/ and find us on Facebook for updates.


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Clinton, IA (April 1, 2015) - Distinguished community members, business leaders and generous citizens will drop everything that they are doing on Tuesday, April 7 to read one of their favorite children's books to area school children.  The activity is part of the United Way of Clinton County, Iowa's Drop Everything and Read (D.E.A.R.) week.

Firefighters, public safety officers, mentors, business leaders and others will read a book to elementary students at Eagle Heights, Jefferson and Whittier Elementary schools in an effort to raise awareness of the importance of reading in everyone's lives.  Reading out loud at least 20 minutes a day cultivates listening skills, improves spelling, expands vocabulary, improves diction and expression, improves visual memory and is the best exercise you can do to improve your mind.

"Reading out loud is a great way to sharpen your focus and theirs," says Big Brothers Big Sisters of Clinton's Executive Director Kellie Hillis.  "We've got a handful of excited and eager readers lined-up and could always use more."  If you would like to volunteer a few minutes or an hour to read to children on April 7, please email director@bbbsclinton.org.

This activity is just one of the many activities planned through United Way of Clinton County, Iowa and its partner agencies during Drop Everything And Read Week April 6-12.  For more information on all the activities, please visit the United Way of Clinton County, Iowa's Facebook page.

STORM LAKE, IA (03/31/2015)(readMedia)-- The Buena Vista University (BVU) theatre department is presenting "Into the Woods" by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, onApril 24-25 and May 1-2 at 7:30 p.m., and April 26 at 2 p.m. at Anderson Auditorium on the BVU campus.

Molly Williams is a member of the cast as Lucinda. Williams is a sophomore social work major at BVU.

BVU's production of "Into the Woods" will be directed by Dr. Bethany Larson, associate professor of theatre, with technical direction by David Grant Walker, assistant professor of theatre, and musical direction by Dr. Merrin Guice, assistant professor of vocal music.

"Into the Woods" is a musical that brings together some classic fairytale stories including Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood and more. Each of the characters wishes for their life to be different and venture into the woods to get their wish. However, as the show progresses, they begin to learn the consequences of their wishes coming true.

Tickets for the show will be available starting April 13 and can be reserved online at www.bvu.edu/tickets or by calling the BVU Theatre Hotline at 712.749.2211. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students and senior citizens and may be picked up at the door before the performance.

About Buena Vista University

Founded in 1891, Buena Vista University offers 43 majors and 15 pre-professional programs that blend liberal arts with real-world applications, preparing students for lifelong success. Its quality academic programs, faculty, facilities, and technology result in 94 percent of BVU's recent graduates being employed or enrolled in graduate/professional schools within six months of graduation, based on a 97 percent survey response rate. Generous merit and need-based financial aid programs, and support for academic travel, research, and internships, make BVU an affordable option for all students and, combined with its academic programs, has led U.S. News & World Report to rank BVU as the third best value school among Midwest Regional Colleges and to an A stable rating from Standard & Poor's. Visit www.bvu.edu.

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