News and Awards:
River Pup has a new owner!
It was recently announced that
River Pup has been sold, and will continue to provide the high
quality of products and services offered by Kelly Kruck who opened
the business over three years ago! Best wishes to Kelly and her
family in Colorado!
Buffalo Bill Museum
needs community support to construct a bronze statue of its
namesake. Vote for a $50,000 grant from the Pepsi Refresh Project,
via the internet! Simply visit refresheverything.com then click on
the Arts and Culture category, then the $50,000 icon. Scroll down
a few pages to the Buffalo Bill Museum, and vote! In fact, you can
vote daily!!
“Bits and Pieces” is available
electronically on the city’s website www.leclaireiowa.gov
or can be mailed to your
home/business. Please contact City Hall (563-289-4242) to be added
to the mailing list.
CITY VOLUNTEER SERVICE FOR BOARDS AND
COMMISSIONS The LeClaire Board of
Adjustment, the LeClaire Tourism Board, LeClaire Planning & Zoning
Commission, Parks, Levee, and Rec Boards, and the LeClaire Library
Board of Trustees are looking for new members. Anyone wishing to
be considered for volunteer service on any of these Committees
must submit a completed application form that may be obtained from
City Hall during regular business hours, or can be obtained on the
City’s website. Take an interest, volunteer, and get involved in
your City’s future.
LeClaire Civic Center is available for rent!
Hold your event at this convenient
downtown LeClaire location offering full kitchen facilities,
adjacent parking, etc. . . everything you need for a graduation
party, baby shower, or other gathering. Contact Vicky at 579-4126
for more details. Full day rentals are $125; half day rentals are
$75; and gatherings serving alcohol must provide a certificate of
insurance (which Vicky will explain).
LeClaire has been featured in an
Iowa State University publication highlighting its experiences
during “Phase One” of its downtown development, as well as the
reasons that the community continues to attract attention
regarding its development. The full
article appears on pages 6-7 of this link: (Past Chamber President
Rick Reed, whose doctoral research will be investigating the “hows
and whys” of LeClaire’s past success, is quoted in the article)
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/communities/newsletter/vol4issue1.pdf
Congratulations to “American Pickers” . . . .
HISTORY’S #1 NEW HIT SERIES ON CABLE!
HISTORY’s new hit series, AMERICAN
PICKERS, finished up its season 1 run strong. The season finale of
back to back 30 minute episodes, on Monday, April 5, produced 3.5
million total viewers; and the overall average numbers for season
1 of American Pickers are: 3.8 million total viewers!! Visit
www.history.com/americanpickers for more info. Congratulations to
local boys Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz!
Congratulations Ashford University - - - 2009
President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll
the highest federal recognition a
college or university can receive for its commitment to
volunteering, service learning and civic engagement.
Supporting the LeClaire Community
Library: Want to support the
library, at no cost? - - Consider donating used printer ink
cartridges. . . . and gently used books! Did you know?. . . you
can donate used toner cartridges to the library as well as your
gently-used books and videos!! The cartridges support office
supply purchases; and your books, magazines and videos can be
added to the library’s collection or raise funds through the
Friends of the Library book sales! The next major book sale is in
May during Spring Market Days.
Congratulations to our LeClaire Chamber of Commerce Members
who were voted in the top 3 of the following categories of the
River City Reader Online Reader Survey - Best of the
Quad Cities - Spring 2010 Edition:
News and Stories from the
Mississippi River by Twilight Riverboat Captain Kevin Stier.
2009 provided many wonderful memories and photographs, some of
which are recorded on our blog.
Click Here to Read the Blog
A request has been made to LeClaire Chamber to
support research about the recent successes in LeClaire. It notes
that “Doctoral candidate and former Chamber President, Rick Reed,
will be conducting a study of LeClaire throughout the next two
years. The case study will assess the (growth and development of)
LeClaire over the past few years, how the community came together
in the process, and perhaps the trials and tribulations
experienced along the way. This will provide the community (with)
guidance for the future direction of strategic planning efforts
and will become a model for other communities to follow for many
decades to come."
"You can become a part of this exciting study and help determine
the future direction of LeClaire by answering a few short
questionnaires and surveys in the upcoming months. This
information will provide the statistical data for LeClaire
strategic planning and for the dissertation that will become a
part of the permanent collection available globally through Olivet
Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, IL.” Please look for
information on how you can participate in this effort, via these
announcements, and the Chamber’s website at
www.leclairechamber.com
Adesign, Inc. President Rick Reed has been
inducted into the Ashford University Hall of Fame.
On November 7, 2009, Rick Reed was
recognized for his extensive accomplishments in the areas of
business and university level education. It includes the
establishment of Adesign, Inc., a $20 million advertising and
marketing communications firm located in LeClaire and serving the
needs of clients from all over the world. He is also a member of
the faculty of Ashford University, and is pursuing his Doctor of
Education in Ethical Leadership. He expects to complete the degree
program in May 2012. A full copy of the press release can be
requested from
LeClaireChamber@yahoo.com
. We congratulate Rick on this well-deserved recognition!
The LeClaire Library Endowment: Phase Two will
soon be underway. Consider library bequests as you plan your
estate, and that donations to the Library Endowment through the
Community Foundation during 2009 may be eligible for an Iowa 20%
Tax Credit. For more information, contact the library by
visiting:
www.leclairelibrary.org.
Support your Local
LeClaire Economy with the "3/50 Project".
Learn More...
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
for anyone who is interested in
starting their own COFFEEHOUSE within the Quad City area! This
opportunity is complete with consultation, training, equipment,
inventory, branding, website, and reputation! This is a very low
start-up cost! If you have an interest in learning more and want
to discuss the options, contact Tonya at 563-320-0405 or
email: tonya.todd@mchsi.com Serious Inquiries only.
Congratulations! LeClaire
businesses receive regional recognition in River Cities Readers’
Poll! www.rcreader.com
"Best of Quad Cities"
Congratulations....
--- to Mike Clingingsmith,
LeClaire Chamber of Commerce
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Pleasant Valley
School District, a finalist for the 2009 Iowa Central Office
Administrator of the Year! School Administrators of Iowa, a
statewide organization founded in 1987, represents more than
2,000 Iowa educational administrators. Mike is among the elite
of his peers in the state!
--- to Alexis Dohmen, a fifth
grade student at Cody Elementary School, awarded Second Place in
the America Legion’s Second Districts’ Flag Essay Contest, held
in Marion IA! See yesterday’s Bettendorf News (p.3) for excerpts
from her prize-winning essay. What a talented writer!
MILITARY DISCOUNT CARD
available to local military and
their families, provides discounts from Quad City businesses and
organizations. The program is implemented by the Rock Island
Arsenal Chapter of the Association of the United States Army. To
receive a card, or to participate as a business, contact AUSU RIA
at Chapter5102@ausaria.og or visit www.ausaria.org
Introducing CHAMBER BUCKS!
LeClaire Chamber Bucks is a certificate program that
promotes spending at participating local LeClaire Chamber
businesses who support our communitysimilar to gift cards.
Learn More about the
Chamber Bucks Program
Welcome to the Black Watch Room - the new
restaurant at Pebble Creek Golf Course....
LeClaire Chamber Awards
Community Grants: The LeClaire
Chamber of Commerce General Membership awarded community grants
to two (2) LeClaire area organizations.
The LeClaire 175th Anniversary Coordinating Committee was
awarded a $250 grant towards LeClaire's June 13th celebration of
its founding in 1834. Visitors will experience a community
celebration typical of a river town in that era, complete with
famous LeClaire ancestors strolling the streets and sharing
their stories.
The Buffalo Bill Museum, located on the LeClaire waterfront, is
the recipient of the second $250 community grant. It plays an
important role in preserving the history of the surrounding
community and its residents.
We're pleased to have been able to offer the grants, selected by
the general membership from among a number of worthwhile
organizations. LeClaire is fortunate to have strong community
groups, dedicated volunteers, and businesses committed to its
continued growth.
NEW!
Legislation Update Sources - Legislator Links
The LeClaire Chamber of
Commerce encourages its members, and the community, to be current
on proposed legislation that may affect our local economy and
businesses. Towards that end, we are providing a number of
websites , as well as email contact information for our
legislators.
Welcome Packets: Once
a month, the Chamber distributes “Welcome Packets” to new
residents in the community (15-25 per month). Consider taking
advantage of this Chamber service, and provide 50+ copies of your
business brochure or business card for inclusion! We will contact
you when the supply needs replenishing; and remember,
seasonal/holiday inserts are welcome!
LeClaire Chamber Member Receives Statewide
Award: Gallagher, Millage & Gallagher, PLC
According to
the Bettendorf News, Gallagher, Millage & Gallagher, P.L.C.
recently was named the Pre-Paid Legal Services Inc. Legal
Service Provider of the Year for Iowa.
Gallagher, Millage & Gallagher
was selected to be a referral source for Pre-Paid Legal in part
because of the firms highest-possible peer rating from
Martindale-Hubbel, an attorney peer- rating service. The firm’s
offices are in the American Bank Building, 4301 E. 53rd St.,
Suite 300, Davenport.
Have an announcement for our
weekly email? - - - Chamber members can include announcements in
this email, at no charge! Simply send your announcement to the
Chamber’s email address (LeClaireChamber@yahoo.com) by the
Thursday of that week. Another benefit of membership in the
LeClaire Chamber of Commerce!
|
