Volume 27 I September 2014 I Number 9

In this issue...Greetings . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Member Spotlight . . . .3

Renewing Members . . .4

Chamber Calendar . . . .5

New Members . . . . . . . .6

Biz Bits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Event Wrap-Up . . . . . .12

ACCREDITATIONUNITED STATES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

CHAMBERNewsCHAMBERNewsLife with a river viewLife with a river view

The Clinton Convention & Visitors Bureau along with the Franciscan Peace Center and representatives from the Clinton community, are organizing a two-day retreat in

Clinton in conjunction with the UN International Day of Peace (Sunday, September 21).

Experience a deeper connection with yourself and your world.Through workshops and sessions, explore the following: meditation, yoga, inspiration through song & music, bringing nature indoors, peace in nature, inner beauty, how faith can change

the direction of your life, and a keynote address for women of all faiths.

The Women in Faith Symposium will begin Friday evening, September 19, 2014, with check-in and a welcome reception at the award-winning Clinton Hampton Inn. Saturday begins with a motivating address to the group,

followed by breakout sessions and interactive workshops that will speak to your individual interests. The workshopsand sessions will be hosted at the Clinton Community College, conveniently located close to hotels and shopping for

out of town guests. The symposium concludes Saturday evening with a buffet dinner and keynote address.

Visit the event page on clintoniowatourism.com or call Carrie at 563-242-5702 for more information about the event!

CHAMBER STAFF

Nathan SondgerothPresident

Joni KrogmanDirector, Chamber Operations

Karen FriisAdministrative Services Coordinator

Jennifer RogersBusiness Manager

Carrie DonaireDirector, Convention & Visitors Bureau

Karolyn KruseCVB Assistant

A Message from the President...

September 2014CHAMBERNews www.clintonia.com2

By Nathan Sondgeroth, Chamber President

One of the things I have observed since coming to the Clinton Area in May of 2012 is the increase in collaborations and partnerships betweenorganizations.

As summer comes to end and fall begins, there are some exciting collaborations happening all around.

For example, during September 2014, the inaugural class of “Getting ToYes” will kick off organized by the Sisters of St. Francis in partnership withthe Clinton Community College and the Chamber. This program is a sixsession non-credit course based on the work of the Harvard Program on

Negotiations (PON). The sessions will be from September to November and then again in February toApril 2015. Community leaders will participate to enhance the way people interact, enrich personal relationships, and make our community stronger.

In addition, the Leadership Committee is actively planning Leadership Institute 2015 to begin in January2015. Last year was the beginning of a great collaboration with Iowa State University Extension, ClintonCommunity College, Ashford University and the Chamber. Leadership Institute 2014 really focused onleadership training and making the participant aware of the amazing opportunities in our area. If youare an employer who would like to send a key employee or a person who would like to participate,please look for additional information in the coming weeks.

These are just two examples, but collaboration is happening all around us. Tremendous things are hap-pening in our communities. As summer becomes fall and 2014 starts to come to an end, we at theChamber have never been more optimistic for 2015 and beyond.

As always, if you are interested in me visiting your business, please never hesitate to email me atnsondgeroth@clintonia.com

Until next time, I'm at your service,

Nathan

Kendrick Pest Control

Kendrick Pest Control has been servicing the Clinton area since 1963. I, Mark Calcote,bought Kendrick General Pest Control in 2009 and have continued the great serviceour company has offered all those years. When I first started out we had one full timeand one part time employee, I was the full time employee. We have continued togrow our company and today we have seven full time technicians, two part timetechnicians and two office personnel. Our service area is much larger than six yearsago. We go from Iowa City to Cedar Rapids on the west end and as far east as HWY39 in Illinois. Our technicians each have their area of responsibility to make sureevery one of our customers is treated as the most important customer we have. Wetake pride in our quick response time in calling customers back and in getting theservice work done.

Kendrick General Pest Control takes care of several types of insects and rodents. Hereis a list of the most common ones:

Ants, Asian Beetles, Bees, Box Elder Bugs, Centipedes, Cockroaches, Crickets, Fleas,Mice, Spiders, Wasps

With fall on the way, westart around the thirdweek of September withour Box Elder and AsianBeetle services and con-tinue through the month of October. So if you want to keep them out, call us to geton the list. After that as it gets colder, the spiders and mice will be running to yourhomes to stay for the winter. Let us help you put out the no vacancy signs for them.

Top Ten Reasons to have us take care of your pest control needs:1. We are locally owned and operated2. Certified Technicians3. Human and pet safe products4. Affordable prices5. Schedules that meet your time frames6. Professional and courteous staff7. Prompt service8. No pressure - No hassles9. We service with Pride and Integrity10. 100% satisfaction for our customers

Call us at: 563-243-4413 or visit us @ www.kendrickpest.com

Member Spotlight New Member Spotlight

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Fairchild Business Coaching

During the next 20 years, close to 80 million baby boomers will be retiring, andmore than 70% of businesses will be changing hands. 80% do NOT have a succes-sion plan. 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 every day, so ensuring the long-term suc-cess of your company is crucial, and succession planning and development canhelp you do just that. Managers worldwide are using smart succession planningand development solutions to help identify employees who have the potential tobe promoted, and accurately chart a realistic course to get there. Teri Fairchild'sProfiles International selection tools and MENTOR ME! Development Program willhelp you transition your business so it survives into the next generation.

Teri is a Registered Corporate Coach™ and owns Fairchild Business Coaching, Inc.,at 137 Bluff Street in Dubuque, Iowa. The business offers succession planning, one-on-one executive coaching, training programs, and consulting services, with anemphasis in the area of sales. Teri has over twenty-five years of experience and canhelp your business stay profitable through your succession planning process. Visitwww.fairchildbusinesscoaching.com or call 563-583-8284.

September 2014CHAMBERNews www.clintonia.com4

Do you know of an employee at an area business who goesabove and beyond in the area of customer service?

Nominate that person for the Clapper Award by contacting The Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce

at (563)242-5702 or chamber@clintonia.com.

Why Should I Join?When asked, “Why I belong to the Chamber,”

a local business person replied:

“Because through community teamwork, Clinton’s continued progress can be assured. As Clinton progresses,

my opportunity to prosper is greatly enhanced.”

-Quote from Chamber Monthly Newsletter, April 1935

Clapper Award MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

The Chamber would like to thank the following members for renewing their memberships during the month of August 2014.

40+ yearsRock-Tenn Company 49

LyondellBasell 47

Gateway Travel & Cruise 43

20+ yearsPollard Investment Services 29

ADM Corn Processing 26

American Red Cross - Gateway Area Chapter 23

Economy Plumbing & Heating, Inc. 23

Banner Home Furnishings 22

Edward Jones- Tom Timion, Investment

Representative 20

10+ yearsClinton County Area Solid Waste Agency 19

Ultimate Practice Solutions 16

Jacobs Field Services 15

Walgreens (both locations) 15

Computer Box 14

Welu Printing Co. 14

Evergreen Packaging 11

Sauk Valley Media 11

Old Town Family Restaurant 10

1+ yearsMedical Equipment Services Inc. 9

Mel Foster Co., Inc. of Iowa 8

Miner Gilroy & Meade CPA's, PC 7

Wide River Winery 7

American Fence and Pool 6

McClure Engineering Associates, Inc. 6

Kiwanis Club of Clinton 5

Congratulations toLisa Thompson of Kwik Star

who was the recipient of the Clinton AreaChamber of Commerce CLAPPER AWARD for

Excellence in Customer Service. Lisa was nominated by Marlana Sokolovich who said,

“I stopped at Kwik Star on Main Avenue to pickup a few things with my young daughter.

She wasn’t feeling well and I had three bags of groceries and a gallon of milk…no way

would I be able to carry her and all the groceries. Lisa said don’t worry I can help you

and grabbed all my groceries and took them tomy truck. She was so pleasant and happy tohelp. She went above and beyond to make my day easier and I really appreciated it.”

Thank you to Yellow Book for being the sponsor of this award. To nominate someonefor the CLAPPER AWARD, please contact the

Chamber at (563) 242-5702 or chamber@clintonia.com.

Pictured: Marlana Sokolovich, Andy Sokolovich(Clapper committee), Lisa Thompson (recipient),

Kathy Ottens and Jim Clark (Clapper committee).

T hank you!

September 2014CHAMBERNews www.clintonia.com

September Chamber Calendar 2014 - 2015Executive CommitteeDr. Karen VickersClinton Community CollegeChairperson

Nate KreinbrinkNelsonCorp Wealth Management1st Vice Chair

Tom MoserMedical Associates2nd Vice Chair

Jennifer BoysenClinton National BankTreasurer

Dr. Mark SchroederIowa State University ExtensionPast Chairperson

Board of DirectorsShane BuerMercy Medical Center

Dean BrainerdADM Corn Processing

Diane ChristensenThe Insurance Group

Gerry FreudenbergIowa-American Water Co.

Lori FreudenbergSisters of St. Francis

Eric HeldingNestle Purina PetCare Co.

Daniel HousengaLyondellBasell

Sara MisiewiczClinton National Bank

Rich PhelanManagement Consultant

Mike RastrelliRastrelli's Restaurant

Kevin SteinesHonkamp & Krueger & Co., P.C.

Breton WilliamsFirst Wealth Financial Group

Meetings are subject to change. Watch your mail for details or check with Karen at (563) 242-5702 before attendingany regularly scheduled Chamber event. Reservations are required for most noon meetings held at the Chamber office.

5

1 Labor Day - Chamber office closed.

2 Leadership Committee, 12:00 Noon, Chamber of Commerce.

3 Women in Business Committee, 8:00 a.m., Chamber of Commerce.Ribbon Cutting, 1:30 p.m., Gabel Chiropractic, 217 6th Avenue SouthBent Business Marketing, 5:00 p.m., Chamber of Commerce.

4 ABC's of Essential Oils, 6:00 p.m., Chamber of Commerce.

5 CVB Technology Committee, 9:00 a.m., Chamber of Commerce.

8 Ribbon Cutting, 1:30 p.m., Studio 529 Salon, 529 So. 3rd StreetMiss Clinton County Board, 6:00 p.m., Chamber of Commerce

9 LEAD, 11:30 a.m., Chamber of Commerce.

10 Camanche Committee, 10:00 a.m., Camanche Schools Admin. Bldg.Community Image Task Force, 10:00 a.m., Chamber of Commerce.Women in Faith Committee, 11:00 a.m., Chamber of Commerce.Local & Government Affairs Committee, 12:00 Noon, Chamber of Commerce.Comprehensive Rehab, 6:00 p.m., Chamber of Commerce.

11 Business Park Corporation, 10:00 a.m., Chamber of Commerce.Events Committee, 12:00 Noon, Chamber of Commerce.Ribbon Cutting, 1:30 p.m., Country Financial, 1320 11th Street NW, Suite G.

12 Ribbon Cutting, 1:00 p.m., Mercy Medical Center 125th Anniversary, 1410 No. 4th Street.

16 Tri-City Building & Construction Trades Council, 9:30 a.m., Chamber of CommerceClapper Committee, 12:00 Noon, location to be determinedExecutive Committee, 12:00 Noon, Chamber of Commerce.Young Living Essential Oils, 6:00 p.m., Chamber of Commerce.

17 Clinton County Development Association, 7:30 a.m., Wild Rose Casino.Gateway Area Foundation, 12:00 Noon, Chamber of Commerce.

18 CVB Board, 12:00 Noon, Sawmill Museum.Ribbon Cutting, 1:30 p.m., Renaissance Resale & Boutique, 2319 No. 2nd Street.Candidate Forum for County Candidates, 6:00 p.m., City Hall Council Chambers.

19 Budget & Finance Committee, 12:00 Noon, Chamber of Commerce.

23 Clinton County Recorder, 8:30 a.m., Chamber of Commerce.LEAD, 11:30 a.m., Chamber of Commerce.

24 CRDC Board of Directors, 11:30 a.m., Rastrelli's Avanti Room.

25 Chamber Board of Directors, 7:30 a.m., Chamber of CommerceNew Member Orientation, 12:00 Noon, Chamber of Commerce. (reservations required)Candidate Forum for State Candidates, 6:00 p.m., City Hall Council Chambers.Clinton Landlord's Association, 6:30 p.m., Chamber of Commerce.

26 Ambassadors, 12:00 Noon, Chamber of Commerce.

30 Essentials4u, 6:00 p.m., Chamber of Commerce

CHAMBERNews is published by theClinton Area Chamber of Commerce, anot-for-profit corporation, serving thebusiness communities of Clinton and

Camanche, Iowa and Fulton, Illinois.

Phone: 563-242-5702Fax: 563-242-5803

E-Mail:chamber@clintonia.com

Web Address:www.clintonia.com

6 September 2014CHAMBERNews www.clintonia.com

New MembersW elcomeW elcomeChamber Website

Information

Did you know that yourmembership includes

the following:

Job PostingsHot Deals

News Releases

Call for more informationon how to put this on

our website.

Like us on facebook –look for Clinton Area

Chamber

ABC's of Essential Oils

“Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing” Ezekiel 47:12. ABC's of Essential Oilsshares the age old use of plants, trees, flowers and shrubs with their therapeutic properties andaromas into our modern lifestyles. Call Rita Zeeryp at 815-589-3901 or email her atlzeeryp@mchsi.com.

Family Resources, Inc.

At Family Resources our mission is to strengthen children, families, and individuals by providingquality services that engage community resources to create effective solutions. Our Clinton officeis located at 511 So. 3rd Street, 1st Floor. Call 866-921-3356 or 563-326-6431. Visit our website atwww.famres.org

Finally Friday at the River

Finally Friday at the River is a summer concert series held once a month at the Riverview Parkband shell. They are community-oriented events, focused on bringing live musical entertainmentto the Clinton riverfront. The shows are from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. and feature two bands on one Fridayin June, July, August and September. Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy the vendors on site. This isa free event, but donations are appreciated to help us continue to provide these events.

Ribbon Cuttings

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Dr. Mark Schroeder, Past Chair

Dr. Mark Schroeder is currently the ProgramCoordinator for Iowa State University Extensionand Outreach-Clinton County.

Prior to this position, he was an administrator atClinton Community College for over 30 years.

Mark has been involved in numerous commu-nity activities, including chair of the ClintonArea Chamber of Commerce, member ofClinton Rotary Club, chair of Vision Iowa, andthe Riverview Park Commission.

He has also coached youth athletic teams insoccer, basketball, and baseball. He is married toPatti and they have a son Ryan who is a sopho-more at the University of Iowa.

Mark is active in his church, St. John Lutheran. He is a Green Bay Packer fan and enjoys play-ing tennis.

One of his primary goals is to improve the quality of life in the Clinton area by providingmore year-round attractions.

Thomas Moser, 2nd Vice Chair

Tom Moser, MHA, FACHE, CMPE, has been theChief Operating Officer at Medical Associatessince 2010. Prior to coming to Clinton, he was aSenior Vice President at Marquette GeneralHealth System in Marquette, Michigan.

Tom received his Bachelor of Science, BusinessAdministration and his Master of HealthAdministration from The Ohio State University -Columbus, Ohio. His professional affiliationsinclude the American College of HealthcareExecutives and the American College ofMedical Practice Executives.

Along with his position on the Clinton AreaChamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Tomis an active member of Rotary International and is the Board President for the United Way ofClinton County.

Tom is an active Ohio State fan and he participates in RAGBRAI.

Meet Our Board Members...

Déjà Vu Furniture & Accessories–Congratulations on celebrating their five

year anniversary. Thank you!

Family Resources –Celebrating becoming a new Chambermember – Welcome!

September 2014CHAMBERNews www.clintonia.com8

Mark YourCalendars!

October 2Girls’Night Out

November 13Biz After Hours Expo

Chamber Trends with Joni

Joni Krogman, Director, Chamber Operations

Fall is here….and so is our Fall Internship Program

We are so excited to again offer our fall internship program which willfocus on Events and Communications. This person will help with planningand executing events for both the Chamber and CVB. They will also assistour professional staff with different areas of communications includingwebsite, Facebook updates and print media.

Internship programs are a great way to help both the student prepare for their future and also helpour businesses to learn new things that are being taught today. It has helped us stay fresh with cur-rent programs being used today in the workplace.

If you are interested in learning more about how to set up an internship for your own business,please feel free to call the Chamber and ask for Carrie or Joni.

The Power of Networking

What better way to keep our Chamber moving forward in this fast-paced world. The connections I've made recently at Institute are helping our work plan proceed by sharing ideas and processesthat are working country-wide. I have been exchanging information with classmates fromHammond, Louisiana and Knightdale, North Carolina. Here are a couple examples:

• New Member Orientation process - We will be holding our first orientation on Thursday,September 25, at noon at the Chamber. The Hammond Chamber of Commerce has a successful program that we are learning from.

• Meet Your Board Members- Have you wondered who is leading the charge of the Clinton AreaChamber of Commerce? Check out the board member spotlights in this month's newsletter.

Using what other Chambers are already doing successfully will only help our Chamber to continually improve service to our members.

If you have any ideas to pass along, please don't hesitate to give us a call at (563) 242-5702 or sendus an email jkrogman@clintonia.com.

Biz Bits

9

Do you have a “Biz Bit” to share? Submit your 100-150 word article to Karen Friis at chamber@clintonia.com by the 10th of the month for possible inclusion in the following month’s newsletter. We reserve the right to edit for space.

FRESH S.T.A.R.T. SERVICE PROGRAM OFFERED TO NEWSTUDENTS AT ASHFORD UNIVERSITY

New students at Ashford University had the opportunity to learn more about theClinton area's non-profit organizations during the second annual “Fresh S.T.A.R.T.(Serving to Achieve Results Together)” event which was held on Saturday, Aug. 16.

The event is part of Ashford's new student orientation. According to Audra Adams,manager of service learning at Ashford,“The event focuses on getting students intothe community to make a positive statement, while allowing them to feel they are apart of our community.” Groups of students and staff members served at variousnon-profit locations throughout Clinton from 10-11:30 a.m.

“What better way to connect our students to the Clinton community than throughservice?” Adams said.“There is something about working hard for someone else thatcan really bond a group. Our goal is to welcome students from all over the world toAshford and to our community. Fresh S.T.A.R.T. is a great way to begin that process.We are looking for non-profit groups that want to get involved in welcoming our stu-dents, while getting some work done at the same time.”

The Fresh S.T.A.R.T. event is just one component of Ashford's new student orientationprogram held during the second week of August.

1ST GATEWAY CREDIT UNION EXCEEDS $100 MILLIONMILESTONE IN ASSETS

1st Gateway Credit Union today announced that it has surpassed $100 million mile-stone in assets.

“Our growth and success are attributed to a great staff that works hard at watchingout for the financial well-being of our members and a Board of Directors that guidesus strategically and gives us the tools to get the job done. We strive to anticipate ourmembers' needs and then tailor our products and services to meet those needs,” saidCEO Pat Drennen.

“1ST Gateway has had exceptionally strong deposit and loan growth over the past 12months despite increased competition in the market” said Drennen.“We look foropportunities to say 'yes' on many of our members' loan requests, as our membersare more than a credit score. We also know our deposit rates are currently tops in thearea market and they'll continue to stay that way as long as strong loan demandexists.”

1ST Gateway Credit Union currently serves nearly 9,000 members. The credit unionhas offices in Camanche, Clinton, DeWitt and Fulton and membership is open to any-one living or working in Clinton, Jackson, Dubuque, Jones, Cedar and Scott countiesin Iowa and Whiteside, Carroll, Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Ogle, Lee, Bureau, Henry andRock Island counties in Illinois. Additional information about credit union member-ship can be found atwww.1stgateway.org.

NELSONCORP WEALTH MANAGEMENT ATTENDS CAMBRIDGENATIONAL CONFERENCE

NelsonCorp Wealth Management advisors Ken Nelson & Amy Cavanaugh recentlyattended the Cambridge National Conference “Ignite” in Chicago, IL. The annual con-ference set a new participation record with over 1,000 Cambridge advisors and regis-tered assistants gathering to share best practices, engage with company executives,and learn about the new technical advancements available. NelsonCorp has officesin Clinton and Davenport.

TIMBER LAKE PLAYHOUSE ANNOUNCES 2015 SUMMERSEASON

Timber Lake Playhouse, the professional summer theatre of Northwest Illinois, andExecutive Director James Beaudry announced their 54th consecutive summer seasonfor 2015 at on July 19th. The theatre company, which has over 20,000 visitors annual-

ly, announced a lineup of six mainstage shows. Two productions for young peoplewill be announced shortly.

The season will be begin June 4, 2015 with the musical Hairspray. Winner of 8 TonyAwards including Best Musical, Hairspray is a family-friendly musical piled bouffanthigh with laughter, romance, and deliriously tuneful songs.Following Hairspray, is a big-hearted new play called The Big Meal, which premieredin Chicago in 2011 and tells the extraordinary story of an ordinary family. Somewherein America, in a typical suburban restaurant on a typical night, Sam and Nicole firstmeet. Sparks fly. And so begins an expansive tale that traverses five generations of amodern family, from first kiss to final goodbye.

In July, for the first time ever, TLP will present the Broadway musical Peter Pan. Since1955, when Mary Martin first took to the air as Peter, the show has become a must-see classic around the world. Beloved by generations, the playhouse will offer addi-tional matinees of the productions to accommodate families.

The fourth show and second play of the season is Greater Tuna, the hilarious comedyabout the third smallest town in Texas, where the Lion's Club is too liberal and PatsyCline never dies. The eclectic band of citizens that make up this town are portrayedby only two performers, making this send-up of life in rural America even moredelightful as they depict all of the inhabitants of Tuna -- men, women, children andanimals.

Big Fish tells the story of Edward Bloom, a traveling salesman whose incredible, larg-er-than-life stories thrill everyone around him - most of all, his adoring wife Sandra.But their son Will is determined to find the truth behind his father's fantastic tales.Overflowing with heart, humor and spectacular stage magic as Edward's stories cometo life, it is an extraordinary new musical that reminds us why we love going to thetheatre - for an experience richer, funnier and bigger than life itself.

The final production of the 2015 season will be Roger Miller's Big River: TheAdventures of Huckleberry Finn. Propelled by an award winning score from RogerMiller, the king of country music, this journey down the mighty Mississippi provides abrilliantly theatrical celebration of pure Americana. Twain's timeless classic is playedout by actor-musicians to the sound of country and bluegrass as irrepressible HuckFinn helps his friend Jim, a slave, escape to freedom. Their adventures are hilarious,suspenseful and heartwarming, bringing to life our favorite characters from thenovel.

Subscribers may reserve advance tickets to all six productions immediately. Ticketsfor individual shows will go on sale in 2015. Gold series subscriptions are $105 (30%off the individual ticket price), and are available through Labor Day only. Silver seriessubscriptions are $119 (20% off the individual ticket price) and will be available fol-lowing Labor Day.

ST. AMBROSE UNIVERSITY DEDICATES NEW ACADEMIC SPACEFOR MASTER OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDIES PROGRAM

An addition to the St. Ambrose University Center for Health Sciences Education atGenesis was formally dedicated and blessed Thursday, Aug. 14. The new wing com-plements the original $11.5 million facility - located on the southeast corner ofGenesis Medical Center, West Central Park, Davenport - and is housing the university'snew Master of Physician Assistant Studies program.

“Students in St. Ambrose's new Master of Physician Assistant Studies program arepreparing for rewarding careers in these state-of-the-art facilities,” said Sister JoanLescinski, CSJ, president of St. Ambrose University. "Through this new program andexpanded academic space, St. Ambrose continues in its commitment to serve thecommunity by preparing highly qualified health care professionals to address localand regional needs.”

The 13,000-square-foot addition cost $3.5 million and includes a clinical skills lab andexam suite that simulates a medical office practice setting and emergency and trau-ma care. The space also features a 78-seat lecture hall equipped with enhanced tech-nology for distance education delivery; space to support more interprofessional and

post-graduate continuing education; additional classroom, study and meeting areas;and offices for the MPAS program and faculty, as well as the College of Health andHuman Services dean.

The SAU MPAS program is the only physician assistant program in the Quad Citiesand western Illinois region, and one of only 181 such programs nationwide. The pro-gram builds upon an existing strength and an area of strategic focus at St. Ambrosewith more than 580 students currently enrolled in the university's accredited healthsciences programs in nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-lan-guage pathology and social work.

CITIZENS FIRST BANK AND ICBA OFFER TIPS TO HELPSTUDENTS HANDLE CREDIT WISELY

Now that college students are heading back to campus, Citizens First Bank and theIndependent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) encourage all students to beresponsible when using their credit cards. Citizens First Bank and ICBA also recom-mends that students be vigilant about maintaining strong credit reports and build-ing a solid credit history.

"While in college, we urge student to consider their financial futures by avoidingexcess spending that may cause them substantial credit risk," Tom Soenksen,President and CEO of Citizens First Bank, said. "Credit plays a large role in helping stu-dents achieve their future personal and professional goals, so it's important to usecredit wisely now in order to obtain a solid credit history-making it easier for to buy acar, home, or even rent life after college."

The best protection against getting deeply in credit card debt is knowing the pitfallsand how to avoid them. Citizens First Bank and ICBA offers the following tips to helpstudents use credit cards wisely:• Set up and follow a budget that includes paying off a credit card balance.• "Maxing out" or charging up to your card's credit limit can make sticking

to your budget more difficult and negatively affects your credit score.• Pay on time, every time. Whenever possible, pay more than the minimum

payment owed to pay off the balance faster and save on finance charges.• Keep records of your account number, expiration date and the phone

number of your card issuer in a safe place.• Keep your account information confidential.• Never give out your credit card number, card verification number or

expiration date over the phone, unless you initiated the call and know who you're dealing with.

• Consider making your credit card payment online to ensure it is received by the monthly due date.

• Routinely access your account information online to track your spending and to quickly identify fraudulent transactions. If you see a transaction that is not yours, notify your card issuer immediately.

• If there's an error on your account, report it immediately by notifying your card issuer.

• Keep a copy of your sales receipts so you can compare what you bought with the charges on your credit card statement.

• When making online transactions, be sure the site is secure. Don't let others watch you enter your card information.

• Don't lend your credit card to anyone. Ever! • If you move or travel outside of the country, notify your card issuer immediately.

College students are often inundated with credit card offers throughout the year.Educational institutions must disclose any agreements they have with credit cardcompanies that market to students, and credit card companies may no longer enticestudents with free gifts. All other provisions in the Credit Card Accountability,Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act that cover consumers-such as advancenotice of changes, more time to make payments and terms that are easier to under-stand-apply to students as well.

"We encourage students interested in learning more about credit cards and how tomanage their credit, to talk to their local community bank whether in your home-town or near your college campus," Soenksen said.

2014 Officers for the CorporationSteve Howes (Howes & Jefferies), CHAIRRon Gutierrez (Clinton Herald), VICE CHAIRJohn Eisenman (Abstract & Title Guaranty Co.), VICE CHAIRTom Fullerton (Retired), VICE CHAIRBruce Christensen (U.S. Bank), OFFICERSteve Shupp (Alliant Energy), OFFICERBob Simpson (Big River Packaging), SECRETARYBrig Tubbs (Gateway State Bank), TREASURERRich Phelan (Management Consultant), PAST CHAIR

2014 Board of Directors:Curt Allen (Clinton County Farm Bureau)Jeff Beckwith (Beckwith Commercial Roofing)Christopher Cain (LyondellBasell)Terry Callahan (Agri-King)George Chamberlain (Direct Packaging)Pete Clausen (Clausen Companies)Mary Connell (Air Control)Tom Determann (Retired)Lou Egging (Egging Company)Gerry Freudenberg (Iowa-American Water Co.)Rick Gustafson (Leslie Electric)Bill Hare (Clysar)Eric Helding (Nestle-Purina)Thomas Hesselmann (Retired)Bob Holesinger (Quality Concrete)Charlie Minnick (Ashford University)Casey Moore (Union Pacific Railroad)Tom Moser (Medical Associates)Eric Rant (Rock-Tenn)Thomas Soenksen (Citizens First Bank)Steven Thacker (Clinton National Bank)Jon Thoms (Honkamp Krueger & Co., P.C.)Ryan Veenstra (Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes & Crematory)Dr. Karen Vickers (Clinton Community College)Sean Williams (Mercy Medical Center)Jim Woll (ADM Corn Processing)City of ClintonCity of CamancheCity of FultonCity of Low MoorClinton CountyClinton Community SchoolsDavid Rose (Iowa DOT Commissioner)

Ex-Officio'sCity of Low MoorCamanche Community SchoolsIowa State University ExtensionClinton Area Chamber of Commerce

September 2014CHAMBERNews www.clintonia.com10

Community PrideHe was adamant.“Clinton sucks!” The group fell silent. “What do you mean by that?” I asked. It's not enoughto simply throw an epithet like that out without some backup justification. The real question in my mindwas - “Is his opinion based on emotion or reasoning?”

As a side note - does it make you angry that someone (a Clinton resident at that) would say that about yourcommunity? If so, that's a good indication of your community pride (assuming you're a Clinton resident).And if an angry reaction indicates community spirit, what does a reaction of ambivalence or resignationindicate?

The conversation above happened within the last several weeks in a Clinton business. The speaker was amid-30s member of the company's team who volunteered this sentiment to a colleague and me. It set meback on my heels. This person didn't know me, what I do for a living, or who I might represent. I could justhave easily been a visitor to the community. What a great first impression that would make for the visitor.And first impressions count. But such sentiments often are the tip of the iceberg, so I engaged him in con-versation to determine whether it was an emotional, spur of the moment statement frustration or onebased on the actual consideration of various community aspects.

In economic development, site selectors are increasingly used by companies to evaluate locations for their next corporate investment. Often, theseprofessionals will visit a community secretly and unannounced to assess its qualifications for their client's facility. These visits generally occur withoutthe knowledge of local government officials, chamber professionals, or economic developers. Although the focus of these secret visits is largely keylocating factors such as site quality, access to infrastructure, etc., the site selector is also looking to get a sense of the community. Frequently, the siteselector will seek out conversations with community residents. It could be a waitress, taxi driver, bartender, hotel desk clerk, or the person down thebar, at the next table, or in line at a cash register. At that moment, the economic opportunity the site selector represents hinges on the reaction of acommunity member whose opinion of the community may be positive or negative, making one person's opinion essential to the future of the com-munity. And make no mistake, deals have been won or lost for just this reason.

What type of opinion do you think a Clinton resident might provide in such a circumstance? One answer might be found in the response I receivedfrom the young man mentioned earlier. I asked him why he thought Clinton sucked. His answers were revealing and somewhat insightful. Other thanthe typical criticism that “there's nothing to do” - which by the way, I also heard in Kansas City - he listed the issues below:

1. Clinton is a college town, but the community is doing nothing to encourage them to like Clinton or stay in Clinton.2. There are too many personal agendas among community leaders that get in the way of real progress.3. City government is shrinking safety services (police/fire department budget cuts) while at the same time residents are expressing increasing

concerns about community safety and crime issues.4. The downtown is declining and nobody seems to care.5. Finally, he said “If I could leave, I would. The only thing attractive about this town is that housing is cheap.”

“Wow,” I thought. He had actually given this some thought. There was reasoning behind his sentiment; it was not just a random comment based onemotion.

As community leaders - and those involved in the Chamber, the CRDC or government are ALL community leaders - what does an opinion like thismean for us and our community? A simple epithet that the community “sucks” is frankly much easier to deal with. But a multi-dimensional opinionsuch as that described above presents a bigger challenge.

A natural reaction might be to defensively and emotionally respond to each point. But that would be denying the underlying issues. The better reac-tion is to question more deeply to discern why these opinions exist, whether they are based in some truth and to assess how many other residentsmight hold the same opinion. As community leaders, we're not doing our job if we simply discount negative opinions. If opinions such as those aboveare widely held, what are we doing to address them or resolve the issues on which they are based?

AND - if community leaders also hold negative opinions and express them - or WORSE, express them in the media, the negativity becomes self-perpet-uating. So often it seems broadcast media from the Quad Cities come to Clinton to interview someone with the negative story already written. Whenthis happens, the person interviewed on screen is merely a prop to lend credence to the negative story. Don't fall into this trap.

I believe it's time to change the language we've heard recently: “dying community”,“sinking ship”, and other negative characterizations are not reflec-tions of community pride. As community leaders, we cannot let the use of terms like this pass unchallenged. A positive community attitude has tostart with us.

So here's my challenge to you: take every opportunity to talk to anyone you meet about why you like living in Clinton, what features you like aboutthe community, and express your community pride. And Clinton has a lot to be proud of. New industries, a new middle school, a top-ranked highschool (by Forbes, no less!), a spectacular riverfront, and much more to list than room allows. Spread the good word. Challenge your friends and asso-ciates to do the same. Together, we can change the conversation.

Mike Kirchhoff, CEcDPresident & CEO

News From the CRDC

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Carrie Donaire, CVB Director

September is here, school is underway and Mother Nature is gently hintingthat it's fall. Let's hang on to summer a little while longer though; there is a lot todo with a river view! If you need a reminder to get out and take advantage of the niceweather, here are a few ideas to keep you busy this month:

September is Drive the Great River Road MonthVisit www.iowagreatriverroad.com to plan a trip along the Great River Road. Or, stop in at the Convention & Visitors Bureau at721 S. 2nd Street from Monday through Friday 8 - 5 to pick up a copy of the Iowa Byways travel guide that will give you greatideas for local road trips this fall.

Clinton Half MarathonThe Clinton Half Marathon takes place on Sunday, September 7. This is a great event for our area - we are the host community for runners from 30+ statesand foreign countries for this event. Even if you are not a distance runner, there are ways you can support the event for our community:

• Welcome the race participants on your business' marquee or with a banner out front! • Walk or jog the 5K or 10K• Volunteer to help - sign up to volunteer on the website, or call 242-2110 for more information• If you live along the race route, make sure to water the flowers and sweep the front walk - this will make our community all that much more

welcoming to the runners and walkers, and keep them coming back to patronize the businesses in our area.• More information and registration at clintonhalfmarathon.com

The Circus Comes to Town! On Thursday, September 18, 2014, the circus is coming to town! The Felix Adler Children's Discovery Center in coordination with the World Circus FansAssociation has invited the Kelly Miller Circus to perform two shows at Riverview Park by the Bandshell.

• Tickets are available at Hy-Vee until September 16 and at the big top the day of the circus.• Advance tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for children under 12 years old• Day-of tickets are $15 for adults and $7 for children• Ringside seats are also available

Women in Faith Symposium - September 19 - 21, 2014See Cover of this newsletter for more information.

Yappy Hour at the Dog ParkOn Friday, September 26, the Clinton Convention & Visitors Bureau will help welcome participants for Mutts on the Mississippi to Clinton by hosting themat the Prairie Pastures Dog Park from 3pm til Dusk. We hope that by inviting dog owners and dog lovers up to the park, we will showcase an attraction inour community that will keep them coming back again and again! The Mutts on the Mississippi event will take place Saturday, September 27. More infor-mation and registration is available at www.muttsonthemississippi.com. Join us on Friday afternoon, Sept 26 at the dog park!

It is a busy month, and we wouldn't have it any other way! Remember to reach out to your friends and family to invite them to these special events in ourcommunity. Enjoy!!

News From the Convention & Visitors Bureau

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Building our community through membership.CHAMBERNews

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Chamber Golf Playday 2014What a great day we had for the August 1, 2014 AnnualGolf Playday. Over 100 golfers enjoyed the beautiful weath-er, golf course, relationship building and not to mention afun day of golf. Thanks to our volunteers and many spon-sors that made this day possible:

Title: DHCU Community Credit UnionGold: Necker’s JewelersBack Nine: Clinton Regional Development CorporationGolf Cart: Ashford UniversityBeverage Cart: Trenkamp Electric / Marshall ElectricKeg Sponsor: Clinton EngineeringHole Sponsors: 1st Gateway Credit Union, Abstract & TitleGuaranty Company, Air Control, Inc., American FamilyInsurance – James F. Voss Agency Inc., Big River Packaging,Brinkman Building Center, Central Bank Fulton, ClassicBodyworks, Inc., Colony Brands, Inc. and SC Data Center, Inc.,Core-Vens & Co., Inc., Determann Asphalt Paving, LLC,Electric Service of Clinton, Inc., Estes Construction, FarmBureau Financial Services, Homer’s Deli/Sweetheart Bakery,Honkamp Krueger & Co., PC, Howes & Jefferies Realtors, LLP,Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Kelly Heating& Oil Company, Inc., Ken Kroemer Insurance, MediacomCommunications, Miss Clinton County Scholarship Program,Quality Concrete Co., Sterling Federal Bank – Clinton,Subway, The Insurance Group, Visual Imaging, Inc., VossBrothers Plumbing and Heating, Inc.