APRIL E-NEWSLETTER Volume 5, Issue 4 April 2013 APRIL EVENTS April 1, 4, 8, 11, 15 & 18 Exercise Group @ River Bend Site Tour Senior Center, 4pm April 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24 & 26 Lunch @ RBSC, 11:30am April 3, 5, 12, 19 & 26 Blood Pressure Checks @ RBSC, 11am-11:30am April 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 Wellness Opportunity Workshops @ Tree of Life Chiropractic, 5:30pm April 7 Father/Daughter Reception @ The Lodge, Eagle Point Park, 2pm-4pm. April 9 City Elections @ Fulton Presbyterian Church, 6am-7pm April 14 Program @ Windmill Cultural Center, “Lincoln’s Long Journey Home: From Assassination to Interment,” 2pm April 16 Veteran’s Employment Rep. @ Biz After 5 @ Community State Bank RBSC, 10am-2pm April 16 Mock Presidential Debate @ Ashford University’s St. Clare Hall Nearly 50 chamber members Room C3600, 6pm enjoyed wonderful food and April 17 networking at the March 14 Wiersema Charter Bus Tour @ Circa ‘21, “Church Basement Biz After 5 event sponsored Ladies - A Mighty Fortress” by Community State Bank. April 18 The next Biz After 5 will be Soup Supper @ Fulton Masonic Lodge, 4:30pm-7pm (advance held on July 25 @ Denny O’s. ticket sales only) April 19 Friends for Charity presents “Illusions of Elvis” Performance @ Event Dates Continued…. Triple Play, 7pm-9pm April 20 April 21 April 27 Fulton Recycling Event @ Robert Program @ Fulton (Martin House) Friends for Charity Bake Sale @ River Fulton Commons (old fire station), Museum, “The Lincoln Highway Bend Senior Center, 9am-Noon 8am-11am Centennial: It’s Role in Fulton’s History,” April 30 April 20 2pm Plus 50 Living Fair @ Wild Rose Casino, Shred Day @ Citizens First Bank, April 23 9am-Noon Clinton, 9am-11am Book Discussion @ Schmaling Memorial April 30 April 20 Library, Grayson, 6pm Program @ Windmill Cultural Center, Spaghetti Supper Fundraiser @ April 27 “Walt Whitman’s Lincoln: A Song of Fulton Fire Department, 4pm-7pm Cabin Fever Craft Show @ River Bend Myself,” 6pm Senior Center, 9am-Noon Page 2

Message from the President

April is here and so starts the sands who attend can enjoy Fulton’s premier festival in busy season in Fulton. sunny skies and warm temperatures. Thank you in ad‐ It's spring clean up time and vance to the Dutch Days committee and the businesses, the City of Fulton, Fulton Cham‐ organizations and individuals who work so hard every ber of Commerce and Fulton Ki‐ year to help put Fulton on the map. The Chamber will wanis Club will offer a recycling have a float in the parade so make sure to keep an eye event for the residents of Ful‐ out for that. ton on Saturday, April 20, from Also coming up in the month of May is our 2nd annual 8:00a.m. to 11:00a.m. at the River Cosmic Bowling fund raiser at the Triple Play. Friday, Bend Senior Center (former Fulton Fire Station). The May 17th is the date at 5:30pm. We have room for 10 disposal service is provided free to City of Fulton and Ful‐ teams of 4 people each. The entry fee is $50 per person ton Township residents only. or $200 per team. Everyone really had fun bowling last The Windmill Cultural Center will be celebrating its year. Let's see if someone can come in and take the third birthday this month. I couldn't even begin to list all bowling team title away from the gals from Agri‐King. of the activities held there the past couple of years. This event helps the Chamber raise some extra funds for Thank you to all the dedicated volunteers who put in programming and events. countless hours working at the WCC, planning programs Committees are making plans for this year’s series of and running a first class organization. What a wonderful Fulton Summer Nights activities which will be held in addition the Windmill Cultural Center has been to Fulton June, July & August. Please check out the monthly news‐ and the surrounding area. letter and/or the city of Fulton website for a complete A couple of other groups who have been very busy are listing of all the upcoming activities. the Fulton Historical Society providing many programs This month we welcome Randy Clary from Central this winter and on into the spring. And the Early Ameri‐ Bank to the Board of Directors to fill the vacancy which can Crafters and all the volunteers at Heritage Canyon opened up when Jami Smith left the board. We all look who help Fulton's past come alive during the Dutch Days forward to working with Randy. weekend. And honestly, I know that there are groups As always I welcome anyone with some fresh new who I never mention about what you do for the city, your ideas and a little time on their hands to put their energy church, school or organization. Just know that what you to work with us here at the Chamber or any of the civic do is appreciated. Thank you, folks. organizations and good causes around town. There cer‐ Dutch Days will be held May 3 & 4 and the various tainly is a lot to do as we head into the spring and sum‐ committees are working on the final details to make this mer months. So let's get busy! great event successful again this year. Let’s hope we Fulton Chamber President, have pleasant weather so that the vendors and the thou‐ Greg Naftzger

Chamber Cosmic Bowling Night

The Fulton Chamber of Commerce will host its second annual cosmic bowling fund‐ raiser in May. Everyone had a great time last year and it proved to be a wonderful team building experience. The event will be held at Triple Play on Friday, May 17, starting at 5:30pm. The Chamber is looking for 10 teams to participate. Each team will have four players. The team fee is $200. Proceeds help benefit chamber pro‐ gramming and events. Teams will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. If you are interested in sponsoring a team, please contact the Fulton Chamber Office at 815‐589‐4545 or [email protected]. Page 3

Fulton Recycling Event

The City of Fulton, Fulton Chamber of Commerce and Fulton Kiwanis Club will offer a recycling event for the residents of Fulton on Saturday, April 20, from 8:00a.m. to 11:00a.m. at the River Bend Senior Center (former Fulton Fire Station). The disposal service is provided free to City of Fulton and Fulton Township resi‐ dents only. Disposal services offered include electronic waste (including televisions), battery disposal, tire disposal, newspaper recycling, appliance recycling, medication disposal, and secure document shredding. Disposal of Old PCs & Televisions: There will be two large city dump trucks at the event for old PCs and televisions. Television screens must not be broken and there will be a limit of two (2) televisions per household. The e‐waste will be taken to Self Help Enterprises where it will be broken down and handled securely. The disposal of both televisions and PCs is a “first come, first ‐serve” offering. When the two truck beds are full, no more PCs or televisions will be accepted. However, residents may take their items to Self Help Enterprises in Sterling, , Monday through Friday. Disposal of vehicular lead‐acid batteries: Alfie Norman will be on‐site and will accept 6, 12, and 24 volt lead‐acid batteries from vehicles‐‐motor cycles, autos, boats (deep cycles), RVs, and heavy equipment. Alfie will work with the Kiwanis Club to deliver batteries to a certified disposal site. Batteries can be dropped off on the north side of the old fire station along 9th Avenue. Household appliance drop‐off: The Fulton Kiwanis Club will accept household appliances and water heaters. The appliances will be scraped with proceeds benefiting the Fulton Kiwanis Club. Please drop off appliances to the north side of the old fire station along 9th Avenue.

Newspapers: Fulton Boy Scout Troop 117 will be on‐site accepting newspapers and what comes in newspapers, such as promotional fliers. Other items such as phone books or mail can NOT be accepted. While it is not required, bundled newspapers would be appreciated.

Tire Disposal – The disposal of tires is a “first come, first‐serve” offering. The maximum amount allowed for collection is 6 tons. Only passenger tires will be accepted, industrial and farm equip‐ ment tires do not qualify. The tires will be recycled by an Illinois EPA certified business. Tires can be dropped off on the north side of the old fire station along 9th Avenue. Secure Document Shredding – A secure shred truck provided by Cintas will perform on‐site shred‐ ding of personal documents such as bank statements, medical records, cancelled checks, invoices, etc. Cintas is certified as a secure and safe document shredding company. The shred truck will be located on the south side of the old fire station along 10th Avenue. Medication Disposal ‐ The Whiteside County Sheriff's Department will assist with secure and safe disposal of medications.

All other disposal items (e‐waste, newspapers, and medication) can be dropped off at the east side of the old fire station along 4th Street. Volunteers will be on hand to remove items from your vehicle. Items will not be accepted in advance of the event date. For questions and more information, please visit the city website at www.cityoffulton.us or call 815‐589‐2616. Page 4

Save the Date…..Fulton Chamber Annual Dinner

The Fulton Chamber of Commerce Annual Membership Dinner will be held Thursday, June 27, 2013, at Triple Play. The annual dinner theme will be sports related. Members are encouraged to wear their favorite team apparel. Further details will be released as the date approaches.

Take Advantage of Buyer-Supplier Network

The City of Fulton has renewed the annual membership for Fulton businesses to belong to the Buyer‐Supplier network. Buyer‐Supplier is a web based program for businesses that connect both buyers and sellers in eastern Iowa and north‐ western Illinois to promote and facilitate regional purchasing. Over$6.5 billion is being spent on goods and services from vendors located outside of eastern Iowa and northwestern Illinois that could be spent in the region. The goal of Buyer‐Supplier is to encourage businesses to make 5% of their purchases from regional providers, shifting dollars back into the regional economy. Businesses of all types and sizes are encouraged to take part in the program; from small organic produce farmers, to large corporations. For more information or to get started, visit www.buyersupplier.org.

Be Prepared

Cordova Dragway Park, Cordova, Illinois, will host its inaugural American Drag Racing League event Saturday and Sun‐ day, May 18‐19 and is preparing for what is likely to be one of the region’s largest spectator events. What makes ADRL different from most sporting events is that admission is by free ticket with only a $20 per vehicle parking fee. Dragway operator Scott Gardner told members of the Convention & Visitors Bureau at a recent meeting one million free tickets have been printed and delivered to the drag strip. An ADRL team will come to the Quad Cities to distribute one by one the tickets in the next few weeks. 50,000 or more spectators are likely to descend on the re‐ gion around the Dragway, located four miles north of Cordova on . “ADRL doesn’t just drop off a stack of tickets at a convenience store,” Gardner said. “They prefer to hand out each ticket to an individual with an invitation to attend.” ADRL hosts 8 to 10 events around the country annual but this is the first visit to the Cordova and the region. Gard‐ ner said the next nearest event is in Michigan which is why an large crowd is anticipated. “25,000 attended the year’s first ADRL event in Rockingham NC in early March when the weather was not ideal and a relatively small population base upon which to draw,” he noted. “ADRL is an opportunity for those unfamiliar with drag racing to see an event free of charge,” Gardner said. “The average visitor will arrive, spend 3 or 4 hours at the track, watch races, eat a hot dog, grab a souvenir and head home.” This kind of crowd will be turning over 2 to 3 times per day making lots of traffic for convenience stores, gas sta‐ tions, hotels, and restaurants in the Quad Cities region. “Order lots of ice and food,” Gardner advises convenience stores and restaurants. Cordova needs lots of extra help so groups wanting to earn money by parking cars and running concession stands are invited to join the effort. Booster clubs, Scouts, post prom organizations, car clubs, civic clubs, PTA’s, sports teams, leagues and more are needed. For more information call Cordova Dragway Park at (309) 654‐2110 or visit www.cordovadrag.com Page 5

Membership Announcements

Ascentra Credit Union - sponsored the Bettendorf Library Friends for Charity - presents “Illusions of Elvis” starring Foundation’s Booker Bear reading program on March 16, Junior Talley on Friday, April 19, from 7pm to 9pm at Tri- 2013. This is the second group of area first graders to be ple Play Banquet Room. Tickets cost $12 each or 2 for $20. celebrated for completing their ten book reading challenge. Tickets can be purchased at Bittersweet Salon or Words of Pleasant Valley School’s first graders were awarded recog- Wisdom. The group will host a bake sale on April 27 from nition on March 2 with 800 people attending the event. 9am to Noon at the River Bend Senior Center. Ashford University - the final Spring Symposium Series Fulton Fire Department - will host a Spaghetti Supper will be held on April 16 at 6pm in St. Clare Hall Room Fundraiser on Saturday, April 20, from 4pm to 7pm . Dona- C3600. The April 16 program will include a mock debate tions accepted. with three Republicans and three Democrats each represent- Fulton Historical Society - will host a program on April ing different parts of the country. The programs are free 21 at 2pm at the Fulton (Martin House) Museum. The pro- and open to the public. gram is “The Lincoln Highway Centennial: It’s Role in The Ashford University Future Leaders Program Fulton’s History.” Programs are free and open to the public. donated $891 and nearly 3,600 items for hygiene bags to Fulton Masonic Lodge - will host a soup supper on April The Associate Benevolent Society of Clinton, IA. 18 from 4:30pm to 7pm at the Masonic Temple in down- Five Ashford University students received ADDY town Fulton. Soups offered include vegetable beef and awards during a gala ceremony sponsored by the American chili. Tickets are $6.00 and must be purchased in advance Advertising Federation: Cedar Rapids-Iowa City on Febru- from any Fulton Mason. ary 23, 2013. Gateway Area Red Cross - the American Red Cross has Robert Donohue IV, Vicksburg, MS, a member of launched its official Tornado App, putting lifesaving infor- the Golden Key Honor Society at Ashford University, re- mation right in the hands of people who live in, visit or have cently received the Golden Key Education Debt Reduction loved ones in tornado-prone areas. The free app is available Award. This award, valued at $5,000, will provide financial in English and Spanish. The app can be found at the Apple assistance towards his student loan(s). App Store and the Google Play Store. Six Ashford University employees and the son of LumberKings - the LumberKings honor 40 degree weather an employee either shaved their heads or received a close promotion for $40. Fans could purchase general admission cropped cut as part of the St. Baldrick’s Cancer Research tickets to every April and May home game (29 games) for Benefit. Ashford University raised $2,500 for the event. $40 until March 15. Citizens First Bank - Teach Children to Save Day is an The LumberKings open the 2013 season at Burlington on annual event held in April where bankers visit with children April 4, 2013. The home opener is on Thursday, April 11 at to teach the value of saving. April 23 is the date of this 6:30pm against the Cedar Rapids Kernels. year’s 17th annual event. Citizens First Bank is offering River Bend Senior Center - lunches are held at 11:30am “Teach Children to Save” lessons to school classrooms K-6 every Wednesday & Friday. Blood Pressure Checks will as well as non-profit children’s organizations between April occur from 11am to 11:30am on April 3, 5, 12, 19 & 26. 1 and May 3, 2013. Outreach services will be available on April 4, 2013. Beth Citizens First Bank will offer a FREE community Sterk will host a morning coffee on April 8. Nancy Potter, shred day on Saturday, April 20, from 9am to 11am at 1442 RN, will discuss Reflexology on April 10 after lunch. Lin- Lincolnway, Clinton. nea Kolk, Master Gardener, will talk about European Gar- Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce - will host their first dens after lunch on April 12. Veteran’s Employment Repre- annual Father/Daughter Dance on April 7 from 2pm to 4pm sentative Jim Mitchell will be at the RBSC on April 16 from at The Lodge at Eagle Point Park. The cost is $10 for one 10am to 2pm. Randy Meier, Clinton County Sherriff's Of- child or $15 for two or more children. Reservations are due fice, will talk about Frauds & Swindles after lunch on April April 3 and can be made online at www.clintonia.com. 19. The Cabin Fever Craft Show will be held April 27 from Dutch Days Festival - the parade registration form can be 9am to Noon. The Plus 50 Living Fair will be held at the found online at www.cityoffulton.us - go to the Events tab Wild Rose Casino from 9am to Noon on April 30. The ex- at the top of the page and scroll down through the calendar ercise group will continue to meet on Mondays & Thursdays to Dutch Days, May 3 & 4. The theme for this year’s festi- at 4pm until April 18. val is “Churches: Steeped in History.” See more announcements on page 6 Page 6

Continued….Membership Announcements

Schmaling Memorial Library - A book discussion will be Wiersema Charter Services - has the following tours avail- held on April 23 at 6pm at the library. The book of the able: April 17 @ Circa’21 “Church Basement Ladies - A month is Grayson by Lynne Cox. Might Fortress,” May 2 @ Drury Lane Theatre “Oliver,” TLC Country Store - is now open with lots of spring gift and May 18 @ Ohnward Fine Arts Theatre “Buddy Holly and decorating ideas. The shop will be open Fridays and Experience.” For more details and reservations, contact Saturdays from 10am to 3pm. TLC Country Store is located Wiersema Charter Services at 815-772-2232. at 7250 Garden Plain Road. Tree of Life Chiropractic - Tree of Life will be hosting REMINDER - chamber members, if you have an an- Wellness Opportunity Workshops every Tuesday evening nouncement about your business you would like in- from 5:30pm-6pm and all workshops are open to the public. cluded for FREE in the monthly newsletter and/or Dinner is provided the second Tuesday of every month. weekly email blast (date of event), please provide the Please call to reserve your space, 815-589-5255. information to the Fulton Chamber as soon as possi- Volunteer Millers - will host two programs in April. The ble. The monthly newsletter is published around the first program is April 14 at 2pm, “Lincoln’s Long Journey 1st of each month. Information needs to be provided Home: From Assassination to Interment” by Ron Koehn. by the 25th of the preceding month. The weekly email The April 30 program begins at 6pm, “Walt Whitman’s Lin- blast goes out every Monday morning. Information coln: A Song of Myself” presented by Brian “Fox” Ellis, an can be sent to [email protected]. The newslet- Illinois Humanities Council presenter. All programs are ter is also available online at www.cityoffulton.us and free and open to the public. See the city website for the posted to the Chamber’s Facebook Page. monthly miller program schedule: www.cityoffulton.us.

The mission of the Fulton Chamber of Commerce is to enhance the economic climate and to promote the business community for the benefit of the greater Fulton area. Adopted August 2000

Fulton Chamber of Commerce 415 11th Avenue Fulton, IL 61252 815‐589‐4545 p 815‐589‐4421 f [email protected] www.cityoffulton.us The Board of Directors meet the second Wednesday www.facebook.com/fultonilchamberofcommerce of each month at Noon. Chamber members are Monday ‐ Friday 8am ‐ 4:30pm welcome to attend board meetings. Please call ahead Heather Bennett, Executive Director for meeting location.