TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Seeking Donation Sites for Movers for Moms® Essential Care Item Drive in April 2017

Madison, Wis. – Each year, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® hosts its annual Movers for Moms® donation drive as a way of honoring all moms. Essential care items like toothpaste, diapers and toiletries are collected and donated to moms who are in shelter at Mother’s Day. 

In 2016, more than 83 businesses across Dane and Rock County generously acted as donation locations, collecting 20,000 items to benefit moms in shelter. The 2017 drive will run from April 5 through May 12, with collection of boxes with donations the Wednesday before Mother’s Day. Donations are collected and will be delivered to YWCA Madison and YWCA of Rock County the Friday before Mother’s Day.
 
To make this year’s drive even more successful, the company is seeking donation locations in the community. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK? employees deliver branded boxes shortly before the drive begins plus posters and window clings, and takes care of all campaign promotion. If you are interested in becoming a donation location, please contact Michael Fiez at Michael.Fiez@twomen.com. Participating businesses receive inclusion in all PR and promotion, and opportunities for media interviews.
 
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® franchises across the country will all take part in the campaign because so many women struggle with domestic violence. According to information from The National Domestic Abuse Hotline, one in four women will experience domestic violence during her lifetime. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is proud to support women and families experiencing crisis, and want to make this Mother’s Day rewarding for every Mom. You can help make a difference in the lives of countless women who are reclaiming their lives, and make their Mother’s Day special once again.  
 
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the largest franchised moving company both in the United States and internationally. The company operates 298 locations and 2,100 trucks. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® has performed more than five million moves since its inception in 1985. Each location is independently owned and operated. 

The Madison, Wis., location was started in 1993 and since then has given back well over $1 million in donations and services to charitable organizations in the community. Contact the Madison, Wis., TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® at (608) 278-0800, info0029@twomen.com, or visit twomenandatruckmadisonwi.com.

Contact:  
Phone:   
Email:      Michael.Fiez@twomen.com

Overture Hosts International Performing Arts for Youth Conference

NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release: Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Contact: Sarah Knab, Overture Center, 608.258.4438 / sknab@overture.org

39^th Annual IPAY International Showcase Comes to Madison, Wis.

Madison, Wis. – Overture Center for the Arts will partner with International Performing Arts for Youth (IPAY)to host the 39^th annual IPAY Showcase. Taking place from January 18-21, 2017, Showcase will present theater, dance, puppetry and music created for young audiences by companies from seven countries, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom (England, Scotland and Northern Ireland), Brazil and Australia.

“Supporting the engagement of young people in the arts is a core value of Overture Center. We are honored to be hosting the upcoming IPAY Showcase in Madison and to have the opportunity for local children and families to attend these Showcase performances and experience these exceptional artistic companies at no charge,” said Ted DeDee, Overture’s President and CEO.

Through a highly competitive and rigorous jury process, 17 full-length productions and nine excerpt spotlights have been selected to participate in Showcase. Highlights will include giant jellyfish puppets from the Black Hole Theatre of Australia, a Brazilian company’s re-telling of the story of Sinbad using bamboo mobile structures that turn into ships, giants, birds etc., and a new show from Minneapolis Children’s Theatre Company with one woman playing 14 characters exploring immigration from different ethnic perspectives through a community garden neighborhood project in Cleveland.

Many of the shows will be attended by school groups as well as conference attendees. Select performances are free and available to the public with a reservation at overture.org/events/ipay-2017:

• Anatomy of the Piano – WED, JAN 18, 4 PM | Capitol Theater
• Wild! – WED, JAN 18, 4:45 PM | Capitol Theater
• Darius & Twig ­- WED, JAN 18, 9 PM | Overture Hall
• L’Aubergine – THU, JAN 19, 8 PM | Capitol Theater
• They Called Her Vivaldi – FRI, JAN 20, 8 PM | Capitol Theater
• Jazzy Ash/Leaping Lizard – SAT, JAN 21, 9:30 AM | Capitol Theater

IPAY offers another opportunity for local artists to participate – SPARK! Artist Dialogue 2017

• Unpacking CAN’T: Moving from Impossible to Potential | TUE, JAN 17, 12:30-4:30 PM | Promenade Terrace

SPARK! is IPAY’s special pre-conference intended to bring local artists and organizations together with IPAY members to bring international local. The pre-conference includes a four-hour session plus one full-day access pass to attend IPAY Showcase during the conference, January 18-21, 2017.
This year’s SPARK! will focus on Unpacking CAN’T: Moving from the Impossible to Potential. Beginning with a Viewpoints session, participants will explore barriers of creating work for young audiences though IPAY’s signature Kitchen Table platform. After a series of round robin breakouts, participants will leave with a list of actions for moving the impossible to the potential.

o   Cost is $25, which includes session and one full-day conference registration

IPAY, a membership organization and a leader in the field of international performing arts for youth, envisions a world in which artistic excellence and innovation in performing arts for young audiences are nurtured, supported and expanded. Throughout this four-day event, this vision is realized as professionals from all over the world come together to share resources and experience the work of exceptional artistic companies.

IPAY Executive Director Jeremy “Boomer” Stacey shares the enthusiasm for bringing Showcase to Madison, “IPAY is extremely excited to be partnering with Overture Center for the Arts – a long-standing IPAY member and an organization committed to quality programming for young audiences. We look forward to welcoming our IPAY community to this stunning architectural landmark and to showcasing another stellar line-up of international artists”.

Growing in size each year, Showcase 2017 is expected to attract approximately 450 delegates. The group, which will include artists, presenters and producers from around the world, will gather together to enjoy the unique charm of Madison, while developing new collaborations and building tours to reach children throughout North America and beyond.

For more information on IPAY, please visit www.ipayweb.org

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OVERTURE CENTER FOR THE ARTS in Madison, Wisconsin features seven state-of-the-art performance spaces and five galleries where national and international touring artists, ten resident companies and hundreds of local artists engage people in over half a million educational and artistic experiences each year. Overture.org

Suttle-Straus Publishes Book Recapping Over 100 Years in Business

Waunakee, WI – Suttle-Straus, a marketing solutions provider, is excited to announce that it has published a book, which highlights the long history of the company from 1910 to today. “The Suttle-Straus Story” was written primarily by former Suttle-Straus president John Berthelsen and features over 30 contributors.

The idea for the book came to Berthelsen in early 2014 as he was beginning to plan his retirement, after 35 years of leading the company. Many friends and colleagues encouraged him to turn his vision into a reality, including the late Roy Carlson, owner of Suttle Press in the 1950’s and former president of TDS, Suttle-Straus’ parent company. Berthelsen states, “One of the great voids that I felt in my years of operating the company was the almost total lack of information about the first sixty years of its operation. When I left Suttle-Straus, I had run it for nearly a third of its existence, but that was basically the only part for which there are any real records.” With this in mind, Berthelsen set out to preserve the history of Suttle-Straus, and work on the book began in 2015.

The book was designed and printed entirely by Suttle-Straus. Content was compiled from a number of sources, including over 30 years of board meeting notes, past calendars, company newsletters and numerous photos from old scrapbooks. Additionally remembrances and stories from employees, board members, customers and vendors give the story a unique perspective – and is Berthelsen’s favorite part of the piece.

Ted Straus, Berthelsen’s successor and current president of Suttle-Straus, adds, “It was an honor to participate in the development process of the “Suttle-Straus Story.” The organization has been blessed with so many incredible team members throughout its existence and this book is an ideal way to showcase the countless contributions from those individuals. Providing exceptional products and services for over 100 years is no accident, and this book provides an in-depth look at why Suttle-Straus has been successful for so long.”

“The Suttle-Straus Story” is an ideal read for anyone interested in learning more about the print industry or Suttle-Straus and its rise to one of the top 100 print providers in the United States. It also serves as a valuable resource for new employees to better understand the company, the people, the vision and the culture.

Hard copies of “The Suttle-Straus Story” are $25 and can be obtained by contacting Suttle-Straus at 608.849.1000 or completing a request form here.

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About Suttle-Straus

Suttle-Straus provides comprehensive marketing solutions that incorporate creative, print, wide format, direct mail, transactional mail, kitting and fulfillment services. Their S4 Marketing Resource Center combines these services with cutting-edge technology to advance their clients’ marketing abilities and speed to market. Through long-term, collaborative partnerships, Suttle-Straus continues to provide quality products, exceed expectations, and offer innovative solutions. Learn more at suttle-straus.com.

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Chamber Announces Launch of Together Truax

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Jan. 9, 2017)

Contact: Erik Greenfield, Communications Manager, 608-443-1952 (office), 608-669-7884 (cell)

MADISON – Today the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce announced Together Truax, the next step of an initiative designed to support the effort to base the F-35A aircraft at Madison’s 115^th Fighter Wing. The initiative includes a new website and social media pages in addition to ongoing advocacy.

“This community supports the men and women of the 115^th Fighter Wing, and this initiative is just one more way to demonstrate that as federal officials review the finalist sites,” said Chamber President Zach Brandon. “The base’s $100 million in annual economic impact, the emergency response services it provides for Dane County Regional Airport and the tuition assistance paid to our colleges and universities for area students who serve in the Guard mean that having the F-35 at Truax is more than a national defense asset, it is an economic opportunity.”

The Air Force announced in December that the 115^th is one of five finalist sites, with the two bases that will receive the next-generation jets to be named at a later date. Meanwhile, federal, state and local elected officials representing Dane County have already shown strong support for the Truax base.

“Truax, which is home to the dedicated men and women of the 115^th Fighter Wing, is an ideal candidate for the F-35A mission,” said U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin. “We bring to this mission tremendous strategic, geographic and economic capabilities. The base and its personnel play an essential role in protecting the safety and security of Wisconsin and our nation, and I have been proud to serve as their champion in Congress for more than 17 years. I will continue to advocate for Truax’s selection for this new mission, which will provide an enduring economic benefit to the local community and Wisconsin.”

“The economic impact that the 115^th Fighter Wing of the Air National Guard plays in the Madison and surrounding area is immense,” said Madison Mayor Paul Soglin. “This unit, in addition to the 750 Guard members, results in quality employment for 450 individuals. These employees and their families live, work and play in the Madison area and are respected members of our community. The value these jets bring to the city is immeasurable.”

“As a former fighter pilot stationed at Truax and the State Senator who represents the airport, I know the value of hosting the F-35s to our community,” said State Sen. Mark Miller (D-Monona). “Wisconsin, Dane County and Madison have much to offer and I believe that our 115^th Fighter Wing will rise above the other four contenders.”

“Truax Field has been a crucial economic cornerstone of the Northside of Madison for generations. The men and women who work there support our country and our community. Their children attend our schools, they support our local businesses, and live in our neighborhoods,” said State Rep. Melissa Sargent (D-Madison). “As the State Representative for this area, and a lifelong resident of Madison, I know that it is important that we continue to support our friends and neighbors who are the bedrock of our community.”

“We greatly appreciate the many business, community and elected leaders from all levels of government who are supporting this effort,” added Brandon. “We look forward to continuing to build support as we make the case for the 115^th in the coming months.”

TogetherTruax.com will feature the latest news and frequently asked questions, as well as opportunities to sign up for updates and ways to contact elected representatives. You can visit the website here, like Together Truax on Facebook here and follow Together Truax on Twitter here.

About the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce:
The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business with nearly 1,300 organizations – ranging from one-person shops to corporations with more than 9,500 employees – working to bring the Greater Madison area to its full potential. The Greater Madison region is a leader in innovation. From cutting-edge technologies to distinctive retail shops to inventive services and products, our members vary greatly but are united by the region’s entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at greatermadisonchamber.com.

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Agrace Dane County Volunteer & Grief Opportunities for February 2017

Agrace to Offer Orientation for Prospective Volunteers in February

Volunteering for Agrace can be a very rewarding experience. In February, Agrace will offer orientation for people interested in volunteering to make a difference in the lives of patients with advanced illnesses. Agrace has opportunities for volunteers who would like to work directly with Agrace patients, as well as support roles that do not involve patient care. Areas of most immediate need are for customer-service volunteers at the Agrace Thrift Store on East Springs Drive, Madison, and café and kitchen help at Agrace’s campus on East Cheryl Parkway, Madison.

Agrace’s next volunteer orientation opportunities will be held Monday, February 6, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Wednesday, February 22, from 8 a.m. to noon, at Agrace’s Madison campus. Before they attend orientation, prospective volunteers will complete an application and an interview process with Agrace’s Volunteer Services staff to identify skills and interests. Call (608) 327-7163 to begin the pre-orientation process.

Agrace to Offer Grief Support Groups Beginning in February

• Bridges Weekly Support Group is held every Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Agrace, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison. This ongoing group is for adults who are grieving the death of a loved one. Pre-registration is not required.
• Spouse/Partner Loss Support Group is a six-week grief support group series for adults whose spouse or partner has died. Be comforted and build a consistent, natural support system. Held at Agrace, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, each Tuesday, February 21 through March 28, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. To register, call Jody at (608) 327-7118 or visit agrace.org/griefgroups.

For details on all Agrace grief support groups, visit agrace.org.