Board Meeting on Tap - Monday Memo 9/8/15
September 8, 2015
First ABI Board Meeting of 2015-2016 Fiscal Year Two Weeks from Tomorrow
The ABI Board of Directors, chaired by Paul Gregoire (Emerson/Fisher, Marshalltown), will hold its first meeting of the new fiscal year on Wednesday, September 23. The board will meet at ABI in Des Moines. The meeting will be preceded by the monthly meeting of the ABI Executive Committee that morning. You will soon receive the usual meeting packet with a map, an agenda, detailed reports, and other items to help you prepare for the meeting.
A number of important issues will be reviewed and acted upon at the meeting. One highlight, led by ABI Vice ChairLori Schaefer-Weaton (Agri-Industrial Plastics, Fairfield), will be consideration of recommendations related to the association's 2016 policy positions. Your brief business updates is another highlight.
Please register now for the meeting by clicking on http://www.cvent.com/events/september-abi-board-meeting/event-summary-7a25e1c6216e462f9a0b3e157b760efc.aspx. All board members and Past Chairs are encouraged to join ABI for the board meeting. Lunch will also be served. On behalf of Paul and our other officers, I look forward to seeing you on September 23.
Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Conference September 30; Legends Dinner Previous Evening
Last week, I mentioned that ABI and the Center for Industrial Research and Service at Iowa State and Des Moines Area Community College are the lead sponsors for the Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Conference 2015. The conference will be held in Altoona on September 30. Register now for this important conference athttp://www.cvent.com/events/iowa-s-advanced-manufacturing-conference-2015/event-summary-6b0a2a2b098a4c248967d681a3d989d7.aspx. Great speakers and a high value program are on tap at the conference.
By the way, remember that the new Legends in Manufacturing Awards Dinner (hosted by ABI's Elevate Advanced Manufacturing program) will be held the preceding night, also at Prairie Meadows in Altoona. Don't miss this first-ever event.
To register or to find more information about this event, please click on the following link:/index.cfm/11274/68333/legends_in_manufacturing_awards_dinner). Many participants will attend both the dinner and the conference the next day. If you wish to make a hotel reservation, so that you can attend both events conveniently, go to: http://www.prairiemeadows.com/.
Legislative Committee Meets
The ABI Legislative Committee, chaired by ABI Vice Chair Lori Schaefer-Weaton (Agri-Industrial Plastics, Fairfield) met Tuesday at ABI. Following on the many meetings held in Des Moines and around Iowa before it, the meeting last week resulted in a final set of polices being developed for action by you and your fellow board members later this month. Look for the final policy draft in your September board packet.
Next Week: Second Biennial ABI DC Fly-In
Mid-week next week, a group of ABI leaders will head to our nation's capital for the second biennial ABI DC Fly-In. Over the course of three days in Washington, ABI members will meet with all six members of the Iowa Congressional Delegation, attend briefings by the National Association of Manufacturers, BIPAC, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and others, and tour the city. Thank you in advance to those ABI leaders making the trip.
Annual Lind Study Results Released
Longtime ABI member David P. Lind Benchmark is a recognized leader in benefits analysis. The firm produces the always eagerly-anticipated Iowa Employers Benefits Study each year.
The 2015 study is now out and you can learn more at http://www.dplindbenchmark.com/. You can also read about the study in today's Des Moines Register athttp://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/health/2015/09/07/iowa-employers-health-insurance-costs-jump-77-percent/71637712/. Congratulations and thank you to David Lind for his always insightful work!
ABI Board Members Invited to Future Ready Iowa Sessions, Iowa National Guard Open House
Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds will hold three public Future Ready Iowa roundtables in October to launch a statewide conversation about how to close the workforce skills gap. The roundtables will be hosted by the Waukee Community School District, the University of Northern Iowa, and Western Iowa Tech Community College.
ABI board members and Past Chairs are specifically invited to participate in these sessions. Please contact me for more information.
And, ABI board members are invited to an open house being hosted by the Iowa National Guard's 334th Brigade Support Battalion. It will be held at Camp Dodge on September 20 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Many interactive demonstrations and presentations will mark the day, which is designed to give supporters and community members special insight into the mission and work of the battalion. Again, please contact me for more information.
YPIowa Conference in Two Weeks
Young Professionals of Iowa (our state's leading organization for young professionals) will hold its annual conference this month. The 2015 YPIowa conference will be held on September 24 and 25 in Carroll. Find more information athttp://ypiowa.com/events/yp-iowa-conference/.
Charlie Richardson Marks 40 Years
Global manufacturer NSK-AKS Precision Ball has been a valued ABI member for decades. The company has been well represented on the ABI Board of Directors for many years by ABI Executive Committee Member Charlie Richardson (NSK-AKS Precision Ball, Clarinda).
In 2015, Charlie marked 40 years of continuous service to the company. While serving as a senior executive for NSK-AKS and traveling extensively, Charlie has also played a leading role in three family companies. His leadership and quiet strength have meant a great deal to ABI over the years. Congratulations and best wishes to Charlie Richardson!
Emily Schettler Part of TACI Event
ABI Communications Coordinator Emily Schettler has greatly improved the association's communications initiatives and advanced ABI in a variety of other ways. She is also an informed and active young citizen of Greater Des Moines.
Emily was asked by the Taxpayers Association of Central Iowa to be a panelist at an upcoming event. She will joinChris Conetzkey (Business Record, Des Moines) and Adam Kaduce (R&R Realty, West Des Moines) on a panel discussion entitled "Why should millennials care about local government and property taxes?" Should you be interested in more information about the event, which will be held Thursday at Della Viti in Des Moines, please reply to this memo and I'll get it to you at once. Emily is a perfect choice for this discussion; congratulations, Emily!
Mary Mendenhall-Core and Family Celebrate
At the end of the month, the ABI Foundation will mark the conclusion of a very successful fiscal year. A big part of that is work done by ABI Foundation Development Director Mary Mendenhall-Core.
Late last month, Mary's son, Brian Mendenhall, married Brianna Kearney in Tampa, Florida. The wedding was a joyful celebration, attended by Mary and her husband, Mark Core, her daughter Erin and her husband Jeff, and Mary's stepdaughters, Liz Core from Indiana and Claire Core from Utah. Congratulations to the newlyweds and to the whole family!