Huge Crowd Expected for ABI Legislative Reception – Monday Memo 11/27/17

State Leaders Will Attend 2018 ABI Legislative Reception; Register Now

As always, key state leaders such as Governor Kim Reynolds, Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg, and all 150 members of the Iowa General Assembly have been invited to the 2018 ABI Legislative Reception. As you know, this event is one of the most popular events ABI hosts all year long. It is likely that 500 people will attend the event, including more legislators of both parties than at any other similar event. 

The attendance of these state officials is one more confirmation of your importance to Iowa policy makers. They attend because YOU attend.

You can already register by clicking on the following link: http://www.cvent.com/events/2018-abi-legislative-briefing-reception/event-summary-aa9c51846e394bc9851aa2329527436e.aspx. The 2018 ABI Briefing and Reception will be held Wednesday, January 10 at the Iowa Taproom in Des Moines’ East Village. Plenty of convenient parking is available nearby, in a situation that is much improved from last year. 

I hope you will attend the reception, which is a very important event. Of course it is a lot of fun, and you’ll see great ABI colleagues from all over Iowa. Even more vital, however, is your discussion with your local legislators. Building relationships between legislators and ABI members is what the event is all about. Your perspective (and that of your employees) is a crucial component in helping Iowa policymakers understand the needs and concerns of business people in our state. On behalf of our ABI officers, I look forward to seeing you in Des Moines on January 10.

Employees Slated to Return to City Hall in February

You will recall that, in a project that began in 2015, some of the people that work for the City of Des Moines were relocated while the City Hall in Des Moines is undergoing a massive renovation. Employees in the City Clerk’s Office and in the City Legal Department were relocated to the same office building that holds ABI’s offices. That move caused dramatic changes in the parking situation and in foot and auto traffic around and within the building.

Last week, some city employees were told they would be returning to City Hall late in February. I note, however, that move has not been confirmed by our landlord.

In any event, we hope that parking here at the Capitol Center is soon greatly improved. Thank you for your patience during this time, and I’ll make sure to report any updates on this situation in future editions of this memorandum.

December Executive Committee Teleconference Next Week; January 10 is Date for Next ABI Board Meeting

The final meeting of the ABI Executive Committee for 2017 is scheduled to be held a week from Wednesday on December 6. Later this week, committee members will receive the usual packet to help in preparing for the meeting, which will be called to order by ABI Chair David Zrostlik (Stellar Industries, Garner) at 9:30 a.m.

The board will meet next month. The ABI Board of Directors will hold its regularly scheduled January meeting on Wednesday, January 10, 2018. 

Because it falls on the same day as the annual ABI Legislative Reception, the January meeting is typically one of the best-attended of the year. Please mark your calendars now for January 10.

Leadership Iowa Class to Converge on Decorah

Decorah is the site for the third session of the 2017-2018 Leadership Iowa Class. Class members will meet next week on Thursday and Friday. In fact, most members of the class will arrive for a special event Wednesday evening. The session will focus on education in Iowa and a terrific slate of speakers is on tap.

As always, special thanks go to the Leadership Iowa Board of Governors and to the ABI Foundation Board of Directors for maintaining a terrific LI program. 

NAM Report Reviews Positive Economic Data

Last week's Monday Economic Report from the National Association of Manufacturers was another interesting edition of the publication. In it, several positive economic data points were reviewed (manufacturing production, for example, is up significantly). If you would like to see the report for yourself, please reply to this memo and I will get it to you at once.

Annual Shine Bros. Holiday Event is December 15

Each year, the good folks at longtime ABI member company Shine Bros. Corp. host a terrific holiday gathering. And you, ABI board members and former board chairs, are invited.

The 2017 event will be held December 15 from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the company’s Spencer headquarters. Many of you have attended this event in past years and know that it is a great time for fellowship and good cheer. If you have questions or need information, please contact/RSVP to Vicki at Shine Bros. at (712) 262-5579, extension 110, or vicki@shinebros.com. In the meantime, thank you to former ABI Chair Toby Shine (Shine Bros. Corp., Spencer) and former ABI Board Member Eva Shine (Shine Bros. Corp., Spencer) for the invitation!

It is Not OUR Bill Brown

Two weeks ago, in the November 27 edition of the Monday Memo, I told you that a couple of ABI leaders had been appointed to state boards and commissions by Governor Reynolds. I had one of the names wrong. William Brown of Des Moines was appointed to the Judicial Qualifications Commission, and I jumped to the conclusion that was OUR Bill Brown, as in former ABI Chair Bill Brown (Brown Winick, Des Moines). 

Bill graciously let me know it is a different Bill Brown, not him, who was appointed. I apologize for the error… but Bill WOULD be a good appointee.