Register Now for 2017 ABI Legislative Reception - Monday Memo 11/28/16
November 28, 2016
State Leaders Will Attend 2017 ABI Legislative Reception; Register Now
As always, key state leaders such as Governor Terry Branstad, Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds, and all 150 members of the Iowa General Assembly have been invited to the 2017 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/2017-abi-legislative-briefing-reception/event-summary-b39dec26c4164c4fa717b6dd6ed9b475.aspx. The 2017 ABI Briefing and Reception will be held Wednesday, January 11 at the Embassy Suites on the River in Downtown Des Moines. Plenty of convenient parking is available nearby.
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 11.
December Executive Committee Teleconference Next Week; January 11 is Date for Next ABI Board Meeting
The final meeting of the ABI Executive Committee for 2016 is scheduled to be held a week from Wednesday on December 7. 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 Lori Schaefer-Weaton (Agri-Industrial Plastics Company, Fairfield) 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 11, 2017.
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 11.
Connecting StatewideLeaders Forum with Schaefer-Weaton and Andringa Next Week
As you have read in previous editions of this memorandum, the next in a series of ABI forums will be held a week from Thursday in Pella. The ABI Connecting Statewide Forums have already served as great networking events for ABI members and others.
There are already many attendees registered for next Thursday's event and we encourage all area members to attend. That is because of the fantastic program set for the event. Keynote speakers are Lori Schaefer-Weaton (Agri-Industrial Plastics Company, Fairfield) and Mary Andringa (Vermeer Corporation, Pella).
For more information or to register for the forum, which will be held at Vermeer Corporation, please go to http://www.cvent.com/events/connecting-statewide-leaders/event-summary-7817a4487a5644d1880274b2a27d280f.aspx and click on the links for the events. See you in Pella on Thursday, December 8.
Leadership Iowa Class to Converge on Pella
Pella is the site for the third session of the 2016-2017 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. If you would like to see the report for yourself, please reply to this memo and I will get it to you at once.
Hagie, Vermeer Added to Hall of Fame
Two great Iowa leaders were honored by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers last week by being added to the AEM National Hall of Fame. Ray Hagie (Hagie Manufacturing Company, Clarion) and Bob Vermeer (Vermeer Corporation, Pella) are great additions to the Hall.
Click on this link to read more: http://www.mromagazine.com/features/em-hall-of-fame-announces-2016-inductees/. Congratulations to the Hagie and Vermeer Families on this terrific and well-deserved honor! And thank you to ABI member Russ Samson (Dickinson Law Firm, Des Moines) for making sure I knew about it.
Kim Pang Named Citizen of the Year
If you haven't met newly-elected ABI Board Member Kim Pang (Diamond Jo-Worth, Northwood), you are missing out. Kim is a great guy and a great business leader. Kim has just returned from an extended trip overseas and while he was gone, I learned that last month, he was named the Citizen of the Year by the Mason City Chamber of Commerce.
Click on this link to learn more about Kim: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPganXoetw0. Congratulations, Kim, on this well-deserved award! And thank you to ABI member Wes Ehrecke (Iowa Gaming Association, West Des Moines) for making sure we knew about this one!
Steve Dust Honored by GCVAC
As you all know, ABI Board Member Steve Dust (Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber, Waterloo) was the very deserving winner of this year's ABI Advocacy in Action Award. Steve is a longtime leader in public policy across Iowa and is a strong leader in IIPAC, ABI's political action committee.
At a ceremony held in Waterloo recently, Steve was recently recognized by the GCVALC team for his being selected for the Advocacy in Action Award. Congratulations, Steve Dust!
Great Editorial in Corridor Business Journal
The November 21 edition of the Corridor Business Journal carried a strong editorial about the needlessly adversarial approach to business that has been a part of the last eight years. While the editorial focuses on small business, it applies to all businesses, large or small. In discussing the future, the editorial notes that United States and its economic success is founded on capitalism. If you wish to read the editorial, reply to this message and I will get it to you at once.