Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement is holding its annual convention this Saturday, July 18, at the Hotel Fort Des Moines:
Iowa CCI’s statewide annual convention will feature workshops and plenary sessions on factory farming, campaign finance reform, immigration reform, and predatory lending. The convention will conclude with an exciting direct action targeting an undisclosed payday lender in a low-income community in Des Moines.
More details on that and other events coming up soon are after the jump.
As always, please post a comment or send me an e-mail (desmoinesdem AT yahoo.com) if you know of another event I’ve left out.
To Bleeding Heartland readers who plan to do RAGBRAI next week: consider posting a diary about your experience or any candidates you encounter during the ride. I saw this at Bob Krause’s campaign site:
Eric Rysdam of Fairfield, Iowa has agreed to ride across the state in RAGBRAI, The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa with a big Krause banner and shirt. Eric will be the core of an amorphous group participating and getting the word out about for us! Please wish Eric well with his training in anticipation of the July 19-25 event! Eric’s number is 319-293-6306 if you want to wish him well, or if you want to be on the ride with him.
Thursday, July 16:
Join Iowa Recycling Association noon to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, at the Des Moines Botanical Center, for an afternoon of networking, industry updates and a “Sustainability” panel discussion featuring Liz Christianson (Univ. of Iowa, Office of Sustainability), Adam Hammes (Urban Ambassadors), Bill Diesslin (ISU Council of Sustainability), and Sheila Samuelson (City of Dubuque). For more information and to rsvp: www.iowarecycles.org or 515-265-1596.
From Moore for City Council:
Skip Moore will officially announce his intention to seek the At-Large seat for the Des Moines City Council on Thursday, July 16th.
Mr. Moore will publicly announce his candidacy at his campaign kick off event scheduled for Thursday, July 16th from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at the AMVETS Post #2 located at 2818 5th Ave. in Des Moines (just east of Gino’s Restaurant). The campaign kick off announcement is open to the public.
Skip Moore was born in Iowa Falls, Iowa and has lived in Des Moines for over 45 years. He graduated from East High School and has been employed for 34 years with the City of Des Moines as the municipal arborist. Mr. Moore has been involved in the Des Moines neighborhood movement since 1987.
Please contact Mitch Henry or Skip Moore at 729-2926 for additional information.
This is the Des Moines City Council seat recently vacated by Iowa Democratic Party chair Michael Kiernan.
Friday, July 17:
This local food tour of Linn and Johnson counties sounds like fun:
JOIN US FOR A MOBILE WORKSHOP THAT WILL HIGHLIGHT ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF SUPPORTING LOCALLY GROWN FOOD.
Friday, July 17th, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 520 W CHERRY STREET; MEET AND LOAD AT NORTH LIBERTY COMMUNITY CENTERCedar Ridge Winery started planting their vineyards in 2002 and selling wine in 2005. Jeff Quint, owner and his staff manage 10-acres of vineyard and grow 10 different types of grapes. Cedar Ridge started as a winery but after several years, Jeff lobbied the state to become a distillery as well. Cedar Ridge Winery is the first legal distillery in Iowa since prohibition. We will learn what makes the grapes that Cedar Ridge Winery grows best suited for growing in Iowa, what it takes to maintain the vines and the upkeep associated with the vineyard.
Susan Jutz and her four children share in the work of their 80-acre farm in Solon. Partnering with several other farmers, she manages Local Harvest Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), providing produce, eggs, bread and flowers to over 250 families in Johnson and Linn Counties. In addition, she raises a flock of pastured sheep for meat sales. Community education is central to the work on the farm. Since the mid-1990’s, Farmer Susan has been converting a former cattle farm to a sustainable and organic vegetable farm. We will observe a CSA in operation as the crew prepares for a food distribution. Susan will also discuss how local governments can help small producers and the importance of building community in niche marketing.
Laura Krouse farms 72 acres near Mt. Vernon where she grows corn, oats, hay, and vegetables. The vegetables are marketed through Abbe Hills Farm CSA to about 200 area families. She is a long-time commissioner of the Linn Soil and Water Conservation District, and served many years on the board of the Iowa Valley RC&D. She serves as a “Conservationist” for the Iowa Learning Farm. Laura taught in the biology department at Cornell College for 20 years. Laura sees local food as an enormous economic development tool and a critical component of food security and accessibility. Laura will speak about the economic benefits to Johnson and Linn Counties of making even small purchases of local food and about some infrastructure needs that could make it happen.
Jennifer Zieser grows vegetables, herbs and flowers on a three-acre piece of land that had been used by her parents as a cow pasture. Her parents continue to grow corn and beans surrounding her garden. She sells produce at several local farmers markets and hopes to begin a CSA within the next two years. Jeni will give us a perspective of what a beginning farmer encounters as they learn to grow and market their food while they continue to work other jobs to make ends meet. THERE IS NO COST FOR THE LOCAL FOODS TOUR. BRING A SACK LUNCH OR ENJOY A LUNCH PREPARED BY CHEF JAYSON, DANIEL ARCHER’S RESTAURANT. THIS LUNCH WILL BE SET ON ABBE HILLS FARM CSA, COMPLETE AND PREPARED WITH PRODUCE FROM LAURA’S FARM FOR $10. TO SIGN UP, CONTACT GINA JOHNSON AT EAST CENTRAL IOWA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS (ECICOG) AT 319365-9941 EXT. 137 OR GINA.JOHNSON@ECICOG.ORG. PLEASE RESPOND ASAP!
Friday, July 17th, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 520 W CHERRY STREET; MEET AND LOAD AT NORTH LIBERTY COMMUNITY CENTER
Saturday, July 18:
One Iowa is kicking off its summer canvassing in Davenport and Waterloo. Contact One Iowa for more details and to RSVP.
From Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement:
Iowa CCI Convention July 18 to launch August 22 Hearing with Federal Reserve Board of Governors
Recently Concluded National Press Briefing July 14 Released Details of Group’s Demands
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (Iowa CCI), – a member organization of the National People’s Action network – continues to organize for decisive action to solve the financial crisis and economic meltdown with its annual statewide convention, “Organizing to Win”, at Hotel Fort Des Moines on Saturday, July 18.
The convention follows a national media briefing yesterday that outlined Iowa CCI’s agenda to hold the Federal Reserve accountable for causing the crisis, and to promote sensible solutions the Federal Reserve can take to solve it. The press briefing and upcoming convention builds critical momentum leading up to an unprecedented public hearing with the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in Des Moines on August 22.
The Federal Reserve:
• Is the most powerful regulator of the financial industry;
• failed to ensure the stability of the banking sector;
• failed to protect consumers from harmful lending practices; and
• lacks transparency and public accountability.As award-winning author William Greider put it, the Federal Reserve is “the black hole of democracy”.
Iowa CCI’s statewide annual convention will feature workshops and plenary sessions on factory farming, campaign finance reform, immigration reform, and predatory lending. The convention will conclude with an exciting direct action targeting an undisclosed payday lender in a low-income community in Des Moines.
One workshop, titled “Enough is Enough! Declaring War on Predatory Lending” will feature George Goehl, the Executive Director of National People’s Action and will provide details and insights into where we are today and how we got here, the face of predatory lending in Iowa , and how we can set the agenda in Iowa .
To register for the conference, to receive a copy of the powerpoint presentation used during the July 14 National Media Briefing, or to learn more details about the August 22 public hearing with the Federal Reserve, contact Iowa CCI at iowacci@iowacci.org or call (515) 282-0484.
WHAT: “Organizing to Win: Iowa CCI’s Annual Statewide Convention”
WHEN: Saturday, July 18, 9:30am-4:30pm
WHERE: Hotel Fort Des Moines , downtown Des Moines
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement is a group of everyday people who talk, act and get things done on issues that matter most. With thousands of members from all walks of life — urban and rural, black and white, immigrants and lifelong Iowans — CCI has been tackling tough issues and getting things done for more than 30 years.
For more information about Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, visit www.iowacci.org
Lambda Legal is sponsoring a Family Potluck & Parents’ Day Celebration from 4 pm to 7 pm. This gathering for LGBT parents and their children will take place at Evelyn Davis Park, South Shelter, 1400 Forest Ave, Des Moines. Please RSVP to mfender@lambdalegal.org or call (646) 752-5932.
Sunday, July 19:
The Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa begins. Feel free to post a diary about the event if you’re riding or involved in RAGBRAI in some other way.
Bruce Braley is holding another health care town-hall meeting from 3:00pm to 5:00pm at Barrett Forum, Allen College, 1990 Heath Street in Waterloo. Attendees are strongly encouraged to RSVP at: http://braley.house.gov/townhall.
One Iowa is kicking off its summer canvassing in Cedar Falls. Contact One Iowa for more details and to RSVP.
Tuesday, July 21:
One Iowa is doing a RAGBRAI canvass in Indianola. Contact One Iowa for more details and to RSVP.
Wednesday, July 22:
One Iowa is organizing a marriage equality house party in Washington. Contact One Iowa for more details and to RSVP.
Thursday, July 23:
David Adelman, candidate for Des Moines City Council, is holding a fundraiser from 5:00pm-7:30pm at Dos Rios Restuarant on Court Avenue:
www.adelmanDSMcouncil.com
Suggested Contributions $25
Please make checks payable to:
Citizens for Adelman
2841 Gilmore Ave
DSM, IA 50312Appetizers will be provided
Please RSVP to:
adelmanDSMcouncil@gmail.com or nkapke@gmail.com
One Iowa is doing a RAGBRAI canvass in Ottumwa. Contact One Iowa for more details and to RSVP.
The same day, One Iowa will do a major phone bank. They are asking for 100 volunteers around the state to make 25 calls each within a two-hour span. Sign up here to help from the comfort of your own home:
http://eqfed.org/oneiowa/event…
Friday, July 24:
Homophobic and anti-Semitic bigot Fred Phelps is bringing his freak show back to central Iowa.
Meanwhile, One Iowa is putting on a potluck dinner and phone banking event in Ames (click here to RSVP):
July 24, 2009 6:00-8:30 PM
Fourth Friday LGBT & Ally Potluck & Phonebank
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
1015 N Hyland, Ames, IA 50014
(Just one block west of campus!)
Saturday, July 25:
1000 Friends of Iowa is holding its annual meeting at the Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center in Iowa City. The theme this year is “Recognizing and Supporting Sustainability: Transportation, Food, Farm and Schools”. Click here for complete details and registration information.
From the Iowa Environmental Council newsletter:
EXPERITORS! Final sessions “Bluestem and Blazingstar”
July 25-26, Union Hills WMA, south of Clear Lake
Register now for one of the EXPERITORS! experiential small-group learning opportunities. The next sessions, two July sessions at a prairie, have a “Bluestem and Blazingstar” theme and are for all ages. Each event will provide an encounter with nature, with time to reflect and share. To read more about the programs in July, or download a registration form, go to http://www.inhf.org/experitors… You can also e-mail program leader Cindy Findley. This program is sponsored by the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and supported with funds received in memory of long-time INHF member Marcia Connell. For more information, go to http://www.inhf.org/experitors… or contact Cathy Engstrom at cengstrom@inhf.org 1-800-475-1846.
One Iowa is doing a RAGBRAI canvass in Burlington. Contact One Iowa for more details and to RSVP.
Also from One Iowa:
Join Lambda Legal for a gathering for LGBT parents and their kids! We’re coming together to celebrate Parents’ Day, our families, and the protections we now enjoy in Iowa! Some food and beverages will be provided. This will be a family-friendly event, so bring the kids!
Please RSVP to mfender@lambdalegal.org or call (646) 752-5932. Include the number of adults and children attending.
Co-sponsored with the Family Equality Council and COLAGE.
Iowa City
Saturday, July 25th: 4:00-7:00pm
Creekside Park
1858 7th Ave Ct., Iowa City, IA
Sunday, July 26:
One Iowa is kicking off its summer canvassing in Des Moines and Muscatine. Contact One Iowa for more details and to RSVP.