Events coming up during the next two weeks

Tuesday is shaping up to be the big day in Iowa politics this week, with a special election to fill a state Senate seat and a public hearing on the first bill to clear a House committee during the 2011 session.

Details on those and other events are after the jump. Activists and politicians, send me your public schedule so I can add the information to these calendars.

Monday, January 17

From the Iowa Environmental Council newsletter:

Weatherization Training Day

Learn a useful skill and cut the carbon on MLK Day of Service! Iowa Interfaith Power & Light teams up with Green Iowa AmeriCorps and the Wesley Foundation on the MLK Day of Service on Monday, January 17 to learn how to weatherize homes in Cedar Falls. Meet at the Wesley Foundation (2422 College, Cedar Falls) at 9 AM to be trained before we go out in teams to weatherize selected local homes. All skill levels welcome. Done by 4pm. Bring a sack lunch. Read more and register online at http://iowaipl.org/calendar.html by Jan 15. For more information contact Sarah at coolcongregations@iowaipl.org

Tuesday, January 18

A special election will be held in Iowa Senate district 35 to choose Larry Noble’s replacement. The candidates are Republican Jack Whitver and Democrat John Calhoun. Polk County Democrats could use volunteers for GOTV phone calls.

A public hearing will be held at the state capitol from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm to discuss the House Republicans’ proposed spending cuts. Speakers’ slots have been filled, but any Iowan can send written comments on the bill to lioinfo AT legis.state.ia.us, with “testimony” in the e-mail subject line.

Deadline to RSVP for the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa’s Crossroads event on January 21: Immigration Issues in the 2011 Iowa Legislature (see below).

The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa is co-hosting an exhibit through January 23 at the State Historical Building, 600 E Locust St:

The exhibit, “No Victory Ever Stays Won: 90 Years of Protecting Liberty,” highlights ACLU milestones over the last nine decades and illustrates the organization’s contributions to defending freedoms of Americans. The exhibit is on display now through Jan. 23, 2011, at the State Historical Museum, 600 E. Locust Street in Des Moines. Museum hours are 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and noon-4:30 p.m. Sunday. Visit www.iowahistory.org or call 515-281-5111 for more information. Admission is free.

“Iowa has a long and storied history regarding civil liberties issues and we are very pleased to co-host this traveling exhibit with the ACLU of Iowa,” Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Director Cyndi Pederson said. “I encourage Iowans to visit the museum and learn more about the history behind these issues not only as they pertain to Iowa, but to the entire country as well.”

The exhibit includes information about Iowa’s landmark 1969 U.S. Supreme Court student rights case, Tinker v. The Des Moines Independent Schools, and outlines ACLU’s work on a wide range of issues, including racial segregation, the right to vote, free speech and privacy on the Internet, human rights, reproductive freedoms and more.

Wednesday, January 19

From One Iowa:

Please join us for One Iowa’s 2011 Legislative Reception on Jan. 19, 2010, featuring special guests Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.

The event will be held at the Historic Northwestern Hotel, 321 East Walnut Street in Des Moines, from 6:00-8:00 p.m, and is a chance to meet with our House and Senate leaders at the beginning of what promises to be a challenging legislative session.

Admission for the event:

Patron $500

Champion $250

Supporter $100

Friend $50

For more information, contact Amanda Huppert by email or call 515.288.4019 ext. 214

From the Iowa Environmental Council newsletter:

Sierra Club Program: Democracy Crisis

Please join us on Wednesday, January 19, 7 p.m., at Northwest Community Center, 51st Street and Franklin Avenue in Des Moines, for a presentation entitled, Democracy Crisis-a presentation about how corporations have procured much legal power, gaining more rights than human citizens, and are using those rights to the detriment of individuals, communities and our natural environment. The presentation is authored by Riki Ott, a PhD toxicologist and marine biologist who was living and working in Cordoba, AK at the time of the Valdez spill. Marybeth Gardam will be giving this presentation representing WILPF (Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom… www.wilpf.org) on the national Steering Committee for Move To Amend (www.MoveToAmend.org) and is a member of the Des Moines branch of WILPF, which has been active on environmental, peace and justice issues since the 1960s. Contact Jane at 223-5047 or jrclark@radiks.net for more information about the program.

Friday, January 21

The Interfaith Alliance of Iowa is holding a Crossroads luncheon about “Immigration Issues in the 2011 Iowa Legislature.” Presenters: Tom Chapman, Executive Director, Iowa Catholic Conference; Jay Byers, Senior Vice President, Public Policy, Greater Des Moines Partnership. The event runs from 11:45 am to 1 pm at Plymouth Congregational Church, Des Moines (42nd Street & Ingersoll Ave). Cost: $10. Please RSVP by calling 515-279-8715 or email info@interfaithallianceiowa.org by Tuesday, January 18.

The Iowa Immigration Education Coalition is holding a member training summit and webinar from 1:30 to 4:30 pm at DeWaay Capital Mgmt. Conference Center, 13001 University Avenue, Clive. To RSVP: Geofrey Fischer, Iowa Immigration Education Coalition, PO Box 506, Des Moines, Iowa 50302 (515) 471 – 8058

geof@iowaimmigrationeducation.org

From the Iowa Environmental Council newsletter:

How to Draw Children Back into Nature – ICEC Winter Solstice

January 21-23, Moravia

Please join us for Winter Solstice 2011 at Honey Creek Resort in Moravia (on Lake Rathbun). This year’s conference focuses on reconnecting children with nature. For more information and to register: https://docs.google.com/filevi…

Scholarship form may be found at:

https://docs.google.com/filevi…

If you have any problems downloading the registration brochure please contact Heather at adminicec@mchsi.com.

Saturday, January 22

The Center on Sustainable Communities will be at the Build-it-Right seminar in Fort Dodge on Jan. 22nd. More info at http://www.icosc.com

Friday, January 28

From the Iowa Environmental Council newsletter:

Join the Iowa Women in Natural Resources (IWINR) and Women, Food and Agriculture Network (WFAN) for a joint annual conference on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 28 and 29, at Wildwood Lodge, in Clive. IWINR’s theme for this conference is Women Blazing Trails. On Friday, Angi Bruce with the Wildlife Bureau and Sheila Cox from the NRCS will share their experiences “blazing trails” from the field into the upper management of their respective fields, their challenges and successes. Please join us for these speakers and others and a great day of networking with others in the natural resources fields. On Saturday, WFAN’s keynote speaker will be Temra Costa, author of Farmer Jane: Women Changing the Way We Eat. Other workshops and presentations will include mother-daughter farm/rural business stories, preserving pollinators, electing more rural/farm women to public office, and an update on the Iowa Food Systems Council and WFAN programs. Local foods lunch, exhibitors, demonstrations and more! Visit www.iwinr.org and www.wfan.org for registration and sponsorship information. Discount rate for dual conference sponsorship.

Iowa Bicycle Summit

January 28-29, Des Moines

Antonio Rosell from Minneapolis and Andy Clark from the League of American Bicyclists will speak at this event. If you want to make an impact on bicycling in Iowa, attend this conference, being held at the Des Moines Events Center. http://www.iowabicyclecoalitio…

Saturday, January 29

The Iowa Bicycle Summit continues in Des Moines. Saturday evening the Des Moines Register will announce the 2011 RAGBRAI route at a reception following the bicycle summit.

The Healthy Living Expo takes place from 10 am to 6 pm at the Iowa Events Center – Hy-Vee Hall, Hall C, 730 Third Street in Des Moines. Admission is free for the public.

From the Iowa Environmental Council newsletter:

Women, Food and Agriculture Network Annual Conference

Jan. 29, Des Moines area

On Saturday, WFAN’s keynote speaker will be Temra Costa, author of Farmer Jane: Women Changing the Way We Eat. Other workshops and presentations will include mother-daughter farm/rural business stories, preserving pollinators, electing more rural/farm women to public office, and an update on the Iowa Food Systems Council and WFAN programs. Local foods lunch, exhibitors, demonstrations and more! Visit www.wfan.org for registration and sponsorship information.

Local Food Systems Training – Hope for the Hungry

January 29, Des Moines

Urban Ambassadors and Transition Des Moines are hosting the 2nd annual “Hope for the Hungry: Feeding Greater Des Moines” conference on Saturday, January 29, 2011 at First Christian Church near Drake University campus. Once again, local food organizations, and regular folks making a difference, will come together to train other residents and plug them into their local food system as a tool for ending childhood hunger by 2015. Opportunities to get involved include having a booth in the entryway, sponsoring the event, or being a “Friend” that donates $15 to cover one scholarship for another resident.  There are two rounds of workshops to choose from on the following topics: community gardens, faith gardens, school gardens, urban farms, nutritious meal prep, urban chickens, farm to school, food rescue, food preservation, and local food policy. Register today online at http://www.MidwesTix.com

Look for print registration forms soon on http://www.UrbanFoodDSM.org.  For more information contact Adam Hammes at adamhammes@gmail.com or (515) 491-0706.  

The Center on Sustainable Communities (COSC) presents two full-day Affordable Green Building Training workshops in Corning on Saturday, Jan. 15th and Saturday, Jan 29. The information-rich sessions cover 6 topics that are essential for any building professional looking to gain a comprehensive understanding of green building best practices. Visit icosc.com for details and register today by contacting Leslie Berckes at Leslie@icosc.com or 515-707-2787.

Monday, January 31

Sally Bowzer, chief of staff of Representative Leonard Boswell’s Iowa office, is retiring after 27 years working in state government and 10 years on Boswell’s staff. Boswell is hosting a reception in Bowzer’s honor on January 31 from 5 pm to 7 pm at Baby Boomer’s Restaurant at 303 East 5th Street in Des Moines.  

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