Busy Times at ABI - Monday Memo 1/30/12
Monthly ABI Executive Committee Meeting Week After Next
ABI Chair Frederick V. Buie (Keystone Electrical Manufacturing Company, Des Moines) and members of the ABI Executive Committee will convene for their monthly teleconference at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 15. Committee members, who will work through a full agenda on the 15th, should look for the usual packet of meeting materials to arrive in their email in-basket sometime next week.
Register Now for Annual ABI Day on the Hill on March 14
Each year, ABI members from across Iowa (and even from outside the state) converge on the Statehouse to discuss pro-growth policies with their legislators. The event has grown in popularity every year.
The 2012 ABI Day on the Hill will be held on Wednesday, March 14. That is the same day as the March meeting of the ABI Board of Directors, so you can conveniently attend both events.
The Day on the Hill begins at ABI at 8:45. Following an update with the very latest news from the Iowa General Assembly, DOTH participants will be taken to the Capitol by private coach. There, you'll visit with legislators and hear from leading state officials. Then, it's a return to ABI for the annual Iowa Industry Political Action Committee Luncheon. The board meeting will occur that afternoon.
Finalize your plans now to participate in ABI Day on the Hill. You can register now at /index.cfm?nodeID=11274&audienceID=1&action=detail&eventid=34422.
Foundation Staff Search Update
It is a testament to the success of the ABI Foundation (and ABI itself) that our search for a new Foundation Development Director has attracted such a large pool of very qualified candidates. When the position was last filled six years ago, eight applications were received. This search has attracted dozens of applications, many from candidates with extensive fundraising experience.
An initial winnowing of the list has occurred, and the top nine candidates have been called in for preliminary interviews with ABI Senior Vice President Revenue and Programs Leisa Fox, ABI Foundation Vice President Programs Kay Neumann-Thomas, and me. Those interviews began last week and will be concluded this week. After that, a list of finalists will be developed, more interviews conducted, and a hiring decision made.
ABI Foundation Board Chair (and former ABI Board Member) Tom McMahon (Barker Company-Hill Phoenix, Keosauqua) will participate in final interviews as his schedule allows. It is hoped that the search will be completed sometime in February, with the new staff person joining ABI late that month are early in March.
BH Board, YPIowa Boards Meet This Week
Speaking of the ABI Foundation, two entities affiliated with the Foundation will hold meetings this week. The Business Horizons Board of Directors will meet at ABI on Tuesday and the Young Professionals of Iowa Board will meet Friday. The ABI Foundation provides administrative support to YPIowa.
As the BH Board meets, now is the time to nominate students for Business Horizons 2012. Nominate the children of your employees to this award-winning program, which this year moves to Central College in Pella July 15-19. Go to http://www.businesshorizonsiowa.org/ for more information and to download a brochure.
Weekly ABI Webinars Grow in Popularity
ABI's new webinar series continues to grow in popularity. One reason could be the price; members receive high value programs at no cost. Another could be the convenience; you and/or your employees can access the webinars from your office or conference room. You can also access archived programs from past weeks.
The webinars are held each Wednesday morning from 9:00 to 10:00. Please go to /en/events_calendar/ to see the webinar schedule and to register.
Clinton-Area Members to Host ABI
Clinton is an important Iowa city to ABI. Many ABI members are in the area and two longtime board members are hosting ABI in Clinton tomorrow. ABI Board members Rich Phelan (Lyondell Basell, Clinton) and Tom Determann (Clinton Regional Development, Clinton) and other area members will participate in meetings at Lyondell Basell tomorrow morning. Thank you to these longtime board members for their support and leadership in ABI.
Bipartisan Work Marks First House Legislation of the Year
As you read in last Thursday's ABI Legislative News, the Iowa House of Representatives passed its first bill of the 2012 General Assembly on Wednesday. The bill, House File 2042, requires that all administrative rules created by state agencies must be accompanied by a Jobs Impact Statement.
The jobs statement must set out in detail the impacts of the proposed rule and determine whether the rule will positively or negatively impact job creation in Iowa. The bill passed unanimously, marking a perfect piece of legislation: it fits within ABI's goal for legislators to focus on jobs (the ABI It's About Jobs program) and its passage was bipartisan.
ABI congratulates House members of both parties for this important bill, which codifies Iowa Governor Terry Branstad's Executive Order 71. The bill now moves across the rotunda, where ABI urges its passage by the Iowa Senate.
Charles Sukup Again Stars on IPTV's Iowa Journal
Iowa Public Television aired a special edition of its Iowa Journal program last Wednesday to focus on the Iowa visit of President Barak Obama. Featured on the program was one of the show's most frequent guests, former ABI Chair Charles Sukup (Sukup Manufacturing Co., Sheffield).
Charles and Iowa State University economist David Swenson provided an Iowa framework for the President's remarks. The President focused on manufacturing during his Iowa visit and Charles shared comments related to manufacturing and the Iowa economy. It is great viewing and you can see it for yourself at http://www.iptv.org/iowapress/story.cfm/full_program/9077/pri_20120124_president_iowa_barack_obama/video. Thank you to Charles for again representing ABI on the show!
Board Members Gregoire, Schreurs Celebrate Birthdays
ABI Board Members Paul Gregoire (Emerson-Fisher, Marshalltown) and John Schreurs (Strategic America, West Des Moines) are celebrating birthdays. Paul celebrated his on January 24 and John will celebrate his on Saturday. Happy birthday, Paul and John!
Jan 30, 2012 7:09 AM
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