2016 ABI Legislative Reception Next Week - Monday Memo 1/4/16

January 4, 2016

Huge Record Crowd for Next Week’s ABI Legislative Briefing and Reception, Governor and Lieutenant Governor to Attend; Policy Booklet Soon available

You will not want to miss one of the association’s premier 2016 events, the annual ABI Legislative Briefing and Reception.  Both the briefing and reception are being held at the Embassy Suites on the River Hotel in downtown Des Moines and will conveniently follow the ABI Board Meeting on January 13, which is Wednesday of next week. 

The briefing is your opportunity to hear the latest about legislative news and about ABI's pro-growth agenda.  ABI Senior Vice President Public Policy Nicole Crain, Director Public Policy Jessica Harder, and Public Policy Counsel Myron Linn have prepared a terrific program regarding the upcoming session. 

The annual legislative reception follows the briefing and a highlight will be the appearance of Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds.  And, you’ll recall that more Iowa legislators attend this event (the ABI Legislative Reception) than any similar event hosted by any organization.  This is because YOU attend.  Legislators tell ABI all the time that they want to meet you, they want to learn about your business, and they value this opportunity to visit with you about issues. 

To register for this event, please go NOW to www.iowaabi.org – or SIMPLY REPLY to this email and I’ll make sure you are registered.  Make no mistake; your attendance at next week’s reception, briefing, and board meeting is absolutely critical to advancing ABI’s 2016 legislative agenda.  It is clear that over 500 ABI members, legislators, and others will attend.  On behalf of our officers, thank you in advance for participating in this very important event. 

In the way of a final note related to ABI's public policy work, be on the lookout for your personal copy of the 2016 ABI Policy booklet.  The handbook has become a valuable reference tool for ABI members and legislators alike and the latest edition will be available very soon.  Thanks to Nicole, Jessica, Myron, ABI Communications Coordinator Emily Schettler, and ABI Executive Administrative Assistant Michelle Vollstedt for their work with the handbook.

Important ABI Executive Committee, Board Meetings a Week from Wednesday

The first ABI leadership meetings of 2016 will be held next week, on Wednesday, January 13.  The ABI Executive Committee will meet at noon and the ABI Board of Directors will meet at 1:30 that afternoon.   These meetings are very important, with discussion of association programs and finances on tap, as well as vital information related to the 2016 Session of the Iowa General Assembly. 

The board meeting will feature several highlights and our regular business.  Both meetings will be held at the Embassy Suites on the River Hotel in downtown Des Moines.  This is also the site of the legislative briefing and reception, so you will not need to move your car or travel between meetings and events. 

All board members and Past Chairs are encouraged to attend the board meeting and stay for the annual legislative briefing and reception that follows.  ABI Vice President Member Development and Programs Kathy Anderson, Member Programs Director Holly Mueggenberg, Communications Coordinator Emily Schettler, Membership Coordinator Dorothy Willson, and Bookkeeper Chrissy Blake have developed strong meeting arrangements.  Look for your usual meeting packet in your email in-basket later this week.  In the meantime, thank you in advance for attending this important afternoon of events.

Staff Update: Linn Joins ABI Team, Harder Family Expands, Intern With Us This Week

Lots is happening with the ABI staff of late.  It is a pleasure to tell you again that former ABI Chair Myron Linn (Pella Corporation, Pella) is joining the ABI public policy team.  While we always list former chairs and note the company they were with when they led ABI, Myron retired from Pella Corporation last year.  We are excited to have him join the staff for the 2016 Iowa Legislative Session as Public Policy Counsel.  Myron's first official day with ABI is today and we look forward to seeing him in the office.  Welcome, Myron!

You all know ABI Director Public Policy Jessica Harder.  Jessica joined ABI last month and has already become a great addition to the staff.  On December 26, Jessica and her husband, Steve Harder, welcomed their new baby, Faye Hyland Harder.  Faye weighed 8 pounds and was 20.5 inches long.  She came home last week to be with her parents and with her big brother, Vaughn.  Everyone is doing well.  Congratulations to the Harder Family!

Lastly as far as staff updates go,  ABI will be joined this week by one of our periodic interns.  Daniel Ralston, of Nevada, Iowa, is a junior in the College of Business at Iowa State University.  Majoring in Supply Chain Management, he will be with ABI this week doing data entry related to the ABI website and other tasks. By the way, yes... Daniel is related to my wife and me.  Welcome, Daniel!

Leadership Iowa Event a Part of Next Week's ABI Activities

In the Monday Memo of December 21, you read about an annual event coming up related to the ABI Foundation's Leadership Iowa program.  Foundation Vice President Programs Kay Neumann-Thomas, Development Director Mary Mendenhall-Core, and Marketing, Programs Coordinator Jessi Steward, and Foundation Assistant Jane Galloway are leading the way for great foundation programs.  Please register now for the next one. 

On January 13, the day of the ABI board meeting and legislative briefing and reception, the Foundation will host the annual Leadership Iowa Networking and Reunion Dinners.  These dinners, more popularly known as the LI Alumni Dine-Arounds, will take place at several Des Moines restaurants.  The event will provide a unique dinner networking opportunity for LI alumni following the annual ABI Legislative Reception.  The event is free to LI alumni - you simply pay for your own meal.  Find out more at https://www.leadershipiowa.com/en/2016_alumni_dinearounds/.

Leadership Iowa Class to Hold January Session

Speaking of Leadership Iowa, members of the ABI Foundation’s 2015-2016 Leadership Iowa Class will convene next week for their January session.  The class will meet in Des Moines for a program that will focus on state government. 

Members of the class have been invited to join you and other ABI members for the annual legislative reception on Wednesday evening.  Should you come across LI class members at the reception, please greet them and make them feel welcome.

US Economy Grows Two Percent in Third Quarter

According to last week's Monday Economic Report published by the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Economy grew two percent in the third quarter.  That may not sound like much, but it is a marked improvement over past reports.  If you wish to read the report, please contact me and I will forward it to you at once.

Paul Gregoire Featured in Business Record

The current edition of the Des Moines Business Record carries an interesting feature about trends to watch for in the coming year.  ABI Chair Paul Gregoire (Emerson/Fisher, Marshalltown) is a prominent part of the story, as Paul discusses manufacturing and highlights trends in that field.

To see the story for yourself, please go to http://businessrecord.com/.  Congratulations on the great coverage, Paul!

Tyler Family Highlighted by ESPN

The ESPN website last week carried a truly terrific article about the Tyler Family.  Click here to read this wonderful story about a great family, a great business, and a great ABI member:http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/129150/iowa-fans-celebrate-football-family-business-on-rose-bowl-journey.

It was neat to read this fabulous piece about the Tylers.  And later in the week, Jay Tyler (Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Waukee) was interviewed on WHO-TV about the 2016 Rose Bowl Game.  Congratulations to all involved, including former ABI Chairs Jim Tyler (Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Atlantic) and Kirk Tyler (Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Waukee)!

Charlie Richardson Honored

As you know from reading the last Monday Memo, after more than 40 years at NSK-AKS, ABI Executive Committee member Charles Richardson (NSK-AKS, Clarinda) has retired.  Charlie was honored at a reception held last week. 

Charlie was also recognized by the media.  Please click here to read a neat feature about Charlie:http://www.kmaland.com/news/richardson-retires-from-aks/article_053b4172-af34-11e5-82bb-37d6fb3b1318.html .   Again, Charlie, congratulations and very best wishes from ABI!

Merle Pederson Celebrates Wedding Anniversary and Birthday in January

Longtime ABI Board Member Merle Pederson (Principal Financial Group, Des Moines) and his wife, Janice, are celebrating their wedding anniversary Wednesday.  Congratulations, Merle and Jan!   Merle also celebrates his birthday later this month.  Happy birthday, Merle!

As Always, ABI has Aggressive Agenda for New Year; Check Events Calendar Often

Thanks to the leadership of ABI Chair Paul Gregoire (Emerson/Fisher, Marshalltown) and all of you on the ABI Board of Directors, lots of action and big goals are in store for ABI in 2016.  ABI has developed a strong record of success.  At a time when other organizations are seeking to simply maintain their current position, you have pushed for new achievements.  ABI has big plans for 2016; plans which include continued growth in members and revenue, legislative success, and increases in Foundation activity, among many other things.

For now, your participation in next week’s events is an important part of starting the year successfully.  We need your leadership to continue the aggressive and impactful record of the past years.  THANK YOU again for all you do for ABI and for Iowa business.