Annual Convention Is Just One Month Away
May 6, 2021 | Mike Ralston
As you read this column, the 2021 Taking Care of Business Conference, ABI’s 118th annual convention, is a month away. Ladies and gentlemen, it will be a terrific event and believe me when I say you do not want to miss it.
The Iowa City/Coralville area is a fabulous region, eager to host ABI members from across the state. Officials there have been working with our organization for well over a year to ensure a truly world-class meeting is experienced by every attendee. Exciting venues (such as the brand new Xtreme Arena), fantastic nationally-known speakers, golf at one of the Midwest’s finest courses (the beautifully-remodeled Finkbine), and absolutely the very best business networking in Iowa are yours for the taking when you join us there June 8-10. If you haven’t yet done so (and literally hundreds of you already have), go now to www.iowaabi.org and register for this event!
You will not believe the growth and change in Coralville’s Iowa River Landing District since ABI was there just three years ago. Shopping, restaurants, bars, attractions and more can be found at Iowa River Landing.
Related to the conference, people ask all the time if ABI staff members are busy getting ready for it. The answer is yes. But ABI is involved in so much more than simply one event. Policy work at the statehouse, soon-to-come regional meetings, Leadership Iowa sessions and events focused on member investment support - all of this is happening now.
You know what I say about being busy. Being busy is good. But that in itself isn’t the point. Being busy producing value for ABI members - THAT is the point.
Whether it is in public policy advocacy, member meetings and events, or ABI Foundation programming, it is clear that ABI is experiencing another in a string of terrific years. The reasons for that are simple. It is due to the investment you and your employees make in the work of the association and it is due to exceptional leadership by the ABI Board of Directors. We never take those things for granted. On behalf of ABI Chair Steven Bradford and our other officers, THANK YOU. See you in Coralville/Iowa City!