Busy Week at ABI - Monday Memo 1/8/18
January 8, 2018
Two Days to Annual Legislative Briefing/Reception; Register Now
With only two days to go, advance registrations for the 2018 ABI Legislative Briefing and Reception are running at a record-setting pace. As I write today’s memo, it is clear that with ABI members, legislators and other officials, well over 500 attendees will be a part of the event.
This annual event is one of the association’s most popular and you won’t want to miss the 2018 edition. Please join in the members-only briefing following the ABI Board Meeting and the Reception immediately follows. The board meeting will take place at the ABI office in Des Moines’ East Village. The briefing and reception are being held literally steps away at the Iowa Taproom.
Governor Kim Reynolds and Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg will be there, as will members of the General Assembly and other state officials and department heads. YOU are the reason that this event draws more legislators and state officials than any other similar meeting. Your attendance and time spent with legislators is a crucial part of ABI’s legislative advocacy. Thank you in advance for your participation.
Board to Meet, Will Hear Durham; Executive Committee to Hear NAFTA Update
The ABI Board of Directors will hold its first meeting of the calendar year on Wednesday. A special highlight will be remarks by an ABI favorite, Iowa Economic Development Authority Debi Durham.
ABI Chair David Zrostlik (Stellar Industries, Garner) and members of the association's Executive Committee will also convene for the committee’s first meeting of 2018 on Wednesday. A highlight of the meeting with be a special presentation on the latest happenings in negotiations related to the North American Free Trade Agreement. The presentation will be shared by a trade representative from a great ABI partner, the Office of the Canadian Counsel General in Minneapolis.
First ABI Legislative Teleconference of 2018 on the 19th
With the convening of the 2018 legislative session, ABI's public policy team will again hold regular teleconferences related to the work of the Iowa General Assembly. The first call of the 2018 session will be held a week from this coming Friday, on January 2019 at 8:00 a.m. These calls typically last about 30 minutes and you and your employees are invited to participate. Register now at http://www.iowaabi.org/events/detail/92-abi-members-only-legislative-conference-calls/.
January Leadership Iowa Session This Week
The ABI Foundation’s 2017-2018 Leadership Iowa Class will hold its January session this Wednesday through Friday in Des Moines. The session is jam-packed with terrific speakers, meetings with legislators, a tour of the Iowa Capitol, media presentations, and other activities.
The January session, as you can tell, focuses on state government and politics and is typically one of the program’s most popular. You will have an opportunity to meet members of the LI class when they join the ABI Board for the Legislative Reception Wednesday evening.
Not Too Late to Register for This Week's Leadership Iowa Event
Speaking of Leadership Iowa, the program this week hosts one of its most popular annual events. If you plan to participate, please register now (please see below).
On Wednesday, the day of the ABI Board meeting and legislative briefing and reception, the Foundation will host the annual Leadership Iowa Networking and Reunion Dinners (perhaps better known as the ABI Foundation Dine-Arounds). The event always provides a unique dinner networking opportunity for LI alumni following the annual ABI Legislative Reception.
The event is free to LI alumni (your only cost is your own meal). Find out more and register at http://www.iowaabi.org/events/detail/91-leadership-iowa-alumni-dinners-35th-celebration/.
Remember: You Can Receive ABI Updates Through Twitter, Facebook
ABI was one of the first associations to use new social media technologies to keep in touch and inform members of new developments. With today’s convening of the legislative session, it seems like a good time to remind you that you can receive updates via Twitter as legislative developments are happening.
Many ABI members -- and members of the media -- tell me frequently that they appreciate these real time updates. ABI's public policy staff regularly tweets LIVE from the committee rooms at the Statehouse.
ABI also has a Facebook site, shares information via the web, and of course continues to utilize all the traditional media to ensure that you receive the latest information in the format that works best for you. If you have other ideas for other ways we can communicate with you effectively, please let me know.
David Lind Study Released; Nearly One-in-Five Iowa Patients See Errors
Longtime ABI member David P. Lind (David P. Lind Benchmark, Clive) is a well-known expert on benefits and health data. ABI members and Iowans in general have great respect for David’s terrific research and always look forward to the insights shared in his findings.
David’s latest study, conducted through the Heartland Health Research Institute, reports that though a vast majority of Iowans have positive experiences with the healthcare system in our state, nearly one-in-five Iowa adults (18.8 percent) experienced an error themselves or with someone close to them in the last five years. The study can be an important part of improving care in Iowa. Click here to see the full report, "Iowa Patient Safety Study," please click on this link to the HHRI website to learn more https://hhri.net/iowans-views-on-medical-errors-iowa-patient-safety-study/.
The study was also covered in a Des Moines Register story in this morning’s newspaper. Click here to read that article for yourself: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/health/2018/01/08/many-iowans-have-suffered-medical-errors-and-most-werent-told-poll-finds/1008075001/.
NAM Report Documents Growth, Consumer Spending
In last week's Memo, I noted that, according to information shared in the weekly Monday Economic Report from the National Association of Manufacturers, manufacturers are increasingly confident about the state of their business. The latest Report shows that full data for the quarter is now available and the good news is that for the third quarter, the American economy grew at a rate of 3.2 percent. In addition, consumer confidence rose and personal spending was up 4.5 percent compared to a year ago. Reply to this message and I will send to you the NAM report.
Atlantic Bottling Company Begins 109th year by Focusing on Tyler Tenets, Safety and Wellness; Legislator Visits Company Facility
As you know, ABI always appreciates your company newsletters. They keep us informed about what is happening inside Iowa's most successful businesses. One of those great newsletters is The Fizz, published by longtime ABI member Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company.
Among many others, the January edition of The Fizz has two features that catch the eye. The first is the annual Page 1 column by company Chairman and former ABI Chair Kirk Tyler (Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Des Moines). Kirk's column notes the explosive growth the company experienced in 2017 and then focuses on something important to all ABI members: safety and wellness. Kirk also calls attention to the company’s Tyler Tenants. These are guiding principles of Atlantic Bottling: Dedication to the work, a positive attitude, and execution of team objectives.
Later in the newsletter, a story outlines the company’s hosting of a state legislator at its Cedar Rapids facility. Getting policy-makers in to your plant is an important function for any ABI member! Thank you, Kirk, and thank you company Executive Chairman and former ABI Chair Jim Tyler (Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Atlantic)!
Cindy Dietz to Lead Iowa STEM
It was announced last week that Dr. Jeff Weld, the longtime director of the Iowa STEM Council, is taking a sabbatical to lead a national organization. The Governor turned to a proven executive with strong leadership skills and documented action on the STEM front for an interim director to replace Dr. Weld.
That person is none other than ABI Board Member Cindy Dietz (Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids). Cindy is a terrific person to lead Iowa STEM efforts. ABI salutes and congratulates Cindy Dietz!
Toby Shine Celebrates
Former ABI Chair Toby Shine (Shine Bros. Corp., Spencer) celebrates his birthday this month. Happy birthday, Toby!
Underwood Cited for Wine-Making Skills
Former ABI Board Member David Underwood (CFO-On-Demand, Mason City) is well-known as a key North Iowa business leader, a retired manufacturing executive, and as a longtime member of the Iowa Revenue Estimating Conference. Add wine maker to the list. Radio Iowa carried a great feature story about David and his wine last week. See it here: https://www.radioiowa.com/2018/01/01/north-iowa-winemaker-says-hobby-can-be-quite-easy-and-inexpensive/. Congratulations on the fun coverage, Dave!
Madonna Ryan Passes
Sunday’s Des Moines Register carried the news of the passing (of natural causes) of Madonna Ryan. Madonna was the longtime spouse of the late former ABI Chair Joe Ryan (Delevan, West Des Moines). Joe and Madonna were a great team and ABI members still talk about them. We wish peace and good memories for the family.
January Always an Important Month for ABI
It seems like every year about this time, I note that while January is the first month in the calendar year, it marks the seventh month in the annual ABI fiscal year (which concludes June 30). For many reasons, January is a critical month for association programs.
The first ABI meetings of the year are held this month and these events help set the tone for the year. Your participation in these meetings is vital to our success. Also, Foundation programs conduct critical work each January and that is important. Of course, the Iowa General Assembly convenes in January and there is no more important work ABI does than aggressively advance a pro-business agenda before the legislature. Finally, January is ABI’s most important month for revenue, with more of our annual revenue coming in this month than any other.
Thank you for your leadership and your investment, which we never take for granted and which makes our success possible. On behalf of Association Chair David Zrostlik (Stellar Industries, Garner) and our officers, thank you for that support and I look forward to seeing you Wednesday.