IIPAC Event Friday - Monday Memo 9/6/16
September 6, 2016
Make Your Donation and Attend IIPAC Event This Friday with Lt. Governor Reynolds
The Iowa Industry Political Action Committee is ABI's political arm. IIPAC has an important event coming up this Friday in Des Moines and you definitely want to be a part of it.
ABI Chair Lori Schaefer-Weaton (Agri-Industrial Plastics, Fairfield) and others are hosting an event to recognize Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds and female members of the Iowa General Assembly who have been endorsed by IIPAC. The event is being held at the offices of ABI member Saxton in downtown Des Moines. Thank you to ABI Board Member Kim Augspurger (Saxton, Des Moines) for making this possible.
Join us at Saxton from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. this Friday, September 9. Please attend this event to support those women who support pro-business policies at the legislature. You may contribute directly to Lt. Governor Reynolds or IIPAC. If you’re interested in attending, click here to view the invitation: http://www.iowaabi.org/upl/downloads/library/9-16-women-in-business-event.pdf. If you have not yet given to IIPAC this year, this is a great opportunity to do so!
First ABI Board Meeting of 2016-2017 Fiscal Year One Week from Tomorrow
The ABI Board of Directors, chaired by Lori Schaefer-Weaton (Agri-Industrial Plastics, Fairfield), will hold its first meeting of the new fiscal year on Wednesday, September 14. The board will meet at ABI in Des Moines.The meeting will be preceded by the monthly meeting of the ABI Executive Committee that morning. You will soon receive the usual meeting packet with a map, an agenda, detailed reports, and other items to help you prepare for the meeting.
A number of important issues will be reviewed and acted upon at the meeting. One highlight, led by ABI Vice Chair David Zrostlik (Stellar Industries, Garner), will be consideration of recommendations related to the association's 2017 policy positions. Your brief business updates is another highlight.
Please register now for the meeting by clicking on https://www.cvent.com/c/express/ede2d4ee-0d24-49e8-a890-905c83e902e8. All board members and Past Chairs are encouraged to join ABI for the board meeting. Lunch will also be served. On behalf of Lori and our other officers, I look forward to seeing you on September 14.
Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Conference October 4; Legends Dinner Previous Evening
Last week, I mentioned that ABI and the Center for Industrial Research and Service at Iowa State and Des Moines Area Community College are the lead sponsors for the Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Conference 2016. The conference will be held in Altoona on October 4. Register now for this important conference at http://www.cvent.com/events/legends-in-manufacturing-awards-dinner-and-or-advanced-manufacturing-conference/event-summary-be7eff8f843b4b81bf82e2d177a1ffa0.aspx. Great speakers and a high value program are on tap at the conference.
By the way, remember that the second annual Legends in Manufacturing Awards Dinner (hosted by ABI's Elevate Advanced Manufacturing program) will be held the preceding night, also at Prairie Meadows in Altoona. Don't miss this second-ever event.
To register or to find more information about this event, please click on the same link listed above. Many participants will attend both the dinner and the conference the next day. If you wish to make a hotel reservation, so that you can attend both events conveniently, go to: http://www.prairiemeadows.com/.
Crain Attending NAM Meeting
ABI Senior Vice President Public Policy Nicole Crain is in Washington, DC this week. Nicole is attending the NAM State Government Relations Group's Public Affairs Conference. The program will focus on advocacy, elections, and other matters important to ABI.
ABI CFO Roundtable Meets Thursday
This is the second year of meetings for the ABI CFO Roundtable. The panel is open to chief financial officers of any ABI member company and it has received rave reviews by participants. High value programs are a hallmark of the CFO meetings.
The panel will hold its next meeting the day after tomorrow, on Thursday the 8th, at longtime ABI member company EFCO in Des Moines. If you have questions or desire more information, please reply to this memo, or contact ABI Vice President Member Development and Programs Kathy Anderson, who leads ABI's work related to the roundtable.
Legislative Committee Meets
The ABI Legislative Committee, chaired by ABI Vice Chair David Zrostlik (Stellar Industries, Garner), met last Monday before the ABI Executive Open in West Des Moines. Following on the many meetings held in Des Moines and around Iowa before it, the meeting last week resulted in a final set of polices being developed for action by you and your fellow board members later this month. Look for the final policy draft in your September board packet.
Schaefer-Weaton Attends Meeting with Governor, Lieutenant Governor; Promotes Elevate
Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds held a meeting in the Governor's Office last week to report on progress related to Future Ready Iowa and Iowa's efforts to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics education. Invitees were a select group and ABI Chair Lori Schaefer-Weaton (Agri-Industrial Plastics, Fairfield) led ABI's representation at the meeting.
Even before Lori mentioned Elevate, Lieutenant Governor Reynolds singled out the program as a shining example of success. In comments after the meeting, both Governor Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Reynolds affirmed their support for Elevate and pledged to make sure the state supports the program moving forward. In the meantime, thank you to Lori for her comments and ensuring Iowa leaders include Elevate in their focus.
YPIowa Conference in Two Weeks
Young Professionals of Iowa (our state's leading organization for young professionals) will hold its annual conference this month. The 2016 YPIowa conference will be held on September 22 in Ankeny.
The conference is a great way to get your company's YPs engaged and energized. Find more information at http://ypiowa.com/events/yp-iowa-conference/.
Agri-Industrial Plastics Holds Fifth Annual Charity Golf Tournament
A week ago last Saturday, longtime ABI-member company Agri-Industrial Plastics held the company's fifth annual charity golf tournament at the Fairfield Golf and Country Club. Proceeds once again benefitted a local non-profit.
Agri doesn't do this for attention, the employees do it to build espirt de corps and to build the community. It is just one example of the kind of leadership provided by ABI member companies all over Iowa all year long. Congratulations to the people of Fairfield and ABI salutes everyone at Agri, including company president and ABI Chair Lori Schaefer-Weaton (Agri-Industrial Plastics, Fairfield) for your commitment to the community!
Gregoire Named College Ambassador of the Year
On the 16th of last month, Immediate Past ABI Chair Paul Gregorie (Emerson Fisher, Marshalltown) was honored by Marshalltown Community College. College Chancellor Dr. Chris Duree presented Paul with the Ambassador of the Year Award. In presenting this highest honor the college can bestow, Dr. Duree cited Paul's leadership and support for education, especially Paul's work in creating partnerships between business and the college, as just part of why he was so deserving of the award. Please click here to read more: https://www.iavalley.edu/2016/08/19/outstanding-service-and-longevity-awards/. ABI salutes Paul and sends congratulations on this honor!
Charles Sukup Again Honored by Ag and Bio Engineers Society
Former ABI Chair Charles Sukup (Sukup Manufacturing Co., Sheffield) received another award from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers recently. Charles was named the recipient of the 2016 Cyrus Hall McCormick Jerome Increase Case Gold Medal Award. Charles, an ASABE fellow, was cited for exceptional engineering achievement in bringing grain handling equipment to the world. Congratulations and best wishes, Charles!