Today is: January 7,
2010
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Welcoming
New ABI Members
ATW 2009 Training Survey
Positive Job
Market Expected for Des Moines-West Des Moines
IA
Southeastern Community College
ESGR Seminar in
Eagle Grove
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Legislative
Reception
To Convert or
Not...Tackling the Roth IRA Convervsion
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To foster a favorable business, economic,
governmental and social climate within the State
of Iowa so that our citizens have the opportunity
to enjoy the highest possible quality of
life. | |
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 Legislative
News
2009
Legislative Session Opens
Monday
ABI
Legislative Briefing and Reception
Wednesday
When
the 2010 session of the 83rd General
Assembly convenes Monday, January 11, the
legislature will seat two new legislators who
won special elections in the fall of 2009.
Democrats hold solid majorities in both
chambers - 32-18 in the Senate and 56-44 in the
House.
ABI's Government Relations team of John
Gilliland and Nicole Molt will be there to serve
ABI members and make sure your voice is heard.
Continue
reading>>>
Environment
Committee Continues
Activity
The
ABI Environment Committee met on Thursday,
January 7 to discuss issues affecting business
and industry both locally and federally from an
environmental perspective. Many
burdensome regulations are potentially facing
industry in 2010 including: water, cap and
trade, coal ash, green house gas, and air
quality.
The committee is chaired by
Wayne
Jochmann, ALCOA. Thank
you Wayne for your continued service and thank
you to all member companies who
participate.
Health
Care Coverage Commission Issues
Report
Wednesday,
the Health Care Coverage Commission met for a
final time before the Legislature convenes to
vote on a progress report to the General
Assembly regarding a health care strategic
plan.
The commission has held a series of
meetings this fall including small
workgroups. The
report approved at Wednesday's meeting included
11 recommendations for the legislature to
consider.
Among them were expansions of existing
programs to provide additional funding to
provide health care coverage. Continue
reading>>>
Workers' Compensation
Advisory Committee Meeting Friday
ABI Senior Vice President of Government
Relations is serving as
past-President of the Workers' Compensation
Advisory Council. This all-stakeholders group
meets throughout the year with the Iowa Workers'
Compensation Commissioner to find consensus on
ways to improve Iowa's workers' compensation
system and provides educational opportunities
around the topic. John has
also served as co-chair the Committee's
legislative subcommittee since joining in 2001.
Continue
reading>>>
Stay
Informed-Iowa Prosperity
Project
During
the 2010 legislative session, Iowa legislators
want to hear from real business people from all
over the state. ABI
members have a great opportunity to ensure the
business voice is heard through utilization of
the Iowa Prosperity Project. Members
have FREE access to the site: www.iowaprosperityproject.org
and can write letters to legislators and become
informed on the issues being debated at the Iowa
Capitol.
The Iowa Prosperity Project is a great
tool to educate and inform your employees. If you
are interested in getting your own
customized site, contact Michelle
Vollstedt at mvollstedt@iowaabi.org
or 515-235-0561. Let your
voices be heard-take
action! |
From
the Desk Of...Mike Ralston
The Year
Ahead
 One
of the best things about ABI is that it is a
positive, forward-looking organization. Business
people by nature are optimistic about the
future.
Successful business people are also
realistic about the future.
Good
business women and men know that a successful
organization takes hard work and a focus on
results.
ABI members in general and the ABI Board
of Directors in particular bring that same focus
on results to the association. Your
leadership means that our focus is never on
simply sustaining the organization, but on
growing it and on growing its impact on
Iowa.
In
fact, our number one goal for 2010 is for member
companies to have a successful year and for ABI
to aid in making that possible. That's
where a focus on the future and positive growth
for ABI and for Iowa comes in.
ABI
enters the new year in a very strong
position.
During 2009, ABI added programs and
staff, created new events, increased member
participation, and again finished the year in
the black without touching financial
reserves.
You've heard me say it before, but all
that is only important if it adds value to your
company. Continue
reading>>> Did you miss the Monday
Memo from ABI President Mike Ralston? For this
week's memo click
here. |
Top
10 Common Sense Rules for Using E-mail
1. Do not say anything in an
e-mail message that you would not say in formal
memo.
2. Always re-read your
e-mail message and consider the possiblility of
misinterpretation becasue your tone of voice,
inflection, facial expressions, and emotions are
missing from e-mail.
3. Do not browse,
download, or distribute anything illegal,
sexual, racial, political, or religious in
content. Continue
reading>>> |
The
Leadership Iowa class will resume next week for
the annual Government session. Debi
Bull (LI 2008-09), Marketing Coordinator for
BrownWinick Law Firm in Des Moines, is chair of
the session planning committee comprised of
alumni from the past two years. They
have worked for the past few months to plan an
extensive agenda for the
2009-10 class.
Highlights
include the 'Congressional Insight' simulation
about running for public office, the annual ABI
Legislative Reception, an overview of the state
budget, a trip to the Capitol to meet with
legislators, a tour of the Iowa Judicial
building including a meeting with Iowa Chief
Justice Marsha Ternus and Justice Brent Appel
(LI 1990-91), a tour and reception at the
Iowa Hall of Pride, a media panel, a debate on
the state budget, and a reflection about
American democracy from a newcomer's point of
view.
Thank
you to our sponsors!
Click
here to view the session
agenda. | |
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