There’s a lot going on over the next few days in addition to tulip time in Pella (May 1 to May 3). Please put up a comment in this thread if you know of anything else happening this weekend that I’ve left out.

Thursday, May 1:

One Iowa presents May Day Mayhem–Free Food, Cheap Drinks with other LGBT and progressive professionals. Special guest Evan Wolfson from Freedom to Marry. Star Bar, 2811 Ingersoll in Des Moines, from 5 pm to 7 pm. Light appetizers, cash bar, and a chance to mingle with other LGBTA Professionals. Please RSVP by April 30th (288-4019).

Ed Fallon will be at Green Drinks, Saints Rest Cafe, 919 Broad St. in Grinnell, beginning at 7 pm

Friday, May 2:

Ed Fallon will be at the Eastside Senior Center, 1231 E. 26th St. in Des Moines, beginning at 11:45 am

Comedian Jeff Kreisler will do a show for the Polk County Democrats, Val Air Ballroom, 301 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines. Dinner will be served at 5:30 P.M., program begins at 6:30 P.M. Cash bar available. Regular tickets – $25.00 per person (Dinner and show only) 5:30 P.M. Host Reception with Elected Officials and Jeff Kreisler – $75.00 per person (includes dinner and drink tickets). Tickets are available by calling 515-285-1800; for $27.50 at the Val Air box office or through any Ticketmaster outlet. Senator Tom Harkin will also be there.

Saturday, May 3:

Iowa Citizen Action Network 2008 annual convention, 10 am to 5 pm at the Hilton Garden Inn, 8600 North Park Drive in Johnston (suburb of Des Moines). Jim Hightower will be the keynote speaker. More details about the day’s workshops are after the jump, or you can see a flier for this event at

http://www.iowacan.org/ICANCON…

Iowa Corridor’s second annual Hike to Help Refugees in Iowa City (more details are after the jump)

Maifest parade in the Amana Colonies, starting at 10 am (Ed Fallon will be there)

I-RENEW is hosting a tour of the Clipper Turbine Works, the largest wind turbine manufacturer in the U.S., in Cedar Rapids at 1 pm. At 3 pm, Brian Crowe from Iowa’s Office of Energy Independence will speak about the agency’s activities at the Coffee Talk Café, located off Kirkwood Avenue down the road from Clipper. More details about these events are after the jump.

From an I-RENEW press release:

Clipper Turbine Works Factory Tour & Iowa Power Fund Discussion

The future of a greener Iowa is already here, starting with Iowa’s own Clipper Turbine Works, the largest wind turbine manufacturer in the U.S. On Saturday, May 3 starting at 1:00 p.m., I-Renew is offering a tour of one of our state’s leading green manufacturer. The tour will allow you to experience the assembly process where the Cedar Rapids business builds its full-scale Liberty 2.5MW wind turbine.

Immediately Follow the Tour Join us:

At 3:00, Brian Crowe from Iowa’s Office of Energy Independence will speak about the agency’s activities since its creation in May of 2007 at the Coffee Talk Café, located off Kirkwood Avenue down the road from Clipper. Brian Crowe is the Senior Planner at the Office of Energy Independence where he coordinates the distribution of the Iowa Power Fund, a $100 million dollar fund that was created to invest state dollars in renewable energy and energy efficiency throughout the State of Iowa.

The tour is open to all but because of high popularity and limited space we encourage you to register early in order to secure your spot.

To Pre-Register:

Download a registration form from I-Renew’s website at www.irenew.org

Or request one by emailing irenew@irenew or by calling (319) 643-3160.

Cost:

$10 for I-Renew Members

$20 for Non-members

Iowa Renewable Energy Association (I-Renew) is a membership based,

nonprofit organization dedicated to educating Iowans about renewable

and sustainable energy opportunities. The group’s website can be found

here: www.irenew.org.

From the Iowa Citizen Action Network:

WHO: Iowa Citizen Action Network

WHAT: 2008 ICAN Annual Convention

WHEN: Saturday May 3, 2008 10 am-5 pm

WHERE: Hilton Garden Inn,  8600 North Park Dr. ,  Johnston ,  IA

This is your opportunity to network with other  Iowa progressives and learn more about ways to improve our communities, state and nation.  Come to share in the success we’ve all had in the past year, and find out new ways to make yourself more effective in your work.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: JIM HIGHTOWER

National radio commentator, writer, public speaker, and author of the forthcoming book, Swim Against The Current: Even a Dead Fish Can Go With the Flow, Jim Hightower has spent three decades battling the “Powers That Be” on behalf of the “Powers That Ought to Be”- consumers, working families, environmentalists, small businesses, and just plain folks.

WORKSHOPS

In this pivotal year, ICAN is devoting its annual convention to building the skills of our members, affiliates and allies, and uniting and inspiring progressives to work together on our shared agenda. Attend one of our exciting workshops to sharpen your skills:

–          Health Care Reform – This informative and interactive workshop will ground participants in the problems facing our country and more importantly how we can come together to solve one of our nation’s greatest challenges.

–          On-line Organizing – This workshop by one of the country’s most respected on-line organizing strategists will train participants in the do’s and don’ts of on-line organizing.

–          Election Activities for Non-profits – It has never been more important for progressive organizations to make their voice heard in state and national elections. This session by The Alliance for Justice, will cover federal rules for a wide variety of activities conducted by 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations.

See the flyer for this event at http://www.iowacan.org/ICANCON…

 

From an e-mail the Iowa Policy Project sent me:

Enjoy the outdoors and get together with friends for a great cause at the Iowa Corridor’s second annual Hike to Help Refugees, Saturday May 3, 2008!

You will be entertained by music and activities on a scenic 8 mile route (2 mile alternate) ending with a family friendly festival of music, Sudanese food, an international fair, and games for children.

The hike will start and end at the Riverside Festival Stage at City Park in Iowa City.

Each participant is asked to raise at least $80, which is enough to provide shelter for a refugee family of five.  One hundred percent of money raised by hikers goes directly to providing the basic need of shelter for refugees.

UNHCR reported in 2007 that the number of refugees around the world–most of them women and children–has increased to its highest level in four years.  Imagine being forced from your home with no place to go; the Hike to Help Refugees website makes it easy for you to make a difference for a family of refugees.  Use our website to send automatic emails to a list of friends and allow them to electronically sponsor your hike.

For more information, to register online, or to make a donation, visit

our website at: www.hiketohelprefugees.org

Can”t hike?  Make a difference with your donation at:

www.hiketohelprefugees.org/donate

A refugee’s road can be long.  Join us on May 3, 2008 to help make it a little shorter.

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