There’s a lot going on in the next couple of weeks for those who haven’t split Iowa for spring break. Event details are after the jump.

Please post a comment or send me an e-mail (desmoinesdem AT yahoo.com) if you know of an event I’ve left out.

FYI, the Iowa Environmental Council has a job opportunity:

The Iowa Environmental Council is in the process of establishing an air quality program area. The Council is seeking an individual to conduct research, engage in coalition building and public education and advise the Council on policy opportunities available to protect Iowa’s air quality. For job requirements, description, salary information and how to apply, go to: www.iaenvironment.org, and click on “job opening” on the gold sidebar.

Tuesday, March 17:

Boswell for Congress has a entry in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Des Moines. They are looking for volunteers and “will be lining up at 10:30 AM along Martin Luther King Parkway south of the downtown western gateway and should be done at 12:30 AM.”  For more information, call Grant at 515-883-2254.

Tuesday is also the deadline to register for Friday’s Crossroads luncheon (see below). Call 515-279-8715 to register.

Thursday, March 19:

One Iowa has several events going on around the state:

March 19, 2009 6:00-7:30 PM

Marshalltown Marriage Equality Townhall

featuring Freeheld and Our Story

Marshalltown Public Library

105 West Boone St.

March 19, 2009 7:00-8:30 PM

Muscatine Marriage Equality Townhall

featuring Freeheld and Our Story

Musser Public Library

304 Iowa Ave.

March 19, 2009 7:00 PM

PFLAG Dubuque meeting

St John’s Lutheran Church

1276 White St.

Friday, March 20:

The Crossroads luncheon features Connie Ryan Terrell, Executive Director, Interfaith Alliance of Iowa & Action Fund. She will speak about “Energizing Iowa’s progressive voice of faith.” Lunch runs from 11:45 am to 1:00 pm at Plymouth Congregational Church in Des Moines (42nd Street & Ingersoll Avenue). The cost is $9.

From the Iowa Environmental Council’s newsletter:

Garden Show to Feature Environmentally Friendly Practices

March 20 and 21, South Sioux City

Location: Marina Center in South Sioux City – http://www.marina-inn.com/. The show includes 35 educational presentations by regional and national experts.  Many of the talks will feature environmentally friendly topics such as Organic Gardening, Rain Gardens, Sustainable Lawn Care, Energy Wise Landscaping, Native Plants, Prairie Restoration, and much more. Master Gardener can receive continuing education credits for attending the educational sessions. There are events for children and activities in a secure “Kids’ Corner” area that includes face painting, scavenger hunts, coloring, and the very popular insect zoo. Over $4,000 in door prizes will be given away including a Cedar Potter’s Bench valued at $1,000. More information: Woodbury County Extension website: http://www.extension.iastate.e…

Saturday, March 21:

From the Iowa Environmental Council bulletin:

Iowa Nature and Wildlife in Art Exhibition and Sale

March 21-22, Cedar Rapids

Kirkwood Center for Continuing Education, 7725 Kirkwood Blvd. SW. Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Iowa Wetlands Classic Reception and Auction Saturday 5:30-9 p.m. The 25th annual art show, reception and auction, spotlights Iowa nature artists and raises funds for wetland conservation projects in east-central Iowa. Tim Yager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will be Saturday’s guest speaker. The art show began in 1984 in Des Moines and moved to Cedar Rapids in 1987, where it thrived under the leadership of Steve Atherton, a natural resources professor at Kirkwood Community College. Steve died unexpectedly in May 2008. The 2009 show will honor his life and his contributions to Iowa conservation. For more information, visit the KCC website at:  www.kirkwood.edu/site/index.php?p=20373 or call 319-398-5899 for Ken (ext. 5130) or Jerry (ext. 4319).

Sunday, March 22:

From the Iowa Renewable Energy Association:

Join I-Renew to Celebrate Renewable Energy and the start of Spring

Sunday March 22, 2009 from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Mill Restaurant, 120 E. Burlington St. Iowa City  

Admission: $5 suggested minimum donation. Public welcomed.

“Renewable energy is creating jobs in Iowa, benefiting our economy, our environment and our energy security,” said I-Renew Board President Eric Foresman. “Join us to celebrate the advancements of renewable energy in Iowa with friends, music and fun.”

Festivities include:  

Live Music! with The Gilded Bats and Ben Schmidt.

Silent Auction with great renewable energy gifts!

Discussion and fun with like-minded folks interested in renewable energy!

Discount memberships to I-Renew available to new members at the event.

The Silent Auction will feature donations from many local businesses including gift certificates from Lincoln Café in Mt. Vernon, Corridor Coffee in North Liberty and Fairgrounds in Iowa City, gifts from Silver Spider, Metahome, Glassando, Gypsy Magic and other retail stores, eco-friendly house paint donated by Green Building Supply in Fairfield, tickets to CSPS events, gift baskets with delicious food and spirits, fitness and yoga passes, handmade jewelry and much, much more.

The funds raised at the event will go toward I-Renew’s work educating Iowans about sustainable energy production and use. If you have questions, please contact the I-Renew office at: (319) 643-3160, email: irenew@irenew. org  or visit our website: www.irenew.org

Monday, March 23:

Governor Chet Culver will host a White House regional summit on health care reform, featuring Nancy-Ann DeParle, in Des Moines. Click here for more details.

Wednesday, March 25:

From One Iowa:

March 25, 2009 7:00-8:30 PM

Waverly Marriage Equality Townhall

hosted by Wartburg Alliance

featuring Freeheld and Our Story

Whitehouse Business Center, Buckmaster Room – Wartburg College

Thursday, March 26:

From One Iowa:

March 26, 2009 7:00-8:30 PM

Newton Marriage Equality Townhall

featuring Freeheld and Our Story

Congregational United Church of Christ

208 E. Second St. N

Friday, March 27:

From the Iowa Environmental Council bulletin:

Green Collar Jobs Summit

The Second Annual Chicagoland Green Collar Jobs Summit will feature speakers and panelists from around the country focusing on green economic development, workforce development, and public policy. This event, presented by the Chicagoland Green Collar Jobs Initiative, will take place on Friday, March 27 at Kennedy-King College in Chicago. Expected are 300 attendees including green business leaders, educators, workforce development professionals, labor representatives, community organizations, government officials and environmental advocates. Registration is $39 for Students (limited registration with a valid Student ID); $79 for Non-profits, educational institutions, or government; and $99 for for-profit businesses and organizations. Register online now!  Space is limited and registration will close on March 21st.

Keep Iowa Beautiful Symposium

For more information, visit www.keepiowabeautiful.com/annualSymposium.html. Keep Iowa Beautiful has scheduled their 5th annual First Impressions Symposium – “Spring Cleaning Your Community” for Friday, March 27, at Reiman Gardens on the campus of Iowa State University in Ames. Registration before March 14 is $40 (includes lunch and breaks), with a limit of 125 registrations. Register on-line at www.keepiowabeautiful.com, e-mail bjackson@keepiowabeautiful.com or call 515-323-6537 for more information.

Saturday, March 28:

The Democratic Activist Women’s Network is organizing a Democratic Women’s Summit at the State Historical Museum in Des Moines. Click here for more details.

The Natural Living Expo will take place at the Polk County Convention Center (I’m helping organize the event and will be there with two non-profit organizations). Click here for more details.

The Iowa Citizen Action Network celebrates its 30th anniversary at the Hilton Garden Inn, 8600 Northpark Drive in Johnston, beginning at 5:30 pm. ICAN will also present its 2009 awards to Congressman Bruce Braley, the Progressive Coalition of Central Iowa, and political strategist Brad Lint. Click here for more details.

Individual tickets to the ICAN celebration are available for $30 per person – Contact Sue Dinsdale at 515-277-5077 x14 or sdinsdale@iowacan.org. For tickets or sponsorship information, you can also contact Amy Logsdon at 319-354-8116 x106 or alogsdon@iowacan.org.