I was downtown today helping set up a couple of booths for the Natural Living Expo tomorrow, which has been taking up a lot of my time lately. Maybe I’ll see some of you there, but I won’t have my “desmoinesdem” hat on, so won’t be talking about partisan politics.

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

The calendar is after the jump.

Saturday, March 28:

Iowa Democratic Veterans’ Caucus chair Bob Krause of Fairfield will announce the formation of his Exploratory Committee for a possible U.S. Senate bid against Chuck Grassley in 2010. The event will begin at 12:15 p.m. at the Fort Des Moines Historical Museum, 75 East Army Post Road, in Des Moines (lunch by donation).

The Drake Environmental Action League invites students from across Iowa to convene for a conference to discuss environmental problems ranging from local stream cleaning to global climate change. It begins at 11:00 a.m. at Drake University on the upper level of Olmsted Center. Ed will speak at 12:30. Contact Robb Krehbiel at (621) 245-7260 or rlk010@drake.edu.

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 keynote speaker will be Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota:

U. S. Senator Amy Klobuchar will appear in Des Moines on Saturday, March 28, as the keynote speaker at the Iowa Democratic Women’s Summit.  Hosted by the Democratic Activist Women’s Network (DAWN), the Summit will focus on developing strategies to elect progressive Democratic women to higher elective office in Iowa. Iowa and Mississippi are now the only two states that have never sent a woman to Congress or to the governor’s office.

Senator Klobuchar was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006, winning 58% of the vote to her Republican opponent’s 38%.  She is one of 17 women currently serving in the Senate and is now the only Senator from Minnesota, as the winner of the 2008 senatorial race between Democrat Al Franken and Republican Norm Coleman is still in dispute.

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 fantastic children’s musician and Des Moines native Justin Roberts is doing a benefit concert for the Des Moines Symphony Academy. I can’t be there because of the Natural Living Expo, but I am a huge fan of his music and concerts. Details:

SAT MAR 28 11AM (Doors open at 10:30)

Scottish Rite Consistory, 519 Park Street in Des Moines

$15 for concert, $20 for concert and PJs and PJ&J lunch

Free admission for children 24 months or younger

Join Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players for a concert and pajama party that is bound to have the whole family grooving.

All proceeds benefit the Des Moines Symphony Academy!

Tickets: www.dmsymphony.org or 515.280.4017

Volunteer: 515.280.4017 or nikki@dmsymphony.org

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.

From Iowa Interfaith Power and Light:

Earth Hour 2009 On March 28, at 8:30 pm local time, one billion people will go dark for Earth Hour. World Wildlife Fund is asking individuals, businesses, governments and organizations around the world to turn off their lights to make a global statement of concern about climate change and to demonstrate commitment to finding solutions.

Already hundreds of icons and landmarks around the world have signed up to turn their lights off for Earth Hour 2009 including – the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Sydney Opera House, Acropolis and Parthenon in Athens and The London Eye, among many others.

Click here to be part of the global lights out.

http://www.earthhour.org/home/

Sunday, March 29:

The Natural Living Expo continues from 12-5.

The award-winning 1984 documentary “The Times of Harvey Milk” will be shown at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4114 Allison Avenue in Des Moines at 3:00 p.m. Admission is free and refreshments will be served. Contact (515) 274-1534 or jdavison@westpres.org.

Monday, March 30:

From Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement:

CCI Members Outraged by Senate Passage of “Manure in Water” bill

March 30 11 a.m. press conference to address SF 432 and call on leadership to take bold action

What: In response the passage of SF 432, a bill that undercuts the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) authority and would leave the door wide open for factory farms to dump manure on frozen and snow-covered ground in all areas of the state, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement members will stand united with other environmental groups and those who care about water quality to hold a press conference and call on leadership to do the right thing and put people before polluters.

In addition to Iowa CCI – groups strongly opposing SF 432 also include: Iowa DNR, Sierra Club, Iowa Environmental Council, Farmer’s Union, and Des Moines Water Works.

When: Monday, March 30 at 11:00 am at the State Capitol in the first floor rotunda.

Why: Iowa suffers some of the worst water quality in the nation. High levels of ammonia pollution in the spring all across Iowa have been traced back to manure application on frozen and snow-covered ground. This is an irresponsible practice that harms our environment and puts our drinking water at risk. We must enact strong and enforceable restrictions of this practice for the well-being of all Iowans.

Iowans demand legislators not cater to corporate ag special interests and take bold action to put people before politics, profits and polluters.

Please join us for Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement’s

“No Manure in Our Water” Press Conference

11:00 a.m. at the State Capitol, First floor rotunda, Monday, March 30, 2009

One Iowa is holding a Marriage Equality Townhall meeting from 6:00-7:30 PM at the Fort Dodge Public Library, 424 Central Avenue in Fort Dodge. The even features the films Freeheld and Our Story.

Thursday, April 2:

From Iowa Rivers Revival:

Iowa Wetlands Symposium – April  2-3, 2009

Iowa stands poised to lead the farm belt in maximizing water resources for a healthier, safer, and more abundant future.  Come join state and national experts as they explore the expanding universe of successful strategies for balancing the impact of agricultural and urban activities with nature’s brilliant water management system: wetlands!

For more information or to register:  http://www.iowadnr.gov/news/09… –

Friday, April 3:

Ready to Run™ Iowa is a bi-partisan workshop offered by the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics in partnership with the League of Women Voters of Ames and the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. It focuses on recruiting and training women to run for office. It’s at the Scheman Center, ISU campus from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information, including registration, visit www.las.iastate.edu/CattCenter/readytorun.shtml.

The Iowa Wetlands Symposium continues (see above).

Saturday, April 4:

From Polk County Democrats:

Brown’s Woods Clean-up

When: Saturday, April 4th

Time: 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Polk County Conservation would like to invite you to our Volunteer Work Day. Volunteers will be responsible for clean-up efforts on the roadsides surrounding Brown’s Woods (also within the preserve). Please wear long pants, bring gloves and dress according to the weather (in the event of heavy rain the event will be canceled.)

The Huntmaster’s Club will provide a complimentary cook-out following the event!

Volunteers should meet in the Brown’s Woods parking lot (south end of the park–off Brown’s Woods Dr.). All youth must be accompanied by an adult.

Please RSVP to Pat Spain at (515) 323-5280, or e-mail pspain@co.polk.ia.us.

For more information on volunteer opportunities with the Polk County Conservation Board, check out their website at: http://www.leadingyououtdoors….

One Iowa welcomes Sarah Kennedy, Midwest Media Field Strategist for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), to Iowa for a series of grassroots media trainings from April 4-7. The trainings are designed to help supporters of marriage equality frame their personal stories in a compelling and persuasive way. She says, “At the trainings, you can expect to learn new practices for working with the media, useful messaging techniques, and Iowa-specific tips related to the pending marriage ruling. These interactive trainings will include a break out session to help you practice and use the tools you’ve learned with fellow attendees. I hope to see you at your nearest training and look forward to hearing your stories!”

The first training is on April 4 from 9:30am-noon at CSPS/Legion Arts, 1103 3rd St SE in Cedar Rapids.

Later that day, Sarah Kennedy will lead a GLAAD media training from 3:30pm-6:00pm in the Buzz Coffee Shop, 116 W Davenport St in Eldridge (near the Quad Cities).

Sunday, April 5:

Sarah Kennedy will lead a GLAAD media training from 2:00pm-4:30pm in the Gleeson Room of the Sioux City Public Library.

From 6:30pm-9:00pm she will lead another media training at the home of Mike Yowell and Hersh Rodasky, 1326 Oak Park Rd. in Council Bluffs.

From I’M for Iowa:

April 5 – Food Not Bombs Meal Program

Beginning today, Food not Bombs provides a free meal every Sunday at 5:00 p.m. at Nollen Plaza in Des Moines. Food donations and volunteers are needed. Unprepared food can be brought to the Fork and Spoon House before 2:00 p.m. on Sundays, or prepared food can be brought directly to the meal site. (The latter is better, as the group’s kitchen is small.)  Contact cali_janae@yahoo.com.

Tuesday, April 7:

Sarah Kennedy will lead a GLAAD media training from 6:30pm-9:00pm at the Urbandale United Church of Christ, 3530 70th St. in Urbandale.