If you want to get an early start on holiday shopping, there’s a Green Gifts Fair this Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm in Des Moines. I’ll try to swing by, because I know a bunch of the vendors, and there will be several no-clutter gift options for those trying not to buy people “stuff” they don’t need.
If you live within striking distance of Waterloo, you can catch Tom Vilsack at Representative Bruce Braley’s fifth annual “Bruce, Blues and BBQ” party on Sunday (details below).
Anyone else planning to see Vice President Joe Biden at the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner next weekend? I’d like to meet other members of the Bleeding Heartland community. You can buy tickets online at the Iowa Democratic Party’s site.
Follow me after the jump for many more event details, and post a comment or send me an e-mail (desmoinesdem AT yahoo.com) if you know of something I’ve left out.
Friday, November 13:
From the Iowa Environmental Council:
Northern Iowa Food & Farm Partnership All Iowa Dinner
Please join us for dinner Friday, Nov. 13, 5:30 p.m., at the UNI Price Lab School. The dinner will celebrate our region’s accomplishments in locally grown food prepared by Rob Stanley, Price Lab Farm-to-School cook. Speakers will provide brief updates on the Farm-to-School projects, a new collaborative distribution model for growers, and the Cedar Valley effort to increase availability of locally produced food. Tickets $12. Call or email Andrea Geary, (319) 273-7883, andrea.geary@uni.edu.
Buck Naked Need Dough Fundraiser
Celebrate the 5th Anniversary of the Buck Naked Need Dough annual fundraiser for Polk County Conservation on Friday, November 13, from 6-10 p.m., at the KJJY Events Center in Clive. Hosted by The Great Outdoors Fund, this event raises funds for outdoor projects in the greater Des Moines area. Highlights of the event include beer and wine tasting, wild delicacy samples prepared by local top chefs, live and silent auctions, and live music. Tickets are $50 per person or you have your own reserved table for eight for $400. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to www.greatoutdoorsfund.org.
From 1000 Friends of Iowa:
Iowa City: Riverfront Crossings Workshops (12:00PM – 1:00PM)
Community Open House
Drop in to observe the design team in action and ask questions about development concepts and policies. For more information about this event, visit the link provided above. To RSVP, contact Karen Howard. This event will be held at the Johnson County Human Services Building – 855 S. Dubuque St., 2nd Floor, Room 203.Contact Info : Karen Howard (319) 356-5251
Email : karen-howard@iowa-city.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Url: http://www.icgov.org/default/a…Iowa City: Riverfront Crossings Workshops (5:30PM – 7:30PM)
Public Input Workshop
Participate in an interactive public input workshop to plan for the future of the River Crossings District. For more information about this event, visit the link provided above. To RSVP, contact Karen Howard. The workshop will be held at the Johnson County Human Services Building – 855 S. Dubuque St., 2nd Floor, Room 203.Contact Info : Karen Howard (319) 356-5251
Email : karen-howard@iowa-city.org
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Url: http://www.icgov.org/default/a…
Saturday, November 14:
November 14 – Seminar for women candidates (Des Moines)
This free seminar is called “Pie in the Sky? No!!” It’s about developing campaign web pages and blogs for Democratic women candidates and those who work on their campaigns. It’s from 1:30-3:30 pm at AFSCME’s office, 4320 NW 2nd. The speaker is Lynda Waddington of Cedar Rapids, founder of the blog essentialestrogen.com and veteran of many political campaigns. It’s sponsored by DAWN (Democratic Activist Womens Network). Contact Jo Ann Zimmerman at (515) 225-1136 or atzzzzz@aol.com.
From the Iowa Renewable Energy Association:
Solar Photovoltaic Workshop
Dennis Pottratz of GoSolar will give a one-day presentation covering the following topics: fundamentals of solar, solar module specifics, inverters, racks, load analysis, and system sizing, permits, and safety.The workshop will emphasize grid tie systems as opposed to off grid. Students should leave the class with a good understanding of how they can make solar work for their home or business.
The site at Prairiewoods has two PV systems for viewing-two off-grid hermitages and a new 7-kW grid tie in the main building.
Dennis is Iowa’s only nationally certified solar electric installer and has operated a full-service solar installation company in Decorah since 1996.
Event Info
November 14th, 2009
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Prairiewoods Spirituality Center
120 Boyson Rd, Hiawatha, IA 52233
From a Sierra Club member:
Voice from the North – Documentary
November 14, Des Moines
Please join us from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. at the Central Library, 1000 Grand Avenue, Des Moines for Voice from the North, a documentary film about the Gwich’in Nation of Northeast Alaska and Northwest Canada’s reliance on the Porcupine caribou herd to meet the nutritional, cultural and spiritual needs of their people. The film captures the spectacular scenery of the Brooks Range and the Coastal Plain, the caribou migration, with pictures and voices of the Gwich’in people. Lois Norrgard, Upper Midwest Field Staff for the Alaska Wilderness League, will follow the film with a short presentation about new drilling threats in the Arctic and lead a discussion about the film and where we are today with America’s Arctic Refuge.
Sunday, November 15:
From Representative Bruce Braley’s campaign:
Congressman Bruce Braley will host the 5th Annual Bruce, Blues and BBQ this Sunday, November 15th from 2:00-3:30 pm at the UAW Hall Local 838 in Waterloo, Iowa. The Honorable Tom Vilsack will be the keynote speaker at the event. The event is open to the public.
For ticket information or to learn more about the BBQ, visit www.brucebraley.com or call (319) 290-6516.
WHAT: 5th Annual Bruce, Blues and BBQ with the Honorable Tom Vilsack
WHEN: Sunday, November 15th
2:00 – 3:30 PM
WHERE: UAW Hall Local 838
2615 Washington Street
Waterloo, Iowa
CONTACT: Caitlin Legacki
919.442.8098
From Natural Living Des Moines:
Green Gifts Fair!
November 15, 10:00-4:00
Des Moines Social Club
1408 Locust St.The Des Moines Green Gifts Fair is your chance to stock up on holiday (or, really, any other occasion) gifts that are eco-friendly!
Make plans to attend now!
The Green Gifts Fair will be chock-full of items that are eco-friendly and that would make good gifts. Many of the items available at the fair will also be locally-made and/or made from locally-sourced materials.
What’s particularly exciting is that many of the items available won’t necessarily be obviously Green. It won’t be all hippy dippy stuff!! So you’ll be able to buy gifts even for those people in your life who wouldn’t necessarily appreciate the green or local aspects of your gifts.
From I’M for Iowa:
Silent Screams (Des Moines)
Premier showing of a film spotlighting the destructive costs of war. Produced and directed by Karla Hansen of Clive. No charge, Fleur Cinema, 4545 Fleur Dr at 3:30. Contact karlahansen@hotmail.com.
Monday, November 16:
There’s a fundraiser for Bob Krause’s U.S. Senate campaign in Des Moines:
An opportunity for you to talk with Bob and ask questions about what is important to you!
6:00 p.m. Monday, November 16th
At the home of James and Mary Marren
869 40th Street, Des Moines
Wine and cheese will be served
$50 minimum suggested donation
RSVP by November 12th to: iowaboy5547@gmail.com
Tuesday, November 17:
From I’M for Iowa:
November 17 – “Religious Liberty Exemptions & Same-Sex Marriage” (Des Moines)
The Drake Law School Constitutional Law Center presents professors Tom Berg and Nan Hunter in a debate on this issue. It’s from 3:00-4:00 pm in room 213 of Cartwright Hall,
Drake University Law School. The event is free and open to the public. Contact (515) 271-2988.
From the Center on Sustainable Communities:
Professional HVAC/Air Balancing Workshop
November 17, Dubuque
Time: 9:00am – 6:00pm, with 8:30am registration (lunch and networking reception provided). Location: Northeast Iowa Community College, 680. FREE: Registration Required. Call Northeast Iowa Community College’s Town Clock Center at 888-642-2338 ext.380 to register for course # 31168. Cenergy discusses quality installation of high efficiency heating and cooling systems, with the goal of increasing base knowledge of HVAC systems through practical application. Accompanying on-site training sessions at 3 to 5 residential homes will be scheduled during the weeks following classroom training. Provided by Center on Sustainable Communities (http://icosc.com). For registration and location details go to http://www.icosc.com/programs_…
Wednesday, November 18:
From the Center on Sustainable Communities:
Day of Sustainability in Dubuque – Workshops & Reception
Center on Sustainable Communities (COSC) and RDG Planning & Design has scheduled a full day of sustainable building events – please join us for any or all. Registration required through COSC by contacting Leslie Berckes at Leslie@icosc.com or 515-707-2787. Schedule includes: Green Roofs in an Urban Environment and Re-Purposing a Building. FREE: Thanks to funding from IDED & HUD. Location: Hotel Julien, 200 Main Street, Dubuque. For details and registration information click on links or go to http://www.icosc.com.
Dubuque is setting some outstanding examples for other Iowa cities to follow.
Thursday, November 19:
From the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa:
Whether you (and your congregation) are:
o fully supportive of marriage equality
o unsure, but you are willing to have a conversation and learn moreI hope that you are planning to attend the Faithful Voices Statewide Conference on Marriage Equality on Thursday, November 19. We need your Faithful Voice there!
Ask someone from your congregation or your community — clergy, colleague, lay people, or friend — to attend with you!
The Faithful Voices Conference is for those who are fully supportive of marriage equality. Truthfully, what happened in Maine can happen in Iowa . Our state Supreme Court wrote an amazing document that equally upholds the marriage rights of all people. Simultaneously, the ruling fully supports the religious rights of Iowans and all religious institutions. However, we know the ruling can be overturned in a future vote.
Maine teaches us that we must continue to educate and fight in Iowa . We must be prepared and organized. The progressive faith community must balance the voice of those who oppose marriage equality on religious grounds! We must know the issue and learn how to best advocate for our beliefs. It is with civil conversation, an organized alliance, and a passion for justice that we will defend the rights that have been rightfully given to all people.
The Faithful Voices Conference is also for those who are unsure but are willing to have an open, honest conversation in your community of faith. Perhaps you just don’t know how to do that without causing division and conflict. You will see on the workshop list there is plenty of opportunity to address these needs as well.
Register at www.FaithfulVoices.org
o Or, print the registration form (attached) and mail it to us with the fee.
o Or, call our office at 515-279-8715.
From the Center on Sustainable Communities:
Center on Sustainable Communities’ Evergreen Party
Join us at West End Architectural Salvage in Downtown Des Moines on Thursday, Nov 19. Show your support for sustainable building in Iowa. Join Center on Sustainable Communities for live entertainment, drinks, hors d’oeuvres, silent auction and raffles at our seasonal fundraiser!! Featuring musicians Roxi Copland and Chris Ranallo. For details, visit www.icosc.com/evergreen.htm.
Friday, November 20:
Transgender Day of Remembrance (Des Moines)
Rally on the west steps of the State Capitol at 5:15 pm to support equality for Iowa’s transgender community, and to recognize those who’ve been killed because of their sexual identity. Contact Sandy Vopalka at thecenterdm@gmail.com or (515) 537-3126.
Saturday, November 21:
Seminar for women candidates (Cedar Falls)
This free seminar is called “Pie in the Sky? No!!” It’s about developing campaign web pages and blogs for Democratic women candidates and those who work on their campaigns. It’s from 10:00 am – 12:00 noon at the Cedar Falls Public Library. The speaker is Lynda Waddington of Cedar Rapids, founder of the blog essentialestrogen.com and veteran of many political campaigns. It’s sponsored by DAWN (Democratic Activist Womens Network). Contact Jo Ann Zimmerman at (515) 225-1136 or atzzzzz@aol.com.
The Iowa Democratic Party’s Jefferson-Jackson Dinner features Vice President Joe Biden, who is always an entertaining speaker. Click here for tickets. The event is at the Hy-Vee Hall in downtown Des Moines. Reception 5:30 pm, dinner 6:45 pm.