Send me an e-mail (desmoinesdem AT yahoo.com) or post a comment if you know of another event that should be added to this calendar.
Sunday, January 18:
From Blog for Iowa (click the link for more details):
On Sunday, January 18, the Iowa City Environmental Film Festival and Sierra Club will sponsor a screening of Fighting Goliath: Texas Coal Wars. The film portrays how Texans formed unlikely coalitions to fight the construction of nineteen coal-fired power plants being fast-tracked by the state’s governor, Rick Perry. The film, narrated by Robert Redford, has received numerous awards.
Representatives from two groups instrumental in challenging the construction of the two plants in Iowa will lead a discussion following the film. Mike Carberry, Sierra Club, will be joined by Carrie LeSeur, founder and Executive Director of Plains Justice, to talk about what is being done and what Iowans can do to stop construction of the coal-fired power plants. Plains Justice, a public interest law center, was founded in 2006 in part in response to the Waterloo, Iowa Coal Plant Proposal, which has now been withdrawn.
[…] Sunday, January 18th at the Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn St., Room A at 3:00 PM.
The screening is free and open to the public.
Monday, January 19:
From Polk County Democrats:
From Vern Naffier
Come to the Pre-Inauguration Celebration
Friends: Join me Monday night at 7 pm at the State Historical Building for an inspiring event celebrating Martin Luther King’s Birthday, Barack Obama’s inauguration, and the beginning of an era of peace, reconciliation, and social justice throughout the world. See announcement below.
RENEWING AMERICA’S PROMISE
Rebirthing King – Rebirthing America
A pre-inauguration celebration
State Historical Building
600 East Locust
Des Moines
January 19, 2009
7-8 pm
Come join the effort to reclaim the dream of America free from racism, militarism, and materialism. Come join the candlelight march for Martin’s memory and Barack’s beginning.
The Iowa Obama Presidential Inauguration Committee invites you to bring items for the DMARC Food Pantry.
Sponsored by the King Birthday Celebration Planning Committee
Tuesday, January 20:
George W. Bush’s presidency will finally end as Barack Obama takes the oath of office. What are you doing to celebrate? There must be many parties going on all over this state.
Urban Dreams Presents
Brown, Black & The Blues People’s Ball
Celebrating the Inauguration of
President Barack Obama
Together through the diversity of our community
Jnauary 20, 2009
8:00 PM until…
Hotel Fort Des Moines
1000 Walnut Street
Des Moines, IA 50309
$25 / person
Dress to Impress
Featuring Musica Latina, Soul and the Blues
A nonpartisan event open to the whole community
for more information please call 515-288-4742
The Brown, Black & The Blues People’s Ball is brought to you by
Project V.O.T.E. (Voting Opportunities Through Education).
PLease call Hotel Fort Des Moines at 515-243-1181 if interested in room reservations.
From 1000 Friends of Iowa:
There will be a Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Public Input Meeting in the DMAMPO Meeting Room, Merle Hay Center, 6200 Aurora Avenue, Suite 300W, Urbandale, IA. Click here for more details about what’s on the agenda and why you should care.
Friday, January 23:
For bicycling advocates and enthusiasts:
Iowa Bicycle Summit
January 23-24, Des Moines
Iowa Bicycle Summit will be held in Des Moines at the Holiday Inn, Downtown, from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday’s session features Steve Durrant from Portland, Oregon, a registered landscape architect and planner with over 30 years experience helping communities become better places to live. A Friday Bike Night fundraiser will feature a presentation by mountain-biking legend Gary Fisher at a dinner and silent auction. Saturday is geared for grassroots bicyclists who want to better their communities. Sessions include Safe Routes to Schools, Bike to Work Week, legislative issues and more. Primary sponsors are the Iowa Department of Transportation and the Iowa Bicycle Coalition. Participation is limited. Find out more or register at the Iowa Bicycle Summit webpage, http://www.iowabicyclecoalitio…
From the Iowa Environmental Council newsletter:
Winter Solstice Workshop: No Child Left Inside
January 23-25, Honey Creek State Park
The Iowa Conservation Education Coalition’s annual Environmental Education Workshop, Winter Solstice, will be held on January 23-25, 2009. The workshop title is No Child Left Inside. Winter Solstice will be held at the Honey Creek State Park Resort on Lake Rathbun. This new resort features motel rooms, a restaurant, an indoor water park, and most important for ICEC, a wonderful conference center. Our keynote speakers include: Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder; Connie Mutel, author of The Emerald Horizon: The History of Nature in Iowa; and Jim Pease and Susan O’Brien author of Environmental Literacy in Iowa. For questions about the workshop, please contact Gail Barels at gail.barels@linncounty.org or Heather Niec at adminicec@hotmail.com.
Saturday, January 24:
For those who enjoy public art:
Design a Dragonfly on Ice at Iowa Lakeside Laboratory
January 24, West Lake Okoboji
Filmmaker Chad Branham will design this year’s Artslive’s People Project on Saturday, January 24, on the ice in Miller’s Bay, beginning at Iowa Lakeside Laboratory. This ephemeral art project will line people up on the ice on West Lake Okoboji, in the shape of a giant 100 foot dragonfly. This design will take over 225 people to complete. Once everyone is in place the dragonfly will be photographed from an airplane by Judy Hemphill. Due to limited parking at Lakeside, participants are asked to gather at Peace Corner, at the corner of Highways 9 and 86, at 12:30 pm, and take a shuttle bus to the project site at Iowa Lakeside Laboratory. People are encouraged to dress warmly and, if possible, in bright primary colors. To sign up to participate, or for more information about participating in this year’s ArtsLive People’s Project, contact Jen Johnson at (712)332-6502 or jen@activeokoboji.org, or visit artslive.com.
Tuesday, January 27:
From Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement:
Jan. 27, 2009BIG Rally & Lobby Day
Mark your calendars and plan to be at our Rally & Lobby Day at the State Capitol Tuesday, Jan. 27. We need you there to show our legislators that thousands of Iowans will be holding them accountable this legislative session to issues like local control, clean elections, homeowner protections and the rights of all workers.
Decisions made at the Statehouse impact us every day. This is our chance to put our issues at the top of the legislative agenda. Join with us today – click here for more information and REGISTER TODAY!
Friday, January 30:
From Polk County Democrats:
Continue Reading...The Ankeny Area Democrats and The Polk County Democrats Present An Inauguration Celebration Dinner At The Iowa State Historical Building
Friday, January 30, 2009
Catered by Baratta’s Restaurant
Social Hour begins at 6:00 PM
Dinner at 7:00 PM
Live music through the Musician’s Union
Tickets $25 per person
Tickets include chicken / pasta dinner and sides, soft drinks, coffee, iced tea or water
Semi-formal attire encouraged, but not required
Tickets available by calling Tamyra at 515-285-1800 or Mary Oliver at 515-964-1227
Email polkdems@gmail.com or Ankenyareadems@msn.com