Iowa Not-for-Profit Conference, Cultural Advocacy Day set Feb. 16-18
For Immediate Release January 21, 2009
(DES MOINES, Iowa) – Iowans will gather in Des Moines next month for a series of events involving issues impacting their organizations, communities and Iowa’s quality of life.
Events begin with the inaugural Iowa Not-for-Profit Conference Feb. 16-17, 2009, and conclude with Cultural Advocacy Day Feb. 18, 2009, in Des Moines. Barry Griswell (Greater Des Moines Community Foundation) and Martha Willits (Greater Des Moines Partnership) are Honorary Chairs of the INFPA conference. Michael Audino of the Charitable Giving Resource Center, a subsidiary of Syverson Strege & Company, will be the featured speaker.
As part of the three-day schedule, Iowans will participate in an Iowa Great Places legislative breakfast; workshops; Cultural Caucus delegates and Cultural, History, Arts Teams (CHAT) meetings; and a legislative reception hosted by the Iowa Cultural Coalition at the State Historical Building. Participants will also have an opportunity to meet Iowa’s new poet laureate.
“The current economy has affected many Iowa companies and individuals,” Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Director Cyndi Pederson said. “It has also rallied not-for-profit organizations and cultural groups who provide the fuel that drives Iowa’s creative economy. I encourage all Iowans who want to discuss ideas and opportunities regarding not-for-profits and the creative economy to attend.”
Below is an overview of the three-day schedule of events:
Feb. 16-17, 2009
Iowa Not-for-Profit Conference
Marriott Hotel
700 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa
Visit www.infpa.org for registration information and schedule.
- Monday, Feb. 16: Registration and reception, 6-8 p.m., Marriott Hotel
- Tuesday, Feb. 17: Registration and conference activities, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Marriott Hotel
Not-for-profit leaders and policy makers are expected to attend the Iowa Not-for-Profit Conference, where they will receive a legislative update and hear speakers and panelists discuss best practices and cost-saving measures.
The conference, sponsored by the Iowa Not-for-Profit Alliance and DCA, will also give suppliers and organizations opportunities to network with attendees and display their goods and services. he featured speaker, Michael Audino, facilitates, designs and delivers customized seminars, marketing and public relations plans; spearheads donor development and provides personal coaching to a diverse group of organizations throughout Iowa. He served as adjunct faculty at Graceland University and is currently a visiting faculty member at the University of South Florida, where he serves on the board of directors for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
Additional speakers include: Angie Dethlefs-Trettin of the Iowa Council of Foundations; David Fraher of Arts Midwest; Jay Dick of Americans for the Arts; MD Isley of BRAVO; Nathan Wright of Lavarock; and Sandy Boyd of the Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center.
INFPA will also announce the recipients of the 2009 Iowa Nonprofit Excellence Awards, which recognize large and small nonprofit organizations for excellence with cash awards ranging from $5,000 to $12,000. Funding for the awards is provided by Christie Vilsack and the Vilsack Foundation.
The awards are designed to showcase nonprofits that have combined strong management practices, ethical and accountable behavior, innovation resourcefulness and program accomplishments within their individual mission and focus. The most compelling applications will demonstrate how the organization combines these attributes to maximize effectiveness.
Award applications are due Jan. 30, 2009. Conference registration materials and award applications are available at www.infpa.org.
Early conference registration is $75 on or before Feb. 13; late registration is $100. Contact Nader Halawa at nader.halawa@embarkteam.com or 877-252-4443 x714 for more information.
Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009
Cultural Advocacy Day
Multiple locations in Des Moines
- Iowa Great Places Legislative Breakfast, 7-9 a.m., Capitol Rotunda, North Wing
Iowa Great Places communities host a legislative continental breakfast with legislators. Iowa Great Places is a state initiative that combines the resources of state government with local assets to make Iowa communities great places to live, work and play.
- Meet with Legislators, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Capitol Building
Iowa cultural leaders, workers and their supporters visit with Iowa legislators to discuss the Iowa Cultural Coalition’s Cultural Legislative Platform. The Iowa Cultural Coalition serves as the main advocacy, technical assistance and communications network available to people and organizations who create and appreciate all forms of art, historic preservation, museums, science and cultural educational endeavors in Iowa. ICC serves the needs of every Iowan by supporting the people and resources in the state that make it a joy to live here.
- Iowa Great Places workshop, 10-10:45 a.m., Wallace Building, 502 E. 9th Street, Des Moines
The Iowa Great Places program will be outlined with an emphasis on the local commitment and benefits.
- Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center workshop, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Wallace Building, 502 E. 9th Street, Des Moines
“Iowa Principles and Practices for Charitable Nonprofit Excellence workshop taught by Jude West, Richard Koontz and Sandy Boyd of the Larned A. Waterman Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center.” The workshop qualifies attendees for listing their organization on the Iowa Register of Accountability. Registration for the workshop is $25 with lunch included and is limited to 40 people. RSVP by Feb. 16, 2009, to Deirdre Giesler at 515-281-7471 during the hours of 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
- Cultural Caucus Delegates meeting, 1-3:30 p.m., Wallace Building, 502 E. 9th Street, Des Moines
Elected delegates meet to report information from Regional CHAT caucus meetings. CHAT (Culture, History, Arts Teams) is a new networking program for Iowa’s cultural workers and their supporters, and a reporting tool that will help document their activities and generate more data about the economic impact they have on the state.
- Facebook & Google Calendar orientation, 3:30-4 p.m., Wallace Building, 502 E. 9th Street, Des Moines
Designed for Cultural Caucus delegates, this orientation focuses on how to join the Cultural Facebook group and how to enter community events on the CHAT Google Calendar.
- Cultural Caucus Report, 4-4:30 p.m., Wallace Building, 502 E. 9th Street, Des Moines,
Participants will hear the outcome from the Cultural Caucus Delegates meeting.
- Iowa Cultural Coalition Legislative Reception, 5-8 p.m., State Historical Building, 600 E. Locust Street, Des Moines,
“Cabaret Iowa” features multiple performances from all 13 CHAT regions, food, beverages and communicating the Iowa Cultural Coalition’s Cultural Legislative Platform. Iowans are encouraged to invite their legislators to attend. Contact Sandi Yoder at sandi.yoder@mchsi.com or visit www.iowaculturalcoalition.org for more information.
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The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs is responsible for developing the state’s interest in the areas of the arts, history and other cultural matters with the advice and assistance from its two divisions: the State Historical Society of Iowa and the Iowa Arts Council. DCA preserves, researches, interprets and promotes an awareness and understanding of local, state and regional history and stimulates and encourages the study and presentation of the performing and fine arts and public interest and participation in them. It implements tourism-related art and history projects as directed by the General Assembly and designs a comprehensive, statewide, long-range plan with the assistance of the Iowa Arts Council to develop the arts in Iowa. More information about DCA is available at www.culturalaffairs.org.
