IOWA FOCUS: GROUPS AND EVENTS

Iowa is one of my personal top states to focus on. My father was born there, so I feel an affinity to the towns my father and his relatives lived, from Eagle Grove and Fort Dodge, to Davenport. My family came from Iowa and I take that seriously.

Here are some Alternative Energy Events:

Oppose New Coal Plant in Marshalltown:
Mon, Jan 14, 10:00 – 14:00
Where: Iowa Veterans Home in Whitehall Auditorium, 1301 Summit Street in Marshalltown, Iowa
Description: Iowa Utilities Board will hold a public hearing on Alliant Energy’s application to build a 660MW coal plant in Marshalltown, Iowa. I-Renew, along with 4 other Iowa nonprofit organizations, is represented by Plains Justice in this proceeding. Iowa's Office of Consumer Advocate has recommended against Alliant's application. More information available here: http://plainsjustice.org/


Plug Into Environmental Education
When: Jan 25 – 27 2008
Where: Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca, Solon, IA
Description: The Iowa Conservation Education Council's main event! Join ICEC as they explore current issues in environmental education relating to renewable energy, global warming, biofuels and "plugging" science into the curriculum. Hear Chip Taylor from Monarch Watch and Rich Leopold, director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. More information available here: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/iowaee/wintersolstice.html I-Renew Board President Kara Beauchamp and I-Renew Executive Director Michelle Kenyon Brown are presenting at this event.


2nd Annual Renewable Fuels Summit
WhenThu, Jan 31, 13:00 – 17:00
WherePolk County Convention Complex, Des Moines, IA
DescriptionFor more information or to register please contact Lucy Norton at (515) 252-6249 or lnorton@IowaRFA.org

Here are Democracy for America meetups I can find:

Cedar Rapids Democracy for America MeetUp
Event Date: Monday, January 14, 2008
Event Time: 7:00 PM
Venue Name: Java Creek Cafe
Address: 588 Boyson Rd. NE
City: Cedar Rapids
State: IA
Zip Code: 52402


And for those who are focused on combining fun and politics, here are the local Drinking Liberally groups in Iowa:

Ames, Iowa
* Every Friday, 5:00 pm onward
* Legends American Grill, 200 Stanton Ave, 7th Floor (in Campustown)
* The group will meet in the large accessible party room left of the elevators unless it is booked by a larger group. We will then be in the Sky Box. Ask a waiter for our location.
* Hosted by Jan Bauer and Brent Wynja, ames (at) drinkingliberally.org

Des Moines
* Every Thursday, 8:00 p.m. onward
* The Lift, 222 4th St (between Court Ave and Walnut)
* Hosted by Amanda Mittlestadt, Tricia Kell, Cassie Samspon and Matt Jesson, desmoines (at) drinkingliberally.org

West Des Moines
* Third Friday of each month, 5:00-7:00 pm
* Tonic, 5535 George M Mills Civic Pky (within West Glen Towncenter)
* Hosted by Cassie Sampson, Mikael Brown and Jenny Irlmeier, wdsm (at) drinkingliberally.org

Eating Liberally
* Second Monday of each month, 6:00-7:30 pm
* Continental Wine Bar, 428 E Locust St
* Hosted by Marcus Walsh and Tricia Kell, desmoines (at) eatingliberally.org

Iowa City, Iowa
* Every Thursday, 8:00 pm onward
* The Mill Restaurant, 120 E Burlington St