Mark your calendars and plan to join us for Business After Hours at RDG Planning and Design on Tuesday, July 13.

RDG offices your Downtown Chamber of Commerce, so come on by and welcome Brian Waller(executive director of the Des Moines Downtown Chamber of Commerce), tour RDG’s office and join us for food, drinks, networking and fun!

Tuesday July 13, 2010
5:00 – 7:00 PM
RDG Planning & Design, 301 Grand Avenue

Representatives of the Des Moines Downtown Chamber of Commerce joined over 160 of Central Iowa’s business, civic, and community leaders for the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s lobbying trip to Washington, D.C. The itinerary underscored a range of advocacy, educational and networking opportunities for (right, pictured left to right:) Susan Hatten, Chamber secretary; Christina Moffatt, Chamber vice-president; and Brian Waller, Chamber executive director, who participated in the trip June 9-11.

“The cooperative work of this group going to D.C. with one voice, with one mission, speaks volumes for the further development of regional economic initiatives,” said Martha Willits, President and CEO of the Partnership. “Our Congressional delegation acknowledges the hard work that is done by all of our communities and recognizes the strength of this group by working as one united Greater Des Moines region.”

Attendees witnessed an extensive lineup of guest speakers that addressed the group throughout the three-day trip. The activities kicked off Wednesday, June 9, with a Congressional leadership lunch featuring U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). All seven members of the Iowa Congressional delegation—Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-3rd District), Rep. Tom Latham (R-4th District), Congressman Steve King (R-5th District), Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-2nd District), and Rep. Bruce Braley (D-1st District)—addressed the group at the Thursday breakfast. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) addressed the group during the Congressional leadership lunch on Thursday, June 10th.

The Friday morning Congressional Staff Briefing and brunch featured a media panel discussion and analysis on the upcoming elections, the Iowa Caucuses, and items of political interest with Bob Schieffer – Chief Washington Correspondent CBS News and Anchor/Moderator of “Face The Nation”; Judy Woodruff – Senior Correspondent and Co-anchor for PBS’s “NewsHour”; Chuck Todd – Chief White House Correspondent for NBC News; Mark Halperin – Editor-at-large and Senior Political Analyst for TIME magazine; and Kevin Madden – Political Commentator.

Other participant activities included workshops on wellness, K-12 education reform, sustainable redevelopment, and innovation policy, and a number of other small group meetings with key Administration and Congressional staffers. Visits to the Embassies of Brazil, Australia and India to discuss the expansion of agricultural, commercial, and industrial trade also were conducted.

The Partnership’s 2010 federal agenda is the result of many months of dialogue with private and public partners throughout the region that continue to strive for economic growth. This year’s agenda focused on a wide-rage of issues including infrastructure, innovation, human capital, and quality of place. Featured priorities focused on health and wellness and regional transportation and quality of life projects. Other topics of discussion included budget and deficits, energy, capital markets regulation, education, immigration, tax, trade and multiple other issues important to the region.

“The DC trip gave us tremendous vision into valuable opportunities for our members, and the Des Moines Downtown Chamber, overall,” said Susan Hatten, Des Moines Downtown Chamber secretary. “To be at the epicenter of discussion of future economic developments and challenges that our members and our community may be presented with was extremely insightful.”

For more information about DM/DC 2010, please contact Jay Byers, Sr. Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy at the Partnership at jbyers@desmoinesmetro.com or visit www.desmoinesmetro.com/dctrip.

For more information about Des Moines Downtown Chamber’s participation in this delegation, please contact Susan, Christina or Brian.

Dear Members,

Your support of the Des Moines Downtown Chamber is sincerely appreciated. Our Chamber continues to be strong, thriving and growing – even while just two years old.

In a recent news article, reference was made to a potential merger of the Downtown Chamber with other Des Moines Chambers. Please be aware, this is not the plan or intention of the Downtown Chamber Board of Directors.

The Downtown Chamber has two representatives, Board Secretary Susan Hatten and Executive Director Brian Waller, sitting on a newly formed Des Moines Chambers Committee with the purpose of increasing communication between chambers to better serve you, our members. The Des Moines Chambers Committee is made up of the Des Moines Downtown, West Side, South and East Des Moines Chambers. This committee is working towards strengthening a relationship with the City of Des Moines and taking members’ issues or needs before the appropriate city officials.

We welcome your feedback and the opportunity to continue this conversation. Please feel free to call Tiffany Tauscheck, Des Moines Downtown Chamber President ( 699-3433) or Brian Waller, Executive Director, (419-3094) if you have any questions.

Thank you again for your support of everyone’s Downtown and the Downtown Chamber!

Can you just smell the hot dogs? Hear the crack of the bat?

It’s Chamber Night at Principal Park, coming Thursday, July 22, 2010.

As a member of the Des Moines Downtown Chamber of Commerce, you’re invited to join your fellow Chamber members and members of other metro Chambers at 5:30pm for a tailgate party in the southwest corner of Principal Park parking lot.

The first pitch is at 7:05pm!

You must register online here, but the cost is only $3!

The Principal Financial Group® and The City of Des Moines  invite you to celebrate the grand opening of the Center Street Bridge:

Monday, June 28, 2010
7:45 p.m. Ribbon Cutting and “First Crossing”
8 – 9:15 p.m. Free concert – The Tony Valdez Band
9:15 p.m. Bridge Lighting and Fireworks

Food vendors available 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.

We had a great Sun Up with Downtown this morning at Amici Espresso.

This is an ideal way to connect in a small group setting and make a personal connection.

Good group this morning;

1. Bill Anderson from Nueman Monson (great architect with great experience to share)
2. Cyndi Lorenzen from the Iowa Events Center (Wine and Food Expo coming up at Hy-Vee hall contact Cyndi for booth space)
3. Charlie Weber from Storey Kenworthy (Contact Charlie with your office supply needs)
4. Scott Harris from the YMCA (Great location downtown for convenience when getting a work out in…only $51 a month for membership) and
5. Dave Nesbit from Court Avenue Business Suites (on July 15th there will be a book signing in their board room with a local author, also offices available).

The next Sun Up with Downtown is scheduled for Wednesday, July 21st, at Amici Expresso…hope to see you there.

Get ready to welcome the 2010 Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA) at Wing Ding 32, June 29-July 3, 2010. This is the first time that GWRRA will hold their national convention here.

Nearly 14,000 Gold Wing riders are expected to explore Greater Des Moines looking, for local and area businesses, restaurants to patronize.

Participants in the Wing Ding average 62 years of age and bring plenty of disposable income to the area. Welcome the riders with welcome signs/billboards throughout your community. be sure to use “Welcome to Wing Ding 32!” in your promotions to catch their eye.Here’s a Wing Ding sign you can print yourself

The main event will be held at Hy-Vee Hall at the Iowa Events Center and the Polk County Convention Complex. Community activities have also been scheduled around Greater Des Moines, including:

• Welcome Party at Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino Tuesday, June 29 at 6-10 p.m.

• Light Parade through West Des Moines on Thursday, July 1 at 9-10 p.m.

• Grand Parade, featuring 800+ motorcycles from Downtown Des Moines through 13 neighborhood associations and ending in Urbandale on Friday, July 2 with a drill team performance, 5:30-8 p.m.

• Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny Campus will host the Rider Safety program, where riders get outdoor safety training on their motorcycles.

• Special arrangements have been made at downtown’s premier fireworks show, Yankee Doodle Pops; the Historic Valley Junction Farmers’ Market; and the Downtown Farmers’ Market, additional tours are planned for throughout the community and Central Iowa.

Street Closing Note: 5th Street will be closed from Crocker to Watson Powell, Monday, June 28 – July 3rd. On July 2nd, 5th Street also be closed from Watson Powell to Grand Avenue from 3:00 – 6:00 pm for the staging of the parade.

For more information on Wing ding 32, visit SeeDesMoines.com/WingDing.

Barry Griswell, former Chairman and CEO of the Principal Financial Group and the current president of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, will be the featured speaker at the Tuesday, August 10, 2010 joint chamber luncheon at the Hotel Savery. Look for more information to come as this will be a very popular event.

J. Barry Griswell (from Business Record)

Courtesy Adam Rogers www.arogersphoto.com