Nominees for upcoming board chair vacancies are now being accepted. This is an outstanding opportunity to get practical experience, develop leadership and planning skills, and connected to the people, events and resources that make Downtown the place to be!

Take a moment to read through the Board of Directors Job Descriptions (PDF) and the Downtown Chamber Bylaws (PDF) to see how the Des Moines Downtown Chamber operates. Then, send your letter of interest and a completed Board Nomination Form (Word doc) to:

Des Moines Downtown Chamber
Attn: Brian Waller, Executive Director
301 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309

Or send your letter and form to Brian via email.

Letters of interest and completed nomination forms are due no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, October 29, 2010.

Join us on Tuesday, October 12 as Kelly Boon, CHAOS Coach and motivational speaker/trainer, teaches us how to “BE the FUN in DysFUNction!” and  choosing a positive attitude can change your life!

Over 91% of people spend a huge chunk of their day frustrated by their co-workers’ dysfunctional behaviors and think regularly about quitting their job. Managers waste 37% or more of their day dealing with dysfunctional behavior. One dollar out of every three payroll dollars is LOST due to disengaged employees.

Kelly will show us how to turn that around with a positive attitude.

As a CHAOS coach, Kelly Boon leads interactive presentations that help organizations discover opportunity in a changing world. Kelly helps address your needs through humor and creativity. Kelly specializes as a motivational keynote speaker and team building coach for healthcare, corporate and educational  settings.

11;30 a.m.  – 1 p.m.
Renaissance Hotel Savery

$15 for chamber members
$25 for non-members

RSVP: Brian Waller

Well, the big race is over, and what a success it was!!! More than 100 participants raced across downtown on Friday, August 28th, competing for cash prizes and having a lot of fun in the Des Moines Downtown Chamber’s second annual Extreme Race.

(Photos courtesy Adam Rogers Photography)

Starting at Wells Fargo arena, where they received their first clue and list of missions, participants ate cake without their hands, raced go-karts, changed into a Superman outfit inside a phone booth, completed complex puzzles, belly danced on the street corner and completed other extreme missions before ending at the finish line at All Play.

Here’s just one mission, where racers had to learn and perform a belly dance to the satisfaction of judges before moving on:

The Chamber collected more than $8,000 in this annual fundraiser, thanks largely to corporate sponsors, including:

The winner four-person team was Carrie Jackson, Bob Newell, Tim Savona and Alissa Cunningham. the winning two-person team was Crystal Ryan and Shawna Ray.

At the post-race party, many participants were already discussing plans to participate again next year!

“It was a fun day and I think participants and volunteers alike had a great time,” said Jessica Lorenz, Des Moines Downtown Chamber Events Committee Chair. “Thanks to everyone for supporting this event. It was definitely a team effort.”