Not So Boring 3rd Quarter

Leslie Jasper
Group Sales Manger
Des Moines Performing Arts

It’s IOWA STATE FAIR time! 

And, although “Nothing Compares”… really, nothing does… I am here to remind us of all the great happenings as we wrap-up the remaining summer months, in addition our beloved Iowa State Fair.  Just in case someone wants to load their August calendar with something other than the Butter Cow or Porkchop-On-A-Stick!

If the Iowa State Fair really DOES occupy most of your August days/nights, be sure to check out these awesome places and events that make our community and state not so boring after the fair, too! 

“Not So Boring” Happenings

(Find past happenings here and here)

I-Cubs

“Dog Day” August 12, bring your dog to the park for a game and enjoy dollar hot dogs!

www.MILB.com/index.jsp?sid=t451

Fridays at the Fountain

Free live music Friday nights at the West Glen Center in West Des Moines.  Family friendly.

August 9 and August 23

www.WestGlenTownCenter.com

Nightfall on the River

Nitefall on the River, presented by Veridian Credit Union, is an annual summer music series at the picturesque Simon Estes Amphitheater.  All Ages Shows, tickets $22-$31.

Final two shows of the summer!

Owl City, August 9 and Hanson, August 28

www.NightfallDSM.com

Des Moines Social Club

Fireball is back in a big way. It’s the ball of all balls. This year they’ve got sizzling sets by The Envy Corps and The Olympics, pair that with a fire-tastic performance by Chicago’s Pyrotechniq — all happening at the beautiful Simon Estes Amphitheater.

August 15, 7:30p.  Advance tickets $15 or $25 at the door.

www.DesMoinesSocialClub.org

Science Center of Iowa

Don’t miss the Science Center of Iowa’s 15th Annual Fundraising Event & Auction, one of the most talked about celebrations in Des Moines! With amazing live and silent auctions, delectable cuisine and cocktails and live music, the event is an exciting celebration of SCI and our commitment to informal learning.

August 23, 6p.

www.SCIowa.org

“Dancing on the Lake”

It’s the last one of the season!  Every Thursday night, come out and learn to dance social dances like salsa, swing, line dancing or contra dancing. Lessons start on the Overlook Terrace at 7:30 and the dancing begins at 8:00.Each week (June – August 22 ) will feature a different kind of dancing and music.

www.DMGov.org

Iowa Wineries

Did you know Iowa has over 70 wineries to explore?  During the remaining warm months, plan a road trip to visit these beautiful destinations and sample their delicious wines!

For a complete list of Iowa wineries:

www.CatchWine.com/wineries/iowa/

www.TravelIowa.com/attractions/wineries

Principal Riverwalk

Check out one of downtown’s hottest attractions, the newly finished riverwalk, starting at Walnut and Court Street in Des Moines.  Featuring a new “rest stop” that offers drinks, food, and a gorgeous view, The Riverwalk Hub Spot.

Ewing Park STAR Party

Bring your picnic blanket and come to Ewing Park to view the Perseid meteor shower! SCI and Des Moines Astronomical Society (DMAS) will have telescopes set up for you to experience this annual cosmic event. The action in the sky doesn’t get started until later, but the fun starts at 6:00 pm with activities in the park. August 10

www.DMGov.org

Parks and Recreation

There are only a few weeks left to take advantage of the pools and outdoor water fun!  Most pools close for the season September 2.

Des Moines Parks and Recreation

Gray’s Lake Bike Rental and water sports

www.DMGov.org

Big Creek Marina

www.BigCreekMarina.com   

Windsor Heights Parks and Recreation

www.WindsorHeights.org/index.htm

Waukee Parks and Recreation

www.Waukee.org/parksandrecreationdepartment.html

Polk County Conservation

www.PolkCountyIowa.gov/conservation

Knoxville Raceway

The biggest sprint car race in the world with the top drivers in the sport.  Join us for Knoxville Nationals, A four-day racing extravaganza that includes music, food, camping, expo and more that ends each night with some of the most exciting racing you can ever experience.

August 7 – 10

www.KnoxvilleRaceway.com/Event/53rd-Annual-Knoxville-Nationals

Blank Park Zoo

Last month of Zoo Brew!  Every Wednesday in August, starting at 5:30p.

www.BlankParkZoo.com

Don't Forget to Press Flesh

John R. Stokka
CEO DomiKnow, Inc.

Welcome to the new digital age. We can share a picture with the world in seconds with Instagram or Pinterest. The era where we can share every thought, desire, action in seconds through Facebook and Twitter. Yes indeed, we can post, email, tweet, pin, check-in, update, follow, like, and share with relative ease and efficiency, but should we?

I recently "caught" two people in my office going endlessly bantering back and forth with each other about something fairly simple over internal email. Instead of getting up and walking across the room to have a 2 minute conversation, they had exchanged several emails over a couple days about the topic. Not only is it inefficient, it is an environment that can breed contempt, misunderstanding, and a myriad of other issues in an organization that is growing at the pace as quickly as ours.

There is no denying that social media is here to stay. It has changed the way we communicate and the way we do business. It's an extremely effective medium for certain types of messaging. But don't forget to press flesh. That's right, the good old-fashioned face-to-face meeting intro with a handshake. There is no substitute for looking someone in the eye and having a conversation.
The digital world is a wonderful efficient method of communication that should augment, not replace every other activity that we've developed and evolved over thousands of years of human existence.

The best thing about all of this digital communication is how much of the norm it has become. And in nearly every rule, there lies the value of the exception. If you are willing to make the phone call, if you are willing to go and have the one-on-one conversation, if you are willing to write a personal letter and drop it in the mail... Then guess what? As much as social media and digital communication have become the norm, you will stand out in a crowd of tweeters and posters as a true communicator. Those who understand this will have a leg up on everyone else in whatever they endeavor to do.

Website - http://www.domiknow.com

Facebook - http://facebook.com/domiknow

Twitter - @domiknow

LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/company/domiknow

West Des Moines Leadership Academy

Amy Seidelman
Vice-Chair, West Des Moines
Leadership Academy

I’ll start this post with a warning:

Readers, beware – my enthusiasm for the West Des Moines Leadership Academy might just jump off the page at you.

As a graduate of the inaugural 2009 class of the Academy and its current Vice-Chair, I am pleased to introduce our group to anyone who hasn’t had the opportunity to participate in the academy, hasn’t attended one of the many events that evolved from our Academy class projects, or doesn’t know someone who comes to work the 4^th Friday of the month with a renewed sense of purpose in life and work (due to their attendance at class the day before, of course).

There are many great leadership organizations in the state and in cities around West Des Moines. As an alumni-driven group, the Board and Committees of the West Des Moines Leadership Academy strive to make our approach to improving leadership unique.

We touch on topics everyone can benefit from like team building, coaching, conflict management, and situational leadership, but we also focus on supporting individuals on their quest toward personal and professional development.  This year, that included a strategic approach to goal setting, tapping into creativity, and generating the “escape velocity” we need to make positive change in our lives.

We spend about a third of our time exposing the Academy class members to real community issues through experiential learning, simulations, and guest panelists. One of the most influential learning opportunities is the class project, which in the past has varied from focused youth-oriented mentoring work to more large-scale community events! If you’ve attended events like Putt Your Best Food Forward, the BoosterPak Bash, the Hy-Vee Stash Mob, or the 2012 Morsel Combat, you’ve attended a Leadership Academy sponsored or run event.

Taught by local leaders, this program was created to build leaders in the West Des Moines area and our surrounding communities. The program’s balance of leadership training, community experiences, and networking opportunities makes it one of a kind.

I’ve saved the best part for last – we are currently accepting applications for our 2013 -2014 class, which starts in September 2013 and ends with graduation in June 2014. We generally meet on the 4^th Thursday of the month with the exception of some dates we move for holidays, orientation, and graduation.

What we look for in ideal WDMLA candidates:

·         a commitment and motivation to serve West Des Moines;

·         leadership in employment and/or volunteer organizations that translates to influence on important issues; and

·         the ability to honor the time commitment required by the program.

Please take a moment to check out our website. Scan the Alumni and Current Class pages for anyone you might know and can ask about the class. Look at next year’s class dates to see if they’ll work for you. Most importantly, visit the online application and review what you’ll need in order to submit yours soon.

Whether you ask your employer to sponsor this great learning experience or decide to “put yourself through” the WDMLA, you’ll find great value in the leadership lessons and connection to our community you’ll develop. If you are considering asking your employer to sponsor you, you can share these employer testimonials with them as well.

As a potential applicant, you’re on the verge of some serious networking and the start of some amazing friendships. I, for one, can’t wait to meet you!

Giants Among Us

Tom Cox
Vice-President of Digital Content
Meredith Corporation

Central Iowa is in a very sweet spot in the U.S. economy.  In addition to being ground zero for agricultural related industry and commodity production, our region is fortunate to be home to the corporate headquarters of the some very large publicly traded insurance, media and financial services companies, or to at least host their major operational centers.  Their campuses of gleaming buildings and manicured lawns, art installations and inspired architecture are sprinkled around downtown and increasingly around the western suburbs.

The thought of contemplating business relationships with these corporate giants is likely very appealing for many of the locally owned businesses that comprise the rolls of the West Des Moines Chamber.  It is however, important for owners and employees of local firms to remember one thing about their friends, neighbors and colleagues who work for these big firms; while these fine folks live in central Iowa and have homes and offices here, and send their kids to school here...they don't really work here.

What?

If you think about the major employers in our community, with the exception of primary health care delivery, almost none of them earn the bulk of their revenue from within the boundaries of our state.  That’s a good thing for the local economy, but it can be challenging for local firms as well.  The majority of the employees of the giants are busy all day long serving customers who live across the U.S. and around the world.  And, like all other major modern enterprises, these corporations are able to source goods and services from across the country and the world.  Personally, I take a phone call a week from any number of earnest sales representatives who would like me to outsource work halfway around the globe.

In my own case, when I go to work each day, unless I am travelling, I may sit downtown but am really in New York, or Atlanta, or Hartford, or Phoenix, or Portland, or any number of other places where we have business units or major vendor relationships.  I do occasionally get to spend budgeted dollars with local firms who directly benefit from having us in town.  But to compete for this, these small firms must continue to provide competitively priced services that go beyond having a local phone number.  All things being equal, it is nice to be able to see the people you work with without going to the airport, but it is no longer essential.

The point of all this is to remember that being near the corporate giants is only an advantage if you are either able to provide a service where relationships and closeness matter, or where your local cost is truly advantageous to the client firm.  Certainly one distinct advantage local firms have is that it is easier to get that first opportunity for a meeting with the folks who they see at school functions or rub elbows with at civic events.  And herein lies a secret... managers like me who have some small part in the overall budgeting process really do like to source locally, but proximity is often far from the top factor in play.  The billions of dollars in earnings the giants bring home each year is a lot of money, but the profits from that are not derived by spending freely or without strict observance to shareholder demands and the "strategic sourcing" of vendor relationships; locally, regionally, nationally and globally.  So when contemplating doing business with the giants among us, find your reason for why being local matters.

Tom Cox is the Vice President of Digital Content for Meredith Corporation's Local Media Group (which owns no Iowa television stations).  He resides in West Des Moines with his wife, Liz, and three children who attend West Des Moines schools. 

Not So Boring April - June

Leslie Jasper
Group Sales Manger
Des Moines Performing Arts

We’ve all heard and/or said the rhyme at some point of our lives:  April showers bring May flowers. 

As Midwesterners, we’ve been trained by the sometimes-unpredictable weather patterns, to talk about what Mother Nature is offering us and, due to that, this old saying has maintained its popularity for hundreds of years.  Since it’s origination in the mid-1500’s – beginning as “Sweet April showers do spring May flowers” in a collection of writings by Thomas Tusser – it has continually served as a great reminder that with even the most unpleasant, we must be patient and something beautiful will always follow. 

Considering most of our most recent “showers” have been snow showers, for most of us, the spring flowers can’t come soon enough.  We’ve been patient for months, getting through the deep winter freeze, so it’s time for the May beauty promised to us by this age-old rhyme.  Along with the flowers however, come some things that may be even better than a colorful spring bloom.  Warm sunshine, grills and firepits, patio dinners, and of course, outdoor activities.

And so, to all you patient it’s-been-gloomy-too-long-I’m-ready-for-flipflops Iowans:  It’s time to celebrate spring’s arrival and Thomas Tusser’s famous words (hoping that April showers really do spring us some May flowers)!

“Not So Boring” Happenings

I-Cubs

Home Opener April 12!

www.MILB.com/index.jsp?sid=t451

Valle Drive-In Theater

Opens April 19, come visit Iowa’s oldest running drive-in theater. Open Friday-Monday.

www.ValleDrive-in.com/default.asp

Farmers Markets:

Valley Junction Music in the Junction, Opens May 2

www.ValleyJunction.com

Downtown Des Moines, Opens May 4

www.DesMoinesFarmersMarket.com

Drake Farmers Market, Opens June 5

www.DrakeFarmersMarket.com

Tulip Time

The most colorful Dutch celebration in Iowa!

May 2 - 4

www.PellaTulipTime.com

Temple Theater

Sit outside at Centro’s patio for dinner/drinks and attend Broadway’s Next Hit Musical, an award-winning improvised musical comedy, May 1 – 12.

www.DesMoinesPerformingArts.org

www.CentroDining.com

Science Center of Iowa

Bring your picnic blanket, grab some popcorn, and attend Cinema Under the Stars, May 11!

Jurassic Park will be playing, beginning at dusk.  Free to attend (will be held inside if bad weather).

www.SCIowa.org

Habitat for Humanity

Spring volunteer opportunities available (get outside and BUILD)!

www.GDMHabitat.org/

Jasper Winery

Summer Concert Series begins May 16.

www.JasperWinery.com

Parks and Recreation:

Check your local parks and recreation website for pool dates, park shelter info, and sports leagues.

Des Moines Parks and Recreation

Gray’s Lake Bike Rental, Begins April 14

www.DMGov.org/Departments/Parks/Pages/BicycleRentalProgram.aspx

West Des Moines Parks and Recreation
RUNzing 5k and 10k, May 18

www.WDM.Iowa.gov/index.aspx?page=197

Windsor Heights Parks and Recreation

Curbside Spring Clean-Up, May 9

www.WindsorHeights.org/index.htm

Waukee Parks and Recreation

Sign-up for summer programs now!

www.Waukee.org/parksandrecreationdepartment.html

Sports Events:

Des Moines and surrounding communities offer a wide variety of special sports activities throughout the year – check out these great spring/summer events!

Glow Run

April 20 (register now through April 18)

www.GlowRun5k.com/dm.html

Drake Relays

April 25 – 28

www.GoDrakeBulldogs.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPID=8142&SPSID=71588

Gladiator Challenge

May 18 – 19 (register now through May 15)

www.Gladiatorassaultchallenge.com/

Dam to Dam

June 1 (20k almost full, register soon)

www.damtodam.com

Electric Run

June 15 (Register now through June 6)

www.ElectricRun.com/desmoines

Not So Boring...



Leslie Jasper
Group Sales Manager
Des Moines Performing Arts

I still remember the final drive of my move, from Minneapolis to Des Moines, like it was yesterday.  I was literally giving myself a pep talk as I crossed the Minnesota/Iowa border, reminding myself I can take as many weekend trips to the cities as I want and I’d see all my friends “at least once a month.”  I remember how I wanted to leave some of my things in Minnesota, in storage, just to have some sort of roots still there; to have some of my identity still within a mile of the places I once called my home.

Well, that was just over two years ago and it’s bittersweet to admit, those trips to Minneapolis have never exceeded once every three, to six, months.  I didn’t leave any belongings there (thanks to everyone who convinced me not to) and every day since that drive, I’m grateful I brought with me here, every bit of my identity that I possibly could.  It’s not that I don’t love my friends up North, it’s not that I don’t miss my Mall of America shopping trips, and not like it doesn’t cross my mind to head-up for a random day in the summer, just to lay in my favorite spot by the lakes.  It’s just that I’m busy here!  Almost immediately I was able to find new places every bit of my identity could connect with in this wonderful city, within this wonderful state, that’s become my wonderful home.  Even two years later, I feel so lucky to tell my Minneapolis friends when they ask where I’ve been, “Guess what, they weren’t joking – Des Moines is NOT boring!”

Since the early days of my move, I’ve been lucky enough to meet some wonderfully-connected (and social) people, build a career which has me exploring this city’s dynamic arts and culture scene daily, and be heavily involved on several committees that work with local businesses and entertainment venues.  All of those things combined, in addition to being a frequent user of social media, a reader of the various city guides, and a member of Iowa tourism networks, is why I couldn’t be happier writing this today. I want to remind us of – or introduce to us to – some of what’s going on, what’s worth checking out, and what activities you can fill your calendar with, so you too will find yourself one day saying (if you haven’t already), “Guess what, they weren’t joking, Des Moines is NOT boring!”

“Not so Boring” Happenings:
Because we all could use some fun activities to get us through the final days of winter!

Science Center of Iowa
A T. Rex Named Sue, through May
Mixology Night March 1st, for the 21+ crowd
www.sciowa.org

Wells Fargo Arena/Iowa Events Center
Iowa Energy and Barnstormers, Ongoing
Harlem Globetrotters, April 7
Bon Jovi, April 14
www.iowaeventscenter.com

Hoyt Sherman Place
Tracy Sherman, March 15
www.hoyshermanplace.org

Jasper Winery
Fun events weekly, check website for updates
www.jasperwinery.com

Funny Bone Comedy Club
Ongoing shows
www.funnybonecentral.com

Brenton Skating Plaza
Hurry, season ends in March!
www.brentonplaza.com

The Social Canvas
Ongoing “Paint and Drink” Classes, no experience required!
www.thesocialcanvas.com

Skyzone
Indoor Trampoline Park, Fitness Classes and Open Jump for all ages!
www.skyzone.com/DesMoines

Des Moines Art Center
Transparencies, February 22 – May 22
www.desmoinesartcenter.org

Temple Theater
The Second City, February 20 – March 3
Broadway’s Next Hit Musical, May 1 – 12
www.DesMoinesPerformingArts.org

Living History Farms
Sample over 20 different kinds of micro-brewed beer at Beer ‘n’ Bread, March 9
www.lhf.org

Summerset Winery
Monthly events, including “Scrapbook and Vino” and “Sunday Tunes”
www.summersetwine.com

Val Air Ballroom
Kick-Off Colon Cancer Awareness Month with “Bottoms-Up Blues Fest”, March 2
www.valairballroom.com

Climb Iowa
Indoor rock climbing for all skill levels
www.climbiowa.com

Des Moines Playhouse
9 To 5: The Musical, March 22 – April 21
www.dmplayhouse.com

Des Moines Social Club
Always something fun going on for everyone!
www.desmoinessocialclub.org

 Des Moines Performing Arts
Jekyll and Hyde the Musical, March 5 – 10
Million Dollar Quartet, March 19 – 24
www.DesMoinesPerformingArts.org

Need to know where to find all the local “happenings”?

www.CatchDesMoines.com
www.DesMoinesMetroMix.com
www.DMJuice.com
www.DesMoinesIsNotBoring.com
www.BusinessRecord.com

And, of course, all your favorite social media pages, friends, and event listings!

Do For Two Years...



Adam Carroll
Author, Financial Educator,
Business Owner


One of the pieces of advice I’m fond of giving is do for two years what most people won’t do, and you’ll be able to do for the rest of your life what most people can’t do. 

It sort of begs two questions:

        1.  What won’t most people do?

        2.  What can’t most people do?

Answering the first question takes a little more explanation than the second, so I’m going to take them out of order.  It doesn’t take much brainstorming to make a detailed list of the things that most people can’t do.

They can’t --

take extended vacations, take lots of time off, spend serious quality time without being distracted by money, work, the to-do list, etc., do everything they want in life while they’re still young enough to enjoy it, drive their dream vehicle, invest for the future, own their home outright, own vacation homes, get to visit vacation homes, start a business, financially help their neighbors, church, or family.  The list could go on and on...

The bottom line is that the majority of things that people can’t do are almost entirely related to their ability to pay for these “luxuries” without it seriously affecting their lifestyle.  However, by answering the first question -- “what won’t most people do?” we can uncover what it takes to make nearly all of the items on the above list possible.

So, what won’t most people do?

To put it simply, they won’t live on less.  Parkinsons Law states that our expenses will generally rise to meet income.  For most Americans, this is true.  If we made $50,000 last year and will make $60,000 this year, our expenses will somehow work their way up to the $60,000 mark (if not higher). 

Living on less requires working with a spending plan and sticking to it.  It requires one of those things that everyone struggles with -- delayed gratification.  I often tell people in my programs -- “you can have everything you want in life, you just can’t have it right now.”

People won’t drive a less-than brand new car when it makes little financial sense to finance a vehicle for 7 years that depreciates 30% when you drive it off the lot.

People won’t save first and spend last.  They do the exact opposite and then wonder why they have no money in the bank when they need it.

Listen, I’m a huge fan of living the lifestyle you were meant to live.  I believe it wholeheartedly.  That being said, I’m not a fan of living that lifestyle for a year and then being so completely upside down with your finances that everyday is a struggle.

Just think about what you’re willing to do for two years, and then knock it out.  You’ll be amazed what most people can’t do, all the while you’re doing it.

Other things you can do for two years:

1.  Live with a roommate (or multiple roommates) to save money on expenses to pay down debt. 

2.  Drive the same car you’ve been driving for the past several years.  Trust me, the new car smell smells all the sweeter when there’s no payments.

3.  Work a second job somewhere that’s fun and rewarding.  Use that money to payoff/paydown debt faster. 

4.  Make taking your lunch a habit and going out for lunch a treat.  OR, eat lunch at home everyday and spend your lunch hour imagining what it will be like to be completely debt free.

5.  No movie buying -- only renting from redbox or netflix.

6.  See if you can buy almost everything you need (outside of food and clothing) from Craigslist.  Slightly used!

7.  When you eat out, eat with a coupon -- You’ll easily save $15 with buy one get one offers.  Put that money towards your debt load.

The reason most recent graduates are broke from go is they are over leveraged on the debt side.  They borrow money at a break-neck speed for four years (or more) and then sit back and accept the fact that they have 10-15 years to pay them back.  Instead, be the person that “does for two years what no one else will do” and live the life you’ve imagined!

New View February After Hours

 Our mission at Glen Oaks is to create an exceptional experience for our members and guests by continuing our tradition as the finest country club in Iowa; providing an outstanding golf course/experience, preeminent dining and social activities, strong focus on families, premier venue for event and unparalleled service that is experienced daily.  Glen Oaks’ championship golf course was designed by Tom Fazio and opened in 1994.  Glen Oaks hosted the Principal Charity Classic, a Champions Tour event, for 11 years ending in 2012.  Our Junior Olympic pool and tennis courts complete our sporting activity facilities.  Glen Oaks offers four dining experiences to fit our members needs and the Glen Oaks culinary team has won numerous awards over the years.  Over the past two years we have completely renovated our 45,000 square foot clubhouse to assure we have best of class facilities for our members.  

Glen Oaks Country Club had an exciting 2012! We completed the clubhouse renovation, continued improvements to our outstanding golf course, while maintaining a strong focus on families, and improving our youth and social events. All of which have contributed to a 10% increase in membership, while the club industry as a whole grew on average of 1% to 2% in 2012.  We strongly believe we will reach our planned golf roster cap of 425 members by early spring! We believe this is due to not only to our outstanding golf course and golf experience, but also to the announcement of our scheduled pool renovations to begin fall of 2013 and completion for the 2014 season!

Along with our custom designed member facilities, Glen Oaks offers a unique venue for all of your private event needs. Our newly renovated banquet space offers gorgeous views, atmosphere and the amenities to accommodate any meeting or event. Our first-class culinary staff can offer meal options for every occasion and our event team can take care of all the “extras” to make your event a success!

The strength of a club is its membership and over the past two years Glen Oaks has added 118 new members.  We would like very much to introduce ourselves and provide you with a tour of the club with the hopes that you will become the newest member of our growing Glen Oaks family. We are excited to announce our 2013 Young Professional Membership Promotion and would love to tell you more about it!

Why I Do What I Do

Most young professionals wouldn’t think to call a travel agent to book their vacations for them. It is so easy to just hop on the internet and book online nowadays that no one even thinks twice about it. People either don’t know what a travel agent can do for them or don’t know that travel agents still exist.

My senior year in high school I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and it was time to fill out college applications. I researched and researched and stumbled upon a program at AIB College of Business called Travel and Tourism. I started looking at the class list and found that no accounting was required for the major. YES!!! I am good with numbers but not good with accounting. Travel and Tourism it is!

I started college and I actually enjoyed all of the classes that centered around the travel industry. I took classes on hotels, cruise lines, and geography. When it was time for my internship class I found a small home-based travel agency. I didn’t really know what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised. During the internship I learned how to find the best possible vacations for people while working around budgets and each person’s individual values. I was taught how to build a vacation from the ground up based on what each family or couple was interested in. After interning with this travel agency I knew I wanted to be a travel agent.

Five years ago I took this position with Travel and Transport Vacations. When someone contacts me about booking a vacation I get to know them as much as possible. I ask what their interests are and if they are active or relaxed people. I want to know what kind of food they like and what activities they enjoy. I build a value-based vacation for them that no website could ever compete with. Travel agents provide that personal touch that makes vacations even more memorable. We have strong relationships with vendors and suppliers and can provide clients with special amenities they can’t get anywhere else. The best part about working with our agency is that if you are booking a total vacation package, there is no fee to use us. We take all of your information and plan your vacation so that you don’t have to stress over it. You can be confident that all of your flights, transfers, and hotels are in order.

So, before you book your next vacation online, remember there are still travel agents out there who are dedicated to making your travel dreams come true!!

 Sarah Roach

Travel Consultant

sroach@tandt.com

Technology Startups in Des Moines Panel - March 1st

Hi there West Des Moines Young Professionals!

I’m looking forward to joining you next week for the New View luncheon. I’m the COO and local boots-on-the-ground Silicon Prairie News a blog, community-organizing and event production startup that’s working to grow the Silicon Prairie - the region that includes Des Moines, Omaha, Kansas City and surrounding - as a national Center of Innovation.


We’re the group that put on Thinc Iowa last November and also do Big Omaha each May. Day-to-day we work to cover the people, companies, issues and culture throughout the region and put a megaphone to that activity so that others locally and across the globe know what’s happening here.

Brad Phillips asked me to put together a panel highlighting the growing technology startup community in Central Iowa. Charise Flynn, the COO of cash-transfer startup Dwolla, has agreed to join me to share information on what they’re building. Dwolla’s national profile has risen a thousand-fold in the last 18 months and is bringing a ton of positive attention to our city.

 Jake Kerber will also join in to talk about his startup Locusic, which can be described as a “Pandora for local music”. Locusic was born nearly a year ago at Startup Weekend Des Moines, a 54 hour event that allows people to pitch ideas for companies and develop them throughout the weekend. Through Jake and his team’s hard work Locusic is now live in Des Moines with plans to launch in Minneapolis and Austin soon.

 Speaking of Startup Weekend Des Moines, the 2012 event is the day following the luncheon. Limited tickets remain so if you’re interested in taking a peak at this unique event or getting a feel of what its like to work for a startup, grab your ticket now: dsm.startupweekend.org.


We’ll be taking questions from the floor but feel free to send them in ahead of time (hint: you’ll probably get better answers, er, at least more thought out ones). Feel free to send to Brad or Lindsey or hit me up on twitter: @geoffwood.

Thank you all in advance and we all look forward to joining you!

 

Geoff Wood

COO, Silicon Prairie News

http://www.siliconprairienews.com/

The Civic Center’s “Blind Date”

Looking for a good laugh, fun night out, and reasonably-priced entertainment?  Well, the folks at Civic Center of Greater Des Moines have just what these cold Iowa nights need right now… a HILARIOUS, quirky, and talented woman, “Mimi” taking us through 90-minutes of a blind date, where you just never know what’s going to happen next!  Playing at the Temple Theater, Blind Date will be pleasing audiences of all ages through January 22nd.  It offers an improvised comedy show where Mimi and one other guest – plucked right from the audience – have everyone laughing and cheering them on as they get to know each other, “fall in love”, and even get into some mishaps along the way. 

I have attended this show twice; once on a weekday, when the audience member picked was a divorced 40-year old, and once during the weekend, when the audience member was a married 30-something (who just may have had a couple cocktails prior to his performance).  Both times, the Blind Date performer and her “date” had me, and my group, laughing so hard we cried.  Rebecca Northan, who plays Mimi, must have an incredible judge of character because the guys she “casted” (by mingling in the lobby beforehand) were perfect for the role.  Wednesday’s date was a little more shy and took a bit to open-up, but just watching her talk with him and get him comfortable was entertainment!  She wears a clown nose, has a French accent, and has a wonderful ability to make even deeper topics (on Wednesday, they talked about the recent death of her date’s mother) light-hearted and engaging.

This show is definitely one of Temple Theater’s best comedy acts and earns a great-big “MUST SEE”!  Once you go, you may even find yourself interested in going back… since the show changes every time.  Her “date” greatly influences the direction of the show, along with the audience, who she does talk with as the night goes on, getting feedback on what they’d like to see next.

Chamber members get a 15% discount, as part of the Civic Center Discount Program, so make sure to take advantage of that.  Click here to get started.  

Enter Pass Code: Chamber

Click on ‘Blind Date’ and then ‘Find Tickets’

Enter Special Offer Code: Best

Create an account to complete purchase

Check out this review for more great Blind Date commentary!

Leslie Jasper

Group Sales Manager

Civic Center of Greater Des Moines

515-246-2369

ljasper@civiccenter.org

Healthy Tips to Start Off The New Year

I know many of you make your New Year’s resolution to be healthier or to lose that extra weight gained during the goodie-filled holiday season, or maybe you just want to create more balance in your life.  Most of us try to continue our new year’s resolution(s) all the way through the year, but let’s face it, come mid-February or March, most of us have gone back to our old unhealthy habits. No matter what your new year’s resolutions are; there are some very simple ways to start off your 2012-year on the right foot and keep it that way. 

It actually takes 21 days to develop a habit.  And we are habit-forming creatures; this is how we create routines in our daily lives.  Anyone can do something for 21 days if they really want to change.  So try it and stick with it! That habit could be working out, or eating more vegetables, or a daily affirmation or meditation. Be patient, it may take a week or two to start seeing the results you want – 21 days is all it takes.  Keep a calendar on the fridge or something that you look at every day and cross off the days as they pass.

Everyone should have on his or her list of goals for 2012 to become an overall healthier person.  This starts with providing your body with the proper fuel to perform at its optimal levels.  The fuel our bodies crave is vegetables and fruits.  Most people do not eat enough fruits and veggies to meet the nutritional needs the body requires.  A simple start to add fruits and veggies into your diet is to first start to keep a food diary.  Many people are “unconscious eaters” and don’t realize the amount of junk and toxic food they put into our bodies.  We are what we eat, and if we constantly eat junk food or empty calorie foods, our body gets toxic and will cause ailments, aches, pains, digestion issues, and disease.  So write down EVERYTHING you eat (even gum and mints) and keep track of how you feel – maybe you get a headache, or feel tired – it is amazing the correlations you can create when you see them on paper.  Your body will give you warning signs that it does not like certain foods.  After a few days of keeping your food diary, make a point to eat a fresh fruit and/or vegetable with every meal, even your snacks.  This will provide more nutrients your body needs, and if you eat your vegetable or fruit first, you will not eat as much junk after because your body will be more satisfied.  A nutritious diet consists mostly of vegetables, fruit, beans, nuts and seeds.  These foods are nutrient-packed foods that your body will love. 

Daily exercise is another important aspect of living a healthy well-balanced life.  You have all heard this before – the key is to find the right exercise that works well for you and fits into your schedule.  Exercise helps to get toxins out of your body and keeps everything moving properly.  It helps decrease stress, increases circulation, improves mental clarity, and increases energy.  So find a 30-90 minute window in your schedule to start moving.  Sometimes the hardest part is putting on those shoes and getting out that door – again, it takes 21 days to develop that habit. 

Thinking positive thoughts is also something that often gets overlooked.  The power of what your head can do to create peace or chaos in the body is very influential of how we live our daily life.  If we walk around grumpy all day, we are stressed, we make bad choices, and it creates stress and strain on our entire body.  If we choose to be happy, to pick our battles, and think positive thoughts our body will create more energy and work more efficiently.  Get a little calendar book with daily positive affirmations to read every morning, or look in the mirror every day and tell yourself something positive.  “Every thought we think is creating our future,” Louise L. Hay.

And lastly, something I can’t leave out since it is my passion, get regular chiropractic adjustments.  Our nervous system controls everything our body does.  It controls how we think, how we absorb our nutrients we put into our body, how we move, and how we function.  Our spine houses and protects our nervous system with 24 moveable vertebrae.  If one or several of these vertebrae are out of place causing a misalignment, also called a subluxation, it will cause pressure on the nervous system, decreasing function.  A chiropractor will find these misalignments and take pressure off the nervous system and allow the body to work at optimal levels, increasing overall health and energy. 

So let’s start off 2012 right! A habit takes 21 days to develop, so create the positive and healthy habits and get rid of the old ones.  Eat well; keep a food diary and add a fresh fruit and/or vegetable with every single meal.  Move well; find an exercise routine that works well for you.  Think well; start off your day with a positive affirmation.  And finally, get regular chiropractic adjustments so your nervous system is working properly and your body can work at its highest, healthiest levels. Let’s make 2012 your happiest, healthiest year yet!

Dr. Angie Monthei

Complete Wellness Chiropractic

3408 Woodland Avenue, Suite 501

West Des Moines, IA 50266

http://www.iowacompletewellness.com/

515-440-3066

drangiem@gmail.com



Come hear more from Dr. Angie at the Jan. 5th luncheon.  RSVP by clicking here.