Recently in Iowa Category

What could be better than spending the evening with an exceptional group of Iowa Democratic women? For me, it would be getting honored by that same group of women for something I had a great time doing.

Last fall, I helped DAWN's List put together a seminar for Democratic women. My contribution included putting together materials on social networking and other tech things that I love and use on a daily basis, and sharing that information with some of the most dynamic women in Iowa. It was one of the most pleasurable activities I've ever undertaken and something I'd gladly do again. 

There will be a reception Monday night in Des Moines for my honoring (which I'm hoping will be kept to a minimum), as well as the very much deserved recognition of six other Democratic ladies. 

The full press release from DAWN's List is below, and I really hope to see you there.

Democratic Activist Women's Network Announces Honorees for Women's Appreciation Day Reception

Des Moines, IA - DAWN's List has announced the names of five Democratic women who will be honored at the Women's Appreciation Day Reception to be held Monday, March 8th, at the Grand Piano Bistro in Des Moines.

"We received nominations from all over the state for these awards," said Carole Kazmierski, President of DAWN's List. "The nominees are outstanding women who have made major contributions to the state of Iowa."

Award winners include Andrea Jansa, Des Moines (Rising Star Award); Rachael Grimes, McCallsburg (Special Recognition Award); Clara Oleson, West Branch (Activist Award); Peggy Huppert, Des Moines (Lifetime Achievement Award); and State Senator Amanda Ragan, Mason City (Elected Official Award).

During the reception, DAWN's List will also honor Lynda Waddington for her volunteer efforts in 2009 and will recognize Roxanne Conlin, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, for her many years of service to DAWN-supported issues.

Guest speaker at the reception will be Christie Vilsack, Executive Director of the Iowa Initiative and former Iowa First Lady. The reception will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Grand Piano Bistro, 506 E. Grand Avenue, Des Moines.

Tickets may be reserved on the DAWN's List website (www.dawnslist.org) or may be purchased from a DAWN's List steering committee member prior to the event. Ticket requests may also be e-mailed to dawniowa@gmail.com, Please include your name, contact information, and number of tickets needed.

With a prior reservation individual tickets are $20 or two tickets for $35. Individual tickets purchased at the door will be $25 for one ticket or $40 for two tickets.

Since 1992, DAWN's List has been dedicated to the election of Democratic pro-choice women in Iowa. Today, DAWN's List is the only Iowa group dedicated solely to the support, recruitment, mentoring and election of progressive women.

Three contributors to feministing.com -- Vanessa Valenti, Samhita Mukhopadhyay and Miriam Perez -- will be speaking next month in Iowa City.

The event, "A Conversation with the Editors of Feministing.com," is part of an annual observance by the Women's Resource and Action Center at the University of Iowa of International Women's Month. The trio will speak on a panel at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 9, in 100 Phillips Hall.

The event is free and open to the public.

Some of the questions the panelists plan to address:

• How is the failing economy changing gender roles?
• What's up with the sexual climate on college campuses? Is hooking up really tantamount to sexual liberation?
• Is there such a thing as "women's issues" anymore?
• How can we heal intergenerational and interracial tensions after the contentious 2008 presidential election?
• Is feminism today still a bona fide movement? If so, where's the "moving?"

It's difficult to know exactly where Shane Goodman, editor of CityView, stands based on a quick read of his latest editorial. On one hand, he seems to think there are too many women staffing news desks around the land, and that their very presence is leading to him being force-fed soft news stories on throw pillows. On the other, he wants readers to enjoy the publication's latest soft news piece on how women can get and keep a man -- which is, ironically, written by what must be one of the last few male reporters on the CityView roster.

His primary dig seems to be directed to The Des Moines Register, but there is little need for me to start defending that publication's honor. Rekha Basu, a seasoned journalist on the DMR staff that I greatly admire, already took care of business in that respect.

What's important to note is that CityView promotes itself as central Iowa's "alternative" weekly. Basically, CityView wants you to think that it is an alternative to what is customary and conventional. Viewing Goodman's column in that light, several things come into focus.

1) The column is an apology to (like-minded male) readers. He is simply saying, "Damn it, I don't want to run this useless fluff, but these silly women have taken up reading and writing and forced my hand."

2) Goodman has a very low opinion of his own female employees and readers. He wrote, "Only a third of our staff at the office is men..." and "...occasional static from some females about not having enough news for women." Logically, if his news crew was predominantly women and, at least in his mind's eye, women are only interested in reporting on "hot colors for throw pillows," then it would follow that CityView would offer a more than adequate supply of soft news that would appeal to soft-news-seeking female readers, right?

3) Goodman stereotypes his male readership, possibly in an attempt to remake them in his own image. He wrote, "There's something for all of us guys to learn in the book, too, if we can put down our TV remotes, wrenches and the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition long enough to soak it in."

I've worked with enough older male journalists and editors to understand the whole hankering for days gone by -- newsrooms filled with male smoke, male obscenities and male flatulence. It was so much easier when the sexes didn't publicly mingle, male reporters covered male policymakers and community leaders, and "skirts" were only good for the occasional scandal. Back then, at least I'm told, reporters felt free to call each other "boobs" or "panty-waists" or even "pussies" for not getting out there and banging some heads together -- well, at least when they weren't sharing a cigar and beer at the country club with those who were overdue for public flogging. 

I also get that it is much more convenient to point to 'chickification' instead of unraveling the news industry's woes of technological advancements, decreased readership, low ad revenues and ever-increasing expenditure costs.

What I get most of all -- and this is mostly due to the wonderful and educational time I've spent with older journalists both male and female -- is that leaders don't scapegoat. Leaders consider all options and, upon having made a thoughtful decision, don't screw it up with public blood- or testosterone-letting.

It's been said that women become involved in politics when they are invited to participate. Please consider this your invitation.

Today, at 1 p.m., Iowans from all walks of life will meet in school gyms, churches, community centers and household basements. They will gather to begin a very important process that too often gets lost in political punditry and campaign jockeying. At these small gatherings, individuals will be selected as delegates to county conventions and as precinct leaders for local central committees.

You can be one of those convention delegates. You can take an active role in your county. You can place your fears about politics being "too nasty" aside long enough to imagine a better way. Most importantly, by jumping into the fray at the local level, you will have a very real opportunity to manifest what you have imagined.

Recent events have taught us -- taught women a lesson. For far too long we have allowed men to hold a vocal majority in our local, state and national politics. They have primarily catered to their own historic interests of business, war and finance without sufficient tempering by women's historic interests in child welfare, equality and education. Without a doubt we have reaped what we have sown, and our next generation can look forward to the dismal harvest of our own inattention and lack of concern for anything other than the possibility of dirtying our hands in the soil.

Iowa politics at all levels not only needs but is screaming out for a groundswell of female participation. We see it in our existing budget crisis, and the mandates by our governor to cut costs across the board. Women, who have balanced grocery, Girl Scout troop and church budgets, are much better positioned by right of their hands-on experience to understand that such cuts not only adversely impact the most vulnerable, but have the potential of leading to further expenses in the long run.

When a woman is faced with an especially tight week financially and knows she must reduce household expenditures, does she automatically decide that despite a need to commute to work that she will cut the fuel expenses by 10 percent? Does she enter the grocery store and purchase 10 percent less fruits and vegetables so that she can continue to purchase 90 percent chips and soda?

While a state budget is much more complex than a grocery list or even a family budget, there are common sense approaches that apply. When funds are tight we seek out and purchase the best food available to nourish and strengthen our families. We do so because we understand that inadequate or junk foods can lead to disease, which can lead to further household expenditures.

When state leaders cut essential services -- education, child protection, emergency services, juvenile justice, health care -- they are feeding their citizens junk food that will eventually cost our state 10-fold more than the initial savings.

The fiscal realities at all levels of government are stark challenges that demand thoughtful debate and well-considered policy. There is no longer time for the luxury of partisan bickering or grandstanding. There is only time for sincere individuals from every section of our society to place their heads together in good faith to map out solutions.

It's time to understand that even if the worst of your fears in connection with personal political involvement manifested themselves, your situation would still not be as bad as what you are going to confront if you don't become more active. 

Whether you more closely identify with Democrats or Republicans, there is location today where you can go, meet new people, see old friends, and begin a new journey. Spend an hour or two today at your precinct caucus. Spend the next week listing needs in your own community. Spend the next month identifying and befriending allies to address those challenges. Spend the next year making a difference.

The fire blazing in the room at Java Creek Cafe was not the only heat when former Governor Terry Branstad visited with Linn County GOP activists.  Rumors were spreading like hot embers through the room that Paul Pate is a candidate for Secretary of State.  A couple of Pate's former staff members were in attendance, Todd Henderson and Dawn Svenson. The rumors circulated even more as Henderson showed a potential announcement of Pate as a candidate.  An activist's Facebook page has photos of herself and Paul Pate with the description stating he is a candidate for Secretary of State.  Is this the worse kept secret in town or just someone really hoping to push Pate into running again.

I am sure Matt Schultz has caught wind of this and is kicking into high gear, especially since George Eichorn officially announced yesterday.  It seems candidates are coming out of the wood work.  Matt has made numerous trips to Linn County and has gotten to know the activists.  Two of the most active people have agreed to be his campaign chairs for the county, Emma Aquino-Nemecek and Althea Hasse. 

The Linn County GOP is going to have a lot of visits in the next year with so many candidates for Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, House, Senate, Congress, Dog Catcher...

I think it would be great to see Paul Pate return to the political realm.  Paul has done a lot for Iowa serving as State Representative, State Senator, Secretary of State and Mayor of Cedar Rapids.

UPDATE

James Lynch with the Gazette has confirmed that Pate is indeed looking into the possibility of running a second time for the position of Secretary of State.  His article.

Joni Scotter of Marion is a member of the Iowa Republican Party's State Central Committee.  She has recently come under attack for choosing to be a member of Terry Branstad's corridor campaign committee.

The by-laws of the Party do not say anything about members working or volunteering for campaigns.  Much like anything else, there are those unwritten rules.  It sounds like this might be one of them.

Personally, it doesn't make any difference to me.  The people who usually get elected to committees like the State Central Committee are activists to start with.  How is one expected to just sit and fold their hands when an important race is going on.

More of an issue of Joni working to support a Republican is the fact that one of her loudest complainers was just paid thousands of dollars to help elect a Democrat!  Who is really failing this litmus test?