WDM CHAMBER
3 STAR PACESETTER
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WDM CHAMBER
1 STAR PACESETTERS
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Board Meeting
Tuesday, January 5
4:00 PM
WDM City Hall
Partnership Legislative Reception
Monday, January 11
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Des Moines Social Club
2010 WDM Chamber Sponsorship Sale
Tuesday, January 12
9:00 AM
Ribbon Cutting
Wednesday, Jan. 13
3:15 PM
Wednesday, Jan. 20
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
To Be Announced
Ribbon Cutting
Wednesday, Jan. 20
5:00 PM
Annual Dinner
Wednesday, Jan. 27
5:30 Cocktail Hour
6:30 Dinner
Thursday, January 28
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
To Be Announced
For a complete listing of the January 2010 WDM Chamber Events, please click HERE |
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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
6600 Westown Parkway
West Des Moines, IA 50266
515.273.1811
Education - Colleges/Universities
1630 22nd Street
West Des Moines, IA 50266
515.225-1809
Bank
1905 EP True Parkway, Suite 204
West Des Moines, IA 50265
515.223.2284
Insurance - Financial Agent
400 Legacy Parkway
Norwalk, IA 50211
515.287.7885
Public Golf Course
4300 SE Capitol Circle, Suite C
Grimes, IA 50111
515.986.0305 Chauffeured Transportation
341 Elm Avenue
Story City, IA 50248
515.494.0809
Health Care/Services
4600 Westown Parkway
West Des Moines, IA 50266
515.867.3398
Business Machines
1601 60th Street
West Des Moines, IA 50266
515.643.5300
Health Care - Hospital |
| 2010 WDM CHAMBER SPONSORSHIPS
GO ON-SALE
Tuesday, January 12
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| Join the WDM Chamber Ambassadors at |
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Wednesday, Jan. 20
7:30 - 8:30 AM
Location & Host:
To Be Announced
No charge to attend, but
please RSVP.
Call 515.225.6009 or click HERE |
| ANNUAL DINNER
Wednesday, January 27
5:30 PM - Cocktail Hour
6:30 PM - Dinner |
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Des Moines Golf &
Country Club
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 Thursday, Jan. 28
5:00 PM -7:00 PM
Location & Host:
To Be Announced
No charge to attend, but please RSVP. Call 515.225.6009
or click HERE.
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WDM CHAMBER OFFICERS
515.288.3279
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WDM CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
515.222.5205
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Meet Your 2010 President
 First of all I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mike Kammerer and the 2009 Board of Directors for an outstanding year. Please join me in thanking Mike and all the board members for their leadership and hard work throughout the year.
I am honored to be your President this year, and I feel very humbled to have an outstanding group of people who serve on the Chamber's Board of Directors, Ambassadors, and Committees. Our dedicated board members spend many hours advancing the vision and the mission of the Chamber and serving the business community. They, along with the many volunteers and members of the Chamber, are what make the West Des Moines Chamber great.
This year we are entering our fourth year as an autonomous Chamber, and each year your Chamber has grown and gotten better. 2010 promises to build on our goals and continues the path of growth and innovation we set fourth in our strategic plan. I am looking forward to continuing the work that has been done in previous years.
Last year we focused on our members and the value that we bring to them each and everyday. By leveraging our three-star accreditation by the US Chamber of Commerce, this allowed us to retool current programs and create new ones that not only added value to our West Des Moines Chamber members, but has set the stage for an even better Chamber for years to come. As we move forward to more for you in 2010, below is a brief listing of a few of our tasks for this year:
1. The West Des Moines Development Corporation will be rolled into the Chamber to manage Economic Development Activities.
2. Building the West Des Moines Chamber brand through improved programs and a new public relations campaign.
3. Increasing non-dues revenue through programs and other fundraising activities,
4. Re-evaluating our organizational structure and determining future staffing needs to assure that we have the support systems in place to serve the Chamber and its members as we grow.
5. Increasing overall membership of the Chamber
6. Continue to promote and deliver a West Des Moines Leadership Academy that grows future leaders for our board and committees.
While it takes great planning and strong leadership, most importantly it takes active members to make the Chamber successful. We still have many opportunities on committees. Our committees include:
Communications
Membership
Government Relations
Programs
Finance
Sponsorships
Please consider volunteering your time to the Chamber in 2010.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you as your 2010 President. Throughout the year, if you have any questions, or if there is anything we can do for you, please contact Linda Hulleman, our executive director, any board member or myself. I look forward to seeing all of you at our Annual Dinner on January 27, 2010.
2010 West Des Moines Chamber President |
 Leadership Focuses on Conflict and Philanthropy Leadership requires difficult decisions at times and always involves other people. As a leader, at some point or another, you are going to encounter conflict. Melynda DeCarlo and Tammy Rogers from the Meyvn Group lead another educational  session of the West Des Moines Leadership Academy on Thursday, December 17th, focusing on conflict management. As previously established, conflict is inevitable at some point. This session focused on understanding how you as a leader naturally handle conflict (whether you handle it head-on, in a physically aggressive manner, or you're instinct is to run). Being aware of  your natural style is helpful in moving forward your team as you can take proactive measures to understand each other's points of view and ultimately coming to an agreement.
The second half of the December WDMLA focused on opportunities that members of our class might be able to get involved through non-profits and philanthropic events in the Des Moines metro area. Guests from the  Hy-Vee Triathlon, The Miracle League and Hope 4 Africa spoke to the class.
As members of the West Des Moines Leadership Academy it is important to realize that we are larger than just a 32-member class that meets once a month and we have a real opportunity to impact our community. It is in this spirit that we enter the planning stages of our class project for 2010. Scheduled for May 1, 2010 this community-wide event is going to help our local food pantries at a time when supply is typically low. Stay  tuned for details as this will be an event you are going to want to be a part of!
After the session adjourned, the 2010 class of the West Des Moines Leadership Academy headed to the Sheraton Hotel for horderves, drinks and networking with class alumni. For more information regarding the West Des Moines Leadership Academy, visit www.wdmleaders.org or contact Julie Weeks at the Chamber by calling 515.225.6009 or sending an e-mail to julie@wdmchamber.org.
Submitted by:
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Business of the Month - Care Initiatives Hospice
Care Initiatives Hospice, a not-for-profit statewide hospice, was recently awarded full accreditation from the Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP). As a CHAP accredited hospice, Care Initiatives Hospice is recognized for the high level of quality care offered to patients and families at a very difficult time in life.
Care Initiatives Hospice provides care wherever eligible patients reside; their homes, their children's homes, a nursing home or an assisted living facility. High level pain and symptom control, assistance with difficult decisions and various therapies are brought to the location of patients to improve their quality of life at the end of life. Care is provided by interdisciplinary teams of healthcare professionals including registered nurses, social workers, hospice aides, counselors, volunteers, therapists and many others.
Hospice care referrals can be made by any family member, friend or loved one. All Care Initiatives Hospice offices are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer questions and be of immediate service. The local Des Moines area office can be contacted at (515) 223-3813 or toll free at (877) 577-2888. A web site is also available for additional information (www.CareInitiativesHospice.org). Care Initiatives Hospice is a service of Care Initiatives, Iowa's largest not-for-profit provider of nursing home care with 44 locations throughout Iowa.
For more information, contact:
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 Welcome New Board Members
The West Des Moines Chamber is excited to welcome the following new board members to the team!
Edye Beckerman - Flemings Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
Chris Curran - R&R Realty Group
Angie Goodale - Compass Financial
Scott Ivers - Kirke Financial
Dorman Otte - WDM Development Corporation
Kevin Snyder - LADCO Development |
The Annual Dinner is Coming
You should have received your WDM Chamber Annual Dinner invitation in the mail last week. You won't want to miss this event!
This year's dinner, scheduled for Wednesday, January 27, will feature a great program celebrating accomplishments of 2009 and introducing great new enhancements for our Chamber in 2010.
A special performance by Dueling Pianos, courtesy of Blue Moon Dueling Piano Bar & Restaurant will cap off the celebrations of the evening.
We'll be celebrating our Citizen of the Year at an annual reception to kick off A-May-Zing Days month-long series of events in West Des Moines. Look for nominations to beginning sometime in early spring.
Mark your calendars for January 27 - and many thanks to Weitz Co., returning once again as our Annual Dinner sponsor. |
 Who's Ready to Live Healthy?
The Live Healthy Iowa initiative is a 100 day wellness challenge to fight obesity and make our Iowa communities stronger by helping citizens live a healthier lifestyle.
The Live Healthy Iowa program runs from January 14 to April 23, 2010. Using a web-based platform, participants can form teams of 2-10 people. They then log on to the website weekly to keep track of their activity, receive personalized tips on how to lead a healthier lifestyle, and participate in friendly competition that helps to motivate individuals while fostering team building within their Chamber and within the workplace. For more information, visit the Live Healthy Iowa website at www.livehealthyiowa.org.
The WDM Chamber is looking for businesses to put together a team or for smaller businesses to work together to form a team. If you are interested in participating, please call or email the chamber at 515.225.6009. |
 Partnership's Annual Opening Night Legislative Reception
The Greater Des Moines Partnership and the Regional Affiliate Chambers and organizations will host the annual Opening Night Reception for the 83rd Iowa General Assembly on Monday, January 11. The reception will take place from 5 - 7 pm, at the Des Moines Social Club, 1408 Locust St., in downtown Des Moines.
 Affiliate member restaurants and vendors will provide hors d'oeuvres and refreshments. Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar will once again be the West Des Moines Chamber's representative. Thank you Flemings!
The cost to attend is $15 per person for Partnership investors and regional members, and $30 per person for non-members. All are invited to attend.
Reservations are due by January 8, 2010. To register for the event, visit www.desmoinesmetro.com/events. For more information, please contact Jessica Maldonado at (515) 286-4924 or jmaldonado@desmoinesmetro.com. |
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Viewing Gallery
Meg Fitz and Martha Willits from the Greater Des Moines Partnership get ready for the December WDM Chamber Membership Luncheon. The luncheon was held on Thursday, December West Des Moines Chamber members and ambassadors cele10th at Des Moines Golf.
Chapel Ridge West Apartments celebrated it grand opening with a ribbon cutting on Monday, December 14th. There are still some brand new apartments to be filled so call their office for details!
On Tuesday night, December 15th, the West Des Moines Historical Society hosted the WDM Chamber's Business After Hours. The Jordan House holiday decorations were spectacular.
The great folks at Angie's Kids Zone in Valley Junction hosted the December Breakfast B4 Business on Wednesday, December 16th. The venue was perfect for those last minute Christmas gifts.
The Chamber's new young professionals committee in action, brainstorming group names and event venues on Wednesday, December 16th.
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