Advocacy

Our Chamber plays a deciding role in influencing local issues!

We identify and involve ourselves in many issues of importance to our members and community, but our advocacy efforts are far from "local." The Government Affairs and Transportation are charged with developing positions and supporting "local" interests in venues ranging from small town halls to the U.S. Capitol and White House.

Local government officials are active in both committees; Chamber political and economic af-fairs leaders are frequent presenters at city and county government hearings and meetings. We also keep state legislators abreast of matters important to our members via local "Eggs and Issues Breakfasts" monthly before and during the Iowa legislative session and an annual regional lob-bying trip, "Great River Region Days," with presentations to legislative and executive branch leaders in Des Moines. And we remember to thank those officials, sponsoring annual recogni-tion events for school board members and elected city, county and legislative officials.

Government Affairs Committee, Committee Chair: Doug Martin - Develops legislative state-ments to take to Des Moines and Washington D.C.; Host Eggs n' Issues Breakfast Forums, as well as public forums for candidates running in local elections; host annual public elected appreciation event. Meets the second Thursday of each month.

Transportation Committee, Committee Chair: Mark Hagerla - Beaverdale Tradin Post - In-fluence and expedite decisions relating to transportation improvements for Des Moines County business and industry. Meets the Forth Friday of the month on an as needed base.