The official e-newsletter of the Greater Des Moines Young Professionals Connection

Inside this issue:

• YPC Events this Week
• YPC Events Coming Up
• YPC Updates
• Greater Des Moines Partnership Events
• Other Events Around Town

Golden Circle Games Committee Meeting
February 23

The Golden Circle Games Committee will be having a meeting for planning the 2010 games TONIGHT, February 23rd, 2010 at Smokey Row Caf� (1910 Cottage Grove Ave. Des Moines, IA 50314) from 5:30 – 6:30 pm. We will start the planning process, establish subcommittees, and discuss a theme for the games. The Golden Circle Games were born over 20 years ago as an impromptu business picnic with four local companies. Today, the games are all grown up now with hundreds of teams participating in wacky, team building games. The focus is on fun, games, team building, networking, and a little healthy competition. We will need a large committee this year to get the event planned. Please contact Ashley Okland if you have any questions.

YPC Lunch & Learn - "Money Management"
February 25

Bring your lunch and listen to speaker Jason P. Wiltse talk about Money Management! Jason Wiltse is the Principal and Investment Executive at Navigator Financial Partners, and the President of the Central Iowa Chapter of the Society for Financial Awareness (SOFA). Topics he will cover are:

• Where does the money go? Overview of how the average American spends $1.
• Discussion of how the average individual/family manages their finances.
• Energy of money – psychology created by/associated with “typical” strategy of managing cash flow.
• Potential problems created by “typical” strategy (ie. stress, leakage, etc.).
• Categorizing expenses to stop leakage, manage spending, ensure that bills are paid, and help relief the stress of managing money.
• Explanation of cash flow system to address issues mentioned above.
• Understanding the importance of an emergency reserve.

The Lunch & Learn is from noon to 1 p.m. in the Arthur Davis Conference Center at the Greater Des Moines Partnership, 700 Locust St., Suite 100, Downtown. Contact Jason Kieau, Professional Development Chair, for more information.

YPC Night at Des Moines Social Club
March 3
 

Come down to the Des Moines Social Club for a YPC Happy Hour prior to the JG Faux Show, where Pete Jones - 2010 YPC President, will be the guest on March 3rd. Reminder: YPC members get a $1 discount on drinks at the Sideshow Lounge at the Des Moines Social Club. The JG Faux features interviews, performances, and live commercials swaddled in a blanket of funny. The Faux show happens every Wednesday at 8:30pm in the Sideshow Lounge inside of the Des Moines Social Club. It may or may not be a magical evening, but if you are into banality and mediocrity then this is the show for you.

YP Day at the Capitol
March 10

Save the date! This year's YP Day at the Capitol is Wednesday, March 10, from 9 a.m to 4:30 p.m. Young Professionals from around the state will have a chance to meet with legislators, hear a budget update from State Auditor David Vaudt, attend a "How to Lobby" workshop, and much more! Visit www.ypiowa.com for more information.

YPC Monthly Social Networking Hour
March 11

Join YPC for its monthly get together on Thursday, March 11, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Mickey's Irish Pub (located at 1800 NW 86th Street in Clive). There will social networking, drink specials, and complimentary appetizers. The YPC Monthly Happy Hour happens on the second Thursday of each month. Contact Kearstin Habhab, YPC Social Chair, for more information.

YPC Green Challenge Update

As of last week, YPC participants had logged more than 250 trips for the YPC Green Challenge. Could you be adding to this total? There's many different ways to participate yourself by logging your trips at www.drivetimedesmoines.org . Carpooling to a business lunch, working from home on a snow day, walking to work, all these and many more count as trips and could make you eligible to win the monthly prize drawings. The goal of the challenge is to log 1,000 trips by Earth Day, there is no fee for signing up. As another part of the Green Challenge, you may start noticing our Green Tips being posted within local businesses starting this week. Stay tuned as there's also big announcements on the way as YPC will be hosting the Earth Day Trash Bash After-party. If you have questions or want more information about the YPC Green Challenge, please contact Shawn Harrington, YPC Impact Downtown Chair.

YP Live

Tune in to YPLive tonight at 9 pm on www.DesMoinesLocalLive.com with host Mike Banasiak (YPC Marketing Chair) Tonight's Show Topic: Being your own boss: turning your entrepreneurial idea into reality. Guests include Shane Reiser, event organizer of Startup Weekend Des Moines (http://dsm.startupweekend.com/), who will discuss the upcoming conference and details how you can start a company in just 54 hours. Want to start a business in West Des Moines? Christine Gordon from the city of West Des Moines will share information on "New Beginnings" (http://www.wdm-ia.com/index.aspx?page=945), an entrepreneur class which includes a competition to win significant startup capital. Brian Cook, co-owner of Esquire Insurance (http://www.esquireinsure.com/), will discuss the good, the bad and the ugly about being your own boss.

Partnership/Affiliate Day on the Hill
March 2

The Greater Des Moines Partnership and its regional Affiliated Chambers of Commerce and business organizations will host a day of advocacy at the Iowa Statehouse on March 2. Partnership investors and regional members will have the opportunity to meet with individual State Senators and Representatives on issues that are vital to regional economic growth. The cost to attend is $10 per person, which includes breakfast. Participants can register online and view the agenda at www.desmoinesmetro.com/events. For more information about the event, contact Jessica Maldonado.

Making a Good Fit: Career Networking Event- Des Moines
February 24

Join the UI Alumni Association and the UI Tippie College of Business for a relaxed evening of networking, r�sum� reviews, and a discussion on finding a work environment that's a great fit for you on Wednesday, February 24, at Django’s, 210 10th Street, Downtown Des Moines. Networking and r�sum� reviews begin at 5:30, then at 6:30 p.m. there will be a presentation titled "Finding A Great Fit," presented by Amy Kristof-Brown, Tippie College of Business Professor. The cost is $5 for UIAA members, and $8 for non-members. Appetizers provided and cash bar available, this event is open to the public. Learn more and RSVP at http://www.iowalum.com/lifelonglearning/emails/01_10find.html.

Caf� Scientifique
February 25

Each month, the Science Center will invite a local expert or industry leader to speak to the public about a current and relevant science topic in a casual, relaxed atmosphere. These informal monthly events are free and no scientific background is necessary, just an interest in the topic at hand. Learn from a 30 minute presentation by the featured guest speaker, then stick around for an hour of open discussion in a setting that is welcoming for all. Feel free to purchase a beverage or appetizer to enjoy during the event! The event is from 5:30 - 7:00 pm at Dos Rios Cantina & Lounge, 316 Court Ave., Downtown Des Moines.

Robyn O'Neil Exhibition Preview Party
February 25

Join Art Noir at the Robyn O'Neil Exhibition Preview Party from 6-8 p.m., at the Des Moines Art Center. Admission is normally $5, but there is free admission and a free drink for members of YPC. Join us for the opening of The world has won. A final bow was taken, a new exhibition of works by Omaha-born, Houston-based artist Robyn O'Neil. Using the thinnest graphite available and the largest sheets of paper commercially produced, O'Neil has created minutely detailed drawings that depict snowy landscapes, turbulent seas, and multi-layered narratives. The Preview Party features music by vocalist and keyboardist Daniel Knox. Daniel Know will also perform at an after-party at the Vaudeville Mews.

Startup Weekend
March 5

Didn't make it to last year's Startup Weekend Des Moines? Now's your chance to come find out what the buzz is all about. The weekend of March 5th, get together with local developers, marketers, designers, and aspiring entrepreneurs to pitch ideas, form teams and actually launch new business ventures over the weekend. Sound intense? It is! By Sunday evening you’ll leave with a full stomach, little to no sleep, a lot of great networking, and you’ll have seen the rise of a new startup or two. To sign up or learn more about Startup Weekend Des Moines, visit http://dsm.startupweekend.com. E-mail organizer Shane Reiser at for more information at shane@startupweekend.org.

The Survivorship Connection Conference
March 6

The Survivorship Connection Conference is for all cancer survivors ages 18 to 40, their loved ones and healthcare professionals and will feature closing remarks by Des Moines native Rebecca Meyer, the at-home winner of season 8 of NBC's "The Biggest Loser. The event is at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites and cost is $35 for regular registration or $25 for Students... Participants must register by Feb. 15. For more information or to register, please visit, www.ChildrensCancerPrograms.org or contact Brecka at: (515) 243-6239 ext. 6.

"New Beginnings" - Entrepreneur Classes and Competition
March 12 Registration Deadline

The City of West Des Moines and Mid Iowa Small Business Development Center, along with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, are pleased to sponsor entrepreneur classes for current business owners or those considering an entrepreneurial endeavor in West Des Moines. “New Beginnings” will provide you with the basics of planning and help you in managing your business into today’s ever changing marketplace ,as well as applying for funding opportunities of $25,000, $15,000, or $10,000. For more information regarding these classes click here.

Volunteer for Iowa Kidstrong

Iowa Kidstrong is looking for volunteers in various capacities to help launch its See-Us Run Des Moines program. The mission of Iowa Kidstrong’s See-Us Run Des Moines is to help teens who face adversity in their lives learn that they are capable, resourceful and resilient to respond to life challenges by providing them the opportunity to experience first-hand the benefits of goal-setting, character development, adult mentoring and improved health through committing to, training for, and completing the Des Moines Marathon. For more information visit www.iowakidstrong.com (click on SRDM at the top of the page) or contact Cindy Elsbernd at cindy@iowakidstrong.com.