NAWCO-CI Blog

Free Business-Building Seminar at Farm Bureau

Ready to spend a day focused on the strategic fit of your business, business planning, balanced executive teams, and discussing great leadership and business resources? Then sign up now for the Iowa Farm Bureau's November 2 Renew Rural Iowa Business Success Seminar, featuring Curtis Nelson, author and president of Entrepreneurial Development Center, Inc. His "A Recipe for Business Success" presentation (free, 8:15 to 3:30 p.m. at Iowa Farm Bureau headquarters) is designed to help Iowa entrepreneurs uncover opportunities for improving their businesses while also providing the support and connections necessary to make those opportunities a reality.

Nelson will explore those opportunities in an interactive environment. He's directed the development and successful launch of more than 25 new business models and more then 200 new products for the communications, IT, military, transportation, medical, health, food and gardening industries worldwide. And, Nelson's a three-time veteran of Inc. magazine's Fastest-Growing Private Companies list.

Call 800-254-9670 for more information or to apply go online.

-Pam Schoffner, P.S. Writes, pam@schoffner.com

Women's Networking Opportunity

In the style of Julie Gammack's women's networking feasts of years ago, you're invited to an October 16 potluck at Plymouth United Church of Christ (42nd and Ingersoll) from 6 to 8 p.m.

Des Moines-area Sisters on the Planet Ambassadors—Bonnie Campbell, Judith Conlin, Mary Kramer, Sally Pederson and Judith Pim—have planned an event that shares information on a global issue: how international women farmer-leaders are working to address poverty and hunger in their communities. Did you know the majority of the worlds' farmers are women? Not only are women the ones who produce, purchase and prepare food each day, we're also working here and abroad to make our food system more fair and productive. So on October 16, World Food Day, bring food to share and come network with women who care about women's issues.

Guests include Nelly Velandia, Columbian farmer and national leader of the women small-scale farmer movement; Silas Samson Buru, Ethiopian farmer and part of the Oxfam Horn of Africa Risk Transfer Adaptation Program; and Judy Belas, Oxfam America's campaigns director from Boston.

Plus, it's a great opportunity for good conversation and learning with some of the most interesting women in central Iowa. And frankly, don't you just love a terrific potluck?

- Pam Schoffner, P.S. Writes