Hello Ames Jaycees!

On your lunch break TODAY, make sure to tune into KCCI at noon. Our own Grace Aiton and Melissa Angstrom will be interviewed about our Holiday Food Baskets. I’ve promised Grace the TV really doesn’t add 10 pounds!  This is an AWESOME opportunity for the community to know about us and our project! If you miss it at noon, it’ll be on at 5 and 6 p.m., too.

Here is your update for the week of Dec. 1.

This week:
Holiday Food Basket preparation
Wednesday, Dec. 3 – 6-9 p.m. at St. John’s by the Campus, 2338 Lincoln Way. We’ll be wrapping up boxes and having pizza with the youth who have been helping us. Wrapping paper and tape donations are still needed. For more info, contact Grace or Melissa at holidayfoodbaskets@amesjaycees.com.

Membership meeting
Thursday, Dec. 4 – 7 p.m. at Buford’s at the Quality Inn and Suites, 2601 E 13th
Membership meetings are a great way to learn about upcoming events, meet new people and socialize. For more info, contact Peggy at pres@amesjaycees.com.

Upcoming events:

Crush Party
Tuesday, Dec. 9 – Details to be released soon. A crush party is an informal social even with the purpose of recruiting members. Invitations are sent out to potential members. If you know someone who would make a great Jaycee, please let Terra Jenson know.  Note: Due to scheduling difficulties, this date could change. We’ll announce the for-sure date at Thursday’s meeting.

Food baskets fundraiser
Sunday, Dec. 14 – 5-8 p.m. at London Underground, 212 Main. Fellow Jaycee and London Underground owner Jess Clyde is hosting a fundraising dinner.

Membership meeting
Thursday, Dec. 18 – 7 p.m. at Buford’s at the Quality Inn and Suites, 2601 E 13th
Membership meetings are a great way to learn about upcoming events, meet new people and socialize. For more info, contact Peggy at pres@amesjaycees.com.

Holiday Food Basket assembly/distribution
Saturday, Dec. 20 – 6:45 a.m.-? at Heartland Senior Center. Right now 20 people are signed up to help. A few dollies are still needed. For more info, contact Grace or Melissa at holidayfoodbaskets@amesjaycees.com.

Year-End Banquet
Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009 — Time and location TBA.

Ames Chamber news

As a member of the Ames Jaycees, you are also a member of the Ames Chamber of Commerce. Therefore, please take advantage of the following activities!

Upcoming Ribbon Cuttings
December 11 | Ames British Foods | 4:00 p.m. | 819 Lincoln Way Suite D
December 17 | Advance Services, Inc. | 4:00 p.m. | 1606 Golden Aspen Drive, Suite 107 | open house to follow

Business After Hours: Tuesday, December 2nd, 5:00 p.m., 3M Recreation Building
Ring in the holiday season by joining us at the 3M Recreation Building tomorrow evening! Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, enjoy sounds of the season and indulge in free food and beverages while you kick off the holidays with your friends from the Chamber!
Sponsored by: 3M, Friedrich Construction, Friedrich Iowa Realty, Hy-Vee, Sauer-Danfoss, Ames Tribune and U.S. Bank

PRE-SESSION LEGISLATIVE LUNCH featuring State Auditor David Vaudt and our State delegation for Story County
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Friday, December 5, ISU Foundation (2505 University Boulevard)
Sign up today to attend the Ames Chamber’s first Legislative Lunch of the new Legislative session. Responding to Chamber member requests, this December we are pleased to welcome State Auditor David Vaudt who will present on the status of Iowa’s economy and the direction it’s heading. We will also have our State Representatives and Senators respond to the Auditor’s presentation and forecast their plans for the 2009 budget. Please join us for this insightful discussion affecting all of us who call Iowa home.
This free Legislative Lunch is open to Chamber members who RSVP by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 3. Register on-line or by contacting Eve Doi (eve@ameschamber.com).
We are grateful for our December Legislative Lunch sponsors: Hastings & Gartin Attorneys at Law and Knapp-Tedesco Insurance.

Professional Development Series, Tuiesday, December 9, 11:30am, Green Hills Retirement Community
Join us at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 9 at at Green Hills Retirement Community (2200 Hamilton Drive) to hear Ames business leader Roger Underwood share his journey in building a world-class business at Becker Underwood.
Series Conclusion fee is $10 for members ($50 for non-members) and includes lunch. To register, click here.
Sponsored by Manpower and ATW Training and Consulting

Save the Date: Story County Career Expo
Wednesday, February 18th, 3:00 – 6:00 p.m., Scheman Building, 2nd Floor Lobby
The Ames Chamber of Commerce is in its third year of hosting the Story County Career Expo. The expo will be held on Wednesday, February 18, 2009 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Scheman Building (2nd Floor Lobby) in the Iowa State Center. The Expo is an opportunity for you to network with employers, view job opportunities and company information to see what opportunities might be available in your line of work. Attendance to the Expo is free and open to the public.
If your business is interested in having a booth at the 2009 Story County Career Expo, please fill out the attached form and email it to Megan Backman by February 4th, 2009.
Please contact Megan Backman with any questions about the 2009 Expo. We look forward to seeing you there!

Quotable.
“To dare is to lose one’s footing momentarily. Not to dare is to lose oneself.” — Soren Kierkegaard

Peggy Nitchals
77th president
Ames Junior Chamber
Better yourself. Better your community.