The State of North Iowa This Thursday

It's almost time for the State of North Iowa! Join us on Thursday, January 18 from 8-10AM at the NIACC Muse-Norris Center. This year’s event will focus on renewable fuels and childcare featuring guest speakers Debi Durham, Monte Shaw, Sheri Penney.

Durham will kick off the event with a keynote discussion about Iowa’s economy. Shaw will provide an update on the renewable fuels industry in the state and, more specifically, in North Iowa. Penney will provide an update on the child care crisis regarding the wage supplement program, which is launching in 12 communities statewide.

Tickets are $25. There's still time to register!

Debi Durham

Iowa Economic

Development Authority

Monte Shaw

Iowa Renewable Fuels Association

Sheri Penney

Iowa Women's Foundation

North Iowa Civics Bee 2024

The 2024 North Iowa Civics Bee wants your middle schoolers! This annual event is a great opportunity for your child to help bring positive change into our community.

Students in grades 6-8 can qualify for the live bee by submitting a short essay that identifies an issue in the community and details how the student would use civics principles to address it. The top three students move on to the Iowa Civics Bee, and this year the winner at the state level moves on to the National Civics Bee in Washington, DC!

The deadline to enter is Monday, January 22. This event is a partnership with the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

Ag Tax Seminar

Every other year, the Chamber hosts an Ag Tax Seminar. This year's seminar will be held from 11:30AM-1PM on Thursday, January 25 at the Commerce Center.

The Ag Tax Seminar is an informative luncheon designed to help break down those subjects and explain how they are impacting business.

Kristine Tidgren is an adjunct assistant professor in the Agricultural Education & Studies Department and the director for the Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation. Kristine’s work focuses on studying and interpreting laws impacting the agricultural industry. In particular, she focuses on agricultural taxation.

Kristine Tidgren

Iowa State University

Building CommUNITY - Psychological Safety in the Workplace

Join us for our next Building CommUNITY session from 1-2:15PM on Monday, February 12 at the Commerce Center as we discuss psychological safety in the workplace. Molly Mackey, founder of the LEAdeRNship Institute, will cover what psychological safety is, how it impacts teams, and how you can implement strategies to nurture a culture where everyone feels safe to speak up, disagree openly, and raise concerns without fear of repercussions.

Please register in advance below – there is no cost to attend.

Molly Mackey

LEAdeRNship Institute

Chamber Trivia Night

It's time to test your knowledge in the all new Chamber tradition, Chamber Trivia Night! This first-ever event is scheduled from 4-8PM on February 29 at The Music Man Square.

Teams of six will test their knowledge of randomized trivia in a multi-round format. Themes will include music, literature, geography, history, and more! In between rounds, players will be able to win giveaways, enjoy food and drinks, and network with other teams.

Registration is $200 for a team of 6. Se sure to sign up now and prepare to bring home the gold!

Vietnam Global Familiarization Trip

Join us on our next travel adventure this fall to Vietnam! Discover the historic landmarks, vibrant cities, and local delicacies of Vietnam October 24-November 4, 2024. Immerse yourself in Vietnam's mesmerizing culture and momentous history on a journey of the country from north to south. Check out the itinerary here or visit our website for more information. Contact Allyson with any questions.

Do you have an announcement for your business or an upcoming event? You can submit your events to our online calendar here, or email [email protected] and we'll post it in this section of upcoming Chamber News emails.

• LifeServe is hosting a "Be Like Joel" Blood Drive from January 1-31. Click here to schedule an appointment or call 1-800-287-4903.

• The Mason City Public Library is having a Winter Fun Week. Stop by anytime this week during their business hours, 9AM-7PM, for fun activities!

• Sons of Serendip are performing at the North Iowa Community Auditorium starting at 7PM on Thursday, January 18.

• Fat Hill Brewing is hosting live music featuring Sena Ehrhardt & Cole Allen on Friday, January 19 from 7-9PM.

• There will be a Paw-Some Kids Breakfast Event from 8-11AM on Saturday, January 20 at Hy-Vee West.

• Chris Janson will be back to perform at the Surf Ballroom starting at 8PM on Saturday, January 20.

Learn More About the Chamber!