On August 24, 2006, community leaders from throughout Iowa’s Fourth Congressional District joined together on the campus of Iowa State University in Ames for a day full of valuable information at Congressman Tom Latham’s annual Iowa Community Conference. 

I want to thank all who attended the 2006 Iowa Community Conference.  I hope you enjoyed the speakers, gathered beneficial information and had some of your questions answered. 

Holding these conferences on an annual basis affords me the opportunity to listen to the unique and real life challenges that Iowa communities face and thus has always been an beneficial resource in my work as your representative in Washington.  I hope that you also gained valuable insight that will help you make our communities better places to live and work. 

The subject matter of the 2006 conference came about as a result of suggestions made to me in meetings with community leaders like you.  I believe it is important to provide the communities of the 4th District with subjects that are vital to their safety, quality of life and economic development. 

Since this conference is all about the needs of Iowa communities, I am asking for your help; if you have a topic that you, your community or your organization are particularly concerned about, I would welcome your ideas to help my office organize next year's conference.

Please feel free to mail back the survey sent to you either by postal mail or by emailing the survey, and or additional comments and suggestions, to Michele Wing in my Ames Office: michele.wing@mail.house.gov

Again, thank you for your attendance.  I look forward to your ideas, input and participation in the 2007 Community Conference which will take place in Washington, DC.

THE IOWA COMMUNITY CONFERENCE –
OVER 50 YEARS OF WORKING TOGETHER AND GETTING RESULTS!

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE IOWA COMMUNITY CONFERENCE

What we now know as the Iowa Community Conference began just after World War II.  Iowa Congressman Charles Hoeven (R), who represented what was then known as Iowa’s Eighth Congressional District, began inviting mayors and other elected officials from his district to come to Washington, D.C. for discussion of local concerns eachA conversation at the 2004 Iowa Community Conference held in Ames, Iowa year. 

While we have seen many different issues discussed at the Conference come and go, the Conference achieved the same purpose when it began almost 60 years ago that is does today – community leaders working together and getting results.

The Conference was held each year in Washington by Congressman Hoeven, who represented Iowa in Congress from 1943 to 1965, and his successor Congressman Stanley Greigg who served one term from 1965 to 1967. 

Congressman Latham with participants of the 2004 ConferenceCongressman Wiley Mayne, who served from 1967 to 1975, added a new tradition to the conference when he occasionally would hold it in Iowa.  His successors, Congressman Berkley Bedell, serving from 1975 to 1987, and Fred Grandy, serving from 1987 to 1995, also continued Mayne’s tradition by continuing to hold the conference in Washington while occasionally holding it in Iowa.

Congressman Tom Latham, who has served Iowan’s in Congress since 1995, has continued the strong traditions of the  Iowa Community Conference.  Latham established the tradition of holding the conference on a regular basis between Iowa and Washington on alternating years.

“This conference is what Iowa is truly all about – community,” said Latham when commenting about the importance of the Conference.  “It is an opportunity for us to gather as neighbors and community leaders and discuss the unique challenges that we face with the hopes of making our communities better places to live and work.”