Congressman Tom Latham's
Iowa Community Conference
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September 17 - 19, 2007
Washington, DC

Join community leaders from throughout Iowa for the 60th Iowa Community Conference.  What was started in 1947, just after the end of World War II, by then Eight District Congressman Charles B. Hoeven has grown into a tradition exemplifying what Iowa is all about - community.  The yearly conference provides the opportunity for Iowans 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.

The 60th edition of the Conference, hosted by Fourth District Congressman Tom Latham, will take place September 17, 18 and 19th on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

Another tradition of the Iowa Community Conference continues in 2007 with the attendees selecting the topics that will be covered.  Congressman Latham's office will secure some of the nation's top experts to discuss the topics chosen by the conference participants.

For additional information -- or to register contact Michele Wing at 515-232-2885 or via e-mail at michele.wing@mail.house.gov

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 each year. 

While we have seen many different issues discussed at the Conference come and go, the Conference achieved the same purpose when it began 60 years ago than 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 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.”