In 1993, over beer and pretzels in a local pub, the 21st Century Forum was conceived of and created by a group of young professional Democrats. Over the past 15 years, the Forum has organized and sponsored numerous events, including monthly breakfasts or lunches with guest speakers, family picnics, an annual holiday party, happy hours, an occasional I-Cubs game, cocktail receptions before inaugural balls, the purchase of Forum tables at the annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner, discussion forums and biennial trips to Washington D.C.

If you want to be part of a small group who hears the political down and dirty from key politicians, a Forum event is not a bad place to be. Just some of the key political figures who met with us have included:

Paul Begala ................................................Senator Jim Jeffords
Senator Joe Biden ...................................Congressman Patrick Kennedy
Congressman Leonard Boswell ..........Senator Ted Kennedy
Senator Barbara Boxer ..........................Senator John Kerry
Senator Bill Bradley ................................Congressman Dennis Kucinich
President Bill Clinton ..............................Attorney General Tom Miller
Senator Hillary Clinton ............................Senator Barack Obama
Mayor Frank Cownie ...............................Lt. Gov. Sally Pederson
Mayor Preston Daniels ...........................Senator Harry Reid
Senator Tom Daschle .............................Senator Charles Schummer
Senator John Edwards ...........................Governor Tom Vilsack
Vice-President Al Gore............................David Yepsen
Senator Mike Gronstal
Senator Tom Harkin

As well as numerous other candidates for local, state and federal office.

The Forum is also justifiably proud of the many current and former Forum members who have sought or have been elected to public office in the last 15 years. They include City Councilman Chris Coleman, Governor Chet Culver, Former Party Chair Gordon Fischer, State Rep Janet Petersen, Johnston Mayor Brian Laurenzo, Polk County Democratic Party Chair Tom Henderson, State Senator Matt McCoy, County Attorney (Warren Co.) Gary Kendell and current Party Chair Scott Brennan. Many Forum members have held key offices in political campaigns and are too numerous to mention.

The Forum has also reached out to the Des Moines community through civic and political activism. It has sponsored softball charity games for the hungry. Its members have volunteered at soup kitchens. It organized the rummage sale for a mobile unit for the mentally ill. And, it has organized Forum nights to help get out the vote for Democratic candidates. In short, the Forum has made a difference in the community.

The Forum's trips to Washington DC have clearly been the highlight of our social events. The Forum's president has led a group of members to the capital in 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007. These trips have been the equivalent of Woodstock for every political junkie in the Forum. Those of us that have visited DC, with Senator Tom Harkin and Congressman Leonard Boswell as our unbelievably gracious hosts, will never forget it.

Politics should be fun. It's about people. What they do, and why they do it. Get involved. Make a difference. Say what you think. Say, as Ali said when he knocked out the old man, Liston, "I shook up the world."

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? Join the Forum and make it happen.

Quotes:

"If you're going to host a program, you want to have someone who can relate to the country and draw in viewers and things of that nature. But we gave it a try. And some people bet against it, and I don't know if anyone bet on it. I don't think I even would have, it was such a long shot. But I gave it my all." - Tim Russert on landing the job as the moderator for "Meet the Press", the longest running show on television.

"Ultimately, they realize that if they really want to demonstrate, to their own supporters and to also try to convince independent voters that they're the real deal, then they have to find a forum that people think is credible. And I hope they find it in "Meet the Press." - Tim Russert speaking about the show he hosted since 1991.

"And sure enough, at 3:05, the sirens are blaring, the motorcycles roaring, motorcade came by, open bubble top. And there's John Kennedy. My dad pushed me off the mailbox, and I shook his hand. And we all got in the car, and my dad took out a White Owl cigar and said, "Finally, a Russert has met a president of the United States."
" - Tim Russert describing meeting President Kennedy.

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"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

"What used to be called liberal is now called radical, what used to be called radical is now called insane, what used to be called reactionary is now called moderate, and what used to be called insane is now called solid conservative thinking." -Tony Kushner

"Bottom line is these guys in the Bush Administration are obsessed voyeurs, poking their noses into everyone's business, whether the excuse is squelching pornography or preventing terrorism. They simply do not believe civil liberties and privacy are important. It is an executive branch power trip, and completely anti-democratic." - Journalist and author Robert Scheer 1/25/06.

"Other than telling us how to live, think, marry, pray, vote, invest, educate our children and, now, die, I think the Republicans have done a fine job of getting government out of our personal lives." - Editorial Page, Sunday, June 19 Portland Oregonian
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Democratic Candidate for President 2008

Barack Obama
www.barackobama.com
(515) 745-0880
iowa@barackobama.com