>Food, Farms and the Environment
>Impacting the 2007
Farm Bill
>
>Thursday, February 8, 2007
>1 pm to 4
pm
>St. James Lutheran Church
>5665 Merle Hay Road
>Johnston,
Iowa
>
>Will authorization of the Farm Bill maintain the
>conventional policies of the past? Or can we set
>a course for
more innovative farm, food and environmental policies?
>
>How can
citizens support sustainable agriculture
>here at home while also
respecting the needs of our global community?
>
>This forum will
address these questions and
>offer necessary reforms in the next Farm
Bill.
>Learn about food, farm and environmental
>policies within
the context of social and economic justice for all.
>
>Iowa is a
crucial player in the next Farm Bill:
>Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) is chair
of the Senate
>Agricultural Committee. Congressmen from Iowa
>are
also expected to be on the House Agriculture
>Committee once final
appointments are made.
>
>So join with us in our efforts to advocate
for
>fair and equitable farm policies as Congress writes new legislation
in 2007.
>
>This forum is free and open to the public.
>Please let us know if you plan to attend
>informational
materials will be distributed and refreshments served.
>
>If you are
coming from outside the Des Moines
>area and need travel support, please
contact us.
>We will help cover your gasoline costs.
>
>For
more information and to RSVP, contact:
>Robert Gronski at 515-270-2634 or
e-mail
[log in to unmask]>Russell Melby at
515-274-2224 or toll free in
>Iowa, 1-888-297-2767, or by e-mail
[log in to unmask]>
>Sponsoring
organizations and presenters include:
>Br. David Andrews, CSC, executive
director, and
>Robert Gronski, policy coordinator, National Catholic
Rural Life Conference
>
>Rev. Russell Melby, regional director,
Church World Service
>
>Rev. Kathy Gerking, Bishop's assistant,
>Southeastern Iowa Synod, ELCA Rural Ministry Team
>
>Daniel
Owens, rural policy program organizer, Center for Rural
Affairs
>
>The National Catholic Rural Life Conference,
>headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, is the major
>voice of the
Catholic Church on rural life
>concerns. Visit
www.ncrlc.com to
learn more about their Farm Bill campaign.
>
>Church World Service
is a cooperative ministry
>of 35 Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican
>denominations working for trade justice and
>reform of the Farm
Bill. Visit
www.churchworldservice.org>
>The
mission of the Rural Ministry Team of the
>Southeastern Iowa Synod is to
assist rural and
>small town ELCA congregations in the
>Southeastern Iowa Synod to become more effective
>followers of
Jesus. Visit
www.seiasynod.org>
>The Center
for Rural Affairs, based in eastern
>Nebraska, is working to strengthen
small
>businesses, family farms and ranches, and rural
>communities. Visit
www.cfra.org to learn more
>about their
issues and program work.
>
>Directions to St. James Lutheran
Church:
>St. James Lutheran is located in Johnston, Iowa,
>just
north of I-35/80 on Merle Hay Road. Exit at
>Merle Hay Road (Exit 131)
and head north about a
>half mile. St. James Lutheran is located at 5665
>Merle Hay Road (east side). Ample parking in back of the
church.