Photos

	State Senator Herman Quirmbach (Ames) speaks with State Senator Bill Dotzler (Waterloo) at the dedication of the Iowa Workers Monument in Des Moines on May 30. The monument recognizes the work ethic of Iowans and is a symbol of appreciation and gratitude to Iowa’s workers. More than $500,000 was raised from public and private sources to create the monument and the small park surrounding it.
	On April 22, Governor Chet Culver signed Senate File 2420, which will help make up a $200 million annual shortfall in Iowa’s transportation budget. Estimates show that the legislation will generate about $125 million by 2012. This is a first step to developing a stable, fair, and long-term way of maintaining the safe roads and bridges that support Iowa’s growing economy. Pictured are Sen. Herman Quirmbach of Ames and Iowa DOT Director Nancy Richardson with one of the pens with which Governor Culver signed the legislation.
	Senators Herman Quirmbach (D-Ames) and Daryl Beall (D-Fort Dodge) presented a Senate Certificate of Recognition to Lisa Koll from Fort Dodge, a senior at Iowa State University. The Senate recognized Lisa for multiple championships and national awards for her track performance and noted that she will graduate summa cum laude in biology. She will enter the ISU College of Veterinary Medicine this fall. Pictured at the Statehouse, from left: Beall, Leta Koll of Fort Dodge, ISU student Lisa Koll, Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell (D-Ames), who had sponsored a house resolution honoring Lisa Koll, Vera Cerwick of Fort Dodge, Jim Koll of Fort Dodge, and Quirmbach.
	On April 15, Governor Chet Culver signed Iowa's Smoke-free Air Act into law. This statewide ban on smoking will apply to most workplaces, public places and certain outdoor areas. On hand for the bill-signing ceremony was former state Senator Jim Wells, the first Iowa legislator to propose a statewide smoking ban 33 years ago.
	Sen. Herman Quirmbach of Ames met with Paula Sandlin and her son Adam at the Statehouse on April 9. Adam receives services from Mainstream Living in Ames and was at the Capitol for Advocating Change Day.
	Members of the Story County Community Life Program in Ames made their voices heard as part of the Iowans with Disabilities Take Action (ID ACTION) during Advocating Change Day. From left: Crystal Mathews, Brenda Shell, Wes Nelson, Koki Nakagawa, Sen. Herman Quirmbach, and Barb Gauger.
	On April 1, Gov. Chet Culver signed Senate File 2347 into law, providing $4.6 million to create a statewide system of optical scan voting machines before the November elections. This new law will give Iowans a verified paper record of the ballot they cast and will guarantee that voters with disabilities have the same opportunity to use a protected voting system.
	The Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa were at the Capitol on March 18. Sen. Herman Quirmbach of Ames visited with Jeannette Olson and Elaine Kushkowski, a member of Girl Scout Troop #601 in Ames.
	Sen. Herman Quirmbach met with members and staff of the Boys & Girls Club of Central Iowa when they visited the Statehouse on March 18. Boys & Girls Club of Story County Executive Director Geff Gescheidler said he hoped to draw attention to the exceptional after-school activities that the B & G Club provides. (Photo Credit: Senate Intern Christjahn Beck) From left: Gescheidler, Quirmbach, Kabrina Voigts, Ashley Searcy, Chanelle Parsonage, and Program Director Todd Jorgensen.
	Senator Herman Quirmbach of Ames met with Art Weeks, director of the Ames Public Library, and Assistant Director Lynne Carey in the Statehouse Law Library on March 11. They were at the Capitol to discuss funding for Iowa's libraries and the services they provide. From left: Carey, Weeks and Quirmbach
	ISU student Kok Keong Lim was at the Statehouse March 10, taking part in the annual Regents Universities Honor Students Event. Lim, a senior in the Plant Pathology Department, presented his research to increase the productivity of soybeans in Iowa fields. During Lim's visit to the Capitol, he was congratulated by his state senator, Herman Quirmbach of Ames, an ISU economics professor.
	Ames Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Dan Culhane and Chamber members visited the Capitol on March 6. They're pictured here with Sen. Herman Quirmbach, who represents Ames and the surrounding area in the Iowa Legislature.
	Senator Herman Quirmbach, a professor at Iowa State University, met with Elyse Harper and Stephanie Stearns, members of VEISHEA at ISU.
	Sen. Quirmbach and Rep.Lisa Heddens talked with Carmen Elliott, an Iowa State University Ambassador, during Capitol Youth Day. Students from Iowa state universities visited the Statehouse Feb. 28 to meet with legislators.
	Senator Herman Quirmbach and other legislators watch debate on the Senate floor Feb. 27 when a statewide ban on smoking in public places passed on a bipartisan 29-21 vote.
	Senator Herman Quirmbach and Representative Lisa Heddens, both of Ames, and Governor Culver met with the Gilbert High School Cheerleaders and their coach, Tami Miller, in the Governor's office on Wednesday, February 20th. The team received first place at the UCA Hawkeye Regional Championships, and competed at the UCA National Competition February 8th-10th, which was covered by both ESPN and ESPN-2. Gilbert is the first Iowa high school to compete at the UCA National Championships. (02/21/08)
	Senator Herman Quirmbach of Ames spoke with Teisea Kostner, who visited the Statehouse on Feb. 14. Kostner, coordinator for The Stork's Nest, was at the Capitol to tell legislators about her work with the free community-based program that promotes healthy behaviors during pregnancy and infancy by providing education and incentives.
	Governor Chet Culver signed a bill increasing the state's contribution to local schools by 4 percent on Feb. 12. The appropriation, which passed the Legislature last week, provides our K12 schools with an additional $222 per student. The money is used for textbooks, heating bills, technology and other necessities that help make students, teachers and schools successful.
	On Feb. 5, Sen. Herman Quirmbach of Ames visited with constituents visiting the Statehouse: Sue Vandekemp, Story County recorder, and her sister, Jane Heintz, a member of the Nevada City Council. With them was Patty Valera, an exchange student from Lima, Peru, who is staying with Heintz while in Iowa. From left: Jane Heintz, Patty Valera, Sue Vandekemp, and Quirmbach.
	Jess Bates of Cedar Falls and Amanda Saaranen of St. Ansgar visited the Statehouse on Feb. 5 to advocate for the Healthy Kids Act. Bates and Saaranen discussed the details of the bill with one of its co-sponsors, Sen. Herman Quirmbach of Ames. The Healthy Kids Act aims to increase nutrition in schools, require 30 minutes of physical activity for all physically capable students, and provide CPR certification as part of the physical education curriculum in Iowa. From left: Bates, Saaranen, and Quirmbach.
	State Senator Herman Quirmbach of Ames spoke on Jan. 31 with someone likely to play a big role in Iowa's transportation future. Mike Blouin of Dubuque, former director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development, was recently appointed by Governor Chet Culver to serve on the powerful Iowa Transportation Commission.
	Des Moines Area Community College students traveled to the Statehouse on January 31to meet with legislators, including Senator Herman Quirmbach of Ames. Iowa’s community colleges provide the training Iowans need to move up in life and the skilled workers the state’s economy needs to grow. Quirmbach told the students that he will support increased funding for community colleges in order to keep tuition affordable. From left: Kristin Vankerckvoorde of Ames, Quirmbach, and Tranquillity Makedonski of Roland.
	Members of the United Way of Iowa were at the Statehouse January 30 to thank the Legislature and Governor Culver for supporting last year’s “2-1-1” initiative. 2-1-1 is a free 24-hour referral helpline that allows callers to speak with trained professionals about a variety of health and human services. The 2-1-1 service is available in all of Iowa’s 99 counties and receives more than 20,000 calls a month. Iowans can also access information by going to www.211iowa.org. The support that 2-1-1 received from the Legislature last year is enabling the United Way to better serve Iowans by developing a single database of organizations and services. The program is nationally recognized for its effectiveness during disasters and crisis recovery efforts. Senator Herman Quirmbach of Ames talked with the Executive Director of the United Way of Story County Frankee Oleson and board member Jan Putnam.
	Members of the Iowa Psychological Association were at the Statehouse recently to discuss mental health parity, which would require insurers to cover mental illness the same way that other illnesses are covered. Senator Herman Quirmbach of Ames and Representative Ro Foege of Mount Vernon talked with the IPA's Cindy Walljasper.
	Senator Herman Quirmbach of Ames meets with Gilbert Future Farmers of America at Statehouse on January 28. While at the Capitol, the students talked with legislators about the leading role Iowa agriculture is playing in the world-wide renewable fuels boom. Pictured back row, from left: Jon K. Davis, Rep. Lisa Heddens of Ames, Steve Netcott, Jeb Gent, Ryan McKilligan, and Thomas Rickels. Front row, from left: Morgan Reilly, Kate Holland, Quirmbach, Ken Johnston, and Kevin Anderson.
	I spoke with Kerry Kirkpatrick from the Iowa Department of Transportation at the Iowa Association of Chiefs of Police and Peace Officers breakfast January 23rd at the Iowa Statehouse. We talked about the unique challenges law enforcement officers face and how the legislature can help them keep the rest of us safe. (01/23/08)
	Senators Rich Olive of Story City and Herman Quirmbach of Ames met with Story County Youth and Shelter Services staff at the Statehouse on January 15. They discussed their efforts to help struggling Iowans become financially self-sufficient. In 2007, Youth and Shelter Services served 227 families. Pictured from left: Sheila Paul, Quirmbach, April Chavira, Deborah Arringdale, and Olive.
	State Senator Herman Quirmbach and State Representative Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, both of Ames, talk prior to Governor Chet Culver's Condition of the State address January 15. Quirmbach said the Governor outlined a bold agenda to improve the quality of life for all Iowans by building on last year’s successes in education, health care and jobs.
	State Senator Herman Quirmbach of Ames met with Governor Chet Culver at the Iowa Statehouse on Monday to discuss the best ways to stand up for middle-class families and to continue responsible, prudent budget-making. Quirmbach and other legislators from across Iowa were at the Capitol to discuss priorities for the 2008 session, which convenes January 14. Last year’s budget left the state in better financial condition than the year before, and Quirmbach and other legislators pledged to repeat that accomplishment. Pictured from left: Culver and Quirmbach. (12/3/2007)
All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship helps students be all they can be, Quirmbach says I am pleased that 179 Iowa young people now have the chance to further their education at our Regents’ Universities, community colleges, and private colleges. This is thanks to the new, state-funded All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship, a needs-based scholarship created during the 2007 session of the Legislature. These young scholars have proven themselves through hard work during high school, and we want to make sure their efforts are rewarded with a top-notch college education that they might not be able to afford otherwise. I’m glad the state of Iowa is doing the right thing by helping them become all they can be, and I hope they will choose to make a life and start a family in Iowa after they graduate. To be eligible for an All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship, students must show financial need and have a GPA of at least 2.5. More than 1,200 Iowa students applied for the scholarship this year; 179 were awarded scholarships. The average award is $5,275. For more details about the All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship, go to the Iowa College Student Aid Commission Web site, www.IowaCollegeAid.gov, or call 1-800-383-4222. Pictured: Sen. Herman Quirmbach of Ames and Gov. Chet Culver with some of the 179 All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship winners at the Statehouse. (11/19/07)