DOCSLIB.ORG

Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System A

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System A IOWAPUBLIC EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM A PENSION TRUST FUND OF THE STATE OF IOWA FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2009 IOWA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE IOWA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM A PENSION TRUST FUND OF THE STATE OF IOWA FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2009 PREPARED BY IOWA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM DONNA M. MUELLER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER IOWA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM FOR MORE INFORMATION By mail P.O. Box 9117 Des Moines, IA 50306-9117 In person 7401 Register Drive Des Moines, IA 50321 8 a.m.4:30 p.m. Central Time MondayFriday Phone 515-281-0020 or toll-free 1-800-622-3849 7:30 a.m.5 p.m. Central Time MondayFriday E-mail [email protected] Web site www.ipers.org Fax 515-281-0053 Iowa Public Employees Retirement System ·· Comprehensive Annual Financial Report 2009 ii IOWA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM Fiscal Year 2009 Highlights Membership: Active Members 167,717 Retired Members* 89,852 Contributions: Employee $270,934,593 Employer 415,324,133 Buy-Backs/Buy-Ins 9,300,671 Distributions: Benefits Paid $1,183,118,816 Refunds Paid 34,337,453 Investments: Net Investment and Securities Lending Loss $(3,863,760,600) Investment Rate of Return 16.27% Funding: Net Assets Held in Trust for Pension Benefits $17,974,040,651 Ratio of Actuarial Assets to Actuarial Liabilities 81.2% *Unless specifically noted, references to retirees throughout this report include beneficiaries. Iowa Public Employees Retirement System ··· Comprehensive Annual Financial Report 2009 iii IOWA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM Iowa Public Employees Retirement System ·ª Comprehensive Annual Financial Report 2009 iv IOWA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM Table of Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................................Pages 126 Professional Awards ...............................................................................................................................................3 Letter of Transmittal................................................................................................................................................4 Administration.......................................................................................................................................................15 Investment Board ..................................................................................................................................................17 Benefits Advisory Committee..............................................................................................................................20 Professional and Consulting Services.................................................................................................................24 Investment Managers............................................................................................................................................26 Financial.......................................................................................................................................Pages 2766 Independent Auditors Report ............................................................................................................................29 Managements Discussion and Analysis............................................................................................................31 Basic Financial Statements ...................................................................................................................................36 Statement of Plan Net Assets..................................................................................................................36 Statement of Changes in Plan Net Assets .............................................................................................37 Notes to Financial Statements.................................................................................................................38 Required Supplementary Information ...............................................................................................................61 Schedule 1Schedule of Funding Progress .........................................................................................61 Schedule 2Schedule of Employer Contributions .............................................................................62 Other Supplementary Information .....................................................................................................................63 Schedule 1Investment Income by Specific Source ...........................................................................63 Schedule 2Schedule of Administrative Expenses ............................................................................64 Schedule 3Schedule of Investment Related Expenses.....................................................................65 Investments ...............................................................................................................................Pages 67106 Investment Overview............................................................................................................................................69 Investment Results ................................................................................................................................................74 Investment Policy and Goal Statement ..............................................................................................................90 Actuarial...................................................................................................................................Pages 107124 Actuarys Certification Letter ............................................................................................................................109 Principal Valuation Results................................................................................................................................115 Actuarial Balance Sheet ......................................................................................................................................116 Solvency Test........................................................................................................................................................117 Schedule of Active Member Valuation Data ...................................................................................................118 Retirees and BeneficiariesChanges in Rolls .................................................................................................118 Actuarial Assumptions and Methods...............................................................................................................119 Iowa Public Employees Retirement System ª Comprehensive Annual Financial Report 2009 v IOWA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM Statistical..................................................................................................................................Pages 125142 Statistical Overview......................................................................................................................................................... 127 Changes in Net Assets ..........................................................................................................................128 Membership Summary .......................................................................................................................................130 Special Statistics .....................................................................................................................................130 IPERS Membership by Status ...............................................................................................................130 Membership by Group ..........................................................................................................................131 Average Benefit Payments for Retirees...............................................................................................132 New Retirees by Employer Group.......................................................................................................134 Average Benefit Payments by Retirement Date.................................................................................135 Schedule of Benefit Payments by Type of Benefit .............................................................................136 Schedule of Retired Members by Type of Benefit..............................................................................136 Retired Members by Benefit Option ....................................................................................................137 Active Membership Statistics................................................................................................................138 Analysis of Change in Active Membership ........................................................................................138 Principal Participating Employers .......................................................................................................139 Growth of Net Investment Portfolio Assets.....................................................................................................140 Investment Returns 19812009 ..........................................................................................................................141
Load more

Recommended publications
  • (Iowa City, Iowa), 2015-04-22
    BREAKING IOWA’S GLASS CEILING POLITICS. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2015 THE INDEPENDENT DAILY NEWSPAPER FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA COMMUNITY SINCE 1868 DAILYIOWAN.COM 50¢ Avian flu threatens Iowa hens By NICK MOFFITT [email protected] THE The meat, eggs, and other products from millions of Iowa poultry infected with the H5N2 avian influenza won’t make it to the dinner table, but that’s not the only problem two infected farms could create for the state. The H5N2 strain of avian influenza GOLDEN currently has not been found to transfer to humans in any way, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey said Monday during a conference call. He said the two Io- wa farms that have confirmed cases of the highly pathogenic ver- TWIRL sion of the avian flu could present problems for a variety of people. “There is other finan- Northey cial impact here as well,” Ag secretary he said. “Each [egg] lay- er will eat around one bushel per year of corn, so once these birds are euthanized, they won’t be us- ing corn for a while.” Northey also referenced veterinari- ans, soybean producers, and the poultry farmers with the infected population. The infected population includes 27,000 turkeys in Buena Vista Coun- ty and 3.8 million egg-laying hens in Osceola County. Northey said no other farms are cur- rently under investigation and samples tested from farmers in those areas have all been negative. “We believe this is not going from SEE FLU, 8 2016 IOWA CAUCUSES Budget still a 2016 issue By REBECCA MORIN [email protected] Even with the three I’s — ISIS, Iran, and immigration — at the forefront of discussions for 2016 contenders, they aren’t ignoring one of America’s largest Iowa Golden Girl Whittney Seckar-Anderson practices one of her routines in the Field House on Tuesday.
    [Show full text]
  • Final EDA Report – October 2010
    State of Iowa Long-Term Economic Recovery Strategy Prepared for the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce October 2010 Page intentionally left blank. State of Iowa Long -Term Economic Recovery Strategy Table of Contents DISASTER OVERVIEW & BACKGROUND Disaster Summary 8 Iowa Disaster Events & Response Timeline 9 Mission, Vision & Goals 10 The RIO & the RIAC 11 Rebuild Iowa Office & Advisory Commission Timeline 14 ECONOMIC RECOVERY STRATEGY METHODS Obtain & Expedite Disaster Recovery Funding 18 Identify & Quantify Disaster Impacts 24 Public Outreach & Assistance 26 Obtain Public & Expert Input 34 Enact Policy & Legislative Changes 38 ECONOMIC RECOVERY STRATEGY ROAD MAP Goal 1: Housing Recovery 52 Goal 2: Business & Workforce Recovery 64 Goal 3: Infrastructure Investments 74 Goal 4: Individual Services & Guidance 80 Goal 5: Local Economic Recovery 92 Goal 6: Smart Planning 100 Goal 7: Statewide Mitigation Planning 114 Goal 8: Floodplain & Watershed Management 124 Goal 9: Floodplain Mapping 136 Goal 10: Quality of Life 142 REGIONAL RECOVERY STRATEGIES Statewide Obstacles & Recommendations 152 Area 15 Regional Planning Commission 158 East Central Intergovernmental Association 160 East Central Iowa Council of Governments 166 Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments 176 Metropolitan Area Planning Agency 184 Mid Iowa Development Association 190 North Iowa Area Council of Governments 193 Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Commission 198 Region 6 Planning Commission 200 Region XII Council of Governments 208
    [Show full text]
  • Roster of State Officials
    State of Iowa Roster of State Officials 2007 PUBLISHED BY THE STATE OF IOWA UNDER AUTHORITY OF IOWA CODE SECTION 2B.5 Twenty-Fourth Edition Preface Pursuant to Iowa Code section 2B.5, the State Roster is published as a correct list of state officers and deputies, members of boards and commissions, justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the court of appeals, judges of the district courts, including district associate judges and judicial magistrates, and members of the General Assembly. More specifically, the State Roster lists the membership of active boards and commissions established by state law, executive order of the Governor, or Iowa Court Rule. The State Roster also lists advisory councils whose members are appointed by the Governor or General Assembly, and may include other boards and commissions of interest to the public. The information included herein is furnished in part by state agencies, the Office of the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Supreme Court and reflects appointments reported prior to November 20, 2007. Roster listings include citation of the relevant statute and the name, home city, and term ending date or affiliation for each current appointee, as appropriate. The designation “statutory” indicates that the Code of Iowa requires that a representative of a specific office or organization serve. No attempt is made to arrange information on the basis of legal importance. The editors of the State Roster appreciate the cooperation of everyone who contributed to this publication and welcome comments and suggestions
    [Show full text]
  • Fy2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
    FY2010 COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT IOWa public employees’ retirement system A PENSION TRUST FUND OF THE STATE OF IOWA FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2010 I O W A PUBLIC E M PLO Y EES’ RETIREM E NT SYSTEM MEASURED ADJUSTMENTS FOR LONG-TERM SECURITY FY2010 COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT IOWA PUBLIC EMPLOYEEs’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM A PENSION TRUST FUND FOR THE STATE OF IOWA FOR The FISCAL YeAR ENded JUNE 30, 2010 PREPARED BY: IOWA PUBLIC EMPLOYEEs’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM DONNA M. MUELLER CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System Comprehensive Annual Financial Report 2010 IOWA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM FISCAL YEAR 2010 HIGHLIGHTS MEMBERSHIP: Active Members 165,660 Retired Members* 93,692 CONTRIBUTIONS: Employee $293,471,971 Employer 449,124,413 Service Purchases 12,613,708 DISTRIBUTIONS: Benefits Paid $1,278,555,844 Refunds Paid 41,470,129 INVESTMENTS: Net Investment and Securities Lending Income $2,477,824,094 Investment Rate of Return 13.82% FUNDING: Net Assets Held in Trust for Pension Benefits $19,878,080,628 Ratio of Actuarial Assets to Actuarial Liabilities 81.4% *Unless specifically noted, references to retirees throughout this report include beneficiaries. ii Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System Comprehensive Annual Financial Report 2010 IOWA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION............................................................................................ PAGES 1–24 Professional Awards ............................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Iowa State Daily, August 2015 Iowa State Daily, 2015
    Iowa State Daily, August 2015 Iowa State Daily, 2015 8-24-2015 Iowa State Daily (August 24, 2015) Iowa State Daily Follow this and additional works at: http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/iowastatedaily_2015-08 Recommended Citation Iowa State Daily, "Iowa State Daily (August 24, 2015)" (2015). Iowa State Daily, August 2015. 6. http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/iowastatedaily_2015-08/6 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State Daily, 2015 at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Iowa State Daily, August 2015 by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Monday, Aug. 24, 2015 | Volume 211 | Number 1 | 40 cents | iowastatedaily.com | An independent student newspaper serving Iowa State since 1890. ISU suspends SAE for at least four years By Makayla.Tendall the fraternity’s national council by the Office of Student Conduct Department of Residence, said rector and eminent supreme re- @iowastatedaily.com for at least four years, according found actions that had violated the fraternity house is now oper- corder for the national chapter of to a letter from Sigma Alpha Epsi- the Student Disciplinary Regula- ated by the Department of Resi- Sigma Alpha Epsilon, said in a let- lon’s national council members. tions. dence and another fraternity that ter to members that the Supreme Iowa State revoked fraternity The fraternity had been at Kellogg said she could not is being housed in Larch Hall is Council voted to suspend the Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s status as Iowa State since 1905.
    [Show full text]
  • Permeable Pavers Answer Building's Prayers to Puddles
    Iowa State Daily, October 2014 Iowa State Daily, 2014 10-30-2014 Iowa State Daily (October 30, 2014) Iowa State Daily Follow this and additional works at: http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/iowastatedaily_2014-10 Recommended Citation Iowa State Daily, "Iowa State Daily (October 30, 2014)" (2014). Iowa State Daily, October 2014. 22. http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/iowastatedaily_2014-10/22 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State Daily, 2014 at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Iowa State Daily, October 2014 by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014 | Volume 210 | Number 48 | 40 cents | iowastatedaily.com | An independent student newspaper serving Iowa State since 1890. Iowa State Daily Students file into the Hoover Hall auditorium on the first day of classes. Iowa State now has its largest-ever enrollment of 34,732. Jenna Reeves/Iowa State Daily Tiffany Herring/Iowa State Daily Many students attended the GSB growth and enrollment open forum to hear and discuss issues dealing with increased enrollment. A panel of administra- A 4.5 percent rise in enrollment in the 2014-2015 school year has led tors were available to answer questions and take note of student concerns, including President Steven Leath. to overcrowding in various places from dining halls to elevators. Students voice concerns about campus problems Issues at hand at GSB open forum By Oscar.Alvarez the Government of the Student The administrators and GSB ence suffers, enrollment suffers, student housing and see if you’ll @iowastatedaily.com Body’s open forum.
    [Show full text]
  • 2010 Issue #11 November 22, 2010
    2010 Issue #11 November 22, 2010 A publication of ID Action in partnership with Iowaʼs DD Council New Legislature, New Committees Legislative committees will look quite a bit different this year, with six Senate chairs not returning to the Capitol and a shift in power in the Iowa House. PAGE 4 38 New Faces in 2011 Session Five of those faces are a bit more familiar, as In this Issue former legislators Bill Dix, Stewart Iverson, Sandy Greiner and Dan Rasmussen make a come back PAGE 1 38 New Faces in 2011 (and Kent Sorenson moves from House to Senate). Session PAGE 2 New Legislative Leaders There were quite a few surprises on election night. While Elected Republicans were expected to take control of the Iowa House of Representatives, few predicted they would go from a 44-member PAGE 4 New Leaders, New minority to 60-member majority. Here are a few interesting Committees statistics from election night legislative races: PAGE 5 New Leaders, New Priorities 25% of the Iowa Legislature will be new in 2011. More than a third of the House Republican caucus will be new. PAGE 6 Transition Teams Named: Governor & No Republicans running for re-election lost. Secretary of State Eighteen Democrats running for re-election lost (5 from the PAGE 7 Budget Challenges Senate and 13 from the House). These include: Greet New Lawmakers o Sen. Staci Appel (Ackworth) o Sen. Bill Heckroth (Waverly) o Sen. Keith Kreiman (Bloomfield) PAGE 8 ADVOCATE FOR o Sen. Rich Olive (Story City) YOUR ISSUES NOW o Sen. Becky Schmitz (Fairfield) o Rep.
    [Show full text]
  • State Judicial Nomination Commission and Office Of
    STATE JUDICIAL NOMINATION COMMISSION AND OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR JOINT JUDICIAL APPLICATION Please complete this application by placing your responses in normal type, immediately beneath each request for information. Requested documents should be attached at the end of the application or in separate PDF files, clearly identifying the numbered request to which each document is responsive. Completed applications are public records. If you cannot fully respond to a question without disclosing information that is confidential under state or federal law, please submit that portion of your answer separately, along with your legal basis for considering the information confidential. Do not submit opinions or other writing samples containing confidential information unless you are able to appropriately redact the document to avoid disclosing the identity of the parties or other confidential information. PERSONAL INFORMATION 1. State your full name. Thomas James Duff 2. State your current occupation or title. (Lawyers: identify name of firm, organization, or government agency; judicial officers: identify title and judicial election district.) Duff Law Firm, P.LC. 4090 Westown Parkway, Suite 102 West Des Moines, Iowa 50266 Phone: 515-224-4999 Fax: 515-327-5401 Email: [email protected] 3. State your date of birth (to determine statutory eligibility). March 25, 1963 4. State your current city and county of residence. Des Moines (Polk County) Iowa 1 (Adopted June 17, 2019) PROFESSIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL HISTORY 5. List in reverse chronological order each college and law school you attended including the dates of attendance, the degree awarded, and your reason for leaving each school if no degree from that institution was awarded.
    [Show full text]
  • Active Committee Address Report for State Legislative Candidates Based on Registered Political Candidates, Committees and Entities in Iowa
    Active Committee Address Report for State Legislative Candidates Based on Registered Political Candidates, Committees and Entities in Iowa Election Committee Name Committee Number District Party Year Cohoon for Representative 376 87 Democratic 2016 People for Pam Jochum 731 50 Democratic 2016 Committee to Elect Mascher 863 86 Democratic 2016 The Daniel A. Huseman Election Committee 881 3 Republican 2016 Citizens for Heaton 930 91 Republican 2020 Todd Taylor for State Senate 957 35 Democratic 2018 Dolecheck for Representative 990 24 Republican 2016 Citizens to Elect Bill Dotzler 1040 11 Democratic 2010 Johnson 4 Senate 1 1115 1 Independent 2016 Joe Bolkcom for Iowa Senate 1120 43 Democratic 2014 Petersen for State Senate 1206 18 Democratic 2016 Winckler for State House 1229 90 Democratic 2018 Lensing for House District #85 1260 85 Democratic 2018 Oldson for State Representative 1326 41 Democratic 2020 Amanda Ragan for Iowa Senate 1336 27 Democratic 2022 Courtney for State Senate Committee 1344 44 Democratic 2016 Citizens for Rob Hogg 1347 33 Democratic 2022 Quirmbach for Senate 1356 23 Democratic 2018 Citizens for Bolluyt 1374 23 Democratic 2002 Page 1 of 152 09/26/2021 Active Committee Address Report for State Legislative Candidates Based on Registered Political Candidates, Committees and Entities in Iowa Office Sought County Candidate Name State House _NA Dennis Cohoon State Senate Dubuque Pam Jochum State House _NA mary mascher State House _NA Dan Huseman State House _NA Dave Heaton State Senate Linn Todd Taylor State House _NA Cecil
    [Show full text]
  • The Iowa County July 2007
    The Iowa County 1 July 2007 2 The Iowa County July 2007 ISAC OFFICERS The Iowa County PRESIDENT July 2007 * Volume 36, Number 7 Kim Painter - Johnson County Recorder 1ST VICE PRESIDENT Mike King - Union County Supervisor 2ND VICE PRESIDENT The Iowa County: The official magazine of the Gary Anderson - Appanoose County Sheriff Iowa State Association of Counties 501 SW 7th St., Ste. Q Des Moines, IA 50309 3RD VICE PRESIDENT (515) 244-7181 FAX (515) 244-6397 Chuck Rieken - Cass County Supervisor www.iowacounties.org Rachel E. Bicego, EDITOR ISAC DIRECTORS Marjorie Pitts - Clay County Auditor Tim McGee - Lucas County Assessor How Your Legislator Voted 4-5 Paul Goldsmith, Lucas County Attorney 2007 Vote Record 6-8 Linn Adams - Hardin County Community Services Steve Lekwa - Story County Conservation Director Capitol Comments 9-10 Derek White - Carroll County Emergency Mgmt. Robert Sperry - Story County Engineer John Easter Mark Linda - Black Hawk Co. Environ. Health Technology Center 10-11 Wayne Chizek - Marshall Co. Information Technology Ralph Wilmoth - Johnson County Public Health Robin Harlow & Tammy Norman Timothy Hoschek - Des Moines County Supervisor Legal Briefs 12 Wayne Walter - Winneshiek County Treasurer Les Beck - Linn County Zoning David Vestal Denise Dolan - Dubuque County Auditor (Past Pres.) Case Management 13 Grant Veeder - Black Hawk County Auditor (NACo rep.) Jane Halliburton - Story County Supervisor (NACo rep.) Linda J. Kemp ISAC Brief 14-15 ISAC STAFF William R. Peterson - Executive Director Counties in the Spotlight 15-16
    [Show full text]
  • Our Voice in the Political Process
    PFIZER PAC OUR VOICE IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS 1 Pfizer PAC & Corporate Political Contributions Report January - December 2009 Learn which candidates we supported in your community. Pfizer PAC ~ Our Voice in the Political Process A Message from Sally Susman, Chair, Pfizer PAC Dear Colleagues: Every day, our patients benefit from life-changing medicines. Part of Our Path Forward as the world’s premier biopharmaceutical company is to engage stakeholders on the value these innovations bring to patients, doctors, payers, and governments. One group of stakeholders that we engage is elected officials at all levels of government. The national health care reform debate has brought into sharp focus the necessity of our involvement in the political process. During the past year, we have actively supported the right kind of health care reforms that will expand coverage, improve quality of care, and provide value to patients. We have also made lawmakers aware of the detrimental effects of certain proposals that would restrict patient access to care and stifle biopharmaceutical innovation. 2 As we engage elected officials to move our legislative agenda forward, Pfizer PAC supports candidates who are committed to maintaining and improving incentives for innovation and protecting and expanding patients’ access to innovative medicines. I am pleased to share this political contributions report, which includes a list of candidates and political committees that the Pfizer PAC supported in 2009. Pfizer PAC is bipartisan; we were able to support 1,092 candidates during the year in all levels of government and from both political parties. I hope that you will take a few moments to review this report and see which candidates Pfizer PAC supported in your state and district.
    [Show full text]
  • Governor Terry Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds Tuesday, September 30, 2014
    A HEALTHY DISCUSSION: Governor Terry Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds Tuesday, September 30, 2014 Dr. Angela Franklin, President of Des Moines University kicked off the first A HEALTHY DISCUSSION of 2014 on Tuesday, September 30th with Governor Terry Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds by welcoming those in attendance to DMU and discussing the University’s mission. She then to introduced, PBH Co-chair Dr. Andy McGuire who outlined the goal of the Healthy Discussion forum as a bipartisan opportunity for the Iowa Congressional Delegation to address their position on health care and educate PBH partners and DMU Students and faculty on issues that are critical to health care in Iowa. Andy introduced the Governor and Lt. Governor and recognized Branstad for his work in health care and coverage for the Medicaid population. Lt. Governor Reynolds spoke first and indicated the successes of the Branstad/Reynolds administration in the realm of budgeting and business growth. She also highlighted the Healthiest State Initiative and Blue Zone’s Projects as ways public/private partnerships can move the needle on health. She also discussed how important it is for our younger students to be educated in math and science. She expressed the administration’s passionate and commitment to the STEM initiative, which engages students in these areas, so they are prepared to be Iowa’s next leaders in health care. Governor Branstad began his presentation by thanking the Partnership for Better Health and Des Moines University for hosting the Healthy Discussions program. He discussed his time at DMU and how he was proud of the accomplishments there, especially the creation of the wellness center and being the only University in the nation to have been certified as a platinum level wellness leader by WELCOA.
    [Show full text]