(Editor's note: Steve Scheffler, president of the Iowa Christian Alliance and a Republican National Committee member, sent the following e-mail to Iowa Republicans in the wake of the November election. This, and two replies, are reprinted here with permission.)

Dear Fellow Republicans:

Election Year 2008 is now history. I am sure that you have had time to reflect on the results, what went right, what went wrong, and where do we go as a party from here. At a first glance, the results were discouraging. But let's put all the facts in perspective:

The tours focus on paintings on the birth of the Christ Child. The tour follows this familiar story from the announcement to Mary that she will bear a Son, to the young boy in His mother's arms.

A tour guide will meet visitors in the main lobby. Holiday cookies and hot beverages will be served after the tour. For more information call 563-326-7804 or visit figgeartmuseum.org.

Free with the price of paid admission or membership.
ADMISSION: $7 adults, $6 seniors (60+), students, educators, $4 Youth (12 & under)

About the Figge Art Museum
The Figge Art Museum actively serves the public by promoting appreciation and creation of visual art through education, and by collecting, conserving and exhibiting art. The museum collection includes more than 3,500 paintings, photographs, sculpture, and works on paper from the 16th century to the present.

During your visit to the museum, we encourage you to explore our expansive galleries, special exhibitions, and the Family Activity Center. For an in-depth experience, we offer a variety of art classes, gallery talks and lectures. Each year, several special events--from film presentations to family days?are held at the museum and expand on the themes of the exhibitions. 

We know we've been mean.

In the history of our photo contests, we've included such dastardly abstract categories as "middle," "awkward," "metamorphosis," and "waste." Yeah, we're jerks. However, our hearts have temporarily thawed. So ...

This time, it's easy. Our categories for the fall 2008 contest are "BABIES" and "PETS."

But our kindness will be short-lived, as the deadline for submissions is November 19. Winners will be published in our December 3 issue.

I grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, near seemingly endless steel mills that lined the Ohio River. These mills poured fiery molten steel out of huge melting pots and afforded opportunity to many new immigrants experiencing American freedom for the first time. My elementary school was next to the UP (United Presbyterian) Church, and my first-grade teacher also taught Sunday school. We started the school day with a Psalm, and recited the Pledge of Allegiance with our hands over our hearts, and we believed in those words. We sang patriotic songs in class and waved flags and sparklers on the Fourth of July.