Bettendorf - The Quad Cities hosts the 200 attendees of the Iowa Veterans of Foreign Wars State Convention on June 4-7, 2015, at the Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf.
As part of the State Convention, Senator Lindsey Graham and U.S. Congressman Dave Loebsack will speak to attendees on Saturday at 9 a.m. At the opening session on Friday at 8 a.m., Bettendorf Mayor Bob Gallagher will welcome the group.
The last time the Quad Cities hosted the Iowa VFW State Convention was in 1991 and 1992. The location is determined by the home of the State Commander. Christian Popp is from the Davenport area and is a member of the VFW Post 9128 in Bettendorf, Iowa. In 2012, the Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau (QCCVB) met with the Iowa VFW Office and learned that Christian Popp was going to be State Commander in 2014-2015. They urged us to begin working on a location to host the state convention and the QCCVB has worked closely with Christian Popp & Penny Hurt (Ladies Auxiliary Incoming President) to plan many aspects of this convention.
The QCCVB estimates the local economic impact is over $80,000.
The Department of Iowa VFW is an organization that supports Veterans and their families with providing a voice to the National VFW to make sure that the Veterans that fought in Wars in the past and the Veterans that will fight in Wars in the future have the benefits and support of a grateful nation.