Square Dancers Choose Greater Des Moines

DES MOINES, IOWA - The National Square Dance Convention has selected Greater Des Moines as their host city in June 2016. The group will bring approximately 6,000 square dancers to the city for four nights, for an estimated 8,000 room nights.

Representatives from the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau (GDMCVB), Des Moines City Councilman Chris Coleman (Chair of the GDMCVB Board), Global Spectrum staff (Iowa Events Center) and local square dance enthusiasts all traveled to Spokane, WA to make the bid presentation to the site selection committee late last week. A video from Governor Branstad (a former square dancer) also helped lure the group to Greater Des Moines.

"A booking like this is a win for our entire region," said Greg Edwards, President and CEO of the GDMCVB. "This is an upbeat, passionate group that will be highly visible throughout the Metro during their stay here."

Vicki Comegys, Vice President of Sales and Services at the GDMCVB, and Margie Marble, Director of Sales at the GDMCVB began taking reservations for the square dancers Saturday night. "By the time we shut down our booth, we had already received 397 reservations for 2016," said Comegys. "This group couldn't be happier about the site selection committee's choice and we couldn't be happier to welcome them to Greater Des Moines."

The Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote Greater Des Moines as a fun, vibrant and affordable destination statewide, nationally and internationally. Our focus increases visitors to our community through meetings, conventions, sports events, leisure travel, and group tours, thereby contributing to the local economy.

[DAVENPORT - June 29, 2012]– The Putnam Museum has announced its brand partnership with National Geographic as the National Geographic Giant Screen Theater was unveiled on Friday. The branding partnership provides exclusive marketing of the Giant Screen Theater to all National Geographic magazine and on-line subscribers in a 75-mile radius. The Putnam will also be connected to all classrooms in the region that utilize National Geographic Kids magazine. Additionally, the Putnam will gain special access to one of the world's largest Giant-Screen film libraries that includes award-winning films in 2D and 3D digital formats.

"The Putnam is proud to partner with a world-renown organization such as National Geographic. The relationship makes tremendous sense as the Putnam actively brings science, history and cultures to life for people of all ages in the Quad Cities region . . . and National Geographic does the same on a global scale," said Putnam President/CEO, Kim Findlay. "Reaching out through National Geographic to their subscribers who we already know have strong interest in the topics the Putnam features, provides a great probability of bringing more people to the Putnam who will likely dine, shop and visit other Quad City venues."

As a National Geographic Cinema partner, the Putnam will be among the first to show National Geographic films produced for Giant Screens. National Geographic has pledged to produce two new titles annually,

"We are excited to have the Putnam Museum onboard as a partner," said Mark Katz, president of distribution for National Geographic Cinema Ventures. "In addition to bringing our engaging films to Davenport, its commitment to screen our films will allow us to create even more content for audiences here and around the world."

The Putnam Museum is currently showing "Flying Monsters 3D," an award-winning National Geographic film playing on the Giant Screen through Labor Day. Flying Monsters 3D stars Sir David Attenborough, the world's leading naturalist who sets out to uncover the truth about the enigmatic pterosaurs. Coming to the Giant Screen this fall is a documentary called "Meerkats 3D." This animal documentary takes audiences on a journey with a family of meerkats as they cope with the twists and turns of life in the Kalahari Desert. Upcoming National Geographic documentaries that the Putnam Museum plans to bring to the Giant Screen Theater are "Wildest Weather: The Conquest of Everest"; James Cameron's "DEEPSEA CHALLENGE," "Invisible Worlds" and "Robots 3D."

Other outstanding films available from the National Geographic library include "Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure," "Forces of Nature" and traditional feature-length documentaries including "U2 3D," "The Wildest Dream," "The Last Lions" and "Life in a Day."

The Putnam Museum's National Geographic Giant Screen Theater is located in the Putnam's Grand Lobby. Tickets for documentaries are $8.50/adults; $7.50/seniors/student/military; and $6.50/youth ages 3-12. Tickets for 2D feature movies are $11/adults; $10/senior/student/military; $8/Youth (ages 3-12). Tickets for 3D feature movies are $12.50/adults; $11/ senior/student/military; $9/Youth (ages 3-12). Movie times vary, for more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.putnam.org or stop in the Museum.

About the Putnam Museum  

The Putnam Museum is a 501(c)(3) educational corporation, providing the greater Quad Cities region with quality-of-life experiences since 1867. The Museum is the primary repository for the area's unique treasures -- over 170,000 artifacts and specimens that tell the stories of the region, the people who live here and their connections to the world. The Giant Screen Theater is equipped with 264 stadium-style seats; a screen six stories high and seven stories wide; a eight-speaker, 10,000 watt digital sound system; THX^® Certified sound by QSC Audio Products, LLC; and a new 4k Dolby digital projection system. The Theater is Giant Screen Certified by the Giant Screen Association. Visit the Putnam Museum at www.putnam.org for more information.

About National Geographic Cinema Ventures 

National Geographic Cinema Ventures is responsible for production and distribution of giant-screen, 3D and specialty films. Over the last decade, NGCV has produced or released a number of successful films, including Academy Award-nominated documentary "Restrepo"; giant-screen award-winning films "Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure," "U2 3D," "Mysteries of Egypt" and "Forces of Nature"; and feature-length films "The Last Lions" and "Life in a Day." Lisa Truitt is president of NGCV, and Mark Katz is president of NGCV distribution. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com/movies.

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