Let’s Talk Newton – United Way of Jasper County Executive Director Jessica Lowe Vokes

Welcome to today's Let's Talk Newton powered by the Knoxville Raceway. Joining us, we have

the United Way of Jasper County Executive Director, Jessica Low-Vokes, and she is going

to be very busy this weekend overseeing the second annual Worsher City Card Con. New

location at debut at Iowa Speedway, but Jessica, you're moving it over to the DMACC campus

and the DMACC building, and just talk about what all you got going on starting on Friday.

Yeah, we're super excited. Like you said, the second year, and we have tons of stuff.

We've added a bunch of things to the event. We have four guests coming. I guess we should start

up with our hours are 2 to 8 p.m. on Friday, and it's 9 to 4 p.m. 90 to 4 p.m. on Saturday,

and admission is free, so you can come and browse. Maybe you'll find something you want,

but it is free to come in, and we have some great special guests on Friday from 4 to 6 p.m.

and we have former Iowa Hawkeye and NFL player, Martin McNet Cummings, and he'll be sending autographs.

And in that evening, at 6.30, we're going to do a box break, which is when people get a team,

and then we rip open a bunch of cards, and you get to keep the cards, so that's a lot of fun.

And then on Saturday, we have a Laura Kahn tournament, which is like,

Pokemon, sort of, with Disney characters. It's like a card game that's really exciting,

and our great friends at the Kraken's Crate is sponsoring that, and helping us bring that,

and that starts at 9.30 on Saturday. And then other special guests on Saturday,

we have Pat Anger from the Iowa Hawkeyes and NFL, and he's the current voice of the Hawkeyes

on the radio. He's an announcer, and then we have Semicol Wallace. He's actually finding some Texas.

Yeah, so he was Iowa State University, and he played NFL for many years, quarterback.

And then we have Merb Croaker, and Merb is a member of the Iowa State University of Hall of Fame,

and he also played for the bills. Now, he played in the late 60s, and then he played early 70s

in the NFL, and Merb is a great big teddy bear with a lot of fun stories. So we're excited that

these guys are coming, they're donating their time. They do have a C for signing autographs,

but all the proceeds from that go to the United Way and the Iowa Foundation. So it's a pretty cool

fundraiser, something a little bit outside the box for us, but we're super excited.

Yeah, and people who are familiar with trading cards, they are a pretty big deal. I mean,

when shows like this take place, there's lots of people that show up.

Yeah, there's a last year we had over 500 visitors. Wow.

Go through the courses we had a little quicker, and so we kept track. So it really is bringing people

into the community, and then it gives something for people that are already here in Newton

just for counting something to do. You know, it's nice and they're spring break for those that have

the kids that, you know, Friday and Saturday, kids get a free gift when they come. We have some

Pokemon cards, and we have some trading cards for them. So we're just excited. We really want

it to be a family-friendly event, and something kind of for everybody as well.

Yeah, the proceeds, of course, go to a good cause as well, serving families and children

here in Jasper County. You mentioned that it's free. There's free parking as well, and the way

you get your money is by those autographs and photographs that you mentioned, but also the vendors,

of course, pay a fee to have their booths up there. Yeah, you know, and there's a lot of

questions that are for profit, but I think that makes our state out is that we are, you know,

doing it as a fundraiser. Enter vendors are great, and they know that ending work with us,

and they help give us tips and, you know, give prizes to give away and stuff. So we have a really

great group of people. We have a nice mix of sports and non-sports trading cards. So, you know,

whatever you're kind of into, if you're into cards at all, or you have a kid that's kind of in

the cards, the other thing I really love, the vendors are super helpful with kids, like a lot of

times we're giving something like free, or they'll explain something to them. I saw that a lot of

that happening in the last time and not really warned my heart that like, hey, it's about, you know,

community and a hobby and creating something, but of course, again, the benefit is we're going to

fill food bankshells, shelves and build ramps and have after-school programs and all that stuff

because of this vendor show. Yeah, that's that's the big thing. Also, explain for those unaware

washer city, they might think, well, that's kind of a unique name, just kind of where you got that from.

Yeah, so, you know, like, Coltax is Spring City. They have that nickname because they had

the Springs. Well, you know, for a long time, Newton was the washer washing machine capital of

the world. You know, we had multiple different companies making them. We are over, you know,

adjacent to Legacy Plaza right there with DMACC. I just I love history and so it's kind of a fun

nod to say, just being like, you know, Newton card show. It's something all different. It helps

us kind of stand out. So, washer city is a nod to our long-time heritage history here in a

Jasper county, but also, you know, I hope it's like a nod to the future because we're getting a lot

of fun different things going on in town. Kind of a unique name too, kind of catchy too as well,

so draw a little interest in from that. Yeah, a little bit of my marketing, my marketing

college popping in there. Using that degree. Good deal. Yeah, every once in a while. I've got to

pay for it somehow, right? Good deal. Well, again, just give us the hours and the location.

Yeah, so Friday, we are 2 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, we're 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. over at DMACC,

free admission, free parking, free stuff for the kiddos, family friendly, and you can always check us

out at washercitycardcon.com. We're sure citycard.com. All right. Well, thanks, Jessica. Good luck,

and I hope we have a big turnout. I'm sure we will. Thank you so much for any problems,

let's get the word out. We appreciate it. Again, that is Jessica Low Vogue, the executive

director of the United Way of Jasper County, talking about the Wash City Card Con show coming up.

This weekend starts Friday and goes into Saturday as well at the Newton DMACC campus.

That's going to do it for today's Let's Talk, Newton powered by the Knoxville raceway. We

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Again, that's today's Let's Talk, Newton.