The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 11

DM MONDAY October 2, 2006 KATHY A. BOLTEN, Metro Communities Editor, 515-284-8283e-mail: kboltendmreg.com She fcs Jltoincs Jteqistcr METROS OWA nmiiiis rise topis Learn more Here are some Web sites to help donors find information on groups and organizations. www.give.org: Provides reports on national charities. Run by the Better Business Bureau. www.charitynavigator.org: Rates thousands of groups across the nation for administrative expenses.

However, officials say nonprofit groups need to be more carefully monitored and guided. By JASON CLAY WORTH REGISTER STAFF WRITER Philanthropy remains strong in Des Moines despite finan- cial scandals that have jarred three social service agencies, officials from several key nonprofit groups say. Some of United Way's big gest donors have increased contributions by almost 30 percent over last year. Donations at the Des Moines Area Religious Council's Food Pantry have let the group distribute slightly larger rations to needy families. A $50,000 fundraising campaign for the AIDS Project of Central Iowa is on target.

Despite the success, local and national officials say there is a critical need for tougher standards to monitor and guide thousands of nonprofit and president of the Better Business Bureau of Greater Iowa. "Individual donors should be more concerned than they are today about the performance and the financial dealings of charities." The bureau has a Web site where national charities can be tracked. More local charities will be added within the next year, Coleman said. The bureau has also drawn up a list of standards for donors to consider before they give money. They include: A board of directors that provides oversight of operations and staff.

Regular performance reviews of the chief executive. Written conflict of interest policies, as well as accounting and financial safeguards. At least 65 percent of all money spent on programs. Complete financial statements available upon request. Jocelyn Harmon, director of See DONORS, Page 4B groups.

"I'm pleased our institutions are doing well, but it's my goal they do better. And I think they will do better if we can find ways to build trust in the industry," said Chris Coleman, a Des Moines city councilman CONCERT REVIEW i A I i'V, tJnN is zxl- pj A crowd cheers for .38 Special as the band performs at Fall Rockfest Sunday at the new $70 million Iowa Speedway in Newton. Lynyrd Skynyrd, Charlie Daniels and Greenbrier also rocked the track's first stand-alone show. Below, Skynyrd's Johnny Van Zant performs. HOLLY MCQUEEN REGISTER PHOTOS track Southern fest rocks Developer plans end to town's dry spell A housing and commercial project in Woodward will be the first major development in 20 years.

By MELISSA WALKER REGISTER STAFF WRITER The last time anything of note was built in Woodward, it replaced what a tornado had blown away. Now the city is ready for the first large-scale project in what officials say has been two decades of, basically, construction drought. Local developer Mike Adams plans a residential and commercial development on 79 acres near the town's golf course north of Iowa Highway 141. Construction will begin next year. Adams plans to build 235 homes in all, 20 during the first year.

"A town like Woodward has seen one, maybe two, new buildings in the past 20 years," said Daniel Manning, an attorney for Adams. "Woodward is attractive because it has an older housing stock, and several buildings were destroyed by the tornado." Twenty homes were rebuilt after a November 2005 twister tore through the town of 1,500 people and 26 businesses. Mayor Joseph Karge Jr. said Woodward has not had substantial growth since the 1940s, which adds extra importance to Adams' plan. "We're like most small towns: you either grow or you go," Karge said, adding that he has no concerns that commercial development will hurt downtown businesses.

"The difference in our corn- See WOODWARD, Page 2B MarcllAXSEiN' to fill out the survey "all your information is ripe for the picking anyway" we discover that survey filers might be even more vulnerable. The American Community Survey, in case you came in late, is a new rolling questionnaire that replaces the long-form, once-every-10-years Census. See HANSEN, Page 3B If sense his won't make if you try to plot MapQuest.com, it on but the Fall local act Greenbrier. Balmy weather no doubt contributed to the robust turnout of 10,102 fans who sported Skynyrd's "Support Southern rock" T-shirts as well as Sturgis and Harley designs. The show didn't hit fewer than three songs to blow .38 Special and Greenbrier off the stage.

He and his band found the Southern rock sweet spot between country, rock and jazz, thanks to a pair of guitarists to flank Daniels as well as an organistkeyboardist with which to trade solos. Daniels' less successful moments included a tedious drum solo as well as the singer's own warbling See ROCKFEST, Page 3B Rockfest on Sunday temporarily relocated Newton to a point somewhere south of the Mason-Dixon Line. The inaugural concert fest at the Iowa Speedway celebrated Southern rock as "Free Bird" purveyor Lynyrd Skynyrd headlined a bill with Charlie Daniels Band, .38 Special and Kyle MLS0 Daniels; it took the turns 70 on Oct. 28 its stride until fiddler who Victim of data theft? Just curl up in a ball i I If Jfe: i Des Moines opponents of abortion hold protest Some detractors make obscene gestures at sign holders along the street. By ABBY SIMONS REGISTER STAFF WRITER Sunday was Melanie Haus-man's 41st birthday.

And to her, there was no better way to observe it than to mourn those who never had one. "Think about it; it's a birthday," she said, fighting back tears. "A lot of babies don't get birthdays. Life is too precious." Hausman was among about 500 people, mostly members of Des Moines churches, who I I advise Steve from Urbandale to suck it up and complete the American Community Survey like a good little citizen, and what happens? The Washington Post comes out with some troubling news: 250 laptop computers have vanished from the Census Bureau since 2001. And that's a conservative estimate.

The number could grow significantly as the Commerce Department figures out how many handheld computers are also missing. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez says the disappearing laptops could have compromised the personal information of 6,200 households. The minute I tell Steve XLffl OAVID PETERSONTHE REGISTER Anti-abortion demonstrators line a portion of Merle Hay Road in front of the First Assembly of God Church Sunday. The annual vigil is held nationally in October. spent an hour and a half on an portions of Merle Hay Road, babies," "Jesus forgives and unseasonably warm Sunday to The event is traditionally held heals" and "Adoption: A Lov- band together for Life Chain the first Sunday of October.

ing Option." They lined one 2006, an annual national anti- People of all ages held signs abortion vigil held along two that read "Abortion kills See CHAIN, Page 2B 0W11LMIHI LET YOUR JOURNEY tit wwxr 03 BEG.