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Call to Order: Vice-Chair Ted D. called the meeting to order at 7:05 a.m.

In Attendance: Noel Harness, Pine Technical College, Ginger Glenn, Glenn Metalcraft, Joe Hobson, Hobson Landscape, Nancy Mach, Pine Technical College, Vicky Wills, Crystal Cabinet Works, Inc., JoAnn Faust, Crystal Cabinet Works, Inc., Dennis Adams, Cambridge Community College, Randy Zieske, Schlagel Inc., Ken Runberg, Cambridge-Isanti School District, Dick Young, Oak Land Vocational, Natalie Kuehl, Central Minnesota Jobs and Training Services, Ted Dimberio, East Central Energy, John Norris, Atscott Mfg., Mary Ann David, Peoples Bank of Commerce, Denise Olson, Northern Solutions and Ray Hoheisel, Executive Director.

Minutes: Partnership meeting minutes of May 9, 2000 were approved upon motion by Noel H. seconded by Joe H. Motion carried. Executive Committee minutes of May 2, 2000 were received.

Web Site Report: Ted D. reported that the Web Site Committee plans to meet with Don Lund to review and evaluate progress. Ray H. shared information he had received at School-To-Work sharing conference. Following discussion it was agreed that additional web sites be added to "Useful Links" section of web page.

Allied Health Committee: Dennis A. said that Allied Health grant has been submitted to Minnesota Jobs Skills Partnership in the amount of $252,000.000. The review board will meet in August. The focus of grant is leadership training, mentoring and developing training clips. Dennis A. was asked to share preliminary results of Kathy L-Z’s meetings with area businesses asking them to identify training needs. The response has been great and the report, when compiled, will be shared at a Partnership meeting. General discussion on training needs ensued.

Retail Committee: Dick Y. and Noel H. reported for Skip S. A second group of pilot students have been trained. Evaluations are being reviewed and student representatives from the Cambridge-Isanti Community as a Classroom committee will do a follow-up evaluation involving student participants. How to maintain this effort and export it to other communities was discussed at length. Also discussed were ways to increase employer participation once the program was started in a community. Suggestions for exporting included involving the School-To-Work committees in respective communities, Chamber directors or presidents and Partnership members who would concentrate on a community. Nancy M. and Denise O. agreed to help get started in Pine City and Rush City. Regarding the retail grant the issue of college credit for assessments determined on the job is being researched.

Employer Conference: John N. reviewed the discussion held on future sponsorship of Employer Conference at Executive Committee meeting. Members who attended confirmed that the conference was well received and successful. They concluded that the conference was a nice mix from the main speaker, to the breakout sessions and the involvement of students as guides and entertainers. The location, day of the week and the time of year added to the success of the conference.

The question addressed was: "Is Communities Investing in Families the proper host for the conference, relative to their mission or should the Partnership be the primary host?" Discussed was the amount of effort and resources necessary to host this conference and whether or not other partners would continue to fill the roles they have assumed in past conferences. It was suggested any decision made would have long-term consequences for the Partnership and that commitments from other partners be made in writing, examples being Communities Investing in Families and Department of Economic Security. Because of the need to act in a timely manner a decision will be made in August.

Funding Renewal Results: Ray H. reported that 8 of 11 original members have pledged and two new pledges have been received. Checks in the amount of $8,300.00 have been sent in and total pledges per year amount to $20,300.00. Two of the three original members not yet pledged have verbally indicated they have the pledge form prepared.

Focus on Training/Future of Partnership Report/Discussion: John N. addressed discussion held at Executive Committee and asked Joe H. and Ted D. to discuss written material they had submitted and was included with Partnership agenda. Joe H. reviewed background and quickly walked through the Business Plan he drafted that could guide this effort. Included in the business plan were sections on management and organization, service plan, marketing plan, financial plan, operating and control system and growth plan.

Ted D. touched on ideas he submitted and East Central Energy’s position regarding the future of the Partnership. He also commented on potential additions to business plan and emphasized the importance of an exit strategy. Mary Ann D. felt that the Partnership could make good use of information gleaned during focus group discussions to be held by Kathy L-Z. Non-profit status, similarity of training goals and available commercial products were brought out during the discussion.

The committee charged with formulating a plan has scheduled a meeting for June 22^nd. One of outcomes for the meeting is to get the pilot effort underway as approved by the Partnership.

School-To-Work Report: Ray H. reported on the contents of the implementation grant awarded to Rush City Schools. He distributed the final report on the transcript project and told the group that 309 businesses had been contacted with 255 agreeing to request student transcripts when hiring high school students or recent graduates. Through March 2000 schools had received 68 requests for transcripts. Data particular to each community can be seen on the web page, ecmnworkforce.org.

A question was raised about turnaround time on requests. Some were taking as long as 4-5 days. This issue will be addressed with the high school involved.

Executive Committee Elections: John N. informed the group that the following have been elected to three year terms: Skip Strandberg, Cambridge NAPA Auto Parts, Lance Olson, Grandview, Dennis Adams, Cambridge Community College, Terry Dalbey, Mora/Cambridge Workforce Center and Darwin Bostic, Superintendent at Pine City. An ex officio to represent Pine Technical College and a student (suggested to be from Braham) are yet to be elected after agreeing to serve.

Good-bye to Noel H.: Members wished Noel H. well as he leaves his position at Pine Technical College and moves from the area. Noel H. thanked the members for their friendship and reminded the group of what the Partnership has accomplished. He listed grant awards of $2,000,000.00, excluding the School-To-Work grants, brought to the region directly involving the Partnership. He also iterated the various projects and accomplishments of the group.

Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 a.m.

Minutes by Ray Hoheisel