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East Central Minnesota Workforce Executive Committee Minutes
December 5, 2000
John Schlagel, Joe Hobson, M&J Consulting, Randy Zieske, Schlagel, Inc., Ted Dimberio, East Central Energy, Darwin Bostic, Pine City Public Schools, Ginger Glenn, Glenn Metalcraft, Dick Young, Oak Land Vocational, Dennis Adams, Cambridge Community College, Terry Dalbey, Workforce Center Mora/Cambridge, Travis Marttila, Braham Area High School, John Norris, Atscott Mfg. and Ray Hoheisel, Executive Director, ECMWF Partnership. Robert Musgrove, Pine Technical College joined committee for Focus on Training discussion.
Chair John N. called the meeting to order at 7:00 a.m.
Minutes of the November 7, 2000 Executive Committee meeting were approved upon motion by John S., seconded by Ted D. Motion carried.
A financial statement through November 30, 2000 was distributed. Treasurer Randy Z. reported a balance of $47,701.75. Interest earned was the only receipt.
Disbursements for November payment were for executive director, state registration fee and accountant services. School-To-Work funds for Year IV including Year III carry-over were reported as $179,215.16 with $44,941.79 expended with a balance of $134,273.37. Upon motion by Dennis A., seconded by Terry D. the report was accepted and filed. Motion carried.
Ted D. reported no major changes.
Dennis A. reported that Allied Health sub-committee is scheduled to meet on December 21, 2000. Dick Y. and Ray H. reported that healthcare grant implementation committee is meeting today. The purpose of the meeting is to review proposals from training consultants and start planning for first leadership training sessions.
Darwin B. and Ray H. mentioned that Pine City business persons and Partnership representatives will meet on December 7th to develop a plan to teach entry level retail skills class to Pine City students. Skip Strandberg will share his experience with the group. Representatives from Isle and Mora have been invited to the meeting as those communities are interested in replicating the class. Responding to a question about the next phase of the retail grant Dick Y. told that Step II implementation is underway.
Ginger G. gave a brief update, noting that April
27, 2001 is set as the date for the conference and that main speakers
have been secured. She also mentioned that
committee has discussed breakout session topics and an optional
afternoon session for those interested in learning more about “Fish
Theory” from one of main speakers.
Considering discussion from the Executive and Partnership Board November meetings John N. and Ray H. were invited to meet with Ted. D. and Henry Fisher of East Central Energy. Discussion centered on 1. History of Partnership and program to date, 2. Partnership 2000-01 goals/work plan, 3. ECE’s criteria and value with partnership,
4. Successfully achieving ECE’s criteria and 5. Plan of action.
John N., Ted D. and Ray H. summarized material presented at that meeting and touched on discussion points. Ted D. shared a map depicting the East Central Energy service area. Very roughly it encompasses an area from Lindstrom, to St.Cloud, going up to Mille Lacs Lake and into northern Pine County well north of Sandstone. Criteria for continued membership involve covering the East Central Energy service area and serving those businesses.
Discussion centered on numerous points and potential ways to meet criteria, if that was the desired product. Most committee members felt it would be very difficult to expand the Partnership to include southern Chisago County and Benton County. It was suggested that an effort be made to communicate annually with workforce or School-To-Work providers from those areas. Contacts with those groups were identified. Mention was made of striving to become part of a statewide coalition for workforce development. Membership fees were discussed and it was suggested that the Partnership use the Employer Conference to communicate efforts and increase membership. Joe H. volunteered to begin work on an informational brochure. Stretch goals and the possibility of creating industry councils was talked about.
John N. summarized discussion and stated that we might begin by doing a guide to create a membership list that would include: voluntary dues, discounts for training, reduced price for Employer Conference, recognition of School-To-Work business participants and recognition of sweat equity in aiding efforts of Partnership. John N. and Ray H. will produce a draft of this summary and it will be presented at the next Executive Committee meeting.
Ray H. reported that the Rush City School-To-Work committee is scheduled to present at the December 12th Partnership meeting. He mentioned the fiscal host requirement for contracts if services are provided in an amount exceeding $500.00. Contracts will be brought for approval once they are prepared.
He shared criteria included in supplemental School-To-Work grant that has been made available. Specifically pointed out were criteria involving “industry skill standards” and the potential to use these funds to export retail entry-level class to various communities in region. He presented request from Pine Technical College to approve funds to support March Women in Technology workshop for 6th grade females. John S. moved, seconded by Dick Y. to approve $1,000.00 for this purpose. Motion carried. Ginger G. told of Princeton Learning and Living committee presentation to school board and how well they were received. She also mentioned that 40-50 Princeton business persons would be speaking to Princeton High School homerooms about the importance of regular attendance in school and at work.
Briefly discussed this topic and agreed to fund a $100.00 Registration Fee for Executive Director to participate in developing a School-To-Work sustainability plan for the state. The group will meet on December 15, 2000. Action taken upon motion by Dick Y., seconded by John S. Motion carried.
Ginger G. moved and Joe H. seconded the payment
for services provided by Executive Director in November for 6 days. Motion carried.
The agenda for the partnership meeting was set as
follows: 1. STW Report,
2. Allied Health Care, Retail, Web Site and Employer Conference
Committee Reports, 3. Future of Partnership/East Central Energy
Criteria Discussion and Report, 4. Focus on Training Report, 5.
Executive Committee Report, 6. Minnesota Technology Presentation and
7. Presentation by Rush City School-To-Work Committee.
Minutes of the November 7, 2000 Focus on Training committee meeting were distributed. Robert M. reviewed the minutes. Ray H. told of meeting with Skip S. and potential instructor to test Rule and Fractions units. It was recommended that pre and posttests be given as part of the pilot classes. The role of the partners and the Partnership was discussed briefly before adjourning. Nothing definite was outlined, however the idea of creating a continuum and listing of available classes and instructors was broached. Members felt this made sense.
Following adjournment the Focus on Training committee continued to meet and discussed submitting an application for an Initiative Foundation grant to further develop and implement training initiative. Ray H. was asked to make some preliminary contacts with Initiative Foundation staff. The committee also discussed the need for a more comprehensive needs survey and the proper sequencing of next steps. Consensus was that it is important to review effectiveness of pilot training classes and plan based on those results.
Darwin B. moved, seconded by Joe H. to change the next Executive Committee meeting date from Tuesday, January 2, 2001 to Wednesday, January 3, 2001. Motion carried.
John N. adjourned the meeting at 9:05 a.m. Motion carried.
Minutes by Ray H.