Call to Order: Chair John N. called the meeting to order at 7:05 a.m.

In Attendance: Randy Zieske, Schlagel Inc., Dick Young, Oak Land Vocational, John Norris, Atscott Mfg., John Schlagel, Darwin Bostic, Pine City Public Schools, Jason J. Spaeth, Pine Technical College, Cathy Lund-Ziebarth, Cambridge Community College, Nick Waldoch, Braham School District #314, Vicky Wills, Crystal Cabinet Works, JoAnn Faust, Crystal Cabinet Works, Ken Runberg, Cambridge-Isanti Schools, Natalie Kuehl, Central MN Jobs&Training, Ginger Glenn, Glenn Metalcraft, Nancy Mach, Pine Technical College, Dennis Adams, Cambridge Community College, Terry Dalbey, Mora/Cambridge Workforce Center, Travis Marttila, Braham Area Schools, Joe Hobson, Hobson Landscaping, Kathy Krenik Minkler, Isanti County Public Health, Nealna Gylling, Oak Land Vocational, Kathy Burski, Lakes and Pines CAC, Inc./Mora Area Chamber of Commerce, Marty Harding, Communities Investing in Families, Denise Olson, Northern Solutions and Ray Hoheisel, Executive Director.

Minutes: Partnership meeting minutes of December 12, 2000 were approved upon motion by Dick Y. seconded by Ginger G. Motion carried. Executive Committee minutes of January 3, 2001 were received.

Oak Land Apprenticeship Project:

Chair John N. welcomed Nealna Gylling of Oak Land Vocational to the meeting. Nealna began by distributing a Registered Youth Apprenticeship Programs document. The document outlined the history of the apprenticeship program, described the program in general, listed 2001-2002 apprenticeship opportunities and application process, compared the 800 hour and 2000 hour programs and included sample work process documents from participating firms, MinnCo Credit Union and Glenn Metalcraft.

She explained and elaborated on the contents of each section of the document. Student selection, the difference between the 800 and 2000 hour programs and the importance of teaching "employability skills" prior to starting on-the-job were covered in detail in her presentation. An extensive question and answer time followed her presentation. Chair John N. thanked Nealna for an excellent and informative presentation.

Allied Health Committee: Dennis A. reported that the committee has met several times and has decided to reconvene the larger group of providers on January 31, 2001. Greg Carlson has agreed to extend the invitation and the meeting will be held at Cambridge Community College. Discussion will focus on the problem area of rules and regulations in health care and working on a presentation to be made to area legislators to educate them on the particulars and scope of issues involved. An attempt will be made to include medical center/hospital, long-term care, home care and public health representatives from East Central Minnesota to elaborate on workforce needs and potential solutions in the legislative presentation.

Cathy L-Z. reported that Barry Lane has been selected to provide the majority of training for the leadership training. He has a background in health care, having worked at Medica and currently is on staff at the Anoka Ramsey Coon Rapids campus. The training program will start with Barry giving a project overview to all staff at each of the participating businesses. He is also in the process of preparing curriculum for the first training module.

Retail Committee: Nancy M. reported that the planning group for retail sales class at Pine City is meeting on January 18th. Ray H. mentioned that School-To-Work Supplemental Grant funds can be used to develop training guide/video for retail sales course based on industry standard skills.

Employer Conference: Terry D. confirmed the conference date of April 27th and said the planning committee will meet after today's meeting to work on conference planning. Marty H. informed the group Communities Investing in Families has secured a one-time grant funding amount of $5,000.00 to establish a dedicated revolving Employer Conference account.

Future of Partnership: John N. distributed a draft for discussion Guide To Create A Membership List For The East Central Minnesota Workforce Partnership. He described the purpose of the guide and discussion as an effort to officially put "our arms around list of members." He explained the two categories of membership, contributing members and associate members. He also reiterated and described the listed benefits of the two types of membership. Following discussion and a request by John N. for suggested improvements to the guide, Dick Y. moved, seconded by Nick W. to adopt the proposed membership structure. Motion carried.

Suggestions made to expand membership during the course of the discussion were to make presentations to area Chambers and to request representatives from local School-To-Work committees to attend Partnership meetings as part of their investment in receipt of implementation grants.

John N. and Joe H. distributed draft copies of a Partnership brochure that Joe H. had prepared. They mentioned that the purpose of the brochure was to pique interest in the work of the Partnership. Members offered suggestions for enhancing the brochure. They included adding legislative to list of activities and to incorporate the map from the letterhead that identifies the East Central region served by the Partnership. The group discussed how to disseminate the brochures.

Secondary Vocational Funding: Dick Y. told the group that secondary vocational funding ends this year. He distributed a brochure and letter explaining the need to establish permanent funding for secondary vocational education in the state. He gave examples of why this is necessary and the importance of secondary vocational funding for students.

The group was asked to contact legislators in writing to secure this funding. Following discussion and group consensus, Dick Y. moved, seconded by John S. that the Partnership send a letter to area legislators asking them to support to a permanent means to fund secondary vocational education. Motion carried.

Focus on Training: Ray H. reported that the first of the pilot lessons in Use of Rules and Fractions should be taught in the next week or so. Planning for the classes has been done and assessments have been given to the first learners. The instructor indicated he was ready to begin classes at the first pilot site and then would move to the other businesses involved in the pilot testing. He also mentioned that an instructional unit on Vernier Calipers has been completed.

School-To-Work Report: Ray H. reported that the Pine City School-To-Work committee would present at the next Partnership meeting. He mentioned the statewide sustainability effort underway and touched on the availability of Supplemental School-To-Work grant funds. These funds must address industry standards and serve Area Learning Center and Adult Basic Education students. Implementation grants have been approved from Year IV grant funds for Cambridge-Isanti, Mora and Princeton. An application from Pine City has been received and will be acted on in February. School-To-Work Coordinators will be meeting at Cambridge-Isanti High School on January 17th with the focus on Career Centers. School-To-Work paperwork needing attention is submission of Year III final report, 3rd Quarter Year IV report and the Year V grant application.

Executive Committee Report: John N. reviewed the Executive Committee discussion and minutes from January 3rd.

Information Sharing & Other Reports: Kathi B. stated that the Mora Chamber publishes a newspaper insert newsletter and if the Partnership would write up information it would be a means to inform communities about the work of the Partnership. Ginger G. told of the success of the two-week preparation for work class offered by the apprenticeship program and asked members to think of duplicating this class for entry level employees. Nancy M. told of a grant Pine City had received from the Minnesota Chamber that enabled 6th graders to get to know their community. Visits to businesses stressed among other things the history of Pine City and proper etiquette in retail establishments. Nealna G. and Ginger G. told of Princeton business person's presentations to all 50 homerooms at Princeton High School stressing the importance of attendance in school and on the job. Ginger G. also mentioned the Princeton Chamber newsletter The Focus and a crossword puzzle based on Princeton trivia. Marty H. told of the upcoming Congregations in Community conference to be held at First Baptist Church in Cambridge on January 20.2001. The effort is to get churches more involved in social ministry, especially in transportation, housing and mentoring.

Adjournment: Chair John N. adjourned the meeting at 9:00 a.m. Minutes by Ray H.