Call to Order: Chairman John N. called the meeting to order at 7:00 a.m.

In Attendance: Randy Zieske, Schlagel Inc., John Schlagel, Nick Waldoch, Braham School District #314, Ginger Glenn, Glenn Metalcraft, Terry Dalbey, Mora/Cambridge Workforce Center, Marty Harding, Communities Investing in Families, Hamid Eydgahi, Pine Technical College, Dick Young, Oak Land Vocational, Ken Runberg, Cambridge-Isanti Public Schools, John Norris, Atscott Mfg., Nancy Mach, Pine Technical College, Ryan Jacobson, Industries, Inc., Dennis Adams, Cambridge Community College, Vicky Wills, Crystal Cabinets, JoAnn Faust, Crystal Cabinets, Joy Mills, Industries, Inc., Sue Edin, Landmark Community Bank, Jill Forslund, Rise Inc., Terry Graves, Rise Inc., Ted Dimberio, East Central Energy, Jason Spaeth, Pine Technical College, Susan Merritt, Pine Technical College, Kathy Burski, Lakes and Pines/Mora Chamber and Ray Hoheisel, Executive Director.

Introductions: Chairman John N. asked those present to introduce themselves.

Minutes: Partnership meeting minutes of May 8, 2001 were approved upon motion by John S. seconded by Ginger G. Motion carried. Executive Committee minutes of June 5, 2001 were received.

Web Site Committee: No new items to report.

Allied Health Committee: Dennis A. asked that report be delayed until Cathy Lund-Ziebarth, coordinator of grant project, arrived to give a review and update on Leadership Training grant.

Retail Committee: No new items to report.

Employability Skills Standards Certificate:

Nancy M., Marty H. and Ray H. distributed copies of the Employability Skills Checklist, the agenda for the June 12-13th workshop and a brief description and history of the Employability Skills Checklist that will be given to workshop participants. They identified the goals and objectives of the workshop and asked for feedback on the proposed process and desired outcomes.

Members gave advice and feedback as to what defining information would be most useful for employers when reviewing completed checklists of prospective employees. The following points were mentioned in the discussion. Voluntary participation in the process on the part of learners is vital. Judgments as to whether a learner has met the excellence standard will be subjective and determined by individual evaluators, but it is important that completed checklist is credible. The amount of detailed information desired on the form varied from employer to employer. Workshop planners were reminded that employers are truly coaches and this should be taken into consideration. It was recommended that the checklist serve as a teaching tool or be used as a plan to improve skills.

In summary the members suggested that workshop participants ask several questions as they develop standards to further detail the Employability Skills Checklist. What behaviors do we look at that would enable us to make a judgment that this person has the identified skills? Secondly, for the learners involved the checklist should demonstrate that they have made an effort to change their life and improve employability skills.

Workshop participants will take the revised Employability Skills Checklist to employers who signed up to give feedback at Employer Conference. The checklist will also be reviewed at the August Partnership meeting.

Focus on Training: John N. explained background, history and discussion at Executive Committee meeting. Basically the plan is to rejuvenate this effort and establish it as a priority goal for the upcoming year. Dick Y. commented on an approach to get the desired training on track by involving School-To-Work committees, grant funds and work with an existing entity like Community Education to try and establish this short-term, localized, on-call training.

McKnight Grant: Marty H. reported on the status of the grant application. The grant letter of intent submitted by the region was not accepted for inclusion in the first grant cycle. McKnight has asked the consortium to submit a letter for consideration in the November cycle. They stated that prior to the submission the Governor's Workforce Council would give technical assistance in the development of the grant project.

School-To-Work: Ray H. indicated that majority of School-To-Work efforts for the summer would focus on the Supplementary Grant, primarily the Employability Skills Checklist and monitoring the development of the retail sales associate training guidelines and videos. The quarterly School-To-Work report to the state is due July 15th.

Executive Committee Report: Majority of items covered during course of meeting.

Information Sharing: Kathy B. reported that for them to help qualified participants in the Dale Carnegie course at Pine Technical College it would need to be offered for college credit.

Adjournment: Chairman John N. adjourned the meeting at 8:40 a.m.

Minutes by Ray H.