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

In Attendance: John Schlagel, Nick Waldoch, Braham School District #314, Ginger Glenn, Glenn Metalcraft Inc., Terry Dalbey, Mora/Cambridge Workforce Center, Dick Young, Oak Land Vocational, Ken Runberg, Cambridge-Isanti Public Schools, Nancy Mach, Pine Technical College, Robert Musgrove, Pine Technical College, Dennis Adams, Cambridge Community College, Joe Hobson, M & J Consulting, Darwin Bostic, Pine City Schools, Sara Treiber, ECRDC, Cathy Lund-Ziebarth, Cambridge Community College, Marty Harding, Communities Investing in Families, Ryan Jacobson, Industries Inc., Natalie Kuehl, CMJTS, Ted Dimberio, East Central Energy and Ray Hoheisel, Executive Director.

Introductions: Vice-Chair Ted D. asked those present to introduce themselves.

Minutes: Partnership meeting minutes of August 14, 2001 were approved upon motion by John S. seconded by Robert M. Motion carried. Executive Committee minutes of September 4, 2001 were received.

Employability Skills Checklist: Nancy M. and Ray H. presented the final draft of the Employability Skills Checklist and pointed out the changes made due to the feedback received from reviewers and discussion at the last Partnership meeting. Members suggested including copyright, ownership and revision date on the form. It was agreed that this should be done before distributing final copies and posting the checklist on the Web Site. Final copies will be widely distributed in addition to being on the Web Site.

The Executive Committee has authorized School-To-Work Supplemental Grant Funds to be used to educate employers of the availability and usefulness of completed Employability Skills Checklist forms. This will be done via a course available from Customized Training at Pine Technical College taught by Denice Dross called "Successful Interviewing and Selection." The course will include use of Transcript and Employability Skills Checklist as tools for successful selection.

Ray H. briefly reviewed Employability Skills Checklist implementation plan developed at August Partnership meeting. He referred members to the meeting minutes for the complete plan.

Focus on Training: Ted D. told of the demonstration and presentation given to Executive Committee members, via internet and telephone by NetLearning representative Wayne Starke. NetLearning offers a computer-based training program for businesses. The training program was developed for a consortium of 120 TVA utilities. Executive Committee members reported that the computer-based training met several of the criteria the Partnership is seeking in a training program, short modules that can be used by a single individual at the job site. However, questions remain about the content of the training packages and the relevance to manufacturing firms, cost and the fact that neither companies nor employees are currently using internet based computer training.

Robert M. told members that MNSCU had screened web-based training and settled on two, Web CT and Blackboard. This was done to insure consistency across the state, ease of maintenance, allowing users the ability to migrate through the system and user satisfaction. Both Pine Technical College and Cambridge Community College selected Web CT. Pine Technical College currently offers a legal secretary program on-line. Dr. Kim Lynch has responsibility for on-line learning at Cambridge Community College. It was pointed out that Web CT uses local instructors, who put their course on-line and guide student learning during the course, whereas NetLearning is a stand-alone training program.

Discussion centered on whether or not employers will use the training. Both colleges have done focus groups on training needs and have offered courses based on the identified needs only to find that they had no takers. It was strongly suggested that the Partnership must ask the question, "What training do you want and how much are you willing to pay for it?"

It was again pointed out that the Partnership needs to hire someone to focus on the short term training effort. It will not happen by itself. Also known is the fact that this training method has been successful in the region (ex. English as a Second Language for Communities Investing in Families clients). According to manufacturing employers present their greatest need is for training beginning level employees so they can be productive. This is also where most training dollars are presently spent. Ginger G. mentioned that the most productive and successful entry level training program for their firm has been Don Gylling's 60 hour apprenticeship mathematics, print reading and measurement course.

Manufacturers in the region formed a sub-committee headed by Ginger G. and John S. with other members to be added to address the likelihood that an internet computer-based training program would be of value and used.

Allied Health Grant Update: Cathy L-Z. reported the four groups totaling 58 people have been trained. The feedback has been very positive. Two new groups have just begun and are also finding that the training is applicable and relevant to health care staff. The mentor training portion is in the planning stages. She reported that she would be participating in a local workshop on September 14th on "How to Develop a Successful Worksite Mentoring Program."

Employer Conference Planning: Marty H. distributed a "2001 Employer Conference Revenue and Expense" sheet and noted that nearly $3,000 of the $5,000 CIF conference funds from the Department of Human Services were used to balance conference revenues and expenditures.

Following discussion an Employer Conference planning committee was formed. Members include Terry D., Marty H., Nancy M., Ginger G., Cathy L-Z., Dennis A., Ray H. and John N. April 19, 2002 was selected as a tentative date. Marty H. will contact Izaty's Resort. Members were encouraged to think about a main theme for the conference. Committee meetings will be held following the Partnership meetings in the months ahead.

Report of Terrorist Attack Using Passenger Planes: During the latter part of the meeting Pat Conn and Nick Waldoch informed members of the World Trade Center crashes and the potential of their being other hi-jacked airplanes on domestic and international flights.

School-To-Work Report: Ray H. told of upcoming meeting with STW Coordinators to plan final year of grants. The state has notified partnerships of the need for a statewide evaluation of STW activities from 1997-2001 and that he has been asked to give feedback on a survey form that has been developed for this purpose.

Executive Committee Report: Majority of items covered during course of meeting. Replacing Randy Z., labor representative, on the Executive Committee was discussed. Names put forth as replacements were Doug Lanz, Schlagel Inc., Sharon Proehl, Team Industries and Connie Hockert, East Central Energy. The Executive Committee will make the replacement.

Information Sharing:

Resource Mapping Institute: Natalie K. told of an upcoming training session on Resource Mapping that will be held at St. Cloud on October 23, 2001. Training will be done on how to conduct community audits and do environmental scans in partnerships and/or individual communities. She recommended that a team from the Partnership consider attending the training session.

Mentoring Workshop: "How to Develop a Successful Worksite Mentoring Program" workshop will be held on September 14, 2001. Twenty people have registered to attend the workshop that will be lead by Janine Till, Workforce Development, Inc.

Adjournment: Vice-Chair Ted D. adjourned the meeting at 8:55 a.m.

Minutes by Ray H.