Minutes of East Central Minnesota Workforce Partnership Meeting

 

August 13, 2002

 

Call to Order:  Acting Chair Terry D. called the meeting to order at 7:10 a.m.

 

In Attendance:   Nick Waldoch, Braham School District #314, Susan Merritt, Communities Investing in Families/Pine Technical College, Robert Musgrove, Pine Technical College, Sharon Prahl, Team Industries Inc., Ken Runberg, Cambridge-Isanti Schools, John Schlagel, Terry Grave, Rise Inc., Marty Harding, Communities Investing in Families, Nancy Mach, Pine Technical College, Kathi Schaff, Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, Terry Dalbey, Cambridge and Mora WorkForce Center, Bridget Petersen, Greater Minnesota Credit Union, Ginger Glenn, Glenn Metalcraft Inc., Kathy Burski, Lakes and Pines, Sara Treiber, ERRDC, Chris O. Miller, Oak Land Vocational, Ken Janc, Summit Technical Solutions and Ray Hoheisel, Executive Director.

 

Introductions:  Acting Chair Terry D. asked members to introduce themselves.  Bridget Petersen and Ken Janc were welcomed as first time attendees and both gave background information.

           

Minutes:  Partnership meeting minutes of June 13, 2002 were approved upon motion by Robert M. seconded by Ken R.  Motion carried.  Minutes of the August 6, 2002 Executive Committee meeting were distributed.

 

Glenn Metalcraft, Inc. Wins Outstanding Enterprise Award:  Acting Chair Terry D. assisted by Sara T. congratulated Ginger Glenn and Glenn Metalcraft, Inc. on being named the winner of the Outstanding Enterprise Award given by the Initiative Foundation.  Sara T. gave information about the award and distributed copies of the application she submitted.  Members extended congratulations to Ginger G. and discussed attending the October 25th Initiative Foundation awards banquet to acknowledge and support this deserving award winner.

 

Career and Technical Education Power Point Presentation and Discussion:  Ray H. introduced the presentation and asked that members analyze the content of the presentation for accuracy, conciseness and how the message comes across.  Nancy M. gave the power point presentation and led discussion and helped clarify suggestions made by members.

 

Following discussion, questions and suggestions it was agreed to change a slide that seemed confusing.  Members also spent considerable time formulating a list of things that Board members and Partnership members could do to insure that career and technical education opportunities continue to be available for K-12 students in the region.  Members pointed out that the stated goal should be that “career and technical education should be an option for our students.”  The intent is to work with school boards and legislators to make changes in current laws to meet this goal.

 

The first presentation to a school board will be on August 26th at a Cambridge-Isanti board work session.  Nancy M. agreed to present and several Partnership members agreed to attend the session.  Nick W. suggested the 3rd Monday in September as the date for a presentation to the Braham board.

 

 

School-To-Work Year V Redistribution Implementation Grants:  Requests for Year V Redistribution Implementation Grants were received form Isle and Milaca Public Schools.  Respectively the grants will be used to purchase career center materials and resources for Isle ALC and High School and to purchase new curriculum materials and technology, including MCIS to assist students with portfolio development and lifework plans at Milaca High School.  Robert M. moved, seconded by Nick W. to approve the requests.  Motion carried.

 

HR Roundtable, Cambridge and Princeton:  Sharon P., Kathi S. and Ginger G. told members about the initial planning meeting at Cambridge.  Minutes of the meeting were shared and future plans for continuing forward were discussed.  Ginger G. assisted the Cambridge group at their first meeting by sharing the Princeton experience.  She was thanked for her help and also told of upcoming plans for the Princeton group.

 

Families Forward Grant Request to McKnight Foundation:  Marty H. reported that the  Communities Investing in Families submitted grant application is one of 11 finalists for the McKnight Foundation “Families Forward” grant.  She told of the grant evaluation process and site visit conducted by the Foundation consultant.  Grant awards should be determined around September 1, 2002.

 

Employer Conference 2003:  Discussion was postponed until September Partnership meeting.

 

Information Sharing:  Kathi S. invited members to an upcoming Cambridge Area Chamber meeting featuring Norm Coleman, U.S. Senate candidate.  Marty H. announced that Communities Investing in Families has a Vista Volunteer that will be working on church outreach to help better the lives of families in the region.

 

Adjournment:  Acting Chair Terry D. adjourned the meeting.  Minutes by Ray H.