Minutes of East Central Minnesota Workforce Partnership Meeting

 

September 14, 2004

 

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

 

In Attendance: Sharon Prahl, People Focus & Cargo Box, Christy Flaspeter, Grandview, Chris Miller, Oak Land, John Schlagel, John Norris, Atscott Mfg., Mary Ann Straley, Princeton ISD #477, Ginger Glenn, Glenn Metalcraft, Inc., Marty Harding, Communities Investing in Families, Robert Musgrove, Pine Technical College, Terry Dalbey, MN DEED, Jason Spaeth, Pine Technical College, Keith Lester, Mora Schools, Bridget Peterson, Greater MN Credit Union, Angie Sanders, Braham, Cambridge-Isanti, Mora, Princeton ABE Consortium, Nancy Mach, Pine Technical College, Dennis Tollefson, Central MN Jobs and Training, Nick Waldoch, Braham Schools and Ray Hoheisel, Executive Director.

 

Welcome and Introductions: John N. welcomed Angie Sanders, Braham, Cambridge-Isanti, Mora, Princeton Adult Basic Education to the meeting. Members introduced themselves.

 

Minutes: Partnership meeting minutes of August 10, 2004 were approved upon motion by John S., seconded by Chris M. Motion carried.

 

Financial Report: Treasurer John S. reported a balance of $36,016.90. Revenue was from interest. Expenditures were for Executive Director services. Moved by Ginger G., seconded by Terry D. to approve financial report. Motion carried.

 

Executive Director Payment for Services and Mileage: Upon motion by Ginger G., seconded by Robert M., members approved payment for one day for director services in August 2004 and mileage reimbursement for March – August, 2004. Motion carried.

 

Families Forward Success Stories and Award to Continue Grant: Marty H. told members that the Families Forward grant has been extended for 2 years by the McKnight Foundation. The grant provides scholarships for education that will lead to advanced job positions. The grant extension will make scholarships available to 75 qualified families. She distributed and discussed a progress report chart and said that the goals of the initial grant had been met. She briefly talked about successful outreach activities and mentioned that getting referrals from employers had not met expectations. She concluded her remarks by sharing success stories.

 

Develop Employer Conference Survey Tool: Marty H. briefed members on purpose of survey tool. She also distributed copies of the 2004 Employer Conference Evaluation Summary. Following discussion it was decided to use various approaches to obtain feedback; on-line using surveymonkey.com and postcards that could either be mailed or handed out to individuals or at meetings.

The following ideas were given to include in the surveys:

1.     Did you find conference valuable?

2.     Look back at all conferences and survey according to categories.

3.     Interest in employment law and especially job reference bill.

4.     Software program explanation, example given was for HR.

5.     Employee action teams that really work, profit sharing, employee driven goals and gain sharing.

6.     Theme suggested - based on employee related issues or “How to laugh as a supervisor.”

7.     Businesses serving the community.

 

Infomercial on Minnesota Jobs Skills Partnership Grant Award: Christy F. told members about the new grant awarded to Cambridge Medical Center, Grandview Christian and AARC – Cambridge Campus. The grant will focus on process improvement and implementing no lift policy. It will take a considerable re-education process to train health care staff to use equipment to lift patients and/or residents, rather than personally lifting them. Training also will focus on bridging the gap between training experienced in the classroom, to applying it in the real world of the clinic, hospital or care facility. She also mentioned that the grant award is for $400,000.00 and will officially be presented in a ceremony on November 18, 2004.

 

Employability Skills Checklist Revisited: Copies of the checklist were distributed. Members who helped develop the checklist refreshed memories about development and use. They felt it might be time to remind schools about using the checklist and that it is an opportunity to empower good students to stand out when applying for jobs. Various members shared how the checklist has evolved and is currently used. Example given ranged from curriculum at job clubs, to being part of the interviewing process taught at high schools

 

Regional Meeting with Manufacturing Businesses: Robert M. reported on the second “Meeting on Manufacturing Workforce and Workforce Education in East Central Minnesota.” He said the second meeting was very productive and included representatives from 9 manufacturers. He then summarized the meeting and told of three action task forces that were formed to continue the work of the group. They were a Steering Committee, K-12 Outreach and Out-of-School or ‘Re-Tooling’ Student task forces. Minutes of the meeting will be sent to Partnership members via e-mail.

 

Review Partnership Mission and Goals Section on Developing Future Workers: Discussion covered a wide variety of suggestions: 1. Encourage businesses to invest in their community as well as telling that “manufacturing isn’t a foundry anymore.” 2. Using tours to increase realization of employment opportunities in local communities. 3. Focus on showing students, teachers and parents the need for training in modern manufacturing. 4. Build relationships between employers and educators., and 5. Invite area chambers to a meeting to seek their help in educating people of needs and opportunities in manufacturing. Members felt it important to coordinate this effort with the Manufacturing Workforce and Workforce Education group.

 

It was agreed that the section relating to developing future workers be amended to include in the introduction, “To develop future workers by supporting local community groups in developing” followed by original list. An additional objective was added to the listing, “Proactively market economic importance and responsibility of businesses as builders of a healthy community.”

           

 

Information Sharing: Chris M. reported that Ginger G. will receive the Outstanding Career and Technical Education Partner Award for the state. The honor is bestowed by Career and Technical Education Administrators. Marty H. shared a recent article on CIF’s donated computers in the state ABE publication. She said that 85 computers are now in the hands of low income families. - Ray H. distributed copies of Labor Market Data-Watcher from DEED, Curbing High School Dropout Rates from the U of M and a single copy of a Job Reference Bill brochure published by Minnesota Chamber.

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:50 a.m. Minutes by Ray Hoheisel