Minutes of East Central Minnesota Workforce Partnership Meeting

 

January 11, 2005

 

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, John Norris, Atscott Mfg., Angie Sanders, Braham, Cambridge-Isanti, Mora, Princeton ABE Consortium, Dennis Tollefson, Central MN Jobs and Training, Nick Waldoch, Braham Schools, Ken Runberg, Cambridge-Isanti Public Schools, Barry Kirchoff, AARC-Cambridge Campus, Ginger Glenn, Glenn Metalcraft Inc., John Schlagel, Mary Ann Straley, Princeton Schools, Brian Wille, Pine Technical College, Joan B. Danielson, DEED, Terry Dalbey, DEED, Robert Musgrove, Pine Technical College, Tom Willett, City of Cambridge, Darwin Bostic, Pine City Public Schools and Ray Hoheisel, Executive Director.

 

Welcome and Introductions: John N. welcomed Tom Willett, City of Cambridge to the meeting. Members introduced themselves.

 

Minutes: Partnership meeting minutes of December 14, 2004 were approved upon motion by John S., seconded by Darwin B. Motion carried.

 

Financial Report: Treasurer John S. reported a balance of $33,555.83. Revenue was from interest. Expenditures were for Executive Director service, pizza for Career Day, web site, State of Minnesota fee for non-profit and accountant services. Moved by Ken R., seconded by Nick W. to approve financial report. Motion carried.

 

Executive Director Payment for Services: Upon motion by Darwin B., seconded by Mary Ann Straley, members approved payment for one day for director services in December 2004. Motion carried.

 

Employer Conference: Committee members Dennis T., Barry K., Sharon P. and Ray H. distributed and discussed Employer Conference Committee Notes that outlined particulars about the upcoming April 29, 2005 conference. Registration and booth fees will remain the same as last year.

 

The keynote address will involve a panel demonstrating that corporate citizenship is good for individual business, as well as the community. Preliminary planning for the panel will involve two businesses that have been recognized by the Initiative Foundation in recent years. Woven into the panel will be videos prepared by the Initiative Foundation as well as testimonials by the business principals.

 

Committee members discussed each of the planned breakout sessions and explained who would be involved in each of them. Nearly all of the breakout sessions were put together to meet needs as expressed in the survey of past conference attendees. The committee members asked and received input and suggestions on a breakout session about success stories with “Employee Teams.” Various suggestions were made as to the content of this session, along with recommendations for panelists. Individual members agreed to contact potential presenters.

 

Battlebots IQ Program: Charles Arnold, Executive Director of Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association spoke to members about their effort to excite students about manufacturing career opportunities and put some sizzle into it with robot competition for high school students. The program to do this is Battlebots IQ and Minnesota is leading the international effort.

 

He said because of the nature of the competition safety is the first consideration and went on to explain how this has been accomplished. The program in Minnesota has grown from two participating high schools two years ago, to 25 last year and 75 this year. Their goal is to make personal contact with all high schools in the state within three years. To make participation more likely a 15 lb. class competition is being developed. This size robot can be developed for under $500.00 and competitions will be held at technical colleges or in individual businesses.

 

Competition presently exists in the 120 lb. class with its own curriculum. The competition is a way of practicing corporate America. Team members must have skills in planning, budgeting, welding, evaluating, etc. They need to create a product, test that product and then compete with other schools, which is the ultimate test of their product. Following competition they need to regroup and figure out ways to make things better. This effort fits manufacturing in that building the robot includes the disciplines of CNC, fabricating, applying the laws of physics, among others.

 

The association is in the process of having the competition approved as a letter winning “smart sport.” This year’s championship will be held at Dunwoody in May. Before entering competition the students must build a robot and be tested. Teachers are key to this effort and training sessions are available, two days for 15 lb. class and five days for 120 lb. class.

 

In response to questions he said there is a basic robot package available, but that students need to build which is putting physics into practice. This has been a tremendous learning experience for students as the goal is to develop that perfect robot. Mahtomedi, Chaska and Edison High Schools were given as examples of participating schools. Robert M. mentioned that Pine Technical College is exploring the possibility of serving as a regional hub.

 

Finally Charles A. shared that his association has a contract with the State Fair to become part of a demonstration event on machinery hill. The goal is not only educate students, but also parents about the opportunities in manufacturing. Successful participation includes leadership from schools and collaborative efforts among students, parents and local manufacturers. Manufacturers typically help in-kind, welding, machining parts, etc., however, it is required that the students do the planning and the work from beginning to end. He also mentioned that Hubbard Broadcasting has agreed to televise upcoming competition.

 

John N. thanked Charles A. for attending and his fine presentation.

 

Manufacturing Alliance Update: Robert M. reported on alliance activities and told that the next meeting of the Manufacturing Alliance will be held on February 10, 2005 at Wyoming Tool in Stacy. He said that interest is high and alliance members now include 24 manufacturing firms, Pine Technical College and DEED.

 

At their last meeting Nancy M. updated the group on the High Tech Manufacturing – Gold Collar Career Day held at Pine Technical College. She shared evaluation data which depicted a very successful event. Suggestions for next year were also discussed.

 

Robert M. said the alliance is now concentrating on the upcoming job fairs which will be held on two weeknights in April. He mentioned planning activity that included budget, purpose, participants, manufacturer hosted booths, location and publicity. The work of planning for the job fairs is being done by members on a promotion committee and a logistics committee.

 

 

Information Sharing and Reports: No reports given.

           

Meeting adjourned at 8:30 a.m. Minutes by Ray Hoheisel