Minutes of East Central Minnesota Workforce Partnership Meeting

 

March 8, 2005

 

Call to Order: Chair John Norris called the meeting to order at 7:00 a.m.

 

In Attendance: Sharon Prahl, CIC, Angie Sanders, Braham, Cambridge-Isanti, Mora, Princeton ABE Consortium, Barry Kirchoff, AARC-Cambridge Campus, Ginger Glenn, Glenn Metalcraft Inc., John Schlagel, Mary Ann Straley, Princeton Schools, Brian Wille, Pine Technical College, Terry Dalbey, DEED, Marty Harding, CIF, Robert Musgrove, Pine Technical College, Jason Spaeth, Pine Technical College, Nancy Mach, Pine Technical College, Jenny Leabo, Chisago County Business and Community Development, Nick Waldoch, Braham Area Schools, Dennis Tollefson, Central Minnesota Jobs & Training, Darwin Bostic, Pine City Public Schools, John Norris, Atscott Mfg. and Ray Hoheisel, Executive Director.

 

Welcome and Introductions: John Norris welcomed Jenny Leabo, Chisago County Business and Development Coordinator to the meeting. Members introduced themselves.

 

Minutes: Partnership meeting minutes of February 8, 2005 were approved upon motion by John S., seconded by Darwin B. Motion carried.

 

Financial Report: Treasurer John S. reported a balance of $30, 422.02. Revenue was from interest. Expenditures were for Executive Director service and Employer Conference payment to Izatys Golf & Yacht Club. Moved by Nick W., seconded by Terry D. to approve financial report. Motion carried.

 

Executive Director Payment for Services: Upon motion by Nick W., seconded by Robert M., members approved payment for one day for director services in February 2005. Motion carried.

 

Employer Conference: Marty H. distributed copies of 2005 Employer Conference registration brochure. She did a quick walk through of the program, touching on the keynote format, elaborating on the breakout sessions, explaining the Battlebots presentation and sharing credentials of the closing presenter, Nancy Conger. Committee members responded to questions from members.

 

Marketing the conference was also discussed. Members were asked to distribute brochures to groups with which they were affiliated. A sign-up roster was sent around and Marty H. prepared packets for each member. Also discussed were newspaper articles, web site information and other ways to promote the conference. Word of mouth seems to have worked best in the past.

 

Battlebots: John S. had suggested that members consider Partnership sponsorship of the two-day teacher training sessions for teacher/advisors. Members discussed this and agreed that Partnership sponsorship was a good idea, however, it might be premature in that program details are sketchy. Robert M. mentioned that the Manufacturing Alliance is planning to have a Battlebots presentation; hopefully the members will be supportive. It was agreed that the 15 lb. class of competition is more doable for high school students and that this is seen as a way to stimulate interest in manufacturing careers.

 

Darwin B. said Pine City Public Schools are interested in Battlebots if they can place it in the curriculum. Questions were asked about existing curriculum and Nancy M. agreed to check this out. She also mentioned that Tech Prep dollars could be used to support the program. It was mentioned that schools might integrate in one of several curriculum areas; including physics, industrial technology classes and/or advanced computer courses.

 

In related topics, Robert M. told members about funding for centers of excellence and the potential for a manufacturing center of excellence that would be a way to kick-off a Battlebots program and partnership in the region. Ray H. distributed an article that told of Popular Science magazine naming Minneapolis as the country’s “Top Tech City.”

 

 

Manufacturing Alliance Update and Battlebots Recap: Robert M. reported that alliance is waiting for posters/flyers for the Career Forums/Fairs that will be held at Cambridge-Isanti and North Branch High Schools, respectively on April 19 and 21, 2005. The mailing lists have been prepared for both manufacturers (130) and for potential attendees. Also discussed was the agenda for the March 11, 2005 meeting of the Manufacturing Educators Coalition at St. Cloud Technical College.

 

Small Grant Opportunity – ECM Publishers Inc.: A cover letter for a grant application from ECM Publishers, Inc. Community Affairs Council was distributed and discussed. Following discussion on potential needs members agreed to submit an application for grant funds. Nick W. moved, seconded by Robert M. to apply for $1,000.00 in funding to support Women in Technology and Manufacturing Career Day conferences. Motion carried.

 

The Women in Technology conference is for area 6^th grade female students with the purpose of exposing them to career opportunities in science and technology. The Manufacturing Career Day is geared to high school students interested in learning about career opportunities in the field of manufacturing and includes hands-on activities and an industry tour. Ray H. with assistance from Nancy M. will submit the grant.

 

Rural Minnesota Business Good News: John S. shared copies of Rural Minnesota Business Good News that was distributed at the June 2004 Minnesota Initiative Foundation All Board Retreat. The document contained myriad statistics and interesting facts about Minnesota businesses from across the state. Members felt it was a unique way to present information and could be used as an economic development tool for the region. It was suggested that this topic be discussed at the April meeting and that consideration be given to having a regional document ready for 2006 Employer Conference.

 

Article on Global Outsourcing: Ray H. distributed and briefly discussed an article that summarized the experience of 20 MBA students from the Carlson School of Management and their recent trip to India in order to learn about and understand this issue.

 

Information Sharing and Reports: John N. told members of a 1-2 week class for teachers to be held this summer. The class will focus on different manufacturing technologies. A brochure is forthcoming. John N. will distribute when he receives the brochure.

 

           

Meeting adjourned at 8:05 a.m. Minutes by Ray Hoheisel