Minutes of East Central Minnesota Workforce Partnership Meeting

 

September 13, 2005

 

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

 

In Attendance: Sharon Prahl, CIC, Angie Sanders, Braham, Cambridge-Isanti, Mora, Princeton ABE Consortium, John Schlagel, Steve Lackner, Lakeland Mold Co., Dennis Tollefson, Central MN Jobs & Training Cambridge/Mora WFC, Christy Flaspeter, Grandview Christian Ministries, Angie Theisen, Central MN Jobs & Training Services, Bruce Novak, Cambridge-Isanti Public Schools, Darwin Bostic, Pine City Public Schools, Nick Waldoch, Braham Area Schools, Anita Lind, Maxxum, Inc., Marty Kramer, ECE, Chris Miller, OakLand Vocational, Marty Harding, CIF and Ray Hoheisel, Executive Director.

 

Minutes: Partnership meeting minutes of August 9, 2005 were approved upon motion by John S., seconded by Bruce N. Motion carried.

 

Financial Report: Treasurer John S. reported a balance of $28,814.19. Revenue was from interest and ECM Publishers Inc. grant. Expenditure was for Executive Director service. Moved by Darwin B., seconded by Nick W. to approve financial report. Motion carried.

 

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

 

Welcome: Vice-Chair Chris M. welcomed Anita Lind, Maxxum, Inc. of Rush City and Marty Kramer of ECE of Braham to the meeting. Members introduced themselves.

 

Discussion with Anita Lind of Maxxum Inc. of Rush City About CEO Roundtable: Anita L. gave a quick synopsis of her business and interest in this topic. She stated that she is a member of a CEO Roundtable in Minneapolis and has found the peer interaction and support invaluable. She would like to have local network, but to date has not found such a group; therefore becoming interested in helping establish a CEO Roundtable in this area.

 

In speaking with Robert M. of Pine Technical College he suggested presenting the concept to Partnership members. She also has spoke to Terry Grabau of ECE about forming such a group. She mentioned that her idea of a region would extend from Wyoming on the south, to Cambridge, to Hinckley and Sandstone. She wondered what members thought about this idea and potential.

 

 

Members brought up various points and they were discussed. During the discussion Anita L. explained how the Minneapolis CEO group operates and the benefits to participants. By consensus members felt the personal invitation approach would be most successful. They also agreed that reports from those involved in CEO Roundtables have been positive. It was suggested that a core group be invited to a fact-finding luncheon to see if a CEO Roundtable can be formed in the region. Names suggested to receive invitation were Barry Kirchoff, AARC-Cambridge Campus, Henry Fischer, ECE, Robert Musgrove, Pine Technical College, Ginger Glenn, Glenn Manufacturing Inc. and John Norris, Atscott, Mfg. Ray H. agreed to send an introductory e-mail to the suggested invitees. Robert M. will be asked to bring up the idea at a Manufacturing Alliance meeting.

 

2005 Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Incentive Grant: Chris M. told members that the criteria for this grant was similar to the Toyota Grant that the Partnership wrote and submitted last year (…advancing foundational math skills of individuals through contextual learning and use demand driven contextual learning curriculum and/or teacher training to advance individuals’ math skills). She distributed a memo from the Governor’s Workforce Development Council explaining the grant.

 

Also distributed and discussed was correspondence from Joan Danielson of DEED and Toyota Grant purpose and to accomplish statements. Only Local Workforce Investment Boards can apply for the grants. It appears that the three central Minnesota boards are considering a joint application. The Toyota Grant application has been sent to the three directors should they be interested in considering using portions of the grant as a model.

 

Time was spent discussing the logistics of meaningful involvement of schools and businesses in the development of a quality grant that could be submitted by November 1, 2005 and implemented in 2006. By consensus the group agreed that the level of detail in the Toyota Grant could not be achieved in large geographic region under consideration. The notion of pilot type projects and/or teacher training opportunities designed like Bush Fellowships seemed to make the most sense to members.

 

Follow-up Discussion with Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce Workforce Taskforce Representative: Steve Lackner explained what their taskforce has done since our last meeting. They have met with their area school leaders and attended a conference presented by Dr. Willard Daggett. The focus of the meetings and the conference centered on, “What are we and can we do about increasing the skills of future workers?”

 

Nick W. spoke of a similar effort with the St. Paul Schools and area businesses. He emphasized that it was important that everyone speak the same language and understand exactly what is needed or being taught. What is to be learned needs to broken into smallest measures possible and that base information be identified.

 

Superintendents present felt that K-12 curriculum will be driven by economy, one that responds to post Berlin Wall era, new world economy. Accomplishing this will cause conflicts among school constituents, example more math classes means cutting other offerings. There is and will continue to be ongoing debate and internal struggles around this issue.

 

Steve L. said their next step is to identify skills they feel need more attention and present them to their area school leaders. He requested that a member familiar with the ECMWF/Partnerships history attend their meeting and provide feedback.

 

Quick Updates:

Manufacturing Alliance: Chris M. mentioned that the next meeting will be on Friday, September 23, 2005. They have agreed to host two Gold Collar Career Days on November 18^th and December 2^nd at Pine Technical College. Steve L. mentioned that a similar event is scheduled in February on the Staples Campus.

 

Battlebots Implementation: Four area teachers were trained in a 5 day Battlebots workshop this past summer. Teachers from Pine City High School, Pine Technical College and OakLand ALC participated. According to one of the teachers, it was an excellent workshop. Pine City has incorporated the curriculum into classes taught by industrial technology and physics teachers. Twenty-four students are enrolled in the course.

 

Department of Labor Grant Application: Jason S. sent an update on the grant application. He said that our region will partner with the Northwest Region with a primary focus on Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) certification and a secondary focus on project Lead the Way. The MSSC website is http://www.msscusa.org.

 

Next Meeting: Ray H. told of a construction pre-bid conference held by Mille Lacs Band earlier this summer. It was a prelude to a major construction project at Grand Casino-Hinckley. A survey was distributed at the conference and was completed by industry representatives. The survey focused on construction industry employment needs, present and future. Results of this survey will be presented at the Partnership meeting on October 11, 2005. Surveyors extend a special welcome to school leaders to hear the results and to offer feedback as to potential follow-up activities.

           

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