Minutes of East Central Minnesota Workforce Partnership Meeting

 

December 13, 2005

 

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

 

Welcome and Introductions : John N. welcomed Stefanie Leibel to the meeting. Members introduced themselves.

 

In Attendance: Stefanie Leibel, Communities Investing in Families, Angie Sanders, Braham, Cambridge-Isanti, Mora, Princeton ABE Consortium, John Schlagel, Dennis Tollefson, Central MN Jobs & Training Cambridge/Mora WFC, Bruce Novak, Cambridge-Isanti Public Schools, Nick Waldoch, Braham Area Schools, Terry Dalbey, DEED, Bob Voss, ECRDC, John Norris, Atscott Mfg, Nancy Mach, Pine Technical College, Robert Musgrove, Pine Technical College, Jason Spaeth, Pine Technical College, Barry Kirchoff, ARCC Cambridge, Marty Harding, Communities Investing in Families and Ray Hoheisel, Executive Director.

 

Minutes: Partnership meeting minutes of October 11, 2005 were approved upon motion by Bruce N., seconded by Nick W. Motion carried.

 

Financial Report: Treasurer John S. reported a balance of $28,020.53. Revenue was from interest. Expenditure was for Executive Director service. Moved by Robert M., seconded by Terry D to approve financial report. Motion carried.

 

Charitable Organization Annual Report: Nick W. moved, seconded by John S. to approve submission of Charitable Organization Annual Report to State of Minnesota and authorized payment of $25.00 reporting fee. Motion carried.

 

Executive Director Payment for Services: Upon motion by Nick W., seconded by Bruce N., members approved payment for two days for director services in October 2005 and one day in November 2005. Motion also included mileage payment from April – November 2005 for 824 miles. Motion carried.

 

MNSCU Center of Excellence Grant Consortium: Robert M. reported that MNSCU institutions were awarded four Center of Excellence projects and that Pine Technical College is a member of two of the centers. They are part of the Manufacturing Center of Excellence consortium spearheaded by Bemidji State University and the Health Care Center of Excellence with numerous partners including St. Cloud Technical College.

 

Immediate use of the grant funds in manufacturing area will be to bring Johnson Virtual Reality technology up to date, to collaborate with K-12 schools to align curriculum and assure that preparatory classes are offered, to underwrite start-up costs of Lego League and Battlebots and to articulate Pine Technical College offerings with 4 year program at Bemidji State University.

 

Robert M. said it looks like the grant funds of approximately $1,000,000 will be spread out over four years. Pine Technical College will receive approximately $100,000 the first year. Some of the funds will be for staff time to upgrade curriculum and perhaps help with some equipment upgrades.

 

Grant outcomes are:

            Increased number of graduates in Manufacturing,

            Increased number of high school students who select Manufacturing as career

            choice,

            Increased number of students transferring and completing 4 year degree in

            Manufacturing and

            Better business satisfaction.

 

John N. and members congratulated Pine Technical College on the receipt of these competitive grants.

 

Gold Collar Career Day: Nancy M. said while the evaluation surveys were not yet compiled, the day was a huge success. One-hundred thirty-eight students attended with 40 Chisago Lakes students not accommodated. The numbers required an adjustment of the schedule and other than a few glitches the day went very well.

 

Traci and Lori Tapani of Wyoming Machine opened the day with an excellent power point presentation creatively put together to tell their manufacturing story in unique fashion. Throughout the day students participated in a tour at Atscott Mfg. and small group sessions from Polaris, Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association’s robotics program, Remmele, McNally Industries and Pine Technical College. Dan Conroy of Nexxon closed out the day with an excellent talk highlighted by visuals.

 

A quick review of the student evaluations showed good satisfaction, but would be improved by more hands-on activities. While Battlebots, Remmele and McNally had lots of opportunities for hands-on activities, students want more. Members discussed target audience for next year and agreed to limit number of students to 110-115. It was also noted that the day fits with Center of Excellence goals. It also appears that K-12 Perkins Grant funds from federal government will require career laddering and articulation components, which is also a natural fit.

 

Manufacturing Alliance: Pine Technical College will be supporting development of Battlebots and Lego League in region. Staff from the college and Pine City High School recently attended competition and orientation in Wisconsin and returned excited about the possibilities. Manufacturing Alliance will be asked to support and help promote Lego League development in respective communities. Nancy M. mentioned that a promotional video, sponsored by Federated Insurance of Owatonna and produced by statewide manufacturing educators group will be available in the spring. More on this next month.

 

Brainerd Lakes Area Chamber Meeting: Terry D. represented the Partnership as an invited guest. He said that approximately 50 people attended the breakfast meeting at Clow Stamping and that Matt Kramer, DEED was guest speaker. Terry’s counterpart from the Brainerd Workforce Center also gave a presentation. The manufacturing sub-committee of the Brainerd Lakes Area Chamber has goals similar to our Partnership.

 

Employer Conference: The Employer Conference is set for April 26, 2006 at Grand Casino Hinckley. Beth Nelson is planning committee chair. Terry D. has asked Governor Pawlenty to be the main speaker. He has the date on his calendar, but according to practice can not be confirmed until late February or early March 2006.

 

Discussion ensued about break-out sessions. Preliminary topics include enhancing working climate between and among generations, dealing with drugs, security and theft issues at individual businesses and leadership training. Members offered suggestions for committee members to consider.

 

Robert M. mentioned that similar topics were discussed at a recent planning meeting for next fall’s Economic Summit sponsored by the Mille Lacs Band. He suggested that the two groups consider a meeting to see if it makes sense to join forces and sponsor one conference. Members concurred.

 

Town Hall Planning Meeting Efforts by Business Services Group of Mora/Cambridge Workforce Centers: Dennis T. explained that the Town Hall meeting formats are still being discussed. They have decided on multiple venues by taking advantage of existing meetings to accomplish town hall meeting goals. The goals are to identify specific business issues so Workforce Center assistance can be targeted where needed.

Reports: Bob Voss said that ECRDC, the agency that assists the five-county region with economic development strategies is in line for a governance change. Their board is currently made up of local government officials, but will change to have 35% of board members from private sector. He asked that members think about people who might be interested in serving on the board and would meet the new criteria. They have discussed including representatives from area Chambers, Post-Secondary Institutions and Workforce Partnership.

 

Good Bye and Thanks to Marty Harding: Marty H. in her role as Communities Investing in Families, Executive Director, has been a vital and contributing member of the Partnership. She is leaving her position at the end of December and will no longer be a regular Partnership member. Chair John N. thanked her for leadership and commandeering of the Employer Conference and for her contributions at Partnership meetings. Members concurred as they bid her farewell.

 

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