Since 1998, the Northwest Minnesota Women's Fund has honored 33 women who have demonstrated leadership for improving the quality of their own lives or those around them. In our increasingly complex society, the Women’s Fund seeks to applaud the efforts of the women who have made Northwest Minnesota a better place to live, work, raise families, and have fun.
The Women’s Fund is asking for your assistance in recognizing these women who live in the counties of Beltrami, Clearwater, Marshall, Hubbard, Pennington, Polk, Kittson, Red Lake, Norman, Mahnomen, Roseau and Lake of the Woods. Nomination forms can be obtained from the Northwest Minnesota Foundation web site (www.nwmf.org) or by calling 218-759-2057 or 1-800-659-7859.
All nomination forms must be submitted by June 1, 2011. After the selections, the Advisory Committee will plan and host receptions in the recipients’ hometowns, to be held in late summer or early fall.
“Community Builders” awards are given based on the following criteria:
Leadership: A woman who through leadership roles has made significant contributions to her community; and through volunteerism, citizenship or community service has significantly improved the lives of women and girls.
Outstanding Mentor: A woman who has demonstrated wisdom and devotion to helping others; a role model and mentor who has supported and encouraged positive development in young women, and who also shows the characteristics necessary for success while actively sharing her skills.
Professional Excellence: A woman who has demonstrated leadership and excellence in her work, and whose leadership has benefited her community and/or her company; and outstanding entrepreneur; a role model for other women in achieving success in traditional or non-traditional positions.
The Northwest Minnesota Women’s Fund, a component of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation, serves as a catalyst for improving the quality of life for women and girls by focusing on women’s initiatives, leadership and philanthropy to build successful communities.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
2nd Sustainability Supper at UMC on Thursday, April 7,
CROOKSTON, Minn. – The second in a series of “sustainability supper seminars” will take place on Thursday, April 7, 2011, at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. The theme for the dinner is the International Dimensions of Sustainability and it will begin at 5 p.m. in Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center.
A meal from the campus dining buffet line, will allow participants to spend the evening learning about sustainability and its various applications in other lands. Interested students, faculty and staff, community leaders, ministers, agency personnel, farmers, and business and industry representatives are welcome to participate by contacting Michael Knudson, Minnesota GreenCorps member, at 218-281-8128 (knud0189@umn.edu) by April 4 for reservations.
The schedule for the evening includes a welcome and introductions by Director of the Center for Sustainability Dan Svedarsky. Presentations during the evening include: Sophomore Tashi Gurung, an environmental sciences and communication double major from Kathmandu, Nepal, who will be presenting on recycling in Nepal; Senior Nikolay Seregin, a natural resources major from Moscow, Russia, sharing information on sustainability in Russia; and Min-seong Kim, an English as a Second Language student from Gyeonggi, Korea, who will present his study of eco-friendly marketing in Korea. Also speaking is Senior Jeff Cook, a natural resources major from Eagan, Minn., who will give his presentation on the “Impressions of climate change from a Will Steger trek to Baffin Island.”
Approximately 30 participants from diverse backgrounds took part in the inaugural program on March 24 which provided a briefing on overall definitions and applications of the concept of sustainability and initiatives underway on the UMC campus; as well as exploration of the “Communiversity” concept. “It’s ideal to have a broad spectrum audience in sessions like these for it provides rich discussion and the clarification of ideas,” according to co-convenor, Dan Svedarsky. “We had fun and everyone came away better informed.”
A mini-grant from the University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment is helping fund the series of bi-weekly, "sustainability supper seminars" designed to educate the campus and the local community on sustainability applications.
A meal from the campus dining buffet line, will allow participants to spend the evening learning about sustainability and its various applications in other lands. Interested students, faculty and staff, community leaders, ministers, agency personnel, farmers, and business and industry representatives are welcome to participate by contacting Michael Knudson, Minnesota GreenCorps member, at 218-281-8128 (knud0189@umn.edu) by April 4 for reservations.
The schedule for the evening includes a welcome and introductions by Director of the Center for Sustainability Dan Svedarsky. Presentations during the evening include: Sophomore Tashi Gurung, an environmental sciences and communication double major from Kathmandu, Nepal, who will be presenting on recycling in Nepal; Senior Nikolay Seregin, a natural resources major from Moscow, Russia, sharing information on sustainability in Russia; and Min-seong Kim, an English as a Second Language student from Gyeonggi, Korea, who will present his study of eco-friendly marketing in Korea. Also speaking is Senior Jeff Cook, a natural resources major from Eagan, Minn., who will give his presentation on the “Impressions of climate change from a Will Steger trek to Baffin Island.”
Approximately 30 participants from diverse backgrounds took part in the inaugural program on March 24 which provided a briefing on overall definitions and applications of the concept of sustainability and initiatives underway on the UMC campus; as well as exploration of the “Communiversity” concept. “It’s ideal to have a broad spectrum audience in sessions like these for it provides rich discussion and the clarification of ideas,” according to co-convenor, Dan Svedarsky. “We had fun and everyone came away better informed.”
A mini-grant from the University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment is helping fund the series of bi-weekly, "sustainability supper seminars" designed to educate the campus and the local community on sustainability applications.
Monday, March 28, 2011
4-H Film Festival to Showcase Youths' Talent
The North Dakota Center for 4-H Youth Development is giving kids a chance to test their creativity and video-making skills this summer.
Youth will be able to create and submit a one- to 10-minute video in one of four categories. Judges will select the top three videos in each category. Those videos will be shown at the North Dakota 4-H Film Festival during the State Fair in Minot.
After the showing, set for 2 p.m. July 24 in the Norsk Room at the State Fair Center on the fairgrounds, the audience will vote on the video to receive the People's Choice Award.
The competition is open to teams of youth in the sixth through 12th grade this school year. Each team should consist of one to four members. At least one member should be a 4-H'er. To join 4-H, visit http://www.ndsu.edu/4h.
The four categories are:
* Fur, Feathers and Fins -- This should be a video featuring an animal as the main character or teaching how to train or work with an animal.
* 4-H SET on Going Green -- This video should promote conservation and "going green," which is the process of changing one's lifestyle by using environmentally friendly products, recycling and limiting the use of natural resources.
* Discover 4-H -- This video should promote 4-H.
* Just for Fun! -- This is a video that doesn't fit into any of the other categories.
Teams who created the top three videos in each category will receive a certificate and a $100 cash award that is to be split among the team members. The team receiving the People's Choice Award also will receive a certificate and a $100 cash prize.
Teams need to register by June 15 and submit their video by June 24.
For more details about the competition and links to information on digital storytelling and tips and tricks on videoing and video editing, click on the 4-H Film Festival link at http://www.ndsu.edu/4h.
"We know we have a lot of talented youth in North Dakota, so we are excited about holding the 4-H Film Festival," says Linda Hauge, NDSU 4-H youth development specialist and festival organizer. "We hope to make this an annual event."
Youth will be able to create and submit a one- to 10-minute video in one of four categories. Judges will select the top three videos in each category. Those videos will be shown at the North Dakota 4-H Film Festival during the State Fair in Minot.
After the showing, set for 2 p.m. July 24 in the Norsk Room at the State Fair Center on the fairgrounds, the audience will vote on the video to receive the People's Choice Award.
The competition is open to teams of youth in the sixth through 12th grade this school year. Each team should consist of one to four members. At least one member should be a 4-H'er. To join 4-H, visit http://www.ndsu.edu/4h.
The four categories are:
* Fur, Feathers and Fins -- This should be a video featuring an animal as the main character or teaching how to train or work with an animal.
* 4-H SET on Going Green -- This video should promote conservation and "going green," which is the process of changing one's lifestyle by using environmentally friendly products, recycling and limiting the use of natural resources.
* Discover 4-H -- This video should promote 4-H.
* Just for Fun! -- This is a video that doesn't fit into any of the other categories.
Teams who created the top three videos in each category will receive a certificate and a $100 cash award that is to be split among the team members. The team receiving the People's Choice Award also will receive a certificate and a $100 cash prize.
Teams need to register by June 15 and submit their video by June 24.
For more details about the competition and links to information on digital storytelling and tips and tricks on videoing and video editing, click on the 4-H Film Festival link at http://www.ndsu.edu/4h.
"We know we have a lot of talented youth in North Dakota, so we are excited about holding the 4-H Film Festival," says Linda Hauge, NDSU 4-H youth development specialist and festival organizer. "We hope to make this an annual event."
Protect Your Wells From Flooding
Protecting your well from floodwaters now can reduce your work later.
"If you live in a flood-prone area, you or a licensed well-drilling contractor can determine if your well is sited and constructed so that it is protected," says Roxanne Johnson, North Dakota State University Extension Service water quality associate. "If your well is more than 50 years old or less than 50 feet deep, it likely could be contaminated by floodwaters."
Here are some steps to take if you think your well is in danger of being flooded:
* Store a supply of water before taking your well out of service.
* Turn off the electrical power to your well and seal the well by installing a watertight cap or cover. This watertight seal replaces the regular vented cap for the duration of the flood.
* If you don't have time to install a watertight cap, clean the outside of the well casing and cover the top of the well with a heavy-duty trash bag or other heavy plastic sheeting. Secure the plastic covering with electrical or strapping tape or some other type of waterproof taping material. Don't use duct tape because it is not waterproof.
* Do not store oil, gasoline, solvents, animal wastes and chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers within 100 feet of the well to reduce the chance of contaminants entering your well and contaminating the groundwater.
* Place freestanding fuel tanks where flooding will not affect them, or anchor the tanks to keep them from moving with the floodwaters. Identify large tanks with your name and address so they can be returned if they become displaced. Store drums and smaller containers in a fenced area, cabinet or storeroom.
* Determine whether underground tanks are engineered to keep them from floating out of the ground if the contents are lighter than water.
"Once the water has receded, you need to determine if water reached the well casing," Johnson says. "If it did, you should assume that your well was contaminated and take measures to make sure your well is safe."
The first step is to determine if sediment or mud got into the well. If it did, contact a well driller to clean out the well.
Next, you will need to disinfect your well. You can do this yourself or have the well contractor do it following the cleaning operation. Information on this process is available at http://www.ndsu.edu/waterquality. For a list of well contractors, visit http://tinyurl.com/wellcontractors.
After the well is disinfected, you will need to have a certified laboratory test your water for coliform bacteria. A list of laboratories also is available at http://www.ndsu.edu/waterquality.
"Paying attention to the contaminants on your farm and protecting your well now will help decrease possible contamination if flooding occurs," Johnson says.
"If you live in a flood-prone area, you or a licensed well-drilling contractor can determine if your well is sited and constructed so that it is protected," says Roxanne Johnson, North Dakota State University Extension Service water quality associate. "If your well is more than 50 years old or less than 50 feet deep, it likely could be contaminated by floodwaters."
Here are some steps to take if you think your well is in danger of being flooded:
* Store a supply of water before taking your well out of service.
* Turn off the electrical power to your well and seal the well by installing a watertight cap or cover. This watertight seal replaces the regular vented cap for the duration of the flood.
* If you don't have time to install a watertight cap, clean the outside of the well casing and cover the top of the well with a heavy-duty trash bag or other heavy plastic sheeting. Secure the plastic covering with electrical or strapping tape or some other type of waterproof taping material. Don't use duct tape because it is not waterproof.
* Do not store oil, gasoline, solvents, animal wastes and chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers within 100 feet of the well to reduce the chance of contaminants entering your well and contaminating the groundwater.
* Place freestanding fuel tanks where flooding will not affect them, or anchor the tanks to keep them from moving with the floodwaters. Identify large tanks with your name and address so they can be returned if they become displaced. Store drums and smaller containers in a fenced area, cabinet or storeroom.
* Determine whether underground tanks are engineered to keep them from floating out of the ground if the contents are lighter than water.
"Once the water has receded, you need to determine if water reached the well casing," Johnson says. "If it did, you should assume that your well was contaminated and take measures to make sure your well is safe."
The first step is to determine if sediment or mud got into the well. If it did, contact a well driller to clean out the well.
Next, you will need to disinfect your well. You can do this yourself or have the well contractor do it following the cleaning operation. Information on this process is available at http://www.ndsu.edu/waterquality. For a list of well contractors, visit http://tinyurl.com/wellcontractors.
After the well is disinfected, you will need to have a certified laboratory test your water for coliform bacteria. A list of laboratories also is available at http://www.ndsu.edu/waterquality.
"Paying attention to the contaminants on your farm and protecting your well now will help decrease possible contamination if flooding occurs," Johnson says.
Third Annual “Fiesta in the Spirit of Cinco de Mayo” April 15, 2011, at U of M, Crookston
CROOKSTON, Minn. – It’s a celebration Ramona Mendez would have loved, and one her son, Ken, is proud to have brought to the University of Minnesota, Crookston. Music, dance, and authentic Mexican cuisine highlight the “Fiesta in the Spirit of Cinco de Mayo” taking place on the Crookston campus on April 15, 2011. With new activities, this year’s event promises to be the best one yet and the evening will also mark the kick off of the Ramona Mendez Endowed Scholarship fund drive.
The “Fiesta in the Spirit of Cinco de Mayo” is the kind of event Ken feels his mother would have loved and planned herself. “The celebration would have been the perfect night with music and dancing and all the things she loved,” Mendez says. “And, I know the scholarship announcement would have truly humbled my mother who was a very unassuming woman.”
The scholarship was the idea of Leticia Sanchez who works for Migrant Health Services in Crookston Mendez explains. Sanchez shared the idea with some other women and it caught on. Corby Kemmer, director of development and alumni relations on the Crookston campus is encouraged to see the creation of the scholarship fund. “We are here to support students as they pursue their dreams of an education,” he says. “The scholarship fund created to honor the memory of Ramona Mendez is a tribute to Ken as he completes his bachelor’s degree and an encouragement to others to do the same.”
The scholarship is something Ken says he could not have imagined a few years ago. A senior majoring in communication, Ken will graduate in May and his only regret is that his mother cannot see him graduate. “I know how happy my graduation would have made her, and it is bittersweet that she cannot be here to share the day with me and my family.”
The “Fiesta in the Spirit of Cinco de Mayo” begins at 4 p.m. and runs through midnight with a host of activities for all ages. From 4 to 7 p.m. there will be a marketplace and children’s activities in the Sargeant Student Center. Authentic Mexican cuisine will be featured at a dinner beginning at 4:30 p.m. in Brown dining room and running concurrently will be a social with appetizers and music in the Eagles Nest. From 7 to 9 p.m. a program in Kiehle Auditorium will feature the dance troupe, Los Alegres Bailadores from Cottage Grove, Minn. The evening concludes with a family dance with the music of Sonora Café in Lysaker Gymnasium from 9 p.m. to midnight. All events are free and everyone is welcome.
The evening is made possible by a grant from the State of Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Foundation Legacy Amendment, University of Minnesota Crookston Concerts and Lectures fund and the Coke Community Initiative fund, a grant for cultural projects from the Crookston High School, and a donation from RiverView Health in Crookston.
For more information on the Legacy Destination weekend, visit www.exploreminnesota.com/travel-ideas/legacy/crookston/index.aspx.
The “Fiesta in the Spirit of Cinco de Mayo” is the kind of event Ken feels his mother would have loved and planned herself. “The celebration would have been the perfect night with music and dancing and all the things she loved,” Mendez says. “And, I know the scholarship announcement would have truly humbled my mother who was a very unassuming woman.”
The scholarship was the idea of Leticia Sanchez who works for Migrant Health Services in Crookston Mendez explains. Sanchez shared the idea with some other women and it caught on. Corby Kemmer, director of development and alumni relations on the Crookston campus is encouraged to see the creation of the scholarship fund. “We are here to support students as they pursue their dreams of an education,” he says. “The scholarship fund created to honor the memory of Ramona Mendez is a tribute to Ken as he completes his bachelor’s degree and an encouragement to others to do the same.”
The scholarship is something Ken says he could not have imagined a few years ago. A senior majoring in communication, Ken will graduate in May and his only regret is that his mother cannot see him graduate. “I know how happy my graduation would have made her, and it is bittersweet that she cannot be here to share the day with me and my family.”
The “Fiesta in the Spirit of Cinco de Mayo” begins at 4 p.m. and runs through midnight with a host of activities for all ages. From 4 to 7 p.m. there will be a marketplace and children’s activities in the Sargeant Student Center. Authentic Mexican cuisine will be featured at a dinner beginning at 4:30 p.m. in Brown dining room and running concurrently will be a social with appetizers and music in the Eagles Nest. From 7 to 9 p.m. a program in Kiehle Auditorium will feature the dance troupe, Los Alegres Bailadores from Cottage Grove, Minn. The evening concludes with a family dance with the music of Sonora Café in Lysaker Gymnasium from 9 p.m. to midnight. All events are free and everyone is welcome.
The evening is made possible by a grant from the State of Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Foundation Legacy Amendment, University of Minnesota Crookston Concerts and Lectures fund and the Coke Community Initiative fund, a grant for cultural projects from the Crookston High School, and a donation from RiverView Health in Crookston.
For more information on the Legacy Destination weekend, visit www.exploreminnesota.com/travel-ideas/legacy/crookston/index.aspx.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
DFL LEGISLATORS TO VISIT BEMIDJI, GRAND RAPIDS TO DISCUSS MINNESOTA BUDGET
Members of the Minnesota House of Representatives will be meeting with local community members on Sunday, March 27. Legislative leaders will present budget proposals to fill the $5 billion state budget deficit and get input from community members on the budget proposals.
Sunday, March 27, 1-2PM Bemidji Budget Briefing
Location: BSU, Hobson Memorial Union, Crying Wolf Room
Sunday, March 27, 3:30 - 4:30 PM Grand Rapids Budget Briefing
Location: Itasca Community College, Wilson Hall
Legislators in attendance will include:
Rep. John Persell (DFL - Bemidji, Assistant Minority Leader)
Rep. Mike Nelson (DFL - Brooklyn Park)
Rep. Erin Murphy (DFL - St. Paul)
Sunday, March 27, 1-2PM Bemidji Budget Briefing
Location: BSU, Hobson Memorial Union, Crying Wolf Room
Sunday, March 27, 3:30 - 4:30 PM Grand Rapids Budget Briefing
Location: Itasca Community College, Wilson Hall
Legislators in attendance will include:
Rep. John Persell (DFL - Bemidji, Assistant Minority Leader)
Rep. Mike Nelson (DFL - Brooklyn Park)
Rep. Erin Murphy (DFL - St. Paul)
Mn/DOT asks Minnesotans for input
SAINT PAUL, Minn. -- Minnesotans will help determine the state’s transportation system vision for the next 50 years when the Minnesota Department of Transportation today rolls out a process for the public to provide input to that vision.
“Minnesota GO is our opportunity to hear from Minnesotans about their expectations for transportation today and for the next generation of Minnesotans,” said Tom Sorel, Mn/DOT commissioner. “We are committed to creating a transportation system that will sustain and connect a vital economy, healthy environment and strong communities.”
The process will help the agency prioritize many goals, limited financial resources and an aging infrastructure.
Mn/DOT’s transportation system responsibilities include:
• Planning, building and maintaining state roads, bridg es, and trails for vehicle operators, bicyclists and pedestrians.
• Planning and funding regional airports, railroads, public transit and ports owned and operated by local governments and private companies.
• Providing technical and financial assistance for local roads.
Minnesota GO will take place through August 2011 and provide Minnesotans with opportunities to get involved through online activities, advisory groups, public workshops and hearings. Mn/DOT also will reach individuals through targeted outreach. A 29-member steering committee representing other public agencies and community organizations will review public comments, advisory group discussions, and quality of life research. The group will then draft and recommend a vision statement and set of objectives for the Mn/DOT commissioner and senior leadership to adopt.
At the end of the process, Mn/DOT will begin updating the statewide multimodal transportation plan and other investments and plans for roads, rails, transit, airports, ports and trails.
Minnesotans interested in becoming involved can check out www.minnesotago.org. The website is hosted by the Citizen’s League and will be updated regularly with new content, discussion questions, surveys and videotaped interviews on a range of topics. Eight public workshops will take place in May 2011.
“Minnesota GO is our opportunity to hear from Minnesotans about their expectations for transportation today and for the next generation of Minnesotans,” said Tom Sorel, Mn/DOT commissioner. “We are committed to creating a transportation system that will sustain and connect a vital economy, healthy environment and strong communities.”
The process will help the agency prioritize many goals, limited financial resources and an aging infrastructure.
Mn/DOT’s transportation system responsibilities include:
• Planning, building and maintaining state roads, bridg es, and trails for vehicle operators, bicyclists and pedestrians.
• Planning and funding regional airports, railroads, public transit and ports owned and operated by local governments and private companies.
• Providing technical and financial assistance for local roads.
Minnesota GO will take place through August 2011 and provide Minnesotans with opportunities to get involved through online activities, advisory groups, public workshops and hearings. Mn/DOT also will reach individuals through targeted outreach. A 29-member steering committee representing other public agencies and community organizations will review public comments, advisory group discussions, and quality of life research. The group will then draft and recommend a vision statement and set of objectives for the Mn/DOT commissioner and senior leadership to adopt.
At the end of the process, Mn/DOT will begin updating the statewide multimodal transportation plan and other investments and plans for roads, rails, transit, airports, ports and trails.
Minnesotans interested in becoming involved can check out www.minnesotago.org. The website is hosted by the Citizen’s League and will be updated regularly with new content, discussion questions, surveys and videotaped interviews on a range of topics. Eight public workshops will take place in May 2011.
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