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Building Communities
Practical Tools and Information
Kathy Tweeten, director, NDSU Center for Community
Vitality
NDSU Extension Service, community
economic development specialist
This newsletter is meant to share practical tools and
information to assist you in your important role in community and
economic
development work. We welcome comments on current letters plus encourage your
advice for future articles.
Kathy
Content
► Editorial- Rural Leadership North Dakota Recruiting
► Rural Leadership Class Ends 1st Year of 2005-07 Program
►
HACCP Training Opportunity for Business Owners
►
Trends in North Dakota Economy
► Learning-based Vacations
►
Horizons - An Opportunity for Rural North Dakota Communities
Editorial – "Rural Leadership North Dakota Recruiting??"
Many of our communities are in critical need of new people to step up to the plate and become active leaders in their community. Why don’t people volunteer? I find that most people really do care about their community, so what’s stopping them? My colleagues who work in the area of leadership development tell me national surveys show the No. 1 reason people don’t volunteer is because no one asked them, but the next major reason is confidence to try. Helping emerging leaders to develop the skills and confidence to become active in their communities is what the Rural Leadership North Dakota program is all about. Following is a recent article highlighting the class experience. RLND has just begun its recruiting effort for its next class. I would encourage you to nominate people in your community. Go to www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/rlnd/ for application information.
As one alumnus of the program recently said, “It was a life-changing experience!”
Sincerely,
Kathy Tweeten
NDSU Center for Community Vitality Director and
Community Economic Development Extension Specialist
Rural Leadership Class Ends 1st Year of 2005-07 Program
Source: Marie Hvidsten, RLND program director, NDSU Extension Service
Beach City Auditor Kim
Nunberg says the Rural Leadership North Dakota program has helped her become a
more creative, innovative and resourceful leader. Nunberg is one of
18 members of RLND’s second class. The class recently wrapped up the first year
of the 2005-07 program.
“The first year of RLND has proven to be an overwhelmingly positive experience,” Nunberg says. “I anxiously await year two of RLND.”
RLND is an interactive study and travel program offered through the North Dakota State University Extension Service. It’s designed to produce graduates with the vision and commitment to lead themselves, their organizations and their communities into the future. It helps them develop skills in working with people, using technology, speaking in public and bringing about positive change in their communities.
“RLND has inspired me to grow personally and professionally, and has created a valuable network of contacts, along with creating friendships that will last a lifetime,” says Janel Lee, a bank cashier and bookkeeper from Grassy Butte.
Members come from communities across the state and hold a variety of occupations. In addition to city auditor and bank employee, the group includes an accountant, nurse, crop adjuster, school curriculum developer, attorney, chamber of commerce executive and economic development specialist.
The class has attended five of the 10 seminars scheduled throughout the state for the 2005-07 program, which started last fall. The topics for the first sessions included developing leadership skills, communicating effectively, learning to think critically and creatively, and project management and entrepreneurship.
Class members have learned about leadership philosophy and practices; the importance of verbal and nonverbal communication; how to handle difficult situations, such as differences of opinion; innovative approaches to local and regional economic development; creative methods to finance economic development; how to encourage others to get involved in their community; the impact that festivals and other events can have on communities; and how to develop effective boards, councils and committees.
“RLND has had an important effect on me in several ways,” says Jerod Tufte, an attorney from Dawson. “First, our seminars have given us each great opportunity for constructive reflection on our leadership and collaborative styles. I have learned better, more effective ways to communicate with those whose styles are different than mine.”
Seminar topics for the program’s second year include communities’ culture and heritage, understanding the state’s rural and agricultural policies, resource management and the power of individuals working together.
Class members also will take a six-day study tour of Washington, D.C., and create and implement a project in their organization and/or community that gives them an opportunity to use the skills they learn.
“Rural Leadership North Dakota has surpassed all my expectations, and I had more than a few at the start,” says Jesse Handegard, training officer for the North Dakota Army National Guard medical detachment in Bismarck.
HACCP Training Opportunity for Business Owners
Source: Julie Garden-Robinson, NDSU Extension Food and Nutrition Specialist
The North Dakota State University Extension Service is co-sponsoring a meat microbiology and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) certification training course Oct. 3-5 in Fargo.
The hands-on course is designed for technical production and HACCP personnel responsible for maintaining sanitation standard operating procedures and HACCP plans. It also is for meat and other food processors interested in voluntarily implementing a HACCP plan. The course will meet the U.S. Department of Agriculture's HACCP training requirements.
HACCP is a systematic, science-based, preventive approach to controlling food safety hazards, such as salmonella and E. coli 0157, according to John McEvoy, an assistant professor in the NDSU Veterinary and Microbiological Sciences Department. NASA developed HACCP to ensure the safety of astronauts' meals.
The USDA switched from its traditional sight, smell and probe inspection system for meat and poultry to HACCP in 1998 because of the emergence of deadly new pathogens that cause serious illnesses in humans.
“Food safety continues to be a top priority in the United States,” says Julie Garden-Robinson, NDSU Extension food and nutrition specialist. “This workshop will help keep area meat processors up to date on the current regulations and research.”
Experts from Montana State University and the Montana Department of Livestock will present the seminar. They will provide training in environmental sampling, the use of scientific literature for HACCP verification, basic microbial testing and crafting a HACCP plan.
The seminar runs from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 3-4 and 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 5. It will be at the NDSU Alumni Center, 1241 University Drive N. The cost is $75 per person, which will cover workshop materials, lunches, and morning and afternoon refreshments.
The registration deadline is Sept. 20. The seminar will be limited to the first 30 people who register.
For more information or registration forms, contact Jerie Little at (701) 231-7512 or Jerie.Little@ndsu.edu. Make checks payable to the NDSU Department of VMS. Send completed registration forms and seminar fees to Little at Van Es 150, NDSU Department of Veterinary and Microbiological Sciences, Fargo, ND 58105.
Seminar participants need to make their own hotel reservations. One option is the Candlewood Suites on the NDSU campus at 1831 NDSU Research Drive. Contact the hotel at (877) 226-3539, by fax at (701) 235-8201 or e-mail at fargocandlewoodsuitesgm@sonmar.com.
The Great Plains Institute of Food Safety at NDSU and the North Dakota Department of Agriculture are co-sponsoring the seminar.
Trends in North Dakota Economy
Source:
AAE Statistical Series
Report No. 58, May 2006
By: Randal C. Coon,
rcoon@ndsuext.nodak.edu and F. Larry Leistritz,
lleistritz@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Abstract:
As North Dakota has shifted from its traditional dependence on natural resource-based activities to a more diversified economy, changes in employment, population, income and retail sales have occurred. This report summarizes changes in these and other economic indicators at the county and community level from 1980 to 2004. Employment increased 12 percent from 1990 to 2004, with 19 of the state’s 53 counties registering job growth. The largest percentage (and absolute) gains were in Cass (Fargo) and Burleigh (Bismarck) counties. Population statewide decreased by less than 1 percent from 1990 to 2004, as substantial growth in the Fargo and Bismarck-Mandan metropolitan areas was offset by population decreases in most of the state’s rural counties. Per-capita income (adjusted for inflation) increased 32 percent statewide from 1990 to 2004. The 2004 value ($29,247) was about 89 percent of U.S. per-capita income, compared with 79 percent in 1990. Retail sales also increased substantially from 1990 to 2004, and the state’s four wholesale-retail trade centers accounted for a growing share of sales. Pull factors, which measure a community’s retail sales, compared with residents’ purchasing power, were stable or increasing for the wholesale-retail centers and declining for smaller trade centers, on average.
Web site: 72 pages http://agecon.lib.umn.edu/cgi-bin/detailview.pl?paperid=21077
Learning-based Vacations
Source: North Dakota Department of Commerce Tourism Division
North Dakota’s visitors can learn about the state’s culture and heritage in a new way - by getting out of their cars and tour buses and into fields, kitchens and canoes. The Learning Based Vacations program caters to groups or individuals looking to combine learning new skills with fun and adventure. Create your own customized learning-based vacation in a variety of areas, such as agriculture, American Indian studies, art, and birding, immigrant cultures of North Dakota, living history and paleontology. For more information on learning-based vacations in North Dakota, go to www.ndtourism.com/LBV/.
Horizons - An Opportunity for Rural North Dakota Communities
Source: Lynette Flage, NDSU Extension Specialist, Horizon Program Director
The North Dakota State University Extension Service is looking for small, rural communities needing help combating a loss of income, population and resources.
The Northwest Area Foundation recently awarded the NDSU Extension Service a grant to assist communities through the Horizons Leadership Program. The program is for communities with fewer than 5,000 residents and a poverty rate of more than 10 percent.
The grant will allow the Extension Service to hire staff to help communities receive the training, support and other resources they need to develop plans to overcome issues such as: out-migration, a growing elderly population, low-paying jobs and the need to improve essential services.
NDSU Extension will hold six Horizon showcases to give communities an opportunity to learn about the program. The dates and locations are:
►Oct. 2 – Bottineau, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
►Oct 3 – Finley, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
►Oct 10 – Watford City, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
►Oct 11 – Richardton, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
►Oct 17 – Maddock, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
►Oct 19 – Wahpeton, 3 to 9:30 p.m.
For more information, contact Lynette Flage at (701) 265-5200 or lynette.flage@nodak.edu
