RLND Seminar Nine
Affecting Change, the Power of Individuals
Oakes, ND
March 31 � April 2, 2005
The focus for this
final RLND seminar was Affecting Change, the Power of Individuals.
The seminar took place in Oakes, ND and the majority of the training
modules were held in the Ottertail Power Co. meeting room. The
format for the three day seminar used the Leadership Caf� model.
The primary speakers for the seminar were Kathleen Tweeten, director
of the NDSU Center for Community Vitality; Annie Kirschenmann,
certified business coach; and Bill Patrie, Director of the North
Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives. Each of these
speakers had a different perspective on how the participants can
truly affect change in their home communities. After each
presentation, the participants had an opportunity to discuss their
opinions and ideas about the information presented.
The Leadership Caf�
format consisted of the three presentations to the whole group
followed by small group discussions at caf� tables of 4 to 5
people. Questions were used to start the caf� conversations that
centered around three areas: business expansion and retention;
entrepreneurship; and the importance of people in community
development.
Friday afternoon and
Saturday morning the group toured various businesses and sites in
Oakes and the surrounding area. Tours included IR Bobcat in Gwinner,
JLG in Oakes, the Maple River Hutterite Colony near Fullerton,
Engine Rebuilders, Inc. in Oakes, the Oakes Ambulance Service and
the Oakes Community Swimming Pool.
As participants
experienced the variety of speakers and tour opportunities, there
was much discussion on how they can bring these experiences and
information back to their home communities and utilize it to affect
change on a local level.
The seminar included
time to celebrate the journey the RLND participants have been on,
with a reflection of ourselves and sharing time on Friday night at
Prairie Pothole Lodge near Oakes.
The participants
have completed the two-year RLND program and it has made a
tremendous difference in the way they view things and their
knowledge of how to make a difference for the future growth of their
communities and the state. This has been a wonderful program for
all involved, but now the real work begins as participants go back
to their home communities.
A new RLND class
will begin in October of 2005. Interested individuals are
encouraged to complete an application and send it to the RLND
office, 309 Morrill Hall, NDSU, Fargo, ND prior to the July 1, 2005
deadline. Applicants will be interviewed in July and August with
the selection completed by September 1, 2005.
For more information
on the RLND program, visit the RLND website at
www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/rlnd. You can also e-mail the office at
r-leader@ndsu.nodak.edu or call 701-231-5803.
Seminar One -- Discovering Leaders
Within
Seminar Two
-- Communicating
Effectively
Seminar Three
-- Recognizing
Gifts and Differences
Seminar Four
-- Thinking Critically and Creatively
Seminar Five
-- Managing Projects
Seminar Six
-- Understanding Rural Policy
Seminar Seven
-- Tour of National Sites
Seminar Eight
-- Understanding the Resource
Spectrum
Seminar Nine
-- Affecting Change; The Power of
Individuals Working Together
