Purpose Statement

The Voices of Rural Minnesota program seeks to increase awareness of the rural and tribal experience by educating key stakeholders on the realities of small rural and tribal communities through storytelling and information dissemination.

Program Goals

The Voices of Rural Minnesota Program will engage a group of up to 30 individuals from across Minnesota to:

1. Identify and develop individual public presentation skills
2. Recruit and train a diverse group of speakers representing all regions of MN
3. Provide speakers with accurate information to use to move audiences to action
4. Educate, motivate, and empower community members to play a larger role in community issues
5. Identify and collaborate with partners to identify and research impact of current policies on rural issues
6. Identify venues for speaking engagements
7. Create powerful public presentations that highlight life in small rural communities
8. Create and implement evaluation processes to access impact of program

Please forward this post and the attached application materials to anyone you think would be a good candidate.

Voices of Rural Minnesota Application Packet

These spaces are popping up world wide and becoming very successful. An excellent article was just crafted by the St. Louis Post Dispatch website. http://bit.ly/c4YSPb

“St. Louis Co-Working provides office space, desks and meeting rooms for freelancers, the self-employed and very small companies that are looking to avoid huge overhead costs. According to company officials, they are also looking to build a creative community where ideas are shared among different people from varied professional backgrounds.”

The interesting thing about these spaces is that they are conducive to an evolving workplace, where jobs are being created by individuals to work for themselves. The true genius that I see is, now adays you can work for yourself, but not by yourself which attributes why Co-working spaces are popping up all over the place.

I’ve seen examples where a Co-working space offers secretaries that are shared, a mailing address, answering services, and social media services for helping handle the new forms of communication. A vital element for really small enterprises. A support staff without the overhead obstacle of commitment.

We all need people in work mode to bounce ideas off. We all need a place to turn for dealing with business concerns. There is also the opportunity to recruit others in cases of work loads that demand an extra set of hands. The benefits of having teleworkers around who can offer insights to opportunities they are aware of, as well as, being able to explain to others how to get into the teleworking jobs.

These Co-Working spaces typically have guest speakers schedule an evening for bringing education and insight to opportunities and ways of building jobs in today’s economy.

There are so many possibilities for reducing poverty by having a space where there is literally an open door to creating wealth by serendipity and example that it’s mind blowing.

I am hoping to build out our Connecting Community Resources team and with enough people putting their heads together I can see a Co-Working space in the Moose Lake Area become a reality.

Please contact me at tarey@northwoods-exposure.com for organizing monthly meetings for brain-storming.

They have a facebook page titled: LIFE is for Everyone.
They also have a blog started: http://findhopelifeisforeveryone.blogspot.com/
go check them out.

I’m sure these kids will need some start up money to help get things going so if anyone wants to donate I’m sure they would appreciate it. Probably just contact the creator of the Facebook page.

Download a PDF version of the Moose Lake Community Profile.

Chairman, Matt Ashmore opened the meeting with a welcome to all members.
Minutes of the last meeting were amended and approved.
Action Team reports:
Tarey Johnson had no report from the Connecting Community Resources Team
Jan Ashmore reported for the People Helping People Committee. She included a report on the success of the Operation Community Connect event which was held in Cloquet in Oct.
Cara Keinanen reported that she would provide suicide prevention training. Community Education may host this event, but it was suggested that Horizons assist with this event. This will be discussed at our next meeting.
Kris Geer reported that Moose Lake coop donated all of their leftover seeds to the Community Gardening Committee. This committee held its last meeting of the year recently and made decisions regarding any changes that would be made for next year.
Matt Ashmore reported that a meeting was held for Teen Voices at the park, but nobody attended. They are actively recruiting members and have three teens who are now interested in participating.
Horizons Binder Update: Members reviewed materials to be included and Gerene will try to collate these binders by next month. Jan will check with Donna Lekander regarding extra paper and binders to use for this project.
Horizons Banner Update: Gerene displayed the banner. Cara will display this at the community craft fair on the 14th and we will discuss how to permanently display it at our next meeting. Gerene will provide Cara with business cards to print and hand out at the fair as well.
Horizons Fund Application Review Process: Jan will draft a new form with 5 bullets to weigh the components of each application and present it to the team at the next meeting.
Fiscal Agent Update: Cyndy and Tarey met with the fiscal agent and will meet with her again soon to draft a contract. Cyndy will provide the agent with sample agreements. Cyndy reported that the first $1500.00 should be available in late November.
MN Non-Profit Conference.: This will be held on Nov 5th and 6th with Cyndy, Jan and Kris at our local representatives. This will give them all a chance to connect with potential funders.
Resource Luncheon Meeting: This event will be held on Nov 18th from 11:00 to 1:00 at Mercy Hospital in the education room. All team members are encouraged to attend. Blue Bear restaurant will be catering. Cyndy encouraged all members of this team to supply her with names and addresses of community members who should be invited to this event.
Team members worked on the Resource Assistance Prioritization Process. Results were given to Cyndy.
A Grant-Writing Workshop will be provided to any interested community members on Nov 21st from 8:30 to 4 in Hinckley.
The next meeting will be held on Nov 24th at 6:00 at Gampers.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30.

             There was a flurry of activity at the Armory in Cloquet on Wednesday, October 21^st, as the second annual Operation Community Connect – Helping Those Living on Less was underway .   According to an assessment done in Minnesota through the Wilder Foundation, approximately 9,000 men, women, and children are victims of homelessness each and every night (the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless website; September 18, 2009).  Throughout the past couple of years, the communities in Carlton County have become aware of this growing epidemic and desire to do their part to assist the homeless and those at risk of homelessness, not only in Carlton County but also in the surrounding areas, and to help meet the basic needs of these individuals and families.  This endeavor became a reality through a grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of MN, and largely through the time, talent, and treasure from our local community people and businesses.

The Operation Community Connect (OCC) ran from 1-5 PM and served 205 guests.   Over 120 families were offered free services and information in an effort to support and encourage them as they strive to get their basic needs met.  Throughout the day, forty (40) community service providers offered assistance in areas that included, but were not limited to: education, employment, legal matters, financial issues, housing needs, children’s programs, food assistance, WIC, Abuse Advocates, and energy assistance programs.  Guests were also offered medical services provided by local and regional medical providers donating their services for dental and optical needs, foot care, glucose monitoring, flu vaccinations, mental health education and services, and massages.  An overwhelming amount of medical services were provided to the guests, here are just a few of the numbers: over 70 flu shots were given, over 33 kids’ and 15 adults’ teeth were cared for, FDL Min No Aya Win foot care was busy the entire time and referred some people to seek clinic care with critical feet concerns, Vision Pro optical helped over 4 guests with eye wear needs, and the massage providers had full chairs!  In order to help meet some of the basic needs of the families in attendance and to surround them with warmth this winter, beautifully made blankets, hats, and mittens were given away.  Also, through generous donations, bags of dried food goods were distributed along with gently used winter garments, bedding, and clothing. 

The OCC Planning Committee wishes to extend a special thank you to the following: Carlton VFW, Carlton County Public Health & Human Services, Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Minnesota, Lakes and Pines Community Action Council, the Faith Community of Carlton County (especially Esko Methodist Church, HOPE Lutheran, and Women of Northern Waters Presbytery), Pat Glasrud MN Dental Association, Steve Saari, Target Stores, Raiter clinic, Mercy Hospital, Peterson Drug in ML, Carlton County Sexual and Domestic Abuse Program, Ages to Ages at the Cloquet schools, Prenatal Early Childhood Coalition (PECC), Colgate, UCARE, the Woman, Infant, and Children (WIC) services, Jimmy LeKander, Finn & Feather hair styling, Marlene Waseen, Eclipse Construction, the City of Barnum, Pine County OCC, McDonnalds Restaurant, Como oil, Upper Lakes Foods, Lake View Restaurant, Karen Johnson, Bruce and Coleen Schmit, Nancy Granda, Brad & Sam Johnson, Scott Ostby, Bob and Jon Ray, Eric Teemple, Josh Livingston, Richard and Briane Romanawski, and Jean Saylor.  This event was successful because of the generous support and donations from these people and organizations. 

            While homelessness continues to be a problem that affects a wide spectrum of people from all walks of life, the OCC last Wednesday was one indication of how our community is attempting to work together to decrease those who are plagued with the malady of homelessness and help prevent more families from becoming homeless.  If you would like to be a part of our continued efforts to help families and people in need, please contact Rebekah Rud at 218-879-4511 or Donna LeKander at 218-878-3007.

The award honors Radke and Cohen for their involvement with the Horizons Program Team.

Horizons works with communities having populations under 5,000 and poverty rates greater than 10% to address the goals of poverty reduction and prosperity growth. Since 2003, Extension’s Horizons Program Team has worked with Horizons from initial design to the present Horizons III cohort and alumni programs. In conjunction with six other state Extension organizations and funding from the Northwest Area Foundation, the program has reached almost 300 communities.

In delivering the Horizons program, this team has furthered Extension’s goal to reach a more diverse audience and has: addressed income disparity directly; generated a more sophisticated understanding of poverty among Extension staff; created more diversity in local leadership to include people from all income strata; brought diverse voices to the table, including working deeply in tribal communities; and garnered new advocates for poverty reduction through stories, evaluation, public speaking and earned media.

Through the work of the Horizons program team, Extension is reaching a more diverse audience and helping to improve the vitality of rural communities in poverty.

The Dean’s Award was presented during Extension’s annual Fall Program Conference.

In attendance: Matt Ashmore, Jan Ashmore, Tarey Johnson, Kris Geer, Gerene Johnson, Cyndy Cohen, Barney Hollis

Connecting community resources discussion was held, changes were made to the plan and submitted to Cyndy for Grantors. Discussion was held regarding the Horizons Mega Meeting and Operation Community Connect. Operation Community Connect is being held on Wed, Oct 21st, from 1 to 5 at the Cloquet Armory. This event is a service to all of Carlton County. IT was decided that our Mega Meeting would be a duplication of this event and it was decided at this time to direct our effort in assisting the Operation Community Connect. Volunteer time, donation of funds and transportation assistance were discussed a ways to help in this effort.

People-helping-people Action team has not met yet and will schedule a meeting and report at the next Horizons Team Meeting.
Teen council members discussed their efforts to get kids interested and involved. Flyers were circulated and a meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept, 29th at the Moose Lake City Park.

Leadership positions were selected as follows:
Co-chairs:
Cara Keinanen and Matt Ashmore
Note taker: Gerene Johnson
Finance Rep: Tarey Johnson
Public Relations: Jan Ashmore

Form will be developed at the next meeting to evaluate fund requests.Kris and Jan will present a draft at the next meeting.
Terms will begin with 3 m3mbers at 6 months and 3 members at 1 year positions so that all terms will not expire at the same time. Those members volunteering for 6 month positions are: Kris Geer, Jan Ashmore and Matt Ashmore. Terms can be renewed.
The monthly meeting time was set as the 4th Tuesday of every month at Gampers. The next meeting will be held on Oct 27th.
The fiscal agent will continue as Hope Lutheran. Our finance rep and Cyndy will meet with them to sit up this process.

Discussion was held regarding setting up Horizon’s binders for all team members. This will be reviewed at the next meeting. This binder would contain: minutes, agreements, member info, etc. Gerene will bring the original binder to the next meeting.

There will be a MN non-profit conference on Oct. 29th. Kris Geer and Jan Ashmore volunteered to attend.

A resource luncheon will be held on November 18th with local partners.

A grant-writing workshop will be held on Nov. 21st.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:20.