Event Planning Tool Kit — Revised 3-27-12

03-27-12
Welcome and thank you for choosing Fergus Falls to host an event. Whether you are a long-time resident or a guest in our community, this tool kit is designed to help you navigate many of the resources to help your event succeed. It was produced in 2011 as an initiative of Forward Fergus Falls. We want your event to succeed. Please don’t hesitate to contact us (info at the end of this document).
1. Dates – Because Fergus Falls is a relatively small community, multiple events held on the same day can hurt attendance. It’s hard to avoid conflicting dates, but the Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau are good organizations to check with about other activities. The ISD #544 School District website is also a good spot to check for calendar information.
a. http://fergusfallschamber.chambermaster.com/events/index/
b. www.visitfergusfalls.com/pages/CalendarofEvents
c. www.isd544.org (click on the resources tab – then calendar menu)

2. Locations – There are many locations to hold events including indoor and outdoor, some with built-in catering options and others without. Some provide free space and others charge a fee. For a printed event and meeting planning guide call the Convention and Visitors Bureau: 800-726-8959 or e-mail meetings@visitfergusfalls.com or click: www.visitfergusfalls.com/pages/MeetingsConferences. These links provide available meeting space resources and hotel information. Be sure to work with your event site host on required insurance and liability issues. In addition, the Chamber of Commerce has a list of several smaller meeting locations.
3. Event Services – Vendors & Volunteers. Depending on your event, you may need the resources of local businesses. Whether looking for a photographer, DJ, caterer, florist or something else, the Chamber of Commerce keeps an updated list of Chamber members offering these services http://fergusfallschamber.chambermaster.com/list/ or 218-736-6951. Check the downloadable meeting & event planning guide – “professional services” for an online resource www.visitfergusfalls.com/pages/MeetingsConferences. The Chamber of Commerce also maintains a list of local service clubs. They can be a great resource if you need volunteers to help with your event.
4. City of Fergus Falls – City staff are a great resource if you are meeting in a public space, selling or serving food or alcohol, or need assistance with roads and routes for a special event such as a parade or street dance.
a. Event Permits – A special event permit is required for events held in public spaces or using public routes. There is no fee for submitting this form. It is available from Lynne Olson, 218-332-5404, lynne.olson@ci.fergus-falls.mn.us. The completion of this form initiates communication among city staff who should be informed and involved with your event planning – if appropriate (police, public works, etc.). This permit requires City Council approval; allow three weeks.
b. Liquor – The City Code has several sections dealing with the selling and serving of all types of alcohol. Permits, licenses and fees are all coordinated through Lynne Olson, 218-332-5404, lynne.olson@ci.fergus-falls.mn.us. Some approvals are required by the City Council (which meets twice monthly) and then go on the department of public safety for input. Please allow one month for appropriate approvals to be put in place.
c. Food – Food vending or serving in public spaces requires input from the Minnesota Department of Health. Contact Glenn Donnay, 218-332-5152 glenn.donnay@state.mn.us. Allow 3 weeks for proper permitting and licenses.
i. Minnesota Department of Health has strict guidelines regarding food service for festivals and events. You will need to provide plans and permits well in advance of your event. It is not recommended to follow the “Ask for forgiveness instead of permission” mantra with the MDH.
ii. Licensing Homepage: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/food/license/index.html
iii. Special Event Food Stand: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/food/license/specevent.html
iv. Seasonal Temporary Food Stand: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/food/license/tempseason.html
v. Hand washing for food handlers: http://www.health.state.mn.us/handhygiene/food/index.html
d. Park Reservations – Parks and picnic shelters are available for events. Rental fees vary depending on which site. Contact steve.plaza@ci.fergus-falls.mn.us 218-739-3205 for current rates and availability.
i. The Minnesota Department of Health also regulates special event camping:
ii. Special Event Camping Info: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/mhprca/planreview.html
e. Fireworks – Public display of fireworks requires a $75 fee and permit as well as approval from the fire department. Contact Lynne Olson at 218-332-5404.
f. Noise – City ordinance requires noise levels at events in public spaces to end by 11 p.m. This includes street dances, festivals, parades, etc. If the event host receives a complaint earlier and police ask for lower noise levels – and you do not comply – they can end the event early. Please be respectful of neighbors.
g. Public Works – Events that require street closures, equipment rental (picnic tables, garbage cans, barricades, cones, etc.) should all be arranged through the public works department. Contact Anne Martens at 218-332-5418 anne.martens@ci.fergus-falls.mn.us.
h. Police – the police department is not involved in most events; however it is a good idea to keep them informed if you expect crowds, noise or other activities that may cause them to receive calls from citizens. A courtesy call prior to your event can go a long way in creating understanding and good will, 218-332-5555.
i. Raffle Tickets/Sales – If you are considering raffle ticket sales or contest as part of your event you will need approval from the Fergus Falls City Council first and then the State of Minnesota. For current rules regarding gambling and proper permits, check www.gcb.state.mn.us. According to Minnesota law, raffles may only be conducted by nonprofit organizations. Contact Lynne Olson at 218-332-5404 to file for a license with the city. A $50 fee (due to the State) for events 30 days + in advance of the planned event and the charge is $100 if the date is within 30 days. The local Gambling Control Board office is: 218-739-7402
5. Public Relations – Publicity – Promotion
a. Social Media

1. Social media is another great, mostly free, way to get the word out locally, regionally and nationally about your event.
2. Consider creating a Facebook page for your event and/or advertising the event on the Facebook pages of sponsoring organizations. Under the Local/Business or Place category on the Create a Page link choose “Attractions/Things to Do” and create a page for your event. www.facebook.com.
3. Tweet about your event from your own Twitter account, a sponsoring organization’s Twitter account or create an account for your event. Twitter is a great tool to use to create buzz about your event as it is happening. www.twitter.com.
4. Upload promotional videos or videos taken at the event to YouTube www.youtube.com or upload photos to Flickr www.flickr.com. Both of these social media products help promote your event visually.
5. You can also link to your Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr accounts from your sponsoring organizations’ websites to create an easy way for potential event attendees to link to your social media pages.
6. There are many other social media tools available as well and many of them are free or nearly free. Try some of them out and determine which work for you!

b. Website/Online

1. The Daily Journal – newsroom@fergusfallsjournal.com
2. Submit your event on The Daily Journal’s calendar
3. Fergus Forum – contact@fergusforum.com
4. The Midweek – results@adinkllc.com
5. Chamber of Commerce Evens Calendar – http://fergusfallschamber.chambermaster.com/events/index/ Just click on the “Submit New Event” on the right-hand side of the page, about halfway down. Fill in all the details and the chamber will review and approve your event to be posted on their website www.fergusfalls.com .

c. Readerboards/Private Marquis Signs – Several privately owned businesses in Fergus Falls are often willing to use their public signs to inform the public about worthy events – especially non-profit events. Send them a 4-6 word draft of the copy you’d like them to display with clear dates (most will run for 3-4 days prior to an event). Contact the Chamber and ask for the current list of Readerboard contacts chamber@prtel.com.
d. “Neon” Board Rentals – Chris Jacobson, Pinnacle Signs, 218-205-4319 pinnacleblacksigns@yahoo.com. If you want to put these signs in public space permission is required from the City’s Park & Recreation Department. Allow three weeks for approval. Contact Steve at 218-332-5804 steve.plaza@ci.fergus-falls.mn.us.
e. Billboard – Three billboard companies offer billboards in the area. Lamar Signs 800-777-4896, Mortenson Signs 218-205-7052 or Sales: 205-4098 and Newman Outdoor 800-337-9770.
f. Sample News Release (to be included)
g. News Media – Fergus Falls has a daily newspaper, local cable and radio stations. Larger media markets near us are Alexandria (45 miles to the SE) and Fargo (60 miles to the NW). You are encouraged to send your event news to as many media outlets as possible and we offer this list at no charge. Because media contacts change often, contact the Fergus Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau for the latest list of local and regional media info@visitfergusfalls.com or 800-726-8959. All contacts are electronic.
h. Community Bulletin Boards – Posters are a great way to increase awareness and attendance. Many retailers and restaurants will allow you to post information on their billboards – as long as you do the leg work. For a list of poster locations contact the Chamber of Commerce, 218-736-6951
6. Contacts

• Fergus Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau, 218-332-5425
• Fergus Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, 218-736-6951

This document was created by the Forward Fergus Falls 10 Signature Events Team.

May 3rd — Meeting Minutes

Our Shared Destiny — “Fergus Falls, a beautiful river city, leads West Central Minnesota in health services, business growth, learning and the arts.”

Forward Fergus Falls All Stewards Meeting
M|State, Legacy Hall

Minutes: May 3rd, 2012

The Forward Fergus Falls All Stewards Committee met on May 3rd; those attending were: Larry Schulz, Patrick Hollister, Laurie Mullen, Jerry Ness, Hal Leland, Dennis Johnson, Clint Larby, Tim Olson, Mary Matteson, Harold Stanislawski, Kim Embretson, Alex Cabrera, John MacFarlane, Mike Walls, , and Mary Robertson

Moderator: Larry Schulz

3rd Annual Community Celebration Discussion–Harold Stanislawski showed a video that was produced to use as a marketing/recruiting tool for the community. This video will be shown during the breakfast at the Community Celebration–it features young professionals under 40 talking about some of the reasons they’ve decided to live and work in Fergus Falls.

The Active Living driver will be featured at the Community Celebration. Patrick Hollister will be revealing the winner of the Bike/Walk Week Challenge between LRH and Fergus Falls Schools during this time.

Volunteers are needed for the June 14th event; please contact Mary Robertson at: 332-5458 or Mary Matteson at: 998-0544–x 1600.

Video of Meetings now Available: Kim Embretson and Alex Cabrera are continuing to experiment with the best way to shoot the monthly meetings. The audio recording needs to be improved with a better microphone system. The meetings are available on the Forward Fergus Falls facebook page. To view the meetings click on the “watch meetings” button; the recorded meetings will show below the black screen; click on the recorded meeting and wait for it to start! These videos are not available in real-time but are archived and available for viewing as soon as the meeting is concluded.

Driver Updates:
Repurpose the RTC-Laurie Mullen reported the introductory session for the 3D digitizing class was held yesterday, May 2nd; this will be followed by 4 training sessions the next 4 Wednesdays beginning May 9th. The meetings will be held at Kennedy School in the Computer Lab. The class will learn how to use Google SketchUp and build 3D models of buildings in our community. Laurie also reminded us that May is preservation month. Summerfest will be June 8-9 held on the RTC campus.

River Walk –Dennis Johnson announced that the River Walk committee has created a facebook page at Fergus Falls Riverwalk–stop by and “like” their page.

Youth Summit–Mary Matteson reported that approximately 150 people attended the Youth Summit. Those attending made 725 dental kits that will be given to the food shelf. Sixteen organizations were represented at the event. Mary also announced that she has been awarded an AmeriCorps worker for next year and she is looking for candidates; Mary can be reached at 998-0544–ext. 1500.

Blandin Driver-There will be a graduation for the Blandin 3 group on May 8th. Larry Schulz shared a message from Jean Bowman that she has put Fergus Falls on the “inquiry” list and would like people to start thinking about whether or not there would be enough interest to come up with 24 candidates. The next available dates are in 2014. Jean would like input; you may contact her at 332-5425.

Block Party Discussion-A date was proposed by the Executive Committee to the group for a “get to know your neighbor” week–July 22-28. Alex Cabrera also offered information he was aware of about a national night out that works in cooperation with local police departments and neighborhood watch. Other comments were– keeping the local flavor of the event, and being sure to send Mayor Hal Leland the proclamation he is to make–once details are finalized.

Announcements
The Bike Rodeo is scheduled for Saturday, May 5th. In case of rain it will be held in the Community Arena. -Weather related announcements will be on KBRF and there will be a sign posted at the Library.

Bike Walk Week is Saturday, May 5 – Sunday, May 13. To register with a chance to win prizes go to: http;//bikewalkweek2012.eventbrite.com.

National Day of Prayer is today, May 3rd. There will be prayer on the City Hall lawn at noon and at 9:30 a.m. at the Vets Home.

Next Meeting–Thursday, June 14th — 7:30 a.m. — Community Celebration

JULY MEETING–*There will NOT be an All Stewards Meeting in July.

*A complete list of the Destiny Drivers is available at: www.forwardfergusfalls.org

April 5th — Meeting Minutes

Our Shared Destiny — “Fergus Falls, a beautiful river city, leads West Central Minnesota in health services, business growth, learning and the arts.”

Forward Fergus Falls All Stewards Meeting
M|State, Legacy Hall

Minutes: April 5, 2012

The Forward Fergus Falls All Stewards Committee met on April 5th, those attending were: Larry Schulz, Patrick Hollister, Carol Juul, Laurie Mullen, Erin Smith, Mary Matteson, Harold Stanislawski, Kim Embretson, Rick Schara, Barb Miller, Tindy Rund, Jim Fish, , Sheri Holmes, Alex Cabrera, John MacFarlane, JoEllen Thacker, Mike Walls, Kathy Lehn, and Mary Robertson

Moderator: Larry Schulz

Action Item: Proposed Downtown Revitalization Project — “Preserve, enhance, and promote our historic downtown.”
Laurie Mullen reviewed the goals of the proposed driver and referred to citizens responses in the 2009 Community Survey. The project has already received a grant from the University of MN for a 3D Modeling program that will help achieve their goals. Larry Schulz opened the floor for discussion. JoEllen Thacker asked how success would be measured for this driver; Larry Schulz encouraged their group to identify some measures. Jerry Ness made a motion to adopt the project as a Forward Fergus Falls destiny driver; it was seconded by Mary Matteson, the motion carried.

Featured Driver–Patrick Hollister reported on upcoming events for the Active Living Group. Including the following:
Bike Rodeo-there will be a Bike Rodeo on Saturday, May 5th, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. This event is a bike safety event where riders will have the chance to get their bike inspected and receive a helmet if needed. They will go through a safety course and will be included in a drawing for a chance to win a bike. There is a planning meeting on April 20th at 10:00 a.m. at library.
The Mayor has proclaimed that–Bike or Walk to Work or School Week is May 5 – May 13. Patrick asked for help in advancing the cause by promoting with co-workers and friends. There is a chance to win prizes; you must register on line at: http://bikewalkweek2012.eventbrite.com. Please submit photos to Patrick of your walking/biking group, preferably next to your company sign.
Farm to school documentary-The UM has produced an excellent documentary to be shown at Lakes Country Services Cooperative on Wednesday, April 18th from 3-5 p.m. You must preregister; the film is one half hour long.
Partnership for Health will also have a booth at Men’s Night at the Community Arena on Thursday, April 12th.

Additional Destiny Driver Reports
Healthy Economy Drivers–Harold Stanislawski announced the Tour of Manufacturing on Saturday, April 21st from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This event is open to all and free. Participating local businesses include: Vector Windows, Green Plains Ethanol, StoneL, and ShoreMaster.

Telework Summit Outcome-A Fargo Company will be holding a job fair and touring the Telework Hotel to see if this would be a suitable site for the expansion of their company. The TW Hotel has added 2 other tenants; Rick Schara reported that Minnesota ranks as the 3rd highest state in telework employees.
Signature Events Driver–Erin Smith reported their group will meet on April 18th at 8:30 a.m. in City Hall. Summer Events being planned include: Summerfest and Cyclone Days–which will be a 3 day weekend long event recognizing the history of the cyclone in Fergus Falls. The group will meet again on May 23rd at 8:30 – at the Community Ed offices (same building as the Community Arena.)

Library Taskforce Driver-Erin Smith reported that the goal of the library taskforce is to preserve valued existing needs and future needs of the library. There will be a meeting on March 3rd to introduce the taskforce committee members and review the timeline. A second meeting is scheduled for March 24th that will include a presentation entitled Public Libraries 101 and also form committees for communication, survey, and focus groups. The Library Renewal Task Force meets regularly the first Saturday of each month, at 9:30 a.m. at the Public Library. Agenda and other documents are available on the Public Library website at: fergusfalls.lib.mn.us and also on the city website.

Orthopedic Center of Excellence–Larry Schulz gave an update on LRHC and the progress of the orthopedic Destiny Driver. The hospital has added a specialized knee surgery that hasn’t been done here before, making LRHC the 5th facility in the U.S. to perform the procedure. There is also a reverse shoulder surgery. LR will continue to expand the service line and bring in new services not done in this region.

Repurpose the RTC–Laurie Mullen reported that tours continue to be offered at the RTC on Fridays at 2:00 p.m. Call Maxine at 736-5328 for reservations. June 8th is Summerfest and will take place on the RTC Campus, mini tours will be available and volunteers are needed. There is an exhibit at the museum until November 30th displaying RTC memorabilia and information.

Under “40″ UTube Project–Harold Stanislawski reported on a project that the EIC is working on; they are producing a video featuring young professionals under 40 commenting on reasons to live and work in Fergus Falls. The video will be aired at the Community Celebration and will be available to businesses to post on their websites. It will also be posted on UTube as a marketing piece to promote Fergus Falls.

Youth Summit–May 2nd, Wednesday, 5-7 p.m. at Kennedy Secondary School Auditorium–Mike Walls made an announcement regarding the Youth Summit which is open to all students in grades 6-12, parents, and the community. The theme is “Doing Hard Things” that are relevant to you, that you will commit to and be passionate about. The keynote speaker is Kevin LaNave; the Summit also includes booths with local experts providing local opportunities, World Café–where participants will be able to engage in open discussion, Delta Dental Service project, and a free Dinner–pre-registration at: http://tinyurl.com/ffyouthsummit. . Mike Walls can be contacted at 218-998-0544 x 1605 or mwalls@fergusotters.org for questions.

Technology–Carol Juul inquired about holding meetings at noon; this has been tried in the past. Kim Embretson reported that he and Alex Cabrera are experimenting with an app on an iPhone that will allow viewing of the FFF meetings when attendance is not an option; it is not an interactive loop allowing interaction. Harold Stanislawski also commented on advancing CISCO technology that could be available in Fergus Falls; he attended a conference at CISCO headquarters in Bloomington recently to look at a new technology. This may be an investment for the future as something MState could place on their campus for educational purposes.

*A complete list of the Destiny Drivers is available at: www.forwardfergusfalls.org

March 1, 2012 — Meeting Minutes

Our Shared Destiny — “Fergus Falls, a beautiful river city, leads West Central Minnesota in health services, business growth, learning and the arts.”

Next All Stewards Meeting
Thursday, May 3rd, @ 7:00 a.m. Legacy Hall, M|State

Minutes All Stewards Meeting:  Thursday, March 1st, 2012 Forward Fergus Falls met at M|State, Legacy Hall.

Attending:  Larry Schulz, Dale Umlauf, Patrick Hollister, Jason Bergstrand, Carol Juul, Laurie Mullen, Erin Smith, Mary Matteson, Greg Wagner, Jessica Steinbrenner, Harold Stanislawski, Jeff Stanislawski, Kim Embretson, Rick Schara, Kevin King, Mayor Leland, Barb Miller, Tindy Rund, Garland Carlson, Jim Fish, Jean Bowman, Clint Larby, Sheri Holmes, Alex Cabrera, Carrie Brimhall, Peggy Kennedy, and Mary Robertson

Moderator: Larry Schulz

Destiny Driver Reports
1.    Action Item– Adopt the Fergus Falls Public Library project as a FFF Destiny Driver– Erin Smith presenting

“Support the Fergus Falls Public Library Taskforce’s efforts to engage the community in a discussion of library needs.”
a.    Erin reviewed the proposal.  The first meeting of the taskforce will be March 3rd.   The role of the taskforce is to engage the community; this will be done through a community survey, interviewing library staff and conducting community focus groups to create a library needs assessment document which will be the basis for future plans.    The tentative timeline for surveys and focus groups is mid to late summer.  Erin noted that the taskforce information is available both on the library website and the city websites.  There was discussion regarding the measures for this driver; input was given that the project is still in the study phase which makes measuring progress difficult.  As plans are developed, the driver could be revised.  Jean Bowman asked if the driver paralleled what the City Council supports; Council Member Jim Fish said yes.  A motion was made by Rick Schara to adopt the Library Project as a Forward Fergus Falls Destiny Driver, the motion was seconded by Jean Bowman; the motion carried.

Blandin 3 Update-Carol Juul gave the update for the Blandin 3 leadership group; there are 5 subgroups of Blandin3, they are:  Main Street Revitalization, Inclusion, Library, Developing a strong sense of Community, and Community Youth Center.  February 14th and 15th their group met for a retreat.  The graduation for Blandin 3 participants will take place on May 8th at the Bigwood Event Center.

Inclusion:  Sheri Holmes reported for her subgroup; their focus is inclusiveness and helping Fergus Falls become more welcoming.  She listed some of the ideas being discussed.  Chair Larry Schulz encouraged their group to contact Carrie Brimhall due to some overlap with an existing destiny driver.
Youth:  Another subgroup of Blandin 3 is looking at the needs of the youth in our community. Greg Wagner reported that they are looking at current opportunities and services that exist.

Featured Proposed Destiny Driver-Downtown Revitalization Project-Larry Schulz introduced this proposal with the possibility of formal action at the April meeting.  The proposed language is:  Preserve, enhance, and promote our historic downtown.    Laurie Mullen presented the project and referred to the 2009 community survey that identified areas that were of concern, some of these are–empty buildings, garbage in alleys, and a need for consistent signage.  The group applied for and received a grant to the Minnesota Main Street Program of the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota, which provides participating local Main Street organizations with the training, tools, information, and networking they need to be successful in their downtown revitalization efforts.  For more information about the program visit their website at: www.mnpreservation.org.    There was discussion regarding how to measure this destiny driver and how to coordinate with some of the other groups who are already involved including, A Center for the Arts, United Way, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, NHS, Downtown Association, and the City of Fergus Falls.  Jean Bowman reported that she has been working with Victor Lundeen’s to create 36 banners for downtown light posts.

Other Destiny Driver Reports
Healthy Economy-Harold Stanislawski invited the group to attend the Business and Community Expo on March 7th.  There will also be a Telework Summit on March 14th featuring speakers from United Health, Discovery Benefits, Cenex, Kelley Services, and others.

Signature Events-The Daily Journal has created a Community Calendar using Google Calendar.  Events can be submitted for posting on the Daily Journal homepage; there are directions at the site.

Environmental Stewardship-This group has voted to begin the process of becoming a “Green Step City.” This is a goal for 2012 and beyond.  Jess Steinbrenner outlined the process.  Cities are categorized and then given a list of “best practices” to complete; Fergus Falls is a category B.  Some of the best practices have already been completed and help meet the requirements for the goal, some of the completed practices include energy efficient traffic lights and the installation of bike racks in the community.  For more information on Green Step Cities you can visit their website at: greenstep.pca.state.mn.us.   This group would like to be featured in a future meeting.

Announcements:  Patrick Hollister reported on the upcoming Bike rodeo on May 5th.  This event will provide safety education.  Contact Patrick if you would like to be involved at:  Patrick.Hollister@co.clay.mn.us.

*A complete list of the Destiny Drivers is available at: www.forwardfergusfalls.org

February 2nd, 2012 — Meeting Minutes

Our Shared Destiny — “Fergus Falls, a beautiful river city, leads West Central Minnesota in health services, business growth, learning and the arts.”

Next All Stewards Meeting
Thursday, March 1st, @ 7:00 a.m. Legacy Hall, M|State

All Stewards Meeting:  Thursday, February 2, 2012 Forward Fergus Falls met at M|State, Legacy Hall.

Attending:  Larry Schulz, Dale Umlauf, Dennis Johnson, John McFarlane, Patrick Hollister, Jason Bergstrand, Carol Juul, Laurie Mullen, Erin Smith, Mary Mattson, Greg Wagner, Jerry Ness, Randy Synstelien, and Lisa Workman

Moderator: Larry Schulz

Destiny Driver Reports
 Featured Driver– Fergus Falls Public Library Driver Proposal– Erin Smith presenting.
“Support the Fergus Falls Public Library Taskforce’s efforts to engage the community in a discussion of library needs.”

Erin distributed handouts outlining the timeline of the proposed library project.
Phase I — Community Engagement 2012 -2014
Phase II– Site Selection, Design, and Funding 2014-2016
Phase III–2016-2018–Award Project & Begin Construction

Driver #2 – Telework Initiative- Plans are in the works for a Summit to be held March 14th. Details are being finalized with the Bigwood Event Center. Tony Merdan will give a State of Telework Address– as telework is now being mandated by the federal government as a means to cut costs–Telework Week is March 5-9th. You can visit teleworkexchange.org-they are part of the federal initiative promoting telework preparedness. Speakers are being lined up for the Summit including companies like Cenex, Cargill, and Xerox.

Driver #4 – Angel Network– Dale Umlauf reported that an Angel Network presentation was offered in Fergus and that they had great attendance.

Driver #6–RTC–Laurie Mullen reported that developers have submitted their proposals which were due February 1st.  Jerry Ness indicated he was aware of one of the proposals and it would include bringing international students to Fergus. The students would participate in a three year program between the High School and M/State. It has many exciting opportunities.

Driver #7–Blandin Leadership Training-Carol Juul reported the Blandin 3 participants are working on scheduling meetings before their group meets in St. Cloud on February 14th for a retreat session. Carol indicated that several were going down to St Cloud for a pre-networking session. She would report at the next meeting.

Driver #9–River Walk–Dennis Johnson reported for their group; they have reduced the scope of their efforts. Current focus includes updating and maintaining the signs on the riverwalk including advertising on entrance highways into town and possibly promotion from hotels and businesses. New signs could help draw attention and awareness to the riverwalk. They worked with Anne Martens and Chris Schuelke.  Seven new signs were identified and will cost $125 apiece.

Driver #10–Spiritual, Behavioral, and Physical Health–Patrick Hollister reported on the physical health aspect of this driver; he said the Library is a great location and that many bicyclists used the facility as a resting spot.  The Active Living blog is:  ActiveLivingff.blogspot.com.

Driver #11–Signature Events–This group meets the fourth Wednesday of the month at 8:30 a.m. at the Public Library.
The next event is a month long event called, Fergus Falls Reads. The committee is encouraging the community to read the classic novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. There will be a variety of fun and educational events throughout the month including a showing of the Disney version of Huck Finn at the Center for the Arts on February 25th at 2:00 p.m. There is also a facebook page and twitter feed.

Lisa Workman added that the Signature Event Group put together a Tool Kit for anyone that might be scheduling a festival or event in Fergus. The kit has already proven helpful.
 
Driver #12-”Being Green” – Patrick Hollister gave the update for the Green Committee. They met on Thursday, January 26th at noon at WCI; Angela Headlee, Green Step Cities, presented. The group is adopting as one of their goals to be a Green Step City, and would work with the city on that project.  Greg Wagner added that they still need to decide if they are going to be an A or B city.

Announcements:  
Lisa Workman Provided handouts for the Frost Bite Festival
Larry Schultz gave an invitation to the Walk In Clinic Open House – tonight from 5- 6:30

*If your Destiny Driver group is interested in being the monthly focus driver–contact a member of the Executive Committee.
*A complete list of the Destiny Drivers is available at: www.forwardfergusfalls.org

January 5th, 2012 — Meeting Minutes

Our Shared Destiny — “Fergus Falls, a beautiful river city, leads West Central Minnesota in health services, business growth, learning and the arts.”

All Stewards Meeting –Thursday, January 5, 2012, Legacy Hall M|State

Attending:  Harold Stanislawski, Larry Schulz, Carrie Brimhall, Alex Cabrera, Jeff Stanislawski, Garland Carlson, Jim Fish, Mary Philippe, Dale Umlauf, Hal Leland, Dennis Johnson, John McFarlane, Kevin King, Patrick Hollister, Jason Bergstrand, Carol Juul, Nancy Straw, Laurie Mullen, Tim Hunt, Erin Smith, JoEllen Thacker, Kathy Lehn, Kim Embretson, Karen Terry and Mary Robertson

Moderator: Larry Schulz

Next All Stewards Meeting
Thursday, February 2nd, @ 7:00 a.m. Legacy Hall, M|State

Destiny Driver Reports
Driver #6--RTC–Laurie Mullen reported that developers have submitted their letters of intent and the proposals for redevelopment are due February 1st.  These will then be reviewed by the City Council and Evaluation Team.  Tim Hunt commented that the RTC is a unique asset for the city.  The question was raised regarding the role of Forward Fergus Falls in the RTC.  Hal Leland commented that groups and organizations should give input to the council to help in the evaluation process.

Driver #7--Blandin Leadership Training–Erin Smith reported the Blandin 3 participants are working on scheduling meetings before their group meets in St. Cloud on February 14th for a retreat session.

Driver #8 --Excellence in Education–Carrie Brimhall gave the update for the Education Driver–enrollment at M-State Fergus Falls is up, classes are starting Friday, January 6th.  Today there is an all faculty kick-off meeting on the Fergus Falls campus for the entire 4 campus MState staff.

Driver #9–River Walk–Dennis Johnson reported for their group; they have decided to reduce the scope of their efforts.  Current focus includes updating and maintaining the signs on the riverwalk including advertising on entrance highways into town and possibly promotion from hotels and businesses.  New signs could help draw attention and awareness to the riverwalk; costs are being explored.  Anne Martens of the city is very supportive and will give a report on location suggestions and replacing deteriorating signs.  This phase could help move expansion of the riverwalk forward to Two Rivers Road.  Other discussion included Chris Schulke being a part of the project with the included element of the history on the river.

Driver #10–Spiritual, Behavioral, and Physical Health–Patrick Hollister reported on the Active Living driver.  There is a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, January 25th, 4:00 p.m. at WCI.  Their Blog is now live and encouragement was given to “like” the blog and become a friend.  The address is:  ActiveLivingff.blogspot.com

Driver #11–Signature Events–This group meets the fourth Wednesday of the month at 8:30 a.m. at the Public Library.
The next event is a month long event called, Fergus Falls Reads.   The committee is encouraging the community to read the classic novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  There will be a variety of fun and educational events throughout the month including a showing of the Disney version of Huck Finn at the Center for the Arts on February 25th at 2:00 p.m.  There is also a facebook page and twitter feed.

Driver #12-Being Green” – Patrick Hollister gave the update for the Green Committee.  There will be a meeting on Thursday, January 26th at noon at WCI; bring your own lunch; Angela Headlee, Green Step Cities, will be presenting.  The group is adopting as one of their goals to be a Green Step City, and would work with the city on that project.

Driver #13-Community Acceptance & Inclusion-Carrie Brimhall reported.  There are plans to promote city wide neighborhood block parties in May.   A Women Supporting Women monthly luncheon continues to meet the 2nd Tuesday of each month at Bello Cucina.  Contact Carrie Brimhall to RSVP– 218.736.1504, carrie.brimhall@minnesota.edu.

January Destiny Driver Focus-Healthy Economy Drivers/Telework-Harold Stanislawski introduced the members of the Telework Committee and gave the report.

The History of the Telework Initiative-Dave Bickett of Otter Tail Tel-com contacted Harold to discuss what was happening in the industry; he was President of MTA at the time.  Fergus Falls is one of the few cities with fiber to the curb and the broader mission of the MTA is to create a corridor between Eau Claire and I94 growing telecommuting jobs.  Harold shared this information with the EIC Board who supported moving ahead to promote telework.  The Telework Committee applied for a Quick Start Grant from the Blandin Foundation and received $5,000.  Blandin has featured Fergus Falls as a community moving forward in telework.
2011 Telework Summit-The 2011 Summit drew about 100 people from as far away as Ely.

Telework Minute 2011-The committee is working with Doug Gray at Lakes Radio to promote telework–creating the Telework Minute.  This radio program features guest speakers talking about the various aspects of telework and also announces a sampling of jobs.  It will air on 3 stations through the month of January.

FlexJobs-The committee researched and found a company that runs a website called FlexJobs.com.  The company is based out of Denver, and authenticated with DEED.  FlexJobs.com lists jobs from companies including telework jobs; they have over 400 telework jobs on their website from employers such as Hewlett Packard and United Health.  The committee is also working with the education sector to help prepare workers to fill the gap for many of the positions that require skills related to software programming and writing.

Telework Summit 2012-Plans are in the works for a Summit to be held March 14th.  Tony Merdan will give a “State of Telework Address” as telework is now being mandated by the federal government as a means to cut costs–Telework Week is March 5-9th.  You can visit teleworkexchange.org-they are part of the federal initiative promoting telework preparedness.  Speakers are being lined up for the Summit including companies like Cenex, Cargill, and Xerox.

DEED Website-Dave Bickett and Rick Schara have been working with the Commissioner of DEED to highlight jobs that are telework–there is now a symbol indicating telework jobs on the site.    It is difficult to track the number of teleworkers.

Tracking-Deed can track the number of hits they have on their website for people looking at the telework positions.    It was mentioned that through the telework facebook page numbers of teleworkers could also be measured.    A survey is also being conducted to area businesses to measure the number of employers regionally providing the option of teleworking.

Telework Hotel-there are cubicles set up at the Incubator Facility in the SkyVision Building available for $5 a day.  There is access to all office equipment.

Economy-Local Data-The local unemployment rate is 4.5 equating to 350 people unemployed.   There are 163 job openings in Fergus Falls.  Alexandria is at 6.3-a little over 400 unemployed, Brainerd is 11.7–close to 900 unemployed.  From January 2011 to January 2012 roughly 300 jobs were gained.  Most manufacturing employers are off the shared work program.  There is a drop in the number of unemployment claims both in our city and region.

Announcement-If your Destiny Driver group is interested in being the monthly focus driver–contact a member of the Executive Committee to get on the schedule.

*A complete list of the Destiny Drivers is available at: www.forwardfergusfalls.org

December 1, 2011 — Meeting Minutes

Our Shared Destiny — “Fergus Falls, a beautiful river city, leads West Central Minnesota in health services, business growth, learning and the arts.”

All Stewards Meeting – Thursday-December 1st, 2011    Forward Fergus Falls met on December 1st, 2011 at 7:00 a.m. at M|State.

Attending:  Larry Schulz, Harold Stanislawski, Carrie Brimhall, Jerry Ness, Mary Phillipe, Kevin King, Greg Wagner, Jason Bergstrand, Tim Hunt, Alex Cabrera, Dennis Johnson, Patrick Hollister, Hal Leland, Laurie Mullen, Jeff Stanislawski, Denise Demartelaere, JoEllen Thacker, Rob Rogholt, Michael Burgraff, Karen Hanan, John MacFarlane, Tim Brinkman, Anthony Hicks, Garland Carlson, Erin Smith, Atul Wahi, Karen Terry, Barb Miller, Myla Daniels, Sheri Holmes, and Mary Robertson

Moderator: Larry Schulz

Next All Stewards Meeting
Thursday, February 2nd, @ 7:00 a.m. Legacy Hall, M|State

The meeting consisted mostly of sharing by the recent Blandin participants who returned from a week of community leadership training.  Twenty-four Fergus Falls community members attended, making this the third group from Fergus Falls to attend.    The group worked on identifying goals that help sustain a healthy community.  The projects identified are waiting until stakeholders are identified and contacted.

Jerry Ness encouraged and challenged the group to remain connected with Forward Fergus Falls, focusing on their own newly named projects and getting involved with existing Forward Fergus Falls destiny drivers if they are not already.

Mayor Hal Leland congratulated and thanked the group for their participation in Blandin and commitment to community leadership.

*A complete list of the Destiny Drivers is available at: www.forwardfergusfalls.org