Policy BlogMonday, May 07, 2012Chamber Campaign Camp
With spring slowly
giving way to summer, our thoughts turn to warmer weather activities.
For some of us, spring and summer may bring back memories of summer
camp. Perhaps Girl Scout or Boy Scout camp. Perhaps music camp. But
probably not campaign camp.
Along with the changing
seasons comes political campaign season. Three County Commissioner seats
are up this year and all state legislative positions will be on the
ballot.
Considering the number
of seats up for election there is potential for a significant number of
prospective candidates to come to the fore. Keeping with the Chamber's
determination that our role in the political process should be one of
educating and informing, rather than specific candidate endorsement or
partisan support, we are pleased to host a Campaign Camp.
State Senator Roger
Reinert and City Councilor Jim Stauber have generously offered to draw
on their successful campaign experience to instruct a course with the
goal of providing comprehensive content on all aspects of developing a
strategy and implementing an effective campaign. Steve Greenfield of
Greenfield Communications will provide insight on public relations and
effective communication.
The course is free and
open to candidates, (or anyone considering becoming a candidate),
campaign managers and staff, Political Action Committee activists.
Course content will
include: instruction on assembling the team, fund raising and financial
reporting, delivering a persuasive message, media relations and much
more.
Take advantage of this unique opportunity:
Friday, June 1
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Chamber conference room
5 West First Street, Suite 101
Please contact me if you have questions or suggestions regarding the camp. I can be reached at rwedin@duluthchamber.com
or 740-3752. I welcome the chance to connect with you. I hope you will
join me and attend what promises to be a timely and valuable learning
experience.
In support,
Roger
posted by Roger Wedin, www.duluthchamber.com
at
12:42 PM
Thursday, April 12, 2012The Duluth Area Chamber and MnSCU Invite Employers to Identify Workforce NeedsThe Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system in a series of conversations to identify workforce needs across the state. More than 50 focus groups are planned with business and industry representatives throughout Minnesota to gain a more precise understanding of employer's current and future workforce needs-how many workers and professionals with what types of skills will be needed in which regions of the state for what kinds of jobs. The listening sessions will focus on six industry sectors; energy, engineering, healthcare, information technology, manufacturing and transportation. Sessions will be scheduled later this summer in the areas of agriculture and in the fall for insurance and financial services sector. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and a variety of other organizations are supporting this effort. The information collected will be used by MnSCU and other higher institutions to align their curriculum-certificates and degrees, worker retraining, custom training-to ensure that higher education is producing graduates with the skills necessary for the success of Minnesota's businesses and communities. Roger Director of Policy & Education
posted by Roger Wedin, www.duluthchamber.com
at
12:48 PM
Monday, February 06, 2012Call for CEOsFranklin D. Roosevelt was quoted as saying, "We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future". It is in this spirit that the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce invites area business owners, managers, chief executive officers and business leaders to participate in the CEOs in the Classroom Program. WHAT IS IT? The CEO's in the Classroom Program is designed to start students thinking about the world of work and how the decisions they make now affect their work-life later. Started in 2006, business owners, managers and chief executive officers, together with 8th grade teachers developed the CEOs in the Classroom Program for students. The goals of the program presented to 8th grade students from area schools include: the value of education to their future, encouragement of post secondary education, the importance of learning soft skills, and what it will take to realize their dreams. It is an opportunity for business leaders and students to learn more about each other in order to nurture a healthy workforce environment. When is it that we can share our life story with 13 year olds and give living testimony about what's possible in their lives? WHAT IS REQUIRED? After a two and one half hour long training session, each CEO will make their presentation to about 25 to 40 students for approximately an hour. A PowerPoint program has been developed to guide each CEO through their presentation. It delivers a real world look at a household budget and job opportunities in the area. This 30 to 40 minute program is designed to be interactive and the presenters are invited to use their own ideas to engage students. In addition to sharing their "story", CEOs are encouraged to allow time for students to ask questions. Individual preparation time may vary with time to review and practice the PowerPoint program estimated to be about two hours. Training sessions will be provided at two different times: March 13 from 2:00-4:30 and March 20 from 9:30- 12:00 in the Chamber conference room. Pick the one that fits your schedule. School presentation dates are March 29 at Woodland and April 4 at Morgan Park. We are seeking 12 presenters with 3-4 alternates. This is your opportunity to get involved. CEOs can make a difference in the lives of young people. Come help to shape our future workforce. To sign up to participate or for more information, contact me at the Chamber. 740-3752 or rwedin@duluthchamber.com.
posted by Roger Wedin, www.duluthchamber.com
at
11:21 AM
Tuesday, November 22, 2011Leadership Duluth Thanksgiving Tradition in the MakingWith Thanksgiving upon us, you have probably been busy planning the trip to the grocery store, what size turkey you'll need, what you will bring to the relatives who are cooking this year, or the many other planning details. But you probably have not had to consider going without. Sadly, many do. And with this recession, many more than usual. But thanks to Leadership Duluth, at least 100 families will not have to consider going without either. Let me explain. Leadership Duluth is an in depth leadership development program of the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce. Participants spend one full day each month throughout the year long program immersed in a specific aspect of our community. The goal is that by the time they graduate participants will have a broad and deep understanding of our community and how they might be better prepared to apply their enhanced leadership skills. We have Education Day, Healthcare Day, Courts and Law Day. You get the idea. One of the days is Human Services Day. We take a walking tour of several agencies in our downtown which serve those less fortunate in our area. We visit Life House, the drop in center; we eat lunch at the soup kitchen. One of our stops is at the CHUM food shelf. During last year's class visit, one of the class members asked what the food shelf was most in need of. Not surprisingly, as the visit was in November, the answer was turkeys. Subsequently, and without fanfare, the class arranged among themselves to donate 50 turkeys in time to be provided for Thanksgiving. According to food shelf officials it was the first time in years that they had enough turkeys to meet the demand. Fast forward to this year's Human Services Day last week. The LD Participants heard the report from folks at the CHUM food shelf what last year's class had done about the turkey shortage. You probably know where this is going. Thanks to the connections of one of this year's class members with a local food supplier, arrangements were made between the two classes to donate 100 turkeys to the food shelf. They were delivered last week and will be distributed as needed in time for Thanksgiving with plenty left over for the Holidays that follow. I can see a tradition in the making. Leadership manifests itself in many ways------this time right from the heart.
posted by Roger Wedin, www.duluthchamber.com
at
1:23 PM
Monday, August 08, 2011Connecting You with the CandidatesElection season is gearing up. At the Chamber, we are preparing to play our part in the political process. We will do so by providing opportunities for our members to get to know the candidates and be educated on where they stand on the issues. A flurry of last minute filings earlier this month brought in a number of city council candidates in both the fourth district and the at-large race. The first district will have a race as well with two candidates. The third and fifth districts are un-contested as is the Mayoral position. The school board will have three contested races, districts two and three and one at-large. In the spirit of participating in the discourse of democracy, the Chamber will be hosting several FORVMs over the coming months featuring council and school board candidates. We will feature council candidates from the contested districts and the at-large candidates. At this writing, 11 of the 13 running have accepted our invitation to participate in the upcoming FORVM on August 2nd. We are expanding our usual one hour format to 90 minutes to give fuller opportunity for discussion. The Chamber has determined its role in the political process as one in educating and informing, rather than specific candidate endorsement or overt partisan support. Presenting the candidates with issues and concerns from the business community brings value to our membership. Connect with the candidates and have your voice heard. Tuesday, August 2 City Council candidates 8:00 am - 9:30 am Wednesday, September 7 School board candidates 8:00 am - 9:00 am Tuesday, October 4 We will have back those candidates who make it past the September 13th primary 8:00 am - 9:00 am The FORVMs will be held at the Playground Theatre in the Technology Village located at 11 E. Superior Street starting at 8:00 AM. The setting is informal and audience questions are encouraged. I hope you will take advantage of these opportunities to learn more about the individuals who will be leading our community into the future.
posted by Roger Wedin, www.duluthchamber.com
at
4:23 PM
Friday, May 13, 2011Chamber Campaign CampWith spring slowly giving way to summer, our thoughts turn to warmer weather activities. For some of us, spring and summer may bring back memories of summer camp. Perhaps Girl Scout or Boy Scout camp. Perhaps music camp. But probably not campaign camp. Along with the changing seasons comes political campaign season. Six of nine city council seats are up this year as well as the Mayor's seat. As we look out further there will be County Commissioner races and state wide legislative contests. Considering the number of seats up for election there is potential for a significant number of prospective candidates to come to the fore. Keeping with the Chamber's determination that our role in the political process should be one of educating and informing, rather than specific candidate endorsement or partisan support, we are pleased to host a Campaign Camp. State Senator Roger Reinert and City Councilor Jim Stauber have generously offered to draw on their successful campaign experience to instruct a course with the goal of providing comprehensive content on all aspects of developing a strategy and implementing an effective campaign. The course is free and open to candidates, (or anyone considering becoming a candidate), campaign managers and staff, and Political Action Committee activists. Course content will include: instruction on assembling the team, fund raising and financial reporting, delivering a persuasive message, media relations and much more. Take advantage of this unique opportunity. Join us on Friday May 20th 1:30-5:30 in the Chamber conference room, 5 West First Street. Click here to register. Please contact me if you have questions or suggestions regarding the camp. I can be reached at rwedin@duluthchamber.com or 740-3752. I welcome the chance to connect with you and hope you will join me to attend what promises to be a timely and valuable learning experience. 
posted by Roger Wedin, www.duluthchamber.com
at
1:53 PM
Friday, April 08, 2011A Dream (and a Home) AchievedThe morning of Friday April 1st dawned gray and chilly. Light snow had fallen overnight. Enough to dampen spirits and hopes of spring. But nothing could dampen the spirits of the large crowd gathered at 5209 Ramsey Street later that morning. They gathered to be witness to a remarkable and uplifting event. A dream fifteen years in the making was about to unfold. The achievement of a goal pursued by a man kindly described as "relentless" in his pursuit was about to be realized. And for what better cause? Amid a moving choral rendition of God Bless America, a rifle salute and the playing of taps, bagpipes and a Native American prayer, congratulatory remarks from Senator Amy Klobuchar and Mayor Don Ness and a ceremonial ribbon cutting, the dedication and grand opening of Duluth Veteran's Place was at hand. Duluth Veterans' Place is the result of tireless efforts of the Duluth chapter of the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV). What had once been two blighted buildings in a Spirit Valley neighborhood now have been transformed into 16 fresh new bright housing units, both transitional and permanent, for homeless veterans. Over two and a half million dollars of investment not only in the rehabilitation of buildings, but in the rebuilding of lives. Lives of those who have served our country only to find themselves with virtually nothing now have shelter and, as importantly, the support and help of MACV in getting back on their feet.  MACV is a nonprofit organization that has been assisting veterans for over 21 years, helping over 5200 veterans and their families. It is estimated that 1% of veterans in this state, or close to 4,100, will experience an episode of homelessness this year. MACV is there to help. Many homeless and veterans' organizations recognize MACV's transitional and permanent housing programs as a model for the nation. They are committed to serving those in Minnesota who first served us. And that "relentless" individual? Durbin Keeney, of course, Regional director of MACV Duluth. For 15 years, wherever two or more were gathered, Durbin would proclaim the cause of veterans. To Durbin, the thought that there were homeless veterans in our region could not be tolerated. Nor should it be. And now it need not be. And so Durbin, our veterans thank you. Our community thanks you. Well done.
posted by Roger Wedin, www.duluthchamber.com
at
1:57 PM
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5 West First Street, Suite 101, Duluth, MN 55802
218.722.5501 Fax: 218.722.3223
