Minnesota

Horizons II communities successfully completed the 18-month program and Horizons staff  want to share two documents developed that highlight the many successes the communities accomplished.  The first is a report on activities around the three outcome areas of Horizons - leadership development, poverty reduction, and community/partnership/infrastructure development.  You can access this report by clicking on:  Action on Horizons Outcomes 

The second document highlight the findings from the pre and post test done in the communities during the study circle and LeadershipPlenty components of the program.  You can access this report by going to Community Evaluation Results of Pre and Post Tests

 Amazing work by amazing people that reinforces our belief that Minnesota is the best place to live!

Those considering a bid for public office can get a taste of political
life at an Initiative Foundation workshop from 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.,
Thursday, July 31st in Little Falls.

The workshop will include presentations on grassroots campaigning, legal
reporting, civility, public speaking, media relations and leadership.
Presenters include Minnesota State Rep. Larry Haws; Sue Hilgart,
presidential campaign manager; Kevin Frazell, League of Minnesota
Cities; Tim Houle, Crow Wing County administrator; and Sue Halena, St.
Cloud Times editor.

Candidates of all parties and levels of office are invited to attend
this nonpartisan event, which will take place before the city filing
deadline.

The workshop fee is $40, and registrations are due by Friday, July 25th.
For more information, contact Leah Posterick at (877) 632-9255
toll-free, or visit www.ifound.org  to download
a brochure.

Everyday Democracy recently recognized Eveleth for their blog.  CONGRATULATIONS, Eveleth bloggers, on your efforts to highlight positive change in your community!

Check out Eveleth’s blog at: eveleth.blogspot.com

Rural Development Philanthropy Learning Network mission is “building rural assets to build rural livilihoods”

They provide books and step-by-step guides for rural communities to build endowments and community foundations. 

It is supported by the Aspen Institute - Community Strategies Group.

Check it out!

Two interesting opportunities being offered by the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits. 

Nonprofit Leadership Summit - The Future of Leadership
You are invited to register for MCN’s 2008 Leadership Summit: The Future of Leadership. Join your nonprofit peers for this groundbreaking exploration of the attributes of nonprofit leaders, issues facing leaders in organizations, and the ways that nonprofit leaders strengthen organizations and communities. View the full program and register by April 30 and save! Grantwriting Clinics from MCN in Mankato, Duluth and St. Paul
Grantwriters across Minnesota will benefit from MCN’s slate of Grantwriting Clinics that will be travelling around the state in 2008. This fast-paced, interactive clinic empowers grantwriting practitioners to explore their personal successes and challenges, gain new perspective on proposal development, clarify understanding of each section of a grant proposal, critique actual proposals submitted by clinic participants, and develop a better understanding of building a persuasive case.

• April 23, South Central Region (held in Mankato) Register Now
• May 8, St. Paul Register Now
• May 28, Duluth Register Now
• June 24, St. Paul Register Now
• November 6, St. Paul Register Now

Space is limited for Grantwriting Clinics, so don’t delay and register today.

We’re taking registrations for the Regional Training Workshops scheduled for:

March 29 at Fairmont Holiday Inn, Fairmont

April 5 at Hibbing Park Hotel in Hibbing

April 12 at Best Western in Detroit Lakes

April 19 at Rochester Community College

All training workshops run from 10 AM to 3 PM with registration and continental breakfast beginning at 9:30. All Horizons communities, past and present, are invited to attend at no costs.

A registration form is attached. Call Monica Herrera at 866 407-4906 is you have any questions.

Registration for Regional Training Workshops

You may be saying, “We had a great turnout at our visioning event, but we didn’t quite reach our benchmark. What can we do?” Here are a few ideas to surpass the hurdle.

1. Welcome others to get involved. Invite interested friends and neighbors to the follow-up meeting that is scheduled in your community.
2. Become an ambassador. Carry around copies of the vision and have people sign the back to say they support the vision.
3. Post the vision around the community. In public areas (businesses, schools, restaurants, etc.), make a poster of the vision. Include pictures of the evening, if possible. On the poster, or nearby, have a place where people can sign in support of the vision.
4. Create an online survey. Use an online tool, such as “surveymonkey.com” (see the New York Mills blog site for an example) where people can share their thoughts and leave their information to get involved.
5. Create a paper survey (or use a paper version of your online survey). Have the surveys available where the vision posters are posted, bring the surveys to your other community meetings, or have copies available at the grocery store.
6. Use your networks. Bring a copy of the vision along to your other community meetings (even to church) and have community members sign the back.
7. Media. In a newspaper article about the vision, include information for how people can get involved (or where they can take a survey).
8. Cable TV. Post your vision on community TV. Include a link to a survey or contact information for how people can get involved.
9. Go door knocking. Bring your kids and visit the neighbors. Have them sign the survey and ask if they would like to attend the next meeting with you.
10. Attend a school event. Ask if you can read the vision at half time or hand out copies of the vision for people to read and sign.

Whatever you do, make sure you keep track of the names of the community members you have talked to and pass them along to your local organizer and your community coordinator.

Good luck and have fun! Remember, it is not about the number, it is about achieving the vision.