Webinar Series: Realizing Our Broadband Future

Are you interested in rural community and economic development trends? Yes.

Don't miss these upcoming Webinars about trends and the steps communities must take to increase their investment attractiveness. Learn about the role that technology plays in increasing economic vitality and present successful regional economic development strategies

Date(s): Tuesday, October 6, Tuesday, October 20, and Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Time(s): 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Location: ReadyTalk web conferencing
Access code: 4772080
Toll-free dial-in: (866) 740-1260
Learn More & Register!

October 6, 2009
A Futurist's View of Rural Minnesota
Presenter: Delore Zimmerman of Praxis Strategy Group, Grand Forks, ND
If you are interested in rural community and economic development trends, this webinar is for you. Delore Zimmerman will provide guidance for rural community leaders about development trends and the steps communities must take to increase their investment attractiveness.
The role that technology plays in increasing economic vitality will be presented both in theory and practice, and Delore will include information about successful regional economic development strategies.

Delore is a strategy consultant with twenty-five years of domestic and international experience working with local and regional economic development groups, companies and universities. He co-developed the High-Performance Community Initiative while a Senior Fellow at the Denver-based Center for the New West and has spearheaded its development and deployment for 10 years.

October 20, 2009
Broadband Best Practices in Greater Minnesota
Presenter: Bill Coleman of Community Technology Advisors, Mahtomedi, MN
Broadband is an essential asset for community and economic development. Greater Minnesota faces many challenges in keeping up with larger metro areas in Minnesota, across the country and around the world.

Community leaders are faced with navigating a whirlwind of dynamic technologies, policy discussions at the federal and state level, and funding through the ARRA stimulus programs as they wrestle with the the challenge of ensuring world-class broadband infrastructure and services and motivating the adoption of new technologies by businesses, institutions and citizens. This session will provide an overview of community best practices for network deployment and broadband-based economic development.

Bill Coleman has been helping communities make the connection between broadband and economic development. He specializes in helping communities accurately assess their situation, devise improvement strategies and implement projects. He brings equal attention to infrastructure and end-user technology adoption that leads to economic vitality.

November 3
Telling a Story with Social Media
Presenter: Ann Treacy, Treacy Information Services
Everyone has a story to tell, whether you’re recruiting people or businesses to your region, selling a product or preparing a presentation on future of broadband in rural areas. Social media tools such as YouTube and podcasts can help you establish your story, social networks such as Facebook or LinkedIn help you spread the word and ongoing blogs or Twitter can help maintain the story. We’ll talk about how to tell your story with social media.

Ann Treacy is a former librarian with 13 years of experience working with businesses and other organizations to get their message to prospective clients on the Internet. She works with resorts, realtors, manufacturers, nonprofits and others throughout Minnesota to develop Internet and socialmedia strategies to meet business goals.

USDA Study Finds Rural Communities Benefit From Greater Broadband Internet Access

WASHINGTON, August 18, 2009 - A new USDA economic analysis has found that rural communities with greater broadband Internet access had greater economic growth than areas with less access. The study, 'Broadband Internet's Value for Rural America' by economists at USDA's Economic Research Service, compared counties that had broadband access relatively early - by 2000 - with similarly situated counties that had little or no broadband access. Employment growth was higher and non-farm private earnings greater in counties with a longer history of broadband availability.

» Read the release

» Read the full report

Britt Community Historical Society Holds Annual Meeting

BCHS annual meeting will be held at the
Laurentian Environmental Center (LEC) on
Sunday, July 12, 2009 from 4-6 p.m.

A brief business meeting will be held at 4 followed by another deilcious meal by “Marko”. Pam Brunfelt from Britt will be our guest speaker. Following this, we will have drawings for doorprizes. To conclude our evening, a special poem will be read by Darrel Swenson. All members and interested guests are urged to attend. Join us on Sunday, July 12, 2009 at the main lodge of the LEC located 14 miles morth of Virginia on Peppard Road. Please RSVP for the meal no later than July 10. Call 749-3860 and leave your name and number of people attending. See you there!

Minnesota Grant Opportunities for Artists

The Minnesota State Arts Board has two upcoming grant opportunities for artists .

Artist Initiative grants support career building and creative development opportunities for artists. The Arts Board alternates disciplines eligible to apply each year. Music, photography, media arts/new media, poetry, and prose grants will be offered during the fiscal year 2010 grant round.
Application materials are available at http://www.arts.state.mn.us/grants/artist_initiative.htm
Applications must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on July 30, 2009.

Cultural Community Partnership grants are designed to enhance the careers of individual artists of color through partnership projects. An applicant can collaborate with another Minnesota artist of color or a Minnesota nonprofit organization.
Application materials are available at http://www.arts.state.mn.us/grants/cultural_community_partnership.htm
Applications must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on July 31, 2009.

Artist who would like to learn more about these opportunities are invited to attend a grant information session and, if interested, to schedule a one-on-one meeting with a program officer. Schedule and more details information available at http://www.arts.state.mn.us/calendar/info_sessions.htm

IRVM Artist gives Update

Iron Range Veterans Memorial Sculpture Update
Gareth Andrews, Zim artist who designed and is constructing the Iron Range Veterans Memorial bronze sculpture, returned from the Crucible Foundry in Norman, Oklahoma. He reported to the IRVM committee about the status of the ”Shoulder to Shoulder” sculpture. Upon arriving at the foundry, with new digital equipment, he stated that, “it threw him for a loss in where and how to begin”. It turned into a larger project than he had anticipated. He said it was almost like making it all over again and he was amazed by the complexity of the project.
In the enlargement phase, the project came in the alloted time and it is ahead in the actual process but the time line for the end of September, 2009 does not seem probable at this time The foundry projects that with a completion date set as early as September, more manpower would have to be added at an additional expense. The hours of the workers have already been reduced, so consequently, a completion date has been set from New Years to spring of 2010. They hope it to be around Memorial Day 2010.
All of the eagle’s wing sections, around to the wrist, both sides and
the flag are in a metal state. The molds are done and the casting in resin sand. The quality of bronze construction has greatly increased since Gareth last worked. The WASP and on the other end the Coast Guardsman Merchant Marine are in mold or partially in metal. Those three figures are well along. The parachute is in a secure outside area and awaits other adjoining pieces. The helmet and feet are cast. The other five figures are in the mold stage or awaiting to be cut up for the mold stage. The items borrowed from the various museums have been returned with thanks. The museums want to be in attendance and should be recognized at the unveiling ceremony. A lot of details have been added to the figures including such items as a spoon in a knapsack for quick meals and other unique items that will be of great interest to the viewers.
Gareth explained some of the actual problems regarding installation and transportation. The foundry will attach footings to stabilize and level the statue.
Patina will be needed to match the head to the body if they are assembled at the destination spot. The varying temperatures affect patina and they will be matched accordingly. The head attaches like a tea pot or jack-o-lantern lid. It will be tack-welded and will have attachments of flanges. No grinding will be necessary.
If the construction is made so that head is separate from the body, the overall size of the sculpture will be reduced and help facilitate the transportation but even with the head off, some road or highway places might not allow it to pass through. It is the committee’s hope that only one truck is necessary for the transportation or perhaps railroad transport will be the better choice. If we can come up with the transportation from this end, it will reflect a savings. The price for shipment is estimated at $12,500 if it is handled from the foundry end. Installation is quoted at $5,000. The IRVM has had a promise of the usage of a crane for moving and erection of the sculpture but what is needed is the help of a railroad or trucking company to help with the transportation thus reducing the foundry shipping cost. The sculpture will pass through five states on the way here.
Further discussion followed at the IRVM meeting regarding connections in the art piece, assemblage, and future cleaning of the sculpture. Gareth’s design has taken into consideration various problems that might arise such as water accumulation, freezing and run off. Overall estimation of necessary funds is given at $150,000 including the foundry transportation cost, remaining foundry costs, artist fees, installation and upkeep. Questions, donations, and paver purchases may be sent to IRVM Box 35, Virginia, Mn. 55792.

Application of Arts and Cultural Heritage Funds

In November 2008, Minnesotans overwhelmingly voted for a constitutional amendment that will create a new dedicated sales tax to fund activities related to clean water, land and habitat, parks and trails, and arts and cultural heritage. The Minnesota State Arts Board, the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, and Minnesota's other ten regional arts councils will receive a significant funding increase because of this new tax.


Please plan to attend a public forum in Duluth on Thursday, June 18, from 6:00-8:00 p.m., at the Duluth Depot,506 West Michigan Street, and let us know how you think the new funds should be invested.

This is one of a series of forums that will be held throughout the state. The complete schedule is available on the Arts Board Web site http://www.arts.state.mn.us/calendar/public-forums.htm
Forums are free and open to anyone who would like to attend. You are welcome to attend any session--just pick the date and location that is most convenient for you. To help us plan accordingly, please call or e-mail to let us know which session you plan to attend.
Phone (651) 215-1600
Toll-free (800) 866-2787
E-mail msab@arts.state.mn.us

FROM THE WOODS ART SHOW

FROM THE WOODS Water colors and Field drawings
By Bonnie DuFresne

June 11th thru August 29th
At The First Stage Gallery 514 Chestnut St. Virginia, Mn.
Thurs.—Sat. 11am—3pm
Join us for an Artist Reception: Thursday, June 11th 7:00pm
Lyric Center for the Arts
P.O. Box 416
Virginia, MN 55792
218-741-5577
http://lyriccenterforthearts.blogspot.com