If you didn't know... Braham, Minnesota is proudly hailed as the Homemade Pie Capital of Minnesota (declared such by former Governor Rudy Perpich in 1990).
But you know what else is special about Braham? ...and no, it's not that they're a participant in our HCP program!
Not only does Minnesota's first woman lieutenant governor, Marlene Johnson, hail from this small town of 1,600 but so too does our new Children, Youth & Families Specialist, Sara Dahlquist!
Sara started with us just a couple weeks ago and yesterday she participated in her first official training session with our three new early childhood coalitions from Elk River, Pine River-Backus and Wadena County. Here's a clip of Linda's introduction of Sara and a bit of her in action:
Sara replaced Jana Shogren, who is enjoying her new position as the executive director at Bridges of Hope in Brainerd. We'd like to welcome Sara to the foundation - we're so glad you've joined us!
If you'd like to learn more about Sara feel free to read the news release or find her in our staff directory.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
IQ Receives Gold!
Our IQ Magazine recently won a Gold Award from the Council on Foundation's Wilmer Shields Rich Awards for Excellence in Communications!
We were named the best magazine/periodical in North America among foundations with up to $100 million in assets. Our nomination included the following issues:
• Winter '08 (early childhood mental health)
• Spring '09 (Initiative Award winners/philanthropy)
• Summer '09 (manufacturing)
• Fall '09 (employment)
Judges evaluated all entries based on the following criteria:
- Overall outcomes/impact
- Message and design effectiveness
- Organization of content
- Outreach/distribution strategies
Thank you and congrats to our IQ Team for all of their hard work!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Second Time's A Charm for Lake Association
Big Fish Lake, located near Cold Spring, MN is one of the largest lakes in the state. It’s popular for boating, fishing and other recreation (like bird-watching as these photos from Big Fish show!).
Recently, their lake association joined our Healthy Lakes and Rivers Partnership (HLRP) program.
Big Fish Lake Association isn’t a stranger to the program though; it was also a participant back in 2002. But this time around, there is new and dedicated leadership involved and everyone is looking forward to figuring out how they can make Big Fish the best it can be.
Participating lake or river associations must attend two of our leadership training sessions as part of the program, which is exactly what Jim Sand of Big Fish Lake Association has done.
“After attending the training workshop I did increase my knowledge base, but I realized there is still so much more to learn,” said Sand. “Hearing from other lake associations at the training and making connections with others has given me a wealth of resources.”
Big Fish’s Lake Association hasn’t quite determined what their top priorities will be for the lake, but they hope to work with area farmers and governmental agencies to clean up the water that enters the lake from cropland which will have a positive effect on our overall water quality, said Sand.
HLRP works with associations in many different areas including developing strategic management plans, restoring shorelines, upgrading septic systems and enhancing habitats.
Sand’s recommendation to other groups thinking about participating in HLRP?
“Be prepared to get to work! Attending the workshop is the easy part, it will be the follow up work that you and your team do that will really take up your time and energy, but it is also that work that will give you great satisfaction.”
For more info about HLRP, visit our website or contact Don Hickman.
Recently, their lake association joined our Healthy Lakes and Rivers Partnership (HLRP) program.
Big Fish Lake Association isn’t a stranger to the program though; it was also a participant back in 2002. But this time around, there is new and dedicated leadership involved and everyone is looking forward to figuring out how they can make Big Fish the best it can be.
Participating lake or river associations must attend two of our leadership training sessions as part of the program, which is exactly what Jim Sand of Big Fish Lake Association has done.
“After attending the training workshop I did increase my knowledge base, but I realized there is still so much more to learn,” said Sand. “Hearing from other lake associations at the training and making connections with others has given me a wealth of resources.”
Big Fish’s Lake Association hasn’t quite determined what their top priorities will be for the lake, but they hope to work with area farmers and governmental agencies to clean up the water that enters the lake from cropland which will have a positive effect on our overall water quality, said Sand.
HLRP works with associations in many different areas including developing strategic management plans, restoring shorelines, upgrading septic systems and enhancing habitats.
Sand’s recommendation to other groups thinking about participating in HLRP?
“Be prepared to get to work! Attending the workshop is the easy part, it will be the follow up work that you and your team do that will really take up your time and energy, but it is also that work that will give you great satisfaction.”
For more info about HLRP, visit our website or contact Don Hickman.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Your idea could be worth $15,000!
Have you always had ideas on how to make your community better, but never knew where to go with them? Now you can do something with those great ideas!
All you have to do is visit Minnesota Idea Open's website at www.MNIdeaOpen.org to suggest solutions to important community issues.
Idea Open’s goal is to sponsor idea challenges that will get Minnesotans thinking and talking about issues, and more importantly... solutions! Their first idea challenge is focused on obesity and the community with the best idea will receive a $15,000 grant.
So get going... visit their website... and submit your ideas today!!
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