Membership Sideblog
- The Marcus Welby of law, by Lance Heisler | Lampe Law Group
July 31, 2010 | 7:45 pmGrowing up in North Dakota during the 50s and 60s, I was privileged to experience something that's all too rare now - the old-fashioned family doctor. "Doc" delivered babies, set broken bones, treated pneumonia, and helped Grandpa with his newfangled hearing aid. Doc knew the community, the families, and the individuals whose basic medical needs he treated from birth through the end of life. Some of you who grew up in that time, and perhaps in smaller communities, may remember a Doc of your own. . . . → Read More: The Marcus Welby of law, by Lance Heisler | Lampe Law Group
- Kitty Mania at the Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, by Sandy Vesledahl
July 28, 2010 | 10:51 pm
Let’s talk about cats, cats and more cats! Why?? Because Prairie’s Edge Humane Society is full of cats and we have many more arriving daily. As of today, there are 44 cats on the adoption floor with more awaiting their surgeries so they are ready for adoption. There are cats in every corner of the shelter who need homes! We are in desperate need of homes for these cats. We cannot emphasize this enough. So we are having a cat sale and we are calling it Kitty Mania ! Kitty Mania is this weekend, beginning Thursday, July . . . → Read More: Kitty Mania at the Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, by Sandy Vesledahl
- On Watermelons and Widgets, by Tom Swift
July 12, 2010 | 11:50 am
The free market does many things well, but we know it does not do everything. Even market fundamentalists concede that the public must build roads, put out fires, police streets, and provide national defense. Most people, at least those to the left of the Tea Party edge of political spectrum, accept that the government must also be involved in education, disaster relief, and health care. That is, certain services must be rendered — necessary services, universal services — whether or not those services are financially profitable. If your house is on fire, you do not have time to . . . → Read More: On Watermelons and Widgets, by Tom Swift
- Vintage Band Festival Contra Dance, by Dan Bergeson
July 12, 2010 | 10:56 am
Okay, so most of the news about the Vintage Band Festival so far has been about the bands. But there’s a number of other events during the weekend. Like the VBF Contra Dance, for instance. The Vintage Band Festival Contra Dance will feature music by The Dodworth Saxhorn Band of Ann Arbor, Michigan and will be led by dance instructor/caller Robin Nelson. Dancing will begin at 8:30 p.m. with a “Grand March” led by 60 costumed members of the 1st Wisconsin Infantry Brigade, followed by a variety of period dances including polkas, contra dances, schottisches, reels and waltzes. . . . → Read More: Vintage Band Festival Contra Dance, by Dan Bergeson
- The Animal-Cruelty Syndrome, by Tom Swift
June 27, 2010 | 8:00 am
Even before I read the first word of this article I had a visceral reaction to it. The accompanying photographs — my eyes tend to skip over photographs in magazines — affected me in a manner that is difficult to articulate. I knew, immediately I knew, I was not going to like what I was about to read. In fact, for that reason I put the piece aside. Not now, I thought. Maybe tomorrow, I said to myself. But, then, I couldn’t not read it, either. If you have not done so already, I hope you will read . . . → Read More: The Animal-Cruelty Syndrome, by Tom Swift
- Puppies! Puppies! Puppies! by Kathy Jasnoch
June 27, 2010 | 7:54 am
June may be Adopt A Cat month here at Prairie’s Edge Humane Society and we have lots of wonderful cats, but we also have PUPPIES! We have a male Newfoundland mix named Chong who is 6 months old, he was a stray so we don’t know a lot about him. He loves to play! We also have three Australian Cattle Dog mixes who are two months old. Marcia, Bobby and Cindy were born at the shelter and spent some time in one of our fabulous foster homes. They are now back at the shelter and ready to find . . . → Read More: Puppies! Puppies! Puppies! by Kathy Jasnoch
- Relay for Life of Rice County, August 6th, Rice County Fairgrounds. By Sandy Vesledahl
June 23, 2010 | 9:35 pm
The American Cancer Society Relay for Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay for Life, teams of people camp out at local parks or fairgrounds and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events. Relay for Life of Rice . . . → Read More: Relay for Life of Rice County, August 6th, Rice County Fairgrounds. By Sandy Vesledahl
- Critter Cam live from Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, by Sandy Vesledahl
June 16, 2010 | 9:04 amNow Showing! Live Kittens playing! You can now watch our adoptable animals at Prairie’s Edge Humane Society (PEHS) live 24/7 on the new Critter Cam installed in conjunction with KYMN Radio. Thanks to the fine folks at KYMN radio we now have a live feed of our adoptable animals showing on our website and KYMN’s website, Tim and Jeff are AWESOME! Currently the Critter Cam is featuring kittens available for adoption. Watch them play, sleep, eat, and everything else they do 24 hours a day 7 days a week! It’s better than anything you can see on TV! . . . → Read More: Critter Cam live from Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, by Sandy Vesledahl
- Save the Northfield Depot: fundraising help needed. By Lynn Vincent
June 11, 2010 | 11:34 am
A BIG Thanks to all of you who came to last Monday’s Volunteer Organization Meeting, and to those who contacted us saying you wanted to help but could not make the meeting. We have pretty full support for Communications and Design and Build sub-committees, and we got a web graphic designer to help with the site. Alice Thomas is facilitating the Communications group, and Steve Edwins is facilitating the Design and Build group. What we are missing and really need are Fund Raising people. We have two grant writiers, but we need folks who are committed to the . . . → Read More: Save the Northfield Depot: fundraising help needed. By Lynn Vincent
- Photo albums: 2010 Prairie’s Edge Humane Society Walk for the Animals, by Bridgette Hallcock Photography
June 11, 2010 | 8:09 am
Thank you to all of those who came to Alexander Park on a beautiful Saturday morning in May to help support Prairie’s Edge Humane Society! I have placed all of the fun photographs on my Bridgette Hallcock Photography Facebook page so that everyone can see how much fun we had! See the two 2010 Walk for the Animals albums here and here. If you would like a print, please contact me, as the proceeds will benefit the animals at PEHS.
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Photo album: Taste of Northfield 2007
By Griff Wigley, on June 17, 2008, 5:51 am
 Ross with his NDDC hat on has blogged that the Third Annual Taste of Northfield is Coming Right Up.
That would be this Thursday night, downtown.
He has a 2008 Taste of Northfield (PDF) poster (left) with the details.
Doug Bratland over at Northfield.org’s blog says that the Third Annual Taste of Northfield Promises to be Bigger and Better than Ever!
Want to whet your appetite?
See the 2007 Taste of Northfield photo album (I blogged it last July 19) or this slideshow of 33 photos:
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but I’d have a hard time during the sabbatical not paying attention to see if that was actually the case. I think the more places in Northfield...
Here are some suggestions to capitalize on this event to bring more people downtown, as we’ve discussed in other downtown threads:
All business owners, workers and volunteers should have name tags — and should make it a point to introduce themselves to as many strangers as possible and welcome them downtown.
They should pass out business cards with their e-mail, phone and website info and encourage them to use it. Adding a special offer for their next visit also would be good.
There should be sign-up sheets at every store and booth where people can sign up for e-mail alerts of future events.
Finally, the emcee should make a point of asking who’s knew to town, new to downtown events and get them to raise their hands, get others around them to welcome them and maybe introduce themselves.
You could even create a newcomer’s or visitor’s tag, which you can give new people so others can spot them and greet them.
Sure, not all people want to be singled out, but a lot of them will feel pretty special — and more inclined to come back down and visit their new friends.
Too often at these events, it’s clear all the volunteers are talking to each other and having a great time, kind of like the way all of an artist’s friends come to a exhibit opening and celebrate. That may be great for all the friends, but it can make newcomers feel they’ve crashed a private party — when these newbies should be the guests of honor.
Marketing can be expensive, but these ideas are free, except for the cost of a few business cards, and just common sense.
Some good ideas, Anne. I am the emcee for the evening, so I will try to be extra aware of first timers and be welcoming. We expect 1000 Carleton alumni at the event so there will be lots of “non-insiders” so everyone can feel very comfortable taking part in this community event. I love the idea of name tags, but others are reluctant…maybe we can convince them.
Patty Cash the downtown cow and her farmer friend will be downtown handing out coupons from many businesses during the event and welcoming folks as well. The stores are open because it is Thursday night, and the weather promises to be beautiful as well. One request, Anne. If you make it downtown please introduce yourself to me as I believe we have never met.
See you downtown!
Anne,
Are you volunteering to implement all these fantastic ideas? We need more people to help out as many of us are not only on the Taste Committee but also business and/or restaurant owners.
(Does anyone know how to ‘clone’ effectively?)
All have worked very hard and it will be worth all the hours that have been invested so far. It will be a tremendous success and I appreciate being a part of it all!
Julie
Julie, I’m not clear why you need help to slap on a name tag and say hello and put out a clipboard out for people to sign. Seems pretty self-service to me, which is why I made the suggestions. Why would you need help to be friendly?
Anne, your comment “Why would you need help to be friendly?” could easily be taken as an insult.
It’s no biggie for Julie to put on her own a nametag or put out a clipboard for her business. But to get all the volunteers and downtown retailers to do it, and to set up and staff a booth would take some work.
Griff, I get your point and I was ambivalent about using the last line. Mary’s response to my suggestion was quite thoughtful. Frankly, I was stunned and insulted by Julie’s comment, but should not have responded as I did. I apologize.
We’ve been talking in other threads about how downtown business could attract more people and I just offered a reminder here of some ideas that are free and easy. I found it amazing that Mary said some people objected to wearing name tags (I still don’t get that one.) And Julie’s comment felt to me that she didn’t read the ideas, and that she was just suggesting that I shouldn’t comment because I’m not pulling my weight by volunteering.
Reading her remarks again, perhaps I was responding based on my overall experiences downtown and not just that comment.
I’m not a wallflower, and as a reporter and participant I have been to hundreds of events in many communities. I have been to several events in downtown Northfield where it felt like I was crashing someone else’s class reunion. I have seen volunteers so busy with each other that they totally ignored their guests. The blog posts about events also have seemed like private party albums, rather than community stories.
I have been to gallery openings where this was particularly true, and I’ve watched some people simply duck out without really going through the exhibits. I’ve almost done it myself.
I’ve talked with gallery staff who agreed that they had to make an effort to greet everyone and make them feel welcome. It wasn’t just my observation.
After the first few times this happened to me I went to organizations and volunteered. I got involved. I have volunteered hundreds of hours over the last three years, working at and running events where we tried these ideas with great success. I just thought I’d share them.
Again, I apologize.
Anne,
I do apologize for offending you.
This project “Taste of Northfield” has been a tremendous amount of work already. Of course, being friendly isn’t added work.
I felt as if you were saying that we weren’t doing enough. That is always hard to take when we all are doing so much (and there are not a lot of us). It would be nice to hear some compliments for what we do do.
Of course, we can always improve, as we have each year, and that is why we all get together after the event and make notes of what went well and what could be improved on.
Again, I do apologize for offending you.
Julie
Not to worry, Anne. We are all trying to do our best. I try to be very attentive to all customers in my store, but occasionally there are 5 people who need my attention all at once and the phone rings…and then 15 minutes later there is no one in sight. It’s a murpy’s law sort of thing.
A similar thing happens at community events. People have worked really hard planning for and then setting up the event and then sometimes stand back and take a breather–in a clump with the people they have been working with–just when we need to be out there meeting and greeting. Please let’s not be too harsh on anyone else or ourselves.
Thanks for the reminder, and please, if others have had similar experiences of feeling left out–keep trying. Come downtown and have something to eat and ask a stranger to dance! I will have sign up sheets for anyone who wants to get involved with the NDDC and put on our email update list. I also bought out all the name tags I could find in Northfield.
See you downtown!
Okay, a little break from the philosophical debate to talk important details.
I’ve gotten a number of calls, all with the same question…regarding the tickets.
Let me make it clear, THE EVENT IS FREE, THE MUSIC IS FREE, THE RE-ENACTMENT IS FREE, and THE DANCING IS FREE. The food costs tickets. You buy tickets and pay for the food with tickets.
Come on Down(town) and check it out.
Thanks much.
Good food! had ribs, a brat, lemonade and ice cream.