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Membership Sideblog

  • The Marcus Welby of law, by Lance Heisler | Lampe Law Group
    July 31, 2010 | 7:45 pm

    Growing 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 am

    Now 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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    The district’s Key Communicator Network: a questionable strategy

    Key Communicator Network Training mailing Rob Hardy rhetorically asked in comment #71 attached to Kathie Galotti’s guest blog post about the district calendar flap, “How can the school district make itself feel like a real community, instead of education insiders vs. outsiders?”

    I’ve been invited to attend the Northfield School District’s Key Communicator Network Training on March 19 (page 1 of the 4-page mailing is on the right – click to enlarge and then click the green arrow to enlarge again), and I plan to attend. I don’t think this program is likely to help address the issue Rob raises. (continued)

    The Key Communicator Network has been around for a while, but ironically enough, I can’t find much information about it on their web site. The letter says that “The reorganization of the school district Key Communicator Network is included in the Community Services Site Improvement Plan for 2008-09.” That current plan does not seem to be online but the 2007-08 plan still is… and it included this: “A new plan for the school district Key Communicator Network has been developed and reviewed by the Cabinet and the School Board. Implementation began in August 2007.”

    I’ve also tried to find information on the Community Relations Asset Mapping program/session. And who was on the Task Force?

    But the real issue for me is that District needs to examine how it can better engage the citizenry, become more transparent and collaborative in everything it does. (I do have some ideas on how.)  Then a PR strategy like the Key Communicator Network would make more sense.

    But of course, I could be wrong.

    Here are the other three pages of the mailing I got. (Click to enlarge and then click the green arrow to enlarge again.)

    Key Communicator Network Training mailing Key Communicator Network Training mailing Key Communicator Network Training mailing

    3 comments to The district’s Key Communicator Network: a questionable strategy

    • 1
      Kathie Galotti says:

      Griff,

      They are lucky to have you. IMHO, the poor communication they’ve shown on the calendar (and previous) issues really are the root of a huge problem. I hope they’ll listen to you.

    • 2
      Griff Wigley says:

      Thanks, Kathie. I’m going to the meeting but I’ll wait to decide on whether I continue. And they may rescind the invitation!

    • 3
      Griff Wigley says:

      img_3528 img_35261

      There were about 40-50 people at tonight’s Key Communicator orientation training meeting; just 8 men.

      School board members in attendance: Kari Nelson, Ellen Iverson, Ann Maple.

      Administration: Director of Business Affairs, Tom Stringer

      Other notable attendees: City Councilor Kris Vohs, Northfield News publisher Sam Gett, Northfield.org board member Jane McWilliams.

      After we all briefly introduced ourselves, Community Services director Hannah Puzkco presented the training using Powerpoint.

      The main thing we learned was on slide #5:

      How will the Key Communicator Network operate?

      • As a Key Communicator, you will receive all information via e-mail from Heather Kuchinka and/or Hannah Puczko
      • Information will always be contained in the Information Form sent as an attachment. (Word document)
      • Periodically, you will receive a phone call or email from Hannah Puczko checking in with you.

      Hannah used the word ‘listserv’ when describing the tool they’ll use to send out the email. She also expressed the hope that members of the network would communicate via email back to them, as well as via phone, that they wanted the process to be two-way, not just one-way.

      I then asked if we members could use the listserv to reply so that everyone in the network could communicate with one another as a group about the district communications issues. She said she was uncertain about the technical capabilities of the software but said that that was not their intent. She said we were certainly free to contact one another on our own.