Archive for June, 2009

10 Who Make A Difference

Monday, June 29th, 2009

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 The 10 Who Make A Difference Award recognizes 10 outstanding individuals or groups within Southeastern Minnesota and Northern Iowa who have made an impact in their community through volunteering.

kttc1Each year KTTC Television and the United Way of Olmsted County ask non-profit organizations and the public to nominate an individual or a group who have made a difference in their community.

The 2009 Award Recipients are: Mary White; Gary Komaniecki; Red Wing Shoe Company;  Bob & Bunny Yanish;  Audra Quandt & Heather Marx - Universal Playground Project; Rochester Network for Re-Entry; Dr. Tamara Berg - College Connection Project, Winona State University;  Jerry Monson Bryon; and  Strei Katie Niemeyer.

Read more about these award winning volunteers here. View their KTTC news stories here.

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The Superintendent’s Desk

Sunday, June 28th, 2009

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…[T]oo often the hiring and the inevitable firing of the school superintendent is a spectator sport in a community…. - Brian Gallagher, President of United Way of America

 

Dave Beal

Beal

When Brian Gallagher made this observation during a panel discussion at the opening general session of the 2008 United Way of America Community Leaders Conference, the response of the other panelists and the audience indicated an all too familiar acquaintance with the fate of school superintendents in many places.

My first thought was, “Apparently, things are rough all over.”

Rich Harwood, the panel’s moderator, observed this is the frequent fate of people to whom communities turn for leadership. Upon whom we bestow - by virtue of election, employment, or nomination – the responsibilities of leadership.

 

Too often, after we turn to these people, especially in times of difficult transformation, we abandon them in the midst of the very changes we have asked them to achieve on our behalf. In the aftermath of difficult decisions we have called upon them to make, we leave them on their own to answer the inevitable opponents to which any change gives rise.

 

Harwood writes in Make Hope Real, that these leaders are “left standing alone naked in the public square just at the moment when they most need us to stand beside them and vouch for their worthiness.” He asks of us,

[W]hen a leader comes under fire, do we step forward to offer our support:

 

• by literally standing beside the individual and vouching for the person’s integrity, even when we do not agree with a particular position?

• by saying clearly that the individual leader is a good person, and that we and others will not stand for scurrilous and mean spirited attacks against such a person?

• by praising an individual leader for taking a tough-minded and principled stand, whether we agree with the person or not?

 

“If we want good leaders,” Harwood concludes, “then we must vow not to abandon them and instead find ways to show our support.”

 

What happens to those who assume positions of leadership is also shared by those who provide leadership in the responsibilities they take on as part of the civic life of a community. These people serve on committees. They meet with neighbors. They convene. They converse. They write. They speak. They stand up. They give their names to the causes in which they believe. They are present to be seen in public gatherings.

 

This leadership assumed by virtue of the positions we accept or the actions in which we engage is open to us all. Doing so entails risk and requires a measure of courage. Gallagher and others on the panel made this clear as they discussed the nature of the transformations contemplated by many communities seeking to advance the common good. 

 

Harwood and Gallagher agree, “Live United” means taking sides. “Making a difference right where we live,” assumes something different is required. “Creating lasting change,” means changing. “Advancing the common good,” declares there is good we hold in common.

 

“Live United” is not a plea to “get along.” It is a call to action that also summons what Harwood describes as the “enemies of the public good - enemies like inertia, cynicism, mechanized responses to human problems, false hope, distorted reality, and superficial efforts to take on real challenges.”

 

We must recognize viciousness in speech as a mask for a deep and abiding indifference - a voice that speaks only of itself and about nothing.

 

“Live United” is something to which we aspire, that comes only as a renewing achievement, and for which we are all accountable to each other. Sometimes – maybe always – it means looking out for each other. Standing up and standing for and standing with.

 

We must return to public spaces for only in public spaces is taking a stand possible - not because we agree, but because we agree to engage in the hope of coming to agreement.

 

“Live United” is a call to action that calls us forth into public places. Public places where we bestow the position of leadership upon some and require acts of leadership from many.

 

Living united, we are part of the change.

 

Dave Beal is Vice-President for Communication and Advocacy at United Way of Olmsted County.

 

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The Maude Finch Awards - 2009

Sunday, June 28th, 2009

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 ”I desire you would remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors.” So wrote Abigail Adams from her home in Massachusetts on March 13, 1776 to her husband John who was in Philadelphia as a delegate to the Continental Congress, a congress that was debating a declaration of independence from King George.

Mr. Adams and his fellow delegates may not have listened to Mrs. Adams’ plea but, here in Rochester, Minnesota, we have listened.

Maude Finch

Maude Finch

Throughout history, women have made a difference but have not always been remembered.  In fact, in our own local history, Maude Finch, the first recording secretary of the Community Chest of Rochester, the ancestor of the United Way of Olmsted County, made a difference. The minutes record that on December 23, 1925, when the board of directors voted to pay her the sum of $20 for clerical services, Mrs. Finch immediately donated the entire sum back to the Community Chest fund.  Thus, a first very generous donation through payroll deduction.

On June 15, the United Way of Olmsted County Women’s Leadership Council [WLC] honored Maude Finch and the three recipients of the first annual The Maude Finch Award. The award recognizes women for the work they do that helps advance the common good in the areas of education, income, health, or community basics.

weigel1Karel Weigel was recognized for a career of service and achievement throughout the community. 

Throughout her years of community service, she has given her time and talents to advance the common good.  For that service, we thank you and celebrate your accomplishments through this award.

 rwmag1Rochester Women magazine was recognized for the hope, inspiration, encouragement and fun the publication brings to countless women-and men-in our community.

Its work in recognizing women’s accomplishments as family members, business women, artists, workers, friends and all the other roles women take on inspires people throughout the community and advances the common good.

 habitat1Rochester Area Habitat for Humanity  - Women Build was recognized for their dedicated work in building homes for Olmsted County families, building the lives of those who dwell in the homes they build, and building community through their generous spirit and labors.Their work brings hope and stability to the families who are now home owners while it also brings hope and pride to our community.

WLC remembers the ladies.We think Abigail and Maude would be proud. And they would join with us as we say, “Thank you!”

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The Street

Sunday, June 28th, 2009

the-street

  “PREVENTION IS A VIABLE INTERVENTION”
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Douglas

 The issue of “street gang” activity in Rochester has become a hot topic lately! Drive-by shootings, stabbings, large group fights, muggings, burglaries, vandalism, thefts, drug-related crimes, random gunfire and acts of violence, etc., have been on the rise in our area and has catapulted into a multifarious problem!

We now have a community-at-large perplexed with mixed emotions! Do we have meaningful answers to the questions that begin with who, what, when, where and how?

What options have we explored to deal with this emerging problem that is negatively impacting our community? To name a few, I’ve witnessed the formation of neighborhood associations to discuss the issues and provide a watchful eye; Town Hall meetings have been held to raise awareness; school programs have been implemented to prevent bullying; the police department have stepped up patrol; local volunteers have formed a chapter of the Guardian Angels; there has been an increased presence of the Southeast Minnesota Narcotics and Gang Task Force; and we’ve launched an interactive crime website - http://www.rochester911.com/.

When did the pedestrian walkways of our relatively small community become plagued with this “street gang” activity? Who are the offenders? Why do they engage in such criminal activity? Where do they come from? How  do we adequately deal with this crisis?

I think in order for us to effectively tackle the surface issues of what some gang members do (i.e. break the law, sell and use drugs, condemn authority, promote destruction), we need to understand the make-up of the inner being of these troublesome youth groups!

What is going on within the minds and hearts of these street-oriented individuals, who are in opposition to mainstream norms? Why do they adopt & promote the negative aspects of “street gang” culture, instead of endorsing and encouraging the positive attributes of their “ethnic” culture?

Let us keep in the forefront of our humane and rational psyche; we are referring to our youth and young adults who may feel disenfranchised, alienated, neglected or abused!

Community-at-large, my suggested INTERVENTION to help PREVENT this multifarious problem is to have these troubled human beings sit down and allow us to ask the tough questions, as aforementioned! Let them tell us  why they succumb to negative peer pressure, what are their inner values, who are their role models, how do they intend to be productive members of society, when will they look inside themselves and allow their positive self-identity to resonate, and where do they want to see themselves in the future?

Frederick Douglas is a member of the United Way of Olmsted County African-American Leadership Council

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The Garden Path

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

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renesmall

Lafflam

 

It has been my experience that in this journey of life, change is inevitable. It is sometimes huge, what seems like earth shattering at the time, and sometimes so tiny, that you don’t even realize it is happening until you reflect back months or even years later.

 

When I began my current job at RNeighbors the organizations’ mission was to “ensure a great city through programs supporting neighbors in building community and improving neighborhoods.” When my friends and family asked what my new job entailed I replied “building community through neighborhood associations.” I was a little in the dark on what that actually meant. Now in my third year at RNeighbors, I had no idea how I would grow both personally and professionally through the position and the organization would grow organically to truly be a resource to Rochester neighborhoods.

 

Yesterday I had the treat of being given some lettuce picked from my intern’s parent’s garden. It was the perfect start to my dinner last night. That lettuce did not magically appear in the dirt one day. It grew through a organic process, a journey. The ground was cultivated, seeds planted and watered, weeds kept at bay, sun nurtured the plant, and somehow the hungry bunnies were kept away until finally the lettuce was ready to eat.

 

As with the lettuce, RNeighbors has changed and grown through a process, a journey. RNeighbors, the Rochester Neighborhood Resource Center was formed through the leadership of then Mayor Chuck Canfield and the City Council in 2001. As with any new job, taking the reins at RNeighbors seemed daunting and overwhelming to me. There were several board members who were enthusiastic and ready to make some huge changes in the organization including creation of additional programs and plunging into writing several large grants. I felt like I was along for the ride but hadn’t really figured out exactly what my professional role was to “build community” or for that matter, what RNeighbors’ role was in our City. It seemed that first year I couldn’t quite get my feet under me or the organization.

 

My brain does not think strategically in spread sheets, and ironically enough for someone who works in neighborhoods, I’m not skilled at reading maps (I can’t tell you how many times I’ve ended up lost going to neighborhood association meetings). What I have learned along my journey the past three years is that I am skilled at helping people work together for a common cause and thinking creatively at how to bring resources to Rochester neighborhoods. Now I build on my strengths and bring in volunteers who have talents in areas that I am deficient in.

 

Today RNeighbors has strong roots. Each day seems to bring new opportunities to serve our City. Through the journey, partnerships were cultivated with City and County entities. Seeds were planted with other non profits and service groups and working together we’ve both benefited. Weeds, like prohibitive costs have been lessened by community donations of both materials, like paint brushes and monetary sponsorships. Engaged board members and volunteers have poured their time into nurturing projects and programs. And our rabbits, difficult to work with individuals, do get through the fence occasionally but now there are procedures and best practices that lessen their negative impact. The organization’s growing season is certainly not completed. We continue to be challenged by things such as financial droughts and a shortage of time but that’s all part of our path.

 

Each of us must make the decisions that lead us zigzagging through our life journeys. As Rochester continues to expand and change, it is my hope as a community that we can choose to build on and nurture our strengths (such as the amazing volunteers found in our neighborhoods, schools, and organizations), learn from the weed patches like things that didn’t go well, and be an active and engaged part of our community’s growth.

 

Rene Lafflam is Executive Director of RNeighbors in Rochester, MN.

 

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FYI: Adversity Index

Friday, June 12th, 2009

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MSNBC and Moody’s Economy have released an online Adversity Index that measures the economic health of 381 metro areas and all 50 states. 

Each area is identified as being in recession, at risk, recovering or expanding. You can explore changes in the four components of the index: employment, housing starts, housing prices and industrial production, each shown as a percentage change from a year earlier. (The change in housing prices will be updated at the end of the quarter.) 

To reach the index click here:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29976394/

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“Want children to read? Give them books”

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

mom-daughter-blog

“This program is, for lack of a better word, amazing. “

“Plenty of preschool-appropriate books are available at the library, which is wonderful, but we also like the idea that preschoolers have some books they can call their own.

That’s where the Dolly Parton Imagination Library comes in.”

Post-Bulletin 06/09/2009  - read complete editorial here -

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All Means All: Great Education Results Celebrated

Friday, June 5th, 2009

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Statement of community members responding to recent reports of results of the Five Year Plan initiatives - June 5, 2009

Two weeks ago, representatives of a variety of community organizations interested in education gathered for presentations on programs and initiatives included in the district’s Five-Year Plan. These presentations provided the results of the most recent assessments of student progress.

These results are remarkable. Frankly, those of us who heard them that morning were thrilled. We committed ourselves to sharing this good news – this great news – with the community.

While the community has spent much of the year focused on other issues, something else was going on in schools and homes throughout the district. Teachers were teaching. Parents were engaging. Students were learning. Gaps were closing.

The results reported to us on May 22nd demonstrate that, in the first year of its implementation, the district’s Five-Year Plan to close the opportunity gap is indeed succeeding. It is succeeding to the benefit of all students- all students.

Even though there may be questions about our school district, we believe the most important question is: how are our students doing? The answer given in these results is: our students are doing better – in fact, better than we hoped.

Even though there may be questions about any plan implemented to improve education in our district, we believe the most important question is: is the plan working? The answer given in these results is: the plan is working – in fact, it is exceeding our expectations.

The results also begin to provide an answer to that other question with which the community wrestles – can all students improve their performance? The answer to that question is: yes, all students can improve - all means all.

Here are the results we heard that we want to share with the community:

(1) ALL MEANS ALL.
a. Not only is the achievement gap narrowing, the proficiency gap for all students is closing.
b. Registrations for advance placement [AP] classes are up in all three district high schools.

(2) ALL MEANS EVEN MORE THAN WE EXPECTED.
a. The Five Year Plan interventions that provided additional time and support needed for students who have historically underachieved are good for ALL students.
b. Students enrolled in Read 180, Mathletics, and Voyager Math are showing exceptional growth.
c. These results are being seen not only in Tier 1 schools where the Five Year Plan interventions have been initially launched, but also (in the case of Read 180 and Voyager Math) in Tier 2 and 3 schools that have adapted these interventions early based upon the strong research supporting them.

(3) ALL TAKES ALL.
a. These results are not an indication of a school system that was somehow broken and is now getting somehow fixed. On the contrary, these results are possible because a school system that was strong is now getting stronger. These results are built upon a strong educational foundation already in place.
b. ALL that a student experiences in our schools – the complete educational experience that includes excellent instruction and a strong core curriculum – produces these results.
c. ALL of us who care about students are required to help them make these results possible.

In sum, here are what we believe are the important questions for this district and the answers the results are now giving us:allmeansall

• Are students doing better? YES
• Is the Five Year Plan working? YES
• Does all mean all? YES

In closing we would add:

• Do we owe ALL who have taken up the hard work of making our schools stronger our thanks and continued support? YES
• Do we owe ALL students - who do the hard work of learning, who embrace these opportunities to achieve and improve - our admiration, best wishes, and whatever it takes to ensure their continued success? Emphatically, yes, YES, we do.

____________________

The following persons were participants in the discussions that resulted in the statement above (affiliations are included for reference): Dave Beal, United Way of Olmsted County; John Edmonds, Olmsted County; Karen Erlenbusch, United Way of Olmsted County; Patrick Gannon, Child Care Resource and Referral; Jenny Hegland, Winona State University – Rochester; Margo Herman, University of Minnesota Youth Work Institute; Kay Hocker, Diversity Council; Marlene Jehnke, Girl Scouts; Colleen Maddox, Rochester Community and Technical College; Mike Podulke, Olmsted County; Nancy Sears, Reading Center; Sandy Simar, Head Start; Kristine Stensland, Child Care Resource and Referral; George B. Thompson, Community Member; Barbara Zelinske, Reading Center.

This group is grateful for the opportunity to discuss the results reported above with the following representatives of the district: Fred Daly, Board member; Susanne Griffin-Ziebart, Executive Director of School Improvement and Accountability; and Rachel Hicks, Communication Coordinator.

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