Teachers from both Afton-Lakeland and Highwood Hills are going to be using videoconferencing and other technologies such as podcasting, student blogs and video streaming on their websites to create a collaborative project on the science of water this spring. At the moment, in addition to using videoconferencing, Afton-Lakeland students are using video production tools to connect the senior high school with their own. Eleven sixth-graders, under the supervision of Craig Seath, were invited to videotape the Black History Celebration in the Stillwater Area High School auditorium on February 17th.

Prior to the taping, students were trained on how to use the "professional" cameras by Don Fixmer, a videographer from the Valley Access Cable Television station. Students rotated throughout the day using digital still cameras, digital video cameras, the professional "live" cameras and laptop computers. They conducted interviews with several other students, Nary Vang (a former Afton-Lakeland student and performer at the Celebration) and with members of the dance group Collective. The students had a lot of fun and are very thankful for the expertise of Don Fixmer, the cable station and the special opportunity to capture the Black History Celebration performance.

With curiosity, amazement and an energetic attitude as their fuel, the students at Afton-Lakeland Elementary, other Stillwater Area Public Schools, and other schools from around the nation and the world, will continue, under the guidance of their teachers, to make the connecting of schools, students, media, ideas and opportunities the way of the future in education.

On Jan. 25, 2007, a luncheon awards ceremony, held at the Doubletree Park Place Hotel in St. Louis Park, Minnesota., honored winners of the 2007 Minnesota Work-Life Champions™ Awards. More than 25 Minnesota employers were recognized by the statewide awards program for implementing programs and practices that create flexible and supportive workplaces. The event was attended by over 175 Minnesota business leaders and professionals and included a keynote address by Chuck Feltz, President and COO of Lifetouch National School Studios, who spoke about leadership and culture within organizations.

Dave Brookman of Deloitte & Touche accepts an Innovative Initiative Award from Ron James, President and CEO of the Center for Ethical Business Cultures, and Kathy Kacher, President of Career/Life Alliance Services, Inc. (From L to R: Kathy Kacher, Dave Brookman, Ron James)

October 9th, 2006

This week, I was fortunate to join Steve Clark, the Walking and Bicycling Program Manager at Transit for Livable Communities, during his day-long visit to Northfield to share his professional expertise.

Bruce Anderson, the executive director of RENew Northfield, and I met Steve downtown. He had traveled from St. Paul on his motorcycle, and when we met him he had already seen some of our city. We sat down for a brief talk, looking at some maps and discussing some of the issues facing nonmotorized transportation in the Northfield area. We then got on our bikes and toured part of town. Charley Skinner had loaned us his dual recumbent bicycle for the tour, so Bruce and Steve were able to sit side by side and talk.

Read on at: http://northfield.org/node/2170

October 2004

Helping the Families of Heroes

IN THE THREE YEARS SINCE THE TERRORIST attacks of September 11, 2001, the surviving wives and children of firefighters who died in the collapse of the Twin Towers have had to deal with agonizing trauma and grief. They've also had to deal with sudden financial crises as well as torrents of money pouring in from governmental agencies and the public.

To help the 9/11 families, the New York City Fire Department worked with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) to develop a program called "Time to Take Control of Your Finances." Creating the content and teaching the monthly seminars since early 2002 -- all at their own expense and without any intention of profiting from the effort -- have been three Merrill Lynch brokers: Mark Youngs, 46; Rick Cullen, 56; and Bill Shields, 47.

How did these three Merrill brokers based in Annapolis, Md., come to help the families of New York's Bravest? Through a client connection.

One of Youngs' clients is Ron Siarnicki, executive director of the NFFF, which is headquartered in Emmitsburg, Md. Congress created the non-profit organization in 1992 to honor firefighters killed in the line of duty and to assist their families in re-building their lives.

Read more: Mark Youngs and Merrill Lynch after 9/11