Past Events - Invasive Species Workshop

2009 Northern MN Safety Conference

March 31, 2009

      The conference, ran from 7:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 31 at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Bemidji, was designed for business owners, managers, or safety coordinators who are looking to improve and enhance their knowledge of today's leading safety issues.   A registration fee of $75 covered the one-day program while a fee of $40 was assessed to individuals who attended only morning or afternoon sessions.   

       The program featured a morning keynote address on leadership and the safety team by Carolyn Garcia of the Indian Health Service.  Bemidji resident Vince Beyl  presented the luncheon program where he related a personal distracted driving story where use of a cell phone resulted in a serious car accident. 

      Also on the agenda a morning breakout sessions on a variety of topics, including: 

• Drug and alcohol testing, Robin Turner, Global Safety Network;

   

• Implementing a plan and training staff for emergency preparedness, Dr. Steve Dwine, Minnesota Department of Health;

   

• Safety and accident analysis, Jan Fedora of the Minnesota Safety Council;

   

• Driving and back safety, Dr. Lyle Erickson, Chiropractic Sport and Spinal Rehab of Bemidji;

   

• Developing a safety culture, Fedora;

   

• OSHA overview and update, Dave Ferkul of MNOSHA Public Sector Workplace Consultation; and

   

• Office ergonomics, Joe Kapaun and Jeff Breyen, Peak Performance of Bemidji.

      Afternoon breakout topics included: 

• Tips on how to prevent and control workers compensation claims, Carol Brotsky, Minnesota Department of Transportation;

   

• A plan on how to train employees, Myron Selzler of North Central Door, and Nate Ellingson of the Tri-Valley Opportunity Council in Crookston; and

   

• Aerial lifts, Tom Goeltz, Hays Companies of Minnesota.

   

         Groups helping support and organize the Northern Minnesota Safety Council and the Northern Minnesota Safety Conference include North Central Door Company, Tri-Valley, Shooting Star Casino, Polaris, Beltrami County and City of Bemidji. The council sponsors a monthly safety presentation that is also open to the public.

Landscapes Lost:  Unraveling Invasibility

February 19, 2009

Why: Invasive species pose complex challenges in both terrestrial and aquatic environments.  Recent developments in ecological theory and applied resource management provide opportunities to slow the spread of invaders and to minimize adverse ecological impacts.  Understanding causes and consequences of invasions at a landscape level increases the effectiveness of management and control efforts.

Who:This workshop is designed for natural resources professionals and others interested in the ecology and management of invasive species in terrestrial and aquatic environments.  It is co-sponsored by the Bemidji area Natural Resources Continuing Education Consortium and Bemidji State University's Center for Research and Innovation. Continuing education credits are available at no additional cost.

What: Morning presentations will be devoted to providing common background on invasion biology, regionally important terrestrial and aquatic invaders, and decision making strategies.  In the afternoon, five facilitated working groups will explore and share approaches and experiences related to particular aspects of invasive species management.  Due to an emphasis on workgroup participation, enrollment will be limited to the first 120 applicants.  Cost for the one-day workshop including lunch and program materials will be $115.

Speaker Presentations:

Davis

Solarz

Welling

Minnesota Invasive Species Discussion Group

Participant List:

Invasives Workshop Participant Contact Info