May, 2006

Volume 4, Issue 5

Build Your Business Through Effective Employee Surveys
Becky Fossand, director of training and leadership development with Johanneson, Inc., Bemidji, will lead a discussion on measuring workplace strengths and provide those attending with a 12-question employee survey. “Through the use of the survey, employers can determine policies and practices that need to be put in place, determine the strengths and weakness of managers and (identify) ways they might be assisted, in order to help their organizations,” said Fossand. The session is scheduled Thursday, May 4 from 9-11am. It is offered FREE of charge and open to anyone who deals with human resources issues in the workplace. Read more about this session. More information about the Regional Employer Support Network (RESN) and schedule of upcoming events are available online.

“Restoration of the Walleye Fisheries in the Red Lakes, Minnesota”
Co-presenters will be Henry Drewes, regional fisheries manager in the Northwest Region for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and Dr. Pat Welle, professor of economics and environmental studies at BSU. Drewes will provide a brief history of the Red Lake walleye fishery, which collapsed from over fishing in the mid-1990s, and review the recovery plan that was developed by the Red Lake Fisheries Technical Committee and implemented in 1999. He will conclude with a summary of how this recovery has progressed and emphasize what actions will be needed to sustain the fishery into the future.

Welle will present the findings of a year-long study on the socio-economics of the Upper Red Lake fishery. He will focus on results obtained from interviewing 250 angling parties on the waters of Upper Red Lake and include economic indicators of the importance of maintaining a sustainable resource. This presentation is scheduled Monday, May 8 from 3-4pm. Read more about this session. The full schedule of upcoming events is online.  These monthly programs are offered FREE and open to the public.

Access OSHA Information Quickly and Easily
“How to Navigate the OSHA Website” will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the CRI on Wednesday, May 17. Presenting will be John M. O’Brien, a senior industrial hygienist with the Duluth office of Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration Workplace Consultation. “Both the Federal and Minnesota OSHA web pages contain a wealth of information that can provide immediate and expert assistance to the safety practitioner, provided they know how to navigate these websites and how best to use the information that’s available,” said O’Brien. “Even those with advanced knowledge in occupational safety and health will gain a better understanding of how to use the OSHA web pages to their advantage.”  Read more information about this session. A $20 fee will be charged to cover the price of materials and lunch. Advance registration is encouraged in order to guarantee lunch and materials by calling the CRI at 218-755-4900; toll free, 1-888-738-3224.

Summer Learning Opportunities
Plans for summer learning 2006 at Bemidji State University are well underway. With more than 500 courses and workshops from which to choose, BSU truly is the Best Summer University. Summer courses at BSU can provide you with a great opportunity to catch up with courses, get ahead in your educational plans or explore new interests.  If you have an employee, friend or someone in your family who could benefit from the BSU summer experience, be sure to tell them about "The Lake. The Learning. The Life."  Also, don't forget about the many online study opportunities offered through BSU.  Course schedules and registration information are available online at http://students.bemidjistate.edu/summer.  Contact the Center for Extended Learning at 218 755 2068 for more information.

News from the Small Business Development Center
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is sponsoring two events: on 'Workplace Productivity and Productivity'.

The events will be held as follows:

Baudette:
Co-Sponsors: NW Small Business Development Center, Local Area Chamber of Commerce and Border Broadcasting Date:             May 9, 2006
Time:             11:30 - 1:30 p.m., lunch will be served at no charge
Place:            Sportsman's Lodge, 3244 Bur Oak Road, Baudette
Keynote Speaker:  Bonnie Schoenfelder, PhD, LeaverVenture, LLC, a presentation will also be made by the NW SBDC
To Register:  RSVP by May 4th - bonny.stechmann@state.mn.us 218-463-2233

Park Rapids:
Co-Sponsors: NW Small Business Development Center, Park Rapids Chamber of Commerce, Park Rapids Enterprise and Northwoods Bank
Date:              May 10, 2006
Time:              11:30 - 1:30 p.m., lunch will be served at no charge
Place:             Northwoods Bank Meeting Room, 1200 E. 1st St (Hwy 34), Park Rapids
Keynote Speaker:  Bonnie Schoenfelder, PhD, LeaverVenture, LLC, a presentation will also be made by the NW SBDC
To Register:   RSVP by May 4th - lezli@parkrapids.com  800-247-0054

'Business Development in Your Community - How does it Happen?' 
The NW Regional Small Business Development Center is planning a series of meetings to be held mid-May to mid-June throughout the northwestern region on the topic of 'Business Development in Your Community - How does it Happen?'  The meetings are open to business owners, lenders and community leaders and community members who are interested in business development.   Events will be held in several communities and will be co-sponsored by the Northwest Minnesota Foundation.  Details are still being planned and will be publicized as soon as possible.  If there are any questions, please contact Susan Hoosier, Director of the Northwest Regional Small Business Development Center at 218-755-2257.

The Center for Research and Innovation along with the NW Minnesota Regional Small Business Development Center provide a full range of business and career services. The Minnesota Small Business Development Center program is funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Minnesota Department of Employee and Economic Development, and sponsoring centers. SBA’s funding is not an endorsement of any products, opinions or services. All SBA funded programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

We want to make the CRI News useful for you and your business success. Let us know what you would like to see on these pages by contacting the CRI You are receiving CRI News from Bemidji State University Center for Research and Innovation. If you wish to unsubscribe from our list, please click unsubscribe and send us an e-mail with the word unsubscribe in the subject line. You can also view this newsletter on our web site at http://www.cri-bsu.org. Contact Bemidji State University’s Center for Research and Innovation 218 755 4900 / 888 738 3224 http://www.cri-bsu.org .

Upon request this document can be made available in alternate formats.  Please contact Center for Research and Innovation at 218 755 4900 / 888 738 3224 for assistance. For TTY communication, contact the Minnesota Relay Service at (612) 297-5353 or 1-800-627-3529 and ask them to contact us at 218 755 4900 / 888 738 3224.