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December, 2008Volume 6, Issue 12 Archive

CRI News

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Regional Employer Support Network Presents "Generational Differences"
Debbie Drinkard Grovum will present this program, December 4 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.  Currently a licensed college counselor and a distance credentialed counselor with Northwest Technical College, Grovum will discuss topics such as characteristics of each generation, issues and situations influenced by generational differences and strategies for working effectively in a multi-generational workplace. People who will benefit will be anyone who works in a multi-generational workplace.  It will be especially beneficial for managers. The full schedule is online. 

So You Want to Start Your Own Business
This session will cover the basic steps to starting a business in Minnesota and will focus on feasibility, business plan basics, legal requirements, and understanding financial aspects of financing a business. December 4 - Bemidji (Center for Research & Innovation: 3801 Bemidji Ave N) Fee: $40.00 saugustine@bemidjistate.edu or (218)755-4255

FREE Information on Grant Writing
Mr. Nate Dorr, a regional analyst with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, will outline essential elements of the grant writing process during a Brown Bag Lunch program December 10, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. "Grant writing is basically the ability to apply financial skills, evaluation skills, statistics, persuasive writing and technical writing to a project, and being somewhat passionate about the organization you are working for." Individuals responsible for the grant process within area organizations would benefit from the session, as would employees of businesses that partner with nonprofits in seeking grant resources. More information and the full schedule of brown bag luncheon series are online.

Natural Resources Consortium Presents "Health of State Bird in Minnesota"
Presenting will be Katie Haws, the nongame wildlife specialist in the Northwest Region of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. This natural resources presentation will discuss one of the favorite birds in Minnesota's lake country when she presents a December 15 program on the common loon, at 3 p.m. Haws plans to outline interesting facts about loon biology and describe the results of a 15-year study that focuses on detecting trends in loon occupancy and productivity throughout the state. This free information and discussion session will be held at the CRI, 3801 Bemidji Avenue North, Suite 4.  More information and the full schedule is online. 

Grant Writing Course Offered Online
Students in this course will have a grant application completed, a template for writing future grants, experience gathering supportive documentation, and knowledge of the grant making universe.   This course will be offered online and runs January 12 through February 20.  Instruction will be provided by Mr. Nathan Dorr.  Nate holds a Master's degree in Public Policy from the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute.  He is currently employed as an analyst with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Additional information and registration are online.

Human Resource Management: Performance Appraisals, Coaching & Termination
Ms. Lyndi Odegard will be leading learners through topics including; reward systems, performance management, and retention from a strategic perspective. The course will teach business managers how to retain good employees and coach for improved performance through the use of an employee performance management system. This course will discuss the importance of improving and correcting employee performance, as well as what to know when discipline and termination becomes necessary. This course is offered online beginning January 12. Follow the links to see additional information and the registration form.  

Developing Forms with Adobe Acrobat
In this course facilitated by Brandon Odegard, you will learn how to convert your existing business documents into Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files then manipulate, merge, arrange, share, review, and protect the files using Adobe Acrobat. In the process of learning how to create dynamic, interactive PDF forms, you'll also discover many little known, but invaluable tools that Acrobat Professional has to offer. No prior experience with Adobe Acrobat is required. Odegard holds a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Information Systems from Florida Gulf Coast University. This course is being offered online beginning January 19, additional information and registration can be found online.

"Quickbooks" Training Offered Online
In this two week on-line course for business professionals, you will learn how your business or non-profit entity can use QuickBooks to its fullest potential.   A few features and highlights from the on-line course include:

  • Setting up a new  company and the chart of accounts,
  • How to assure your company establishes proper internal accounting controls, password protection, and data backup procedures.
  • Accepting credit card receipts within QuickBooks
  • Important setup options
  • Paying bills online
  • Importing credit card details into QuickBooks via the web rather than inputting them manually
  • Managing reporting periods with in QuickBooks - the number one source of trouble
  • Report Writing - QuickBooks actually has some of the best report writing capabilities of all computerized accounting software

This course is scheduled January 26 through February 22, 2009Click here for more information or registration.

"What's New Word 2007?" Offered Online
This one-week course is designed to assist users of previous versions of Word become comfortable and efficient using Word 2007. The course focuses on the program's new user interface. The purpose of the course is to help the experienced Microsoft Word PC user transition quickly to Word 2007.  The primary emphasis will be on the user interface but there will also be tips regarding some of the new functions available.  This course is designed for people familiar with a previous version of Word who wish to quickly migrate to Word 2007, with a minimum learning curve. This course is scheduled to be offered January 26 - February 1, 2009More information and registration are online. 

Project Management - Online course
Instructor Mr. Mike Wellcome covers the fundamentals of Project Management (PM).  In this course, the students will gain an understanding of the PM framework, develop a project charter and craft a project management plan using student provided projects approved by the instructor. This is a project based applied learning course.  Students are STRONGLY encouraged to use existing or planned projects at their place of work. This is a non-credit course. Three (3.0) Continuing Educations Units (CEU) will be awarded to students completing ALL requirements outlined in the course syllabus, which can be seen here.  This course is slated to begin February 9, registration is required.

Opportunities at Northwest Technical College
The following courses will be offered soon at Northwest Technical College, Bemidji.  Contact Sue Ludwig at 218 333 6656 or
sue.ludwig@ntcmn.edu for more information

MINNESOTA COMMERCIAL VEHICLE INSPECTION RE-CERTIFICATION CLASS
Keith Williamson, NTC
This mandatory course is designed to provide re-certification for commercial and/or self-truck inspectors already in Commercial Vehicle Inspection.  Individuals whose certification has expired must complete this re-certification course to renew within six months of expiration date.  Participants are required to bring their current certification number and business address with them to class.

STEAM PLANT ENGINEERING (Low & High Pressure)
Bob Goggleye, NTC
This 36-hour course is designed to prepare the boiler operator or those preparing for employment as a boiler operator to take either the Minnesota Low Pressure (C Level) or Minnesota High Pressure (Levels A & B) Boiler Exam for the following classes:    special engineer, 2nd class engineer, 1st class engineer, or chief engineer.  The contents include the following:  Low pressure - valves, steam traps, pumps, flame safeguards, burners, safety valves, boiler room safety, and hot water boilers.   High pressure - condensers, steam engines, mathematical formulas, boiler room safety, and hot water boilers.

CPR Healthcare Provider Refresher - AHA (4 hours)
NTC Faculty
This course will meet the requirements for re-certification for anyone who holds a current American Heart Association CPR Healthcare Provider certification.  After completion of this course participants will be able to:  identify the heart disease process, importance of prudent heart living and risk factors; recognize new and/or revised standards for basic life support; practice body substance isolation techniques; understand the use of automatic external defibrillation; demonstrate the skills required to provide basic emergency cardiac care; demonstrate their knowledge of basic life support by the successful completion of a written examination.

EMT - B REFRESHER (28 hours)
Faylene Wetterlund, NTC
This course reviews all emergency medical care techniques and material currently considered being necessary to "refresh" the skills of the EMT-Basic provider.  The standards and curriculum used in this course are consistent with, or exceed the Emergency Medical Technician ? Basic Refresher course ? National Standard Curriculum as published by the US Department of Transportation.    Pre-requisite for this course is current Healthcare Provider CPR certification or its equivalent.  We will need a photocopy of the cards at the beginning of class.

The Center for Research and Innovation will be closed December 25 in observance of Christmas.  Happy Holidays from the entire team at the Center for Research and Innovation.

 

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