Schedule Updates from RESN
The advisors for the Regional Employer Support Network (RESN) have decided to change the training and networking to better meet the needs of the participants.  Effective for 2009, in-depth sessions will be offered quarterly.  This will allow more information to be shared on current topics for professionals who deal with human resources issues at work.  Watch the CRI News for topics, speakers and registration forms.

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: The Basics of a New Position: Job Analysis to Hiring - Online
Ms. Lyndi Odegard will be leading learners through topics including; reward systems, performance management, and retention from a strategic perspective. Whether you need to create a new position or fill an existing one, this course will help you analyze your businesses needs and walk you through the entire process.  Throughout the course you will develop a job description, improve your job application, create an ad posting the position, walk through the interview process-creating job appropriate interview questions and strategies to evaluate applications, and finally, you will learn about recruiting and hiring. This course is offered online beginning January 12. Follow the links to see additional information and the registration form.

FREE Information on Going "Green"
Erika Bailey-Johnson, Sustainability Coordinator at Bemidji State University, will present "Go Green: Your Business's Impact on the Environment" at CRI on Wednesday, January 14 from 12 to 1 pm.  Join us to learn more about what to do to "Go Green" for little to no investment. The full schedule of brown bag luncheon series are online. Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Additional information

Developing Forms with Adobe Acrobat - Online Course
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.

Lock out / Tag out Information Session January 21
Bill Berndt from MNOSHA Workplace Safety Consultation will present information on lock out / tag out on Wednesday, January 21 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at the CRI.  Lock out/Tag out refers to specific practices and procedures to safeguard employees from the startup of machinery and equipment. Make sure you are following all standards to keep your team members safe.  Advance registration is required to guarantee lunch and materials.  The full safety schedule is online.

Natural Resources Consortium Presents Information on Large Lake Survey
Presenting will be Tony Kennedy, the large lake specialist for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. This natural resources presentation will be held Monday, January 26 from 3 to 4 pm.  This free information and discussion session will be held at the CRI, 3801 Bemidji Avenue North, Suite 4.  The full schedule is 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, 2009.  Click here for more information or registration. CEU's are available upon completion.

"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, 2009.  More information and registration are online.  CEU's are available upon completion.

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 run February 9, registration is required.

Business Grammar Course - Online course
This course is predicated on the belief that the predominant difference between the competent writer and those with less competence is confidence.  Along with building confidence, this course will remind the business writer of the most useable business punctuation and the most common errors in business writing; it will introduce them to a formula for understanding sentence construction, make them aware of proof reading tips and strategies, and instruct them on the most common word usage errors. This is a non-credit course offering running February 9 through March 15, 2009.  Two (2.0) CEU's will be awarded to all learners successfully completing the course.  More information and registration is online.

Fundraising for Non-Profits
There never seems to be enough money for non-profit institutions.  Many find themselves stretched to the limits or find it difficult to meet unforeseen expenditures.  This course offers alternatives to selling products in order to raise funds.  Helpful strategies as well as specific events and other vehicles for fundraising will be shared with the participants.  Join Dr. Charles Alberti present some unique fundraising ideas for implementation.  Dr. Alberti was president of the Kansas chapter for the National Society of Fundraising Executives where he became certified with the designation of NSFRE.  He served on the National board of this organization and co-authored a book on special events fundraising.  The course will be offered Friday, March 20 from 9 am to 3 pm at the Center for Research and Innovation.  Registration form is online. This course will award .6 CEU's upon completion. Click here to learn more.

Time Management
This program will focus on personal time management skills that are essential for effective people to function.  Individuals who use the techniques offered in this program will profit by becoming high achievers in all types of workplaces, in fields such as education, business or public service.  The techniques presented will help the participants take control of their workload at work as well as at home and will reduce the stress associated with being busy, but not productive.  This course will be lead by Dr. Charles Alberti who taught workshops on Time Management for several years at Bemidji State University in Minnesota and other institution in Illinois.  Join us Friday, March 27 from 9 am to 3 pm at CRI.  Registration is online.  This course will award .6 CEU's upon completion.

The Center for Research and Innovation will be closed January 19, 2009 in observance of Martin Luther King.