Brown Bag Lunch Series -FREE and open to the public
Employment Law Basics
Brian Mathews, Human Resources Consulting, will discuss ten of the most common questions relating to employment law including break time, overtime pay, discrimination, disability and much more.   Supervisors and anyone who wants to ensure they are being treated fairly in the workplace are encouraged to attend. Join us on Wednesday, May 13 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. The full schedule is online.

Natural Resources Consortium Series - FREE and open to the public
Update on New Shore Land Rules
Paul Radomski, MN DNR
The DNR sets minimum standards for shoreland development. Local governments (counties, cities, and towns) are responsible for the implementation, administration, and enforcement of shoreland development standards through their planning and zoning controls. These controls affect resort and shoreland property owners and the use and development of shoreland areas.  Find out what?s new on Monday, May 18 from 3-4:00 p.m. at the Center for Research and Innovation. Click here to view the full schedule.

Business Grammar - Online June 1
Instructor Rick Demers will teach writing skills as well as building confidence, this course will remind the business writer of the most usable 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 June 1 through June 28. Two (2.0) CEU's will be awarded to all learners successfully completing the course. Click here for more information and registration.

Regional Employer Support Network
Crucial Conversations
Presenting is Dr. Jan Guggenheimer, Clinical Director of Counseling/Professor Bemidji State University Crucial Conversations is a workshop designed to provide information, understanding and strategies for the most effective communication in all kinds of relationships and situations.  This workshop will help you understand yourself better regarding style and possible roadblocks for effective and helpful communication, even when dealing with difficult situations. Join us at CRI on Thursday, June 4, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Advance registration is required.

More Online Non-Credit Offerings Coming Soon
Succession Planning
Succession planning is a process of developing talent within the organization to meet needs now and into the future.  As the workforce is facing retirement of baby boomers, it is important to establish and implement a succession plan now.  Instructor Brian Mathews will lead this 4 week course online and cover topics that will enable you to define, prepare and write a succession plan.  Contact the CRI or watch the CRI News for more information soon.  This course will begin this fall. 

News from Northwest Technical College
All courses will be held at NTC unless otherwise noted.Contact Richard Lehmann at Richard.Lehmann@ntcmn.edu for additional information.

Residential Energy Auditor Training
This five-day course provides basic training in how to assess the potential for improving home energy efficiency and comfort. The Residential Energy Auditor program is suited for employees or individuals who are performing or interested in utility sponsored residential energy conservation audits and working with the low-income weatherization program. It also provides the technical skills for building contractors to add a residential energy efficiency line of business. A certification examination of the State of Minnesota's minimum qualifications for residential energy auditors will be included with the cost of registration.

Offered in partnership with Dunwoody College of Technology, Minnesota Department of Commerce, and U.S. Department of Energy. To register please go to http://www.dunwoody.edu/custom/energyaudit.html

Cancelled - Healing Touch Level 1 Course (HLC 1002)
Thursday, May 14, 6pm - 8 pm, Friday, May 15, 8am - 5:30 pm and Saturday, May 16, 8am ? 4 pm
Registration Fee: $300 or $275 (for HTI or AHNA Members)

The Healing Touch Certificate Program is a multi-level course of study in energy-based therapy that moves from beginning to advanced practitioner and is complementary to heath care. The program incorporates a variety of energy-based modalities that are sequenced in Levels 1 through 5, allowing participants to progress from beginner to practitioner.Students receive a certificate of completion at each level.Upon completion of levels 1-5 and additional requirements, students are eligible to apply for certification through Healing Touch International, Inc. Level 6 prepares the individual to become an instructor. Registration form.

Working On Purpose
Saturday, May 16; 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Registration Fee: $145
Where: Northwest Technical College

Approaching retirement and the second half of life is a time when many of us begin to start thinking about reinventing ourselves. Answering the essential question, "What makes me want to get out of bed in the morning"? becomes vital to staying alive as we age and retire. Based on 20 years of research and practice by Richard Leider, author of Something to Live For, "Working on Purpose" is designed for people who want to explore alternatives to the conventional notion of retiring from work. This one-day workshop will provide clarity around life direction, knowledge and tools to help make conscious life choices as well as the motivation and confidence to help you move forward. Instructor Debbie Drinkard Grovum is a member of the Purpose Project Guild and is trained by and affiliated with the Purpose Project, a joint project of the University of Minnesota, Center for Spirituality and Healing and Richard Leider of the Inventure Group. Registration form.

Cancelled - Mapping Your Retirement
Tuesdays, May 12 and May 19; 5:00-8:30 pm
Registration Fee: $99

The division between full-time work and retirement life is no longer as clear as it once was."Mapping Your Retirement" is designed for experienced adults who want to explore how to make the next stage of their lives a time of renewal and fulfillment.Create the retirement you want by exploring the factors that contribute to achieving retirement goals while interacting with others who are on a similar retirement journey. Learn about tools that will help you complete a personalized retirement plan. Instructor Debbie Drinkard Grovum has been a college counselor for more than 30 years and is a Certified Retirement Coach. Registration form.

Boomer Financial Seminar Series
Four, 2-hour sessions
Registration form.
Series held at Northwest Technical College, 905 Grant Ave SE, Bemidji

Managing your finances is a critical component to enjoying a rich and rewarding retirement.The Boomer Financial Seminar Series is an interactive program that includes a speaker presentation and interactive discussion with participants.Content is appropriate for those who took "Mapping Your Retirement" and want additional financial information or for those who have no previous financial planning exposure.Each seminar of the series can be taken individually ($40 each) or register for the entire series ($160).Instructor Gretchen Larson is an attorney who has spent years working with financial and estate planning.She recently moved from Portland, OR to her childhood stomping grounds in Northern Minnesota.She is looking forward to discussions with other Boomers on how to make practical, creative and joyful decisions in planning their retirement years.

Social Security Facts
Tuesday, June 3, 2009; 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Registration Fee: $40
Things to consider before beginning taking benefits
Continuing to work
Medicare facts
What is Medicaid?
Advantages of being a couple
The future of Social Security

Annuities
Tuesday, June 10, 2009; 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Registration Fee: $40
Experts say, "Why Not?"
What is an annuity and how does it work?
Guaranteed income
How much income do you need for retirement?

Retirement, Tax-deferred Accounts
Tuesday, June 17, 2009; 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Registration Fee: $40
How do they work?401k
Roth
Exclusive K
IRA
Managing risk and diversity
Mandatory withdrawals

Financial advantages of Alternative Living Arrangements
Tuesday, June 24, 2009; 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Registration Fee: $40 Planned Community living Time Banks
International living