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August 26, 2004
Citizens League at the State Fair!
Please join us at the State Fair on Tuesday the 31st from 1:00 - 3:00 at the Minnesota Public Radio booth!
We will be hosting an informal conversation on higher education with a great panel: Vance Opperman, higher education study committee co-chair; Tom Gillaspy, State Demographer; and Sean Kershaw, League President. Lori Sturdevant from the Star Tribune will moderate the discussion.
We encourage audience participation, so please stop by, say hello, and join in the conversation!
Posted by Sean Kershaw at 05:26 AM | TrackBack
Membership and Fundraising
Tuesday the 31st also marks the end of our fiscal year.
It's not too late to make a financial contribution, to join, or to encourage your friends and peers to do the same!
Thanks for all of your support! It has been a great year, and the State Fair is an excellent way to celebrate!
Posted by Sean Kershaw at 05:25 AM | TrackBack
August 23, 2004
Calling All Citizens to Think Big on the Future of Higher Education
This Sunday's editorial page of the Minneapolis Star Tribune featured several articles on the topic of The Future of Higher Education in Minnesota, and focused much attention to the Citizens League's Higher Education Study Committee
To read this Sunday's editorials, please visit the Star Tribune online at http://www.startribune.com/opinion/
Faced with greater needs for learning, limited dollars and better competition, what would you recommend for post-secondary learning in Minnesota?
For example, would you:
* Deny there is a problem (don't fix what isn't broken)?
* Remove limits on tuition increases (pay-as-you-go education)?
* Direct existing state aid to the most productive (low-cost operator) institutions?
* Voucher the student (let the student decide with whatever existing money is available)?
* Make better use of the K-12 years (some argue that existing 11th and 12th grades are wasted and could be better spent on advanced learning--such as shown by Minnesota's success with post-secondary options)?
* Offer students the options of working in health care (as home care aids), education (mentoring kids) and public safety (security scanners) to earn credits and funds towards further education and training (a 21st Century G.I. Bill)?
* Combine the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities into a single system. Eliminate any overlap or duplication, even it it means closing campuses.
* Take resources from classroom education to expand e-learning options (may not save money but would likely provide for more flexibility in learning).
* Extend K-12 education to K-14 education (Wisconsin gets over $500 million annually for its technical schools from property taxes)?
* Dedicate state proceeds from casino gambling to research and development at the University of Minnesota (by one estimate, some $500 million a year could raised from gambling to support the kind of research that has given us the taconite industry, advances in Stem Cell cures for various diseases and the prospect of hydrogen fuel sources to replace our need for oil)?
This menu of options is not complete but it is representative of some of the many ideas that have been given to us. Now we need your suggestions.
Let us know your opinion by filling out our online 'Contact Us' form
Posted by Will Goldstein at 10:49 AM | TrackBack
August 20, 2004
"The Wisdom of Crowds" -- and of citizens
For a fun and accessible late-summer read, check out James Surowiecki's new book The Wisdom of Crowds. It begins with a story about guessing the right weight of an ox at a country fair in England in 1902, and ends with a compelling case for citizenship, reinventing democracy and the need for better public decision-making.
It presents some challenges to a group like the League, and many more opportunities.
...and thanks to David Strom for giving me a copy of the book.
Posted by Sean Kershaw at 05:41 AM | TrackBack
August 18, 2004
Remaining August Broadcasts of June Mind-Opener
For those of you who couldn’t make it, the Mind-Opener on June 23 with State Demographer Tom Gillaspy was entitled, “Stumbling into the Future: Key Demographic Trends and Public Policy,” and it continues to air on St. Paul Neighborhood Network (SPNN) in St. Paul on Channel 19.
Tom gives a very genuine talk about the changes we face followed by some great Q&A with Citizens League members.
Here is the schedule for the rest of August on SPNN:
3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 17
2:00 pm on Wednesday, August 18
7:00 pm on Thursday, August 19
9:00 pm on Friday, August 20
7:00 pm on Saturday, August 21
11:00 am on Sunday, August 22
7:00 pm on Monday, August 23
12:00 pm on Wednesday, August 25
7:00 pm on Thursday, August 26
6:00 pm on Saturday, August 28
11:00 am on Sunday, August 29
For all of you who don’t live in St. Paul, we are distributing tapes to other cable stations throughout the state. Keep checking here for scheduling updates.
Some cable stations require that a citizen of the community they serve submit tapes for airing, so we are looking for residents from Bloomington, Burnsville and Eagan who are willing to submit the tape of the Mind Opener with Tom Gillaspy. Please email bdeboer@citizensleague.net if you are willing.
Posted by Bob DeBoer at 02:44 AM | TrackBack
August 17, 2004
Can the Business Community Be More Effective in Public Policy?
Tim Sheehy, President of the Metro Milwaukee Association of Commerce, will speak to business and community members about organizing to make public policy issues lobbying priorities. Sheehy experienced great success rallying Milwaukee business to make reform of public schools their number one priority and ultimately played a large role winning the battle for increased school choice in the district.
Sheehy will speak at the Minnesota Business Academy on September 21st at 12:00pm. There will be no charge for admission and lunch will be available for a $15 charge. Call for a lunch reservation, 651.293.9044.
Posted by Will Goldstein at 12:07 PM | TrackBack
The 2004 Minnesota Mock Election Day is October 28, 2004
The Citizens League is proud to join the Taxpayers League Foundation and the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits in cosponsoring the Minnesota Mock Election project.
Imagine thousands and thousands of Minnesota kids who when reaching the age of 18 have not only voted in as many as three presidential elections, but have learned to follow the election process from the beginning, are integral to the continued vitality of the republic and have a renewed sense of personal responsibility when it comes to choosing their elected officials.
This is the purpose of the National Student/Parent Mock Election (NSPME) program and the goal of the Minnesota Mock Election Partnership.
Enroll your school today and take part in the nation’s largest voter education project.
For more information, please click here.