Tornado Anniversary Celebration Tonight

The Southside Survivors in partnership with the City of Dickinson will be hosting a celebration to thank the volunteers and businesses for all of the help received following the July 8th, 2009 tornado. The Southside Survivors Appreciation Picnic will be held tonight, July 8th, 2010 at the Eagles Park.

The schedule of events is as follows:
• 5:20pm – Presentations by Governor Hoeven, Adjutant General Sprynczynatyk, State Forrester Kotchman, and City of Dickinson Mayor Mr. Dennis Johnson.
• 6:00pm – Ceremonial Tree Planting
• 6:15pm – Meal Service Begins
• 7:45pm – “Pass the Mic”
• 8:07pm – Balloon Release
• 8:15pm – 10:30pm – Music provided by Stagecoach Jukebox

A “Remembrance Shelter” will be available to view before and after pictures of the tornado, sign a Thank You card for Volunteers, and a donation box will be available to defray expenses of the event.

If you would like to provide damage and recovery pictures please contact Terry Johnson at 701-225-3288 or mail to 1151 13th street West, Dickinson ND 58601. For general information please contact Shawn Kessel at 701-456-7744. To volunteer to clean up after the event contact James Kramer at 456-2074.

Tax deductible contributions can be made to Arts on the Prairie (memo: “Tornado”), 615 West Broadway, Dickinson ND 58601 or dropped off at the Music Mart in the Prairie Hills Mall.

All contributions will be used to pay the expenses to hold this celebration. Any donated money left over will go to the Dickinson Urban Forestry Committee, Stark County Red Cross, and/or the United Way of Dickinson.

Hoeven Announces Funding for DSU’s Stoxen Library

DICKINSON, N.D. – Gov. John Hoeven today announced that Dickinson State University (DSU) will receive $8.8 million in state dollars to fund the Stoxen Library renovation and construction project. Hoeven made the announcement at a news conference in Dickinson, along with DSU President Richard McCallum, North Dakota University System Chancellor Bill Goetz and Dickinson Mayor Dennis Johnson.

“We are pleased to announce today that the funding criteria established by the 2009 Legislature have been met and Dickinson State University will receive $8.8 million to fund the renovation and construction of Stoxen Library,” said Hoeven. “This library is a valuable resource for the university and the community, and with this renovation, will continue to enrich future generations of students and citizens.”

The funding was appropriated by the 2009 Legislature in Senate Bill 2003 contingent upon the state general fund exceeding its expected revenue projections by $25 million between July 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009. The legislation stated that actual general fund revenues for that period had to exceed estimated general fund revenues by at least $25 million, based on the legislative estimates made at the close of the 2009 legislative session. General fund revenue collections exceeded projections by $33.7 million, meeting the criteria established in the legislation.

“We are very pleased this project has been funded,” said Goetz. “Dickinson State University is vitally important to western North Dakota, and it’s an integral part of our statewide system of higher education. The addition to Stoxen Library will address the critical library resource needs for students well into the future. Upon completion, Stoxen Library will provide the very latest in technology and resources vital to DSU and the region.”

When completed, the proposed space will include additional computer stations and labs; quiet study areas; an expanded Academic Success Center, which provides tutoring, instruction of English as a Second Language and a writing center; space for the Office of Extended Learning, which offers online and distance education; and the Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership Program. Incorporating these components in the new library space will help Stoxen Library fulfill its vision as a hub of intellectual inquiry and its goal of providing an inviting environment for scholarly inquiry and for social and cultural activities.

The expanded library also will provide a new home for the Theodore Roosevelt Center Virtual Library and allow space for special collections and exhibits pertaining to Theodore Roosevelt and western North Dakota.

“This new library addition is a dream come true for us,” said McCallum. “Our library is the cornerstone that supports our academic programs. This addition will enhance our ability to perform our mission and achieve our vision for the future. This new space will expand our library facilities, enhance the educational experience of our students and improve our academic support facilities. Moreover, we are pleased this addition will provide a new home for our Theodore Roosevelt Center.”

Hoeven to make announcement

Governor John Hoeven will be making an announcement regarding Dickinson State University’s (DSU) Stoxen Library tomorrow (January 13, 2010) morning at 10 am. The announcement will take place in the Stoxen Library on the DSU campus.

Following the announcement, refreshments will be served and the Governor, as well as other dignitaries, will be available for conversation.

Joining Hoeven will be DSU President Richard McCallum, North Dakota University System Chancellor Bill Goetz and Dickinson Mayor Dennis Johnson.

Kim Goldsmith
Web & Social Media Manager

Dickinson Mayor, Dennis Johnson, speaks at Community Field Day

Community Field Day Successes!

We held Community Field Day on October 20, 2009 at Dickinson State University Campus. The day consisted of 4 panels—leadership, resources for development, entrepreneurship, and youth. These topics opened doors for communicating and networking on issues that relate to sustaining strategies for communities. To kick off our day, we had Mayor Dennis Johnson share his insight into strengthening communities. We were able to track him down later for a copy of his speech:

COMMUNITY FIELD DAY WELCOME

October 20, 2009

It is my pleasure to welcome you to Dickinson and Community Field Day. The staff of the Strom Center has put together an exciting and informative program for your benefit. Today we should hear about ideas and strategies that can lead to more prosperous communities.

This morning I would like to share with you three paradigms that influence my actions and policies as Mayor as we try to create a more prosperous and dynamic Dickinson community.

• Economic development happens where people want to live.
  • Quality of place paradigm.
• Economic development for rural communities is largely dependent upon local entrepreneurs.
• Leadership matters.

Communities compete with other communities for people based upon quality of place factors.

• Highly skilled people
  • Hospital Administrator said the impact on the hospital by a good
    general surgeon was $3 million per year.
  • Need to recruit Skilled energy workers and professionals
  • Recruit Skilled Diesel mechanics (Butler Machinery)
• People who have the ability to create their own jobs and jobs for others.

Highly skilled people and people who have the ability to create their own jobs and jobs for others can choose to live anywhere. As community leaders you want those people to want to live in your community and choose your community. Remember, economic development happens where people want to live.

Dickinson has concentrated on improving its quality of place. Some of our city’s major efforts to enhance quality of place are;

• West River Community Center
  • Northern Great Plains in door recreation makes sense. We can’t
    change the weather.
• Public Library renovation and addition
• Public golf course irrigation system
• Dickinson State University Building Projects (attract and retain
  quality students)
  • Student Union renovation and addition
  • Murphy Hall, science classroom renovation and addition
  • Future Library addition and renovation
• Badland’s Activity Center

Dickinson State University draws young people to our community. Many of them stay in the community. They are the highly skilled people and entrepreneurs of the future. Dickinson State is competing with other institutions for students and faculty. Dickinson State along with the community needs to be viewed as having a high quality of place.

Tell Marathon story (Spring 2006 at the time the 4th largest U.S. oil & gas company)

• Leased 200,000 acres and planning to drill 300 wells
• Establish an office in Williston, Minot, or Dickinson
• 40 to 50 employees plus contractors
• Chose Dickinson because this is where their people would want to live. (Quality of Place)

Entrepreneurship is essential to developing and growing small rural economies.

• Very difficult for rural communities to compete with larger urban communities in business recruitment. Small rural communities don’t have the economic development financial resources that larger communities have.
• In rural communities business recruitment isn’t going to create the quantity of quality jobs needed to have a dynamic and prosperous community. Local entrepreneurs are the best opportunity for job creation.
• Rural communities have to focus on attracting, retaining, developing, and improving their entrepreneurs. Communities compete for people who can create their own jobs and jobs for others. People with that talent can choose to live anywhere. It is essential that entrepreneurs want to live in your community and choose to live in your community.
• Stark County Development and area businesses are supporting the Strom Center because we want to foster an environment that continues to develop and encourage entrepreneurs.
• Entrepreneurs not only create jobs but they are a source of community leadership and charitable giving.
  • Private Funding for WRRC, BAC, and Library came largely from local entrepreneurs and businesses.Entrepreneurs generally have good leadership skills. It is important to fill community leadership positions with individuals who have the appropriate leadership skills because leadership matters.

Leadership matters.

• Vision: articulate what your community will become.
  • Be the 5th largest city and the best city in North Dakota.
• Inspiration: ability to inspire people to buy into the vision.
• Energy: the capacity to work hard to achieve the vision.
• Character: credibility so people will follow.
• Key community leadership positions (require quality leaders)
  • Community elected positions
  • DSU President
  • Hospital CEO
  • Superintendent of Public Schools
  • City Administrator
  • Director of Parks & Recreation

My advice for creating dynamic and prosperous rural communities is focus on;

• Quality of place
• Entrepreneurship
• Leadership

Again, welcome to Dickinson and Community Field Day. I hope you have a great conference. Enjoy the day.

To read about Mayor Johnson’s background, go the City of Dickinson WEBSITE!

We appreciate his input and time, this added to the success of Community Field Day! Watch for future information about the panels from Community Field Day!