This radio station can be listened to anywhere where the internet can be accessed, just visit www.URLradio.net. They have been listened to in 49 states and 84 countries! You can even hear past shows as they have podcasts available on their website and podbean.com.

We are featuring owners Nicole Morrison-Mathern and Stacy Sturm at the 10th Annual Strom Conference “Insights 2010” on April 22 at the Days Hotel. We are excited that they will be our keynote luncheon speakers!

Either Julie or Amanda will be on at 9:00am MST on Monday Mornings and a representative from the nonprofit or the featured community will be on Wednesday Evening at 7:30pm. April 5 will be the kick-off show. Be sure to tune in early that day as they are starting at 8:30 MST with Stacy Sturm’s morning show.

What are people saying about the day?

The Strom Center’s Community Field Day was a terrific way to connect some of North Dakota’s greatest community resources and dedicated leaders. Community Field Day offered a multi-dimensional look at issues facing our communities. The shared stories of trials, collaboration and success were both instructional and inspirational. It was great to interact with active leaders who walk the walk. We all know success in our communities is dependent upon the collaboration of the many parts…….and you provided a forum that truly adhered to this concept I’ll be back next year.
Shannon Schweigert
GivingPoint/Giving Magazine– Principal
Fargo, ND

Community Field Day was a fun and educational day. The panel discussions were a smorgasbord of projects and ideas to absorb. Hearing individual testimonies about how each entity approached their challenges and overcame difficulties really gave each of us encouragement and new exuberance towards our own community projects. The enthusiasm for each person’s community or personal project was contagious.
Kathy Miller
North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame –Manager
Medora, ND

Community Field Day was a great venue for sharing and celebrating the stories in our communities. A day of learning from one another, sharing resources and networking. For me, the day reaffirmed the importance of networking and collaborating as rural communities. We heard testimony on a variety of community successes, issues and concerns and through that discussion discovered a continued positive spirit in our communities, who- though often faced with some rather interesting barriers – continue to press on.
I watched in amazement as the Leadership Panel opened the floor for questions, addressed some delicate issues happening in one of our small towns, determined our local leadership was often unprepared for public conflict, and immediately began implementing additional education for RLND participants in conflict management skills! A whole room conversation between panelists, facilitator and attendees. Wow – problem identification – discussion – solution – implementation – all in one morning!!
Ray Ann Kilen
Small Business Development Center–Regional Director
Dickinson, ND

These successful conversations happened because of the panelists and attendees that came to talk about building social capital and community.

Watch for other stories that we were able to capture at Community Field Day!

Amanda Lynn Moser
Community Development Project Coordinator
Strom Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

The Strom Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, with support from Dickinson State University, is hosting a Community Field Day held at the Dickinson State University Student Center on October 20, 2009 from 9:30-4:30 (MST).

This will be a great time to find out what is working in other rural communities and provide the opportunity to network with those interested in community growth.

The key areas that will be highlighted by panel discussions are youth, leadership, entrepreneurship, and charitable giving (or Resources for Development). Each area will have a panel of at least 3 speakers to talk about their project, program, or community.

The day will feature community development success stories from the region including—Dickinson, Medora, Bowman, Williston, Standing Rock Reservation, Killdeer, Bismarck, Stanton, AND others.

If you are interested in being a part of this day, you can set up a booth/display to share information about your community or organization, Please contact Amanda Lynn Moser at amanda.moser@dickinsonstate.edu to request space. 

 Watch for additional info, including early bird registration and a list of panel projects!

Last fall, community representatives recognized how the population is very tied up in their individual work. This has developed a strong base of community assets but hasn’t allowed for building relationships among the population. The HTC Medora committee decided to create an agenda that was strictly for the residents and allowed people to get to know each other on a more personal level. The events are two separate days and will be held at locations that are of interest to the community. Life-changing speaker, Boaz Rauchwerger, will speak at the newly renovated Roughrider Hotel. The second event, the Community Ropes Day will be held at Badlands Ministries, which houses a team building ropes course and has recently moved to a new, beautiful location. The Ropes Day will have residents on the high and low ropes, singing camp songs, and mingling in a way that hasn’t been available before.

The participation in these events demonstrate the commitment Medora has to a sense of community, which will add further to the Medora experience that thousands of people come to see each year.

For more information about this event, contact Amanda.Moser@dickinsonstate.edu

Amanda Lynn Moser
HTC Project Coordinator

Jeanne MacDonald, Amanda Moser, & Kim Hayes

Three Strom Center staff members are now High Ropes Level 1 Certified. Jeanne MacDonald, Amanda Moser, and myself (Kim Hayes) attended the High Ropes Training May 19-21, 2009 which was held at the Badlands Ministries High Ropes Course just South of Medora, North Dakota.

Kim Hayes & Amanda Moser

Throughout our three days of intense training we learned not only how to facilitate but we also learned what it’s like to be a participant. We also learned the safety management and technical skills necessary to lead the High Ropes Program.

The Badlands Ministries High Ropes Course consists of 6 elements/obstacles which are all approximately 30-40 feet above the ground. We participated in all 6 elements of the High Ropes course, including the Dangling Duo, Multivine, Power Pole, & Zip Line. Each element was done with a partner in a specific sequence to build trust and strengthen relationships.

Jeanne MacDonald

We became certified in High Ropes so we can offer these services to any businesses, organizations, or groups who would like to build a better team. Jeanne and I will work closely with our area to take any interested groups through the program, while Amanda plans to use this program to engage the members of the communities her HTC program works with (ie: Bowman, Dickinson, Hettinger, Killdeer, Medora, MHA Nation, & Williston). The goal of taking groups through the High Ropes Course is to develop high performance teams in the workplace through the transition of what is learned on the course.

To sign up for the High Ropes Course or for more information call me, Jeanne, or Amanda at the Strom Center at (701) 483-2756.

Kim Hayes
Talent Initiative Assistant
Strom Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

The Dickinson Community Relations Committee has decided to choose leadership as the focus of their HTC program. The emphasis will be on youth and the YP specifically. HTC and the Dickinson Community Relations Committee have decided to sponsor the tuition of a young professional to attend RLND. By sponsoring, the committee sees the benefit for the community, the YP Network, and the rewards in investing in potential leaders.

The meeting will be from noon to one at the Strom Center. Lunch will be provided by HTC. YP Executive members (Treasurer, Secretary, Recruiter) will also be decided upon at the meeting. For more information, contact Amanda.moser@dickinsonstate.edu.

Amanda Moser, HTC Project Coordinator

Amanda & Lenny

As the house and senate of North Dakota’s legislature meet, it is important to realize how the decisions that they are making impact the future.  Rural North Dakota is waiting for the final decisions that impact multiple issues, such as energy, oil, education, housing, and tourism. Amanda Moser, HTC Project Coordinator, and Lenny Johnson, Marketing Specialist, spent a day at the capitol celebrating Rural Economic Development Day. The day was to share successes with the legislators. The Strom Center’s brag booth contained items on HTC Communities, Dickinson State University, Badlands Activity Center, Dickinson Community Center, High Plains Cultural Center, Bowman County Developments, and more! Booth visitors included local representatives such as Bill Bowman, Shirley Meyer, and Frank Wald. Governor Hoeven stopped to offer support for one of his Centers of Excellence and Wayne Sanstead, Superintendant of Public Instruction, was excited to take one of the “Rockin the Bakken” bumper stickers.

Amanda Moser

Other legislative events are coming up such as the Legislative Showcase featuring all NDUS schools on March 4 and Dickinson State University Night at the Capitol on March 16!

Amanda Lynn Moser, HTC Project Coordinator

Just to name a few:
A collaborative effort hosted by Senator Kent Conrad and Agricultural Commissioner Roger Johnson, Marketplace for Entrepreneurs was held at the Bismarck Civic Center. The need for Marketplace erupted in 1989 because the economy was rough and the state needed a venue to offer support. Now the event showcases the entrepreneurial spirit with workshops, booths, talent, and student involvements. Booths from all over the state exhibited their services, including Katie Mehrer, our Business Challenge Coordinator. Others included the community of Williston, MadCat—modern modular custom cat furniture, Hometown Aditude –a marketing firm working to market products and communities, and CinCity Designs—a car customization company whose entire work staff is under the age of 30.

Dickinson Bull Days, held at Stockmen’s Livestock exchange, celebrated their 10th year anniversary. The Dickinson Chamber hosted the event which identified agricultural entrepreneurs’ product. Consignors from three states—Montana, South Dakota, and North Dakota, displayed their pen of yearling bulls despite the weather and inclement roads. Bulls are displayed in pens and then paraded through the ring highlighting consignors livestock and ranch details. Bull bucks and door prizes were given out to those attending. Bull bucks are dollars that can be used to buy a bull from the consignors that were present at the event. Bismarck will be holding their Bull Showcase this Saturday, January 24, at Farmers’ Livestock Exchange.

Strom Center employees, Sandy Bertelsen, Katie Mehrer, and I traveled to Williston on Monday to speak at Williston’s teachers’ in-service. Along with Maeve MacSteves, WSC Entrepreneurial Program Coordinator, the group talked about entrepreneurial education. Free resources, websites, and opportunities were presented in two presentations, K-8 and 9-12. The presentations were hosted by Williston’s HomeTown Competitiveness.

For any additional information on these events, please contact Amanda Lynn Moser by phone (701-483-2830) or email Amanda.Moser@dickinsonstate.edu .

I find my life is becoming ruled by a three letter acronym as I become more familiar with my role as HomeTown Competitiveness Project Coordinator! When I began this position I was unsure of the HTC logistics and now I’m proud to say that I have met with individuals from each of the 7 communities that are part of the HTC project—Bowman, Hettinger, Williston, Dickinson, Medora, Killdeer, and Fort Berthold Reservation. These meetings have proven to be very beneficial to see what is important to each of these communities and what area they would further like to develop. The HTC concept is built upon simplicity—every community needs leaders, assets, businesses, and youth to sustain itself. However, the execution of figuring out these intangible concepts is the task taken up by concerned members of these communities. I’m excited to see these members collaborating and taking active roles in their town’s success. The ending results are dependent on their imaginations and what the HTC Zone can do for them. More to come…….

Amanda Lynn Moser
HTC Project Coordinator
Strom Center for Entpreneurship and Innovation

Last week, I was able to attend “HomeTown YouthForce: Engaging the Entrepreneurial Generation,” a training session which was put on by the Heartland Center for Leadership Development. Held at the Lied Lodge and Conference Center in Nebraska City, Nebraska, the training kicked off on Monday. Attendees came from all over, including Indiana, Texas, Mississippi, Wyoming, Kansas, and Canada. Not only were great ideas presented by an experienced staff in economic and community development; but, the networking provided real world examples of how communities had further developed their youth in leadership and entrepreneurial roles.

The experiences that were shared included “Entrepreneurs in Action” which allowed youth to develop and explore their own entrepreneurial endeavor while receiving community funding and professional mentoring. An innovative youth leadership development program that was shared was a youth philanthropy group which is able to respond to community needs by allocating funds to various sectors of the community. Youth Entrepreneurial Summit or “YES!” has been able to inspire creative minds in their community and become involved in the community and local business.

The quality of products and youth demonstrate the success of these programs and opportunities.

If you’d like to find out more, including contact names or website links—contact me via phone or email, 701-483-2830 or Amanda.Moser@dickinsonstate.edu.

Amanda Lynn Moser
HTC Project Coordinator
Strom Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation