Delegates to the Legislators Forum gathered for their seventh annual meeting in Pierre, SD on July 25-27. These legislators from Manitoba, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota, led by a Steering Committee, have met for the last seven consecutive years, since 2001, to discuss public policy issues of mutual concern to the region. The meeting was co-hosted by Steering Committee members, SD Senators Orv Smidt and Gary Hanson.

The Legislators Forum was initially formed to discuss and attempt to arrive at agreements relative to flood-related issues, following the Red River flooding of 1997. They have since broadened their agenda to include such issues as cross-border trade and tourism, animal health and food safety, border security, rural health, climate change, energy, especially renewable energy, and agricultural harmonization.

The focus of this year’s meeting was on energy—enhancing both traditional forms and renewable fuels to provide for a cleaner environment and economic development for the region. The delegates heard from presenters from as far away as Indiana and the District of Columbia relative to energy and the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI).

On energy, they explored and were generally supportive of the efforts of the Powering the Plains (PTP) group to arrive at agreements on an energy roadmap to the future for this region. They agreed that this region of the country has the potential to be a major energy and food supplier to the two countries.

Relative to the WHTI and passport requirements, both at last year’s meeting in St. Paul and at this year’s Pierre meeting, the delegates expressed their concerns about the need for the passport requirement and suggested that it will do little or nothing to enhance border security. They expressed a preference for an easier and less expensive, more effective identification system, more cooperation among US and Canadian officials at the borders, and unique and mutual solutions on this traditionally open border.

The delegates appreciated the opportunity to meet with SD Governor Mike Rounds and have dinner at the Governor’s residence with the Governor and his wife, Jean. And the Governor, too, spoke of the potential of this region to become a major supplier of clean energy, both traditional and renewable, for both countries.

Other issues on their agenda included: drought preparation and mitigation, alternatives to incarceration and an update on the 2 Nations Travel and Tourism Initiative, which the Forum began to sponsor at its first meeting in 2001.

Tentative plans for the eighth annual meeting are to hold the Forum in Bismarck, ND, June 11-13, 2008. Next year’s meeting will be co-hosted by ND Senator Tom Fischer and Representative Ole Aarsvold. To see the full report of the meeting click here (10.4 mb).
Council Assists Catholic Charities North Dakota in Strategic and Succession Planning
 
 

Through a grant from the Otto Bremer Foundation, Catholic Charities North Dakota (CCND) was able to engage in a six-month exercise in strategic and succession planning assisted by the Consensus Council. Executive Director of CCND, Briston Fernandes, contacted the Council early in 2007 to discuss how the process might evolve and how it might involve all staff and members of the Board of Directors. Betty Keegan, Board member for both CCND and the Consensus Council, helped bring the parties together.

The plan was developed in February and called for 3 meetings, which were completed in August. In March, the CCND Board of Directors and Management Staff met to engage in strategic planning. In April, Management and other CCND staff met to engage in the same process. The two documents resulting from those meetings were integrated, and all staff, managers and board members came together to refine and finalize the plan in August.

Based on the agreements reached at the three meetings, participants then agreed on the traits and characteristics they would need to have in leaders and critical, key staff, in particular, but in all staff and board members in order to implement the strategic plan. They, then, agreed upon a process to ensure that succession runs smoothly.

With the number of “baby boomers” scheduled to retire over the next decade, strategic and succession planning will be more necessary than ever. The Council was proud to be a part of the process and wishes CCND success in implementing its new strategic and succession plan.

 



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