Meeting in Grand Rapids this Friday
Hi all, this is my standard "don't forget, there's a meeting coming up" post. Especially aimed at you Urban Users in Duluth. The Task Force is going on the road this summer and this is our first meeting outside the Twin Cities. There's a lot of stuff happening. The Blandin Broadband gang is organizing a series of events the afternoon and evening before our meeting (that would be tomorrow, Thursday) and then on Friday the results of those events will lead off our agenda.
Here's scoop on the Blandin stuff;
Greetings,
The Minnesota Ultra High-Speed Broadband Task Force will be meeting in Grand Rapids on Friday, June 19. What do you want the Task Force to know about our community and region?
To prepare for their visit, the Blandin Foundation and the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission invite you to attend:
Broadband in Rural Minnesota: Critical Issues for Consideration
Thursday, June 18
3 - 5 pm, Sawmill Inn, Grand RapidsDuring this free seminar, we will explore some important questions for our region including:
- What is broadband?
- Why do we want broadband?
- Where are we now?
- Where do we want to go?
- How do we get there?
The seminar will include regional panelists, and time for participants to organize their regional voice for the Task Force meeting the following day. Please RSVP to broadband@blandinfoundation.org if you'll be participating in this important conversation.
There will be two opportunties to interact with Task Force members:
Thursday, June 18, 7 pm - Informal "Meet and Greet" reception at the Sawmill Inn. Please RSVP to broadband@blandinfoundation.org if you'd like to attend the reception.
Friday, June 19, 8 am - Task Force Meeting at the Sawmill Inn. Community Coffee from 8 - 9 am, followed by prepared statements from Fred Bobich, Bob Fenwick, and me. 10 am will be an open mic period for any and all residents to address the Task Force. We'll use time during the seminar to prep for the open mic opportunity.
I hope you will be able to join us.
With best regards,
Bernadine Joselyn, Director
Public Policy & Engagement
Blandin Foundation
And here's the press release about the Task Force meeting;
For Immediate Release
Contact: Rick King, Chairman
(651) 848-7819
Jack Geller, Task Force Member
(507) 381-0720Minnesota Ultra High-Speed Broadband Task Force to Meet
June 19 in Grand RapidsGrand Rapids, MN – The Task Force charged with examining Minnesota’s broadband future is
traveling to selected rural communities this summer; their first stop is on June 19th in Grand
Rapids. The Task Force, which was established by the Minnesota State Legislature in 2008, will
meet at the Sawmill Inn from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is open to the public.Interested citizens are particularly encouraged to attend the morning session starting at 8 a.m. for
coffee and rolls with the Task Force members, who were appointed by Governor Pawlenty.
There will also be an open public comment period at 9:15 a.m., where any member of the public
can share their views on broadband deployment and use with the Task Force.At 9:45 a.m. there will be formal testimony presented to the Task Force members from a regional
panel comprised of:
- Bernadine Joselyn, Director of Public Policy, Blandin Foundation
- Fred Bobich, Ruttger’s Sugar Lake Lodge
- Bob Fenwick, Commissioner, Arrowhead Regional Development Commission
The mission of the Minnesota Ultra High-Speed Broadband Task Force is to make
recommendations to the Governor and Legislature regarding the creation of a statewide high-
speed Internet access goal, and a plan for implementation by 2015.
The 26 Task Force members represent urban and rural constituencies, business and home
Internet users, and public and private sector organizations. The Task Force meets monthly to
examine the multiplicity of issues involved and to draft goals and recommendations in
preparation for their November 1, 2009, final report. For more information about the task force
visit the website at: http://www.ultra-high-speed-mn.org
Some come on down and join in the conversation!
