Sunday, August 31, 2008

Saturday, August 30, 2008

North Dakota Petroleum News


North Dakota Petroleum News

Welcome and Thanks to New Petroleum Council Members – Red Rock Transportation, Howard Parson, Forward Communication, Sundance Energy, SWCA Environmental Consultants, and Construction Engineers.

North Dakota Oil Activity Continues to Surge – North Dakota’s oil boom continues to expand with 84 drilling rigs operating, and oil production exceeding 166,000 barrels per day and growing fast. The state’s producing well count has grown to 4,026, up from 3,880 at the beginning of the year.

Oil Tax Collection Nearly $400 Million in Fiscal Year 2008 – In fiscal year 2008, the oil industry paid $397.4 million to the state of North Dakota in the form of production and extraction taxes. Gross production tax accounted for $209.4 million of this amount, while oil extraction tax accounted for the remaining $188 million. In fiscal year 2007, North Dakota collected $251.7 million, surpassing the $68.4 million collected in 2003.

Kringstad Named ND Pipeline Authority Director – The North Dakota Industrial Commission (NDIC) named Justin J. Kringstad as director of the North Dakota Pipeline Authority on August 1. A Bismarck native, Kringstad graduated from the University of North Dakota in 2007 with a degree in geological engineering. He has previously worked for the Department of Mineral Resources and the Energy and Environmental Research Center. Kringstad will meet with agencies and companies to identify areas where the Pipeline Authority can help further develop infrastructure. He will also develop a web site that provides current information on pipeline activities throughout the state and will update white papers that have been presented during the past year.

September Annual Meeting – We are expecting a big crowd for the Annual Meeting September 16–18 in Bismarck. The room block at the Radisson Inn is full. We have another room block at the Ramkota Inn that will be held until September 12. Call 701-258-7700 and ask for the Petroleum Council block of rooms. Registrations are coming in fast as well and the golf tournament is filling quickly. Register now to ensure your spot. We thank all of the sponsors who make this event possible. We look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting in Bismarck. For registration, sponsorship, agenda, and other information, see http://www.ndoil.org/content/view/104/103/.

Extra Meeting Regarding Oil Development on Tribal Lands Planned for September 18 – In response to questions from members, the Petroleum Council is hosting a special informational meeting regarding oil and gas development on the Three Affiliated Tribes Indian Reservation following the Annual Meeting on September 18 from 2:00–4:30 p.m. at the Radisson Inn. Speakers will include tribal, state, and federal government officials who will provide information relating to oil activities on the reservation. The meeting agenda will be available soon at http://www.ndoil.org/content/view/104/103/.

IOGCC Seeks Environment Stewardship Nominations – The Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) is seeking nominations for the 2008 Chairman’s Stewardship Awards to honor outstanding environment stewards of the oil and natural gas industry. Nominations will be accepted in four different categories: Major Company, Independent Company, Energy Education, and Environmental Partnership. The winners will receive their award during IOGCC’s Annual Meeting in Santa Fe, NM, November 17, 2008. For more information, log on to www.iogcc.state.ok.us, or contact Tiffany Batdorf at 405.525.3556, ext. 114. Nominations must be completed and received by September 1, 2008.
Improved Job Search Under Findjobsnd.com – Job Service North Dakota (JSND) has officially launched North Dakota’s enhanced career web site, featuring more than 14,000 available jobs and more than 10,000 resumes of potential job candidates. The new web site enhances the previous site with features including Job Spidering, a powerful workforce technology that retrieves job postings from other web sites.

Workforce Strategies - The Petroleum Council, and several member companies, are participating in an Empower Committee Workforce Recruitment Task Force to develop specific recommendations on how the state can improve efforts to help train, recruit, promote, and place workers in North Dakota’s energy industry.

North Dakota Workforce Recruitment Event to be Held in Denver - The North Dakota Department of Commerce encourages businesses with immediate job openings to participate in the upcoming Experience North Dakota event in Denver on November 15 at the Renaissance Denver. Businesses that participate have an interactive and informational exhibit/booth at the event. Businesses will also have the opportunity to meet with potential employees, conduct on-site interviews and will receive an electronic list of attendees. In addition, businesses registering by October 1 will be featured in pre-event materials reaching more than 15,000 people and will be recognized at the event and in the event program materials. Experience North Dakota is a combination job fair and open house to recruit workers back to North Dakota. The event will feature job, housing, and education opportunities within the state, as well as arts, entertainment and food with North Dakota roots. For more information and to register for the event, go to www.ndcommerce.com/experiencend.

Pipeline Initiative Failed – An initiative petition effort to regulate the placement of oil pipelines did not make the required deadline for submission of signatures in order to qualify for the November ballot. Already approved for the ballot is a proposed constitutional amendment that would establish a new trust fund for oil tax revenues, which was approved for the ballot by the Legislature in 2007. The Secretary of State is currently verifying a petition that would reduce North Dakota’s individual and corporate income tax rates. On a related pipeline note, the Dakota Resource Council, Dakota Rural Action, and the Natural Resources Defense Council have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. State Department over the Keystone oil pipeline project in eastern North Dakota. The lawsuit accuses the State Department of not fully investigating the risks from the pipeline and its effects on rural communities.

Three Affiliated Tribes Regulatory Agreement Signed – Governor John Hoeven and tribal officials signed the final oil and gas regulatory agreement on August 8. This historic Agreement provides for a streamlining of the Tribal and State tax systems into one system administered by the State. Earlier this summer, the oil and gas tax agreement was signed by the parties which provided for the establishment of a uniform taxation system for oil and gas production within the exterior boundaries of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation.

Wilderness Initiative Proposed – A coalition of environmental groups is proposing that 62,300 acres of Dakota Prairie Grasslands in western North Dakota be protected as federal Wilderness. Oil and gas development would be prohibited in these areas. The North Dakota Wilderness Coalition includes the Badlands Conservation Alliance, the Sierra Club, and the Wilderness Society. The proposal would require congressional approval under the 1964 Wilderness Act and would leave the acreage open to cattle grazing by ranchers who have federal permits.



For more information on any of these issues or to be removed from the mailing list, contact the North Dakota Petroleum Council at (701) 223-6380, ndpc@ndoil.org, or see www.ndoil.org

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Friday, August 29 -- Snipping Tool





Microsoft Tool for you as a Leading North Dakota Legislator...........

Provided by Mary Janusz from the North Dakota Legislative Council

Use the Snipping Tool in Vista to Capture Images of your Computer Screen and Manipulate the Images



How to get to the Snipping Tool - Start – All Programs – Accessories – Snipping Tool



Sometimes, verbally conveying your thoughts may not be as effective as using a picture. Windows Vista provides a screen-capture tool the Snipping tool, which you can use to capture an image of any part of the desktop or any program that is open.



Snipping Tool



The Snipping tool allows you to capture the screen or window of an active application. This tool provides four types of snipping options:





1. Free-form Snip. Draw an irregular line, such as a circle or a triangle, around an object.

2. Rectangular Snip. Draw a precise line by dragging the cursor around an object to form a rectangle.

3. Window Snip. Select a window, such as a browser window or dialog box, that you want to capture.

4. Full-screen Snip. Captures the entire screen when you select this type of snip.

The captured image is then displayed in a preview window in which you can annotate, share, and save the image.

Snipping Tool Options



Application Provides options for hiding the instruction text, copying snips to the clipboard, adding URLs below the snips (for files saved as HTML), prompting to save snips, displaying Snipping tool button on the Quick Launch toolbar, and enabling or disabling screen overlay.

Selection Provides options to enable to disable the selection ink color from appearing on the captured image.

Selection Ink Color When you select the area to be captured, a border appears around the selection area. You can choose the ink color of this border.

Screen Overlay When you capture a snip, a faded white screen appears until you select the region that you want to capture.



How to Use the Snipping Tool

Procedure Reference: Capture Images Using the Snipping Tool

1. Make sure the item you want to capture is visible on your computer screen.

2. Choose Start – All Programs – Accessories – Snipping Tool

3. In the Snipping Tool window, from the New drop-down list, select the desired option to capture the image.

4. If you need to change the screen appearance or the snip type before you capture the screen, click Cancel to cancel the snip, adjust the screen appearance, and select a different snipping type from the New drop-down list.

5. Drag or click to select the desired portion of the screen that you want to capture.

6. If desired, annotate the image.

· From the Pen drop-down list, select the desired pen color to use to highlight or mark a particular region.

· Click the Highlighter button and highlight the desired portion of the image.

· If necessary, click the Eraser button and erase the desired highlighting.

7. If desired, use your Outlook email client to share the snips via email.

· From the File menu, select Send To and select the E-mail Recipient or E-mail Recipient (As Attachment) option.

8. Save the snip.

a. Open the Save As dialog box.

· Choose File – Save As

· Or, click the Save Snip button.

b. If desired, navigate to a different file location.

c. In the File Name text box, type the desired name.

d. From the Save As Type drop-down list, select the desired file type and click Save.



Mary Janusz

The Agenda from Wednesday's Information Technology Interim Committee Meeting in Bismarck, North Dakota...........................

NORTH DAKOTA LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
Tentative Agenda
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Harvest Room, State Capitol
Bismarck, North Dakota
9:00 a.m. Call to order
Roll call
Consideration of the minutes of the June 5, 2008, meeting
LEGISLATIVE APPLICATIONS REPLACEMENT SYSTEM COMPUTER PROJECT
9:05 a.m. Presentation by a representative of the Legislative Council regarding the status of the
legislative applications replacement system computer project
REPORT FROM THE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER
9:10 a.m. Presentations by Ms. Lisa Feldner, Chief Information Officer, Information Technology
Department, and representatives of the Information Technology Department of:
• A report on the recommendations of the State Information Technology Advisory
Committee regarding major software projects for consideration, pursuant to North
Dakota Century Code Section 54-59-02.1
• A report on the Statewide Longitudinal Data System Committee's plan for a
longitudinal data system, including the status of the Department of Public
Instruction's efforts to submit a proposal for a federal grant to assist with the
implementation of a statewide longitudinal data system
• Information regarding best practices in information technology contracts
• Recommended information technology statutory changes
HIGHER EDUCATION INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVES
11:00 a.m. Presentation by a representative of the North Dakota University System regarding:
• The most recent quarterly summary status report on large information technology
projects
• Information technology-related budget requests for the 2009-11 biennium
• A status report on the Northern Tier Network project
11:30 a.m. Luncheon recess - Travel to St. Alexius Medical Center, 900 East Broadway Avenue,
Bismarck
OTHER BUSINESS
12:30 p.m. Presentation by representatives of the North Dakota Health Information Technology
Steering Committee regarding the committee's activities, including a demonstration of
the St. Alexius Medical Center electronic medical records system
1:30 p.m. Recess - Return to Harvest Room, State Capitol, Bismarck
HIGHER EDUCATION INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVES
1:45 p.m. Presentation by a representative of Dickinson State University regarding the university's
Theodore Roosevelt Center, including information on the digitization program with the
Library of Congress and related information technology needs
2:00 p.m. Comments by Ms. Feldner regarding Dickinson State University's information
technology needs relating to the university's Theodore Roosevelt Center
2
INFORMATION SYSTEM AUDIT
2:15 p.m. Presentation by a representative of the State Auditor's office of the Information
Technology Department information system audit (December 31, 2007)
LARGE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROJECT REPORTING
2:25 p.m. Presentation by a representative of the Information Technology Department regarding
the most recent quarterly summary status report on large information technology
projects, including any department concerns regarding information technology projects
2:35 p.m. Presentation by a representative of the Department of Human Services regarding:
• The status of the Medicaid management information system replacement project
• A project startup report for the department's electronic benefits transfer project
• A project closeout report for the department's Medicaid enterprise management and
administrative reporting system project
• The department's Child Support Enforcement Division awards
3:05 p.m. Presentation by a representative of the Secretary of State's office regarding:
• The agency's plan for a new system for the agency's central indexing system
functions
• A project closeout report for the agency's central voter file project
3:20 p.m. Presentation by a representative of the Office of Management and Budget of a project
startup report for the agency's absence management project
3:30 p.m. Presentation by a representative of the Information Technology Department of a project
startup report for the department's Criminal Justice Information Sharing Initiative portal
project
3:40 p.m. Presentation by a representative of the State Department of Health of a project startup
report for the department's disease surveillance management system project
3:50 p.m. Presentation by a representative of the Attorney General's office of a project closeout
report for the agency's automated fingerprint identification system upgrade
OTHER BUSINESS
4:00 p.m. Committee discussion and staff directives, including discussion on any recommended
information technology statutory changes
4:30 p.m. Adjourn
Committee Members
Senators Larry J. Robinson (Chairman), Randel Christmann, Richard Marcellais, Tom Seymour, Rich
Wardner
Representatives Craig Headland, Keith Kempenich, David Monson, Kenton Onstad, Mark S. Owens,
Robin Weisz
Chief Information Officer Lisa Feldner

Senator Tom Seymour

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Plains Art Museum in Fargo -- August 28, 2008

http://www.minotstateu.edu/




Early MSU enrollment numbers in ’08 are as expected
As expected, attendance for the first day of classes at Minot State University is closely following the trend of declining enrollment in public high schools throughout North Dakota. Despite not seeing as many potential students from within the state’s borders, there remain many bright spots in enrollment based on the unofficial results. [ Read More ]

Other News:
20K awarded by Xcel Energy Foundation for recycling project
Big hand and welcome for MSU freshmen
Summer 2008 edition of Connections released
Let's TaLK study-abroad scholarship
» View news archive & submit news





Plains Art Museum in Fargo -- August 28, 2008

L.I.V.E. 2008
Friday, Sept. 12, 8 pm - Midnight
L.I.V.E. (Listening Integrated Visual Experience) is an annual celebration of electronic music and new art media. Come and experience the sights and sounds, enjoy a beverage, and bring your curiosity.

FREE! All ages event. Cash bar available for 21 and older. $3 donations encouraged.

Thursday, Sept. 11, 6:30 - 7:30 pm
L.I.V.E. LECTURE - HENRY GWIAZDA PRESENTS . . . Henry Gwiazda, renowned local new media artist, musician, and professor of music, presents a snapshot of art being created around the world by artists using technology as their medium and often as their tool for exhibiting their work. FREE!

Friday, Sept. 12, 6 - 8 pm
CIRCUIT BENDING WITH BEATRIX* JAR
Circuit bending gives recycled toys a new life as unique new musical instruments. A direct result of experimentation and play, circuit bending requires very little technical know-how to get started, giving everyone the opportunity to experience making electronic music, young or old.

Youth (12+) and Adult. $22 nonmembers / $20 members
Note: Participants must provide battery powered sound toys and extra batteries for bending. Sign up here.
MUSICIANS:
BEATRIX* JAR (Minneapolis, MN)
THE PUSH (Minneapolis, MN)
KENDALL STATION (Minneapolis, MN)
TURBODAZE (Sioux Falls, SD)
LAVA-PROOF BOOTS (Fargo, ND)

VISUAL ARTISTS:
HENRY GWIAZDA
BRENT BRANIFF
PAUL SOBCZAK
NATE BOOTH


Click here to view event page


Studio Crawl Preview
August 7, 2008 - October 5, 2008

©Dale Cook Preview the work of more than 40 artists who will showcase their work at 36 studios during the FM Visual Artists Studio Crawl October 4 and 5.

Studio Crawl maps are available at Plains Art Museum, 704 1st Av. N., at www.fmva.us, at area businesses and from the participating artists.

Click here to read more

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Wednesday -- August 27 --- Senator Seymour Blog

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Wednesday -- August 27 --- Senator Seymour Blog

No one is ever prepared for disaster. A year ago, an F-4 tornado ravaged the community of Northwood, N.D., causing upward of $30 million in damage and destroying the school. Since that time, the people of Northwood do what North Dakotans do best - they banded together and picked up the pieces.

Whether it is the next hailstorm, tornado or flood, disaster is something North Dakota has learned to face head-on. That is why I am proposing the creation of a statewide disaster fund - to protect our neighbors when the unexpected happens. Such a fund would provide resources to aid North Dakotans and their communities when disaster strikes. Many states have a disaster fund, including South Dakota and Minnesota.

Further, as insurance commissioner, I will make sure that our office is on the ground after a disaster, to assist consumers in working with their insurance providers. We'll stay as long as it takes.

The basic idea behind insurance is that when we all face the risk together, every single one if us is better off than we otherwise would be. This is a deeply held value in North Dakota: that when times get tough, we will be there for each other and pull together. And that should be a guiding principle of the insurance commissioner: that together, we'll build an even stronger North Dakota.

- Jasper Schneider


NEWS from the North Dakota Department of Human Services

600 E Boulevard Ave, Bismarck ND 58505-0250



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 26, 2008



Contacts: JoAnne Hoesel, Director, Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, 701-328-8920; or Heather Steffl, Public Information Officer, 701-328-4933



ND receives $350,000 to enforce underage drinking laws



BISMARCK, N.D. – The federal Department of Justice has awarded the North Dakota Department of Human Services $350,000 through the Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws Block Grant Program. The annual federal grant helps states address youth alcohol access issues through prevention, education, and enforcement efforts.



“This grant is an important part of statewide prevention efforts. It helps us support communities and parents in their efforts to prevent underage drinking and keep our youth safe,” said Carol K. Olson, Executive Director of the North Dakota Department of Human Services.



Olson said the grant award is similar to the amount received last year. In the past, funds have been provided to the North Dakota Highway Patrol and local law enforcement to pay for overtime hours related to party patrols, off-sale activities, and other underage drinking enforcement efforts. In addition, funds have supported the underage drinking prevention media campaigns spearheaded by the Office of the First Lady. The department has also used funds to co-sponsor with the Department of Public Instruction the Roughrider Prevention Conference, which brings educators and community members together to impact underage drinking locally.



JoAnne Hoesel, the director of the department’s Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, said that this latest grant funding will also be used to help support several new initiatives. These include a newly created North Dakota Youth Advisory Council, which gives young people a voice in identifying ways to reduce underage drinking among peers, and a public awareness campaign, which is being developed with the Attorney General’s Office to educate people about the consequences of hosting or enabling underage drinking. The department is also exploring using funding to provide earlier intervention services for juveniles following a first or second offense for alcohol possession and consumption.



For information about substance abuse prevention efforts, please contact the N.D. Department of Human Services’ Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services at 701-328-8920.

# # #

Monday, August 25, 2008

Oil in North Dakota -- August 26, 2008


Oil in North Dakota ----August 26, 2008

Oil boom is changing the landscape and finances of North Dakota
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/2619313/Oil-boom-is-changing-the-landscape-and-finances-of-North-Dakota.html

Oil prices have to fall much further yet before they take off the shine from the black gold rush in America's least visited state.
By Philip Sherwell in Killdeer, North DakotaLast Updated: 2:45PM BST 25 Aug 2008

Thanks to oil, Dakota is one of just three states with a budget in the black Photo: AFP/GETTY
Ted Kupper does not look like a man on the fast-track to millionaire status. The rancher still wears his favourite old baseball cap, pulled down low over his craggy sun-weathered features and grey walrus moustache, as checks on the horses he is rearing for the rodeo season.
Later, in the Buckskin Saloon in the tiny farming settlement of Killdeer, he chats with friends about hay prices, what a bull fetched at auction and the poor rains - staple bar talk on the rolling prairies of western North Dakota.
Mr Kupper, 55, and his wife Dawn, 46, long lived hand-to-mouth raising livestock on land first settled early last century by his grandfather, an ethnic German immigrant from Russia. But the dark days of debt and juggling bills are a thing of the past for the Kuppers. For like hundreds - and soon thousands - of other families in this remote and sparsely-populated region, America's newest Black Gold Rush is making them millionaires.
Thanks to oil, America's least-visited state is one of just three with a budget in the black - a surplus of $1 billion for its 635,000 residents.
And with its three bars, two motels, car dealership, pharmacy and post office, Killdeer is an implausible boom town.
"No Vacancy" signs hang permanently outside the motels; the bars are packed; fencing companies, welders, transport firms and truck drivers have more work than they can handle; and young people who would previously have been forced to move away from the economically-depressed region for work are now finding well-paid jobs.
Although oil prices have fallen back from the dizzying heights of nearly $150 a barrel earlier this summer, they are still making the owners of underground mineral rights here wealthy beyond their wildest dreams. "For the first time in my life, I'm not in debt. That's a godsend for folks like us," said Mr Kupper.
His ranch sits two miles above the 365 million-year-old Bakken shale formation that holds the largest contiguous onshore oil deposit ever surveyed in North America - a sticky black "sea" of up to 4.3 billion recoverable barrels stretching across 25,000 square miles.
The complicated geology meant that it was not viable to extract the oil until spiralling commodity prices and major advances in horizontal drilling technology combined during 2006. The first royalty payments started to roll in last year and some amazed beneficiaries even contacted the oil companies as they presumed their cheques had too many noughts.
Oil prices currently stand around $115 a barrel, well above the $60 cut-off below which the viability of Bakken extraction would come into question. And there are few complaints about roller-coasting prices from the Kuppers.
"I feel very blessed," said Mrs Kupper. "I am just happy that it means our children are going to have an easier time than we did and that they will be able to do what they want to in life.
Her husband added: "The country, the scenery, the life, the people - everything we want is here. Now we can afford to live here too."
Ostentatious displays of consumption are anathema to the reserved population of mainly north European and Scandinavian descent.
But Mrs Kupper does concede: "We haven't had a vacation since our wedding at the national rodeo finals in Las Vegas 23 years ago." she added. "It would be nice to go away together although I went to Fargo recently and couldn't wait to come home."
Mrs Kupper was referring to the state's largest city, considered a bustling metropolis with its population of about 100,000, although to outsiders it is best known as the title of the Oscar-winning 1996 movie that made the region's slow sing-song accent famous.
Her husband, whose impressive cowboy belt buckle testifies to his champion rodeo rope-steering skills, admits that the prospect of travel holds little appeal to him. But he does say that it will be nice to be able to go fishing with live bait.
It is a measure of the frenzy gripping this rural backwater that there are now some 77 exploratory rigs drilling in North Dakota - each worth $6 million and costing $75,000 a day to operate - and 4,000 wells already pumping oil.
The rhythmically nodding pump jacks - known as grasshoppers or horses' heads by locals - dot a rolling pastoral landscape Sioux tribes and buffalo herds once roamed. They are now pins in the map of the new oil rich.
Excitement reached fever pitch in April when the US Geological Survey released a new estimate that there were between three and 4.3 billion barrels of recoverable oil in the Bakken. That was a 25-fold increase on the agency's previous 1995 estimate of 151 million barrels.
The field was first discovered in the 1950s but as the oil was soaked into the rock in an extremely thin layer across a huge area traditional vertical driller operations were of little value.
But oil companies recently developed the technology to drill down 10,000 ft and then out horizontally for the same distance in just a month. The shelf of shale is then flooded with a million gallons of water and sand to fracture the rock and free paths for the crude to flow for extraction.
On the Kuppers' land, three pumps run by oil giant Marathon are already extracting high-grade "sweet crude" and two more are due to come on line soon. The company confidently predicts that the wells will pump for the next 25 years.
A few miles away, inside the courthouse in the sleepy county town of Manning, "landmen" - specialists in the often arcane art of tracking down mineral rights - sift through fading paper records to see who has the claim to what lies beneath the surrounding prairies.
"The Bakken Formation is a great example of the ability of the oil and gas industry to use new technology to recover oil from formations deep below the earth's surface that previously was impossible to produce," said Ron Ness, president of the North Dakota petroleum council.
"All this oil activity has generated tremendous economic growth for our state. The oil industry anticipates over 12,000 new workers will be needed in North Dakota over the next four years to get the job done."
Indeed, the state's unofficial motto has long been 'Forty below keeps the riff-raff out', a reference to the bitter winters of the Upper Mid-West. But it is little wonder that a new slogan is now jostling for space on the bumpers pick-up trucks that are the preferred mode of transport in this part of the world. 'Rockin' the Bakken' it proclaims proudly.
Senator Tom Seymour

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Graduate Job Corps Program Begins on Monday, August 25, 2008 at Minot State Univeristy


Men's Basketball Team Wins Olympic Gold
Dr. Lori Willoughby's Graduate Job Corps Program (JCEMP) Begins on Monday, August 25, 2008 at Minot State University in Minot, North Dakota..........................
JCEMP Welcome
August 24, 2008
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm -- Picnic Beaver Dam

Attendees: JCEMP students, Dr. Linrud, Dr. Ross, Dr. Willoughby, JCEMP Assist.
JCEMP Orientation – Day One
August 25, 2008
8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Attendees: JCEMP Students, Dr. Fuller, Dr. Rabe, Mr. Dorn, Mr. Semrau, Dr. Linrud, Dr. Nordquist, Dr. Davidson, Dr. Cresap, Dr. Warmoth, Ms. Horvath, Dr. Tom Seymour, Dr. Gary Ross, Mrs. Patti Fedje

8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Breakfast
Welcome Dr. Willoughby
Westlie Room
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Welcome
President Dr. David Fuller
VPAA Dr. Gary Rabe
VP Finance Mr. Ron Dorn
VP Advancement Mr. Marv Semrau
VP Student Affairs Dr. Dick Jenkins
Graduate School Dr. Linda Cresap, Dean
CEL Dr. Kris Warmoth, Dean
College of Business Dr. JoAnn Linrud, Dean
College of Arts & Science Dr. Conrad Davidson, Dean
College of Ed. & HP Dr. Neil Nordquist, Dean
IT Central Ms. Cathy Horvath, Director
COB Department Chairs Ms. Fedje, Dr. Seymour, Dr. Ross

Westlie Room
9:30 – 9:45
Break
Faculty and Administrators Excused
9:45 – 10:30 a.m.
Introduction to MSU Graduate School
and MSM Program
Graduate School Dean Dr. Linda Cresap
JCEMP Director Dr. Lori Willoughby
Westlie Room
10:30 – 11:00 a.m.
IT Central
IT Central Ms. Cathy Horvath,
Mr. George Withus
Westlie Room
11:00 – 11:45
Photos Leon Perzinski
Photo Center,
Student Union
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch JCEMP Students
MSM Faculty, MSIS Faculty,
CoB Dean, CoB Chairs
Westlie Room
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Online Orientation Sherie Saltveit, Mark Timbrook
Main 316
2:45 -- 3:15 p.m.
Campus Tour Enrollment Services

3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Face time with JCEMP Faculty

Old Main 308
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Dinner
Words of Wisdom JCEMP Alumni (Mennem, Hamm, Potter)
Quentin Burdick Job Corps
Fisher Room

JCEMP Orientation – Day Two
August 26, 2007
8:30 a.m. – 9:00 p. m.

Attendees: JCEMP Students, Dr. W.

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Drive to Knife River Indian Village via Garrison Dam

Pick up in front of International Inn
10:00 a.m. – 11:15
Tour Knife River Indian Village

11:30 – 12:00 p.m.
Lunch РCaf̩ Dumond, Stanton


12:00 – 12:30 p.m.
Drive to Washburn


12:30 – 2:00 p.m.
Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center
Fort Mandan

2:00 – 2:45 p.m.
Drive to Fort Lincoln, Bismarck

3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Tour Fort Lincoln

5:30 --
Dinner, Cracker Barrel

6:45 p. m.
Leave for Minot
Return to International Inn

JCEMP Orientation Day Three
August 22, 2007
8:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Attendees: JCEMP Students, Dr. W.

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Breakfast
Review of Monday’s Session Q & A

Fisher Room
9:30
Break

9:45 a.m. – 11:30
Library Tour
Patty Hunt

Gordon B. Olson Library
11:45 – 12:45
Lunch

Fisher Room
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Face time with JCEMP Faculty

Old Main 308
2:30
Break

2:45 – 3:30
Technology Session
SharePoint, Adobe Connection
Main 314
3:30
Break

3:45 – 4:30
Disburse textbooks, calculators, etc.

Main 402
5:00 – 7:00
Picnic

Dr. Tom Seymour

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Dr. Tom Seymour, August 24 - Minot - North Dakota





Professor Seymour, August 24 - Minot - North Dakota


Tom's application for Graduate Faculty status has been approved by the Graduate Council. The appointment is good for three years; and will be renewed on April 1, 2002.


As a Minot State University faculty member with a terminal degree and specific expertise, you are approved to teach graduate courses, serve on student's graduate committees and chair students' graduate committees. Dean --- Linda Cresap, PhD


Bethany Luthern Church and breakfast at International Inn ......


John Gerard and I talked about legislators signing up for http://www.facebook.com/-- to get more feedback from their respective constiuents......in North Dakota...... Especially North Dakota students who have been very active with ------- http://www.facebook.com/


John also felt this site was a good one -- http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/


https://www.linkedin.com/ was also discussed as a people connection site....................
Dr. Tom Seymour, Chair
Businesss Information Technology Department

Friday, August 22, 2008

Saturday, August 23, 2008 -- Registration at Minot State University



Saturday, August 23 -----Minot, North Dakota


Hot Political Polling Site --- http://www.zogby.com/


New Book by John Zodby --- The Way We'll BE at Barnes and Noble


Orientation at Minot State University ---- Student Center for Online Registration



Tom Seymour, PhD

Chair, Business and Information Technology Department

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Friday -- August 22, at Minot State University 324 Main Building


Business Information Technology Department Meeting, College of Business, at Minot State University in 324 Main Conference Room .......................................


9:30am ----- Mark Lyman special facilator for 17 Minutes

Agenda
Business Information Technology Department Meeting
Friday – August 22 – Room 324 Main – 9:30/11:30am

1. Summer activity Introductions by each member
2. COB and Department Goals – “Recruitment and Retention”
3. Two student recruitment and retention ideas – John Girard
4. Review of Fall Class Enrollments – Sharon Reynolds
5. Review of COB / BIT Assessment Status – Julie Eklund
6. Campus and Faculty Senate Visions – Kristi Berg
7. Business Education and Tech Day Update – Jan Repnow
8. Graduate Program / JCEMP / Other Updates – Lori Willoughby
9. Team Publishing Ideas and Funding Acquisition – Mehdi Tehrani
10. Report on Advisory Meeting and North Dakota Contacts – Deanna Klein
11. Departmental Acquisition Procedures – Deanna Head
12. Volunteers for High School Recruitment Committee – Tom Seymour
13. Future Meeting Dates – email Deanna Head your preferences
14. Extended Learning – WIMBA – and Updates – Betty Vang

Complimentary Lunch at Applebee’s 11:30am on Friday, August 22
RSVP for lunch to Deanna Head – deanna.head@minotstateu.edu


Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Thursday, August 21 at Minot State University and Minot


Video of Rep. Jasper Schneider Press Conference -- http://www.kxmc.com/getArticle.asp?ArticleId=266339

Video of Opening Fall Semester Session at Minot State University.............
http://www.kmot.com/News_video.asp?news=21536

Sessions at Minot State University on Thursday .......

Informative mini-sessions scheduled Aug. 21
Convocation activities continue Aug. 21, with a morning of informative mini-sessions. The presentations are being held in Main 106 and the Conference Center; coffee and breakfast snacks will be served in the hallway outside of the sessions, 8-8:30 a.m.
The presentations are "Campus Connection Upgrade," by Registrar Jennifer Sick, and "Rethinking What It Means to Be a Beaver: Opening the Dam for the 21st Century Learner," by faculty members Eric Anderson, Kristi Berg, Conrad Davidson, Andrea Donovan, Jane la Plante, Cheryl Nilsen and Deb Olson. The concurrent sessions are at 8:30-9:50 a.m. and 10-11:30 am.
Due to recent upgrades and significant changes to PeopleSoft, all faculty are required to attend either the 8:30 or 10 a.m. session of "Campus Connection Upgrade."
The "Rethinking What It Means to Be a Beaver: Opening the Dam for the 21st Century Learner" presentation is a compilation of information gathered at the Association of American Colleges and Universities 2008 Institute on General Education, which was held May 30 to June 4. This annual institute is an opportunity for campus teams to work together with consultants on reforming their general education programs.
A complete schedule grid has been provided to all employees via campus mail. Employees are encouraged to attend as many sessions as possible.

Senator Dorgan Meeting in Fargo and Other IT Information


Nominations sought for IT Awards:
ITCND is seeking nominations for its 2008 IT Awards. The nomination deadline is Friday, Sept. 5.

Nominations are sought in the following categories:
· Outstanding Achievement in Business recognizing businesses with a primary focus of developing and providing IT business solutions
· Innovative Business User of Technology recognizing businesses that, through the use of innovative technology, have demonstrated they are on the cutting-edge of providing products or services in today’s competitive markets
· Entrepreneur Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding entrepreneurial success in the development of a technology-based commercial business that has its origins and is currently a North Dakota business
· Outstanding Achievement in Education recognizes an individual associated with a North Dakota educational institution or program who has demonstrated excellence in the promotion and/or use of technology in the academic realm
· Outstanding Achievement in Digital Government recognizes individuals or teams who have demonstrated foresight, innovation and implementation of programs or services that provide information technology to serve and connect with the public on the state or local level
· Legislative Award recognizes a North Dakota legislator who is a champion of bringing technology to the citizens of North Dakota

The 2008 winners will be recognized during the IT Awards Program Oct. 14 in Fargo. Nomination forms are available at https://webmail.state.nd.us/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.itcnd.org/.

For more information, contact Annika Nelson, ITCND assistant executive director, at 701-355-4458 or office@itcnd.org.
Mark your calendar!:
Mark your calendar for the 2008 IT Awards Program and ITCND Annual Meeting to be held on Tuesday, Oct. 14, in Fargo.

This will follow the Red River Research Corridor Summit, Milestones & Horizons, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Byron Dorgan, on Oct. 13 at the Ramada Plaza Suites and ConferenceCenter in Fargo.

Watch for more information on both events at https://webmail.state.nd.us/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.itcnd.org/ in the near future.
Interviews to begin on assessment:
As part of the development phase of the IT Career Awareness Program, ITCND is working with Praxis Strategy Group on an updated IT Workforce Needs Assessment. A number of ITCND members will be contacted for in-person interviews within the next several weeks. Your cooperation would be greatly appreciated and is vital to the completeness and accuracy of this assessment.

The assessment will document specific industry challenges, quantify current and projected workforce and skill requirements, identify the workforce replacement rate needed to support the industry, determine employer workforce training and education needs, and conduct an occupational task analysis on key occupations identified by the industry.

The project will culminate in the development of a strategic framework for meeting North Dakota’s IT workforce needs for the next three to five years. Using the data combined from a variety of sources, the strategic framework will include issues and recommended actions that could be undertaken to meet North Dakota’s IT workforce needs.
FindJobsND.com introduced:
Job Service North Dakota recently introduced its enhanced career website, featuring more than 14,000 available jobs and 10,000 resumes of potential job candidates and powerful workforce technology that retrieves job postings from other websites called Job Spidering.

“FindJobsND.com stands out among other job search websites because it is the largest site completely dedicated to North Dakota and the local labor market,” Gov. John Hoeven says. “In addition to the online services, job seekers and employers can receive personal assistance with their job or candidate searches from 16 Job Service offices statewide.”

The goal of FindJobsND.com is to facilitate more successful matches between businesses and the employees they need. Because of the site’s new capacity, people looking for jobs in North Dakota need to visit only one website, FindJobsND.com, where they will find job openings from corporate websites, educational institutions, government agencies, hospitals, newspapers, private job boards and other sources.
MDU Resources Group hosts counselors:
ITCND assisted in connecting MDU Resources Group with the 2008 North Dakota Career and Technical Education Professional Development Conference, which was held in Bismarck Aug. 4-6. As a result, nearly 40 high school counselors from schools statewide participated in a panel discussion led by six MDU Resources Group IT employees on Aug. 6.

The panelists from various lines of business within the enterprise provided information on the occupations and skills of their IT staff as well as education required to secure positions within their operations. The panelists also provided insight on their educational background and why they chose a career in IT.

Deana Wiese, ITCND executive director, also gave an overview of the IT Career Awareness Program that is currently being developed. Many counselors were interested in receiving additional information once the program is implemented. New Salem counselor Gaylynn Becker requested industry contacts to come into classrooms this fall. This will be the role of the IT Career Awareness Program coordinator once the program is implemented. In the meantime, partners in the IT Career Awareness Program were contacted and will be working with Gaylynn on the arrangements for fall classroom visits.
Needed: IT professionals to complete survey:
The North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) and AIM Midwest Center for Information Technology (AIM MCIT) are seeking IT professionals to complete a survey by Friday, Aug. 29, to help shape and define its information technology and other curriculum.

The AIM MCIT is a National Science Foundation-funded regional center of excellence in information technology education. Ten public two-year community colleges, junior colleges and technical institutes located across Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota comprise the center, including NDSCS.

A drawing will take place after every 20 surveys have been received for the first 100 surveys submitted before the due date of Friday, Aug. 29. Winners will receive their choice of an iPod Classic or Blackberry PDA.

View a PDF of the survey at https://webmail.state.nd.us/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.itcnd.org/downloads/mcit_employer_survey.pdf or visit https://webmail.state.nd.us/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=https://ssl.aiminstitute.org/cns2008/ to complete the survey electronically.
For more information, contact John Jeanetta at 402-345-5025, ext. 127, or john@aiminstitute.org.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - Minot State University



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President David Fuller's Convocation starts off new year

The Aug. 20 President’s Convocation kicks off a new academic year and will be held in the MSU Conference Center, Student Center. If student assistance is not available for coverage during the general session, employees are asked to close their office and attend. Breakfast items will be served beginning at 8 a.m.
At 8:30, Gary Rabe, vice president for academic affairs, will provide welcoming comments. Additional remarks will be provided by the three other vice presidents. At 9:15, Rabe will give an academic briefing, followed by the introduction of new faculty. Roger Kluck and Leon Perzinski will discuss the Emergency Operating Plan, and Linda Olson will talk about Recycling 101. After comments from the presidents of Faculty and Staff senates and Student Government Association, President David Fuller will update the campus.
Meetings of the three colleges will follow in the afternoon, starting at 1 p.m. Arts and sciences will meet in Aleshire Theater; business will meet in Main 308; education and health sciences will meet in Memorial 131. An ice cream social, hosted by the Office of the President, will be held in the quad at 3 p.m.
The Business Information Technology Department is Meeting on Friday, August 22 at 9:30 am in 324 Main -- Conference Room.......
Dr. Tom Seymour

Jasper Schneider Press Conference in Minot today -- 1:00




Jasper Schneider is having a Press Conference at Democratic Headquarters in Minot

today at 1:15 pm


Tom attended the 9:00 coffee group at Marcos Restaurant and had a visit with Keith Witwer


Anita is going to Fargo to be with the grandchildren from Tuesday until Saturday night....


Tom has a hair appointment on Tuesday afternoon.......


I am doing some funding research, Minot State has dropped their Centers of Excellence Project--Video Story on Drop ---- ,http://www.kxmc.com/video.asp?ArticleId=265974&VideoId=21685 and NAWS project story in Minot Daily News today .........

Monday, August 18, 2008

Fall Work at Minot State University Begins


This morning I will attend the 9:00 coffee group are Town and Country Shopping Center...

Will go to Minot State University for some research project work......

Governor Hoeven is at Rotary Club at Noon Today in Minot.............

The College of Business Chairs and Dean Meet at Minot State from 1:30pm on........

YMCA Later in the Day

Dinner out at a local restaurant

Then some more research Time.......

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Sunday in Minot, North Dakota


This is a quiet Sunday in Minot, North Dakota..... Anita and I attended Services at Bethany Lutheran Church and then went for Breakfast at the Grand International Inn and saw many of the regular faces that have Sunday Brunch.............................

We stopped by Zona Vick's home and visited with her about her new pace maker......... This device now goes at 70 beats instead of 50 beats that the 1991 Model did...........

We are now planning on attending a movie as Anita works on her Apple Computer with the software called Keynote which is like the PowerPoint software..........

Jenny and Ryan in Woodbury, MN have installed the new blinds that we purchased for them and sent photos via the Internet............

This Friday our MSU BIT Department is planning on having a meeting. The Agenda is below for your review:

Agenda
Business Information Technology Department Meeting
Friday – August 22 – Room 324 Main – 9:30/11:30am

1. Summer activity Introductions by each member
2. COB and Department Goals – “Recruitment and Retention”
3. Two student recruitment and retention ideas – John Girard
4. Review of Fall Class Enrollments – Sharon Reynolds
5. Review of COB / BIT Assessment Status – Julie Eklund
6. Campus and Faculty Senate Visions – Kristi Berg
7. Business Education and Tech Day Update – Jan Repnow
8. Graduate Program / JCEMP / Other Updates – Lori Willoughby
9. Team Publishing Ideas and Funding Acquisition – Mehdi Tehrani
10. Report on Advisory Meeting and North Dakota Contacts – Deanna Klein
11. Departmental Acquisition Procedures – Deanna Head
12. Volunteers for High School Recruitment Committee – Tom Seymour
13. Future Meeting Dates – email Deanna Head your preferences
14. Extended Learning – WIMBA – and Updates – Betty Vang

Complimentary Lunch at Applebee’s 11:30am on Friday, August 22
RSVP for lunch to Deanna Head – deanna.head@minotstateu.edu

Yes, keep us posted.......................................................

Dr. Tom Seymour

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Saturday in Minot..........


Today is Swimming Day at the YMCA and Movie Day in Minot


The Olympics continue to be a highlight during this time


Minot State University begins Monday with a COB Chairs Meeting


These are exciting times in North Dakota


Friday, August 15, 2008

Great Day in Minot

Zona Vick is coming home from the Hospital Today

Anita has worked at Bell School and is working on her Apple Computer

Tom has been doing article research and reviewing his Web site........

Anita and Tom will review the movie schedule later today

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Thursday, August 14

Zona Vick still in hospital with new Pace Maker, she may come home today

Obama campaign called to do identity profiles on the Seymour Household

Taking Sid to Coffee today at Marco's

Mr. Hill of the Jasper Schneider campaign emailed for yard sign help in October

Anita in technology classes today..........

Tom at Hospital with Zona

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Senator Tom Seymour

Today in Minot, North Dakota we began our Legislative blog......

Please keep us posted on your legislative questions and ideas......

Tom