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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Sep 11, 2007 |
"Too much of a good thing is wonderful." -- Mae West
This should be an interesting series of meetings: Internet2 CEO, Douglas E. Van Houweling To Visit University Of Montana Campus, 9/17-18, Missoula, Montana http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- as will be these events City Club Missoula -"Hunger In Missoula - Connecting Local Issues With National Policy", 9/21, Missoula http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html--- 6th Annual Montana Nonprofit Association Conference, 9/24-26, Billings, Montana http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- Wheeler Center gathering will look at Montana's legislative options Oct. 1 - 2 in Helena http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Boomtown Institute
Come Home Montana
- The Agurban from Boomtown Institute - More on Education
As the nation's students and teachers return to school, here are selected statistics about American schools, students, and the educational process.
Come Home Wyoming
- Rural Montana communities struggle to find physicians
In rural parts of the country, 42 percent of community health centers reported having difficulty recruiting doctors, and 30 percent of rural clinics with vacancies recruited unsuccessfully for at least seven months, the study found.
- Mystery Fortune 500 employer seeking qualified applicants for 250 jobs at new facility in Great Falls, Montana
"Once people understood the reasoning behind showing the company support even through they aren't committed to coming here, the response is good."
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Wyoming education training programs receive support - Training new teachers is key.
More than half of Wyoming's industrial arts teachers will be eligible for retirement in the next five years.
Developing Tech Jobs in Rural Communities
- Campus-wide entrepreneurship essential for a well-rounded education
Building Entrepreneurial Learning for Life, or BELL, is starting this fall and will ensure that students, regardless of their majors, will be exposed to the world of starting and operating not-for-profit as well as for-profit enterprises.
Funding and Building your Business
- Rural America: Invisible voters. Residents say their central issues are off candidates' maps
"There is no respect for agriculture. No planning for our infrastructure. No understanding of the long distances people have to go to access medical care." "People are putting development near highly populated areas or outsourcing to China," he said. "It's sad. Rural America has a lower cost and better product."
Education
- Venture Capital Industry Testifies Before Congress to Support Small Business Investment Expansion Act of 2007
"We think it is important to take a step back and for the Congress to ask what can be done to best support the creation and development of small businesses," said Mr. More. "We believe partnerships between the government and the venture capital community have and will continue to be one of these winning strategies."
- Career mentors in today's workplace seem short on advice
The mentor-mentee relationship used to be a partnership between a manager and a new hire.
- "No Man's Land: What to Do When Your Company Is Too Big to Be Small but Too Small to Be Big"
I don't believe most entrepreneurs start off with a vision about what's going to make them successful.
- 25 Questions a Chief Executive Should Ask About Software
In spite of software's importance to corporate operations, it has remained an intractable technology that causes almost as much trouble as it brings benefits.
- Workplace Coach: There's a skill to keeping talent
The survey results highlight the need for organizations to adopt new strategies and implement fundamental cultural changes to help address the looming talent crisis.
- Brush up the pitch - Entrepreneurs get coaching to improve presentations
"What's the point? What do you need? Why are you here?"
- Why We Aren't as Ethical as We Think We Are: A Temporal Explanation
All individuals have an innate tendency to engage in self-deception around their own ethical behavior.
- Rock the Podium
Pointers for speaking in public – without making a fool of yourself.
University TechTransfer
- Baucus, Tester pave way for more affordable higher education
“This legislation really cleans up the financial aid industry, making it work for the students who need it,” Baucus said. “More affordable higher education is something I pushed hard for before I came to Washington, and one I’ll keep pushing in the years to come,” Tester said.
- Education is welfare's foe
Here's our back to school message for 2007: If you aren't in school now and you could be, do it.
- “America’s Best Colleges for Entrepreneurs”
Wanna be a mogul?
- Global Learning Part of Washington State University College of Business’ Focus
“The new requirement will give our students the global understanding that they need in today’s business economy,” says Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs Jerman Rose. “By providing students a means to gain international experience, we are providing them with the tools they need for success.”
- How to Teach Global 101 in School
Educators can properly prepare students to succeed in the global economy — and to face challenges that cross borders.
- "Math Move U" to keep middle school students engages in math
Here's an interesting resource that represents a national initiative designed to keep middle school students engaged in math. MathMovesU is a web site designed to stimulate interest in everyday math.
Connectivity & Communications
- University Startups 2007 "Enabling Innovation" A Transaction-Focused Conference, 10/3-5, Bethesda, MD
With an amazing 8% of university start-ups going public, they represent an important part of the U.S. innovation economy and unique wealth generation opportunities. The University Start-Ups Conference is the only event series dedicated to the creation and funding of high-impact university start-ups of every type.
- Tapping a hidden resource: Academic R&D
The culture of “teaching only” can leave universities trapped in time.
- Sun shines on university bred solar startup
"The university for years has wanted a presence on that corner, a project that would identify it as the gateway to Colorado State University," Lambert said. "This will do that in a major way. It is the beginning of the fulfillment of the clean-energy cluster's promise."
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Open-source software a worldwide collaboration
So what's the difference between Microsoft Windows, Apple Computer and open source?
- Ten things that finally killed Net neutrality
If you haven't heard much about Net neutrality this year, you're not alone. It went from being the political equivalent of a first-run Broadway show, with accompanying street protests and high profile votes in Congress, to a third-rate performance with no budget and slumping attendance.
- Still growing, spam is now 83% of all e-mail
Wasn't it Bill Gates who famously said a few years ago that spam would be eradicated? "It was one of the rare times he was wrong,"
- Do Not Call List Set to Expire
It's time to check your phone number status online and renew or prepare for an onslaught of “exclusive offers” to increase your sexual stamina.
- Press 1 if you hate talking to a device. Peter Theis knows he has a lot to answer for.
"I'm the guy who did it, yeah," 70-year-old Theis said. "I am ultimately to blame. I'm Dr. Frankenstein."
- Internet2 CEO, Douglas E. Van Houweling To Visit University Of Montana Campus, 9/17-18, Missoula, Montana
Douglas E. Van Houweling, CEO of Internet2, will be on campus Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 17 and 18, to talk about the future of research and education networking.
Incubators and R&D
- Scientists Say Pedestrians Could Juice The Grid
Some guys at MIT seem to think people can move trains instead of trains moving us.
Regional Business
- Agricultural Research Service scientists honored for tech transfer efforts
"Our scientists continue to demonstrate their ability to not only solve significant problems facing American agriculture, but also to transfer their research beyond the laboratory into the marketplace for the benefit of farmers and consumers alike," said ARS Administrator Edward B. Knipling.
Developing Funding Opportunities in Montana
- 'Second Life' needs its own Ben Bernanke
Outside "Second Life," a game company just hired its first full-time economist. Another economist, coming from the academic side, believes that just as virtual economies need economists, so economists need virtual economies -- to experiment with.
Montana Business
- Building a Statewide Angel Network
A thorough discussion of the value of and the methods of developing a state-wide Angel network.
Montana Economic Development
- Computer ER Earns Third Straight Selection as Missoula's Best Computer Repair Shop
“What the Missoula Independent has recognized three years in a row is something technology-minded people elsewhere are starting to understand as well,” said Craig Flint, vice president and partner at Computer ER. “We are honored by this recognition that we are an industry leader, and look forward to expanding our reach to bring our value to others.”
- Boeing operation settles into new site in Great Falls, Montana
The former Supervalu Warehouse has a new tenant — Boeing.
- Safety first for investors. Stack Financial Management of Whitefish, Montana is in Barron’s 2007 Winner’s Circle of the Top 100 Independent Financial Advisers in the United States.
Stack and his team at Stack Financial Management have parlayed a healthy respect for risk into a company philosophy that earned the firm a 31st-place rank in Barron’s 2007 Winner’s Circle of the Top 100 Independent Financial Advisers in the United States.
Regional Economic Development
- SeaCast in 2008 in Butte, Montana
Fortunately for all involved, the SeaCast project is much bigger than this latest snafu and will proceed accordingly. As Ueland said, the best path forward for the community as a whole is to chalk up the lessons learned and move on.
- Strategic meetings set to explore ways for creating excitement in Great Falls, Montana
"We want to see downtown become the old fashioned neighborhood that it used to be, but in modern ways," she said. "We want folks to come downtown, park and spend the afternoon visiting the downtown's specialty shops, restaurants and professional offices.
- Community Health Grants Focus on Healthy Lifestyle Choices
The program's goal is to assist community-based, non-profit organizations whose primary goal is to provide creative and effective access to quality health care for the medically underserved.
- New program aims to boost small business in Montana
The $250,000 will fund an Incumbent Worker Program to train workers at companies with 20 or fewer employees if the business has existed for at least a year.
Utah Business
- Labor shortage will hurt economy
Next year, the U.S. is expected to cross a demographic threshold where the labor required to maintain a growing economy will begin falling short of the available labor.
- SBA Newsline Eight -- September 2007
Newsline Eight is the monthly newsletter from the SBA's Region Eight Office in Denver. Our office serves the states of Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. Over 10,000 individuals across America receive Newsline Eight.
- Cool v. Uncool Cities: The Battle For The Soul Of Economic Development
Proponents of the "creative class" theory argue that hip cities will be the most successful because they lure highly educated professionals who are essential in today's economy. But detractors say this is simply an argument for bread and circuses.
- College lab's training fits well with state bioscience jobs
Biotech companies, particularly small ones, benefit from hiring students equipped with these lab skills because they often don't have the time or money to train new hires.
- Rural Definitions Where does Urban end and Rural begin?
The classification of people and territory as rural poses a number of challenges for researchers, policy makers, and program managers throughout the Federal system and beyond.
Idaho Business
- Worth Their Salt Utah’s Top Public CEOs
In Utah, a review of compensation for CEOs of the top 50 public companies shows they are paid less then their peers nationwide, but that a strong correlation exists between compensation and company performance by revenue.
Washington State Business
- Central Idaho trying to entice tourists following wildfire
After losing millions of tourist dollars because of a wildfire that threatened thousands of homes and Sun Valley Resort's ski area, officials in central Idaho are planning a public relations campaign to draw in visitors.
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- Snoqualmie Tribe pursues package of developments
The goal, say tribal leaders, is to develop an economic engine, reclaim a stake in ancestral lands and ensure the tribe's future for generations to come.
- Washington State University Expands Small Business Center Network
As part of Gov. Christine Gregoire's “New Washington” initiative, Washington State University will open three new Small Business Development Centers to extend technical assistance to small business owners and entrepreneurs in areas of the state that have been underserved.
- Washington State University Success Program Needs Mentors for WSU Tri-Cities students
Professionals in various fields are invited to create this support network for the first freshman class at WSU Tri-Cities. The goal is to form mentoring relationships that help students connect to the community and learn how to be successful in their future careers.
Careers
- NASA MODIS Image of the Day: September 8, 2007 - Fires in Montana and Idaho
Throughout the summer, the fires occasionally produced thick clouds of smoke that spread across the Great Plains and as far as the East Coast.
- What's at the Heart Of Peoples' Happiness?
No, happiness isn't a lottery ticket away.
Non-Profit News
- Managing Your Reputation Online - TrustPlus
TrustPlus plans to make reputation portable by centrally collecting information about a person and displaying that information wherever he or she does business or interacts online.
Energy
- Making the Case for Philanthropy in Rural America. Montana state-wide non-profit meeting scheduled for 9/24-26 in Billings
I hope that rural America will, community by community, make the case for investment in the place we live and grow and the opportunities that will sustain us economically. The opportunity for rural America is unprecedented.
- 6th Annual Montana Nonprofit Association Conference, 9/24-26, Billings, Montana
The conference is designed for nonprofit staff, Board members, volunteers, and consultants; Foundation staff and trustees; community leaders; public officials; students; and others interested in the nonprofit sector. Join hundreds of your peers from across Montana for this premier nonprofit leadership event!
- Montana Nonprofits are Thriving
he Montana Nonprofit Association is holding their 6th Annual Conference, September 24th-through-26th in Billings at the Holiday Inn Grand Montana.
- Anatomy of a start-up antigenocide charity
A GI-Net board member says Hanis is among the youngest people she's seen "take an idea and [make] it into an organization."
- Foundations Make No Pledge to Increase Rural Giving
Sen. Max Baucus of Montana challenged foundations to double their donations in rural America, but it likely will take pressure from rural nonprofits -- and more -- for giving patterns to change.
2007 Montana Legislature
- Commercial tenants in California get powerful incentive to reduce use of electricity
Until now, owners of a large office building or other commercial property had to pay the utility bill for the entire facility and then recoup the money through rents.
- Interest in nuclear power returns at Idaho conference
If you're concerned about global warming, one has to look at nuclear.
Commuter Rail Development
- Wheeler Center gathering will look at Montana's legislative options Oct. 1 - 2 in Helena
The event will include discussions and panels on such basic questions as whether Montana should revise its constitutional term limits on how long lawmakers may serve; whether the state should have annual legislative sessions instead of the current 90-day, every-other-year sessions; and whether the state should go to a more professional Legislature rather than a part-time citizen Legislature.
Montana Education Excellence
- Gas prices, climate change revive interest in fast rail
While sleek new passenger trains streak through Europe, Japan and other corners of the world at speeds nearing 200 mph, most U.S. passenger trains chug along at little more than highway speeds — slowed by a half-century of federal preference for spending on roads and airports.
Leadership Montana
- Indonesian ambassador builds UM connections
“There are 200 million Muslims in Indonesia who are not promoting violence. We're seeking a better foothold in spreading the facts about Indonesia.”
- UM Hamilton center offers courses - not campus
“Anyone who is considering their education,” he said, “should understand at the Higher Education Center they are under the auspices and programming of the University of Montana.”
City Club Missoula
- Soft Skills: Listening for Better Leadership
What's one sure way to become a better leader and improve the morale of your staff? Become a better listener.
- City Club Missoula -"Hunger In Missoula - Connecting Local Issues With National Policy", 9/21, Missoula
Every year, one in every eight Missoula residents visits the Missoula Food Bank for help filling their tables. The Food Bank provides emergency food for more than 12,500 people each year. Who are they? Why are their food dollars falling short? How can we help?
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