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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Dec 7, 2010 |
"There’s nothing more worthwhile than fighting for children. And I’m not done fighting." Michelle Rhee: What I learned about school reform http://matr.net/articl ... .html
"Who are the Montana Ambassadors in your community? How can they help build a stronger economy?" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- "City Club Missoula - UM President Royce Engstrom "Responsibilities And Opportunities", 12/13, Missoula" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
21st Century Initiative - "You Should Care..."
Montana Department of Commerce
- Education - Pay it Forward - Excellent school districts are an economic boon to those communities in which they reside
"The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future in life." - Plato
- For poorly educated, recovery out of reach
Those who didn't make it through college or who never even made it to campus, have seen dismal prospects go from bad to awful.
- Student success will figure into teacher reviews
For the first time statewide, student performance will become part of teachers' evaluations.
- One-track education thinking doesn't work well for all
Raising educational performance standards is a necessary goal, but in some instances it has created unintended consequences. The flip side to high standards is having expectations that are unrealistic.
- New curriculum has students multi-tasking
Their approach will soon spread across the country as part of a $2.25 million agreement with Pearson, the world's largest education publisher, to develop and market a new elementary school curriculum.
- Michelle Rhee: What I learned about school reform
I know people say I wasn't good enough at building consensus, but I don't think consensus can be the goal.
- "Schoolhouses, Courthouses, and Statehouses: Solving the Funding-Achievement Puzzle in America's Public Schools"
The typical teacher is both hard-working and effective. But if we could replace the bottom 5%-10% of teachers with an average teacher — not a superstar — we could dramatically improve student achievement. The U.S. could move from below average in international comparisons to near the top.
TicketRiver.com
- Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer to head The Council of State Governments
Schweitzer said he'll use any contacts he makes through the Council of State Governments or any other organization to try to build the Montana economy.
Highway 12 Ventures
- The ticket to success - Growing on-line company, TicketRiver.com, expands to Lewistown, Montana
"A lot of artists, performers and musicians set up and market their own events, and want to design and print their own tickets too. We enable people to choose a design template, put their information on that template, and then we print, process and ship those promotional materials out. We're essentially giving our customers the tools to do all of this on a small- to medium-size level."
City Club Missoula
- Highway 12 Ventures Portfolio News | November 2010
Great progress in the portfolio for the month of November.
Visit Montana
- City Club Missoula - UM President Royce Engstrom "Responsibilities And Opportunities", 12/13, Missoula
President Engstrom is interested in science policy, higher education public policy, program development, and in building relationships between the various stakeholders in higher education.
Come Home Montana
- New website looks to bring tourists to Sanders County, Montana - Tour 200
"Sanders County is one of the lesser traveled and maybe lesser known regions of Montana, we're kinda tucked away on the Clark Fork River between two mountain ranges and so hopefully people will discover this area a little more and we'll get more people coming to visit." http://www.tour200.com/
Montana Ambassadors
- Montana Career Opportunity - Division Administrator - The Department of Commerce, Montana Promotion Division
This top-level management position is responsible for managing and directing the statewide efforts of the Montana Office of Tourism and the Montana Film Office.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Accountant - SG Long & Company
- Montana Career Opportunity - Information Technologist - Central Montana Medical Center
"Join us in Beautiful Central Montana"
- Montana Career Opportunity - Human Resources Generalist - Northwestern Energy
Supports the achievement of organizational objectives through the administration of Human Resources programs, policies, and activities.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Applications Developer - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana
We are currently seeking an Applications Developer in our Helena, MT office.
Warren Miller Freedom Foundation
- Who are the Montana Ambassadors in your community? How can they help build a stronger economy?
Discover how Montana Ambassadors support the efforts of other groups to contribute to the economic vitality of Montana
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- An Evening With Warren Miller, 12/12, Seattle, WA
Join us for an intimate evening with the master adventure filmmaker himself, Warren Miller. Ski icon Warren Miller will make a rare personal appearance to share his life's stories of adventure and hijinks in some of the most breathtaking locations on the planet. Winter sports enthusiasts and ski bums of all ages won't want to miss this rare opportunity to meet Warren himself!
Montana Business
- Helena, Montana's Capital High School's DECA students highlight entrepreneurs
As part of our 2010 DECA project some Capital High students will be posting ads every other Sunday to highlight local entrepreneurs in the Helena area.
Regional Economic Development
- 'World's greatest' candy store in Montana's backyard - "The Sweet Palace" in Philipsburg, Montana
Not only will the Sweet Palace be featured on TV, but the shop's famous Moose Drool Dark Chocolate truffles will be featured in Martha Stewart's Winter Bridal magazine.
- Kalispell family business goes from fixing cars to building parts for missiles, rifles - Sonju Industrial
"This is Montana manufacturing at its finest," said Jon Sonju, director of business development at Sonju Industrial." http://www.sonjuind.com/
- Gaelectric officials talk transmission in Montana
The Golden Triangle (of Montana) could have the best wind energy potential in the country, other than off-shore sites, but Montana needs more energy transmission lines to export the power and make wind farms feasible
- New CEO, Mike Frank, for new era at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana
As the new president and chief executive officer of Montana's largest private health insurer, Mike Frank says he's ready to help guide Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana through the new health care landscape brought on by the federal reform bill.
Bill Payne
- Creating Good Jobs in Our Communities - How Higher Wage Standards Affect Economic Development and Employment
Fresh study on the impact of wage standards on economic development and employment.
- Is High-Speed Rail Becoming More Viable In The Intermountain West?
Supporters say dedicated high-speed lines between major metro areas are the key.
Careers
- A New ACEF Valuation Workshop by Bill Payne for Angels and Entrepreneurs
The conclusions clearly show that investors in pre-revenue companies must invest only in companies with the potential to scale to a valuation of $10 million or more in 3-5 years to justify engagement.
Economic Gardening
- Recruiters Expect Pickup In Hiring of Top Managers
About a quarter of search firms told ExecuNet that their clients will be hiring more executives in the next six months, with the greatest demand in business development and sales.
Funding and Building your Business
- Sowing Seeds
Economic gardening? Led by UCF's Dr. Tom O'Neal, Central Florida has its sights set on cultivating a new kind of growth.
Montana Education Excellence
- Tell These 9 Angel Investors You Don't Want Their Money
A few angel investors have slipped or fallen from their lofty perch, so entrepreneurs must take great care to validate the character and reputation of every prospective investor.
- How entrepreneurs came up with Jungle Cents
Mehta and Hyder, like many of today's entrepreneurs, took advantage of the lower costs of technology to get their idea off the ground. It was their ability to build a product and generate revenues that sold investors on the idea.
- How to raise venture capital (without losing your soul)
#1. Be deliberate about who you raise money from
- Interns - An Excellent Resource For Your Company!
***Note - this is the perfect time to post your internship and have someone ready to begin in January 2011!!
- Invest in the Mess - A Silicon Bubble Shows Signs of Reinflating
Less than a decade after the dot-com bust taught Wall Street and Silicon Valley investors that what goes up does not keep going up forever, a growing number of entrepreneurs and a few venture capitalists are beginning to wonder if investments in technology start-ups are headed toward another big bust.
- MSU business student turns enthusiasm for sports and an internship with the Seattle Mariners into a marketing career path
MSU student Bethany Cordell, who recently completed an internship with the Seattle Mariners, has found a way to turn her enthusiasm for sports into a future career path in sports marketing.
Regional Business
- Montana State University College of Business Video Competition Yields Creativity
The MSU College of Business PRIDE code (Performance, Respect, Integrity, Diligence, Engagement) is a code of conduct that originated from the students of the College based on characteristics found in successful professionals.
- Gazette opinion: Montana law should stop encouraging 16-year-old dropouts
This is a no-brainer. Every Montanan needs a high school education, and most of us will need some post-secondary education to get good jobs.
Developing an Angel Network in Montana
- Farmers Milking Social Media to Promote Agriculture
"There's so much misinformation out there about farming and what farmers do. A lot of people have lost track of where their food comes from."
Idaho Business
- Bill Allowing 25% Tax Credits For Angel Investors Heads For Michigan Governor's Signature
"I think it is exciting and should definitely help unlock heretofore dormant investment funds for the entrepreneurial ecosystem."
Oregon Business
- US Department of Labor announces more than $709,000 to continue assisting workers in Idaho affected by call center layoffs
The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $709,864 National Emergency Grant increment to continue to provide re-employment and retraining services to workers affected by the closing of Dell Inc.'s call center in Twin Falls, Idaho.
- New Boise Valley Economic Partnership director turns to New Mexico associate to sell Boise
Clark Krause didn't need to seek bids to hire his top choice to sell Boise to out-of-state companies. He turned to the guy who he says helped him bring an estimated 14,000 jobs to New Mexico over six years.
South Dakota Economic Development
- Central Oregon white buffalo herd featured on special Pendleton blanket
The herd is set to gain some new notoriety. Pendleton Woolen Mills is making Navajo-style "medicine blankets" using wool and blended white buffalo hair that the bison have shed. The blankets are new this season and the mill tentatively plans a second, larger run for 2011, says spokesman Robert Christnacht.
Utah Economic Development
- Numbers show rural small-business boom
"I don't know if it's business entrepreneurship or survival."
2011 Montana Legislature
- Utah's "Creative Economy" Adds Jobs, Entertainment and Sophistication
"The arts in Utah are foundational to our quality of life," says Margaret Hunt, director of the Utah Division of Arts & Museums. In fact, Utah was one of the first states in the nation to establish a state arts agency. Furthermore, the establishment of the Office of Museum Services is unique to Utah.
Education
- Popular WWAMI program for would-be doctors for Montana faces cuts
"There are no sacred cows" when it comes to budget cuts, vowed Sen. Dave Lewis, R-Helena, chairman of the state Senate Finance Committee.
- 2011 Legislature: Eastern Montana schools seek to protect energy funds
"This money was generated in eastern Montana," says Bill Colter, superintendent of schools in Lambert. "Let's leave it here. The schools have used the money very wisely, and made improvements to the buildings and grounds and provided some benefit to teachers."
- Montana Education budget gets passing grade
That is why it is just as important for Montanans to share their legislative priorities with their elected representatives as it is to weigh in on proposed legislation itself.
Government
- What I Learned at the Education Barricades
Why should any student have to settle for a neighborhood school if it's awful?
- How to Talk Science
"There's a tremendous need for science to be communicated well." Alan Alda
Montana Meth Project
- Mounting State Debts Stoke Fears of a Looming Crisis
Their fear is that even when the economy recovers, the shortfalls will not disappear, because many state and local governments have so much debt -- several trillion dollars' worth, with much of it off the books and largely hidden from view -- that it could overwhelm them in the next few years.
- Going to the mattresses over the bed tax
Montana's fight with the travel sites may be unusually public and personal, but it is not the only state to take on the issue.
Non-Profit News
- Meth Project Named Third Most Effective Philanthropy In the World by Barron's Magazine
Meth Project Founder Thomas M. Siebel Recognized on Annual List of "25 Best Givers" and Commended for Significantly Reducing Meth Use
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- Cities look to non-profits as cash source
Strapped for revenues, cities in much of the country are looking at ways to get tax-exempt charitable to make payments in place of property taxes they would otherwise owe.
- UM Students Earn Scholarships To Work With Area Nonprofits
Two UM students have been awarded $4,500 NextGeneration Scholarships from the national Nonprofit Leadership Alliance that will allow them to serve 300-hour internships with area nonprofit organizations.
- Crown of the Continent Guitar Foundation - 2010 Newsletter
Our second annual workshop and festival will again be at the Flathead Lake Lodge in Bigfork, Montana August 28 - September 4, 2011.
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