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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Dec 16, 2011 |
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"What would men be without women? Scarce, mighty scarce." Mark Twain
Build Montana, at http://www.buildmontana.org, is a terrific resource for people looking to donate, volunteer or simply learn more about the state's thousands of nonprofits. http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Montana Department of Commerce
21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- Few Booths Left for 2012 Made in Montana Marketplace
The Marketplace, slated for March 23-24, 2012 is an important venue both for companies making Made in Montana products and for the stores who sell them. "Anyone thinking about signing up for the show should do it now," says Paul Lloyd-Davies, Marketplace Coordinator.
- Montana Communities to Receive Commerce Funds Totaling $100,000 for Tourism Related Events
"The breadth and diversity of events represented by this year's grant recipients exemplify the distinctive experiences Montana provides to our visitors and residents alike." Commerce Director Dore Schwinden
Workforce Development
- How to fight "SSL - sit down, shut up and learn." - Wyoming teacher gets students active with stationary bikes in class
The teacher believes a student with an opportunity to burn extra energy and to get the blood circulating learns better. He uses himself as an example.
- Principals share secrets to positive school culture
School leaders give tips that can help teachers, students thrive
- Great Falls, Montana Based Add-A-Tudez Entertainment Company Teams Up With GFPS To Put Game Design In The Classroom for STEM 2012 Competition
"We feel one of the best ways for educational content and games to come together is through games like LittleBigPlanet that support user-created content. It's been a crazy start--the kids are jumping in with both feet and researching their topics ways most kids hate to do, because they're not doing it for a book report anymore they're looking for inspiration for their LittleBigPlanet projects!"
- How Nations Teach Global Skills
PISA measures student critical thinking skills and has demonstrated a direct correlation with individual as well as a nation's economic success. The top-performing countries on PISA have implemented very purposeful reforms to ensure their students are ready for the global economy.
- Special Ed's Dark Secret - The number of children with learning disabilities is surging.
Some say the real problem is schools' failure to teach students how to read.
- Imitation allows autistic kids to connect
Children with autism often are unable to imitate, an important developmental skill that allows infants and young children to interact and learn from others.
- Class assignment: Reinvent the high school
The premise? American high schools are broken.
- German apprenticeships: A model for the World?
"You need a school system which supports it. We have this tradition in Germany of being loyal to the company. We also have a technology focus here in Germany. For that you need very skilled people. "It's a system supported by politicians and society - and needed by the companies."
- 9 states win 'Race to the Top' early learning competition
The goal of this competition is to get more children from birth to age 5 ready for kindergarten.
- The Pre-K Underground
In a co-op pre-K, parents work together to create a school that matches their educational philosophy and worldview.
City Club Missoula
- Building America's Job Skills with Effective Workforce Programs: A Training Strategy to Raise Wages and Increase Work Opportunities
Research by The Hamilton Project shows that over the past four decades the annual earnings of the median man with only a high school diploma have declined by 46 percent. Not since this country has maintained records has such a large group of Americans experienced a similar prolonged period of declining real earnings.
- Be innovative to create jobs for Montana's veterans
This is a bipartisan effort. We are working together to address veteran unemployment. This was before the Heroes Act was passed, and now gives employers and private business an extra incentive to hire qualified veterans. Let's continue this type of creative work. Let's get innovative. Let's go to work, America!
Visit Montana
- Video: City Club Missoula December 2011 - Student Engagement in the Missoula County Public Schools- 21st Century Model of Change
These experiences allow students to combine the knowledge and skills they learn in traditional classrooms with international opportunities, online and other technology programs, community service, internships and job shadows."
Come Home Montana
- Visit Montana - The Biggest Skiing, the First National Park and (of course) Steak
Land in Bozeman, ski through Big Sky, dip into Yellowstone National Park via West Yellowstone and return home boasting a goggle tan, a box of microbrews and tales of frosty glory.
- Montana Department of Transportation Montana Road Report Map
The winter reporting season is November through April and conditions during those months are updated twice a day or as major changes occur.
Come Home Utah
- 56 Montana County Capitol Christmas Trees Now Online
Visit http://www.governor.mt.gov to View the Trees
- Montana Career Opportunity - Operations Manager - West Paw Design
The Operations Manager is responsible for leveraging strengths of others to ensure goals and objectives are being met; to include lean process implementation, logistics/supply chain processes and project management.
- Montana Career Opportunities - Several Positions Available - Merlin Information Systems
Merlin Information Services provides access to public record and other databases to investigative professionals who skiptrace, look for assets, run background checks, or perform investigative work.
- Bozeman, Montana ranked third best winter city to live
"Bozeman averages more than 90 inches of snow each year, which means there's plenty of white stuff for snowboarding, snowmobiling, cross-country and Nordic skiing," the article states. "And when the rest of the country is celebrating the arrival of spring, Bozeman area ski resorts are still packing powder."
- Northern Montana's Hi-Line
Harsh isolation didn't deter homesteaders from making a life along northern Montana's Hi-Line. Their tight-knit descendants show no less resolve.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Networking Information Analyst - Northwestern Energy
The successful candidate will work in a team environment to provide the design, operation, and maintenance of the NorthWestern Energy IP Networks.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Enterprise Systems Analyst - State of Montana
Do you possess the desire and ability to contribute to the mission of an IT entity that serves a statewide enterprise? How about working with diverse stakeholders to develop solutions to their business needs?
Come Home Wyoming
- Google executive, Danny Young traces his success back to Utah
Young encourages Utah companies to follow Google's example and set lofty goals and avoid negative stigmas of not making them.
Leadership Montana
- Wyoming Career Opportunity - Enterprise Broadband Coordinator - The Edlab Group (Wyoming)
The LinkWYOMING program is a statewide initiative to promote the availability and sustainable adoption of broadband Internet access.
Montana Business
- The best bosses lead by failing
Humble leaders who embrace their failures are more effective and better liked, according to a new study.
Regional Economic Development
- Vesta Expands Silicone Manufacturing Services Through Acquisition of Victor, Montana Based SiMatrix
Jan Varner, CEO of SiMatrix, confirmed that "this partnership is the best fit we could imagine for our company. Vesta's leadership position in silicone contract manufacturing and its culture of taking care of its customers and employees are a perfect combination for SiMatrix. We are excited about this move, and view it as a great benefit for all parties."
- Why Are Indian Reservations So Poor? It's Not What You Think. A Look At The Bottom 1%
At a time when there's a spotlight on America's richest 1%, a look at the country's 310 Indian reservations-where many of America's poorest 1% live-can be more enlightening.
- $10 million grant for Shelby, Montana train facility could leverage hundreds of jobs
"The timing of this is perfect for Montana," authority board member Mark Cole said Tuesday. "With the growth in wind energy and oilfield expansions, we've struggled without enough track and proper equipment."
- Glacier Country kicks off new tourism campaign
Glacier Country http://www.glaciermt.com/index.php has just launched their winter campaign to promote western Montana and Glacier country in Dallas, Chicago, Portland, Seattle and also in Canada.
- Adventure Cycling's Upcoming Tours Season
Adventure Cycling's upcoming tours season offers up some great mountain biking and off-road touring options, featuring lots of exciting terrain.
- NorthWestern Energy Gift Certificates Available to Help Those in Need
NorthWestern Energy has a gift suggestion for customers looking to make a difference for people on their holiday list or at any time of the year.
- NorthWestern Energy Recognized for 2011 Projects of the Year Award
The Projects of the Year Award recognizes exceptional power generation projects around the world that were completed in the past year and congratulates companies for being instrumental in meeting the growing demand for energy.
- Bozeman, Montana pet supply industry fetching profits despite hard economic times
"In difficult times, there's a joy to be gained from really doting on the pet. The holidays are a perfect time to do that." Spencer Williams, president of West Paw Design.
Bill Payne
- An Evaluation of State Government Online Disclosure of Economic Development Subsidies
Disclosure enables all other analyses: of whether companies are delivering promised jobs; of fairness among companies and industries; of wages and benefits; of geographic distribution; and of other measures of accountability and equity.
- Flyover Gets a Makeover: Small Cities in Middle America are Talking Big Game
The switch may not seem like much of a challenge, but it does represent a newfound confidence among smaller cities in what's condescendingly known as flyover country. As the nation's metropolises struggle--of the 15 largest, 14 reported a decline in growth in the '00s--smaller cities are on the upswing.
Careers
- Crowd Funding and Job Creation
I would like to provide my perspective on the primary potential benefit (of crowd funding) to the US economy - job creation.
Funding and Building your Business
- Be proactive ahead of performance review
If ever you wished you had the powers of mind-reading, it might be during your annual performance review.
- 2012 looking ripe for disgruntled IT pros to switch jobs
The IT job market did a 180-degree turnaround in 2011, and it is poised for continued growth in 2012, experts say.
Government and University TechTransfer
- 10 Rules For Picking a Company Name That Sticks
Right or wrong, the name you choose, or don't choose, speaks volumes about your business savvy and understanding of the world you are about to enter.
- The Male Lead as Entrepreneurs May Be Slipping
This study and others identify significant differences between the sexes in the approach and rationale for running ventures.
Montana Education Excellence
- New ACT Initiative Gives Entrepreneurs Access to Government Labs - Idaho Falls, Idaho Based Idaho National Laboratory
"ACT will cut red tape for businesses and start-ups interested in working with our nation's crown jewels of innovation, the national labs, and strengthen new domestic industries by helping bring innovative, job-creating technologies to the market faster." DOE Deputy Secretary Poneman
- Best US Universities for innovation Transfer?
Most industry scientists keep tabs on innovative university research by reading scholarly articles, informally interacting with their university-based colleagues and if that goes well, by eventually funding on-campus research.
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- Warning - Misleading Internet sites and telephone calls target Montana families applying for FAFSA funding assistance.
Submitting the FAFSA document is free
- 22 creative learning ideas win funding from new Great Falls Public Schools Foundation grant
"It's a statement to the teachers and the students that this community cares about education."
Idaho Business
- ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, and DESIGNERS! - Revit Training For Professionals , 01/16-20, Missoula, MT
Revit is the most important evolution of computer aided design since AutoCAD.
North Dakota Business and Economic Development
- Boise, Idaho ranked 11th among the nation's 100 largest metro areas in employment growth between the second and third quarters
"Boise's jobs recovery has been pretty broad-based across sectors," said Mark Muro, a policy director Brookings.
Oregon Economic Development
- North Dakota SBA Business News
While a home-based business can eliminate many distatesful aspects of working for someone else, it does come with unique perils and problem areas.
South Dakota Economic Development
- Oregon expected to add 300,000 jobs during this decade, led by education and health care
Economic forecasters expect Oregon to add nearly 300,000 payroll jobs between 2010 and 2020, with the private education and health care services industry growing especially fast at 30 percent.
Utah Economic Development
- Strategies Emphasize Innovation, Economic Growth at South Dakota State University
The initiatives at South Dakota State stem from a collaborative effort of colleges and departments throughout the university in support of the university's strategic plan, "Achieving National Distinction, Strengthening Local Relevance."
Wyoming Business
- Utah cities among top U.S. economic performers
When it comes to measuring how well cities nationally and in the region are functioning in today's challenging economy, Utah metro areas are among the tops, two new reports show.
2011 Montana Legislature
- Impact of Wyoming Wind Project Could be over $60 Million
The analysis suggests the project, during its 30-year lifetime, will provide $26.7 million in tax revenue along with 25 long-term jobs to Sweetwater County residents.
Education
- Montana Legislature jobs tour could yield good ideas
We don't know what messages will ring loudest on this jobs tour, but we hope the ideas floated are taken to heart by politicians on both sides of the aisle.
Ignite Missoula
- Boomers heading back to community colleges
An increasing number of people ages 50 and up are headed to community college.
- Tiny $25 computer is designed to teach programming to kids
Raspberry Pi http://www.raspberrypi.org/ is an ultra low-cost computer designed for teaching computer programming to children.
- Schools Can Finally Give Leftovers to Food Banks
Until last month, leftover (and untouched) food from school cafeterias went straight into the trash. Now, it can be sent to food banks.
Other Economies
- Tell Your Story Well: Resonate
If you ever - ever - get up to speak to a group of people, and if you give a damn about what that means, to you and them, then you want to read this book.
Connectivity & Communications
- Initiative to fuel business startups in Iowa - Its objective is to link entrepreneurs with needed resources.
The effort to build and grow new businesses in Iowa gets a boost today with the launch of StartupIowa http://www.startupia.org/ , a statewide initiative that will create one large umbrella of organizations that aim to help entrepreneurs.
- Blueprint Mississippi 2011
With each passing day, the prospects are brighter for assuring that even more of our children will find good-paying jobs here in Mississippi.
Energy and Climate Change
- 8 Surprising Findings About the Broadband Economy
"Finding a job" is one of the most frequently cited personal economic benefits of broadband for low-income populations. Economic development professionals, though, rate it at the bottom of the list of potential economic outcomes.
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- Wind Power Generator Unlike Any Other On Horizon
Allaei's "Invelox" technology (named for increasing velocity) looks more like a giant phonograph player than a wind turbine. Essentially, it works by capturing wind, funneling it into a tunnel to increase velocity, and channeling it into a ground-based turbine.
- Fracking Alternative? Or Just Hot Air? HyperSolar Inc.
A tech company is developing an alternative to fracking that uses sunlight to produce natural gas.
- Small May Be Beautiful For Nuclear Power
A study by the University of Chicago's Energy Policy Institute says that small, modular reactors may be the future of the nuclear power industry in the United States.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- The 10 Best TED Talks (Videos) of 2011
Unless you were lucky enough to attend the TED event in question, it's still new to you. Enjoy!
Government Technology
- Drivetrain Makes Manual Wheelchair Electric
The product isn't ready for the market just yet, but the Japan-based company is looking for wheelchair users to test the device.
Non-Profit News
- Cascade County, Montana to save $30,000 on cellphone bills by switching to family plan
Employees who were authorized to use phones for work previously owned their own phones under individual plans, with bills partially reimbursed by the county each month.
- The New Measures for Improving Nonprofit Performance
"We need to encourage risk-taking by organizations, provided that it's accompanied with rigorous data collection." —Alnoor Ebrahim
- Charitable Giving When Altruism and Similarity Are Linked
Harvard Business School professor Julio J. Rotemberg looks at what makes people decide to contribute to a charity.
- Build Montana, at http://www.buildmontana.org, is a terrific resource for people looking to donate, volunteer or simply learn more about the state's thousands of nonprofits.
As much as anything, the site aims to build awareness and relationships between organizations and Montanans who are able and willing to help in any way.
To subscribe or unsubscribe from the free weekly MATR newsletter, please visit our list info page