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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Feb 14, 2012 |
“This is not about the technology. It’s not about the box. It’s about changing the culture of instruction — preparing students for their future, not our past.” Mark Edwards, superintendent of Mooresville Graded School District http://matr.net/articl ... .html
City Club Missoula Forum - Judge Molloy: Supreme Court likely to strike down state spending ban http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- Missoula Mayor John Engen Honors Montana's Mae Nan Ellingson http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- NorthWestern Energy plans major upgrades for its electricity and natural gas distribution systems http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- Paid Student Internships for Montana Business - University of Montana Entrepreneurship Club http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Montana Department of Commerce
Montana Office of Tourism
- MicroBusiness Finance Program Expands to Great Falls & Kalispell
The MDOC MicroBusiness Finance Program awarded $500,000 to the Great Falls Development Authority and $400,000 to Montana West Economic Development in Kalispell. The economic development corporations will use the funds to provide loans to local start-up and existing microbusinesses, with ten or fewer employees and gross annual revenues of less than $1 million.
21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- Initiative to educate Montanans on tourism benefits
"So often, it's a misconception that because Montana is a wonderful place to live and visit, visitors will automatically come and visit," Paoli said. "We need to be active to compete for market share. There are so many choices that travelers have. We see the promotion funding as being critical for Montana to get the market share that would otherwise go to competing destinations."
Visit Montana
- A first-hand look inside a flipped classroom
Using this method, proponents say, teachers have the opportunity to help students learn as individuals, and students can learn concepts more quickly.
- A Laptops-to-Success Story - Mooresville's Shining Example (It's Not Just About the Laptops)
"This is not about the technology," Mark Edwards, superintendent of Mooresville Graded School District, would tell the visitors later over lunch. "It's not about the box. It's about changing the culture of instruction -- preparing students for their future, not our past."
- Babies, toddlers engage in sign language classes
"It is about empowering children to communicate."
Workforce Development
- TED Videl: Jack Horner: Shape-shifting dinosaurs
Montana's dinosaur trail is all mapped out
- A short jaunt in West Yellowstone
On a recent trip, a trumpeter swan fed in the river near a picnic area, ducking its head under the icy waters that remained unfrozen thanks to the thermal waters from geysers upstream. While watching the swan, a bald eagle arose from its perch downstream and cruised overhead.
Big Sky Commerce
- How to Manage Teenage Employees
Here are five strategies for bringing out the best in your teenage employees.
City Club Missoula
- Big Sky Commerce Gearing Up for Another Successful non-profit fundraising season. What's your favorite?
Do you have a favorite non-profit organization in need of additional funding?
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
- City Club Missoula Forum - Judge Molloy: Supreme Court likely to strike down state spending ban
"In my mind, there's a need to have a conversation about the criminal justice system." Judge Molloy
Modwest
- Influential Missoula attorney Mae Nan Ellingson retires
Thank you Mae Nan
- 8 Legal Steps for Starting Your Business
- Missoula Mayor John Engen Honors Montana's Mae Nan Ellingson
"We the people of Montana are grateful to Mae Nan Ellingson, an elegant human being who has improved the quality of our lives beyond measure." Mayor John Engen, February 2012
The Burton K. Wheeler Center
- Modwest February 2012 Newsletter
Modwest features Jeremiah Goldson at First Friday
Come Home South Dakota
- Statewide Wheeler Conference, "Medical Marijuana in Montana: Thoughtful Questions, Responsible Answers."
The various perspectives on the subject are presented in a clear and concise manner. All information good to know as you and other thought leaders move forward with deliberations, discussions or legislation in the coming years:
Come Home Wyoming
- In South Dakota, plenty of jobs, not enough workers
While governors in almost every other state are focused on bringing businesses to their states to help put millions of unemployed residents back to work, Governor Daugaard faces the opposite problem: not enough workers for the jobs that do exist.
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Cowboy Bar has been serving outlaws in Wyoming for 119 years
The Cowboy Bar has served them all -- from the early gunslingers to the modern day most wanted.
Montana Business
- Kauffman Foundation's Latest Animated Sketchbook Celebrates the 'Maker' Spirit that Drives Innovation and Entrepreneurship
"I think that self-motivated spirit is what drives entrepreneurs, and we need to have it drive everyone."
Regional Economic Development
- The Age of Big Data
"We're really just getting under way. But the march of quantification, made possible by enormous new sources of data, will sweep through academia, business and government. There is no area that is going to be untouched." Gary King, director of Harvard's Institute for Quantitative Social Science.
- NorthWestern Energy plans major upgrades for its electricity and natural gas distribution systems
The company has 7,000 miles of electric transmission lines and 2,000 miles of gas pipe in Montana. It recently received a "best in class" certification in audits of network compliance and disclosure.
University of Montana & Montana State University Tech Transfer
- The Importance of Innovation Ecosystems
Why do some regions thrive with innovation, while others do not? What levers can leaders pull to generate more technology-based economic growth?
Careers
- Close collaborators: Colleges & technology companies
In 2010, 657 new commercial products were created through technology transfer.
Developing Funding Opportunities in Montana
- The 5 Ways to Make Yourself Memorable
Why are some more memorable than others? Why were they more interesting and seemingly more distinguished from the countless others you spoke with that day?
Economic Gardening
- State Spends Millions on CAPCOs for only 202 New Jobs
Poorly drafted law, minimal oversight lead to huge returns for 3 out-of-state financial firms
Funding and Building your Business
- Economic Gardening Certification Program for Florida Organizations
The Florida Economic Gardening Certification Program is now open.
- Growing Jobs in Oregon: Economic Gardening as a Model Worthy of Our Support
The Legislature established the Economic Gardening Task Force (now known as the Grow Oregon Council) with broad bipartisan support in 2010 including all 60 votes in the House. The Council is a non-partisan group of representatives from Oregon's small business community, appointed by the Oregon Legislature and represent both rural and urban parts of the state.
Incubators and R&D
- Doing Business in Europe? You Should be Hedging
Paul Stafford, the director of Currency Risk Management, LLC http://www.currencyriskmanagement.com , based in Missoula, Montana, agrees that even small companies—those that earn between two and three million dollars in foreign revenue—are finding currency hedging as an increasingly important part of their business plan.
- Co-working: Is it right for your company? How about in Missoula?
I feel very bullish about the co-working models and the value they bring to a young firm like ours.
- Seven Steps for Board Success in the Facebook Age
The world has changed but corporate boards haven't kept pace.
- How to Be a Better Boss? Spend Time on the Front Lines
To succeed in upper management, consider walking in the shoes of your lower-level workers.
- Entrepreneurs Due Diligence on Investors Is Smart
I've had startup founders tell me that it's only about the color of the money, but I disagree.
- National Science Foundation is America's Biggest Angel Investor
The NSF annually gives $140 million in grants to startups. Hard to believe that a government entity like the NSF is so heavily involved in small companies and startups, but they have actually seen incredible success with many of the companies they've invested in.
- 7 Dumb Leadership Mistakes Smart Managers Avoid
#2. Worry and fret about everything.
- Six Steps to a Successful Kickstarter Video
Creating a compelling kickstarter campaign requires two things.
- Customers Demand Green
For a free comprehensive online guide to green business practices and other resources connect to http://www.sba.gov and type Green Business Guide in the keyword search.
- Every Entrepreneur Needs a Mentor, but not a Critic
Here are some tips on how to recognize whether a partner, consultant, or employee is a mentor or a critic:
- 5 Hard Lessons Related to Firing Somebody
So you start your business, and you get it going, and growing. If you have employees, it's likely you're going to have to deal with firing somebody.
- How to Go Global Without Going Abroad
Going global is really not as hard as most people think.
Montana Education Excellence
- Accelerator vs. Incubator: What's the Difference?
The terms sometimes get used interchangeably, but they're not the same thing. And that matters if you're thinking of applying.
- University of Montana ultra endurance researcher tests himself
They found that runners in the Western States run burn some 16,000 calories, or the equivalent of 30 Big Macs.
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- National Geographic explorers give public presentation on adventures in Bozeman, Montana
The Young Explorers grants support aspiring scientists and researchers between the ages of 18 and 25 in their pursuit of research, exploration and conservation-based field projects
- Exploring the future - Montana State University hosts National Geographic workshop on adventure grants
The event informed local students about National Geographic grants available for people ages 18 to 25. It was the 11th workshop National Geographic has held at colleges across the country.
Universities and Economic Development
- Paid Student Internships for Montana Business - University of Montana Entrepreneurship Club
If you think your business could benefit from quality interns, the UM Entrepreneurship Club would like to present this great opportunity to you.
- Four Hamilton teachers awarded grants from Plum Creek Timber Co.
"Careers in Health Science are a bright light in a dull economy. The 'Anatomy in Clay' project at Hamilton High School will engage all types of learners in their study of human anatomy and better prepare them for possible careers in Health Sciences," she said. "In this innovative hands-on learning system, students use clay to sculpt body systems on reusable plastic skeletons, increasing their detailed/spatial knowledge of human anatomy."
Developing an Angel Network in Montana
- Education is the Bedrock of the U. S. Economy
The flywheel of our local economy is Montana State University. From the direct employees of our university to the businesses that cater to the students, MSU is an integral part of our community.
Idaho Business
- The #1 Angel Investing Mistake
Despite all the competition, there's a clear number one error in my book:
Education
- "Idaho Leads" New statewide project to improve Idaho schools aims to build leadership, relationships and student achievement
It's like networking on steroids.
- The Simplot Saga: How America's French Fry King Made Billions More in Semiconductors
As with any megafortune, Simplot's wealth was built from a few simple but revolutionary ideas, much sweat, and a generous glossing of luck.
Other Economies
- Naval Academy "STEM" Summer Program Available for 8th - 11th Grade Students
"I learned so much and had so much fun! This camp brought up some interests in subjects that I didn't even know about before. I am so grateful that I was able to come. Thank you!"
- Fear the FAFSA? Here are five mistakes to avoid when applying for college financial aid
Parents, especially, need to follow an imperative their student knows well: Pay attention.
- MIT launches free online 'fully automated' course
The US university says it wants MITx to "shatter barriers to education". This ground-breaking scheme represents a significant step forward in the use of technology to deliver higher education.
Energy and Climate Change
- State Incentives Prompt Firm to Remain in State, Add New Jobs
"This significant corporate expansion is yet another example that west Mesa is well-positioned for economic-development projects, both in terms of available properties and in terms of superb transit access."
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- 5 Benefits of Vermont's Smart Grid
A smarter grid in Vermont means faster disaster recovery and more secure electric service. It means delivering a greener and more secure tomorrow. And it means that Vermonters are once again proving their mettle is made stronger by a deep green streak. Other states would do well to take note of Vermont’s experience and how they can reap the same benefits.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Here Are The 17 Radical Ideas From Google's Top Genius Conference That Could Change The World
It was called Google's "Solve For X" conference, a series of talks where some of the smartest people in the world tried to tackle some of the world's biggest problems.
Government Technology
- Using headset and software, users control movies with their thoughts
It's a rare movie-goer indeed who hasn't occasionally wished for a different ending to a film, but a new technology platform aims to make such sentiments a thing of the past.
Non-Profit News
- Marketing the IT Department
"Any marketing efforts in the past were done by IT staffers," he said. "We are not experts in marketing."
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- "Wood for Haiti" - Western Montana timber may help rebuild quake-shattered Haiti
"The idea was we'd send the wood and small construction teams to Haiti. There's a need for 180,000 homes. This project could create 40,000 jobs there. But we realized every part of the project has to involve Haiti in every step of the planning and design." Larry Anderson
- NorthWestern Selects MS Chapters as 2012 Corporate Volunteer Partner
Through this partnership, the MS chapters will receive $25,000 to help them underwrite their Walk MS and Bike MS fundraising events within NorthWestern Energy's service territory, as well as being a focus for local volunteer activity.
Transportation
- THE MONTANA STOCKMAN: Tougher Than Hammered Owl Manure - Please pledge to support this on Kickstarter
The Montana Stockman involves a year in the lives of three Montana ranching families and the challenges they face in their day-to-day ranch life and the raising of livestock.
- Future Farmers Will Drive Fuel Cell Tractors
An 18-pound hydrogen tank stores the fuel at 5075 psi, and the hydrogen itself would be generated on the farm, so it can be fueled just as a normal tractor would be.
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