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The test and the use of man's education is that he finds pleasure in the exercise of his mind. -Jacques Martin Barzum
2005 MCEA ANNUAL REPORT
Presented at the MCEA Annual Board Meeting
October 13, 2005
Board Members:
NAME
REGION
Judy Beardsley
8
Tom Larson
6
Charlie Blesener, President Elect
3
Barb Mann
7
Amy Eich
5
Mary Maruska, Treasurer
Eric Erlandson, Secretary
9
Bob Meyer, MCEA Director
Mark Grelson
Marica Provencher
2
Rande Gustafson
Susan Rheingans
1
Tom Holton, President
4
Wendy Walz
Shawn Kasianov, Past President
Wendy Webster
Lisa Kruse
The primary focus of the 2005 MCEA Board was engaging the membership in a strategic planning process. Included in that process was the revision/adoption of a new mission statement, adoption of a new strategic roadmap and guiding principles, and reorganization of the committee structure to align resources to address strategic priorities identified by membership and endorsed by the Board. They also adopted measurement rubrics to measure the input of the new strategic initiatives.
Other Board business and highlights in 2005 included:
ü Community Education doing more K-12 activities
ü Role/importance of Director licensure
Marcia Provencher, Chair
The Awards Committee for 2005 also consisted of the following members:
Bridget Gothberg Colleen LeBlanc Linda Saveraid
Nancy Tofte Sue Rheingans Mary Hughes
Joan Eisenreich Dolf Moon Jeanne Strauss
Deb Karaus Fern Mjolsness Michelle Peacock
Mark Woitalewicz
The following people/groups were award winners for 2005:
Community Educator Award
District population greater than 20,000 Janet Flick, Willmar District population less than 20,000 Ward Merrill, Blackduck
Community Contribution Award > 20,000 Linda Carlson, Buffalo
Community Contribution Award < 20,000 Jim Carlson, McGregor
Youth Contribution Award
District population greater than 20,000 Simeaon Gary Rucker, St. Paul
District population less than 20,000 Shauna Speedling, Wabasha
Multicultural Leadership and Involvement Award Mhonpaj Lee, St. Paul
Emerging Leader Award Cori Morse, North St. Paul
Outstanding Advisory Council Member Award Michelle Veith, Eden Prairie
Outstanding Organization Award Working Family Resource Center, St. Paul
*Power of Youth Owatonna
*Family School Rosemount
*New English Language: Brain Development St. Paul
*Community Power: Partners on Waste Education and Reduction North St. Paul
*SPOTS (Students Performing on Tough Situations) New Ulm
*“The Perfect Show (Musical Featuring Adults with Disabilities) Bloomington
*The Blanket Project Minneapolis
* Community Action Collaborative St. Paul
*Creating an History Literary Legacy St. Paul
*So. Minneapolis Housing Home Improvement Fair Minneapolis
Honorable Mention
Ralph’s World Edina
Early Childhood Committee Rosemount
Traveling Companions Rosemount
The awards will be presented at the fall conference Awards Banquet. Marcia Provencher and Mary Hughes will plan the presentation. All awards are presented at the conference except project awards that are presented locally. MCEA Board members and awards committee members are asked to present the project awards locally at an advisory council meeting and/or a school board meeting.
DATA COLLECTION COMMITTEEE REPORT
Steve Kerr, Chair
MCEA collected information from 137 of 343 community education programs serving in Minnesota in 2003-2004. This marked the third year of this effort and the number of districts submitting data declined from 177 school districts the previous year. These results mirrored those of the State Department of Education who reported that 82 districts in the state failed to file the required state community education report. This points to the continuing need to emphasize to community education professionals the need to collect and submit program data.
The participation data was combined with state financial data and was utilized to frame testimony throughout the legislative process. The data was submitted to the Executive office.
In addition, a letter was sent to the State Department of Education requesting the review and possible consolidation of the various reports that community education departments are responsible for submitting. This would be a joint effort of MCEA and the State Department of Education.
I would like to begin the 2005 office report with a thank you to all the members for their support of the MCEA office and our staff. It has been 10 years since we have set up shop here in Chisago Lakes and the opportunity to work with outstanding board members and being able to work with and network with so many great people has been enjoyable.
This year the office has, with everyone else, been focused on the strategic planning process. We have tried to be a resource for Tom Holton, MCEA President, the board and the strategic planning committee. I believe that this roadmap will provide us with the direction we need to take MCEA into the next decade and we look forward to this with great anticipation and excitement.
We have also worked diligently on dealing with membership’s questions, concerns, and issues and have provided new professional development opportunities. We are also working on improving our communications to the field. Each night I think to myself, “I should get one more e-mail out”.
Reorganization and restructuring the MCEA Web page became a major priority this past year. Jean Johnson has done an outstanding job learning and applying this new system. If you have not taken a look at our web page you should take the time, log on and see all the great information you have access to and to let us know what changes or additions you would like to see.
Our focus will continue to be service to our members by supporting Legislative efforts, developing new Professional Development opportunities and identifying our member’s needs and assisting the board in developing viable program and services.
Thank you for your support this past decade.
Membership By District Population
District Population
Number of Districts
2000
2001
2002
2003*
2004**
2005***
0-4,999
72
60
78
80
65
5,000-14,999
83
76
88
82
85
86
15,000-29,999
31
32
33
30,000-49,999
14
11
13
12
50,000-99,999
100,000+
Total
219
190
228
224
217
226
*as of 11/1/2003
** final for 04
*** as of 9/05
FALL CONFERENCE 2005 COMMITTEE REPORT
Dates: Oct. 12-14, 2005 at the Ramada Inn Mall of America
Overall Vision ..… Goals ….. Guiding Principles
· Offer a top-quality conference with value-added professional development that enhances people personally and professionally in order to build Community Education in communities across the state
· Choose keynoters and workshops that align with MCEA’s evolving strategic vision and directions.
· Serve the broad membership of MCEA – directors, coordinators, adv. council, supts., other district staff, collaborating groups, students?
· Get diverse opinions on subcommittees – (W. Sub. Core & add diversity with ethnicity, age, geography (rural/sub/urban), dist. size, gender)
· Provide opportunities to connect with others, including past leaders to build leadership in all
Steering Committee Members:
Program: Mary Hughes and Melanie DeLuca
Publicity: Katie Lee, Kris Koshiol, and Ann Coates
Keynoter/Supt. Summit: Jim Brandl, Tom Holton, Mike Looby, and Linda Saveraid
MCEA Office Liaisons: Dennis Arthur, Jean Johnson, and Bob Meyer
Hospitality: Bob Wittman
Silent Auction: Tim Litfin
Exhibits: Sandra Stevenson and Kristin Tollison
Equipment/Technology: Doug Langefels and Cheryl Bridge
Volunteers: Meg Low
2006 Co-chairs: Bob Greeley and Hannah Puzcko
Highlights:
Offered a Wed. Summit with Superintendents for visioning and strategizing
Chose keynoters to appeal to all program areas (Gary Marx, Jim Bensen, Nancy Delin, Out of the Blue)
Planned programs that tied directly to new MCEA Strategic Roadmap and provided professional development for people in different roles within Community Education.
Started a new Program Resource Fair on Friday
Expanded Hospitality opportunities to promote networking and provide fun!
Sent Early Bird Flyer in late May that drew 267 registrations by July 15 deadline
Recommendations:
Make sure that future conference dates do not conflict with any major religious or national holidays.
FAMILY & EARLY EDUCATION NETWORK REPORT
Mary O’Brien, Chair
The Family and Early Education Network (FEEN) is open to all MCEA members who work in the Family and Early Education field. Network meetings are open to all comers meeting this criterion.
The purpose of FEEN is to ensure a unified, powerful and influential statewide
voice for family and early education.
FEEN responsibilities include:
a. Provide regular opportunities/channels of communication for network
members statewide
b. Communicate member concerns/issues/positions to MCEA Board
c. Keep MCEA Board and related committees apprised of critical issues in the field
FEEN met face to face four times during 2004-2005, twice in the Metro area and
twice in St. Cloud. Attendance at all meetings was limited to six-eight members although others indicated an interest in attending but were unable to do so. Consequently most network communications took place through MCEA listserv to FEEN members and MCEA Board members. This appears to be the most effective and expeditious way of reaching all concerned with updates regarding issues germane to the field.
In addition, FEEN is well represented on the MCEA Legislative Committee. Since the majority of issues of concern to FEEN members are legislative, this is an important method of communicating concerns/issues/positions to the MCEA Board.
Continuing this representation on the MCEA Legislative Committee, I believe, is critical to FEEN’s success in providing a voice for those in this field as is the ability to communicate via the MCEA listserv to FEEN members as appropriate.
The MCEA Finance Committee works with an outside professional the auditor to assure good financial practices and on-going viability of the Association. The committee assists the Board in establishing the annual budget and also performs a mid-year budget review. The committee also reviews and recommends to the Board membership fees and categories and fund balance policies.
Members of the Finance Committee for 2005 include Chuck Klaassen (Chair), MCEA President Tom Holton, MCEA President-Elect Charlie Blesener, MCEA Executive Director Bob Meyer, Mary Maruska, Dave Maurer, Bill Patterson, Shawn Kasianov, Duane Gates, Don Kramlinger, Doug Johnson and Jack Tamble. The auditor is Gary Groen, CPA.
The 2004 audit showed that the overall health and condition of the Association’s finances continued to be very good. The auditor did not find any particular problems or issues during his investigation. He did note the need for awareness of the importance of adequate segregation of duties in all financial aspects of the Association, but at the same time recognized that the small size of the organization and its staff limits our ability to provide that segregation.
MCEA ended fiscal year 2004 with a fund balance of $85,713. The budget for 2005 originally projected expenditures over revenues by $9,845, which would still keep the fund balance within the MCEA policy. New projections in early fall of 2005 suggest that the 2005 year end fund balance will end up better than the budgeted level.
The Finance Committee brought three recommendations to the Board this year, based on its review of the audit and general financial information:
1. The Association should establish an internal process that would include a reconciliation of conference and workshop attendance with recorded revenue. The committee recognized that the main problem in this area is walk-ins who do not pre-register their participation.
2. Documentation supporting claims for petty cash reimbursement needs to be complete and attached to the claim for reimbursement. Random investigation by the auditor of claims and payments revealed that occasionally payments were made without adequate documentation.
3. The fund balance policy currently in place for MCEA (maintain a fund balance of at least 25% of projected revenue) should be kept as is for the present. The Finance Committee will review the policy again in the fall at the time of budget planning for 2006.
The financial health of MCEA continues to be good. Boards over the past few years have done a good job of managing the finances of the Association. Much of the credit for that must go to the stability and consistency of leadership provided by MCEA staff, in particular Bob Meyer.
The Finance Committee also worked with President-Elect Charlie Blesener in formulating the 2006 MCEA budget recommendations. The committee will review possible changes to the membership structure and fees in March of 2006. The fund balance policy, 2005 audit and various other financial issues will also be covered at that meeting.
Achieved many of our Platform goals:
· ECFE - revenue increased 8% over the biennium
· Community Education – revenue increased 4% over the biennium.
· ABE – Recaptured state aide money previously sent back to the state general fund.
Had the MCEA 2005 Platform approved by the MCEA Board at the December 2004 meeting.
Met with key legislative leaders both prior to and during the session to discuss strategies for achieving platform goals.
Testified before various committees in both the House and Senate. Testifying were Mary O’Brien, Steve Kerr, Steve Brisendine, Doug Spray, Jackie Johnston and Jack Tamble.
Strongly advocated for all MCEA members and their local citizens to make personal contacts with the legislators. These personal contacts played a key role in passing legislation.
Conducted “statewide surveys” regarding youth and early education where results were infused in testimony before the legislature.
Sponsored and hosted the Fall Conference Silent Auction that raised over $1400 for the MCEA PAC and over $3,300 for the Association.
The Legislative Committee played a major role in the first-ever statewide interactive regional meeting on September 24. Three main parts were included in the agenda. First, a “State of the State” address by Ray Frost providing everyone with a legislative overview of what to expect during the 2005 session. Second, individuals were given practical tools to use when contacting legislators and third, the Regional MCEA Board members distributed a template that was used to track legislative contacts to be reported back to the Legislative Committee.
Jack Tamble and Russ Fraenkel presented a legislative workshop at the Fall Conference.
Increased the frequency of communications from the Legislative Committee to the field. This included e-mails, Scene articles and other timely communications. Feedback indicated people felt well informed.
Instituted a first ever “Bill Watch” and hosted it on the MCEA web site. It tracked all education bills including those pertaining to the 2005 platform.
Revised, updated and placed on the MCEA website, a Values Piece related to Community Education for membership to use when communicating with their constituents.
Developed ongoing relationships with several external organizations or groups who share common goals:
Ready 4K (Early Education)
MNAFEE. Minnesota Association for Family and Early Education (Early Education)
Out of School Time (OST) (Youth Development)
Posted useful information on the MCEA website for members to access. e.g. Bill watch, Tips sheets, Values document, Committee membership, 2005 platform, etc.
Invited Dale Blyth; Associate Dean for Youth Development and Director, Center for 4H Development, U of M Extension Service, to share information regarding the work of the Out of School Time Commission. He presented to the Legislative Committee as well as Leadership Day and the Spring Regional meeting.
Prepared new public relations pieces related to Early Childhood Family Education and School Readiness to be used, not only during the session, but also for usage with other constituents.
Revised and approved the decision-making criteria the committee uses while deciding on legislative priorities.
Provided opportunities for all committee members to learn more about the variety of programs represented on the committee by conducting “Program Reports” where information was shared.
Named a Chair Elect for the Legislative Committee, Jackie Johnston. She assumes a two-year appointment as Legislative Chair beginning the summer of 2005.
Formed a task force of five people who contacted over 90 districts who exceeded the 25% fund balance cap and offered technical and financial assistance. Most districts were grateful for the calls.
Once again, we gathered and used data in preparing for the 2005 legislative session. Thanks again to Steve Kerr.
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT
The Member Services Committee was active in the Strategic Planning process during the past year, with both Steve Brisendine and Doug Spray attending several sessions designed to develop the STRATEGIC ROADMAP of MCEA. The new committee structure of the future will combine the Member Services committee with the Professional Development committee to form the ‘Professional Development & Member Services’ committee, better serving the needs of all members of MCEA.
The Member Services committee has been focused on providing ‘benefits’ to members over the years, and there are many benefits to being an MCEA member:
*Right to vote in association business.
*MCEA Executive Office support.
*Right to hold office in MCEA.
*Professional Development programs and opportunities.
*Legislative Committee working on our behalf.
*List serve posting of job vacancies.
*Membership Directory.
*Annual Conference and workshop discounts.
*Member mailing lists and labels.
*Awards.
*Legal Services.
*Discounts to places like Minnesota Zoo, Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, Underwater
Adventures, and government rate hotel discounts.
The new Strategic Roadmap will now challenge us to take a more in-depth look at membership and it’s impact on the association. We will need to study and evaluate things like:
*Retention rates of our members.
*Measure member satisfaction with the Association and its services.
*The percent of members participating in Association activities and affairs.
*Percent of members who are not on a CE payroll.
*Membership recruitment.
*Percent of members by geography, program, position, and demographics.
And More!
The new structure that MCEA is now focusing on will be very beneficial to all MCEA members in the future. It will create a structure that will bring together all the areas directly related to ‘Member Services’ and ensure a more streamlined, effective method to serve the variety of needs and expectations of the membership in our Association. Thank You to everyone who helped in any way to deliver member services in the past year.
The support of the MCEA Executive office and current board members has helped us to encourage members to come forward to run for the MCEA board. The major activities were collecting and verifying nominees to run for MCEA Board, term beginning 2006. The goal was to encourage MCEA members to nominate themselves or others to serve on the MCEA board and this was accomplished through the mailing of nomination forms to MCEA members, on-line and meeting announcements, and the recruitment efforts of current Region Board representatives. The mission is to provide a slate of candidates that can represent all of the community education program areas, support the MCEA’s Strategic Plan, and help grow the leadership of our organization. We are pleased to share that we have arrived at a full slate of candidates for term beginning January 2006.
The slate of candidates is as follows:
President – elect:
Steve Kerr, Community Education Director, Anoka-Hennepin
Region 2 Board Representative:
Doug Spray, Community Education and Recreation Director, Montevideo
Region 3 Board Representative:
Rande Gustafson, Director of Community Education, Big Lake
Region 5 Board Representative:
Amy Eich, Learning Services Manager, Rosemount/Apple Valley/Eagan
Cristeen Lamberty, Youth Manger, South Washington County
At Large Region 5,000 – 15,000 Representative:
Russell Fraenkel, Community Education Director, Mahtomedi
Secretary:
Jeanne Zetah, Director of Community Education, Eden Prairie
Region 8 Board Representative:
Molly Johnson, Community Education Director, Proctor-Hermantown
We will continue to face key issues such as encouraging members to come forward to serve on the board, especially with increased demands on member’s work and personal schedules. We will need to be clear on expectations and time required of board members so individuals can be realistic about their commitment to serve on the board. It will also be important to seek nominations from emerging leaders who desire to embrace the future vision and goals of our association and help in motivating others to accomplish action steps that will evolve from upcoming Strategic Planning efforts. It will be vital for future board members to focus on the broader vision of Community Education and the linkages between programs and other entities with similar missions, beliefs, and programs. In addition, future board members will need to continue focusing on ways for the members of the association to work cooperatively in supporting unity across special interest/program areas and legislative platforms in tight funding circumstances.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE REPORT
David Maurer – Chair
Board Rep. - Amy Eich
MCEA Professional Development - Denny Arthur
Kelly Inn, St. Cloud, MN January 27/28, '05
Chair - Charlie Blesener
Thursday participants-230
Friday participants-193
Special Note - This is a very important workshop for our membership. It is timely and always seems to present cutting edge information to our members at a reasonable cost!
Rochester, MN March 23, '05
Presenter - Beth Holsen
Participants - 31
Series offered in Rochester and Sartell, MN
Sartell - April 1, Rochester - April 15, Sartell - May 4,
Rochester - May 26, Sartell - June 8, Rochester - June 29
Presenter - Bob Meyer
Participants - 90
Special Note - Budget and finance information is always in demand by our members
Offered at regional locations statewide
ITV format + Regional rep. presenters
Participants - 178
Fairview Community Center, Roseville, MN
May 24, '05
Presenters - ML Rice and Bridgett Gothberg
Participants - 55
Elk River, MN
June 16, '05
Presenters - Linda Rodgers and Mary Olson
Participants - 12
August 18, '05
Presenter - Dr. Barry Lane
Participants - 34
King's Retreat Center, Buffalo, MN
September 22, '05
Presenters - MCEA leaders
Special Note - a one-day abbreviated CE 101 was offered this year at a reduced fee. Excellent response. Participants were generally coordinators and managers with 3 or 4 directors.
October 12-October 14
Ramada Inn, Bloomington, MN
Participant #s TBA
Human Resource Workshop on tap for November
