Get Smart

Next week I am heading to Virginia for a week of study at the University of Virginia. I am delighted to be among 50 legislators in the nation to participate in the 2008 Program for Emerging Political Leaders at the University of Virginia. In the spring, Speaker Kelliher nominated me for this honor. Read more at: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/pressreleasels85.asp?district=64A&pressid=3639&party=1

Over the past month I have been reading the materials in preparation including Plato’s Republic, The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan,Thomas Friedman’s The World is Flat 3.0, Joseph Ellis’ American Creation and Crucibles of Leadership by Robert Thomas.

My first term as the representative from our district is best described as live action learning. I am excited to take all that I have learned and experienced to a classroom with legislators from other parts of the country. I know this will be a valuable experience and one that will help me stretch and grow my perspectives, thinking and abilities. I look forward to sharing what I learn back here at home.

Mighty!

I wanted to share with you an opportunity to shape our economic future.

July 7, 2008

SAINT PAUL-The Secretary of State's Office today released the monthly notice of vacancies that have occurred in multi-member state agencies, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 15.0597, subdivision 4 (see the list of current vacancies below).
You may now apply online at: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/survey/user_survey.asp?nSurvey=111.

Application forms may also be found at http://www.sos.state.mn.us/docs/oa_application.pdf, or may be obtained from the Office of the Secretary of State, Open Appointments, 180 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155-1299, or in person at Room 180 of the State Office Building.
Contact: john.aiken@state.mn.us

GREEN JOBS TASK FORCE
DEPT OF COMMERCE; 85 E. 7th Place, #500
ST. PAUL, MN 55101 651-296-9325
LAWS 2008, CH. 356
Appointing: Governor and Legislature
Compensation: $55 per diem plus expenses
Vacancies:
One (1) - Public member representing the manufacturing industry, appointed by the Governor;
One (1) - Public member representing a statewide organization dedicated to commerce, appointed by the Governor;
One (1) - Public member representing the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, appointed by the Governor;
Four (4) - Public Members, appointed by the Senate Subcommittee on Committees of the Committee on Rules and Administration, including:
(1) from a Local Economic Development Authority from the Metropolitan Area;
(1) from a Statewide organization dedicated to furthering the Green economy;
(1) from a firm currently engaged in green manufacturing; and
(1) local workforce development representative from an area thathas experienced significant manufacturing job loss;
Four (4) - Public Members appointed by the Speaker of the House, including:
(1) representing Labor;
(1) representing a statewide environmental organization;
(1) representing financial institutions or venture capital; and
(1) from a local economic development authority from Greater Minnesota.

Report to the Governor and Legislature by January 15, 2009 a statewide action plan to optimize the growth of the green economy. The plan must include necessary draft legislation and budget requests and may include administrative actions of governmental entities, collaborative actions, and actions of individuals and individual organizations. The plan must be based on an analysis that includes a market analysis of the business opportunities and needs created by laws including local, state, national, and international markets; an analysis of the labor force needs related to the market analysis opportunities including educational, training, and retraining needs; and an inventory of the current labor and business assets available to respond to the opportunities and labor needs.
Membership includes three members of the Minnesota House of Representatives, including one member of the minority party appointed by the Speaker of the House; three members of the Senate, including one member of the minority party appointed by the Subcommittee on Committees of the Committee on Rules and Administration; seven representatives from state agencies and institutions appointed by the Governor, including one member each from the Office of Energy Security, Department of Employment and Economic Development, Job Skills Partnership Board, University of Minnesota, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, Pollution Control Agency, and Department of Natural Resources; three public members appointed by the Governor, including one member representing each of the following categories: the manufacturing industry, a statewide organization dedicated to commerce, and the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute; four public members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives including one member representing each of the following categories: labor, a statewide environmental organization, financial institutions or venture capital, and a local economic development authority from greater Minnesota; and four public members appointed by the Senate Subcommittee on Committees of the Committee on Rules and Administration including one member representing each of the following categories: a local economic development authority from the metropolitan area, a statewide organization dedicated to furthering the green economy, a firm currently engaged in green manufacturing, and a local workforce development representative from an area that has experienced significant manufacturing job loss.