In a very short time it will be July and that means that
hundreds of people like yourself will traveling to Duluth, Minnesota, USA to
participate in the Joint International Summit on Community and Rural
Development. For anyone with an interest in how community development policy,
practice and research can positively impact our rural and urban communities,
Duluth is the place to be July 22-25. The Program Committee has set its goal to
insure that the Duluth Program will feature gracious Minnesota hospitality,
great networking opportunities, stimulating presentations, hot conversations,
and temperate weather. Dozens of
volunteers are hard at work to make this goal a reality.
The Joint International Summit is a unique event this year
in that it combines the annual summer conferences of the Community Development
Society (CDS), the Minnesota Rural Partners (MRP) and the National Rural
Development Partnership (NRDP). Since
a sub-title of the Summit is “Working Partnerships for Viable Communities”,
it is appropriate that these three organizations have successfully partnered to
plan and host this joint event. One
application of this partnership was the work of the Joint Program Committee, an
entity comprised of equal representation from all three Partners. Each Partner
brought its unique perspectives and rituals to the table, and the Duluth Program
represents the rich synthesis that emerged from this diversity.
Since much of the work of the Program Committee can be
found in the registration materials posted elsewhere on this website, I will
only comment on some of the highlights of what awaits you when you attend the
Summit.
To begin with – on
Sunday July 22 – the Community Development Society and the National Rural
Development Partnership organizations will conduct their separate board,
committee and other meetings in the morning. Each will then host separate New
Member Orientation Lunches that afternoon. The Summit will officially open after
lunch, with a special program that emphasizes the policy, research and practice
common ground of the three Partner Organizations. The opening will be followed
by the first round of concurrent sessions of workshops, project presentations,
panels and papers. An evening reception and a cruise around Duluth Harbor
conclude the day.
On Monday, you
will have your choice of eight fabulous Mobile Workshops, some of which are full
day and others are half-day in length, but all of which feature an in-depth look
at some aspect of the arts, culture, history, economies, and community
development initiatives of Duluth and NE Minnesota. You may also choose to take
a tour for half a day and then participate in one of the nine excellent
Professional Development Seminars that are also scheduled for Monday.
Any of these choices presents a wonderful opportunity to hone
professional skills, network with old and new colleagues, and to learn more
about the fascinating environs of Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin.
On Tuesday, the
Program presents you with more choices as you pick from the wealth of
presentations offered during three concurrent sessions.
Another highlight of this day will be the plenary session featuring an
address by Natalie Schoch, Manager of Product Development Research and Trends at
the Kellogg Company. Ms. Schoch is
a futurist who will present her professional insights about how to think
constructively about the future. Tuesday
is also the focal day for Summit Exhibitors with several break times, a
reception and exhibit walk-a-round supper featuring and showcasing the various
organizations, institutions and businesses exhibiting at the Summit. The new Great Lakes Aquarium--America’s only all-freshwater
aquarium-- is within easy walking distance of the Exhibits and will play host to
Summit registrants on Tuesday evening. As
you stroll toward the Aquarium, you may wish to stop and sound-off about your
favorite topic as a participant in the Soapbox.
On Wednesday,
the Northwest Area Foundation is hosting a Breakfast Panel Discussion for all
Summit attendees that focuses on poverty in Rural America.
The Panel will share perspectives on the causes, effects, and innovative
solutions to poverty in rural areas. Those
attending the Breakfast will also be seated with their Learning Station Team at
this time. Touring the Learning Stations with your team is a highly
invigorating and fun experience, as you randomly encounter brief and intense
introductions to a variety of key topics in community and rural development.
Finally, the afternoon will be devoted to a closing session during which
conference participants will be asked to work on the beginnings of a roadmap
that aims to chart a course through all of the forces shaping our society, rural
and urban together. The process of connections and learning during the Joint
Summit, capped off by this final afternoon gathering, we hope will be a steady
first step towards building the core thoughts of a truly comprehensive national
rural development policy.
If you don’t want the Duluth adventure to end just yet,
there is a wonderful post-Conference tour option that will enable you to tour
much of forest, lake and prairie Minnesota on your way to Morris, “a heaven of
a small town” located in the west-central region of our state. It’s a golden
opportunity to study up close and personal the dynamics of viable rural
communities.
As you can see, we’ve created what we hope is a seductive
mix of partnership modeling, extensive networking, meaningful policy input, a
myriad of research and practice applications, a blend of United States and
International participants, and ample opportunities for a good time with
convivial folks. Plus, we get to be in one of the most beautiful urban settings
in America. Please join us at
Duluth. Should you have any
questions about the program feel free to contact me at jlkuester@aol.com
---- John Kuester, CDS Vice President for Program and Program Chair for The Joint International Summit on Community and Rural Development.