Create: Join the Education Advancement group to examine a teacher licensure proposal  

 

We are currently seeking members for a new advancement group to examine a proposal for a tiered teacher licensure system. Rather than a single class of teacher license, the proposal would create three types: provisional, professional, and master licenses.

 

Our Policy Advisory Committee has some specific questions about the tiered licensure system and is asking the advancement group to:

1. Clearly articulate the arguments for adopting tiered teacher licensure as well as the important arguments against these systems.
2. Explore connections to current Citizens League policy positions.
3. Focus on how the tiers should be defined: What should be considered? How should teachers be evaluated in moving to the next tier?

This group is open to all Citizens League members with all kinds of experience with education.  

 

Interested in participating? Contact Annie Levenson-Falk at alevensonfalk[at]citizensleague.org or 651-293-0575 x16.

Learn: Citizens League report release

 

Principles for Citizen and Government  

Collaboration in Public Decision Making:

 

Testing Common Ground Principles on the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit (LRT) Project

 

For the last five years, the Citizens League has been defining the gap in expectations between government officials and citizens in how public decision-making processes play out through government agencies. Through the Minnesota Anniversary Project (MAP150), the Regional Policy Workshop and the recently completed Central Corridor case study, we have been developing and testing ideas on how citizens and governments can better collaborate in ways that we have recently referred to as Common Ground Principles. We believe that these principles will have a transformative effect when applied to decision-making processes and result in better results for citizens and government.  

 

Read the full report, which includes detail about key process points, political skills, and other findings from our Central Corridor LRT case study.

Learn: Register now for Rochester long-term care event

 

The New Old: Planning for Long-Term Care in Minnesota

 When the baby-boom becomes the senior tsunami

 

Wednesday, June 29 

4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. 

University Center Rochester

Health Sciences Building - Room HS 128

851 30th Ave. SE, Rochester
Register Now

How can you afford to live so long? How can you figure that out? Don't know? Let's talk it over and see what we can come up with. Six months ago, the Citizens League issued a report on how Minnesota should address long-term care for the elderly. The recommendations received broad and widespread support from across the political spectrum.

 

This workshop will set the stage for a possible pilot project in Rochester, aimed at providing Minnesotans with valuable, objective information for long-term care planning. Participants will help the Citizens League better understand Minnesotans' attitudes toward planning for long-term care, what information they would want, and how best to provide it.

 

Learn more about the Citizens League's Long-Term Care Financing Project.

Create: Help us craft a transportation vision  

 

We've just completed the public workshops across the state for Minnesota GO, which aimed to learn Minnesotans' priorities for transportation in the future. Now we're bringing the scenario exercise online at CitiZing.org until the end of the month.

 

Add your voice to the mix by telling us what transportation options you want in the future, rating the likelihood of future scenarios, responding to expert videos and the advisory group findings, and testing your transportation knowledge.

Connect: Attend an upcoming Honoring Choices listening session

       

The Citizens League has been working with the Twin Cities Medical Society and TPT on Honoring Choices Minnesota, an initiative seeking to inspire and support conversations about end-of-life care and planning.  

 

In these sessions, you will have an opportunity to share your experiences planning for end-of-life choices or making those choices with loved ones, and hear from other people about what they have done. Join the discussion online or at the upcoming listening session:   

Wednesday, July 6

6:00 - 7:30 p.m. 

Open Book, Room 203

1011 Washington Avenue S, Minneapolis

 

Space is limited, so please RSVP to Annie Levenson-Falk at 651-293-0575 x16 or alevensonfalk[at]citizensleague.org. 

Connect: Sign up to be an evaluator for the Minnesota Idea Open

 

The Citizens League is recruiting volunteer evaluators for the Minnesota Idea Open Challenge. The challenge is based around the question: "how would you use $15,000 to help your community become aware of and address water issues in Minnesota"? As an evaluator, you'll read proposals that are submitted online and use an online tool to rank each idea. Evaluators will help to narrow down the submissions to 20 semi-finalists.  

 

If you are interested in serving as an evaluator or would like learn more about this opportunity, please contact Catherine Beltmann at cbeltmann[at]citizensleague.org or 651-293-0575 ext. 15.

Connect: Make an impact with sustaining membership

  

Have you considered becoming a sustaining member of the Citizens League? Sustaining members make a significant impact by scheduling regular monthly, quarterly, or annual payments (until you'd like to make changes). Here are some of the great benefits of switching:

• It's effective - Saving on paper, postage, and administrative costs, we can spend more of your donation to accomplish the League's mission.
• It's convenient - Automatic payments save you the time of renewing each year.
• It's lasting - Spreading the donation over the year helps your wallet and ensures a consistent cash flow for the Citizens League.

Become a sustaining member here, or call us at 651-293-0575 ext. 15.

Connect: Save the date for Policy and a Pint ®

 

 

Telecommuting and eWorkplace 

 

Tuesday, July 12th, 2011

Time: TBA (evening) 

Varsity Theater 

1308 4th Street SE, Minneapolis

 

 Register now  

Admission: $10.00, $5.00 for students with valid ID

Appetizers from the Loring Pasta Bar included

 

It's summer. You want the most of your time but you still need to work. Guess what? Telecommuting makes your life easier, letting you still get your work done, and it's good for your company too.

Join Steve Seel and special guests for a discussion on the future of telecommuting and flexible work environments.

 

 

The 2011 Policy and a Pint series is generously sponsored by Best Buy.