Present: Tony, John, Malda,
MahYanti, Bill, Shelly, Lucy Lowry
Lucy filled us in on how the
North Mankato Community Forum began.
It was an outgrowth of
topics that appeared on KEYC and in the Star Tribune. Then people approached
the library to continue discussions before the Iraqi war. The second year they
did 9 to 10 discussions.
They found a speaker to
speak on opposing sides but it was not a debate.
In general, the people
attending were
The topics were generally
national issues not local issues. However, most of them had local importance.
The committee has faded
away. The last planned program for November was on Intelligent Design v.
Evolution. However, it did not happen. Lucy does know of at least one
interested speaker on the topic, if it is held in January.
Lucy sends out the flyers
and provides the space. She said that she would be willing for CV to take it
over but under our name and not in the NM Library.
After some discussion, we
told her that we would discuss it & then get back to her.
We felt that it was
important to continue the program at the same site & the previous
guidelines. The question is how to get it done.
Several names were suggested
for the reconstituted committee: Jody Saylor, Christie Schuck, Amy Lennartson,
David Boyce, Barbara Carlson, Robert Bartholdi, and Dick Wintersteen.
We will continue the
discussion at the next meeting.
At the August 28th
meeting, we discussed several topics for the NM Library forum.
1. The difference between
growth and development
2. Conservation v. New
development
3. The role of art in the
community
4. Cooperation,
consolidation & collaboration
5. Judges & party
endorsements
In addition, we thought that
Bill Goldy might like to talk to the editor of the Free Press, the two city
managers and the county administrators to seek their thoughts on the
topics that should be discussed & debated by the citizens.
Please bring this list with
you, not only will it help our discussion but then I will know that you read
these notes.
Bill reported on a meeting
held by MSU students as part of the Center for Community Based Learning.
Both he and Malda think
it is a worthwhile effort.
Envision 20/20 - January 5th
is the kick off. We need to do a lot of phone calling before then. We must
expand out list of group leaders. This is the second topic for next meeting,
Friday November 18th.
Malda