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February 14, 2005 Rural Leadership North Dakota Class Studies in Washington, D.C. Rural Leadership North Dakota members returned from a recent study tour to Washington, D.C., with a new appreciation of how the federal government operates. RLND is a two-year interactive study and travel program dedicated to producing graduates with the vision and commitment to lead themselves, their organizations and communities into the future. One of the program’s goals is to give participants the tools to effect change in their state. Twenty-four participants networked with policy-makers, including North Dakota’s congressional delegation, Sens. Bryon Dorgan and Kent Conrad and Rep. Earl Pomeroy, and members of their staffs, during the trip to the nation’s capital. Pomeroy told RLND class members that they can make a tangible difference in the state. “There is nothing magical about leadership,” Pomeroy said. “It is about caring and working. In North Dakota, it doesn’t take too many to make a difference.” During the tour’s second day, participants met with Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns and numerous U.S. Department of Agriculture staff members. Johanns said he understands the family farm. “I grew up on a small family farm,” he said. “My heart is there.” Gilbert Gonzalez, acting undersecretary for USDA Rural Development, said, “What you are doing is an invaluable service for communities.” He added that USDA Rural Development is available to partner with community leaders to meet a community’s specific needs. It is one of the few agencies that can build a town from the ground up – infrastructure, water, broadband and housing, he said. RLND participants also arranged visits to specific policy-makers on projects with a direct impact on their communities. Allan Orwick of Michigan and Lori Wagner of South Heart met with three National League of Cities staff members. “The meeting was very worthwhile,” Orwick said. “What I didn’t realize was they were as interested in us as us in them.” On the third day, the group traveled to the National Association of Counties’ offices and learned the organization’s functions are to lobby on issues impacting county officials and provide education, information and financial services. Joe Dunn of the association’s Rural Action Caucus said drafting legislation to deal with methamphetamine’s impact on rural counties has been an unusual experience. “We don’t have any opponents to this issue – that’s unique,” he said. “This is mom and apple pie. The problem is the money crunch.” He added that everyone agrees the country needs some comprehensive legislation on enforcement, education, treatment and protection of children in homes. The trip also included a tour of the White House, U.S. Capitol, Holocaust Museum, Library of Congress and Supreme Court. Several RLND class members said a highlight was watching the Senate vote to confirm Condoleezza Rice as secretary of state, and it shattered their preconceptions of how Congress works. “I knew how the Senate voted,” Rene Johnson of Watford City said before watching the vote. “They all came in, sat down and raised their hands to vote.” But that wasn’t what happened. The senators – people the RLND group normally views only on television – walked into the room and indicated their vote by a hand gesture, head movement or word to the individual recording the vote. “I think it is neat to be involved in the inner workings of Washington,” said Scott Bullinger of Dickinson. Several RLND members commented on the power of the Holocaust Museum and evaluated Adolf Hitler’s abilities to lead. “The Holocaust Museum, that was a tough day for me,” said Brent Ekstrom of Lincoln. “The Holocaust Museum was quite an experience,” said David Olson of Crosby as he questioned how Hitler convinced people to follow him. “Hitler was one of the worst leaders, but he was a powerful leader.” Some who traveled to Mount Vernon were surprised to learn that George Washington didn’t covet being a leader. Don Longmuir of Stanley said they learned that Washington became a leader not because he declared himself to be one, but because people sought him out to be a general and then president. ### Source: Marie
Hvidsten, (701) 231-5803, mhvidste@ndsuext.nodak.edu
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