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October 27, 2005 First N.D. Rural Leadership Program Class Graduates Twenty-four North Dakotans spent the last two years learning how to become leaders to help their communities move forward through a new program called Rural Leadership North Dakota. They are the RLND program’s first graduates. “It is a very worthwhile program and will lead to some really great things for the state of North Dakota,” says 2003-05 class member Becky Meidinger of Ashley. RLND is a two-year interactive study and travel program offered through the North Dakota State University Extension Service. The first class, which graduated earlier this month, attended nine three-day seminars throughout the state and a six-day study tour in Washington, D.C., in the two years. “Rural Leadership North Dakota afforded me the opportunity to see our state in a different light,” says Dawn Jarolimek of rural Forest River. “I believe all of us who have been part of or experienced RLND had life-altering experiences,” says John Zetocha of Oakes. “Creating positive change is what leadership is all about.” The participants also developed and implemented projects that allowed them to use the skills they learned and improve the quality of life in their community or organization. Those projects included:
“RLND taught me to have a vision and see that vision through,” says Jeffrey Klemetsrud of Devils Lake. “I have been greatly encouraged through the RLND program by its willingness to help rural America when we are losing that attention on the national level,” says Patricia Patrie of Bowdon. “We have one of the best places to live on this earth and it would be a disgrace to let its infrastructure collapse because of changing economics.” Other class members were Jean Brandt, Kramer; Scott Bullinger, Dickinson; Marty Campbell, Beach; Keith Draeger, Dawson; Brent Ekstrom, Lincoln; Heather Feiring, Epping; Kurt Froelich, Dickinson; Susan Goplen, Hannaford; Rene Johnson, Watford City; Deborah Kantrud, Dickinson; Donald Longmuir Jr., Stanley; Michelle McCormack, New England; Vicki Monsen, Watford City; Merri Mooridian, Jamestown; David Olson, Crosby; Allen Orwick, Michigan City; Kelli Schollmeyer, Killdeer; Lori Wagner, South Heart; and Beth Wieland, Sanborn. RLND director Marie Hvidsten is very pleased with the program’s accomplishments. “This group of North Dakota leaders is an incredible group of individuals who will play many critical roles in the future of North Dakota,” she says. RLND’s second class, with 21 participants, already is under way. To learn more about either class, visit the RLND Web site at www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/rlnd/. ### Source:
Marie Hvidsten, (701) 231-5640, mhvidste@ndsuext.nodak.edu [Editors: Photos of individual graduated class participants are available at the RLND Web site.]
Photo cutline: Community members help build a playground in Watford City. The playground was a project that Rene Johnson of Watford City created as part of her participation in the Rural Leadership North Dakota program. |
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