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February 22, 2006 Rural Leadership North Dakota Launches 2nd Class Eighteen North Dakotans are learning what it takes to become effective leaders. They are the Rural Leadership North Dakota program’s second class. Class members include an accountant, newspaper editor, nurse, cashier/bookkeeper, crop adjuster, school curriculum developer, business owner, attorney and three city auditors. RLND is two-year interactive study and travel program offered through the North Dakota State University Extension Service. It’s designed to produce graduates with the vision and commitment to lead themselves, their organizations and their communities into the future. The class has attended three of the 10 seminars scheduled for the 2005-07 program, which began last fall. The first seminar was an orientation program. The second session, “Discovering Leaders Within,” was on the NDSU campus in Fargo. Speakers included Keith Bjerke, vice president of University Relations at NDSU, and Rachelle Vettern, leadership and volunteer development specialist for the NDSU Extension Service. Bjerke talked to the group about the inside-out leadership philosophy, which contends leaders need to understand themselves to be the most effective when working with groups and organizations. Vettern challenged class members to think about their leadership behavior and how ethics affects it. Mel Nelson, president and chief executive officer of Executive Management Systems Inc., Fargo, discussed leadership practices and had class members take a leadership feedback assessment that provides insight into their leadership style. The class also met with Minnesota Ag and Rural Leadership participants, toured downtown Fargo Renaissance Zone renovation projects and visited the Group Decision Center at NDSU. “Mel Nelson did an excellent job of getting us to see ourselves and how to work with others that are different from us,” says class member Scott Kroeger of Arthur. The third seminar, “Communicating Effectively,” was in Watford City. Participants learned about the importance of verbal and nonverbal communication, and how to give a speech effectively. They also did some role playing to learn the correct way to handle situations, such as differences of opinions. Other activities included an overview from Gene Veeder, executive director of the McKenzie County Job Development Authority, on the county’s increased economic activity and community development in the last five years, and a tour of Watford City and the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. “For myself, this was a fascinating seminar,” says class member Patricia Bowen of New Town. “I listened with rapt attention and took copious notes on public speaking, and learned many helpful hints.” Topics of other seminars the class will attend include culture and heritage, creative and critical thinking, project management, understanding the political system, resource management and civic engagement. Participants also will take a six-day study tour to Washington, D.C., and create and implement a project in their organization and /or community that gives them the opportunity to use the skills they learn. For more information on RLND, contact program director Marie Hvidsten at (701) 231-5640 or mhvidste@ndsuext.nodak.edu. ### Source:
Marie Hvidsten, (701) 231-5640, mhvidste@ndsuext.nodak.edu.
Cutline: Judy Pearson, left, and Rural Leadership North Dakota class member Gina Bushaw do some role playing during a seminar on communicating effectively. Pearson is a professor in the NDSU Department of Communication. |
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