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A look ahead...
LWV public meetings are held in the Sons of Norway Lodge, 722 2nd Ave.
N., Fargo, in the meeting room behind the cafeteria. Members and guests
who wish to go through the buffet line and eat together (in the lodge
meeting room), may do so at 11:30 a.m.
October 26, 2001 3:30p.m.
Local Study Mailing Preparation
Mary Davies' home--1001 S. 10th St., Moorhead
November 1, 2001 5:30-7:00 p.m.
LWVND Board Meeting
Fryn' Pan Restaurant 302 Main Ave., Fargo
November 2, 2001 12-1 p.m.
First Friday at Sons of Norway
Dispelling Myths about Islam
Speaker: Dr. Mona Ibrahim, Concordia College
(Note: School District Planning Administrator regrets that an
unforeseen conflict forced him to cancel his First Friday presentation
previously announced for this date.)
November 3, 2001 9:00-3 :00 p.m.
Women in Action Conference
Keynote Speaker: Heidi Heitkamp
Comstock Memorial Union, MSUM
November 6, 2001 7 a.m-8 p.m.
Minnesota Election Day
Moorhead City Council and School Board
November 14, 2001 5:10-6:30 p.m.
WVRR Board Meeting
United Way Office, 219 7th St. S., Fargo
This meeting is one week early.
December 7, 2001,2001 12-1 p.m.
Reactio s to Terrorist Attacks in the Refugee Community
Speaker: Barry Nelson, Executive Director, Moorhead
Healthy Community Initiative
January 4, 2002 12-1 p.m.
Preliminary Reports from LWVRRV Study Groups
Suzanne Dobbins and Barbara Headrick
West Fargo has grown rapidly
Larry Weil, West Fargo Planning Director for the past eleven years,
spoke at the October First Friday meeting about what the community envisions
for the coming years. People are moving fast, he said, and must look at
what has happened and what is happening.
The population of West Fargo is 14,940. This represents a 21.6% growth
in the past ten years. West Fargoans see themselves as a family community.
Residences are 60+% owner occupied and 30+% multiple occupancy. There
has been a lot of development along 13th Avenue. The 180 single family
building permits issued in the past year is almost the same number as
the whole Metro area. Multiple occupancy units have"high end"
rents of $800-1200. All space is pretty well taken up inside the city
limits. In the 1970s many single family permits were issued, however,
construction fell in 1979 due to high interest rates. It picked up again
in 1993, when the Horace -Sheyenne River diversion project was approved
to alleviate flooding.
Some community needs are: different types of single family dwellings,
assisted living units, additional access to the community and another
interchange. Some issues are the location of new residential development,
housing maintenance programs, quality of construction and land uses along
Main Avenue and Sheyenne Street. There is an agreement with Fargo as to
development west of I-29. The Eagle Run area is in West Fargo.
Question was raised about property taxes for West Acres. Weil pointed
out that it is only school taxes that go to West Fargo, the rest go to
Fargo. Member Sen. Judy Lee pointed out that West Fargo receives the school
tax because many years ago when rural schools in the undeveloped area
around the two cities closed, West Fargo agreed to bus the children involved
to its schools thereby making the territory part of the the West Fargo
school district.
"
The League of Women Voters values diversity in its members. In principle
and in practice, the League knows no barriers on the basis of age, creed,
disability, gender, national origin, race or sexual orientation, and encourages
full participation in and contribution to the organization by all its
members. "
From
the President
As we regroup from the events taking place on September 11
and since that time, I have found it comforting to remember the purpose
of the League of Women Voters and all we are doing nationally and locally
to promote democracy and the American way of life.
Dr. Carolyn Jefferson Jenkins, President of the LWVUS, said the following:"As
a people, we have resolved that we will never allow our democracy be
defeated by unseen enemies. Let us also resolve never to allow it to decay
from within. Let us strike back at our attackers by demonstrating our
national pride, deep patriotism and commitment to civic engagement and
participation. Let us show the world that democracy is alive and well
in America."
The League has already been busy promoting democracy on a local level
this fall participating in the October Naturalization Ceremony at the
Federal Courthouse. We continue to work to educate voters by providing
candidates' forums during the week of Oct. 22, 2001 before the Moorhead
elections in November.
The November First Friday meeting welcomes Dr. Mona Ibrahim who will
be speaking about Islam. I hope to see a lot of you there, and please
bring a friend. This promises to be a great dialogue.
Dr. Jenkins sums up the importance of our work best:"Americans
have responded to terrorists with heroism. We have come together as a
country and shown the world that strength lies within. Citizens have dedicated
themselves to our nation in significant ways‹standing in line to help
those in need through donations of money, blood, food, clothing and medical
supplies. There is something else Americans can do for their country.
Participate in your government. Let your voice be heard by exercising
your right to Vote. Democracy, like the American spirit, cannot be broken
by terrorism."
Proud to be an American,
Andrea Sather, President
League of Women Voters of the Red River Valley
Statement by Dr. Carolyn Jefferson Jenkins
President Speaking for the League of Women Voters of the United States
September, 2001
Last week's tragic and savage attacks on our nation's financial center
and government--New York City's World Trade Center and the United States'
Pentagon--shocked and sickened America and the entire world community.
They forced us as a national community to pause and reflect on our safety,
security and on the true strength of our commitment to a unified democracy.
The League Women Voters joins our country's elected leaders and the nation
in their resolve to defend our country from external attack. As we begin
to rebuild and heal our country, we must take care not to ignore or trample
the basic civil rights, liberties, freedoms so precious to all Americans.
Let us stand together to protect and strengthen the American way of life
and our democratic systems of good government that our adversaries would
like so much to try to destroy.
As a people we have resolved that we will never allow our democracy
to be defeated by unseen enemies. Let us also resolve never to allow it
to decay from within. Let us strike back at our attackers by demonstrating
our national pride, deep patriotism and commitment to civic engagement
and participation. Let us show the world that democracy is alive and well
in America.
As Americans head to the polls this fall in communities across the country,
many will be keenly aware of the role they play in selecting leaders,
the preciousness of their right to vote and the value of an accessible
and transparent system. Primary elections in New York City have been rescheduled
for Sept. 25 and the LWV will be there helping things to run smoothly
at the polling places citywide, through a citizen education phone service
and at www. dnet.org., the league's online voter resource for local, state and national elections.
Americans have responded to terrorists with heroism. We have come together
as a country and shown the world that strength lies within. Citizens have
rededicated themselves to our nation in significant ways--standing in
line to give money, blood, food, clothing and medical supplies.
There is something else Americans can do for their country. Participate
in your government. Let your voice be heard by exercising your right to
vote. Democracy, like the American spirit, cannot be broken by terrorism.
Note: Check our the league's local web site--www.lwvnd.org --where dnet.org
can be accessed for bios and positions of candidates in Moorhead's election
and links with political party, city and other sites.
People Notes
Our hard working State League President and local Treasurer,
Suzanne Dobbins, was recently honored by the national League. She was
invited to join the national board of directors. Fortunately for North
Dakota and our local leagues, she turned the position down. Suzanne was
also interviewed by the National Voter for an article on Council 2001
(p.2 League Connections Section, Sept.- Oct. National Voter).
Former LWVRRV President Billi Jo Zielinski and her husband
have arrived safely in the USA from Turkmenistan which borders on Afghanistan.
Their tour with the Peace Corps has involuntarily ended. Future plans
were indefinite at press time.
Vice President Julia Jones, Director of the Dakota Montessori
School, is enjoying the school's beautiful new building at 1134 Westrac
Drive.
Long time member, Helen Shirey, passed away recently. Helen
had been living at Bethany Homes but continued to be a wonderful League
supporter. She was at one time a State League officer.
On October 17, the board welcomed Carla Hartje to appointed membership
on the board.
Kathy Kvalvog, Finance Chair, explained some of the activities her committee
has planned in addition to the annual finance drive for which letters
have gone out to former contributors and our own members. In the planning
stages are a silent auction and a rummage sale. Planning discussion took
place for a symposium to include and follow the First Friday meeting on
Election Reform tentatively set for March . We hope to feature representatives
from state, local and possibly federal government in a panel.
Local Study Update
Progress is being made on this study of non-elective boards and commissions
in Moorhead, Fargo and West Fargo. Lists of these boards and commissions
have been obtained along with names and addresses of members. Ways in
which members are selected are being investigated.
A survey with cover letter has been completed and will be mailed to
the board and commission members the last week in October. Questions addressed
in the survey are related to appointment barriers, diversity of mem- bership--
if it does or does not reflect demographics--training of members, efficiency
of invested time in the meetings, staffing by city employees, attendance
policies etc. The budget for this mailing was approved at the last LWVRRV
board meeting.
A face-to-face interview with selected members may follow the written
survey. Active members of the committee are:
- Mary Davies
- Suzanne Dobbins
- Barb Headrick
- Carol Sawicki
- Marlene Batterberry.
Other members are being sought to assist with mailing preparation, tallying
of the surveys when returned, and preparation for the interviews. A meeting
to prepare the mailing will take place at the Davies home, 1001 S. 10th
St. on Oct. 26, at 3:30. Interested members are welcome. Attention!!
We are looking for volunteers for a committee to organize our continuing
study of area schools with a focus on planning. If there is no response,
the study will be tabled.
Call the League office at 232-6696.
Meet New Board Members
Helen Rudie was elected to the board last spring. Although she retired
as director of the Concordia Library Curriculum Center some years back
she has been most active in our communities and abroad since. Helen joined
the Moorhead League in 1965 after an invitation from a friend. She was
able to help with studies of public health and recycling of solid waste
by producing audio- visual aids. The league's health study contributed
to the placing of public health nurses in Moorhead public schools.
In 1994, Helen traveled to Bratislava in Slovakia to serve as a volunteer
mis- sionary librarian at a Lutheran High School. She traveled extensively
in Europe and Southeast Asia. After four years in Slovakia, she returned
to Moorhead.
Helen is particularly interested in community affairs, the environment
and women's issues. She has been active in many organizations notably
the American Association of University Women which she once served as
Minnesota President and her church. She enjoys sharing slides of her travels
and and information about life in Eastern Europe since the fall of communism.
Although long a Moorhead resident, Helen recently moved to the Park
East Complex in Fargo.
Women in Action Conference
The Women's Studies Departments of our three colleges in
conjunction with LWVMN will hold a conference on November 3 (
see A Look Ahead).
There will be three panels: Women, Politics and the Media featuring
Heidi Heitkamp, Merrie Sue Holtan and Robin Huebner; Women on the Inside
with Lisa Borgan, Arlette Preston and Cynthia Rothe-Seeger; and Community
and Local Activism with Waulene Pennymon, Yok-Sim Gunaratne, and Jill
Danielson.
Small informal discussion groups with individual speakers will conclude
the event.
Registration is free to college students and $10 for all others. LWVRRV
Board Notes
Observer
Corps
Fargo City Commission
At this time each year the special assessment lists for
the coming year are voted on by the commission. Most were approved without
protest, but a few resulted in a lot of discussion.
One discussion concerned assessments for tree planting in
new developments. Explanations by city staff members seemed to convince
the protesting homeowners that all of the lots would end up paying similar
amounts in the end, even though the rates appeared to be unfairly distributed
at this time. These sorts of protests have come up fairly regularly in
the past. The commissioners all mentioned that they think that possibly
a different way of paying for tree planting in new developments should
be used.
Several much larger assessments, for water mains and sewers
in the area around the new Bennett School resulted in lengthy discussions
also.
People who purchased new homes in this area are being assessed
for an amount that is up to 40% more than the special assessment rate
that they were quoted at the time of purchase. The specific reason for
the discrepancy in this case was not determined at the meeting, but one
cause may be that is very difficult to give an accurate estimate ahead
of time when the assessor's office must make many estimates in a short
time.
--Carol Sawicki, Observer
Fargo School Board
A large portion of the first October meeting was taken up
with discussion of desirable ways to establish communication with the
city, West Fargo School District and ND legislators. The discussion was
continued from a previous meeting.
This board development process will continue as the time
for the updating of the long-range facilities plan nears. It is expected
that much engagement with the community will be required to complete the
plan.
--Audrey Richmond, Observer
Moorhead Election
November 6 Moorhead citizens will elect a new mayor and
a city council member in each ward. They will also elect three School
Board members.
For information on many candidates go to www.dnet.org. This
is the first year we have used this League web site for a local election
and it is gratifying to see how many candidates have signed on. Candidates
write up their own information.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m.‚8 p.m. The polls are the
same as used in the general election. The city is in charge of the ballot
and anyone needing an absentee ballot should contact City Hall.
--Mary Davies
JOIN THE LEAGUE!
Support the good work of the League by becoming a member
or
renewing your membership. Send your check to: The League of Women Voters
of the Red River Valley, P.O. Box 295, Fargo, ND 58107.
Current dues are: Student: $ 12.50,
Individual: $ 40.00
Household $ 60.00.
Be sure to include your name, address, telephone number
and e-mail address.
LWVMN Regional workshop
On Saturday, October 6, Fargo hosted the Fall Regional Training
Workshop for Leaders. Members of the Minnesota LWV board of directors
including President Carol Frisch, members Lee Humphrey, Evon Spangler,
Ellen Mork and Ellen Biales shared methods of organizing and presenting
program and voter
education including impressive publications and videos. LWVND President
Suzanne Dobbins led a session identifying and attracting new members.
Especially interesting was the explanation of LOTT--Leaders
of Today and Tomorrow--an arm of the Minnesota League which encourages
young women to become politically active. LOTT is responsible for training
the leaders of our own successful student LWV chapter at Concordia College.
It is the only program of its kind in the country.
Present at the workshop were leaguers from three states.
Policy Governance…
A Management Model, Part II
(for part I)
In an an overview of the Policy Governance model of board organization
begun in the last issue, it was stated that it is the system adopted by
the Fargo Board of Education in October, 2000. The model was conceived
by John Carpenter, PhD. and details are available on the Policy Governance
web site-www. policy governance.com
In defining policy governance, Carpenter states that the model"informs"
all aspects of board work, applies to all types of boards and can be successful
without micro-management. It is designed to give the organization's true
owners--in the schools' case, the community as a whole--"competent
servant-leaders to govern on their behalf." In this capacity it is
the board's responsibility to determine"ends" for the organization
or"what results, for which recipients at what worth" based on
their perceptions of the judgment and values of the community. For the
schools examples of results could be the levels of skill in curriculum
areas; recipients: adolescents, elementary students or special needs students;
and worth: dollar cost or priority against other results. Board approvals
of staff plans are not a substitute for setting criteria. The board is
not responsible for deter-mining the"means" for meeting the
criteria. That responsibility is delegated to a Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) such as the superintendent. Means can include personnel, financial
planning, purchasing, program services and curricula even governance itself,
such as how to construct committees.
The board should allow maximum opportunity for staff to select means
using their professional skill. By staying out of means decisions, except
to prohibit unacceptable means, the board retains the ability to hold
the CEO accountable for means decisions that take place in the system.
In order to be effective, all policies must be written--ends, executive
limitations, governance process and board-staff linkage. These must come
entirely from board deliberations and can be changed at any time. The
policies are defined to the point where the board can accept any reasonable
interpretation by the CEO. Governance process and board-staff linkage
are delegated to the board chair who ensures that the board follows the
written procedures it has established for itself. Carpenter suggests that
board meetings should consist of three deliverables:
- Contacts with ownership in order to know what they think
- Production of written governance policies
- Performance that can be shown to be a reasonable interpretation of
the board's ends.
The board controls its own agenda. The long term agenda should be part
of governance policy and specifics can be filled in by the board chair.
Board meetings are for its members need to learn, to deliberate, discuss
and make decisions together. Joint meetings with other boards are some-
times desirable. The board makes decisions rather than committees although
the latter can gather information on factors and options relating to a
decision. The CEO is a participant but not a central figure. Other staff
can have input if it relates to a decision before the board. Meetings
should demonstrate that the primary relationship of the board is with
the citizen ownership rather than the staff.
Board members or committees should not exercise authority over the staff
because it undermines holding the CEO responsible for results. Ballantyne
Consultants (www.Balantyne.com) hold that board members who have experience
in management skills can have difficulty with the policy governance system
since management is the province of the CEO. The staff can request advice
from the board but does not have to follow it.
Legitimate board committees can explore consultation with community
members as to ends or executive limitations options.
Evaluation of organizational performance is the same as evaluation of
CEO performance. The CEO knows the criteria to be evaluated because it
is part of the policies. For each end and executive limitation policy,
the board will have set a frequency and method of monitoring so that reporting
runs automatically. The CEO reports data and can include the judgment
of a disinterested party such as an auditor. Often reports are mailed
to board members and meeting time discussion can be minimal.
In conclusion, Carpenter describes good board members as those who can
think conceptually with long term perspective, welcome diversity of opinion,
abide by group decisions, speak on behalf of the entire owner-ship rather
than their own or splinter group's perspective and place the accountability
of the organization above personal gratification.
--Audrey Richmond
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Red
River Valley