Over 100 practitioners and community leaders from across the state attended this years conference. Participants heard how the Internet is reinvigorating our democracy through such tools as E-Debates, improving rural health care and access and delivering unique distance learning opportunities to rural places. In his welcoming remarks, Blandin Foundation President Jim Hoolihan challenged participants to work together to ensure that rural Minnesota has the technology infrastructure and tech saavy culture needed to attract and retain the workforce we'll need to prosper tomorrow.
Conference Highlights
Moyers on America
The Net at Risk
Conference participants gathered Wednesday evening to watch Bill Moyer's "The Net at Risk". A post-viewing discussion was lead by Becca Vargo-Dagget.
Opening Remarks
Jim Hoolihan, Blandin Foundation President
In the “wired world” of tomorrow, quality of place will replace location as a key driver of economic activities. In this new world in which distance from markets no longer matters, rural communities that have made the necessary investments in technology infrastructure, training and education, can turn their traditional challenges into advantages.
The E-Debate: Citizens take candidates to the next virtual stage
Steve Clift, Board Chair, E-Democracy.Org
Highlights of the gubernatorial e-debate hosted on the Internet by E-Democracy.Org and the Blandin Foundation as a lead-up to the conference. Comments about the e-debate include:
"Your e-debates are proof technology will strengthen citizen
participation."
"I am getting much better answers than I ever do in a TV or radio or
in-person debate."
"Because of the e-debates, I have changed my mind as to who I will
vote for in the governors race."
Panel Spotlighting Broadband Generation Champions and Power Users
facilitated by Mike O'Connor, technology entrepreneur and member of the St. Paul Broadband Advisory Board
While policy issues of funding ultra high-speed broadband in rural Minnesota areas are complex, one thing is for sure - Generation NeXters are basing their decisions on where they live and work largely on the availability of bandwidth. Panelists Richard Laager, Teresa Boucha, Kelly Nelson, Erick Hamness, Shashanka Acharya and Andrew Sheppard shared their views on the needs and expectations of Generation NeXt.
Keynote Presentation: Generation NeXt on Broadband
David DeMuth, UM Crookston, Associate Professor Physics and Martin Lundell, UM Crookston Assistant Professor of Information Technology Management
Get Broadband Community Video Showcase Facilitated by Bill Coleman, Community Technology Advisors
Armed with video cameras, eleven Get Broadband communities participated in a video competition sponsored by the Blandin Foundation. The audience viewed the top five videos and awards were presented to the top two based on creativity, message and video quality.
Achieving the Vision for the Broadband Generation Facilitated by Danna Asche, Director of Information Services, Cook County
Kim Ross, Superintendent of Schools, Houston MN, and Karen Welle, Assistant Director, MN Department of Health, Office of Rural/Primary Care presented how cutting edge technology is being used in rural Minnesota today in the education and health care sectors.
