Power of the Purse gifts total over $50k
An area giving circle recently awarded donations to various causes, all designed to benefit women and children in the community. The Power of the Purse charitable group approved donations this year totaling more than $53,000. The money will go toward the following groups and causes:
Outfitting the interior of the Discovery Barn at the Roosevelt Park & Zoo - $35,000
Fighting Chance program at the YMCA to train teenage girls on personal safety - $2,500
Storage shed for the Dream Catchers - $5,000
Toys for the Domestic Violence Crisis Center children's playroom - $605.10
Dolly Parton Imagination Library support for Souris Valley United Way - $5,000
Salvation Army - $5,000 ($1,000 for Christmas food baskets, $1,000 for Thanksgiving food baskets, $3,000 for toy/clothing shopping for the Day of Giving)
"The Power of the Purse finds it a privilege to help women and children in our community, and look forward to continuing our efforts in the future," said Gina Blasing, president of The Power of the Purse.
The Power of the Purse is a charitable women's giving circle associated with the Minot Area Community Foundation. This area's Power of the Purse began in August 2007 with eight founding members who became the group's first board of directors. The group has since grown to 21 members. Power of the Purse is part of a nationwide trend in group giving; more widely known as "giving circles." The circles combine socializing with philanthropy and are a way for people, mostly women, to join together to invest their intellectual and financial resources to effect change.
Power of the Purse in Minot currently focuses on programs in the community that benefit women and children.
Native American culture week at MSU
The Native American Cultural Awareness Club will sponsor the Native American Cultural Celebration Tuesday through Thursday, Nov. 13-15, at Minot State University.
Planned events which are open to the public, include "Micinock Miskiikii (Turtle Medicine)" presented by Dr. Tami Jollie-Trottier in the Conference Center on the third floor of the MSU Student Center from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday. Jollie-Trottier, a clinical psychologist with Indian Health Services in Belcourt, will introduce "turtling," a self-care technique that helps individuals focus on personal limitations, setting boundaries, and listening to physical and emotional feedback from their bodies. This presentation will provide information on traditional turtle teachings, symbolism and Native American mental health and well-being.
The "Cankdeska Cikana Community College Wiconi Ohitika (Strong Life) Project" will be presented by Cora Whiteman from 2 to 3:15 p.m. Tuesday in the Conference Center. This presentation will address the high rates of suicide among Native Americans.
There will be a frybread taco sale from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Old Main first floor hallway. The frybread tacos are $5.50 or $5 with a coupon from the student newspaper, "The Red and Green."
"Impact of Oil Development on a Cultural Landscape" will be presented by Calvin Grinnell, tribal historic presentation, Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Nation, in Aleshire Theater at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The lecture is in conjunction with the Northwest Art Center lecture series.
There will be a panel discussion on "What you want to know about the Native American culture but were afraid to ask" from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Thursday in the Conference Center. Panelists include Native American elder Pat Wilkie and MSU faculty members Harry Hoffman and Nelrene Yellow Bird.
"Native American Storytelling" will be discussed by Brenda Slater and "Diversity in Native American Cultural Dance" will be outlined by Jodi Hajicek in the Conference Center from 2 to 3:15 p.m. Thursday in the Conference Center. Both Slater and Hajicek are from the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa.
Annette Mennem, Native American Center director, described the events as being held "to celebrate Native Americans' exercising of self-sovereignty in education, health, family, spirituality and goal setting."
Rostad to helm state board association
Minot School Board Association president Jim Rostad has been elected vice president of the North Dakota School Boards Association.
Rostad's school board experience includes serving as a member of the Minot Public School Board from 1988-1992 and as president from 1990-1992. He returned to the board in 2004, served as vice president from 2011-2012 and was elected president again in 2012. Rostad has attended several national conferences. As the board's liaison to the Minot Air Force Base School Board, he has attended several National Association of Federally Impacted Schools conferences in Washington, D.C., where he has met with our congressional delegation. Rostad has served on NDSBA's Governmental Affairs Committee for the last seven years and was elected to the NDSBA board as Northwest Director in 2010.
Legion oratorical contest scheduled
The District 6 American Legion High School Oratorical Contest will be held at 10 a.m. Dec. 8 at the TGU-Granville High School. Students interested in competing should contact their local American Legion Post or District 6 Oratorical Chairman Gary Volk at 500-5149 for additional contest information.
One student from each high school in District 6 may compete. A $300 savings bond will be awarded for first place, a $200 savings bond will be awarded for second place, and a $100 savings bond will be awarded for third place. The winner of the District 6 contest will advance to the West Region contest in January at Watford City. The top two regional winners will go on to the state competition held in Minot in February.
Pride of Dakota showcase Saturday
The Pride of Dakota Holiday Showcase returns to the All Seasons Arena on the State Fairgrounds in Minot, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 10-11.
"This is a great opportunity to do your holiday shopping," said Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. "We will have almost 150 booths - the most ever for Minot - filled with a tremendous variety of North Dakota-made foods and condiments, decorative and gift items, jewelry, recordings and much more."
Showcase hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday. Admission is $2 per adult. Parking is free for Pride of Dakota shoppers.
"Once again, shoppers will get a free reusable bag with their paid admission," Goehring said. "Shoppers who bring their own reusable bag pay only $1 admission."
Saturday is Military Appreciation Day. Active members of the armed forces and their families get half-price admission with military identification.
Goehring said a near-15 percent growth in the number of vendor booths at the Minot Showcase demonstrates the growing popularity of the Pride of Dakota program with both member companies as well as with consumers.
"The Minot Showcase features 148 vendors booths, compared to 130 just two years ago," Goehring said. "Pride of Dakota gives North Dakota companies a venue to showcase their products across the state, while at the same time giving shoppers an opportunity to buy local for the holiday season. It's a proven formula for success for our Pride of Dakota small businesses and our state's economy."