PLANNING FOR SUMMIT III conducted via CCCconfer from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

PRESENT:  Jeanette Benson, Sue Clark, Hazel Hill, Gary Mendenhall, Catherine Swenson

Gary Mendenhall reviewed goals of Summits I & II held in 2003 and 2004.  Intent was to bring together regional economic development and vocational education leaders, as well as statewide EWD Initiative Directors, to increase awareness of program services and to provide opportunities to increase collaboration.  Model projects in region were identified and collaboration among colleges encouraged.

Purpose of this conference call was to begin planning agenda for next Summit.  During June 2005, Regional Planning Retreat, participants asked that the Regional Consortium continue to support the Summit.  Gary reviewed Retreat minutes that had been sent to call participants in advance along with notes from Summits I and II.

Prior to Summit III, we want the www.training4me.com Web site updated.  Sharing this site with Summit participants will be an important activity.  Centers can play an important part in helping to market the site.  Consortium will include WebSite Update as a regular meeting agenda topic.  How to share/use site will be part of update.  All agreed that there are many new people during each meeting.  Many of those who contributed ideas to the site originally have since retired, and we see many new faces each year.

Discussion Notes:

(NOTE:  LATER EMAIL EXCHANGES RESULTED IN DECISION TO CHANGE FOCUS FOR INDUSTRY PANEL FROM CONSTRUCTION TO FOOD MANUFACTURING)

It was decided that Summit III focus on identifying the needs of a specific industry in the region.  Industry experts would form a panel to provide information pertaining to regional training needs and future trends.   The CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY was chosen as the industry to target.  Invite industry experts to present in AM.  (Association reps represent a broader view.  Check with Builders’ Exchange.) Provide panelists with focus questions in advance.  (Might want to target topics as water purification and/or water treatment.)  Serve them lunch and then structure an afternoon session for community college participants to work on developing a response to information provided by industry panelists.  Catherine said that Los Rios COE conducted this type of event and that John Milburn could provide details for us.  Catherine will contact John to ask for his assistance.  She will ask for the “who, what, when and where” of the Los Rios event.

After lunch, vocational education and economic development participants will have time to work on developing strategies to respond to industry panelists.  They will identify what each college is currently doing that is unique to construction and suggest ways the region can respond.

Gary suggested that the Consortium office send out a notice describing these ideas and ask for feedback.  Responses might tell us where in region there is an interest for holding Summit III.  Harris Ranch may not be the best location for the most people.  Ask vocational education and economic development contacts if they anticipate participating in Summit III, as described; ask for questions they would like answered by industry panelists; ask for names of people they want invited. Also, ask if there are any events that would be in conflict with November date.

Gary and Sue will identify date in November 2005.  It was noted that the CCLC is scheduled for Nov. 17-19, 2005.  Sue will check Google for construction industry conferences, so as not to conflict.

SUMMIT IV in spring 2006 might be set up as a response to Summit III.  How can we disseminate training and services in Region?

DISCUSSION OF TRAINING4ME.COM WEB SITE:

Questions raised:  How can this Web site be used to meet industry and business needs?  Business won’t pay attention until they have a need.  They will go to the first place they know in their community.

SUE:  change wording on consortium Web site link from Train Your Brain to TRAINING 4 ME.

Update site by Summit III.  All colleges and EWD site information needs to be reviewed and updated.  We need to identify someone from each college who will be the contact person and take responsibility for updating the information.

We need to make this a regular agenda topic during Consortium meetings.  Bring Web site to forefront.  People are changing fast, and the existence of the site and how it can be used must be communicated.

Centers should be marketing the site.

Add tag line on all communication to market site.

Feature most recent program updates during region meetings.