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Minnesota River Summit
Wednesday January 10 & Thursday January 11, 2007
Holiday Inn, New Ulm, MN
Overview
Nearly 200 participants from a broad cross section of people in the Minnesota River Valley assembled to take stock of their efforts to improve the condition of Minnesota’s legacy river. They came from government, business, agriculture, education, environmental organizations and more—all there to assess progress over several decades. They also developed ideas toward a shared vision of how to move ahead in more powerful and collaborative ways.
They did it mainly in conversations, at 20 tables of 9 each--arranged so that all general interests were represented at each table. Except for a brief celebration at the opening of the session, there were no formal presentations. The entire event was managed by the “large group conversation” technique, emphasizing the opportunities for interactive learning, and fostering new relationships among strangers. At the final of six segments, participants assembled with their respective interest groups to assess how they could engage directions that had been developed throughout the Summit.
Participants expressed the hope that this meeting meant the beginning of a new direction—yet to be defined—that would enable everyone to work together more effectively. As one of the early speakers said, the group may come to see how their differences can morph into their strengths. In the coming months, a small group that initiated this work will be considering ways to move forward—to build on the foundation created these two days.
Learn more about the summit by downloading a summary and evaluation.
Minnesota River Summit Summary (pdf)
To view a photo slideshow of the Minnesota River Summit click below.
Minnesota River Summit Photos
To view newspaper articles about the Minnesota River Summit check the links below.
A Common Vision (The Redwood Gazette)
Corn Drainage, Urban Sprawl Among Top Challenges (West Central Tribune)
Kick-start Sought for River Basin Improvement (Mankato Free Press)
Participants Praise River Summit, Offer Suggestions (New Ulm Journal)
River Summit Begins in New Ulm (New Ulm Journal)
River Summit Begins Wednesday (New Ulm Journal)
Sponsors
3M New Ulm Plant
Ron Bolduan Photography
Clean Up the River Environment (CURE)
Coalition for a Clean Minnesota River (CCMR)
Friends of the Minnesota Valley
Houston Engineering Inc.
Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Minnesota Earth Sabbath Team
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Minnesota River Board
Minnesota State University, Mankato - Water Resources Center
Minnesota State University, Mankato - College of Science, Engineering & Technology
Mueller's Habitat Restoration
North American Wetland Engineering
Lac qui Parle - Yellow Bank Clean Water Partnership
Lower Minnesota Watershed District
Redwood - Cottonwood Control Area
Summit Planning Team
The Summit has been planned by an interagency team consisting of members
from the following organizations:
Clean Up the River Environment (CURE)
Coalition for a Clean Minnesota River (CCMR)
Friends of the Minnesota Valley
Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Minnesota Earth Sabbath Team
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Minnesota River Board
Minnesota State University, Mankato Water Resources Center
Minnesota River Watershed Alliance
Resources for Change
For More Information
Contact: Scott Kudelka at 507-389-2304 or Scott.Kudelka@mnsu.edu
Back to Minnesota River Summit Home Page
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