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danbelshan 
Group: Members
Posts: 263
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Apr. 15 2012,5:50 pm |
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Government workers going to fancy resorts surrounded by lakes, beaches, golf courses and marina--all on your tax dollars.
Government workers being entertained with a DJ, comedian, banquets, bonfires and s,mores--all on your tax dollars.
Government workers enjoying first-rate lodging, great food, top-notch service--all on your tax dollars.
Government workers getting transportation, registration, food and lodging fees--all paid for with your tax dollars.
Government workers, while attending this three day junket still receiving full wages--paid for with your tax dollars.
Federal workers? no
State workers ? no
Freeborn County Human Services Clerical workers? yes
Request to send three clerical workers to Breezy Point Resort near Brainard MN.
This is agenda item 1 on the Freeborn County Social Service Board under Personnel requested for Commissioners approval on Tuesday on sending not one, but three to this clerical conference, costing $210 for registration and $798.88 lodging/meals. Plus paying their wages.
http://mnclericalconference.com/
Agenda item 2 is a request for approval to send financial staff to training. No destination, no cost, no number of staff given.
Freeborn County spends the highest per capita for Human Services and has the highest amount of employees per capita of similar size counties according to a study done this January.
With gas is approaching $4.00/gallon, and people getting education (even college degrees) on the internet there is absolutely no reason for this type of wasteful spending.
If the attendees stay until the end of this conference, each will be eligible for a drawing for a Breezy Get-Away, whatever that is. Shouldn't you taxpayers be eligible? You paid for it.
http://mnclericalconference.com/whatsHappening.html
CONFERENCE AT A GLANCE
May 9-11, 2012
WEDNESDAY- May 9th
11:00-12:45
Conference Registration Whitebirch Lobby
1:00 - 2:30
Mike Kutzke
“Why Do We Do What We Do?”
1:00 - 2:30
Sheri Novak & Meghan Rector, RD, LD
“Thriving and Healing Beyond Life Challenges”
2:30 - 2:50
Break
2:50 - 4:30
Same Speakers as 1:00
4:45 - 6:00
Hospitality Room
6:25 - 6:30
Welcome/Announcements
6:30
Dinner
7:30
Bonfire @ Beach-bring a lawn chair and s’mores ingredients! THURSDAY- May 10th
7:00 - 8:00
Breakfast
8:15 - 9:45
Andre Koen
“Cultural Competence”
8:15 - 9:45
Lisa Rogich
“Customer Service – The Personal Touch”
9:45 - 10:00
Break
10:00-11:30
Same Speakers as 8:15
11:45
Lunch
1:30 - 3:30
Keynote Address – Mike Kutzke
“Personal Safety”
3:40 - 5:00
Best Practices Open Discussion
6:00
Banquet
Entertainment Following Banquet- Hosted by Peak Entertainment FRIDAY-May 11th
7:00 - 8:00
Breakfast
8:15 - 9:45
Kit Welchlin
“(How to Work With) Bullies, Tyrants and Jerks”
8:15 - 9:45
Lisa Rogich
“Energizing & Motivating Your Office:
How YOU Can Impact Your Workplace Attitude”
9:45 - 10:00
Break
10:00-11:30
Same Speakers as 8:15
11:30
Lunch/Wrap up and Prize Drawing for a Breezy getaway
MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN!
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Go to danbelshan.com for my newsletters.
Go to Dan Belshan on facebook to get the latest.
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| Post Number: 2
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hairhertz
Group: Members
Posts: 3489
Joined: Dec. 2004
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Posted on: Apr. 16 2012,6:29 am |
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Thanks for posting, Dan. Keep up the good fight.
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metis movement
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| Post Number: 3
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canvasback
Group: Members
Posts: 416
Joined: Oct. 2007
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Posted on: Apr. 16 2012,6:56 am |
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I understand and appreciate the point of your post, but any training that would impove 'customer service' up there at DHS would be helpful. 
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| Post Number: 4
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hymiebravo
Group: Members
Posts: 4989
Joined: Jan. 2006
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Posted on: Apr. 16 2012,8:08 am |
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Good points about the internet. You have to wonder how long it's going to take before lots of events that seemingly required some sort of face to face interaction in the past are going to be usurped by the net.
So what are the membership fees? And who pays for that?
QUOTE MEMBERSHIP
Agencies represented in the Association membership include, but are not limited to, human services agencies, community corrections, mental health centers, nursing homes, and regional treatment centers.
Benefits to members include the annual conference, the newsletter, and representation on the Committee of the Association.
Our Fiscal year runs from May to April.
I looked around at their site and it seems to be kind of vague as to what they really are.
But it sort of seems like they are a type of consulting firm.
So the annual conference would be a sort of perk to membership too, I guess right?
Perhaps a member of the public such as myself should be sent along to shadow the activities and events surrounding this affair. I will offer up a full report as to the usefulness and effectiveness of these particular conferences within just a few short months after my fact finding mission.
Look at it as sort of a consulting of the usefulness of another consulting entity.
There will only be a small fee and I will expect to be fully comped for all expenses that I inKher. Including, but not limited to: lodging at the facility, meals & snacks, masseuse service, spa time, mileage, valet parking, helicopter service, green fees, caddy gratuities, etc, etc.
I would like to add:
Looking at the amenities provided by the facility, that is hosting said conference, via their website, did not influence my decision to take on this public service in anyway.
* Hope the weather is nice that early in May. Can't wait for the s-mores.
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| Post Number: 5
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MADDOG
Group: Moderator
Posts: 7821
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Apr. 16 2012,9:11 am |
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Well, at least they didn't choose Madden's or Grand View. This place is reasonable compared to them. Breezy Point only has two 18-hole golf courses, tennis courts, sandy beaches, marina, weekly entertainment, a ballroom,two indoor pools, exercise rooms, sauna, indoor and a year round ice arena, etc....
If you're lucky, you might even spot Elvis there.
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Actually my wife is especially happy when my google check arrives each month. Thanks to douchbags like you, I get paid just for getting you worked up. -Liberal
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| Post Number: 6
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RET
Group: Members
Posts: 262
Joined: Apr. 2004
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Posted on: Apr. 16 2012,9:35 am |
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One thing you forget Dan, is the Fed pays perdiem and travel as well as mileage in and around. In most cases I was paid for an 8 hour day and perdiem even if I worked 12 - 14 hours while TAD. So I don't know where you received your info regarding Fed not paying for the time spent at a mandatory meeting. In many cases attendance is a requirement for State Certification for the position, if you want to hold the meetings locally then you would need the infrastructure to support the conferences. All in all it is more than likely cheaper to have the workers attend the State or Federal mandated continuing education classes/conferences than to not allow them to go and therefore operate without qualified personnel. Seems I remember some of the Commissioners going to Hawaii a few years ago, that is correct isn't it, or am I just getting old?
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[B]
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| Post Number: 7
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scorenix
Group: Members
Posts: 1147
Joined: Dec. 2004
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Posted on: Apr. 16 2012,11:30 am |
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In the 2004 election this was a campaign point of mine. I highlighted the expenses Freeborn County was spending on conferences and seminars, and where they were going. While one incumbent (not my opponent) frowned and said it just wasn't true, I pulled the county expenditure list and read off the amounts and the locations.
Subsequent to the 2004 election, the County Board decided to no longer issue these amounts and grouped them. So much for transparency
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"Here is something for those who think I have not done much on my own to think about. I must then be one of the luckiest people around, and I think I am, I should then be able to keep that same luck going for the benefit of our area." - New ALEDA Executive Director Dan Dorman.
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| Post Number: 8
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danbelshan
Group: Members
Posts: 263
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Apr. 17 2012,2:15 pm |
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Action was taken this morning by the County Board on the request to send staff to the conference at Breezy Point Resort.
The vote was unanimous to not send any staff to this conference.
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Go to danbelshan.com for my newsletters.
Go to Dan Belshan on facebook to get the latest.
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