Annual National Rural Development Partnership Conference

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

August 29 –September 2, 2004

Working Agenda

(July 14, 2004)

Introduction

  1. Disseminate information that will inform Council work in key issue areas
  2. Support peer-to-peer technical assistance: time to share best practices
  3. Support regional collaboration
  4. Share Council successes with each other, the public & potential partners
  5. Strengthen partnerships with international organizations
  6. Strengthen partnerships with federal agencies/national organizations
  7. “Market” rural America: Bring rural issues into national spotlight
  8. Build on momentum generated by the NRDP Policy Consultation
  9. Generate themes and work for the nest NRDP Policy Consultation
  10. Increase visibility of the NRDP & its work

Sunday, August 29 (OPTIONAL)
11:00 a.m. –2:00 p.m. / Executive Directors Meeting (Working lunch provided) / Working lunch
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. / Council Leader Meeting / Working lunch
2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. / Registration
2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. / Joint Meeting of Executive Directors and Council Leaders
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. / Partners for Rural America Membership Meeting
6:00 p.m. / Opening Reception (Exhibit Hall[1]) – Introduction of major sponsors
Monday, August 30
7:00 a.m. / Registration
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. / Breakfast Buffet
9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. / “Opening the Gateway to Rural America”
Welcome - Dick Rubin, ORDC Co-Chairman
Welcome Address - Terry Peach, Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture
Comments: The Honorable Governor Brad Henry
9:30 – 10:30 a.m. / Concurrent Learning Stations
Facilitator: Rick Wetherill, Office of Community Development
Interactive 20-minute workshops in an exhibit hall setting. Federal agencies, national organizations, state rural development councils and private organizations will present these innovative workshops which will address a variety of rural development topics including: new national programs, the latest technology, best practices and grassroots initiatives. / 20 stations
20 minutes each
10-15 people each
10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. / Break
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. / Concurrent Learning Stations (con’t)
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. / Lunch: MC – Brent Kisling
Keynote: Larry Watkins, Okla. Assn. of Electric Cooperatives
1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. / Plenary: State and National Rural Policy Coordination
Facilitator: Marcie McLaughlin, RUPRI
Presenters: Donna Mitchell, Rural & Co-operative Secretariats, Canadian Gov’t (Ottawa)
Bobby Gierisch, RUPRI Fellow, Rural Policy Research Institute (Texas)
Marci McLaughlin, Rural Policy Research Institute (Washington, D.C.) / PRA organized
3:00 p.m. -3:30 p.m. / Break
3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. / Concurrent Sessions (by track)
Track #1 – Health Care
“Rural Health Services as an Economic Development Engine”
Presenters: Gerald Doeksen and Val Shott
Track #2 – Tourism
“Assessing/Identifying Tourism Product/Potential In and Around
Your Community…Steps to Take and Success Stories”
Presenters: Barbie Elder, Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Dept.
Hardy Watkins, Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Dept
Seth Davidson, Wild Steps, Inc..
Track #3 – Agriculture
Natural Resources Role in Rural Development
“Assessing Your Resources/Identifying Opportunities”
Presenter: Tom Lucas, High Plains RC&D
“Thinking Regionally/Turning Opportunities Into Reality”
Presenter: Remelle Ferrar, Canadian, TX
“Small Community Efforts in Developing Ag-related Industry”
Presenter: Jess Nelson, Guymon
Track #4 – Entrepreneurship/Main Street Development
Presenter: Thomas D. Guzman, Iowa Department of Economic Development
Track #5 – Technology
“Internet Mapping to Support community Decision Making”
Presenter: Ann Peton, RUPRI
“Bringing GIS to Rural C ommunities”
Presenter: Sarah Willis, Grand Gateway EDA
“E911 From the Ground Up”
Presenter: Kelly Mackey, South Western Oklahoma Dev. Authority
Track #6 – Workforce Development
“Industry Cluster-Based Economic Development forRural Communities”
Presenter: Norma Noble, Oklahoma Department ofCommerce
Track #7 – Council Tools
“Community Assessments: What to do with the Good Stuff You have Collected”
Presenter: Holly Woelber , New Mexico Rural Development Response Council
6:00 p.m. / Awards Banquet – BricktownCocaColaEventCenter
MC – Mary Randolph, Wyoming Rural Development Council
Entertainment
Tuesday, August 31
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. / Breakfast Buffet
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. / Mobile Workshops Depart (off-site)
Mobile Workshop #1 – “Come Experience The Value Of The Plains”
Mobile Workshop#2 – “Oklahoma Mainstreet-Home On The Range”
Mobile Workshop#3 – “Western Paradise”
Mobile Workshop#4 – “The Great Southwest”
Mobile Workshop#5 – “From Tornados To T-Rexes”
Mobile Workshop - #6 – “Gateway To The World”
5:45 p.m. / Dinner on own
Wednesday, September 1
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. / Breakfast Buffet
7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. / Regional Meetings (Breakfast Meeting)
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. / Plenary “Setting the stage for analysis of site visits”
10:30 a.m. – 10: 45 a.m. / Break
10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. / Concurrent Sessions
Track #1 – Health Care
“Telemedicine: Success Stories, Problems & Solutions”
Kaleb Bennett, OSU, Office of Rural Health
Track #2 – Tourism
“Support/Services Available to Assist with Tourism Development”
Presenters: Barbie Elder & Hardy Watkins, Travel & Tourism, OTRD
MeLyn Johnson, OK Tourism Office & Arts CouncilCircuit Rider, West Region
Kris Marek, OklahomaState Parks, Resorts & Golf,Planning & Research Division
Rob Gray, Chief of Staff, OTRD
Track #3 – Agriculture
“Criteria for Successful Business Plans” - Presenter: E.R. “Tracy” Shirtly, Lindsay
“Seizing Opportunities and Managing Change” - Presenter: Myron Bradt, Alva
“Energy Opportunities” - Presenter: Tom Barlow, Northeastern
Track #4 – Entrepreneurship/Main Street Development
Presenter: Thomas D. Guzman, Iowa Department of Economic Development
Track #5 – Technology
“VoiceLogger – Technology Leader of the Plains”
Mel James,Chris Homer,Jon McNaught
VoiceLogger, Inc.
Track #6 – Workforce Development
“Industry Cluster-Based Economic Development for Rural Communities”
Presenter: Norma Noble, Oklahoma Department of Commerce
(Repeated Session)
Track #7 – Council Tools
“Lights, Camera and Community Video”
Presenters: Clarke Becker, Colorado Rural Development Council
Jane Leonard, Minnesota Rural Partners
Paul Sachs, The Orton Family Foundation
12:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. / Lunch: MC – Brent Kisling, USDA Rural Development - Oklahoma
Keynote Speaker: Tim Ryan, USDA
1:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. / Bridge to 2005 Policy Consultation
Facilitator: Rick Wetherill, Office of Community Development
This session is to develop work plans for providing rural feedback to the national level. The session will begin in a plenary format where federal and national partners will present the major programs/policies selected for analysis. Thereafter, conference participants will divide into teams to develop work plans for each program/policy. The work plans will be carried out throughout the year, with results presented at the 2005 Policy Consultation in Washington, DC.
3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. / Break
3:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. / Bridge to 2005 Policy Consultation (con’t)
6:00 p.m. / Closing Banquet – CoxConvention Center
MC – Dick Rubin, Oklahoma Rural Development Council
Entertainment: Edgar Cruz
Thursday, September 2 (OPTIONAL)
8:00 am – 9:00 am / Breakfast Buffet
9:00 am – 10:15 am / Optional Training Sessions
  • Rural Action Partnership Program
  • Website Design
  • Marketing Councils
  • Rural Health
  • Womens’ Small Business (REI)

10:15 – 10:45 / Break
10:45 a.m. – 12:00noon / Optional Training Sessions
  • Rural Action Partnership Program
  • Website Design
  • Marketing Councils
  • Rural Health
  • Womens’ Small Business (REI)

12:00noon – 1:00 p.m. / Lunch
1:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. / Oklahoma Rural Development Council Statewide Meeting
  • Rural Summit Overviews
  • Business Meeting

1